The New Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the leadership of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje has filed a notice of appeal over last week’s ruling by a Federal High Court, Abuja, restraining it from using PDP’s logo and colours and recognizing the Alhaji Bamabga Tukur-led National Working Committee (NWC) as the authentic leadership of the party.
The notice of appeal according to an online statement by Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the spokesperson of the nPDP was filed on Thursday morning of 24 October, 2013, by its Team of lawyers led by Raji (SAN) before the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Honourable Justice Evoh Chukwu, who ruled against the splinter PDP last Friday.
“We are also seeking an injunction and a stay of execution of Honourable Justice Chukwu’s ruling”, the nPDP said.
The breakaway PDP noted that decision to file the appeal was taken at an emergency meeting of the New PDP National Working Committee (NWC) following the return of the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, from the 2013 pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
“The decision was taken after the NWC carefully studied last Friday’s ruling by the Federal High Court and after due consultations with our team of lawyers.
“We once more wish to reiterate that we remain convinced that we have a good case and are thus determined to ensure that Tukur and his cohorts are not allowed to hold sway as the leaders of our great party.
“Our teeming members and supporters should, therefore, entertain no fears whatsoever and should remain steadfast as we seek to legally establish our case and logically conclude our mission to rescue the PDP from anti-democratic forces so as to restore the noble vision of the party’s founding fathers.
“Finally, due to the busy schedules of our Governors and most of the Stakeholders our proposed G7/Stakeholders/NWC meeting slated for this week will now hold by next week. Venue and time will duly be communicated to members by our National Secretary. One of the major issues slated for discussion is how to receive our new members particularly the five additional PDP Governors who have indicated interest in joining us”.
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.
Despite the raging controversy over the purchase of two BMW armoured cars for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, has left the country on a trip to Israel.
THISDAY learnt Wednesday that the minister left Nigeria on Tuesday, the day the House of Representatives initiated a probe into the car scandal, as part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s official delegation to the country.
Shortly after the House passed a motion that its Committee on Aviation should probe the car deal, the committee chair, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, in a statement, summoned the minister along with some other stakeholders to appear at a public hearing scheduled for yesterday on the transaction.
However, the committee said yesterday that the probe would go ahead as directed by the House as her absence would not affect its work.
The president, who yesterday set up a three-man administrative panel of inquiry to probe the car scandal, departed yesterday for Israel to participate in this year’s pilgrimage and for a state visit.
During the visit, Nigeria and Israel are expected to sign a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) to strengthen air ties between the two nations, with Oduah signing for her country.
But industry sources said her departure was reflective of the insensitivity displayed by the presidency and minister to the scandal involving the armoured car purchases, as Jonathan should have asked her to stay behind and asked the permanent secretary in the ministry to represent her.
With the constitution of the three-man panel by the president, Oduah is being probed on three fronts – the legislature, the presidency and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) – to determine her culpability or otherwise in the car purchase scandal.
Some of those who were not aware that the minister had left Nigeria on Tuesday ahead of the president's departure yesterday, raised eyebrows at her absence at the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the assumption that she did not turn up for the meeting apparently due to the heat generated by the purchase of the two bulletproof cars at a total cost of $1.6 million (N255 million).
Indeed, the swirling protest over her involvement in the car scandal spilled into the streets yesterday as two groups, comprising Oduah's supporters and antagonists, clashed during a protest in Abuja.
The president's Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, announced the constitution of the three-man panel to investigate Oduah over the car deal after the FEC meeting in Abuja.
The panel, headed by the immediate past Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Sali Bello, has as members the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dakusi (rtd), and Air Vice Marshal Dick Iruenebere (rtd).
Abati told State House correspondents that the president had taken the initial step of asking Oduah for explanations about the transaction.
According to him, the panel will determine whether the procurement process for the armoured vehicles followed due process.
It will also find out the purpose for the procurement of the vehicles and any other ancillary matter regarding the car deal.
Abati said the secretariat of the panel, which is expected to submit its report within two weeks, would be provided by the office of the NSA.
He added: “President Jonathan will like to assure the general public that nobody, no matter how highly placed, will be shielded or exempted from this inquiry that he has directed and that appropriate action will be taken against any person or persons who may be found guilty of misconduct or misappropriation of public funds either in this respect or in any other respect.
“Indeed, Mr. President considers this a very weighty matter and that it is not true as some people have been alleging that no action has been taken on it.”
Asked if the minister would be made to step aside during the investigation, Abati said: “Well, I have just announced to you what I was asked to announce that a panel of inquiry has been set up; this panel will address all the relevant questions and advise Mr. President accordingly within two weeks.”
Notwithstanding her absence, THISDAY learnt yesterday that the House would go ahead with its probe on the car deal.
It was gathered that before leaving the country, the minister had written to the House committee requesting to be given up to the middle of November to round off her trip to Israel and other engagements outside the country before she could honour its invitation.
The revelation came just as the House adopted a report indicting the NCAA for grounding a bombardier aircraft belonging to the Rivers State Government.
Sources within the aviation committee told THISDAY that the committee would not wait given the public outcry and the need to tackle the issues as soon as possible.
“We can't wait for her. This is not something that has to wait for anybody at all. This is a national embarrassment and nobody is bigger than this country. We will go ahead with our investigation.
“Look at somebody who is under heat because of what happened and instead of staying back to tackle the issue, she has travelled outside the country.
“If I were her, I would have stayed back to clear my name of the stain this matter has brought,” one of the sources said.
However, it was learnt that the committee was prepared to take testimonies from the NCAA, National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and other stakeholders and write its report, because it has a terms of reference and time frame of one week to submit its findings.
The controversy over the procurement of the bulletproof cars however degenerated yesterday into a clash between two groups in Abuja.
Members and supporters of the Anti-corruption Network of Nigeria (ACN), led by a former House of Representatives member, Hon. Dino Melaye, who had set out to protest the controversial procurement, clashed with another group sympathetic to Oduah at the federal secretariat.
The clash lasted for more than three hours as each group tried to drown out the other with songs.
While the Melaye members chanted “Oduah must-go” songs, the pro-minister’s group countered with songs such as "Oduah must stay, Dino pay us our money”.
Although the protests were non-violent, the groups caused a traffic jam at the federal secretariat before police officers, led an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Odukoya Sunday, came to disperse the protesters.
Addressing the press in the confused atmosphere, Melaye accused the minister of renting the crowd to disrupt the planned protest.
He said: “You can see that we are peaceful protesters, we are here to exercise our fundamental rights as enshrined in the constitution.”
He accused the pro-Oduah group of coming out to scuttle the protest, saying the faction even asked him for money.
He said the group should provide evidence that they did something for him, which he needed to pay them for.
According to him, Oduah was the ninth minister that his anti-corruption group was taking on, adding that her case could not be different from others.
He said: “We protested against the Ministries of Finance, Niger Delta and the Justice with petitions submitted against them to the anti-graft agencies. Why would this one be different?”
He explained that because the N255 million was not budgeted for as claimed by the House on Tuesday, the minister must face the law.
He urged Jonathan to emulate his predecessors, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, who fired their ministers for their alleged involvement in scandals by relieving Oduah of her job.
Also, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) called for Oduah’s probe over what it described as the scandalous purchase of bulletproof cars “especially at this point in time when government is increasingly unable to meet its basic obligations to the citizenry.”
Arising from a meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC), the NLC, in a communique issued in Kaduna yesterday said: “Neither the process nor the price nor even the reason for the purchase satisfies transparency nor good conscience. The minister should therefore be called to account. Accordingly, NEC calls for the immediate probe of the minister.”
NLC expressed dissatisfaction that the federal government was yet to seriously address corruption especially high profile cases such as the fuel subsidy scam.
The judicial process, NLC said, was being frustrated in spite of overwhelming evidence against the subsidy scam suspects.
“It holds the view that one of the reasons why the economy is on the downward slide is the levity with which government continues to deal with corruption. NEC finds it incongruous that government would want to protect these criminals because of party affinity, yet party affinity has not put food on the table of the ordinary Nigerian.
“Accordingly, it calls on the government to diligently prosecute these big thieves. Nobody should be above the law even if they funded the election of everyone in the party,” it added.
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.
Beleaguered Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, who is under fire following the procurement of two bulletproof cars, valued at N255 million, for her use, has written to President Goodluck Jonathan to defend the transaction.
The minister, who is being probed over the car deal, in an October 21 letter to the president, a copy of which was obtained by THISDAY Wednesday, said contrary to claims by her critics, there was a budgetary provision for the procurement of the two BMW 760 Li cars and the transaction followed due process.
However, her claim that the purchase of the cars was included in the 2013 budget of the ministry contradicted that of a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Hon. Matthew Omegara, who told his colleagues during Tuesday's plenary session where it was decided to probe the car deal that there was no budgetary provision for it.
Omegara had said while the purchase of the two cars was initially proposed in the 2013 Appropriation Bill, it was “clearly deleted” during the passage of the bill into law.
But the minister in the letter, with reference number HMA/PRES/VOL.1/21 addressed to the president, narrated what informed the decision to buy the vehicles and how the procurement was carried out.
In the letter, which had no annexures to prove her claims that the procurement had budgetary approval and followed due process, Oduah said the transaction was informed by the need to buy operational vehicles for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in a bid to strengthen the agency to carry out its oversight responsibility of ensuring safety, security and strict compliance with aviation standards by operators.
“Towards the effective implementation of its statutory regulatory responsibilities therefore, it is imperative that the NCAA is fully equipped with highly specialised tools and facilities, including adequate operational vehicles to cover all 22 national airports and over 400 airstrips.
“In keeping with standard practice, provision is therefore made annually for the replacement of obsolete, inadequate and unreliable monitoring equipment.
“In the 2013 budgetary appropriation, provision was made for the procurement of specialised equipment (including operational vehicles) to complement and in some cases, replace obsolete ones.
“Furthermore, the fact that NCAA, as the regulator of the industry, often plays host to dignitaries from ICAO, IATA, US FAA, AFRAAA, AFCAC, BAGASO, CANSO, ACI, and a host of others, makes it necessary to have specialised operational vehicles,” she said in the letter.
Oduah explained that the two controversial cars, which she described as “BMW security vehicles” were procured following the approval of her ministry to a request by NCAA in a letter dated April 15 to procure 56 operational vehicles through lease financing.
She added that the NCAA proposed to the ministry the option of lease financing to enable the agency make 36 monthly payments based on receipts from its internally generated revenue.
She said: “Based on the ministry's approval, the NCAA invited Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from all banks in Nigeria for the financing of the said vehicles. EoIs were adopted because the procurement is two sided. First, the financier would have to be selected before the supplier is determined. This is in line with procurement best practices.
“On 24th May, 2013, the response received from the various banks to the Expressions of Interest request was opened publicly and minutes of the opening exercise was duly documented.
“During the EoI opening exercise, NCAA got commendation from one of the civil society organisations (CSOs) approved by BPP who were (sic) invited for the opening exercise.
"The evaluation of the Expression of Interests (sic) was held on 31st May, 2013, during which First Bank of Nigeria Plc (now Limited), Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Stanbic IBTC Plc emerged most responsive. On the 10th of June, 2013, the above three banks were invited to submit financial proposals. Thereafter, First Bank emerged the highest rated responsive bidder.
“Between 20th and 25th June, 2013, invoices were received from various accredited motor vehicle dealers during which only Coscharis Motors Limited quoted for BMW security vehicles.
“On 28th June, 2013, NCAA Parastatal Tenders Board approved the selection of First Bank of Nigeria Limited for the lease financing as well as Metropolitan Motor Vehicles and Coscharis for the supply of the vehicles. All necessary approvals were duly sought and obtained accordingly.
“Between 8th July, 2013 and 12th August, 2013, various meetings were held with First Bank of Nigeria Limited, a contract agreement was signed and necessary documentation executed.”
In apparent response to the gale of criticism that has followed the purchase of the exorbitant cars, the minister drew the president's attention to the fact that the procurement of the vehicles was duly provided for in the NCAA 2013 (IGR) budget and the fact that due process was followed in procuring the vehicles.
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 Northern States Governors’ Forum, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, has suggested that the proposed National Conference by the federal government should have a maximum of 910 delegates.
He also said the selection of the delegates should be grassroot-based.
Aliyu stated this when the Senator Femi Okurounmun-led Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) on the National Conference paid him a courtesy visit in Minna Wednesday.
According to him, each of the local government areas in the country should have a representative each, making the number 774 delegates from the local government areas.
The governor suggested that 100 delegates should be selected from special interest groups, while each state should select a traditional ruler to represent the traditional institutions in the state.
Aliyu said: "We should use the institutions on ground to select the delegates. We have to use the local government as a basis for the selection of delegates for the national dialogue.
"I suggest that 774 delegates should be elected from the local government areas in the country, 100 delegates from special interest groups and 36 from traditional institutions in the 36 states in Nigeria."
The governor reiterated his stand that the referendum of the conference should be presented to the National Assembly to be deliberated upon.
"As long as the National Assembly is on the ground, the decision reached by delegates of the national conference must be taken into the National Assembly for framing into the constitution," Aliyu said.
Earlier, Okurounmun said they were in the state to consult and have the input of the governor on the conference and meet with the various stakeholders to have their inputs.
He said the committee was trying its best to incorporate the views of all Nigerians so that no issue that affects the people are left behind.
During the stakeholders meeting, most of the participants who spoke, suggested that various ethnic groups should be represented while the National Assembly should be given the referendum for final deliberation.
Most of the speakers also suggested that the time frame for the conference should be between three to six months.
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 leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, Wednesday said the nation was at the threshold of greatness and failure, observing that how the leadership managed the fragile situation would determine where Nigeria would end up.
Delivering the 70th anniversary business lecture of the Island Club, Lagos, Tinubu, who was represented by the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Isiaka Ajimobi, however advised on the need to chart a new path for the nation with focus on agriculture as the future for a progressive economy.
“This nation stands at the threshold between greatness and failure, between progress and collapse and hope and despair. As if blindfolded, we cannot decide which way is best,” he said.
Taking a cue from the club, Tinubu said: “The Island Club has marched and advanced during the years. If only this nation had followed the trajectory this club set, we would be a nation in reverie. Instead, we are one quaked by regret.
“Unfortunately, the glow of Nigeria has turned to dross; the nation is a gem obscured by the grime of venal and menial leadership. Today, I state the name 'Island Club' not only has geographic significance, it also has poetic or figurative bearing.
“Yes we are located on an island but the club is also an island of good management, unity and vision in a sea of national muddle and confusion.
“Though having to adjust at times to the dizzying political thermometer of the country and in response to the sometimes conflicting demands of its members, Island Club has pulled through. It stands stronger today because it has figured out the recipe of cooperation and compromise for the common good.
“The picture of Nigeria as it now stands; if you ask me to describe the state of the nation, I would say it is an ambivalent one. Nigeria is a nation standing half in the light of progress and promise and half in the darkness of injustice. We live in a period of grave uncertainty. As things now stand, we have no idea where the nation is headed.”
Tinubu, who made a detour to reinforce his position on the proposed national conference, reiterated that “for years, the idea of a national dialogue has been bruited. Government has always slapped the notion away. Now, devoid of ideas and with its back to the wall of poor performance, the current government grabs at the notion much like a drowning man does a life vest.”
“Yes, we need to talk. I remain an ardent supporter of the call for a national conference that is sovereign and truly open to all. That is the only route out of the woods. We must bring Nigeria back on the path of true federalism. A staged-managed affair scripted and monitored to achieve the narrow political aims of narrow political minds in Abuja will do nothing but whet confusion's appetite. Anything short of a Sovereign National Conference will be like trying to apply a bandage to a tornado.
“So soon after calling forth this event, we have seen the deceptive, unsure steps of the government. Many of those that attacked my position in questioning the sincerity of the government are now retreating from the Jonathan conference.
“All I ask is that you watch not with blind hope but with a watchful eye. I believe you will come to see this as the dark alley that I see,” he said.
He maintained that Nigeria must start to chart a new path in the critical areas of its politics, economy, education and infrastructure development, else it faced the risk of rising levels of poverty and political discontent.
“We live in a fast-paced world but Nigeria is only crawling. In front of us, progressive development moves quicker than us. With each day, the distance between development and us increases.
“Behind us, calamity moves fast, gaining grounds on us. With each day, it comes nearer and nearer to us,” he said, adding that Nigeria’s over-dependence on oil revenue and near total neglect of agriculture have placed it on a precarious growth path and development.
“I shudder to think of the state of the nation in years to come if we continue in this limp fashion. Those now in government take false solace in the belief that Nigeria is a land of happy, carefree people who will somehow manage to eke a living no matter how badly governed we might be.
“Those in governance better look again. Whatever happiness we had was born of fantasy or of faith and patience that a better day was to come,” he said.
Meanwhile, reactions yesterday trailed Tuesday’s declaration by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that it would boycott the national conference proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan, as the majority of those who spoke to THISDAY, all of them renowned lawyers, thought the position was unpatriotic.
The party, rising from a meeting of its interim national executive held in Abuja had said it was “averse to any form of national conference that would have its outcome subjected to the approval of the National Assembly.”
The interim National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who made the declaration on behalf of the party, attributed the resolve of the party to the fact that “the present administration has lost credibility and control of the economy,” with security and corruption rising on a daily basis.
Professor Itse Sagay, a distinguished legal scholar, said though he was a sympathiser of the APC, he would rather plead with the party to review its position on the proposed national dialogue.
He was of the view that rather than being party-based, the conference should be nationality-based with representation by the citizenry, thereby limiting the influence of the parties on the conference.
Even at that, he suggested that the APC had better use the opportunity to the advantage of its people.
“As far as I know, the conference will not be based on political parties. I expect that it would be based on nationalities. The political parties will not have influence on it.
“I'm a great sympathiser of the APC because it is the party that gives us hope of good governance, so I’ll advise them to participate; take it over and turn it around to what they want. They should take over the driving seat and bring about the desired change.
“The APC should know that it is an offshoot of the ACN that is of the Yoruba, who are the greatest advocates of true federalism. Even from Awolowo to Tinubu himself and the only way we can get true federalism is through a conference.
“So they should take advantage of the conference rather than abandon it,” he said.
Former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Chief Olisa Agbakoba, took a similar position, stating: “I don't know the answer to the question.”
He said even with the plethora of suspicion coming from the public about the conference, it was still an opportunity to move Nigeria forward.
“I do know that there are several concerns about the credibility of the conference, but for me, having being a proponent of the conference, no matter what the obstacles are, I would engage the problems.
“The Nigerian problem is that we don't have a model that will make the nation work. If the APC says it would not attend, I cannot talk for them but I would see the conference as a way to discuss.
“Boycotting is not the best. It is better to dialogue. Though the concern of many is that the conference would be a distraction but in spite of the distraction, I would say Nigeria is not occupying where it should be because we have no model. Even if THISDAY does not have a model, you cannot be one of the best newspapers in Nigeria today,” he said.
Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Fred Agbaje, also felt the decision by APC was not in the best interest of the people. According to him, the decision to boycott the proposed national dialogue would not affect the credibility of the conference.
He therefore maintained that rather than boycott, Nigerians should come together to make the best of the opportunity offered by the conference.
“We should all join hands together to move the country forward from the era of decadence and backwardness. By boycotting, poverty, unemployment, insecurity, ASUU strikes, and all such, will continue,” he added.
He said if they boycotted the conference and decisions are taken, such decisions would be binding on their people.
“In fact, in modern day politics, a boycott is not an option; it is old-fashioned. And it would amount to self-inflicted political doom. Though we may not like the procedure being adopted, the truth is that Nigerians want to talk,” he said.
In contrast, another Lagos-based lawyer and rights activist, Mr. Festus Keyamo, said he believed that without the APC, the conference would be a failure because of the states the party controls.
Keyamo, who is also a member of the APC, was also of the view that the conference was not being designed to succeed.
“If the APC opts out of the conference, it has dented the credibility of the conference, because they have the government in those states that will not be participating.
“Nothing will come out of the conference in the first place. It is just an unnecessary waste of time and that is why they (the APC) are excusing their people from it,” he stated.
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.
Two suspected kidnappers from Delta State, Kelvin Ibruvwe Oniarah and Frank Azuekor, who were arrested on September 25 for their involvement in nefarious activities, have asked the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja to order their release.
The suspects, in a suit filed by their lawyer, Mr. Samuel Omohwo Esharefasa of Festus Keyamo Chambers, also asked the court to order their arrest and subsequent detention as illegal.
The respondents in the suit are the State Security Service (SSS), SSS director general and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
In an originating motion filed before the court and dated October 17, a copy of which was given to THISDAY yesterday, the applicants sought a declaration of the court that their arrest by the respondents, their agents, officers, representatives or otherwise was illegal and amounted to a breach of their fundamental rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
They also asked the court for an order directing the respondents, their agents, officers or representatives to immediately release them unconditionally as well as to pay them aggravated damages for their illegal arrest and continued detention.
In an affidavit deposed to by one Duke Oniarah Ibruvwe in support of the originating application, he averred that contrary to the claims of the respondents, the applicants were neither kidnappers nor armed robbers.
Rather, he said they were law-abiding and responsible citizens from Kokori Community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, who were championing the cause of their community following the neglect the area had suffered as a result of being the host community to several flow stations and oil wells belonging to the Shell Petroleum Development Company and other multinational oil companies.
According to him, Oniarah and Azuekor, along with others, belong to the Liberation Movement of the Urhobo People (LIMUP), which was formed to agitate for the total emancipation of the entire Urhobo land from marginalisation and poverty.
He alleged that they were framed up for their agitation for better welfare for their people when they were arrested in Port Harcourt, where they had gone to honour an invitation by the Delta State Government for them to explain their purported involvement in the publication of the ultimatum to the federal government to carry out massive development in the oil-producing communities within Urhobo land or face the people's wrath.
The deponent said the applicants were not robbers neither were they kidnappers, adding that they are liberators and freedom fighters struggling for the improvement of the standard of living of their people.
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.
Most Nigerians, especially those active in online social media such as Facebook and Twitter, are familiar with the gruesome murder of 4 students of the University of Port Harcourt a year ago at neighboring Aluu community in Rivers State. The unfortunate students reportedly went to collect money owed by another student living in Aluu who had severally defaulted in paying. The debtor student rather than pay up screamed to high heavens that armed robbers are in his house and the members of the local vigilante services showed up promptly, "arrested" the students and took them to the paramount ruler of the community with a sizable mob in tow. The paramount ruler on sighting the animated crowd repeated the Pontius Pilate mistake of over 2000 years ago by giving "popular" permission for the students to be summarily dealt with, without as much as fair hearing.
I still have videos of the 4 Uniport students being beaten to pulp by men and women of Aluu community, with mothers even participating in the notoriously popular Aluuwood lynch movie . As the lynching of the students progressed, many joined the crowd to stone, flog and even spit on the already weakened students who could no longer speak for themselves. The initial pictures I saw of the Aluu lynching at about 3pm of that sad day via BBM was tagged "armed robbers caught in Uniport" It was later revealed that even relatives of the students who arrived the scene were too scared and overwhelmed to stop the mob. Even when they sought help from the police, the police were also scared of the size of the mob and practically refused to intervene. The children were thus helpless until the Aluu lynch mob finally burnt them to ashes, with one of them still alive and breathing as at the time matches was scratched to put fire on his kerosene soaked flesh.
That incidence still remains the most heart wrenching, dream shattering and agonizing video ever seen online to most of us with moral conscience. The follow up video of the mother of one of the victims crying and raining curses on those who killed her son remain a painful reminder that following the crowd to do evil is not good. Some of the perpetrators and masterminds are still in detention with others granted bail last week by the court. Parents of the students are setting up a foundation in memory of the lynched boys. Life goes on for the rest of the society who have found ways to exculpate themselves of any form of responsibility or guilt for the murderous mob action.
Unfortunately our outrage over the Aluu incident didn't end mob actions in Nigeria. Weeks after Aluu, "armed robbers" were burnt to ashes at Mushin in Lagos. There have also been other reported incidences of mob rule similar to the Aluu evil show. In almost all such cases, popular mob rule prevailed against common sense, good conscience, law and order. Our people, who are generally inclined towards the spectacular and "follow follow", tend to throw away civilized behaviour and embrace populist mob rule at the slightest prompting. It doesn't matter if it is at Aluu or Facebook community.
We just might be true descendants of Biblical jews who long ago screamed "crucify him" without even knowing why Jesus should be crucified. In that state of mass hypnotism, the arrow heads of the conspiracy targeted at Jesus Christ of Nazareth even requested that a confirmed armed robber and killer be set free so they can have their real target killed. They had their wish.
Most people will say "tufiakwa, those who killed Jesus were evil" but they forget they have also made similar popular choices for same reason of following the mob and populism. I dare say that that attitude is more pronounced within the Nigerian online, media and activist communities.
I have read and listened to people who know next to nothing about an issue argue as emergency "experts" when someone is being lynched in the media or online. Most times they watch Channels and AIT or read one "oga on top" vomit some ignorant nonsense and they join the chorus. Others read fantastic headlines from popular online media and scream "crucify him" without even digging deep into the complete story. Some adult Nigerians are familiar with the 1989 Ebony riots instigated through rumor mongering by a prominent "activist" and educationist.
Knowing our penchant to follow headlines, online media proprietors (and some mainstream media too) sell fantastic headlines to Nigerians with the main body saying nothing or at most couched in ambiguity, with the sole objective to mislead gullible Nigerians to act or think in a particular direction. With little inducement of the media (online or mainstream) you can practically create a massive buzz around any issue or person and even force Nigerians to only think in a particular direction for weeks. It is so bad that you can even literally make unsuspecting Nigerians kill their father and mother and eat their flesh. Some Pastors in our churches are adept at using the pulpit to similar effect.
This manipulative capacity is also employed effectively to blackmail or settle scores with real or perceived opponents even in politics. If you doubt it's effectiveness, flash back to "occupy Nigeria" nonsense of last year which was carefully crafted and managed by political opposition elements using mainstream media and online tools to almost bring down Nigeria's elected govt via copycat demonstrations in Lagos and Abuja. Students of history, are familiar with the role played by the media in terminating the regimes of Shagari, Buhari and IBB. Ask ex-Ministers Barth Nnaji, Fidelis Nzekwe, Kema Chikwe or even ex-NPC Chairman Festus Odimegwu how they lost out in the power game through online and media lynching organized and funded by faceless cabals in the public service of Nigeria.
Arguably, the best illustration of online Aluu mentality in action should be the case of Arunma Oteh and now Stella Oduah.
Do you still remember the mass hypnotic seduction tagged "Otehgate"?
There are certainly similarities between Arunma Otehs lynching and that of Stella Odua currently going on.
In Oteh's case, the Chairman of House of Representative Committee on Capital Markets came for "oversight duties" at SEC headed by Ms Arunma Oteh, made financial (some say with sexual) demands on her ostensibly to sponsor public hearing of his committee in the Federal House. After consultation with her Board, Ms Oteh rejected the demands but offered first class tickets to Dominican Island with estacodes to attend a capital market course to the "honourable" member. But the legislator had his eyes fixed on minimum of N44m for the "public hearing on SEC". Otherwise he will use his powerful office and "show her" and the SEC Board.
For not conforming to standard practice and routine expectations, Arunmah was dragged before the HOR and grilled, abused and demeaned by an angry Hembe who even had the temerity to question the academic qualification of a woman who served international organizations meritoriously in US and with first class degree. Documents like hotel bills were brandished to rubbish her without any opportunity to defend herself. In anger, Arunmah did the unthinkable by telling it all in full glare of live national assembly cameras. Egos were bruised, national assembly "oversight" extortionists were rubbished and exposed for what they were worth.
Within hours, the online lynch mob were mobilized and came after Oteh in full force. Hotel bills for officially hosted events were published with claims that she alone ate and drank beer worth N850k in one sitting. The "Arunmah must go" frenzy gained momentum and she was thoroughly pummeled by our online Aluu mob and brought to her tearful knees. They poured kerosene to set her on fire but some of us with conscience stepped up and asked "WHY"? As the number of those asking questions increased, including her state Governor, Hembe was ultimately forced to resign as committee chairman, arrested by EFCC and the lynch mob quietly threw away their matches and stones. The Presidency then lifted her up and lent her a shoulder to lean on as she shed tears with blood dripping all over her pretty body.
She was another victim of Nigeria's online Aluu community.
I read recently that Arunmah Oteh led SEC is making tremendous progress and her leadership is seen by genuine observers and reform minded operators as the best ever. New rules, investment options and products have been introduced. The stock market is deepened and Nigerians have started buying stocks with renewed vigour and confidence.
The natural question to ask is what if we had allowed the lynch mob to burn and kill her?
Those of us who dared to stand with Arunmah in those days were blackmailed with "anti-corruption" sloganeering by individuals whose personal storybook are written with filthy pens, charges of ethnicity and/or tribalism, ignorance and support for the status quo. Yet we held our ground against the mob because we were convinced that something must be terribly wrong with the structure of Nigeria if people that served meritoriously abroad cannot replicate same in Nigeria. We also understood the evolving pattern of veiled ethnic lynching masquerading as "nationalism and patriotism". The hypocrisy and/or ignorance of the lynchers as well as their lack of attention to details were obvious.
Of course some of us fully expected that in a country where the only proof of Nigerianness for an Igbo man is to be anti-Igbo, fellow Igbos will be the first to cast stones at Oteh in expectation of acceptance by Nigeria. Yet our spirits were buoyed by the awareness that the best stand to take is to stand with the truth, facts and your conscience, regardless of who is involved. If truth is good for the Hausa or Yoruba man, it surely must also be good for the Igbo and Ijaw man. If you can jump in defense of others
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.
Indication that the four-month old strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the ASUU/FG 2009 agreement emerged Wednesday, with the Senate mandating its President, Senator David Mark, to engage both the federal government and ASUU with a view to ending the strike.
The senators, who urged the striking lecturers to return to the classroom to prevent what they described as further devaluation of the country’s educational fortunes, also mandated the committee on education to liase with the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC) and all other relevant stakeholders to proffer lasting solution to the crisis.
However, President Goodluck Jonathan, for the second time in a week, yesterday admonished the striking lecturers to let the interest of the nation and students be the basis in calling off the strike.
He said the step would go a long way in assisting the government systematically to continue to address the challenges facing the nation’s university system.
Dissatisfied with the president’s admonition, Chairman of ASUU-University of Uyo (UNIUYO) branch, Dr. Nwachukwu Ayim, also urged Nigerians not to be sympathetic with the federal government over the prolonged strike, but said Nigerians should appreciate the position of the union in moving the educational sector forward.
Incidentally, the Senate’s resolution, which followed a motion sponsored by 107 senators and presented by Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, recalled that ASUU had been on strike since July 1 in protest of federal government’s alleged failure to implement the 2009 agreement signed with lecturers for proper funding of the nation’s universities.
According to him, the Senate noted with concern that the strike had paralysed academic activities in the universities and consequently rendered the institutions redundant, stressing that several negotiations between the striking lecturers and the federal government along with the intervention of some prominent Nigerians have failed to produce the desired results.
Ndoma-Egba also revealed that despite the release of N100 billion for infrastructural development to the universities as well as additional N30 billion as accumulated allowances by the federal government, the lecturers have refused to be pacified, regretting that a situation where ASUU is on strike, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) is also on strike and the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) also recently embarking on seven days of warning strike is worrisome.
However, the presentation of the details of ASUU demands as contained in the 2009 agreement with the federal government by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, shocked his colleagues as a number of the demands were either perceived to be bizarre or absolutely unnecessary.
Such demands include maternity leave allowance, sick leave allowance, injury allowance, car allowance, postgraduate (PG) grants for the supervision of PG students, external excess workload allowance, sabbatical leave allowance, teaching practice and industrial training allowance as well as funding of the state and federal universities.
Chukwumerije, who also disclosed that the total sum of the demands by ASUU in figure amounted to N1,05 trillion, added that it was agreed that N5 billion would be released in 2009, another N5 billion in 2010, among others.
In his remarks, Mark, who implored ASUU to return to the classroom on behalf of the Senate, said he thought details of the agreement when being read by Chukwumerije were mere proposals in view of the degree of triviality involved.
According to him, the nature of the agreement showed that those who represented the federal government at the negotiation table where it was signed, were people who did not know their right from their left. He described the action as unfair to the nation.
Speaking at the 29th convocation ceremony of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), where he was represented by the supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, President Jonathan called on the university teachers to join hands with government in turning the country’s universities to centres of excellent.
He noted that his administration had allocated the sum of N55.74 billion to the university sub-sector this year alone, while also maintaining that: “Apart from establishing 12 new federal universities, government has also increased the carrying capacities of existing universities to address the issue of access to higher education, government has also increased the budget of education progressively from N234.8 billion in 2010 to N426.5 billion in 2013 with N55.74 billion allocated to university sub-sector alone.”
According to him, “It is on this premise, that I wish to once again call on ASUU to allow reason to prevail by immediately calling-off their ongoing strike action in the interest of the nation and our children while government systematically continues to address the myriad of challenges facing our university system.
Meanwhile, Ayim, who addressed journalists yesterday, after a public awareness road walk, hinted that about 52 letters had be written to the federal government reminding of the agreement reached with the union since 2009.
He argued that contrary to government propaganda and misinformation by its agents, the strike was in the interest of university education in the country.
“We wish to remind the general public about the reason for our strike, which is, the refusal of the federal government of Nigeria to implement the agreement it freely entered into with ASUU in 2009. This patience notwithstanding, ASUU had to additionally enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with government on the strategy of implementation of the said agreement in 2012, all to no avail, as government only paid lip-service to its commitment with the union.
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.
Indication that the four-month old strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the ASUU/FG 2009 agreement emerged Wednesday, with the Senate mandating its President, Senator David Mark, to engage both the federal government and ASUU with a view to ending the strike.
The senators, who urged the striking lecturers to return to the classroom to prevent what they described as further devaluation of the country’s educational fortunes, also mandated the committee on education to liase with the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC) and all other relevant stakeholders to proffer lasting solution to the crisis.
However, President Goodluck Jonathan, for the second time in a week, yesterday admonished the striking lecturers to let the interest of the nation and students be the basis in calling off the strike.
He said the step would go a long way in assisting the government systematically to continue to address the challenges facing the nation’s university system.
Dissatisfied with the president’s admonition, Chairman of ASUU-University of Uyo (UNIUYO) branch, Dr. Nwachukwu Ayim, also urged Nigerians not to be sympathetic with the federal government over the prolonged strike, but said Nigerians should appreciate the position of the union in moving the educational sector forward.
Incidentally, the Senate’s resolution, which followed a motion sponsored by 107 senators and presented by Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, recalled that ASUU had been on strike since July 1 in protest of federal government’s alleged failure to implement the 2009 agreement signed with lecturers for proper funding of the nation’s universities.
According to him, the Senate noted with concern that the strike had paralysed academic activities in the universities and consequently rendered the institutions redundant, stressing that several negotiations between the striking lecturers and the federal government along with the intervention of some prominent Nigerians have failed to produce the desired results.
Ndoma-Egba also revealed that despite the release of N100 billion for infrastructural development to the universities as well as additional N30 billion as accumulated allowances by the federal government, the lecturers have refused to be pacified, regretting that a situation where ASUU is on strike, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) is also on strike and the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) also recently embarking on seven days of warning strike is worrisome.
However, the presentation of the details of ASUU demands as contained in the 2009 agreement with the federal government by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, shocked his colleagues as a number of the demands were either perceived to be bizarre or absolutely unnecessary.
Such demands include maternity leave allowance, sick leave allowance, injury allowance, car allowance, postgraduate (PG) grants for the supervision of PG students, external excess workload allowance, sabbatical leave allowance, teaching practice and industrial training allowance as well as funding of the state and federal universities.
Chukwumerije, who also disclosed that the total sum of the demands by ASUU in figure amounted to N1,05 trillion, added that it was agreed that N5 billion would be released in 2009, another N5 billion in 2010, among others.
In his remarks, Mark, who implored ASUU to return to the classroom on behalf of the Senate, said he thought details of the agreement when being read by Chukwumerije were mere proposals in view of the degree of triviality involved.
According to him, the nature of the agreement showed that those who represented the federal government at the negotiation table where it was signed, were people who did not know their right from their left. He described the action as unfair to the nation.
Speaking at the 29th convocation ceremony of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), where he was represented by the supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, President Jonathan called on the university teachers to join hands with government in turning the country’s universities to centres of excellent.
He noted that his administration had allocated the sum of N55.74 billion to the university sub-sector this year alone, while also maintaining that: “Apart from establishing 12 new federal universities, government has also increased the carrying capacities of existing universities to address the issue of access to higher education, government has also increased the budget of education progressively from N234.8 billion in 2010 to N426.5 billion in 2013 with N55.74 billion allocated to university sub-sector alone.”
According to him, “It is on this premise, that I wish to once again call on ASUU to allow reason to prevail by immediately calling-off their ongoing strike action in the interest of the nation and our children while government systematically continues to address the myriad of challenges facing our university system.
Meanwhile, Ayim, who addressed journalists yesterday, after a public awareness road walk, hinted that about 52 letters had be written to the federal government reminding of the agreement reached with the union since 2009.
He argued that contrary to government propaganda and misinformation by its agents, the strike was in the interest of university education in the country.
“We wish to remind the general public about the reason for our strike, which is, the refusal of the federal government of Nigeria to implement the agreement it freely entered into with ASUU in 2009. This patience notwithstanding, ASUU had to additionally enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with government on the strategy of implementation of the said agreement in 2012, all to no avail, as government only paid lip-service to its commitment with the union.
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 Alliance of Civil Society Organisation of Nigeria (ACSON), yesterday at a press conference in Abuja, gave the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a seven-day ultimatum to withdraw the candidacy of Chief Willie Obiano, as the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in the November 16 election or risk court action.
Obiano had been allegedly fingered in double registration in the voters’ register, prompting the All Progressives Congress (APC) to call for Obiano's prosecution being an offense against the electoral law.
Adding its voice to the call yesterday, ACSON president, Alhaji Ali Danjuma, said it had become pertinent to ask INEC to clear the table before it allows Obiano's candidacy to cause a total mess of the electoral process as well as discredit the election in the state.
The group said given the successes of the 2011 general election, not minding its shortcomings, it would amount to dragging back the hands of the clock if Obiano’s alleged crime was left to go unquestioned, especially by the civil society groups, whose jobs he said, it was to sanitise the polity.
"That the name of Chief Willie Obiano, appears twice in the voters’ register of the Independent National Electoral Commission is unacceptable as it negates the principle of fairness and justice as candidates in an election should ordinarily live above board.
"Aside from this, Obiano being fully investigated by INEC and all the security agencies, with a view to applying the full weight of the Electoral Law 2010 as spelt out in Section 12 (2)(3) of the Act, as amended, it is our belief that INEC's immediate withdrawal of his candidacy will ensure the credibility of the Anambra governorship election as well as serve as a deterrent to future politicians.
"It is in this direction that we therefore order INEC to within seven days withdraw Obiano's candidacy as documents in public domain suggest or risk the actions of the civil society groups who would leave no stone unturned in the pursuit to institute democratic culture and discipline amongst politicians and on the polity at large," Danjuma said.
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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