According to the Holy Bible, the would be disciple was skeptical about his brother’s discovery of the Messiah in Nazareth of all places. He was not scornful in his skepticism. Nazareth of old was not renowned for producing men of lofty deeds, of valor, of reputable disposition. But his brother was sure of his finding, Jesus Christ, even from Nazareth! The disciple went, saw and believed.
I have my reservation for the Nigeria police, and I am at liberty to be stingy with my sympathy for it. Like most Nigerians, my aversion for the police was borne out of third party narrations. Everybody is talking ill of the police so must I. After all, the organization itself is not so meticulous about its image. Who then am I not to be frugal in my love for its members?
A Yoruba adage says that masquerade is honoured abroad while people are appreciated better on close contact came to the fore recently when I had a close encounter with the Nigerian police. After this incident, I metaphorically fell on my knees asking Father to forgive me for I did not know what I was doing.
At the wee hours of Friday 15th November, 2013, I had an encounter with the men of underworld who snatched my car, a green Infinity G20 saloon car with Reg. No FQ 821 LND in front of my street gate at Onike area, Yaba, Lagos State. I reported the incident at the Sabo Police Division promptly and was advised to report same at the Control Room at Oduduwa, GRA, Ikeja. That singular action altered my perception of the Nigeria police for live. It was so dramatic that I felt like a Nollywood actor in a ‘B’- rated detective movie.
On getting there, I met with an officer who pitied my plight and promised to “go all out to assist me” by sending a radio signal to all police formations in Lagos State command and environ pronto, if only I could part with the sum of six thousand naira. I was not disappointed because I wasn’t expecting a more refined behaviour from the police. I thought it was just ‘normal’ to ‘settle’ before ‘action’.
I hadn’t that much money on me (as every thing had gone with the car. I therefore promised to bring the money the following day. He ‘generously’ promised to help me send the signal the following day after the payment of the money. He gave me his identification and phone number so that I could contact him when coming. While soliciting for the money, a curious lender asked why I was so anxious for such a meager amount of money.
I told him. He was furious at me and scolded me for being so naive and uninformed about the re-branded Nigeria police. He said I should contact the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO , Mrs. Ngozi Braide, (DSP), for assistance and report the conduct of the wayward police officer who incidentally was a superior officer (Supol) thus expected to know better.
It wasn’t until Sunday evening that I had time to call the PPRO with the motive of persuading her to use her position to compel the desired action. I never bargained for the result that I got from her. She pleaded with me to come to her office the following morning (Monday). On getting there, she made me narrate the story again and she promptly sent for the officer but changed her mind and asked if I could present marked money to the officer, saying that the Command was desirous of weeding itself of all bad eggs. Hardly had I given the marked money to the officer than he was promptly arrested by the men of the X Squad who were lurking nearby. We were both taken to the presence of the Commissioner of Police ( Umar Manko), who asked us to narrate what happened.
The arrested officer corroborated my statement but countered it by saying that he only asked me to come back the following day to “show appreciation” with the six thousand naira (N6,000.00). The CP tongue lashed him before ordering his detention.
My car was later found at the LASTMA office, Iponri. Investigation revealed that the LASTMA officers towed it from the road side where the thieves abandoned it. It had been ticketed N30, 000! The police went further to write LASTMA to release the vehicle to them for further investigation, arguing that it was a stolen vehicle. We are still awaiting the reaction of LASTMA on this latest development.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Although, she has had her challenging moments in the industry, Belinda Effah is one of the fast rising actresses in Nollywood whose name rings a bell in the industry. She has achieved a lot in a very short while, winning laurels and writing her name in gold as far as the world of make-believe is concerned. In this interview, she tells Showtime Celebrity what it takes to be where she’s today and why she cannot date anybody in the industry.
How has the journey been so far?
The journey so far has been wonderful. There was a time when Belinda Effah was a struggling actress, just hoping to feature in a movie. But today, the story has changed. Thanks to Royal Arts Academy owned by Emem Isong and her sister, Uduak Isong Oguamanam who featured me in their movies, “Udeme mmi” and “Kokomma.” Featuring in these movies opened a lot of doors for me. I have won a lot of awards. I’m actually on my own, and I now reject scripts . I’m not saying that I’m there yet, I’m still hoping to get better. But things are actually different today.
Was it part of the challenges you faced before hitting the limelight?
Then I was not matured as an actress, physically , emotionally and mentally. That was my build up process, the producers then knew what they wanted. They didn’t tell me I was a bad actress. They said, I had what it takes to be a good actor. But looking at me today, things are different. I have added some weights in the right places. I guess I fit into certain roles now than before. May be, they didn’t see me fitting into a particular role . Like I said earlier, I wasn’t just matured then.
*Belinda
How were you able to get the role that gave you the break?
That was after I featured in Emem Isong’s “Udeme mmi.” Her sister invited me to be part of the cast of her film, ‘Kokomma” . I read the script and I liked it because it was a very touching story. To me, every script that comes my way, gives me an opportunity to do something differently.
How many movies have you done till date?
I have done a couple of movies. I don’t keep count of the movies I have featured in. But I’m happy that I’m busy every other day. I’m one actress that like to take a break to refresh myself after I have done one or two movies, so that I can give my very best into a production. I’m always busy, I have won several awards and I’m hoping that the endorsement will start coming my way.
You seem to be eyeing endorsement by some multi-national companies?
Yes, that’s the glory of every actress that you are doing great works and people want to associate with you.
When you are on set , what’s the experience like?
I have different experiences especially when I’m working with different producers. Usually, I get fair treatment. As an actress, I have to bring my game to the table. The industry is such that we have new faces that are strong as well. To me, it is not about featuring in a movie that matters, rather it’s about making an impression on the people.
Belinda Effah was formerly described as a regional actress. At what point did you come out of that circle?
As an up and coming actor, when you are offered a role to play in a movie, you don’t really care what you are being offered. You just want to be on set. Some people will want to describe me as a regional actress. But back then it’s not as if I haven’t done a couple of English movies . After all, I started with English movies before I later featured in the two movies that brought me to the limelight.
Maybe, it could be because the producers of these films distributed them far and wide causing people to get to notice me. But the producers of my early movies did not distribute the films well and that’s why people tend to see me as a regional actor. So, it doesn’t make me a regional actor. I’d feature in both English and indigenous movies. If I can speak the language, give me a script and I will interprete it to the best of my knowledge.
How did you feel when you were announced winner of the Best rising actress in Africa at this year’s AMAA?
That I was nominated for the award was a win for me. I kept an open mindset that if I win the award it’s an additional advantage to me. I was very tensed because I checked out the profiles of everybody that was nominated in that Best Promising Actress category. Prior to my nomination, I have won GIAMA Awards, and I have also gotten a lot of recognition awards. It was like ‘let the trend keep flowing.’ I was overwhelmed when I was announced the winner. I’m grateful to Royal Arts Academy because they didn’t know me from anywhere. They saw something in me which they tried their best to harness it.
Between last year and this year, you have been on top of your game. What’s the secret?
I came into Nollywood at the right time. I joined the industry between 2005 and 2006. Then I don’t think the industry was ready for me. I was part of the Next Movie Star reality TV show and I was one of the last Housemates standing. I thought participating in that show would create a new opening for me. But it never did. For four years ,I couldn’t lay my hand on anything tangible.
At a point, I had to take up a paid job because I needed the money to fend for myself between 2006 and 2008. I came back in 2011 through the first series of “Tales of Eve.” It gave me a huge platform because a lot of people got to watch the series. That was when the industry actually called me back. A lot of people identified with the series, and since then, I have done a couple of movies.
The movie, Kokomma, got me nomination for the 2013 Africa Movie Academy Awards ( AMAA). After featuring in that movie, a lot of things started to fall in place because people started calling me for jobs. Like I said earlier, I joined Nollywood at the right time, and everything is working out fine for me.
What would you say prepared you for what you are doing today?
I have always wanted to act. I was part of a drama group in my church back then. When the opportunity presented itself, I took it with everything that I had. I could recall that I was still in school when I came on holiday in Lagos. A modelling agent saw me and wanted to use me to brand their product. Thereafter, I saw an advert on television where actors were invited to audition for the production, “Shallow Waters.” I bought the form and went for the audition. Later, I was given a minor role. My passion for acting increased, and each time, I was on holiday, I would storm Lagos to pursue my passion. So, immediately I graduated from the university, I relocated to Lagos.
What did you study in the university?
I studied Biotechnology in the university. Initially, I wanted to study medicine, but when it was not forthcoming, I switched to Biotechnology . But at the back of my mind, it has always been the art. I have always wanted to be an actress right from when I was younger. Then, I always wanted to do something with the choir department of my church. So, when the opportunity came, I just went for it.
What are you doing to stay on top of your game!
As an actor, the best thing you can do for yourself is to keep improving on your skill. There are people you look up to. For me, I have several mentors; Genevieve Nnaji, Majid Mitchel and Uche Jombo. I pick one or two things from them in terms of acting, packaging and business sense and try to make it Belinda. I don’t copy anybody but if there is need for me to watch a particular scene in a movie in order to perfect my act, I will do so. Also, in terms of business, one needs to know what these star actors are doing. That’s basically what’s keeping me going.
Have you played a love scene in a movie before now?
Yes, I have played love scenes before now. I played love scenes with Alex Ekubo and Majid Mitchel who molested me in the movie I featured with him. I also played love scene with Kanayo O Kanayo.
Each time, you are playing the love scene, what actually come to your mind?
I am an actor and I have to be professional in my acting.
Some actors would tell you that while playing love scenes, their emotions usually come to play?
But mine never come to play because I become the character that I’m playing. I get involved in the character and when I’m through with the role, I return to myself again.
Have you been faced with a situation where you have to reject the person you are paired in a movie?
I hope to get to that stage where I would make a choice. But don’t think any Actor has the liberty yet to reject whoever he or she is paired up with. Otherwise you have to give your reasons for rejecting the actor; whether he or she is a bad actor or the person has a body odour. So far, I have not been paired up with someone I considered as a bad actor or one who has a body odour.
You must have faced some temptation while on set ?
I always keep it professional whether it’s white collar job or not. I don’t want a situation where I would be uncomfortable on set simply because I have dated one person or the other. I respect myself and I respect everybody. Even if I’m tempted, I try to keep it professional.
Have you had such a request before?
Of course, we are all human beings. I am a good looking lady and a role model to many ladies out there. I’m not acting because I want to act. I have a desire to affect people’s lives positively. Leadership is in service. I don’t want to mess up my reputation now because I am working on a project called “Belinda Advocacy Against Rape.”I have a reputation to protect. I have a lot of things in the offing. If one is tempted, one can easily go outside the industry to get herself a boy friend. I can’t afford to mess around in the industry.
Are you saying that you will not marry in the industry?
I didn’t say that. If I find somebody in the industry that I fall over heels in love with, why not.
How often have you had heart breaks?
My heart have been broken and I have broken other people’s hearts. So, no hard feelings. It happens all the time where you like someone and he doesn’t like you. That does not mean there is no true love.
Have you found true love?
You will get to find out very soon.
What do you like in man?
I like a God fearing man, and one who is down to earth
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.
There was drama at the Obio Akpor local government council yesterday as Mr Timothy Nsirim refused to vac ate his office as Chairman of the council in compliance with the dissolution of the local government council on Thursday night by governor Chibuike Amaechi.
Also the seventeen Councillors of the local government told newsmen that they would not comply with the dissolution.
It would be recalled that Mr Nsirim who was suspended alongside seventeen Councillors of the local government by the state House of Assembly six months ago, recently secured a Port Harcourt High court judgement quashing the suspension
Barely five days after the court victory governor Amaechi dissolved the council and directed that the chairman should immediately hand over to the Head of Local government Administration.
Meantime, Mr Nsirim yesterday told newsmen that he resumed at the office as early as 7am to continue the business of the day as Chairman of the council.
The Head of the Local Government Administration, Mr Singer Azubuike Singer at an interactive session with newsmen yesterday morning in Government House, Port Harcourt insisted that he was now in charge of the council, adding that the dissolution by the state governor was in order.
“The recent announcement of the governor dissolving the council and handing over to the Head of Local Government Administration is in accordance with the law. Nobody should pay revenue to individuals. There are designated banks to pay revenues to”, he said.
When asked if Mr Nsirim had handed over to him the Head of the Local Government Administration, Mr Singer said he was yet to see him.
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.
An Ikeja High Court, Lagos was yesterday told how the fraud allegedly perpetrated against Vanguard Media Ltd was hatched by the former company’s financial controller, Mr. Yisha Badmus and two senior regional officers with the company, James Unoka and Ejike Ezeobi.
The trio are standing trial before Justice Atinuke Ipaye over alleged forgery and defrauding Vanguard to the tune of several millions of naira.
At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presented Mr. Lawrence Adekunle Ajayi as its second witness who was the auditor that audited the books of the company that revealed the said fraud.
He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and a partner in Ajayi & Co., chartered accountants.
Led in evidence by the EFCC lawyer, Mr. Abba Mohammed, the prosecution witness gave vivid account of how he was hired by the company through its Chairman, Mr. Sam Amuka to examine the account books of the company between 2007-2009.
Mr. Ajayi told the court that moment he was given the assignment, he visited all the out-stations of the company including the FederalCapitalTerritory, where he got books on transactions of sales and the remittance made by the officials to the company.
He noted at the conclussion of their investigations, reports were prepared and handed over to the company chairman. He disclosed that he was not aware of any probe leading to the court trial until he was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over the case.
According to him, for him to succeed on the “special investigation job” given to him by Vanguard, he specifically visited those out stations where there were reports of financial anomalies, from where his team of chartered accountants examined sales returns, cash remittances and the bank tellers meant for payments.
He said : “We got our report through returns filed to the company by the officers. We also checked the company’s account records. We met the staff at the stations including circulation executives responsible for selling of newspapers and how they remit the proceeds.
”It was from our investigations that we discovered that the United Bank for Africa tellers were not in agreement with the sales. For instance, teller number 6633835 of November 7, 2007 revealled the remittance of N254,200, when same teller read N4,200 in the UBA teller paid into the company’s account.
”We probed further what the problem was, we observed that they always left space at the beginning of the tellers and at the end and when they come back to the office they will fill in the remaining figures. After the discovery, I travelled to Onisha and met with the 2nd defendant (Unoka James), who confirmed what we discovered and that it was collusion between him and the 1st defendant (Badmus) who was then the Chief Accountant.
”He also admitted that the differences between what was supposed to be deposited and what was paid were shared between him and the 2nd defendant. He said he normally paid his (2nd defendant) share into a particular bank account given to him by Mr. Badmus. He showed tellers he used in making payments into the account. These tellers were submitted to the company alongside my report. ”From there we returned to Lagos and concluded our investigations and prepared my report dated November 11 and November 17, 2009.”
Under cross examinations by lawyers to both Badmus and Unoka, Messrs O. Ganiyu and S. Akweh respectively, the witness emphasised that he was never an external auditor to the company and he never had anything to do with the defedants, especially the ex-accountant before he was commissioned for the investigation.
He also revealed that in his report, some managers, including the former internal Auditor, Mr Umana and former administrative manager, were indicted for negligence of duty.
Asked whether he was paid to indict the defendants and that the report was written “without basis”, the witness said he was a seasoned and professional accountant who came to do a professional work to unravel fraud.
After the two matters involving Badmus and Unoka were adjourned till January 15 and 27 respectively, the court called the third case involving Badmus and Ejike Ezeobi, another sales representative in the East but did not hear the case because of another official engagement by the trial judge who latter adjourned till January 27 for further trial.
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.
Hon. Henry Ofongo is no doubt President Goodluck Jonathan’s man friday. He represents Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, the home country of the President. In this interview, he told Saturday Vanguard that the PDP still leads the National Assembly.
With the defection of the 5 Governors from your political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to All Progressive Congress (APC), many now believe that PDP is in disarray. PDP as far as I am concerned is not a party in disarray. It is intact. In a party people can have misunderstanding. It is normal in politics that when you come as a union of people from different background, different ethnicity, different religions, it’s normal that misunderstanding will occur but the major thing is how you people understand yourself, how you handle what ever misunderstanding, you come together and work as a team.
Talking about understanding, it appears that President Goodluck Jonathan and the Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Ameachi did not understand themselves? The truth is that, I will not say that the president is at logger head with the governor of Rivers State. They are brothers so to say. Balyesa and Rivers are one and so long as am concerned it’s only the governor of River State, Governor Amaechi that says he has problem with the President, but the President has never said he has problems with governor Amaechi.
So to that extent, I know the president does not have problems with him; maybe he has problem with the President. I don’t know. In his interview, he was saying he is defecting to APC in order to protect Rivers State and he was making reference to oil wells. Well, I don’t know. Those are things that only the courts that can decide when there are issues like that. If the court has not decided I don’t think that is good enough reason why you are leaving the party to another. May be there are other things in his mind.
Do you agree that the G5 Government is threatening the present structure of leadership in the House? I don’t agree to that because up till this minute, as we speak, I know the PDP is in majority. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal is still a PDP member. The Leader of the House is still a PDP member. So long as I am concerned, as it stands now, there is no member of the national assembly who is of the PDP platform that has come out to say he is defecting to any other party. Until that happens before we will be able to asses whether PDP is in majority or in minority.
Do you see that happening?PDP members in the House recently formed a group called Unity Forum? It is understood that is main objective is to give the President a leverage over the opposition party. How true is that?
Well, I am a member of Unity Forum. The Forum was not formed just to support Mr. President. It is formed in the House to make sure that, one : the House is united irrespective of party affiliations. Two: we want stability in the body polity of this country because what holds democracy is the national assembly. During military era, you can see that the Executive is there, the Judiciary is there. Whether they form Tribunal or not, it doesn’t matter.
What symbolizes democracy so long as I am concerned is the Legislature. So, if anything is happening in this country and we say we want to stabilize the unity of this country, we must make sure that support the unity of the country; support the government of this country.
When I say the government, the president is only the Head of government heading the Executive Arm, then you have the legislature and the judiciary, that’s what make up government. So if we say we want unity, we want stability in all areas, we will support every leadership at every level including the president.
Will you support President Jonathan in 2015? Of course, if he declares, if President Jonathan says he wants to contest in 2015. I will support him.
Why? I will support him because he has been trying. We all know where we are coming from in this country. We all know how this country has been bastardized. We have gone through a long period of military rule primarily to stabilize our democracy.
I think with his transformation agenda, he has done a lot. I cannot enumerate them; too many things. You can see the transformation in the Agricultural sector, in infrastructure. It is just that most people fly by air.
We all know the state of roads, they were all in comatose but now, so many of these things are coming back. Our railways were bastardized. They were not functional, but now he is trying to bring it up. Go to our Airport, for the past 30 years, not even a paint has been done on them. But today you can see there is serious work going on there.
You had a PDP caucus meeting on Thursday. Can you tell us what transpired? No, it for the members of the party. I am If they wanted the press, they would have called you.
But basically what was top on the agenda? We discussed the unity of the party.
Unity of the party? But you countered it earlier when I said that PDP is in disarray? No, PDP is not in disarray. Anybody can leave the party and others will come. Let me tell you what happened recently. Some people came and said they wanted to join the party. People who want to leave are free to leave. Like I said there are misunderstanding but the party is not in disarray. Other parties have been in disarray.
PDP is the only party that when it was formed in 1998 has continue to maintain the same name, slogan, the same acronym. Up till now, it is same Peoples Democratic Party, we have not changed. Other parties have been in disarray, changing from one name to another, from one logo to another. So, how can you say a party that has been in existence since then till now without changing name, logo, acronym or anything is in disarray. Simple misunderstanding does not mean that the party is in disarray.
If President Jonathan has ambition to run again in 2015 and has lost Sokoto, Kano with its number of voters, Rivers State, Niger State, Jigawa State, Kwara and Adamawa state as it stands now, do you not envisage any danger?
Well, when you say that President Jonathan has lost Sokoto, Kano State, Rivers States etc, I don’t know what you mean by saying he has lost them. The governors of those states defecting to another party does not mean that everybody in that party will follow the governors.
So, you can’t say he has lost them. It is only in an election period that you can know that somebody actually lost in those states or that the person didn’t lose. As it stands now, the mere defection of Governors or individuals to this party does not mean that someone has lost those places. We all know our strong holds. PDP knows its strong holds.
I am telling you that there is no right thinking PDP man who really belongs to the PDP from origin that will agree, after forming a party, making a party formidable and then because of misunderstanding, he will decide to leave. If there are misunderstandings, time heals. So, I believe that the President has not lost anything. It is only the election that will determine. I will encourage him to contest. If I have my way, I will tell President Goodluck, contest election come 2015.
Do you believe that PDP has lost the majority in the House of Reps as it stands now especially with the supposedly imminent exodus of the members of the New PDP? The truth is that there is nothing like the nPDP. We have PDP. When people are aggrieved and they feel like they want to form a splinter group which they did and the court has said there is nothing like nPDP. I think that takes care of that that there is nothing like the nPDP.
Let us take it that some aggrieved members of the PDP who felt maybe the way they want things to go, if it didn’t go that way, they are leaving the party.
That doesn’t affect the party in any way and it does not affect the House in any way. Until such persons come out to say they are no more members of the PDP, they are defecting to other party, then that’s when we begin to know the strength and weaknesses by way of number in the House. So, that’s what I will say for now.
Would you swim and sink with PDP even if everyone leaves? Well, swim and sink with PDP; I now PDP is not going to sink. Like I said since 1998 PDP was formed, it has always been strong and it will grow stronger. I was pioneer Secretary of PDP in my Local Government, Southern Ijaw when it was formed in 1998.
Then I became assistant organizing secretary, the first Administrative secretary in the state, youth leader of the party in the state. So, I have served as a party man before I was elected as an Honorable member. Let’s face it, PDP is the only party in this country that has that national coverage. Is not a regional party. It is not an ethnic party. It is the only national party that takes care of every Nigerian irrespective of your religion, region or ethnicity. So, PDP will not sink. I am assuring you of that.
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.
Recently, the Edo State House of Assembly suspended the Chairman of Orhiomnwon Local Government Council, Chief Roland Ibierutowhen and the entire councillors for allegedly travelling to Italy without permission from the state government.
In this interview with the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Philip Shuaibu gave reasons for their suspension just as he responded to the recent allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the state is indebted to N200billion and other national issues. Excerpts:
Suspension of Orhionmwon chairman and Councillors
We are a party that believes in the rule of law and the wishes of the people. The Orhiomnwon people rose against their leadership for locking up their Local Government secretariat to travel to Italy to go and learn legislative duties. You cannot imagine a chairman, the Vice chairman, secretary of the council and all the councillors going to learn legislative duties in a country that do not speak English. That is crazy, for us may be they want to introduce Italian language to the parliament in their area.
That does not show responsibility and we are not ashamed to fish out any one of us who do not want to follow the trend of development in our area. We are not PDP that covers up corruption in the name of their own, like the Oduah case where they are trying to use a civil servant as a scape goat to save Oduah. I think for us the people matters not individuals.
The chairman of the PDP in Edo state, Chief Dan Orbih recently said the state is indebted to N200billion and that Governor Oshiomhole has received over N19billion as security votes, what is your take on that?
I think that for an opposition to be a strong one it has to be able to work with fact not speaking blindly. Everybody today knows that Edo state is much much better than PDP left it. There is development everywhere but because Orbih is not used to good roads, good hospitals, during their tenure so he sees the good things now as under development.
Now he said Oshiomhole has received N19.5billion security votes. We have never heard of N5billion security votes in this state because we just concluded our Ministerial briefing. The present security vote is N4billion and even the N4billion during the Ministerial briefing, it is about 45 per cent of that N4billion that was expended. I expected that he should have met our colleagues in PDP who has the document before speaking.
The state government today is paying debts incurred by PDP government. The only debt this administration is owing was the N25billion it borrowed from the capital market and as we speak over N14billion has been paid. So from the N25billion the state is owing about N11billion.
So how can about N11billion constitute to N200billion debt? When government took that loan they took it with a repayment plan and that repayment plan has a time lag when the money will be defrayed. About N700.N800million is being deducted from our allocation to service that loan. And when the PDP always raise that alarm that Oshiomhole is owing debt and he will leave it for future government, I want to assure them that before Oshiomhole leaves office, there won’t be any debt to hand over to his successor unlike Oshiomhole who inherited so much debt left behind by Orbih’s PDP.
He also inherited a dilapidated state, the PDP confiscated properties belonging to Edo people including their lands. Before Oshiomhole came the state was run by the PDP like a family business. So Edo state is not owing N200 billion.
They should speak with facts, when we were in the opposition in this state we speak with facts. We have the documents, if they want them we will give it to them. I expected Orbih to speak about the inability of the PDP led government to pay allocations to states. I expect him to speak about the oil theft, to speak about Oduahgate.PDP is out of this state and they are out for good because we have seen they still have some charlatans as leaders.
You discover that the PDP in Edo state especially their chairman, they are confused. When a party chairman does not have statistics to criticise a ruling government then there is a problem. When somebody who calls himself a chairman of a party in a state does not know what development is and under development then there is a problem.
When a PDP chairman can stand up to say Edo state is under developed then that means what constitutes development to him is under development because he has never witnessed development in his life as a party chairman of PDP now development has come to Edo state, he is not seeing it as development he is seeing it as under development.
He is used to untidy classrooms, he is used to bad roads, he is used to all the negative vices of the society. For us we are of the new order and the new order is construction of roads, expanding rural areas, providing the basic amenities that is what governance is. And APC stands for that change, that change is a clear departure of the PDP slogan of under development.
APC belongs to that new generation that believes that those ailing industries that are leaving Nigeria, the UACs, it is time for them to return to Nigeria when APC is in government. Because the PDP has shown that they do not have the capacity to develop our country and they have failed woefully. It is a clear signal from the departure of those governors that the PDP has no medicine to cure the problem of Nigerians and that is why APC is coming at the right time to cure the headache of this country.
Defection of five PDP governors
I think for me it is a good sign for Nigerian politics and also to save this country from the verge of collapse. The PDP cannot develop this country, from 1999 they have been in power, they have been boasting that they were God and in the next 50 years they will continue to rule this country. And obviously man is not God. But is obvious today that the only way Nigeria can survive is when the PDP is out of power and that is the only way Nigerians can have power.
Because today we are in darkness, electricity is not on, so the only way we can have power which will generate employment, create wealth is for the PDP to be out of power. And what we are seeing today is the introduction that PDP initiated in Lagos. You remember when the PDP went to Lagos for a rally they said they have political tsunami but today it is no longer political tsunami in Lagos it is political tsunami in the PDP.
What we are seeing is a clear departure from the old order where people see PDP as the only means to power and the only means to survival. I think I will salute those governors that they have good will and they have courage because for them to be able to defect shows that they have Nigeria at heart and they have seen PDP collapsing and they have seen Nigeria collapsing if PDP is not kicked out of power. Impunity has become the order of the day in PDP and when there is impunity where everybody feels nothing can happen, that they can steal at will and nothing will happen, the danger of that is the sign of a collapse country.
And I think more governors will still defect and honestly we will have a country that is called our own. Look at those involved in the purchase of PHCN you will know that in the next ten years if things are not handled properly, we will be worst than what we are before the privatization of PHCN. So i am very happy that Nigeria is about to have power, that Nigeria is about to enjoy what democracy is all about. This is also a clear signal to the police including the IG that he is the IG of the Nigerian people notthe IG of the PDP.
They should be neutral in this game so that Nigerians will enjoy the police. What is happening today is a clear signal for those people that feels impunity is the order of the day. Nigeria is no longer a one party state, look at the National Assembly it is APC now by the time you have a balance of force i can tell you that the people that will benefit is the Nigerian masses.
But there is this rumour that the EFCC might go after them?
I think Nigerians are wiser now, the EFCC are too. Because the EFCC cannot go after the defected governors when Oduah is still roaming the streets. EFCC cannot go after the governors when Okonjo Iweala has not been investigated over his younger brother that is a consultant millionaire in dollars in Ministry of Finance.
EFCC cannot go after those governors when EFCC has not investigated Deziani the Minister of Petroleum over the theft of our crude oil that is being stolen on daily basis. The EFCC has a duty to tell Nigerians the truth over our oil that they are selling inthe name of theft. So before they go after those governors they should go after Deziani, Oduah and Okonjo Iweala first. EFCC is supposed to be an umpire so they should not allow themselves to be used.
When Farida was there we remembered when even a Minister was using her to chase his political enemies, but I want to tell Lamorde because for me he is a seasoned trained officer and he learnt from the beginning when EFCC was established. I want to advise him that it is for his own interest and that of Nigerians that he balance his forces.
If he wants to tell Nigerians that he is ready for work, he should go after Oduah, Deziani and Okonjo Iweala because these three women unfortunately they are women, they are the major problem we are having in this country. The money Nigeria is losing on daily basis in the name of theft is from a lady. The consultancy programme that is taking millions of dollars in the Ministry of Finance is also from a lady. The car saga, the Airport renovation, all these things we are aware.
I think it is time for Nigerians to sit up, and it is time we ask those questions. And the EFCC must prove that they are actually an agency to fight corruption because the international community is watching us. And the only way we can prove to the international community that we want to fight corruption in this country is when people like Okonjo Iweala, Stella Oduah and Deziani are behind bars.
Anambra election and INEC
I do not have confidence in INEC but I have confidence in Jega. There is difference between Jega as a person and INEC as an institution.
For INEC to have credibility it needs a courageous man to stamp out all those corrupt officers and all those people who are ready to mess him up because for me I believe that Jega means well, I believe that Jega is sincere because for the first time this is the first time an INEC chairman will come out and accept his faults. Before the Iwus will come out to tell you that it was the best election conducted in this country.
But today we have an INEC chairman that accepted responsibility and ready for change. I don’t believe in the system but I believe in the head and the head must stamp his authority. But before 2015 Jega needs to prove to Nigerians that he is actually ready to bring sanity. I want him to remain there but I want him to have that will to whip out those characters that are not ready to flow with the new change that Jega has brought into INEC
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.
Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities [ASUU], Calabar Zone, has reacted angrily to the order to return to the classrooms issued to them by the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, saying that the action would worsen the strike action rather than solving the problem.
ASUU accused the minister of deceiving President Jonathan on the crisis, alleging that Wike and some other unnamed officials of the Government did not want the lingering problem between the union and the Federal Government to be resolved.
According to the zonal coordinator of ASUU Calabar zone, Dr. Charles Ononuju, with such threat the crisis would linger far longer than expected.
In a statement in Umuahia,. Ononuju said that the union received with shock the pronouncement by the supervising minister, saying the crisis could not be resolved that way.
“We received with shock the pronouncement of by the Supervising Minister of Education, Wike, that lecturers should resume work or be sacked”, Ononuju said.
He said that the union had gone far with discussion on how to resolve the crisis and was waiting for President Goodluck Jonathan’s reply to their letter after their meeting when the minister came up with the “unfortunate” pronouncement.
“Sacking lecturers will not solve the problem but will compound it. Wike should resign and come to the university and teach. This is not the way to go if they go this way, the crisis will not be resolved in the next 100 years”, he warned.
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 heat generated by the defection of five of the aggrieved G-7 Peoples Demo-cratic Party, PDP, governors to All Progressives Congress, APC, continued yesterday with one of the governors, Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, saying joining APC was not the solution to the crisis, and called for everyone to join hands in fighting impunity in the country.
Lamido, who did not defect to APC, spoke as the court re-instated National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola said his expulsion by the national leadership of PDP would not stand even as the party said, yesterday, that it was not losing sleep over the defection of the five governors and leaders of the Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led new PDP.
Meanwhile, Governor Murtala Nyako, who also decamped to APC, has asked his supporters to join the opposition party en mass, with PDP House of Representatives members saying they would wade into the crisis next week.
Lamido made the comments, yesterday, while receiving for-mer Head of State, General Ab-dusalami Abubakar (rtd), who was in Dutse for the commi-ssioning of Jigawa State Judicial Complex.
Lamido, Abdulsalami’s comments
Lamido told Abdulsalami, “the democracy you nurtured is today being cannibalised. The present crises bedeviling the party for quite some time now will not augur well for the nascent democracy.
“The PDP crisis is a problem not only for the party; it can equally consume the whole nation.”
Responding, Abubakar said it had become necessary for Nigerians to fight for peace as no meaningful development could be achieved without peace.
Directing his supporters in Adamawa State to register en masse with the APC yesterday, Nyako said the opposition has good intentions for the state and the nation at large.
The directives came as PDP flags were being removed from public institutions across the state.
Nyako gave the directives yesterday at a meeting of stake-holders of APC and the nPDP at the Government House, Yola.
The governor said that PDP had betrayed the people of Adamawa in spite of all they did in ensuring PDP victories at all levels in the last general elections.
He described the plight of the people of Adamawa under PDP as that of Israelites under Pharaoh, necessitating their mass exodus.
The governor debunked insinuations that he was working for his son’s political ambition, saying his son will not contest any election in 2015.
Nyako said: “My son will not contest any election in 2015. What we are doing is for peace, progress and unity of the state and the nation in general.
“The way PDP is operating in Adamawa is inimical to peace and unity of the state.
“APC offered better opportu-nity with level playing field for everyone. There is no new comer or old member in APC, so go and mobilise your people to join the popular movement.”
PDP Reps to mediate
Apparently disturbed by the development, PDP Reps, yesterday, agreed in a meeting to interface with President Goodluck Jonathan on the way forward, next week.
In a closed-door meeting held at the Reps’ wing of the National Assembly complex, they expressed disappointment in the manner the crisis was being handled and agreed that all the members would meet with Mr. President and bare their minds.
The meeting, which was chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, resolved to work as one large family and look issues dispassionately.
A front line member, who attended the meeting told Vanguard that “we have decided to work together as one.”
Asked whether it was both the PDP and nPDP Reps that met, he said, “Yes. We all met and there was no division of any sort. We met as one body.
“We are going to see Mr. President and tell him how we feel and how we intend to serve our fatherland without involving our members in whatever is happening outside the House.”
Another source said: “Those who are parading themselves as our representatives at the Presidential Villa are not selfless people. We have agreed to deal with Mr. President collectively.
…rule out House
leadership change
Meanwhile, the House said yesterday that despite the defection of five nPDP govern-ors, nothing will change in its leadership as no member has so far communicated to the leader-ship of his intention to move.
Deputy spokesman of the House, Mr. Victor Ogene (APGA, Anambra), said until such a time when members formally declare their intention, the House remains the way it is.
He said Section 68 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provides that members can only defect to another political party in group base on merger agreement, but that what was happening in PDP cannot be defined as such.
He said: “In politics, things like this happen. But as a House, we remain one. Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, says people cannot cross carpet in group except in merger situation.
“But defection has to do with individual member. So if they’re defecting, the proper thing must be done by activating that section of the constitution.
“As at now, we are not aware of any member defecting to another party. Remember, going by our rule, until a party has 181 members, you can’t talk of having the majority.”
Oyinlola reacts
Also yesterday, Oyinlola said that his expulsion from the party as recommended to the party’s NWC by Alhaji Umaru Dikko-led Disciplinary Committee would not stand.
In a statement by his Principal Secretary, Femi Adelegan, Oyinlola, who noted that democracy was on trial, said: “The recommendations of the committee will not stand, as nobody can build something on nothing; and falsehood on truth.
“The committee does not exist because its composition was not ratified by the National Executive Committee of PDP, which is statutorily empowered to approve the composition of the body.
“They really worked with great speed in their feverish ambition of getting rid of Oyinlola before the hearing of his suit at an Abuja Federal High Court, challenging the validity of illegalities.
“No sane or decent person would be surprised at the recommendations of the illegally constituted Disciplinary Committee, which from the outset shouldered a heavy burden of legitimacy, integrity, lack of respect for fair play, principles of natural justice and the Rule of Law.”
Cross carpeting of disloyal elements, not merger— PDP
The national leadership of PDP, yesterday, took a swipe at the five governors and some members who defected to the APC, saying it was not a merger, but an opportunistic cross carpeting of disloyal elements, reiterating that as a party it would not lose sleep over the action.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, PDP said a tree that is pruned blossoms the more.
It added that there was no way the fusion of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led splinter group of PDP into APC could be described as merger because the group was never a party, adding that the Bamanga Tukur-led NWC stands as the only PDP known to law.
Metuh said: “Our attention has been drawn to press reports and statements from some persons passing off the cross carpeting of a group of former PDP members to APC as a merger.
“This information is false and is intended to mislead the public. What happened was not a merger. You can only talk of a merger where there were two distinct parties.
“In this case, there is only one party, APC. The so-called nPDP was never a party. This was established on October 10, when a Lagos High Court gave judgment against then PDP and on October 11, when the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, wrote the nPDP to say that the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led PDP is the only recognised party by that name.”
A sad devt— Anenih
Meanwhile, Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Tony Anenih, yesterday, described the move of the five governors as sad and urged members of the party not to be moved or disturbed by it.
Chief Anenih expressed satisfaction that the party leadership, President Jonathan, former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, former National Chairmen, Barnabas Gemade and Ahmadu Ali as well as himself “invested enough energy, commitment, maturity and sincerity in the collective effort at reconciliation.
“I had expected the governors to stay on in the party, which has offered them a unique opportunity to serve their people.
“Surprisingly, they decided to abandon their home and platform to take up tenancy in an opposition party even when it was apparent that the effort of Mr. President for genuine reconciliation was enough for them to see good reason to show restraint and understanding. However, as adults, the final decision was and remains theirs.
“I would like to urge our party members and sympathizers not to be disturbed by the exit of some of our governors but to continue to mobilize grassroots support for our party, Mr. President, and his Transformation Agenda.”
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.
LAGOS — A policeman, who allegedly shot and killed a nine-year-old boy while dispersing a mob, appeared before an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, , yesterday, on a charge of manslaughter.
Thirty-nine-year-old Rasak Alowonle is facing a count charge.
According to the prosecutor, Inspector Richard Odigie, the mob attempted to stop the accused from seizing a commercial bus.
Odigie told the court that the policeman committed the offence on June 13 at Mile 12, Ketu, Lagos.
The prosecutor said the accused and other members of his patrol team wanted to seize the bus from a driver who was obstructing traffic.
“The accused and his team tried to seize the commercial bus but the driver resisted,” he said.
Odigie submitted that the commotion drew the attention of a crowd that attacked the team with stones and broken bottles.
He said Alowonle shot a gun in an attempt to disperse the mob, and the bullet hit the boy.
Odigie said: “The victim’s parents and sister went to the MurtalaMuhammedInternationalAirport, Ikeja to pick up their eldest son, who arrived from Canada.
“The bullet went through the wind screen and hit the deceased, who was seated at the back seat, in his right eye.
“The deceased died on the spot but was rushed to a nearby hospital.”
He said that Alowonle, who was arrested by his colleagues, had been in police custody for the past four months.
According to Odigie, the offence contravenes Section 222 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A. A. Demi-Ajayi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Demi-Ajayi adjourned the case to January15 for mention
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.
Minna – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday said that the agency had sealed 54 table water producing factories in the state.
The NAFDAC Coordinator in Niger, Mr Dadi Mantum, said this at news conference in Minna.
He said that the 54 sachet water factories were closed in Suleja and Minna for allegedly contravening the agency’s regulations.
Mantum said that the agency took the action following tip-offs that the factories were operating illegally, adding that the factories were closed as part of efforts to protect public health.
He stressed that NAFDAC would strive to be more proactive, warning that it would sanction any individual or organisation found wanting in compliance with extant regulations on water packaging.
“It is the simple laws that we are going to enforce; these include laws on hygiene, cleanliness, proper storage of water, proper mode of transportation and employment of correct personnel.
“We have decided that these simple laws would be enforced.
“Acquisition of equipment is not enough; in fact, these producers buy equipment which is quite expensive.
“We, however, need to enforce the laws on hygiene so as to guarantee that the sachet water being produced is fit for human consumption,’’ he said.
The NAFDAC coordinator identified lack of personnel as one of the limitations which constrained the agency from getting to the grassroots regularly.
Mantum said that with the assistance of the state government, task forces were being set up to carry out the enforcement of health standards in the rural areas.
“So, we are constrained in reaching down to the people in the rural areas as regularly as we do with the people in urban areas.
“That’s why there is still much disparity between monitoring in the urban and rural areas,’’ he 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.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
