WELCOME TO EAGLE FOCUS

Eleweomo’s loyalists attack Tokyo’s filling station

2011-01-03T16:15:00.000-08:00

At least three workers of Bus-Lakson Filling Station, said to be owned by a factional leader of the state council of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Alhaji Lateef Akinsola (a.k.a. Tokyo), were reportedly injured during an attack on the filling station by some hoodlums on Sunday evening.

The filling station is located in Omowunmi in the Olorunsogo area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The attackers were suspected to be members of the union loyal to Alhaji Lateef Salako (a.k.a Eleweomo) who was killed at a Peoples Democratic Party’s congress last week.

Properties valued at about N7m were also said to have been vandalised by the attackers who were said to be armed with guns, machetes and other weapons.

They were said to have invaded the filling station at about 5.30pm in a Toyota Camry car and a bus with the hope that they would meet Akinsola at the station.

Akinsola had been engaged in a running battle with the deceased Eleweomo over the leadership of the NURTW before he was killed on Thursday.

Conducting journalists round the vandalised property on Monday, the station’s Manager, Mr. Kunle Agboola, said Akinsola was the target of the attackers.

He said the attackers worked on the belief that the embattled NURTW leader always visit the station every Sunday evening.

He added that the attackers started shooting sporadically on arrival at the station while they asked one of the attendants the whereabouts of Akinsola.

The attack, he explained, lasted for about 30 minutes.

He said the matter was reported at the Idi-Aro Police Station from where policemen were drafted to secure the station.

Meanwhile, the Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, on Monday reported at the Oyo State Police Command headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, in connection to the ongoing investigation into the killing of Eleweomo.

The late factional leader of the state NURTW was said to have been killed during a bloody encounter between his followers and loyalists of Folarin.

Immediately after the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Baba Bolanta, said that he had invited the senator to come and state his role in the incident.

The Senator’s security aides were also invited for questioning.

Folarin, in company with some chieftains of the PDP in the state, including Senator Lekan Balogun, former PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Alhaji Yekinni Adeojo; former Minister of Special Duties, Elder Wole Oyelese; and former Secretary to Oyo State Government , Mr. Sharafadeen Ali, reported at the police headquarters at about 9am and held a closed door meeting with Bolanta for over three hours.

At the end of the session, Folarin, still accompanied by the PDP chieftains, was led to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, where detectives investigating the killing were expected to take his statement.

Security was beefed up at the SCID. Unlike what transpired at the police headquarters, journalists were not allowed into the premises.

As at the time of filing this report at about 3.30pm, Folarin and the PDP chieftains were still at the SCID , fuelling speculation that he might be detained.

Bolanta declined to comment on the details of the closed door meeting to journalists when he was approached

But Balogun told journalists that the meeting enabled them to have a better understanding the workings of the state police command.

He said the meeting discussed at length on politics in Oyo State and last week‘s congresses of the PDP in the state, among others.

Balogun however insisted that nothing had changed in the coalition‘s position that Bolanta should be transferred out of Oyo State as the group did not have confidence in him despite the parley.

He stressed that the Coalition expected the Commissioner of Police to be objective and neutral in the handling of the rift and not be a biased umpire.

“Nothing has changed. He (Bolanta) may be a very nice person as a person but he has shown too much partisanship in the past. May be this is a new beginning. We expected the CP to be professional and objective in arbitrating all over the state without respect for anybody. The law of the land should be respected,” Balogun added.

Source:punchng.com

ABUJA BLASTS:FG invites US, Israeli experts

2011-01-02T15:43:00.000-08:00

President Goodluck Jonathan (2nd left) and his wife, Patience, with some victims of last Friday's bomb blasts at Mogadishu Barracks in Abuja during his visit to Asokoro General Hospital, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: State House

ABUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, made good its pledge to seek the assistance of foreign bomb experts to get to the root of New Year Eve bomb blast at the Mammy Market of the Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja which claimed four lives and injured several others as United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, agents are already on their way to the country.

The US Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, confirmed to a news media, Fox News, that FBI agents have been dispatched to help the Nigerian government investigate the deadly bomb attack in Abuja on New Year’s Eve.
Napolitano spoke with Fox News in Qatar, where she arrived for meetings with local officials. The Nigerian bomb attack, with a separate bombing in Egypt, was carried out shortly after Napolitano set out on her trip. Napolitano said the attacks show how the reach of international terrorism “knows no bounds.”
She said: “One thing I think it illustrates is that we live in a world where terrorism is part of the environment, unfortunately. And it’s something that we need to be thinking about, we need to be planning for.”
Napolitano added that her department would be monitoring the situation closely and confirmed that the FBI has been dispatched to assist in the Nigerian investigation – a situation she said “is not all that uncommon.”
The FBI is often asked to help with such investigations due to its expertise in evidence collection.
FG also contact Israeli experts
Apart from FBI, there were indications in Abuja, that the Federal Government has also contacted the Israeli experts from MOSSAD, Israeli Special Intelligence outfit to help unravel those behind the deadly bomb explosions.
It was gathered that the office of the National Security Adviser was putting in place, special flight arrangements to fly the experts into the country though private chartered aircraft.
President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have given a directive that investigations into the blasts be carried out in the shortest possible time to hunt down the perpetrators.
Vanguard gathered that the Federal Government had given express approval for these experts to come into the country with sophisticated gadgets that would enable them perform the job in the shortest possible time.
Meanwhile President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, visited the Mammy Market, Mogadishu Cantonment, site of the bomb blast in Abuja.
He was received by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal, Oluseye Petirin; Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim; and the Commander, Army Garrison Headquarters, Major General Mike Nasanu who showed him round the two sites where the explosives went off in the market.
The President also visited the Asokoro General Hospital to commiserate with victims of the blasts though he did not grant interview to the press.
I fear for Nigeria, says CAN president
I fear for Nigeria, was the initial reaction of the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, on the New Year blasts in Abuja which killed a pregnant woman and three others.
Addressing newsmen in Lagos while on his way to the US, Pastor Oritsejafor said Nigeria was gradually gravitating towards becoming a terrorist country and if nothing was done very urgently to arrest the growing trend, “I am unable to say what may befall the country.”
The CAN president also urged the Federal Government to urgently demonstrate to the nation that they have a government, by taking decisive steps to arrest identified masterminds of the current terrorism and bring them to justice.
Oritsejafor said: “President Jonathan should go beyond the avowed promise of dealing with the culprits pronto, so that Nigerians will be rest assured that it is not business as usual,” adding that Nigerians will revolt if the government made the mistake of instituting another probe panel to investigate the remote causes of the blasts.
While calling on the leadership of the National Assembly to cut short their Christmas holidays and rush back to enact enabling laws to deal with the situation, the CAN president said that a desperate situation demanded a desperate solution.
Linking me with blasts, sheer blackmail—IBB
Former head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida said, yesterday, that associating him with the Abuja blasts amounted to sheer blackmail, just as he expressed surprise at the deliberate ploy to link him with the spate of wanton bombings that had created palpable fear in the land.
He said rather than dropping names because of politics, the government should create a synergy between it and the populace to make the intelligence gathering aspect of security more encompassing, adding: “It exposes the weakness in the system if private persons and former leaders who are enjoying their retirement are being linked to acts of terrorism or bombings.
“We all should agree that there is failure in governance rather than passing the buck, or finding very idiotic and flimsy reasons to label some distinguished persons as being responsible for such failures. Having identified the problems, it will now dawn on us to collectively put our heads together to find appropriate solutions, bearing in mind that these criminals live amongst us.
Government has a greater responsibility to jump_start the process of rallying everybody together. We must re_direct our effort as well as doubling our energies. Policing is a collective responsibility hence it will serve more useful purpose if government decides to create a synergy between it and the populace to make the intelligence gathering aspect of security more encompassing.”
Babangida said in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Prince Kassim Afegbua: “It calls for celebration despite all the manifest challenges that have confronted the nation in recent times. Nigerians must learn to avoid certain pitfalls that could generate political instability and disquiet across the country.
We must continue to promote the sense of communalism that binds us together as one nation of different ethnic configurations but united on the basis of our national goals and objectives.”
Injured victims to go home today
Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered that some of the injured victims of the Abuja blasts currently receiving treatments at the Defence hospital at Mogadishu Cantonment and Asokoro General hospital would be released to go home by today, January 3, having recovered fully from the impact of the blast.
Criminals must not over run Nigeria
In a related development , the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, weekend, charged President Jonathan and the security agencies in the country to live up to their responsibilities of protecting the lives and properties of citizens and to ensure that criminals did not over run Nigeria.
The umbrella body for senior staff associations in the country, in a New Year message to Nigerians and workers, expressed deep concern over the violence and bloodletting across the country, lamenting that the country was now under siege.
TUC in the message by its President_General, Comrade Peter Esele, argued that violence and the killing of fellow countrymen was not the solution to any misunderstanding or grievance, noting that it leads to more violence.
Esele said: “We condemn the Christmas eve blasts in Jos, Plateau State; burning of churches and killing of worshipers in Maiduguri, Borno State and the politically motivated blast at a rally in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
We also condemn the confusion and tension in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital following the killing of the chairman of the state National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Alhaji Lateef Salako, popularly known as Eleweomo.
“We want to restate our position that violence and the killing of fellow countrymen is not the solution to any misunderstanding or grievance, rather it leads to more violence; as violence begets violence. Furthermore, TUC demands that officers and men of all security agencies, including the Nigerian Police should be retrained on intelligence gathering which is what modern day policing is anchored on. The open day trotting of AK_47 riffles by the police does not in any way fight crime, but rather has further portrayed us as people under siege.”
2011 general elections
On the 2011 general elections, Comrade Esele, said: “We have always harped on the need for credible elections in 2011, deepening of internal democracy in the political parties system, and the right of every Nigerian to play active part in the nation’s electoral systems.
It is in line with this that we appeal to all Nigerians who are 18 years and above to demonstrate their faith in the country by ensuring that they register in the 2011 voters registration exercise coming from January 15 and also come out to vote during the elections. TUC also reminds all political parties, candidates and their campaigns coordinators to be guided by the rules of the game in their utterances, activities and campaigns and most importantly to focus on issue based campaigns.”

Source:http://www.vanguardngr.com

‘Fashola administration hasn’t done much for Lagosians’

2011-01-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

FEMI PEDRO AND GOV. BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA

What is the idea behind your campaign slogan, "Has Your Life Really Changed?"

After the 2007 elections, I completely withdrew from the public eye and embarked on a personal quest that entailed traversing the length and breadth of the great state of Lagos. In July 2010, I decided to put together a team of young professionals to help collate data, conduct research, and analyse the effect of the government's policies on the everyday Lagosians. This gave rise to the idea of asking Lagosians the most novel of questions: "Has Your Life Really Changed?"

Interestingly, we observed that the responses by Lagosians were relatively similar, by-and-large. On a superficial level, they felt that the administration was performing well, as it had beautified some parts of Lagos, integrated the BRT buses, and fixed a number of high-brow roads.

However, when we asked for success stories in their individual lives and local communities - stories of how the state government had equipped, empowered and impacted families in ways that led them to be more prosperous - our inquires only drew blank stares and general platitudes.

We finally decided to open the debate up online (on my website www.hasyourlifechanged.com and on my personal Facebook page). We also put up billboards and posters all across Lagos to pursue a more aggressive strategy in getting Lagosians to open up about the challenges they faced on a daily basis by uploading pictures, videos, and comments about the positive and negative effects the administration has had on their lives to the website.

Astonishingly, my campaign team has collated up to 17,500 responses from Lagosians online and offline, and the overriding view is that there is room for improvement.

What, specifically, are the shortcomings you have identified in this present administration?

The administration has had very little impact on the lives of average Lagosians in the overall context of development and in improving the living condition of majority of the people. The critical element to rate this government on is the state's Human Development Index (HDI), which is unfortunately low.

While the government has rehabilitated some roads, beautified the environment, and given the state the closest semblance to tranquility, law and order, the more pertinent questions are: Has my quality of life improved since this administration came in? Has this government impacted positively on my life in the areas of poverty reduction, decent housing and sanitation system, quality education for my children, good roads in and around where I live or work, good health care system, among others?

As the BBC documentaries recently exposed, there is still wide-spread poverty. Very few areas have clean public water supply. Sanitation and proper drainage are still lacking; local inner network of roads are still generally bad; many Lagos schools remain sub-standard; the public health care system is totally inadequate, particularly in low income areas, and the standard and quality of life continue to deteriorate.

You may put all this in proper perspective when you consider that the present state government earns an average of N14 billion naira per-month and in 32 months has earned over N450 billion. This is more than my administration earned in its 96 months in office. The current administration earned over N209 billion in IGR (Internally Generated Revenue) in 2009 and budgeted over N420 billion for this year. In addition, in barely three years, it has borrowed heavily from the bond market and drawn down on loans from the World Bank and others. The question is: Where is all the money? The taxpayers deserve to know how the huge revenue is being spent.

What are you promising Lagosians if elected?

I believe I can create a Lagos environment where the possibilities are endless and the power of ideas and ideals supersede the ‘powers that be'. If I am elected as the governor of Lagos in 2011, a new culture of transparency and accountability to the people will become the order of the day.

Lagosians will not have to worry about their governor mortgaging their future away to some dictate in a back alley somewhere. I will set up a website called the Pedrometer (which) will give Lagosians the opportunity to track the implementation of every single campaign promise I make, and to rate whether or not a promised policy has been implemented.

There will also be monthly publications of how every kobo of government money is expended. This will eliminate the current culture of secrecy-shrouded spending in its entirety.

Which sector of the electorate are you especially hoping to capture?

Although Lagos is cosmopolitan and diverse, it is also interconnected. The middle-aged teacher in Alimosho is invariably affected by the working conditions of the market women in Tejuosho, and the statewide doctors' strike negatively affected the young LASU graduate from Epetedo. I think it is difficult to focus on one particular group of voters without neglecting another sector, so the most important thing is to have a consistent message that can resonate with everyone.

What is your definition of a credible leader?

First and foremost, a credible leader must have the legitimate mandate of the people, which invariably means his emergence as a leader must be the end-product of credible elections. Beyond this, I think a credible leader is one who is willing to accept responsibility for his shortcomings and who inspires people to be the best they can possibly be.

A credible leader is one who submits himself to being held accountable for every single proclamation or promise he makes. Honesty, integrity and humility are some of the qualities of a credible leader in my opinion.

You were once in AC, then Labour Party, and now PDP. Don't you see yourself as a politician who is more interested in power rather than building a credible party base?

It is impossible to live in isolation from other politicians, especially when many of you share the same vision for a greater Lagos. After my debacle with AC, the PDP welcomed me with open arms. There is no question that the perception of the party may not be the greatest in the world, but I can tell you, hand on heart, that there are many within the party who are totally committed to a thriving and prosperous Lagos. This is what informed my decision to join ranks with the party, and I have no regrets whatsoever.

Unfortunately, our politics has not matured to the point where parties are defined ideologically. At the moment, our politicians (at all levels) are either pro-current administration or anti-current administration. It is as simple as that. There is enough blame to go around for this problem, but I firmly believe that it starts and stops with our leaders being held accountable by the electorate for the promises they make.

If you fail to capture the primaries in PDP, do we see you moving to another party?

I have been a card-carrying member of the PDP for about three years. The party welcomed me with open arms and has treated me cordially. I have no reason to pitch my tent elsewhere, and I am committed to contributing my little quota to the growth of the party in Lagos State, the south west, and beyond.

Notwithstanding, I am confident and hopeful that I will be given the opportunity to represent this great party as its governorship candidate in the upcoming general elections.

If you once again fail to capture the governorship seat in 2011, will you recontest in 2015?

After the last elections in 2007, I honestly did not see myself running in 2011. Our politics is very unpredictable and throws a lot of curveballs at you, so I cannot look beyond the current elections. I will present my manifesto and vision for a greater Lagos to the people, and I have no doubt in my mind that our state will be better off for the debate I will engage them in over the next few months.

How close are you to former president Olusegun Obasanjo?

I have a great relationship with Olusegun Obasanjo. Unfortunately, the former president does not get enough credit for his wisdom, foresight, and honesty. He has been very supportive of my ambition, and he is considered a father-figure by quite a number of people - politicians and non-politicians alike.

Who has/have been your mentor(s) in life, especially politics?

Politically, I have always admired the courage, vision, and integrity of the likes of the late Awolowo, Enahoro, and Tafawa Balewa. Their contributions to a united Nigeria cannot be over-emphasised. I continue to nourish and mentor myself with their writings, speeches, and opines because many of the ideals they propagated in the 40s, 50s, and 60s are still relevant in our quest for the attainment of a more prosperous and united Nigeria today.

I am also a big fan of John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama because they represented change agents in times of political uncertainty. They challenged all stereotypes about their electability and impressively won against all odds.

Source:http://234next.com

Abuja blast: No clue yet – Defence minister

2011-01-01T16:52:00.000-08:00

Defence Minister, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, yesterday, vowed that the Federal Government will not spare any effort to arrest the perpetrators of the deadly bomb explosion that occurred on new year’s eve at the Mammy Market of the Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja.

He made the disclosure even as he noted that government was prepared to seek the assistance of foreign experts if need be to get to the roots of bomb blasts, saying, “If we try to get the perpetrators and we cannot, we will seek foreign assistance because it is no longer a local matter.”
The minister, who fielded questions from journalists after a visit to the scene of the blast, as well as the Mogadishu Reference Hospital and the Asokoro General Hospital where the victims were taken to for treatment, stressed that the perpetrators of the dastardly act were bent on creating the impression that there is no security in the country.
“It is a deliberate act. The perpetrators want to create problems between soldiers and civilians, between Muslims and Christians. Government will not allow that. The perpetrators are here, they are not from the moon and we will get them”.
On who the government was suspecting, the minister said, “We are not suspecting anybody. It is a security challenge but we are on top of the situation. We have the wherewithal to investigate the matter and we will get experts from anywhere to assist us because issues like this involve partnership”.
Disclosing that four persons died: three men and a woman, while 26 persons sustained various degrees of injuries, the minister said government was taking full responsibility for the treatment of those in the hospital and those that died. “All the dead are civilians”, Adetokunbo added.
Asked if the fact that the bomb exploded at a military location was not an indictment on the nation’s security, the minister said, “It is not an indictment or assault on the military because it happened outside the barracks where people go to for relaxation”.
He said as a result of the blast, all security agencies have been appropriately deployed into action and that government had directed the rejuvenation of the modus operandi of all internal security operations in the country.
Meanwhile, the Presidency reacted angrily yesterday to a foreign media report that President Goodluck Jonathan has blamed the Friday bombing at the Mogadishu Barracks on the Islamic Sect, Boko Haram saying he couldn’t have said so since security agencies have not pin pointed any group as investigations was still on going.
It described the report as an outright lie aimed at destabilizing Nigeria.
A statement signed by Ima Niboro, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, titled, Al Jazeera correspondent out to destabilize Nigeria, reads, “Our attention has been drawn to the unfounded and sensational news item on Al Jazeera television claiming that Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has blamed the fundamentalist group, Boko Haram, for the bomb blast which occurred in Abuja yesterday”.
“This is an outright lie. Nowhere, and at no time has the President held any particular group responsible for the attack. Additionally, neither the Nigerian security services nor the Nigerian government have confirmed those behind the attacks”.
“It amounts to sheer sensationalism to attribute to the president or the federal government any such claim. It is irresponsible journalism and we condemn it out rightly”.
“The statement from the president’s media office was clear when it said that evil people determined to turn the joys of fellow Nigerians to ashes detonated a bomb at a barracks market in the Federal Capital
City .”
It noted that “If we meant Boko Haram, or any other group, we would state it very clearly. But Al Jazeera’s unique journalism in Nigeria is not
strange to us. When the tragedy of the October 1, 2010, bomb blasts occurred, they went to town with outlandish claims against the presidency that were unfounded and unsubstantiated”.
“This brand of journalism defies reason. For the purpose of clarity, neither the President nor the security agencies have come out to state those behind the attacks. Investigations are on, and at the end of the day, the real culprits would be unmasked”.
“There is also the need to state, again for the purpose of clarity, that four persons were killed in yesterday’s attack. Twenty_ Six others were wounded, one of them a soldier” the statement said.

Source:http://www.vanguardngr.com

Rerun may not hold in areas where INEC offices were burnt

2011-01-01T16:42:00.000-08:00

INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission INEC

INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission INEC’s Resident Commissioner in Delta State, Dr. Ogbudu Gabriel Ada, says the Delta State governorship re-run election holding on Thursday might not hold in areas where INEC offices were burnt during the 2007 polls following the destruction of the vital records including the voter-register, even as the governorship candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Abel Adijala, said he was still in the race and has not thrown his support for the PDP candidate, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Adijala said he had refused over 200 telephone calls over the report in a national electronic medium to the effect that Labour Party has backed out of the race to support Uduaghan, saying that “I have written a petition over the matter. But meanwhile I have assured my teeming supporters that “I am still on course.”
Addressing newsmen in Asaba, yesterday, the INEC commissioner maintained that the Commission was going to use the old voter-register used in conducting the 2007 elections and added that there are over 1.5 million voters in the state.
Said he, “when the voter- register was compiled, we had what we called the electronic voter-register and the data is stored in the server which is at the national headquarters.
“So, in any local government area they thought they have snatched, we have a back- up in the server. We were able to retrieve all that data and we have been able to print. them.’’
It is only in one or two polling units where the people burnt our offices, they burnt our manual registers, they burnt our electronic registers, even the data that was collated, which had not been downloaded into the server were burnt in the process. So it is only in one or two places of those places, we may not have the voters register for them. But then, that one is not our problem because they (community) caused it themselves. We believe it will not be substantial to affect the outcome of the result of an election”.

Source:http://www.vanguardngr.com

Tears, curses as Eleweomo is buried

2011-01-01T16:37:00.000-08:00

Alhaji Lateef Salako (aka Eleweomo)

The remains of the former leader of the Oyo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Lateef Salako (aka Eleweomo), slain in Ibadan on Thursday, were interred yesterday at his residence in Amuloko, Akanran Road, Ibadan.

The representatives of the Oyo State government and the national leadership of NURTW were in attendance and they both called on the union members to let orderliness and peace reign in the state.
During the burial, admirers of the late union leader wept and cursed the killers of their mentor.
The body was taken from the Adeoyo State Hospital Mortuary around 11.00 a.m and taken through Beere-Elekuro-Orita-Aperin-Olorunsogo.
The special adviser to the governor on political matters, Mr. Asimiyu Alarape, said government would do everything possible to help the police in unravelling he mystery surrounding the death of the union leader.
Speaking in the same vein, the national president of NURTW, Nurudeen Usman, said, ‘’I want to appeal to the security agencies in the country to ensure that the death of Eleweomo is properly investigated and whoever is involved be brought to justice no matter his or status in the society’’.
Meanwhile, Oyo State Police Command has arrested and detained the four security operatives attached to the Senate leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, over the killing of Eleweomo.
This was disclosed by Senator Lekan Balogun, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is opposed to the second term bid of Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan.
Salako was killed on Thursday during the local government congress ordered by the National Working Committee of the PDP following the controversy that greeted the old state executive of the party.
Following the death of the union leader, the police had invited the Senate leader to explain what transpired even though he had repeatedly said he did not see Salako nor had any confrontation with him on the day he was killed.

Source:http://www.vanguardngr.com

Eleweomo buried, as police arrest Senate Leader’s security details

2011-01-01T16:23:00.000-08:00

Alhaji Lateef Salako (a.k.a Eleweomo)
he remains of a factional leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Oyo State Council, Alhaji Lateef Salako (a.k.a Eleweomo), were buried in his Amuloko residence on the outskirts of Ibadan, on Saturday amid tight security.

Salako was killed on Thursday at the IDC Primary School, Olunloyo in Ona Ara Local Government Area of the state during the Peoples Democratic Party local government congress.

The incident allegedly happened during a bloody encounter between his followers and loyalists of the Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin.

The burial attended by NURTW national executives as well as loyalists and friends of the deceased was emotion-laden as sympathisers wept uncontrollably and rained curses on his killers and their sponsors.

His corpse was conveyed from the Adeoyo State Hospital to his residence in a motorcade.

A short prayer session was conducted by Islamic clerics before his remains were interred.

The state governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, was represented at the burial by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Mr. Asimiyu Alarape. The interim chairman of Ona Ara Local Government Area, Mr. Tunde Olayiwola, and some other PDP chieftains also witnessed the burial.

Alarape urged the mourners not to take the law into their hands, assuring them that the state government would ensure that Salako‘s killers were brought to book.

Meanwhile, the police in the state have arrested four security details attached to Folarin.

Confirming the development to our correspondent on Saturday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Baba Bolanta, said the men were arrested for questioning.

The CP also said that he was intensifying efforts to ensure that Folarin reported to the command to state his own side of the story.

He said that the PDP chieftain, as at press time, had refused to honour the police invitation extended to him.

Folarin had on Friday petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, over an alleged threat to his life.

He alleged that the state police boss deliberately withdrew his security aides in order to expose him to danger.

Source:http://www.punchng.com

‘Don’t postpone polls’

2011-01-01T15:53:00.000-08:00

A group, Delta Transparency Initiative (DTI), has thrown its weight behind the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the re-run election in Delta State on Thursday.
In a statement signed by its facilitator, Franklin Ikomi, the group described calls for the postponement of the polls as not “only callous and mischievous but an affront to the political and judicial process in Nigeria.”
The group, made up of professionals and intellectuals of different social leanings and ideological beliefs, expressed concern over what it described as “lame excuses” that the re-run elections should not be held except a new voter-register is produced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to the statement, those calling for postponement have forgotten “so soon that re-run elections were held in Lagos, Anambra and most recently in Ekiti State with the old voter-register. Why should the case of Delta State be treated in isolation?
The group noted that INEC as the umpire established by law to drive the electoral process, should be firm and resolute in its decisions and “not subjected to the whims and caprices of a political party.”
The group argued that since the April polls are around the corner and going by INEC timetable “the DDC machines, trained personnel, law enforcement agents, paraphernalia of the electoral process would be deployed for the exercise.”
The group said, “Delta State is a core PDP State. If elections are conducted a thousand times in Delta State, PDP will record landslide victory a thousand times. With all structures on ground, the Emmanuel Uduaghan/Utuama Joint ticket in Delta State will not only consolidate but replicate victory for the PDP in the re-run elections in Delta State and in the forthcoming presidential elections.”

Source:http://www.vanguardngr.com

ACN has a case to prove with re-election of Fashola’

2011-01-01T15:14:00.000-08:00

WITH the April general polls fast approaching, several candidates including incumbent governors have been declaring their interest in the polls.

Lagos State is one of the states which is believed to be a benchmark for good governance and where dividends of democracy seem to be working.
However, the silence of Governor Babatunde Fashola over his second term ambition this year has been a source of concern to Lagosians. In this interview, Mr. Olukayode Salako, the president of Fasholamania Support Movement Worldwide, speaks on Lagos ACN, Fashola, the new governments in Ekiti and Osun states, among other national issues.
As the leader of one of the groups campaigning for Fashola’s re-election, do you think he stands any chance of making it at the primary, considering his silence on second term?
The palpable silence in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), as well as in the opposition, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State now, is a clear indication that the re-election issue of Gov. Fashola is a strong factor. Never in the history of Lagos State has this happened politically! By now, in the Lagos that I know, with barely 14 days to January 15 when the submission of the names of the parties’ flagbearers to INEC would be closing, a lot of things should have been happening politically, but nothing serious is yet happening!
This is not good. And, this is not really palatable for the image of the party the majority of Nigerians have been looking up to as the saviour of Nigeria. This is not good for the progressive party in Nigeria in these elections.
The best that can happen to ACN now is to prove it to Nigerians that it is truly a ‘progressive’ party and not a deception or confusion! Fashola has governed Lagos well and deserves everybody’s support and co-operation including that of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.We cannot entertain any disappointment from any quarters in ACN. Many of us are not really interested in the politics in Fashola, but the governance in him!
In about 1,300 days, he has proved it to us, in fact, to the world, that we deserve his kind of leadership and its continuity. His government within an amazing period of time has given Lagos security, sanity, peace, law and order, cleanliness, environmental sanitation and aesthetics and, above all, much improved socio_ economic prosperity.
What else would one bargain for in a leadership and governance? Fashola deserves continuity and must be compensated by his party, unless that party wants to disappoint Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora! Governor Fashola is the one majority of Lagosians want to continue to govern them. I am not sure they want anybody else now!
What gives you and your people the assurance that all these efforts will pay off at the end of the day?
We are very sure Fashola will go for second term. It is Asiwaju that gave us that assurance. He is the one that said that BRF is the best man for the job in 2007 and the man has proved it convincingly, beyond reasonable doubt.
What will your movement do should Governor Fashola be denied second term ticket by ACN?
I don’t pray it happens. Honestly, I don’t believe so, because ACN is a progressive party that promises to deliver Nigeria from misrule; socio-economic darkness and sufferings in the midst of plenty! ACN should represent a total positive opposite of PDP and a saving alternative according to their crusade.
So, it is expected that ACN should join or encourage Nigerians to celebrate one of, in fact, their best governor in Nigeria and not do anything that will make Nigerians start doubting the sincerity of their party. Fashola is the present glory of ACN.
His performance, achievements, leadership style, personality and characteristic values and virtues have combined to make the party popular and accepted by not only Lagosians, but Nigerians in and outside Nigeria. That name, Fashola, is a positive appeal for the present widespread acceptance of ACN in Nigeria today. It is a strong attraction and a pleasant appeal to the judiciary, the opposition parties, foreign investors, Nigerians in the Diaspora, politicians from other countries and people from other states.
You claim not to be a politician and you are not an activist. Why are you at the vanguard of this agitation and where do you anticipate it will end or lead you to?
I have always been passionate and concerned about the unenviable state of our society. I had always been looking forward to a period in the life of our nation or a period in my life when I can really witness an acceptable, outstanding and rewarding leadership or governance and contribute to encourage and celebrate it.
Honestly, the first time I got to the U.K and Johannesburg in South Africa, I was emotionally sick because of the man-made wonders I saw, flowing amazingly everywhere. Everything was organised, beautiful, perfect, and modern- just name it! But here, the reverse is the case.
We have been enjoying and priding in the giant of Africa status inside environmental, infrastructural and economic decadence, chaos and darkness. But, today, Fashola’s government impressed me so much, hence I decided to be part of the people celebrating it and it will be on record that I am really satisfying myself doing what I am doing.
ACN has about five states under its control, including Ekiti and Osun recently added. What do you think is the implication of this trend for the elections.?
I have always said it that ACN is about the only progressive party in Nigeria today, because of the composition of its leadership; the quality programmes on its manifesto and the outstanding performance of its governors. The best set of decent and progressively-minded politicians today in Nigeria are in ACN. Any state ACN is governing today is very lucky.
So, my states, Ekiti and Osun ( I am from both places), are very lucky and I can only welcome them to the league of the progressive states in Nigeria. Governors Fayemi and Aregbesola like Fashola and Oshiomhole of Edo are two decent people that will develop their states. I know it and I believe their governments will change the stories of those states — they will contribute to the development their states deserve.
I wish them best of luck. As to what the victories portend for ACN in the elections, I see the party winning more states, because already, people from other states are yearning for the kind of rapid transformation Lagos and Edo are enjoying. People now want ACN of Fashola to come and govern their states.
The name Fashola and his governing style and ideals are very popular even among the northen Almajiris and the nursery and primary school pupils in the eastern part of the country.
I strongly believe that the influence of positive appeal and acceptance Fashola has built now is so strong it can win many more states for the party in the next elections. Already, I see Ogun and Oyo states being captured by ACN this year, unless their people are not yet serious about the positive and tangible change they deserve. I see ACN forming the Federal Government after President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure in 2015. I see an ACN that will cripple the dominant influence of PDP with the like of Gov. Fashola still doing the party proud in governance soon.
What advice do you have for the party leadership as they take decisions towards the primary elections in ACN before January 15?
I want Asiwaju and ACN to accept the fact that Fashola is the governor of the generality of Lagosians and the people love him so much. The people do not see any reason he should be replaced as their governor when he has performed very well.
They still want him to continue to govern them till 2015. How will ACN convince us that BRF does not deserve continuity? What tenable reason will they give us that will be tenable to the people? Lagosians want him; Nigerians in the Diaspora want him; members of the opposition political parties all desire him to spend his constitutionally allowed eight years – the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria!
What ACN should realise today is that Nigerians are yearning for the development of their society, the people are tired of living in socio-economic darkness and frustration! Today, it is only very few people that are interested in the politics they are playing, almost everybody is very much interested in good governance.
The electorate are now very much interested in the way they are being governed or the quality of governance they get from their leaders and not the quality of politics the leaders can play. My advice to the leadership and followership of ACN is to continue to be on the side of the love and acceptance of the people.

Source:http://www.vanguardngr.com

Fuji Chambers to become museum, tourist centre – Barrister’s children

2011-01-01T14:41:00.000-08:00

Late Fuji icon, Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister
The Isolo, Lagos, residence and final burial place of fallen Fuji icon, the late Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister Ololade Agbajelola Balogun, is to be converted into a museum and tourist centre.

And, to achieve this the children and widows of the late Fuji maestro are to be relocated and the building renovated to meet up with its new status.
Speaking to exclusively to Sunday Entertainment were two of his children — Samson Suleiman said: “ In line with his wish, the Fuji Chambers his last resting place is to become a tourist centre and museum.
It will also house offices and recording studio. Everything that represents Alhaji Agba remains here, for this was where Fuji music was born.
‘’The first step towards realising the dream is that the current residents of the chamber, my step-mother, her children and my elder will relocate for the dream to come true.”
What they say about Barrister
It is no longer news that the Fuji maestro is dead and was buried on Thursday. What is news is the feeling of the persons whose lives he touched in his short sojourn on earth.
We spoke to two of his children, his former media manager and Alhaji Lati Alagbada, Chief executive of Lati Alagbada Records, the company he was signed on before his demise
Samson— son
What can one say? He was talking well and recovered fully as he said to us. We were in high spirit as he was getting ready to return home.
And, suddenly the news filtered in that we had lost our father and bread winner. Naturally, the news came to us as a rude shock. It was totally unexpected. I was at work in the Governor’s office when someone called to tell me that Barrister is dead. When I heard the news, I couldn’t, cry, couldn’t sit and I couldn’t talk. In fact, my boss had to attach someone to me so that I don’t do something silly. But, I had to hold myself and I have accepted the situation as the will of Allah.
I lost a strict and caring father— Suleiman, son
He told me he was perfectly okay and fit to come back home on January 15. He told he me had recorded four singles which he planned to release on his return to Nigeria.
As you know and as it is his tradition, he had called me on the day I turned 30 which was on December 15, a day before he died.
He spent more than two hours praying and singing my praise. I would never have believed that I was spending the last moment with my father.
I remember my father today like always. A very strict but caring and loving father, he would spare time to visit me in school.
A kind man, Alhaji paid school fees of children of some very uncaring and yet prominent colleagues of his.
When someonecalled me from London to tell me of his demise, I called the guy a joker. Yes. How could he explain that when I had spoken to my father till late into the night of December 15. But, alas it was true.
He died with his dream — Elder Dayo Odeyemi, Manager
He was until he joined the Barrister organisation as head of media, a practising journalist. For more than three decades, he held sway as spokes’ person for the organisation.
He speaks on his relationship with the fallen Fuji maestro.
I worked for Barrister for more than 30 years. He was a man with a difference and also very humble.
I was a practising journalist with the Sketch Newspapers when I met Barrister in the 70s.
I used to feature him and other musicians on my pages and that’s how our relationship developed.
And, when I was transferred to Port Harcourt as the Sketch zonal editor in 1981, he came and said to me ‘look, you are going to leave this job.’
Eventually, I resigned from the job in 1990 to officially join the Barrister Organisation as manager in charge of media communication. Before then, I was handling his media affairs as a journalist still on The Sketch payroll.
His cars
He loved cars. In his garage, you’d find every brand of exotic cars. And, as a matter of fact, on the day doctors pronounced Barrister dead, the brand-new Chrysler SUV he bought in the United States of America, arrived in the country.
He had planned to drive the new car into his new house and was to commission it this March in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The house furniture was also bought in the Unites States.
He was also a very wonderful dresser. In fact, there are very few of his contemporaries who could compete with him in that area.
Barrister will be missed by my family for his kindness. It’s a great loss.
Alhaji Lati Alagbada, CEO Alagbada Records
His financial contribution to the well-being of the late Fuji King ensured he enjoyed sound health until death took him away.
A business partner to the fallen icon, Alagbada lost a lifetime opportunity of getting the troubled musician to honour a four-album recording deal.
He speaks on his relationship with Barrister.
My relationship with Alhaji started in 1998 when I signed him on to my label to record the album titled Prophesy. But, after that recording, the relationship collapsed.
But, in 2005, we renegotiated and the business commenced a second time. And, ever since, we have remained committed to each other until now.
From the day this illness that took away Alhaji began, I have remained by his side. From Havana Hospital through to India where he spent three months, Germany and London where he finally died, I never left his side.
Barrister as a miracle patient
A strange incident happened in India where Alhaji underwent a major surgery. Six hours after the surgery, he failed to come out of coma. As a matter of fact, the doctors had certified him dead and were getting ready to move him to the mortuary when it was noticed that he had started breathing.
He was immediately moved back into intensive care, where he was immediately put on the oxygen mask. His recovery dazzled the Indian doctors who immediately dubbed him the miracle patient.
His unfulfilled dream
Following his miraculous recovery in India, I held talks with Alhaji and we both agreed that his new album be titled Mircale. We had also agreed that as soon as he returned to Nigeria this month, he was to commence recording for the first leg of our four-album deal.
My organisation had paid for studio sessions at the Eko Real mix studio.
I spoke to Alhaji three days before his demise and while we chatted, he sang for more than 15 minutes, while offering prayers for me and my business. He also assured me that the songs he was going to record will put smiles on our faces. I was happy, but all that changed when I got the news of his demise.
I don’t want say anything about the money spent on him, we give glory to Allah who made all things possible. As things stand now, I have the sole marketing rights to all the works of Alhaji. No other person is authorised by the family to conduct the business of marketing his works except that person wants to face the wrath of the law.

Source:http://vanguardngr.com

Kwam 1’s Instinct hits million copies sale

2011-01-01T14:22:00.000-08:00

K1 de Ultimate
The muchawaited 3-in-one album of K1 de Ultimate, Instinct has finally hit the streets.
An 18 tracker with two bonus jazz mixes the new work was released on December 24 by Omega music owned by K1 de ultimate and it is marketed by High Kay Dancet Ltd
Instinct was written and composed by K1 while on his sick bed in Canada and has great songs like. Igbayi da, My story, Iwalewa and Eke ni won, and songs in honour of the new Elegushi, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi and the Olofa of Ofa.
Other special renditions include Oro Idibo which educates listener on the power of their vote and reasons why they should use it right.
Oro Ife is a collabo between K1 and Mimi, the 2010 winner of Star quest.
K1 said “I give God the glory for giving me the grace for such a release. I am very excited “
The album has already sold more than a 1million copies in the first three days of release.
The Album was recorded at the 2KB studios was co-produced by Percy Ademokun K1.

Estonia to become 17th EU country to use euro

2011-01-01T13:52:00.000-08:00

A girl passes by a poster against euro in a street in Tallin, capital of Estonia, Dec. 31, 2010. Estonia will become the 17th European Union (EU) country to use euro on Saturday, at a time when the eurozone is still mired in a debt crisis.

Suspected suicide bomber kills 17 at Egypt church

2011-01-01T13:49:00.000-08:00

Egyptian riot police attempt to put out fire started by Christians outside a mosque in Alexandria, 230 km (140 miles) north of Cairo, Jan 1, 2011. A car bombing outside Alexandria's Coptic Orthodox church killed 17 people as worshippers gathered to mark the New Year. The blast also damaged the mosque, which is near the church, and eight Muslims were among the 24 wounded. [Photo/Agencies]

Health minister says 17 dead, media reported 21; Ministry suspects suicide bomber, foreign links

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt - A bomb killed at least 17 people outside a church in the Egyptian city of Alexandria early on New Year's Day, and the Interior Ministry said a foreign-backed suicide bomber may have been responsible.

Dozens of people were wounded by the blast, which scattered body parts, scorched cars and smashed windows. The attack prompted Christians to protest on the streets, and some Christians and Muslims hurled stones at each other.

Egypt, due to hold a presidential election in September, has stepped up security around churches, banning cars from parking directly outside them, since an al Qaeda-linked group in Iraq issued a threat against the Church in Egypt in November.

Saturday's blast did not originate in any of the cars that were destroyed, an interior ministry statement on the official news agency said. "It is likely that the device which exploded was carried by a suicide bomber who died among others," it said.

The circumstances of this attack, compared with other incidents abroad, "clearly indicates that foreign elements undertook planning and execution," the statement added.

President Hosni Mubarak promised in a televised address that the terrorists would not destabilise Egypt or divide Christians and Muslims, and said the attack "carries evidence of the involvement of foreign fingers.

Health Minister Hatem el-Gabaly told Reuters by telephone that there were 17 confirmed dead, 12 of them already identified as Christians. Five bodies had yet to be identified. He said initial assessments indicated 70 people were wounded.

State media earlier reported 21 killed in the blast, which struck as worshippers marking the New Year left the church. The ministry had initially blamed the explosion on a car bomb.

2016 Olympic Games Emblem unveiled

2011-01-01T13:15:00.000-08:00

Photo taken on Dec. 31, 2010 shows the newly launched Rio 2016 Olympic Games Emblem in Rio De Janeiro. Rio 2016 Olympic Games Emblem was launched on Friday.

Jos: Bombers linked to Al-Qaeda

2011-01-01T12:50:00.000-08:00

Some of the victims of the bomb blast in the hospital

There are strong indications that the Islamic fundamentalist group, Jama’atu Ahlus-Sunnah Lidda’Awati Wal Jihad, which claimed responsibility for the Christmas Eve multiple bomb blasts in Jos, Plateau State, may have a link to the terrorist group, Al-Qaeda.

Findings showed that the radical group, which posted its claims on its web site, http://mansoorah.net/sb_attacks.php, could be an affiliate of Al-Qaeda as its site has links to the global terrorist group, which has master-minded many bombings in different parts of the world, including the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York.

Security sources informed our correspondent on Friday that the manner of the Jos bombings bore the hallmark of Al Qaeda.

This includes the inclination to claim responsibility, multiple and simultaneous bombings with heavy casualties, as well as video postings in Arabic language.

JALJ had said it was operating under the leadership of Abu Muhammad and Abubakar bin Muhammad Shekau, and reminded Muslims that “Allah enjoined them to make provisions for fighting ‘disbelievers,’ since they (disbelievers) are fighting Islam and its faithful.”

Apart from the Jos attacks, the group, which vowed to sustain the violent attacks on the city, which it named Suldaniyya, said it was behind another blast in a church in Borno State that claimed the lives of four people last Friday.

Checks showed that the web site was created on September 21, 2010 and hosted on a server in Columbus, Ohio, United States with the registered domain name help centre given as http://tucowsdomains.com/.

A probe of the characters behind the group’s web site showed that it was registered by one Aliyu Dahiru of 1234 Dankura Street, Gandun Albasa, Off Zoo Road, Kano, with the domain name of mansoorah.net.

Aliyu also has a Google mail, mdaliyu@gmail.com, with telephone number +1.2348028539. He claimed to have a degree from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi and also has a Facebook account.

A former Security Adviser to the Rivers State Government, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, in a telephone interview, said the group might be affiliated to Al-Qeada and might be on the payroll of politicians, who were bent on destabilising the country ahead of the general elections in order to discomfit those in authority.

He warned security agents to be more pro-active, noting that he had earlier cautioned that the nation might experience more bomb blasts after the Abuja incident, but his advice was not taken seriously by those in authority.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olusola Amore, said the police had arrested seven suspects over the crisis, adding that detectives were making progress in the case.

He stated that investigations would look at the group behind the web site, adding that someone in London had earlier sent him a text message on the sponsors of the web site, which he had forwarded to the Plateau State Commissioner of Police for action.

“We believe the claim may be an attempt to confuse investigations, but we will look at everything pertaining to the crisis including those claiming to be responsible for the incident.

“We cannot rule out the fact that the group may be working with Al-Qaeda or others, but the police have arrested seven persons and investigations will unearth others involved in the crisis,” Amore said.

Meanwhile, the Citizens Popular Party has condemned the bomb blasts in Jos, describing them as outrageous and a wicked Christmas gift to the good people of Plateau State.

It described the incident as an act of terrorism, which he noted, was alien to the culture of the people.

He said that the Abuja bomb blasts, the serial blasts in Delta State and the seizure of explosives in Lagos portended a grave danger to the security, unity and stability of the nation.

The CPP, in a statement by its National Chairman, Mr. Maxi Okwu, urged the police and the operatives of the State Security Service to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act and bring them to book immediately.

It wondered why no action had been taken on the recommendations of the federal and state panels set up to investigate the causes of the debacle in the state.

On Christmas Eve, eight bombs were detonated in two locations in Jos as the bombers targeted Christian worshippers.

The first bomb went off at about 7.30 pm, with the rest going off minutes after.

Eyewitnesses said no fewer than 30 people were killed in the quintuple bomb blasts.

Four bombs went off simultaneously at Kabong in Gada Biu area of Jos North, while another one was detonated in front of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Kabong.

No fewer than 10 Christian worshippers were said to have been torn to shreds by the bombs.

The residents of the area were in utter confusion as the bombs went off one after the other, sending them scampering to safety.

It was gathered that three of the bombs were planted inside the Gada Biu Market, at the foot of the newly-inaugurated fly-over, where late night shoppers were trying to get items, especially food for the Christmas celebration.

On the same day, four other bombs went off at Angwan Rukuba, about eight kilometres from Gada Biu.

In both areas, churches and crowded areas, like markets were the prime targets.

Eyewitnesses said that eight bodies were counted in front of the church, while some others were blown off inside the market.

The Plateau State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Greg Yenlong, who confirmed the incident, had attributed it to the handiwork of the Al-Qaeda sect in Jos.

Also, on Wednesday, twin bomb blasts occurred in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State just as Britain and Russia joined the international community in flaying the Christmas Eve attacks in Plateau and Borno states.

No deaths were recorded in the Bayelsa blasts, which were confirmed by the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Aliyu Musa.

Before the news of the Yenagoa blasts spread, there were reports that members of an Islamic fundamentalist group, the Jama’atu Alhlus-Sunnah Lidda’ Awati Wal Jihad, had shot three people dead in a hospital in Maiduguri on Tuesday night.

Another blast in Barkin Ladi near Jos on Tuesday was, however, a subject of controversy as the police claimed that the reports on the incident were untrue.

While the reports on Wednesday had it that a bomb exploded killing the bearer before he could reach his target, the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, Mr. Abdulramman Akano, had said it was a device used for an experiment by a secondary school teacher that exploded.

Source:http://www.punchng.com

BRT: 171,894 commuters take free Xmas buses

2011-01-01T12:38:00.000-08:00

Bus Rapid Transit buses

A total of 171, 894 Lagos residents rode on the free mass transit buses provided by the Lagos State Government on the Christmas day.

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has also offered free bus ride to interested commuters on the New Year eve and January 1, 2011, to ease transportation challenges during the New Year celebration.

A statement on Thursday said that the Bus Rapid Transit buses would be available on Mile 12 - CMS, CMS - Lekki/Ajah, Jibowu - Oyingbo - Mile 2, Oyingbo - Fadeyi and Mile 12 - Oshodi routes.

The Bus Franchise Scheme, it added, would also be available on the Ikotun/Igando/Iyana - Ipaja - Maryland route.

About 108,010 and 63,884 commuters had used the BRT and BFS services, respectively on the Charismas day when similar free ride was provided.

The Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said the turnout of commuters on December 25, 2010 underscored the effectiveness of the bus schemes of the state government and the confidence of passengers continue to have in the operation of the system.

He urged users to reciprocate the gesture of the government by being orderly and courteous to other users and the BRT operatives.

Source:http://www.punchng.com

80 dead, 109 wounded, 3 arrested

2010-12-27T16:05:00.000-08:00

No fewer than 80 persons have been confirmed killed and 109 wounded in the bombing and reprisal attacks which took place in Jos from Christmas eve to date. Also, three people have so far been arrested in connection with the reprisal attacks. Security agencies have also discovered an area in Nasarawa Gwom where some persons were engaged in manufacturing of local bombs.
Meanwhile, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Abdurrahman Kano, said 20 houses were burnt in the reprisal attacks carried out on Sunday.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which has so far identified four refugee camps in the state capital housing some of the displaced persons disclosed that it arrived at the figure of the victims after going round five hospitals where they were being treated. They include the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Our Lady of Apostles Hospital, ECWA, Sunna and Zakariya Hospitals.The Deputy Director of Communications of NEMA, Mr. Daniel Balarabe Gambo, who disclosed that the records from the hospitals also showed that 71 victims had been treated and discharged. He said the agency was also working in conjunction with the police, Civil Defence Corps, Doctors Without Borders and Red Cross Society of Nigeria. He said most of the victims still on admission were in dire need of food and medication, adding that while NEMA was trying its best to meet their needs, it would equally need assistance from public spirited Nigerians.
Meanwhile, Spokesman of the Special Task Force on Jos Crisis STF, Capt. Charles Ekeocha, has disclosed to journalists that two of those arrested, Yusuf Sabiu and Ismaila Garga were arrested at Anglo Jos in the process of igniting dynamite to burn down some houses.
He said when they were searched, two wraps of Indian hemp and seven unexpended cartridges were found on them while the third man who was arrested on Monday morning was from Niger Republic. The STF spokesman said the men would be handed over to the police headquarters for further investigations.
The spokesman also disclosed , Monday evening that some of the STF men ran into some men making local bombs with dynamite powder and some spirits at Nasarawa Gwom. He said on sighting the men of the task force, the people took to their heels and could not be arrested but the task force was able recover the items they were using. He said efforts were being made to arrest the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defense Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petirin has visited all the areas rocked by last Friday’s bomb blasts with a promise to get to the root of the incident, stressing that the crisis in Jos would no longer be treated with kid gloves.
Air Chief Marshal Petirin, while addressing the people at the spot of the incident at Kada-Biu area of Jos, assured that perpetrators of the dastardly act would be tracked down.
The defense chief said the intention of government was to fish out the perpetrators because “we cannot continue to allow the people of evil mind to move about freely. I want all of you to be patient with the law enforcement agents and allow them to carry out a thorough investigation. I can assure you that positive result would come out of our investigation,” he assured.
In a related development, Plateau State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists has announced the death of one of its members, Mr. Augustine Sindyi, a photo journalist with The Nigeria Standard Newspapers in the recent bomb explosions in Jos. According to a statement signed by the NUJ Chairman, Mr. Katdapba Gobum and the Secretary, Mr. Isaac Shobayo, Mr. Sindyi was at the scene of the multiple bomb blasts at Kabong in Jos North Local Government Area of the state when the unfortunate incident occurred. He was among the first casualties that died instantly before getting to the hospital.
Meanwhile, business activities have begun to build up while vehicles have started plying roads unlike what was experienced two days earlier. However, there is still strong security presence in the state capital.

source:http://www.sunnewsonline.com http://www.sunnewsonline.com

...Oritsejafor, Kumuyi charge FG

2010-12-27T15:57:00.000-08:00

Two frontline Christian clerics, Ayo Oritsejafor and W. F. Kumuyi have charged the Federal Government to urgently muster the political will to fish out the masterminds of the attack. President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Oritsejafor who spoke yesterday at the end of the 2010 Poverty Alleviation Programme of the Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, described the perpetrators of the heinous Christmas Eve multiple bombing as agents of terrorism bent on destabilising the nation.

The fiery preacher who is also the national leader of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) said he was pained that certain individuals could deliberately attempt to truncate the peace that was beginning to evolve in Jos after a spate of violent crises.

“I must tell you that that was the worst devastation that I have heard since the beginning of the year, especially knowing that people could detonate bombs in Jos on the eve of Christmas. It was as incredible as it was shocking and that is why I will like to call on the Federal Government to urgently arrest the brains behind the act of terrorism,” he said.

Similarly, Pastor Kumuyi, General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, said the incident was an unfortunate commentary on the ability of government to stem the tide of fanaticism and unbridled religious convictions.
According to him, a situation in which intra-sect feuds easily led to the burning of churches and needless killings of church ministers and innocent citizens was an abhorrent trend, which must not be allowed to continue.
Addressing journalists at the Deeper Life Conference Centre, Mowe, Ogun State, the cleric said the perpetrators of such acts must not only be apprehended but must be visited with the full weight of the law promptly, adding that the initiative rested on the doorsteps of the security agencies to bring this unfortunate trend to an end.

His words: “The repeated flare-ups of such crisis is an unfortunate commentary on the ability of government to stem the tide of fanaticism and unbridled religious convictions. Perpetrators of such acts must not only be apprehended, they must be seen to be visited with the full weight of the law promptly.”
Kumuyi decried the state of the nation saying it was a mixed-bag of successes and drawbacks. “Clearly, our country could have progressed more than we are witnessing but for lapses on the part of everyone. Ours is a nation of manifold human and material resources, but the repeated failure to harness these resources harmoniously for our collective good, has served to hinder our march to progress in every facet,” he stated.

He observed that whichever way one looked at every sector, be it education, health, transportation, energy and so on, they people were yet to fully mobilise the latent potentials, which were begging to be exploited for the collective good and this, according to him, was the long-standing challenge facing the people as a nation.
Oritsejafor who described the twin violent uprisings in Jos and Maiduguri, Borno State, as both political and religious, warned that if the government did not swiftly and decisively arrest the growing trend of terrorism in parts of the North, there might be greater devastation.
He said it was obvious that the blasts were the evil machinations of certain powerful and influential individuals in the society who were determined to truncate the current political transition if they could not get their hearts’ desires.

Oritsejafor called on the
Christian community to remain calm while he was still making efforts to reach President Jonathan on how best to deal with the matter and assuage the victims of the bomb blasts by way of adequate compensation.
He alleged that certain powerful individuals in the society hadperfected plans to destabilise the nation’s polity by provoking the Christian community to reaction and cause chaos and in the aftermath of the chaos make the country ungovernable.
Oritsejafor, therefore, implored the Federal Government to take decisive steps to tame the growing trend before few disgruntled elements plunged the country into a theatre of another war, warning that no nation had ever survived two civil wars.

“We can no longer allow this group of disgruntled elements to get away with these acts of terrorism in Nigeria,” he said, stressing the need for the Federal Government to urgently begin a process of training the nation’s security outfits on how to combat terrorism.
He reiterated his appeal to the Christian community in the country to stay calm to avoid playing into the hands of people who were out to destabilise the nation for their

selfish designs.
He disclosed that there were earlier security reports that were not promptly acted upon and hence scores of Nigerians were sent to their untimely death and denied the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
He maintained that Christmas reminded Christians of “the
birth of hope, the birth of peace and the birth of true reconciliation.”
Oritsejafor also used the occasion to urge the Christian
community, who he said, were desirous of free and fair
elections next year, to actively participate in the entire process.

The CAN president said Christians must come out to register during the voters registration exercise, noting that they must select credible candidates who had impeccable pedigree and after voting for such persons they should stay to defend their votes.
On the 2011 elections, Kumuyi said, “it is ennobling that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has resolved to deliver a process that will be both credible and fair. It behoves all Nigerians to fully cooperate with the agency so that we can once and for all abandon the spectre of electoral manipulations and the attendant consequences on the socio-political and economic outlook.

“Our politicians must know that Nigeria is a resilient and unique country, which has weathered successfully the severest of storms. They must also learn from history that those who abort the popular will have always stood on the wrong side of history and ultimately lose out in the process. Let us, therefore, learn from history and with the fear of God, position this nation where it ought to be as a respected member in the comity of nations.”

He, therefore, appealed to the leaders to seriously consider the defined interest of the nation and place it beyond the restricted confines of self-interest. This, he said, had become even more imperative as Nigerians prepare for the elections of next year with the attendant tension and stress being engendered.
“If the striving for leadership position is all about service to God and to humanity, then the acrimony and sometimes intemperate language being used by political actors must be substantially toned down. This negative trend is raising the political temperature of the country unnecessarily when democracy, as we know it, is all about popular participation, transparency, openness and liberty. Whatever detracts from these ennobling concept is counter-productive and must be avoided,” he advised.

He further appealed to the political actors at all levels to employ a more elegant and elevated language of discourse during political campaigns.
“What the nation does not need for now is an over-heated climate that could further compromise an already tenuous fabric. The focus should be on concrete, measurable, verifiable and achievable programmes that will justify the huge resources with which our country is endowed. I believe those aspiring for political offices must discuss issue-oriented and people-centred policies and programmes as against sabre-rattling and name-calling which are clearly counter- productive.”

He stated that the examples of some sister countries here in the West African sub-region, which successfully underwent a relatively stress-free political campaigns and elections should serve as a beacon to Nigerians that they could also repeat the same feat with same grit and determination.
The cleric also noted that political parties themselves had decided to raise the bar of prerequisites of those aspiring to contest for offices as those who wished to govern the people must possess the highest moral and intellectual credentials, which would spur them to emphasise service to the nation over and above pecuniary and parochial considerations.

“As we stand on the threshold of a new year, there is need for us as individuals and collectively to take an introspective look at the conduct of our lives thus far and consider the amendments we must undertake to make our lives worthy of God’s endowments. It should not take anyone time to recognise the need for more of God in our lives, even as we strive to overcome by His grace, those things, which serve to draw us apart from Him. If we are thinking of making a success of our earthly sojourn, it is of utmost importance that ·we submit to the majesty of God’s counsel,” he added.
Source:sun

Sikiru Ayinde Barrister for burial

2010-12-27T15:29:00.000-08:00

Sikiru Ayinde Barrister

The remains of late Fuji Music maestro, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister will be flown into the country on Wednesday and buried in his home in Isolo, Lagos State, contrary to conflicting reports about where his last resting place will be.

It was revealed that the body will arrive the Murtala International Airport by 1pm from the London Hospital where he died after a protracted illness. The reemains will then be moved to his house for burial, slated for 4pm the same day.

Further findings revealed that the body will be committed to mother earth right inside the sitting room of his popular Fuji Chambers,

while the house will be turned to museum. The Lagos State Government is said to have signified interest to contribute to the burial ceremony.

Sources close to the late musician also informed the public that the bed on which he last slept on before his departure for treatment in the UK and subsequent death will be preserved as part of archival materials that would attract tourists to the chambers.

Mr Ayinde died penultimate Thursday at St Mary's Hospital, London, United Kingdom, after developing complications as a result of surgery he underwent recently to extract excess fat from his body.

Health complications

Barrister, as he was fondly called in the music industry,

was 62.He was, about three months ago, admitted to a German hospital where about 32kg of fat was extracted from his body. Before this, he had undergone surgery at an Indian hospital. But on his return to Nigeria, he developed some complications and was referred to Germany for further medical treatment.

While in Germany, news filtered through that the musician had died. That news shook his fans and artistes who looked up to him for guidance, but he quickly came out to debunk the death rumour.

The deceased was a former soldier who fought in the Nigerian Civil War, before eventually becoming a full time musician. His music, which is very philosophical, touched the lives of his many fans.

Source: http://234next.com

7 die, 15 injured in 100-vehicle pile-up on SW China expressway

2010-12-27T15:20:00.000-08:00

Photo taken on Dec. 27, 2010 shows a crashed truck after heavy fog caused an accident on the express way connecting Guiyang and Zunyi in southwest China's Guizhou Province. A chain of rear-end collisions began after a heavy truck crashed into a petrol station at about 8 a.m. on Monday. At least 7 people were killed and 15 were injured in the accident.

Seven people were killed and 15 others injured when over 100 vehicles crashed into the back of each other on an expressway in southwest China's Guizhou Province Monday morning, local authorities said.

The pile-up began when a truck crashed into a petrol station in Zunyi County at about 8 a.m. At least 100 other vehicles then crashed into the rear of each other, according to local firefighters.

Six people died at the scene. One died in hospital. The injured received treatment at the People's Hospital in Zunyi County.

It was foggy when the pile-up happened. At around 10 a.m., visibility on the expressway was still less than 50 meters, according to a Xinhua reporter at the scene.

Traffic banked up for about 20 kilometers after the accident.

Source:http://english.people.com.cn/

Akala gets condition for second term

2010-12-27T15:15:00.000-08:00

The Oyo State governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala.

One of the founding members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state,Yekini Adeojo, at the weekend, gave Oyo State governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala a condition he should meet before he gets needed support for his second term ambition.

Speaking with journalists at his Iyaganku Quarters residence in Ibadan, Mr Adeojo said if the governor could survive a fraud-free primaries and emerge the flagbearer of the party for the 2011 governorship election in the state, he will wholeheartedly support his ambition.

He, however, described the feat as gargantua, saying it has almost become a taboo going by the history of successive governors in the state from its inception.

"It is a taboo for Akala to say he wants to do it twice. Alao-Akala cannot do it twice. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Samuel Akintola and Chief Bola Ige who actually performed well did not succeed.Somehow, they all fell," he said.

A former governorship aspirant in the state, Mr Adeojo condemned Mr Alao-Akala for allegedly disrespecting the national leadership of the party by not personally attending a meeting called to harmonise all factions of the PDP within the party in the state last week.

Act unbecoming

The governor was said to have sent Olayiwola Olakojo, secretary to the state government and one other person, to represent him at a meeting organised by Okwesilieze Nwodo, PDP national chairman,to iron out issues on the crisis rocking the party in the state.

"If Akala emerges after the party leadership at the national has intervened and successfully harmonised all the groups, I will campaign for him. But, we are not going to primaries with those old Oyo state executives because they have been declared illegal by the INEC. The governor is not bigger than the party because it is the party that made him. If a party called him and he did not honour it, it shows he doesn't have respect for the party," Mr Adeojo said.

The politician said the governor's attitude is unbecoming of a man who rose to the top through the help of the party.

Though he said he would not want to say unpleasant things about the governor,whom he referred to as a brother, Mr Adeojo averred that it is a bad showing for the governor to want to place himself above the party after coming to the limelight through it.

While boasting that he was instrumental to the emergence of Mr Alao Akala as the governor, Mr Adeojo, one of the notable members of the coalition against the second term of the governor, said he will like to witness a renewed harmony among the factions within the party.

Source:http://234next.com

Milk of human kindness

2010-12-27T15:05:00.000-08:00

A female baby lion-tailed macaque drinks human breast milk from a feeding incubator at the Guangzhou Zoo, Guangdong Province on December 10. The monkey, classified as a threatened species, on the IUN(International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List, was born on November 3, but its mother rejected it.

"It was born thin, and because its mother did not feed it, the situation was very dangerous," said a zoo worker surnamed Yang who looked after the baby.

When zoo employees discussed how to feed it artificially, a vet who was a 2-month-old father at that time thought that his wife's breast milk might be helpful. His wife agreed. "When my husband told me his idea, I was happy to try, hoping my breast milk would help the baby monkey grow healthy." She used a breast pump to store milk and her husband took it to the zoo. The monkey is thriving now and another zoo worker who recently gave birth is also donating some of her milk.

Source:http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/

'Hero mother'

2010-12-27T15:02:00.000-08:00

A 8-month-old Tibetan mastiff named "Biyue" is seen with 12 of 14 puppies she gave birth on December 9 at the Jieyi Tibetan Mastiff kennel in Taoyuan township, Suining county, Jiangsu Province.

Tibetan mastiffs typically give birth to about eight pups. The kennel has found another dog to nurse five of the puppies.

"Biyue is really a hero mother," said a kennel employee who visited 30 Tibetan mastiff kennels to find a suitable mate for her, and finally found one named "Juwuba" (giant) in Tianjin Municipality.

Source:http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/

Ban Tonto Dike. Boycott her movies.

2010-12-27T14:57:00.000-08:00

I have only one very short thing to say.

Please help STOP Tonto Dike from acting. The girl is atrocious, she cannot act. If Nigeria has a porn industry, she is better of working there. She will make a very good porn star. the debauchery she exhibits in every movie she is in is enough to tell us that.

Please boycott all movies with Tonto Dike in it. If it pleases the actors guild, please ban this girl. she is a total disgrace to the growing nigerian film industry. The only reason producers keep using Tonto is because she is a whore. She is the sex element for them to use in selling their films to all of us hypocrites. We like sex, like to see it, but when Socrates Safo makes real porn for us, we yell at him. Thus, producers will put in Tonto. Knowing she will wring her mouth, put pressure on her face, make ugly faces and we think its cool as if that is what happens in Hollywood. Tonto thinks that is what will get her into Hollywood or that is what happens there? ignorant idiot she is in addition to being a cheap prostitute.

Shame on all the producers, actors and crew of dirty secret. Muna Obiekwe. Your nose like someone stepped on it. You too. next week is yours.

BAN TONTO DIKE, BAN TONTO DIKE, BAN TONTO DIKE, BAN TONTO DIKE. BAN BAN BAN BAN BAN BAN THE WHORE!!!!

Suspect package disarmed at Greek embassy in Rome

2010-12-27T14:50:00.000-08:00

Fire-fighters carrying hoses enter the Greek embassy in Rome, December 27, 2010, as Carabinieri officers stand outside.

ROME -- Bomb disposal experts disarmed on Monday a device sent to the Greek embassy in Rome, days after parcel bomb attacks claimed by an Italian anarchist group wounded two people at the Swiss and Chilean missions.

Police said the package found at the Greek embassy resembled the bombs which exploded in Rome last week, costing an employee of the Chilean embassy two fingers and also injuring a member of the Swiss embassy staff.

"The package was similar to the ones at the other embassies," Maurizio Mezzavilla, an official of the carabinieri, Italy's paramilitary police, told reporters outside the embassy, adding that anarchist involvement "could not be ruled out."

However, he said investigations were still being conducted and there was no firm evidence of who was responsible.

"A suspect package arrived; we immediately informed the carabinieri who arrived immediately and neutralized the bomb," Michael Campanis, the Greek ambassador to Italy told reporters.

He said the package, addressed by hand, had arrived in the embassy on December 24.

"We had not received any threats previously. The packet arrived on Friday afternoon when the embassy was already closed. The staff member found it this morning but security measures had already been stepped up," he said, adding that it appeared likely that the anarchists were responsible.

"Since it was the same kind of package as the others, that is our hypothesis," he said.

Last week, an Italian anarchist group called the Informal Anarchist Federation (FAI) claimed responsibility in a note for the parcel bombs at the Swiss and Chilean embassies.

Authorities have been on high alert since the attacks and there were false alarms at the Venezuelan, Danish, Monaco and Kuwaiti embassies as suspect packages turned out to be harmless.

There were other false alarms at the Irish and Ukrainian embassies last week.

The incidents have re-awakened concern over a potential rise in violence by domestic European militant groups as social tensions have grown following the financial crisis and government austerity packages imposed to pay for it.

Source:/www.chinadaily.com.cn