ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Six Flags reopened the Texas Giant roller coaster Saturday for the first time since a rider died at the North Texas amusement park, with new precautions and warnings for people lining up more than an hour to board.
The ride opened with redesigned restraint bars and new seat belts, as well as a trial seat that riders could sit in before entering the line. The new measures did not appear to deter thousands of riders who waited an hour or more to ride the twisting wood-and-metal coaster.
Six Flags cautioned park-goers that the Texas Giant might not accommodate "guests with unique body shapes or sizes."
The ride has been closed since Rosa Ayala-Goana fell 75 feet (23 meters) to her death in July. A witness told local media then that she expressed concern moments before the 14-story ride began that the safety bar had not completely engaged.
Her family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Six Flags.
Six Flags says its investigation found no mechanical failure on the ride. The park is not required to submit a report to the state on what caused her to fall from the wooden coaster with steel rails that features a drop of 79 degrees and banked turns.
Riders on Saturday waited to board in the muggy summer heat, with temperatures well into the 90s Fahenheit (30s Celsius). Many sat in the test chair at the start of the line beforehand. The chair gave off a loud beep every time someone sat down and pushed the restraint bar onto their lap.
As riders got into the train, two park staffers told them to raise their arms and closely checked each seat to make sure the restraint bars and seat belts were in place. Other park staff watched on the platform as riders boarded and exited. The safety checks on some trains took several minutes.
Things seemed to be normal once the ride left the platform. Riders on one train applauded once the train came to a stop. Others shouted and cheered.
Some park-goers on Saturday said that they were aware of the death on the Texas Giant, but it didn't deter them from going on the ride.
"I'm actually interested in the restraint system," said Shelton Lester, a 21-year-old from Denton, Texas, who was visiting the park with a friend.
Asked about the death, Lester said thousands upon thousands of people visited the park each year.
"Something's going to happen to someone eventually, and it's tragic, but it's statistical," he said.
More than a dozen people reported being injured on the Texas Giant between April 2008 and April 2013, according to records from the Texas Department of Insurance. Many were minor injuries, but at least one concussion was reported.
A Six Flags spokeswoman said Saturday that the ride is operating normally.
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.
The U.S. and Russia announced an agreement Saturday aimed at setting a timetable for destruction of Syria's chemical weapons and averting a proposed U.S. military strike against the war-torn Middle Eastern nation.
Under the agreement, hammered out on the third day of tense talks in Geneva, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations will be responsible for dismantling Syria's chemical weapons capabilities.
Syrian President Bashar Assad would be required to provide an accounting of those weapons within a week.
"The world will now expect the Assad regime to live up to its public commitments," Secretary of State John Kerry said in announcing the deal in Geneva. "And as I said at the outset of these negotiatons, there can be no games, no room for avoidance, or anything less than full compliance by the Assad regime."
President Obama called the deal a "concrete step toward the goal of moving Syria's chemical weapons under international control."
"This framework provides the opportunity for the elimination of Syrian chemical weapons in a transparent, expeditious and verifiable manner, which could end the threat these weapons pose not only to the Syrian people but to the region and the world," Obama said in a statement.
An official of the OPCW, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak about the agreement, said details of the plan have not been worked out but the agency welcomes the agreement and would work to implement it.
American inspectors would probably not be part of the inspection team, though that could not be ruled out as plans had not yet been developed.
The official did point out that the inspectors who examined an Aug. 21 chemical attack, which touched off the latest crisis, did not include the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council — Russia, China, France, Britain and the United States — because of "Syrian sensibilities."
Securing the inspectors will be a large challenge. The country is in the midst of a civil war and it is unclear whether opposition forces would agree to cooperate with the agreement.
The document suggests security would be provided using U.N. forces. Pentagon spokesman George Little said Saturday that the U.S. had made no immediate changes in forces in the region.
"The credible threat of military force has been key to driving diplomatic progress, and it's important that the Assad regime lives up to its obligations under the framework agreement, Little said.
Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said they will seek a U.N. Security Council resolution that could authorize sanctions if Assad's government fails to comply.
Kerry said the two had agreed on grounds under which they might request a Security Council "Chapter 7" resolution, which could include military and non-military sanctions. Russia, however, has made it clear it would veto military action.
"If we can join together and make this framework a success, and elminate Syria's chemical weapons, we would not only save lives but we would reduce the threat to the region and reinforce an international standard," Kerry said.
Kerry said the inspectors must be on the ground by November and destruction or removal of the chemical weapons must be completed by mid-2014.
"We have committed to a standard that says verify and verify," Kerry said.
Lavrov called the agreements a "decision based on consensus and compromise and professionalism."
"Any violations of procedures … would be looked at by the Security Council and if they are approved, the Security Council would take the required measures, concrete measures," Lavrov said. "Nothing is said about the use of force or about any automatic sanctions. All violations should be approved by the Security Council."
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.
XALAPA, Mexico (AP) — Ingrid became the second hurricane of the Atlantic storm season off Mexico on Saturday, prompting the evacuation of several thousand people while Tropical Storm Manuel threatened to cause flash floods and mudslides on the opposite side of the country.
On Saturday evening, Hurricane Ingrid was packing maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. The storm was centered about 195 miles east of Tuxpan, Mexico and moving north at 7 mph.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said that if Ingrid stays on the forecast track, it's likely to reach the coast of Mexico on Monday.
In Tamaulipas state to the north, where the Hurricane Center says Ingrid will probably make landfall, the government said in a statement that Independence Day festivities were cancelled in the cities of Tampico, Madero and Altamira. The Sept. 15 and 16 celebrations commemorate Mexico's battle of independence from Spain.
Officials in the Gulf state of Veracruz began evacuating coastal residents Friday night, and local civil protection authorities said that more than 5,300 people had been moved to safer ground. Of those, about 3,500 people were being housed in official shelters with the rest staying with family and friends. There were no immediate reports of injuries blamed on the storm.
More than 1,000 homes in Veracruz state have been affected by the storm to varying degrees, and 20 highways and 12 bridges have suffered damages, according to the state's civil protection authority.
A bridge collapsed near the northern Veracruz city of Misantla Friday, cutting off the area from the state capital. Thirteen people died when a landslide buried their homes in heavy rains spawned by Tropical Depression Fernand on Monday.
State officials imposed an orange alert, the highest possible, in parts of southern Veracruz.
Off Mexico's Pacific coast, Tropical Storm Manuel was moving with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. It was 75 miles off the city of Lazaro Cardenas and 185 miles southeast of Manzanillo. A tropical storm warning was in effect from Acapulco to Manzanillo.
Manuel was expected to produce 10 to 15 inches of rain over parts of the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, and life-threatening flash floods and mudslides were considered likely.
Elsewhere, the remnants of Tropical Storm Humberto were swirling in the Atlantic, far from land. It was expected to regenerate in a couple of days, according to the Hurricane Center.
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.
Respected Nigeria football aficionado,Chief Adegboyega Onigbinde is hopeful that the outcome of FIFA’s query to Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi over alleged racial slur on Belgian-born coach Tom Saintfeit, will not affect the fortunes of the team in the 2014 World Cup qualification play-offs.
In the heat of the mind games ahead of the group qualifier between Nigeria and Malawi, Keshi was reported to have called Saintfeit a “white dude” adding also that Saintfeit who was an interim coach for the Flames of Malawi should go back to his country. Saintfeit, a well traveled coach in Africa reported the matter to the world soccer governing body.
FIFA which has always frowned at any form of racial comments, gave Keshi two weeks to explain himself and if he is found wanting, he might get the stick for his utterances. “Keshi knows what led him to make such statements if at all he did. But I believe that he should be able to defend himself,” said Onigbinde, a FIFA instructor.
He admitted that it was worrisome that this drama is coming when the Eagles are facing the last hurdle of their qualification to the 2014 World Cup. “We can only wish that the outcome will not throw the team off its stride in view of the matches ahead. FIFA does not usually take into cognisance any approaching game before taking decisions on disciplinary matters. “All what we can do now, is to hope that Keshi puts up a strong defence and escape sanctions.”
Nigeria Football Federation technical committee chairman, Chris Green confirmed that Keshi got an official query from FIFA before the match against Malawi in Calabar. “We are all putting our thoughts together and will give Keshi an opportunity to defend himself within the deadline given by Fifa.“The federation is confident that coach Stephen Keshi is not a racist and what transpired between both coaches has been blown out of proportion. We are very optimistic that everything will be sorted out amicably,” Green stressed.
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.
The commercial city of Onitsha and indeed the whole of Anambra State was set agog yesterday as the gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party in the forthcoming election, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, flagged-off his campaign.
The occasion, which took place at the Holy Trinity Centenary field, saw the venue filled to the brim. “We want Ifeanyi Ubah,”rent the air.
After managing his way through the crowd, at about 4pm, Ifeanyi Ubah mounted the stage with his“Freedom Plan Agenda for Ndi-Anambra”. In between the speech, the people could not hold back their joy at the hope he gave them.
The Labour Party candidate told the people“After searching my soul and engaging in widespread consultation, I have decided to sacrifice my time and resources in order to offer the kind of leadership Ndi-Anambra need now for the positive development of our state.”
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.
In this interview, the Coordinator of the Northern Emancipation Network, Mal. Abdul-Azeez Sulaiman, says that the ordinary people in the North can no longer follow the political elite blindly. He also warns that the North could suffer after Nigeria presidential Election (NPE) in 2015 if it continues to antagonize President Goodluck Jonathan as it is not in a position to win the presidency in the next general elections.
How do you assess the political atmosphere in the country right now?
I think the atmosphere is dicey but interesting, because, about two years to the elections, the battle has already started. It makes the atmosphere very exciting at least to those who are political- minded.
We have seen the excitement that came with the registration of the APC, how a merger was achieved for the first time in Nigeria’s political history. I do not think there has ever been a complete merger, although we have had some alliances.
People were surprised when the PDM was registered. It should not have been a surprise; it was an expected move from former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. What happened at the PDP convention, we all know, is a build up to 2015; so I can say the atmosphere is exciting.
Would you not consider the battle for 2015 as a distraction to government both at the federal and state levels? It is like we are going to waste two years politicking, rather than allowing those in government to concentrate on developmental issues.
The issue of government, to my understanding and the experience I have, is that only those who are in government are concerned with government. People outside are only concerned with how to remove that government and replace it; so as far as this gang of emerging opposition is concerned, it is not a distraction. It is left for government to focus on what is before it. For the opposition, the government should not even work. So it cannot be said to be a distraction, opposition is allowed everywhere.
Some people have raised issues about the quality of the membership of APC which we all know is a merger of the ACN, ANPP and CPC. Some people say what happened in 2011 where the alliance between CPC and ACN did not produce the desired result of fielding a successful candidate, especially at the federal level, will repeat itself. Do you see the APC as an alternative platform to the PDP?
When we talk of the APC, I would rather separate two issues, whether the merger is even going to work is one thing, producing a government that is better than the PDP is another .
About the merger, we all know how it started as an alliance in 2011 but failed practically and theoretically. And the move continued to produce the merger that is now the APC. If you look at the partners, you will discover that the marriage may not last.
When we look at the composition of the ANPP, the same people that could not contain former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, in 2007 and 2011, he (Buhari) had to leave to form the CPC. So, at what point are they telling us that they have reconciled their differences. And Buhari’s differences with the ANPP were fundamental.
Now, if you look at the A CN, we all know that it has an articulate political agenda, and the Yoruba may be more politically conscious to a point where the Yoruba voter may be redirected to vote the APC. But in the North, the problem is that they might not have the consciousness to adopt the APC as a common platform.
Why do you say so?
That is what is happening now. You can see that with the coming of the APC, the Yoruba people said they do not need the presidency. When the APC held a meeting in the South-west, the Yoruba clearly said they do not need the presidency.
So, the general feeling is that Buhari may pick the APC presidential ticket and we all know that Atiku would never jettison his personal ambition for anybody; he will definitely contest that election (2015).
So, you can see already the North is divided. And, before the end of the year, we are going to have another platform where some of the breakaway governors could contest because they are not actually going ahead with Atiku. All the northern governors that walked out of the PDP National Convention with Atiku are not his bed fellows.
If you look at their antecedents, all of them are Obasanjo boys. They have never had anything in common with Atiku. But Atiku will eventually leave the PDP because of his personal ambition. He knows that it is going to be almost impossible for him to pick the PDP ticket and he must contest. And he cannot join the APC; so he got his associates to register the PDM which has, all along, been the political organisation which he inherited from General Yar’Adua.
Now, instead of him to just move out, to his PDM, he has to cause commotion. The mainstream PDP would be looking at the crack in the party but that is not the end of it. Whatever the reconciliation effort may be, Atiku is not going back. He will eventually end up in PDM, where he will contest the presidential election.
Could give us an insight into the game plan of the politicians in the North who are against the present government that led to all of these?
What we have today is a conscious North and the northern political elite. Before now, wherever the elite went, the crowd followed them. But, now, it is no longer the same. People have started thinking that they should not allow the elite take them wherever they go.
By the virtue of my position as a journalist and Coordinator of the Northern Emancipation Network, I have had the opportunity of meeting some of these northern elite to discuss.
Most of us in the Northern Emancipation Network and our affiliates do not see the necessity of the North insisting on the presidency in 2015 or any time in the near future. Our reason is that if holding central power is the key to the success of a people, then the North ought to have been the most successful region in Nigeria. If that yardstick is true, the Igbo ought to have been the most backward because they have not in practical terms had power at the centre.
The North held power for the most part of Nigeria’s existence as an independent nation yet we are the most backward.
The Igbo that have not held power is by far the most advanced technogically and economically.
Why? It is either power at the centre is not enough to develop a people or the northern political elite misused it
Some of them who told the nation that our public infrastructure cannot work even if the entire public funds were invested in them are the same people now telling us that they can make the facilities work under privatization. These is the type of people we had as leaders from the North and they are the same people who are transforming either through their children or their wives or brothers.
Some northerners of your class sound very bitter about Nigeria than people of Igbo extraction because, just as you said, the region held power for a long time and the power was meant for the holders alone.
The motive is personal. It has nothing to do with the larger North. The northern political elite believe the region is their personal asset. They started this rotation thing when they made Obasanjo president. Because it has not been the entire North handling the region’s political situation, it reclaimed power in 2007 under Yar’Adua.
The North had the opportunity to place itself appropriately to reclaim power after President Jonathan if it had played the right card but it played the wrong card when Yar’Adua was sick. None of these elders came out to do the right thing by asking Jonathan, who was then Yar’Adua’s deputy, to take over. Instead, they fought this man until God took power and handed it to him.
The elite did that claiming they were doing it for the North. Some of us were talking then but our voice was not loud.
The impression you are creating is that the crisis we are witnessing especially in the North was precipitated by the elite.
What crisis? We have political and security challenges.
By your reckoning, has it anything to do with the struggle for power come 2015?
It may not have been directly incited by the northern elite but it must have been caused by their actions or inaction. For instance, in Yobe and Borno states where the insurgency started, you have situations where by some people were governors and, after their tenure, they moved on to the Senate and their wives into the House of Reps or were given other government appointments as if they were the only families in their states.
Go round the North and see the type of schools our children attend. Today we have a generation that is no longer prepared to be slaves to the northern elite.
Six years ago, if someone tells you that a northerner will pick up a gun go to a mosque or church to kill people, you may not believe. But now it is happening; the elite created it either knowingly or unknowingly.
The Emir of Kano wept in the public three times because of the activities of these boys. The Emir of Zauzzau is protected by military men in his palace.
What is your group all about?
The agenda is to enlighten the northern population that it is time to tell the elite that what they have taken is enough. We are no longer prepared to be slaves. They have enslaved our grandparents, parents and we are not going to allow them to enslave us and their children enslave our children. As it has been for generations, they are now, seeing a different northern picture.
It is no longer business as usual where you just come out and say we are northerners.
Are you saying that those who claim to be the northern leaders are not representing you?
Categorically we have said it. Maybe they are older than we are; so they call themselves elders. They could be older but they are not statesmen. It is the same people that have brought division in the north.
We have spoken to people who told us about how the late Sir Ahmadu Bello ran the region. He did not bring about division. Every northerner, no matter tribe or religion, was a northerner. He introduced the northernersation policy.
How has the Jonathan presidency benefited the North?
There is no region that has been favoured as far as federal appointments are concerned than the North. For instance, the Vice President, Senate President, Speaker, INEC chairman, NSA, Inspector General of Police, Comptroller of Customs, many ministers are northerners. Even President Jonathan’s region of Niger Delta does not have that.
Our agenda is that we should not allow these people to endanger the northern political future for their personal reasons because it will be disastrous if we allow the North to play the enemy in 2015 and loses as it happened in 2011.
Now, the calculation is that we cannot get it in 2015. The northern Muslims votes will be split between Atiku and Buhari and we are likely to have Lamido, while the northern Christians vote will go to Jonathan who also enjoys bulk vote from other regions.
It is clear that if the North goes for the presidency in 2015, it will not get it, so why not be friends with the person who is likely to win so that the North is not endangered. If we play this bad card again and lose in 2015, in 2019, the region will not have a voice again in this country just like northern Cameroon which used to hold power.
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.
A British journalist, David Hayward, who visited Nigeria, captures his impressions about the country.
Earlier this year, I was approached to do some media consultancy in Nigeria. I’d just left the BBC after 18 years, to set up my own business, so this seemed a great opportunity. I spoke to a number of friends and former colleagues. I’d heard many stories about Nigeria, seen the reports on Boko Haram and had my own impressions of sub Saharan Africa.
The advice fell into two camps:
a) Don’t go, you’ll get kidnapped or catch malaria. Either way, you’re going to die
b) Nigeria is a nightmare. When you arrive, you’ll be swamped by hustlers trying to rip you off, steal your luggage and all your money. If they don’t get you, the corrupt police officers and officials will.
I was mainly to be based in Asaba, the capital of the Delta State, one of, if not the biggest, oil producing states is Nigeria. In an attempt to be a bit more thorough with my research than asking a few old mates, I contacted the office of BBC Media Action in Abuja.
The fairly pragmatic response was: “We treat the Delta State as a hostile environment. It’s an oil producing area and there is a strong risk of kidnapping. However if you have armed security, this risk will be slightly reduced”. I took this to be reassuring and made sure an armed security clause was written into my contract. I spent some time talking to my wife Jo and children about the prospect of going to Nigeria.
Jo’s attitude was: “For God’s sake, this is exactly what you love doing. The more dangerous a place the better the stories. You’ll be able to show off and bore people senseless about roadblocks, men with guns and how brave you are”. Buoyed by this I accepted the work and prepared for Asaba. I got my visa, all the vaccinations I could fit into my arm and made sure I had a small mountain of malaria tablets.
I really didn’t know what to expect from Nigeria. It’s easy to fall into preconceptions that Africa is all about war, famine, corruption and poachers killing endangered animals.
I caught the overnight BA fli1around the site to cater for a mass of cargo. About ten minutes drive away, just across the Niger Bridge, is the city of Onitsha. One of the busiest markets in Africa. You can buy almost anything there.
I was to travel in and out of the airport several times in the next five weeks. Each time something new was completed. The baggage carousel, lacking when we first flew in, was fully operational the next time. So were the check-in areas and the very plush departures hall.
The next morning was the first venture out. Yinka and I decided to go for a bit of a run. It seemed sensible to set off early because of the heat and to avoid the risk of being kidnapped or shot at. So at 6am we were off. About a minute into the jog we approached a group of somewhat hard looking men with very big guns. They were guarding the gates to our compound. This is not a sight I’m used to on my normal runs in rural Leicestershire, in the UK.
Anxious to appear as inconspicuous as possible I tried to sneak past, not drawing too much attention to myself, convinced I was about to be arrested. However quite the opposite. We were greeted with cheers of “Good morning sir, well done, how far?”.
Once I had composed myself from the shock, very nearly tripping over in a sweaty heap, we continued our circuits. Every time we passed someone we had the same greeting. It began to feel as though we had our own troupe of heavily armed cheerleaders. (Or should that be troop?)
This was quite an introduction to what, I began to realize, was one of the most friendly countries I have been to. This is a genuine friendliness. It is not a means to get to know you and rip you off.
The following few weeks continued to surprise me – and to make me feel very embarrassed about my initial preconceptions. I’ve been lucky enough to visit a whole range of places in the Delta State. The TV and radio stations need some work, but the staff are young, enthusiastic and very hard working. Warri, the oil centre, is a thriving hub that is only going to get bigger, with the construction of the largest business park in West Africa. The sign at our hotel was a bit disconcerting. It asked everyone carrying guns to make sure they weren’t loaded – which was nice.
The University Teaching Hospital in Oghara is as well equipped as any I have been to in the UK or the rest of Europe. There are state of the art CT and MRI scanners, a world class renal unit and 25 paediatric intensive care beds.
The journey to the hospital gave me the first opportunity to see a proper Nigerian village. This was far closer to what I had been expecting. The goats and cattle roaming the dusty roads, the food stalls cooking chicken, fish and corn over open fires. Dozens of bars with dodgy looking satellites, advertising the latest football matches live. When we slowed down, or stopped the car we were surrounded by two groups. The children pointing at me were shouting Oyibo, Oyibo (white man) and teenagers trying to sell anything from palm wine to cola nuts, to the latest mobile phones.
Now I can’t be sure, but I don’t think the iphone 5 I was offered for 5000 naira (about £20) was as genuine as it could be. All of this was done with great fun and humour. If you chose to, you could buy everything you needed from your car. If you didn’t, that was fine too.
Suicidal Okada
The transport system is far from perfect but all the roads we’ve driven on are absolutely fine. The most interesting experience was seeing the suicidal Okada motorcycle taxis in full force for the first time. They have been banned in Delta State and replaced by three-wheel kekes. But this is certainly not the case in Onitsha. It is about a fifteen-minute journey from the centre of Asaba, but it could be on another planet.
You drive over the Niger Bridge, enter the neighbouring state and a different world. One where thousands of the small machines ferry people and any goods you can think of around. We saw one driver with four passengers, two adults and two children precariously balanced in front and behind him. Oil barrels containing God knows what, weighing heavily on the clearly inadequate suspension. I was told someone had seen an Okada carrying a donkey, strapped to the driver as though he was giving it a piggy back. I don’t know if I believe this, but, from what I saw in Onitsha that day, I can’t rule it out.
The drivers are quite mad. We were there for about a minute before our car had its first near miss. We were to have many more in the next half an hour, with the rules of the road, like driving in the same direction on a dual carriageway, simply ignored.
The noise is deafening. As the Okadas rev their tiny engines, they sound like a swarm of very loud insects buzzing inside your head. You very soon begin to choke on the fumes of burning oil and petrol. It was quite a relief to cross back over the bridge into the far more serene and calm home ground of Asaba. The welcome I have had everywhere is stunning. On one occasion I interviewed a senior state commissioner. It turned out it was his birthday. He kindly invited me to his party that evening. I didn’t really know anyone else going – so felt a little uncomfortable. No need. When I arrived he insisted I sit with him.
He made sure my glass was never empty and my plate constantly filled. I was introduced to everyone and made to feel an honored guest.
There was a downside to this. The comedian who anchored the programme took quite a shine to me….. “Ahhh give it up for the white man, where are you from”?
This was followed by ten minutes of him royally taking the **** out of me. I understood about one word in ten, but by the reaction of everyone else, it was obviously very amusing. So much for being inconspicuous.
Premier League
But the worst was still to come. People began standing up and paying tribute to the Commissioner. He is a very popular guy. Halfway through the speeches the comedian spotted me once again. “Does the white man want to speak”. I stood, said a few words and wished he would see his children’s children and his children’s children’s children. This appeared to be the toast de jour and went down very well. The evening ended with lots of photographs being taken and many new good friends.
The one thing you cannot escape in Nigeria is the love of the English Premier League. I have so far failed to meet another Leicester City fan, an obvious shame, but there are millions of diehard Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea supporters.
Watching the Liverpool v Man Utd game at the Asaba viewing centre, with thousands of people wearing the respective replica kits, was one hell of an experience, although my eardrums may take some time to recover. There is no doubting their passion. They may not have been to Old Trafford, The Emirates or Stamford Bridge, but the passion they exuded was clear. I’m not sure what ‘come on ref,’ or ‘what was that you idiot’ is in pidgin, but I heard it several times that day.
The viewing centre was created by the governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan. He is an Arsenal supporter. I met him once while playing tennis. For some reason he didn’t seem very impressed by my love of Leicester City. I simply don’t understand why. – See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/09/nigeria-in-the-eyes-of-a-briton/#sthash.5pCEYFaG.dpuf
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.
Prof. Jubril Aminu is a founding member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He was also at different times the Minister of Education and Petroleum Resources. He was equally a senator. In this interview, he speaks on the PDP crisis, saying the attempt by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some governors to break away from the mainstream PDP is borne out of the need to remain politically relevant.
According to him, President Goodluck Jonathan should concentrate on delivering on the mandate given to him by Nigerians and worry less about second term, which, he says, the president would get on a platter, if Nigerians see him as performing.
Excerpts:
How do you see the breakaway moves of some PDP members led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, some governors and former national officers of the party?
What they did is nothing to worry about. Democracy is partly about the expression of personal opinions. There is nothing in jumping ship by any party member under democracy. As an original founding member of the PDP, I have been around all the time and I can be described as a major stakeholder in Nigeria and my state of Adamawa.
I don’t support what they did and I also presume that what they did was not motivated by their love for the country but by personal ego and a way to salvage themselves from the situation in which they have found themselves. I suspect that when we get to know the extent of the forces behind the move, one would be surprised to see powerful people inside and outside the PDP, not necessarily governors, who are trying to settle scores or re-direct the party in some ways or just playing mischief. Jubril Aminu
Jubril Aminu
I don’t get jittery when this type of thing happens. Nigeria moved from the worst moment to the present without collapsing. That will not happen since we survived the June 12 crisis that led to the sacking of Interim Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan, from office. What is happening now does not worry me. Until about a few months ago, there were only two parties but now we have new ones, which have no real ideology. To that extent, nobody should get jittery because these groups are driven by ego and their games don’t add up. I suspect that they need some tricks in order to survive. So, nobody should be worried about the antics adopted by the people causing trouble for the party.
In other words, they are frustrated people?
They are losers and they are looking for new avenues to win the game. Let me give you an example: Atiku does not stand any chance in 2015 because Jonathan is already in the game for re-election and he Atiku needs a new game in order to be relevant politically. Obasanjo, for example, is finished, but he has decided not to be seen as finished. So, all these people need a new game in order to be politically relevant. They have decided they are not finished politically. These are some of the things you should look at and not to be scared by what is happening. It is nothing new.
But when you put together all that is happening now, do you see the PDP resolving its crisis in order to win the next election?
The crisis will be resolved, but I don’t know who will be the scapegoat at the end. I don’t know who they will use to resolve it. This entire thing is being done to retain power by those who are there and those outside also want to wrest power from those wielding it. So, what is happening is a normal political game that goes on in any democracy and it will not break the party and the country as some persons have predicted.
Some people insist that the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, be removed as a condition for peace to reign in the PDP. Are they justified?
Those are very mean people, particularly the Adamawa State governor, who never liked Tukur. He does not want Tukur at any point and has always gone for his jugular. That is unfair and unhealthy for the party and the country.
But do you think that Tukur has led the PDP well?
What power do you think Tukur really has? What power did Audu Ogbeh wield when Obasanjo was in power? Obasanjo is the one who changed party supremacy for something else. He sent people to the Ministry of Power in South Africa to study how power was being managed and they said, ‘no, go to the African National Congress, ANC, and see what the party has on power’. I don’t see that happening in Nigeria because our people are pre-occupied with personal control of everything. They are concerned with using power. So, you cannot really accuse Tukur of using power.
He has shown strong commitment as a Fulani man to move the party forward. It is not easy for anybody with a modicum of self-pride to continue to hold on. What does he really want if not trying to work for the nation and its people? He has tried and people should leave him alone to move the party forward.
People like you, who have seen it all, should be able to play a fatherly role in the emerging crisis rocking the party and the nation. What advice have you given President Jonathan to solve the crisis?
I think Jonathan is too concerned about his second term and, because he is focused on that, there are people around him who are making a huge capital out of the situation. His fixation on second term brings about a good menu for people to exploit. He should focus more on fixing Nigeria and believing that, at the appropriate time, Nigerians will vote for him. Let me give you an example.
Lagos State governor is one governor who is working without looking back. He does not want the state to be ruffled by anyone. He keeps on working not minding whose ox is gored. The people are happy that the governor is working for their interest. The President is too concerned about second term. My advice to him is to continue to do the work that he was elected to do and he will get a second term.
If he works hard, he will get his second term easily. All these people who are talking do so for selfish reasons and nothing more. But, at the end of the day, Nigerians won’t judge their performance but that of Mr. President. He should ask them to allow him the chance to do his work. Many of them do not wish him well, they are looking for an opportunity to exploit every loophole for their personal aggrandisement.
In other words, Jonathan himself should step forward and do the work at hand.
Exactly! That is what I mean. Look at the ASUU strike, he should face it. He should tackle the security challenges in the northern part of the country and the problems in the health sector. People are taking advantage of his obsession with second term and are making money from it. Jonathan should see that the things he promised Nigerians are faithfully implemented and his second term will be smooth sailing. That is my advice to him. Jonathan should learn from the situation and make more impact.
Former Minister of Science and Technology, Gen. Sam Momah, argued against the continuous application of the federal character principle on the grounds that it encourages cheating and laziness at the expense of merit and hard work?
General Sam Momah is a good man and he is probably very sincere about it, but his proposition will not work. He can say what he is saying because of where he comes from. But, in the context of peace and unity of Nigeria, there is no reason to discontinue with the principle of federal character. The day somebody from Kano or Sokoto comes out and speaks about FC, you can believe him that he is serious. Nobody will believe Momah or anyone else from Imo or Enugu because they are from educationally advantaged states. But, in the context of Nigeria, for peace and unity to reign, the principle must be continued to give everyone a sense of belonging.
What do you make of the allegation that lawmakers are most highly paid in the world by a former Education Minister, Dr (Mrs) Oby Ezekwesili?
These people have seen what the executive is doing with public funds, what the governors are doing with public funds and so on; why do they worry about the payment being made to the legislature? Are they fair? Anyone who wants to talk about the way public officers in Nigeria are being paid or how they are managing public funds should take a holistic look at the three tiers of government and stop singling out a particular organ for ridicule. It does not solve the problems facing the nation in any way.
Have we made progress as a nation at 53?
A former friend of mine used to tell me that you can always find fault if you want to. Nigeria has made enormous progress already in all sectors of the economy. In the past, we could count the number of bridges and schools in the northern part of Nigeria, but, today, it is difficult to do so. In Yola alone, you can see the level of infrastructural progress that has been recorded. I wrote a paper sometime ago that we are contacting diseases that were peculiar to Europe because of improved living standards brought about by advancement in our nation. We should even thank God that we went through a civil war and came out of it. We did not disintegrate.
We are largely affected by the selfishness of certain persons in the country and nothing more. Many states have also been created, thereby creating more centres of economic development and we should be happy that these things have been put in place for Nigeria’s transformation. We should be grateful to the founding fathers of Nigeria and do our own part to move the nation forward instead of always complaining that the nation has not made progress.
I disagree with those who hold that view and state categorically that we have made progress as a nation.
In education, our adopted policies that cost money and we should be ready to pay for such services and move on like the countries we are trying to copy. Corruption has increased the cost of everything in Nigeria and we should be ready to fight the virus like other forward-looking countries in order to make the kind of progress we envisage. It is only by so doing that we can record steady progress that even cynics would be able to see.
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.
Dogged by challenges capable of denying him re-election in 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan has taken the battle to the doorsteps of his known and perceived political opponents, using the carrot and stick approach. Last Wednesday morning, he shocked members of the Federal Executive Council when he fired nine ministers, who are believed to be irrelevant to his second term bid and are more loyal to their governors. Will the ouster of the ministers remove the mounting roadblocks to his re-election? There seems to be more questions than answers.
The sack of nine ministers was something that had long been predicted. The announcement in the middle of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday, did not take many by surprise. What, however, bothered the Exco members and many Nigerians was the way it was carried out by President Goodluck Jonathan.
For real, those who had really been pencilled down for offloading by the President were those who were known to be nursing gubernatorial ambition and had been somewhat distracted from office by their political fixation. In that category were Bala Muhammed, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, who is reported to be eying the seat currently occupied by Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State; the Minister of State for Education, Nyesome Wike, from Rivers State; Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, from Nasarawa; and the Minister of Police Affairs, Capt Olubolade Caleb, from Ondo..
Sacked ministers from top: Zainab Kuchi, Erelu Olusula Obada, Buka Tijani, and Ita Bassey Ewah Below: Olugbenga Ashiru, Ama Peppel, Ruquyatu Rufai, Shamshudeen Usman and Hadiza Mailafia
But all that was torpedoed by the soaring tide of dirty politics, which almost swallowed the players and grounded their game plan. Jonathan was suddenly taken aback by the split of the once united People’s Democratic Party (PDP) into two camps on August 31, when they had assembled at a high-profile ceremony at the Eagle Square to anoint some national officers loyal to him.
It was an assault that hit the President and his men below the belt and left them with a sour taste. Since that affront by the Abubakar Baraje faction, which has come to be dubbed as the New PDP, nPDP, for short, the ‘largest party in Africa’ has never been the same. From all indications, the umbrella (PDP), which symbolises accommodation and resilience, has virtually been shattered by turbulent winds from several fronts. While Jonathan and his men are battling to secure a second term in office, the nPDP is seen as the opposition, working to install former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the next vote.
Thus, what the President did on that Wednesday morning was nothing but a ‘coup’ against the former members of the cabinet, whose only ‘offence’ was that they were and are still close to the seven PDP governors, popularly referred to as G-7, who have an axe to grind with the President.,
By all standards, the retention of the ‘offending ministers’ for about two years by Jonathan his strategists reasoned, was like putting salt on festering sore largely because they were portrayed as political liabilities, who neither aided Jonathan’s sagging political profile nor added value to the new battle he is waging against their political benefactors.
Those who are strategising for Jonathan ahead of his re-election in 2015 had been tinkering with the idea that it would be suicidal for him to first edge out ministers who have gubernatorial ambition while those who do not love him are retained. They, therefore, asked him to flush them out of the system and pave the way for the appointment of ‘politically relevant’ hawks or bullies, who are capable of taking on ‘recalcitrant governors’ in their respective states and clear the way for his seamless re-election.
An analysis of those sent packing reveals that 99 percent of them were seen as ‘apologists’ of the ‘rebel’ governors’ in the cabinet.
The nine sacked ministers were nominees of former President Obasanjo and the seven governors, who are currently embroiled in a political face-off with Jonathan and the leadership of the PDP.
The list shows that, apart from the former Minister of Science and Technology, Prof Okon Ita Ewa, who was personally nominated by Jonathan in 2011, most of the axed men and women, were seen as sympathisers of Obasanjo and the PDP ‘rebel’ governors.
Analysts find the removal of Ewa puzzling to pave the way for Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State to name a more politically-relevant minister, who would be able to work with the President and win more support for Jonathan in the next elections.
Ewa, a nuclear physicist, who had known Jonathan for several years, was brought directly into the cabinet without the input of political stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State and is said to be almost apolitical.
A reliable source told Sunday Vanguard that the President moved against the ministers following intelligence reports, which indicated that most of them were loyal to their governors rather than being loyal to him.
Spies
The sacked Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb Gbenga Ashiru, and Minister of State for Defence, Olusola Obada, were probably fired because of the perception in the Presidency that they were serving as spies for Obasanjo and the former PDP National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
It will be recalled that Ashiru served as ambassador under Obasanjo for several years while Obada was Oyinlola’s deputy while he was governor in Osun State. Because of disagreements since the emergence of Jonathan on the block, his relationship with Obasanjo has not been smooth, leading to the removal of Oyinlola as the National Secretary of the PDP because of the suspicion by the President’s men that he is a stooge of the former President.
Similarly, the former Minister of Education, Professor Ruqqayat Rufai, was swept off because she was nominated by Governor Sule Lamido, who is one of the G-7 governors and is suspected of nursing a presidential ambition in 2015.
Rugguyat Rufai’s removal may pave the way for the promotion of Chief Nyesome Wike, a lawyer and strong ally of Jonathan, to senior Education Minister and pave the way for him to play a more visible political role for the President in the build up to the 2015 presidential election.
Although Governor Amaechi of Rivers State has insisted that he nominated Wike for the post of minister, the former Obio Akpor Local Government Chairman and Chief of Staff to Amaechi claimed that it was Jonathan who made him a FEC member. Wike fell out with Amaechi on account of politics. The minister, who hails from the same Ikwerre ethnic nationality with the Rivers governor, is said to be working round the clock to succeed Amaechi in 2015. Even if he may not be doing so, the factional chairman of the PDP in Rivers State, Brother Obuah, insists he (Wike) is the next governor and leader of the party in the state.
On the other hand, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, a long standing minister, who was inherited from the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adau and hails from Kano, might have been given the boot because of his closeness to his governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who is one of the G-7 governors fighting the Presidency.
The same fate befell Amal Pepple, from Rivers State, and Zainab Kuchi, from Niger, who were seen as loyalists of Governor Amaechi and Governor Babangida Aliyu (members of G7 governors) respectively.
Although it is clear to all that the ‘war’ currently raging in the ruling party is responsible for the ousting of the ministers, what remains a puzzle to PDP keen watchers is the removal of the former Minister of Environment, Hadiza Mailafia, a close ally of Vice President Namadi Sambo, who is, at least, perceived to be in the good goods of Jonathan. The sacked minister was brought into the cabinet largely on account of her closeness to the wife of the VP and the family.
Her sack merely added to the suspicion that Sambo, who is usually is said to be referred to by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, as ‘my husband’s junior brother and friend’ may not be in the right political frame with his boss.
Enter bully-politicians
Despite the ministers’ ouster and the desperate attempt to replace them with bully-politicians, the crisis in the party remains almost intractable and is likely to consume more politicians while eating deeper into the soul of the party.
Those angling for the umbrella are aware that the party has a bigger fight to contend with in the next elections, given the emergence of the All Progressive Congress, an amalgam of three former parties and a faction of the APGA headed by Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha.
The President himself appears to have been hit by a rough political tide, having attempted to hide his political interest in the 2015 presidential race while pursuing suspected contenders with a sledgehammer to clear the way for him to be adopted as the sole candidate of the PDP at the appointed time. That will still happen given the type of ‘special convention’ that the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP organised the other day to ‘select’ preferred National Working Committee (NWC) members for the party.
The chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, is one of the party elders, who is not amused by the hide-and-seek game being played by the man he is trying to bail out of the political deep waters and was, last week, forced to warn Jonathan to declare his interest in the election without further delay. Anenih is right. The time is no longer on anybody’s side and the game plan needs to be better than what his adversaries within the PDP and outside have already drawn up.
One thing is, however, clear from all that has been happening in the PDP lately: President Jonathan and his faction of the PDP will dash him the ticket for the 2015 contest but that will not guarantee him the kind of massive votes he garnered in 2011. The PDP infighting, if not resolved and in good time, has the potency to swing a significant support to the opposition and tilt popular support in the favour of Jonathan’s challenger in 2015.
But the political gladiators still have some time left to bury their pride, negotiate with the dissenting voices within their fold and halt the drift that is looming to swallow the leaking PDP umbrella. Will they read the handwriting on the wall before the eclipse? If Jonathan continues to treat Obasanjo with disdain despite his strident effort to unify the party, and keeps the G-7 at bay while putting all his eggs in one basket overseen by Tukur and his loyalists, will that give him the needed political leverage to swim through the 2015 political hurdle? That question needs an answer.
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.
The Chairman of the former Speakers’ Forum and ex-Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Simon Lalong has called on the National Assembly to urgently demand for the resignation of the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Abubakar, over what they described as police impunity in Rivers State.
Rivers State Governor, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, was returning to Government House, Port Harcourt last Thursday night with the Forum of former Speakers of State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria at about 7.00pm after an inspection of projects executed by the governor when the governor’s convoy was barred from accessing the Forces Avenue approach to Government House by a police roadblock at the Port Harcourt Club junction along Forces Avenue.
Lalong, who spoke when Amaechi received the former speakers at Government House after the incident, said the policemen might have acted on a directive from the State Police Commissioner, Joseph Mbu, who in turn takes his instructions from the Inspector General of Police and called for his (IG’s) resignation.
He said, “I don’t think it is really of police overzealousness but the police are controlled by higher authorities, so if that is what is happening, I think people should collectively call for the resignation of the inspector general of police."
he is the highest-ranking police officer, so we should believe that the Police Commissioner (Joseph Mbu) is taking instruction from the Inspector General of Police.
“For this level of impunity, I think the National Assembly should start calling for the resignation of the Inspector general, not even the commissioner of police.”
He described the police behaviour as the highest level of impunity in the country, stressing that if the police could act so unfairly to a governor, then ordinary Nigerians would not be safe.
Lalong said, “I was only watching these things (happening in Rivers State) on television and reading in the newspapers but I saw what happened this evening as the highest level of impunity in Nigeria for a governor, who has immunity and everything, to be stopped on the way, blocked by policemen. It means that they are in another way trying to remove his immunity unconstitutionally. So, it is really very unfortunate on the side of the police, so we don’t have police protection again.
“I think the international community should begin to look at this situation. It is no longer about the governor…what about the common man, the ordinary person. I think something must be done in respect to the Nigeria Police that we are funding with taxpayers money and I think something needs to be done not only in this state because many of us were afraid when we saw this kind of thing (the roadblock). So if it is happening to the governor who has immunity, what about people who don’t have immunity, so very soon maybe they will start arresting people in their houses. I wonder what is really happening. I think the President must intervene in this issue.”
Also reacting, former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, expressed sadness at the police action, recalling that Amaechi made the detour to get to the Government House with his guests because he was a responsible citizen.
Mamora said, “I think, to say the least, that (roadblock) was quite unfortunate because we were coming from inspection of projects, more than 70 former speakers were in the governor’s (Amaechi) entourage to inspect projects and on our way back to the Government House, we discovered that we just couldn’t pass because the road had been blocked and we were wondering of course what was happening, only to discover that it was a group of policemen who claimed to be acting on the instruction of the commissioner of police here in Rivers State and it was quite unfortunate I would repeat because you would wonder why such a thing would happen.
“Freedom of movement is guaranteed under the constitution and a situation where you are now compelled without any justifiable reason and then you are just not allowed to pass despite all our entreaties, all our appeals made to that effect and we thought that, as responsible citizens of this country, we needed to maintain peace so to that extent, we were forced at the end of the day to do a detour to find some other route to get to the Government House. I was just wondering within me that, you know, how and when we descended so low in this country to the point that we are beginning to witness this kind of thing. It is really sad. I mean I feel so sad about the whole thing and I just hope that those concerned particularly the police high command would really ensure that this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.”
Addressing the former speakers, Amaechi, who is also chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), condemned the action of the police, describing it as the height of lawlessness and impunity.
Amaechi said, “All of you saw how the former Speakers came down from the vehicle to tell them (police) where we were coming from, but the Police resisted. It is for Nigerians to see that we no longer have democracy in this country. We are now in a regime where, the law is no longer supreme. We must rise up against this impunity against our democracy."
The governor also apologised to the former speakers for the embarrassment by the police. He also said there a need for the National Assembly and the various State Houses of Assembly to fashion out a legislative framework that would address retirement benefits of the ex-lawmakers and their welfare, especially as former elected public officers who represented their people well and served the nation meritoriously.
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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