PRELIMINARY consultations scheduled to lead to the convocation of a National Conference were said to have been wrapped up in the outgone week, as President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have given the green light on the planned confab.
Investigations by Sunday Tribune revealed that President Jonathan had personally led some of the secret consultations with leaders of ethnic nationalities.
Only a few of the consultations were held in the open, as it emerged that the president had also constituted a team that would midwife the conference.
A source said on Saturday that contrary to reports in a section of the media, the presidency was actually spearheading talks with some leaders of ethnic nationalities for the purpose of identifying the need for the much talked about national conference.
According to findings, the conference is scheduled to start early next year, while the steering committee is now fine-tuning the modalities for the planned confab.
Besides a number of consultations that took place in Abuja, it was gathered that a number of top presidency hands were deployed in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna as well as the South-East and South-South states to directly hold talks with leaders of many of the ethnic nationalities.
Through the series of consultations, it was learnt that the consensus of opinion is that the country should provide a platform for the hitherto silent majority to ventilate their views on how to enhance Nigeria’s unity and also ensure peaceful co-existence.
A source close to the arrangement said that the president had concluded on the need to ensure that Nigerians ventilate their views within the democratic space while the fears of various ethnic groups were also addressed.
It was learnt that while the issues to be discussed at the confab would be moderated towards enhancing national unity, the government was willing to hear Nigerians out.
Said a source in the know: “A lot has been said about the need for national conference or even the Sovereign National Conference and the president, being a listening leader, has actually consulted with many leaders from across this country.
“There came the feeling that some Nigerians think the National Assembly may not really ventilate their views on devolution of powers, federalism and derivation, and that such issues are better thrashed out at the level of a national confab where people can truly agree on what they see as fundamentals.”
It was also learnt that the outcome of the planned confab would be handed over to the National Assembly, which would then prepare some bills in line with some agreed issues.
A source said that the confab may last for only six months.
In case the national confab could not complete its assignment before the completion of the ongoing constitution amendment exercise, a source said that the government would prepare separate bills for legislative action by the National Assembly.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
All twenty finalists of this year’s Miss Ghana beauty pageant have successfully undergone a four-day Military Boot Camp at the St.
Anthony Barracks of the Jungle Warfare School of the Ghana Armed Forces at Achiase, in the Eastern Region.
The four-day training exercise was to afford the contestants a unique opportunity to experience at first hand, the dynamics of the military institution, which is regarded as a forte of discipline, as well as to condition them mentally for the journey ahead of the national finals.
They were taken through physical training, which included regular fitness workouts, courses in time management and communication, as well as lessons in team building and cohesion.
Officials of the institution said the lessons where structured around those areas to help the contestants better appreciate time, communicate well with each other and also build a formidable unit force ahead of the finals, which is weeks away.
Not only were they given classroom lessons, the contestants were taken through various fitness drills during their four-day stay at the Jungle Warfare School.
They took part in a special “Booby Trap†training session in the jungle, which was to enable them value the techniques used to withstand threats and possible opposition, as well as a firing/shooting demonstration, whose moral was to get the contestants to aim and achieve their targets in life.
It was an exhausting yet fun-filled four-day exercise that also saw the contestants take part in a mountain-climbing exercise off Mountain Apimso, one of the highest in the Eastern Region.
Obviously impressed by the dedication and seriousness with which they took their Boot Camp, officials of the facility said the Miss Ghana 2012 contestants were one of their best trainees in recent times.
“We’ve been receiving guests here every now and then, but you are special. You’ve shown that you are not just beauty queens, but young ladies with passion and dedication for what you believe in,†said Major Joseph Buame of the JWS.
“We hosted you because we believe this pageant adds to Ghana’s heritage, and we are happy that you proved us right by excelling in the tasks we gave you during your four-day stayâ€.
Miss Ghana 2012 is powered Exclusive Events Ghana, with support from Manet Properties, Auto Plaza Ltd, Reflexion Hair care, Africa Cola, Fidelity Bank, Whirlpool, FC Skin & Beauty Klinik, Special Ice Mineral Water, Accents & Arts.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
All twenty finalists of this year’s Miss Ghana beauty pageant have successfully undergone a four-day Military Boot Camp at the St.
Anthony Barracks of the Jungle Warfare School of the Ghana Armed Forces at Achiase, in the Eastern Region.
The four-day training exercise was to afford the contestants a unique opportunity to experience at first hand, the dynamics of the military institution, which is regarded as a forte of discipline, as well as to condition them mentally for the journey ahead of the national finals.
They were taken through physical training, which included regular fitness workouts, courses in time management and communication, as well as lessons in team building and cohesion.
Officials of the institution said the lessons where structured around those areas to help the contestants better appreciate time, communicate well with each other and also build a formidable unit force ahead of the finals, which is weeks away.
Not only were they given classroom lessons, the contestants were taken through various fitness drills during their four-day stay at the Jungle Warfare School.
They took part in a special “Booby Trap†training session in the jungle, which was to enable them value the techniques used to withstand threats and possible opposition, as well as a firing/shooting demonstration, whose moral was to get the contestants to aim and achieve their targets in life.
It was an exhausting yet fun-filled four-day exercise that also saw the contestants take part in a mountain-climbing exercise off Mountain Apimso, one of the highest in the Eastern Region.
Obviously impressed by the dedication and seriousness with which they took their Boot Camp, officials of the facility said the Miss Ghana 2012 contestants were one of their best trainees in recent times.
“We’ve been receiving guests here every now and then, but you are special. You’ve shown that you are not just beauty queens, but young ladies with passion and dedication for what you believe in,†said Major Joseph Buame of the JWS.
“We hosted you because we believe this pageant adds to Ghana’s heritage, and we are happy that you proved us right by excelling in the tasks we gave you during your four-day stayâ€.
Miss Ghana 2012 is powered Exclusive Events Ghana, with support from Manet Properties, Auto Plaza Ltd, Reflexion Hair care, Africa Cola, Fidelity Bank, Whirlpool, FC Skin & Beauty Klinik, Special Ice Mineral Water, Accents & Arts.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife in this no-holds barred interview x-rays Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development these past 52 years and posits that the component nationalities and other social forces in the country must fix Nigeria this time around or forget about its future. He spoke to OKEY NDIRIBE AND EMMAN OVUAKPORIE in Abuja.
Considering the fact that a man of 52 is generally believed to be a mature person, can you say Nigeria has matured politically, economically and socially?
It is unfortunate that every year we have to make this assessment. It appears that every year we are saying the same thing. However, there is something special about this year. There is a story about the tortoise in Igbo folklore; the tortoise had fallen into a pit latrine. He was there for many days. However, on the very day the tortoise was to be rescued by some people, he began to complain and asked those who had come for the rescue operation to hurry up because the smell of the latrine was too much for him. But he was told to be patient since he had managed to endure the stench inside the pit for so long.
There is a Cape of Good Hope in Nigeria. For the first time in recent history, there is a convergence of views on what needs to be done about Nigeria. There is a consensus on what needs to be done for Nigeria-a country which is nearly always shipwrecked – so that it could become transformed into where things work.
Some eminent politicians held a meeting not too ago in Lagos and their major demand was that a National Conference be held.
Sometime ago, I was invited to Port-Harcourt over the debate on Sovereign National Conference. I was able to convince them that we should not talk about a Sovereign National Conference. This is because, once a Sovereign National Conference is convened, it would have the power to sack both the President and the National Assembly. Indeed, such a conference would have the power to do whatever it likes.
However, if we can have a National Conference, where we reach a consensus on certain issues, its decisions would come into effect after the incumbent government has left office.
One of the major problems we have faced in this country in the past is that some people do not believe in agreements. For instance an agreement was reached at the National Political Reforms Conference held in 2005 that an additional state should be created for the South-east geopolitical zone. About three months ago, the Presidential Committee on Constitutional Reforms also endorsed the same idea with some refinement.
However, a certain Governor from the North was quoted to have said he was opposed to that agreement. The question I want to ask is what is the population of Northern Nigeria?
What is the population of the South? What is the population of Anambra State? What is the population of Kano?
Ezeife: Ndigbo
We should allow the sleeping dogs to lie in this country. kicking up old dust is not good.
In 1962, there was a census and what was called preliminary result was announced. The result indicated that the population of the North at that time was 14 .5 million. The population of the Eastern Region was 11.5 million and that of the Western Region was eight million. So, the population of the south at that time was above 19.5 million and higher than that of the north.
Then two young men at that time: Mbazulike Amaechi and RBK Okafor now said that based on the census results, all the southern progressives should join hands together and form the next government. That declaration kicked up a census controversy. The lesson we learnt was from the controversy and its outcome. In the course of the controversy, the population of the North moved up from 14.5 million to 17 million. Then it was moved up again from this to 19 million. It was manipulated again from 19 million to 21 million and finally ended up being hiked to 29 million which was double of the initial figure for the region.
The East remained at 11.5 million while the West remained at eight million but was later raised to 10 million. The increment of the figures for the West arose after the Late Ladoke Akintola , former Premier of Western Region agreed to cooperate with the political party from the North. This is the foundation of all the subsequent census that has been conducted in this country. So when certain people talk about the population of their own part of the country, you begin to wonder whether they really have a sense of history.
Mr Smith, a British colonial officer who conducted an earlier census in 1951 stated that after the exercise, the North was found to have a smaller population than the South. He confessed before he died that the British authorities at that time did not want that census result to stand and therefore ordered a revision which turned the table.
What we are advocating is that there should be equality of zones; these six zones should then become the federating units of the country. Each of the zones should have some autonomy. Any of the zones could create one million states if they like. There is a consensus on this already.
If this arrangement is finally endorsed and captured in a constitution, there would be no need to argue over state police. There would be a middle ground and this could be called zonal police.
There should also be a revenue generation and sharing formula which recognizes fiscal federalism. Under this arrangement, there would be emphasis on the derivation formula as we have always had. We must emphasize national interest. All those who want Nigeria to still remain united do not desire a very weak central government. There should be a fairly strong centre; but nothing like what we have now. Again, we could ask ourselves whether we should continue with a bi-cameral legislature or unicameral arrangement with only the Senate in place? We could even consider having part-time Senators.
This is because what we are seeing in Nigeria is abnormal in the extreme; a developing country which spends about 80 percent of its income on recurrent expenditure, rather than capital expenditure. It is like a farmer who consumes more than what he had harvested; nothing would remain for him to plant in the next planting season.
Very recently, the House of Representatives rejected a bill which sought to recognize the geo-political zones. How do you react to this development at the legislature?
It is beyond the competence of the National Assembly to deal with matters
Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife
Iike that. The role of the National Assembly should be to repair the cracks on the wall of the House and not that of rebuilding the house. Rebuilding the House is the responsibility of the owners of the house.
It is not for the National Assembly which is part of the structural imbalances we want to correct to dictate the way to go. All the senators and members of House of Representatives emerged from these manipulated constituencies based on doctored election results. Unless some people want this country to disintegrate, we must open our eyes and act fast. We must not use present advantages at all.
Under the present arrangement, the North could kill whatever bill it doesn’t want. We need a National Conference to address Nigeria’s fundamental problems.
Nigeria has been moving along the wrong path; we don’t seem to realize that our country is the largest black nation on earth. We don’t seem to also realize that the black man who was number one in world civilization and development has today become the foot mat of the world. We do not seem to realize the manifest destiny of our country which is to restore the dignity of the black race.
In today’s world you could get military power with economic power. Nigeria is the country in Africa which can become the super power of the black race. Nigeria has a history which could easily appropriate the credit for whatever success we achieve unlike say South Africa. This could only be achieved if Nigeria remains a united country.
But if we cannot restructure, develop and unleash the great potentials everybody has identified in Nigeria; if we continue to remain backward and our peers overtake us, then such a country should cease to exist.
What can you say about the high level of insecurity in the country as has been epitomized by the activities of Boko Haram in the North and other violent groups in other parts of the country?
Insecurity is a common problem in several countries of the world. But when you talk about Boko Haram, it has several dimensions. For instance, those who said they would make the country ungovernable for President Goodluck Jonathan if he won last year’s election have exploited Boko Haram. They had expected that by unleashing violence on the nation, Nigerians would be cowed into submission and ask them to take over power so that there would be peace. There is also the original Boko Haram which wanted to Islamise the entire country. There are also those who are angry about how Nigeria has been governed and the poverty, illiteracy and disease it has led to and the emergence of the almajiris. However, majority of Nigeria’s past leaders responsible for the plight of even the almajiris were from the North. Yet some of them are still talking about power returning to the North in 2015.
I wish to state that those who think that they are punishing the Igbos by keeping them out of power are deceiving themselves. It is Nigeria that needs and Igbo President for this country to move forward. Infact, until Nigeria produces an Igbo man as President, this country is going no where in terms of progress. Igbos are number one agents of development wherever they may be. They are known for transforming their environment.
But some of those opposed to Igbo presidency have said that Igbos are inherently politically unstable. Such persons have cited how other Igbos pulled down various Presidents of the Senate when that office was allocated to the South-East under the PDP zoning arrangement.
It is not true that Igbos are not united. There is no ethnic nationality which would remain out of power for such a long time without being affected politically. Look at how disunited the North has become after remaining out of power for such a short time.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
More exciting revelations have emerged that the penchant for private jets acquisition has cost wealthy Nigerians over N1 trillion in five years.
The luxury trend actually rose by 650% between 2007 and 2012, this has increased the rate of private jet acquisition from 20 in 2007 to over 150 in 2012 which has placed Nigeria and china as the fastest growing private jets markets in the world.
Top ten private jets by wealthy Nigerians.
Type Price Owner 1. Falcons 7X. $51m(N8.2billion) Mike Adenuga
2. Bombardier Global 6000 $45.5m (N7.3billion) Unknown
3. Bombardier Global Express 5000 $45m (N7.2billion) Aliko Dangote
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan, is battling an onset of Parkinson’s disease that has complicated her recovery from a surgical procedure in Germany, several reliable sources have disclosed. Mrs. Jonathan was flown to a hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany close to a month ago to undergo emergency treatment after a botched procedure in Dubai.
In an interviews with three sources familiar with Mrs. Jonathan’s health status, it was learnt that the Nigerian president’s wife is beset by Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative syndrome. The disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system. A medical source described it as “a fairly common disorder that occasions degeneration of the nervous system.†The source added that the disease leads to “progressive impairment and disorder of movement.†An online medical site notes that Parkinson’s “is characterized by progressive loss of muscle control, which leads to trembling of the limbs and head while at rest, stiffness, slowness, and impaired balance. As symptoms worsen, it may become difficult to walk, talk, and complete simple tasks. .continue reading
The bombshell revelation about the First Lady’s medical woes was first made by a source familiar with Mrs. Jonathan’s previous secret treatments in Spain and Italy. The source disclosed that Mrs. Jonathan had battled Parkinson’s for some years now. In addition, doctors had advised her to “do something urgent about her morbid body mass index (BMI),†said the source. She added that Mrs. Jonathan had indeed considered undergoing the kind of tummy tuck procedure that former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha once had.
Two other sources close to the Jonathans confirmed that the First Lady has been dogged by Parkinson’s. One said the disease was largely responsible for her clumsiness, drawling speech and slow movement at public events. He added that Mrs. Jonathan has been suffering serious trembling in the left hand. “That’s why she always uses her right to hold the microphone when speaking at public events,†the source revealed. Mrs. Jonathan also reportedly is affected by stiffness of the limbs and trunk which affects her movement.
A news staffer at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) told SaharaReporters that Mrs. Jonathan’s aides warned reporters covering her never to film her beyond her waist. “Her senior personal assistant told the crew covering her long ago: ‘Don’t ever film Madam’s waist. Show her face only.’ That’s been the code at NTA.â€
Two of our sources stated that Mrs. Jonathan had made efforts to slow the disease that had started to ravage her. “She has been visiting a health farm in Italy on a regular basis since 2010,†one source revealed. “To alleviate her pain, she has been taking her medication religiously.â€
A friend of Mrs. Jonathan’s said that the First Lady’s health maladies include anxiety, occasional memory loss and disorientation. In addition, her blood pressure often rises to dangerous levels, forcing her to take a cocktail of anti-hypertensive drugs.
Also, our sources said that some officials attached to the First Lady’s office described her as constantly depressed, prone to snapping at people at the slightest provocation. “The First Lady can just get angry at the slightest provocation and rain abuses at anybody in sight,†he said.
As happened during the health crisis of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the Nigerian Presidency’s reaction to Mrs. Jonathan’s health condition is to be mum. When SaharaReporters contacted a senior aide of President Jonathan on the matter of the First Lady’s illness, he sharply said, “I’m not saying anything. And please don’t mention that you spoke to me.†SaharaReporters learnt that officials of the Presidency are under a virtual oath of secrecy on the issue of Mrs. Jonathan’s health crisis
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Although his tenure as President of Nigeria has long been over, Olusegun Obasanjo seems to be getting more and more international recognition.
In June, the former President was appointed an adviser to New World Oil and Gas plc, an AIM-listed investment company focused on investing in and operating oil and gas assets {click here to read the report}.
Now, just a few months later, he has gotten another international recognition, this time from the United Nations.
On Sunday, in New York, the UN conferred on him the South-South Awards for Global Leadership.
The ceremony was part of the 2nd Annual South-South Awards which took place at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel during the High-Level Segment of the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly.
According to NAN, the 2012 South-South Award recognises, shares and disseminates the most outstanding success stories and lessons learned in South-South and triangular cooperation in using ICT for development.
The selection process for the Awards is led by an internationally recognised jury, and the Awards are organised in close cooperation with several international organisations under the patronage of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The criteria for the nomination and selection of Award winners focus on achievements and initiatives, which represent outstanding contributions and advances in the use of ICT and media in advancing the MDGs.
The Awardees include government leaders, business, ICT innovators and practitioners, and youth leaders.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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