Nigeria: Armed robbers attack Vice President Sambo wife’s car, kill 2

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Read Time:1 Minute, 53 Second

Armed robbers attacked commuters along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway Friday, killing two and injuring several others, witnesses said.The raid resulted in multiple crashes involving at least six cars, including one belonging to a nongovernmental organization owned the wife of Vice President Namadi Sambo.

The black vehicle belonging to Amina Sambo’s I-Care Women and Children Initiative was completely burnt and could not be salvaged by sympathizers who stopped to help put off the fire, a witness said.John Oguche, a driver of one of the vehicles attacked by the robbers, told journalists in Kaduna that the accident occurred around 4p.m. near Doka Hospital along the inter-city road,
“They blocked the road near Doka hospital and made unsuspecting vehicles to ram into one another,” he said.
The Kaduna State Coordinator of the NGO, Abdulrahman Mikailu, who spoke to our reporter from his hospital bed at St. Gerald hospital in Kaduna on Sunday, narrated how the robbers opened fire and dispossessed travellers of their belongings.
“Two bullets shot by the bandits missed me narrowly when I tried to come out of my vehicle to put off the fire, not knowing that a robbery operation was going on,” Mr. Mikailu said. “I had to duck and fall on the ground pretending to be dead.”
“The robbers who were in military uniform thought I was dead, so they proceeded to my car and ordered my co-traveller to surrender all his money and laptops, handsets and other personal belonging of both of us.
“The fire had already raged as at the time of the attack, that is why the sympathizers could not put it off. I understand that they killed two passengers in a ‘Sharon’ commercial vehicle and robbed several vehicles.
“I am lucky to have survived with bruises and chest injury from the impact of the accident, but I lost my phones and other belongings.”
The Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna State Police Command, Aminu Lawal, said the multiple accident was caused by panicked drivers who tried to flee from the scene.
Mr. Lawal, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, however said there were no official report of casualties in the incident.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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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Disturbing Photos: ‘Mad’ Woman Caught With 5-Year Old Dead Baby In Lagos

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Read Time:24 Second

 
A woman believed to be mad this morning was caught with a corps of a boy believed to be around 5-year old which she packed in a neat Ghana must go around Mile 2, very close to Festac town in Lagos. She was stopped by a police officer, who demanded to see what she had in the bag before the corpse and other discovered. More pictures after the cut. viewer description advised
 


About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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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Primate Ayodele Speaks On Abducted Girls, Warns APC, IG Of Police and His Other Prophesies

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Read Time:2 Minute, 34 Second

Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele,the spiritual leader of INRI Spiritual Evangelical church and President of INRI Widows Foundation during an interview with Sunday Independent, has condemned the Government actions about the over 200 abducted chibok school girls. Ayodele also warned PDP governors that decamped to APC on impeachment, and also didn’t spare Lagos APC in his warnings. He also has a message for the IG of police has he foresees a big problem coming up in the Police force. His words as you continue..

“You see, this is a challenge that calls for national prayer and mourning, yet, government is going about their businesses as if nothing has happened.
“If they want to impeach a sitting governor or president now, all hands will be on deck. They can afford to fast, pray, employ all strategies, hold consultation meetings and do everything to retain him in power but on the issue of this tragic abduction, it is unfortunate that there has been so much talk but little action.
“Now the parents are dying as a result of anxiety, grief and its attendant problems. We can only pray that God will show us mercy and help us out of this imbroglio that is about to consume us.”
He also calls for serious prayers against terrorism spreading to the South-West & South-South.
In his characteristic way of foretelling upcoming events at both local and international scenes, Prophet Ayodele, who few days ago predicted the impeachment of the erstwhile governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, warned that there will be similar crises in Edo, Nasarrawa and Rivers states.
“The five governors that decamped from PDP to APC will face impeachment threats.
“In fact, I do not see Nigeria remaining as one because democracy and religion are the core issues that will rent us apart.  Nigeria needs a lot of prayers to survive this situation”, he said.

“We need serious prayers to avert bloodbath as the clock ticks towards the 2015 elections.
“In fact, the wave of terrorism as perpetrated by Boko Haram is not near extinction as we desire. Other terrorist groups will still emerge to trouble Nigerians. This is why we need united and intensive prayers”, he added.
Ayodele also warned the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to be watchful as there will be series of problems in the Nigerian Police.
He also said the All Progressive Congress (APC) should not gamble with the elections in Lagos State, because, the table would turn against them if they forcefully foist a candidate that is not acceptable on the people.
“The party should not settle for business as usual and go to sleep. They must watch andplay the game well if they want to continue to hold the reins of power in Lagos.”

“Also for next month’s election in Osun State, there will be pleasant surprises. The election will be peaceful though, but the outcome will be big surprise”, he said.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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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Even on My Death Bed, I Will not Withdraw My Memo Accusing Jonathan of Genocide – Nyako

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Read Time:51 Second

Despite his removal as the Governor of Adamawa State and threats of arrest for treason, impeached governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako had said that he would not withdraw his controversial memo to the northern governors even on his death-bed.


Nyako, who spoke through his media aide, Ahmad Sajoh, said information at his disposal had now shown that the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party were deeply involved in his impeachment.
There have been reports that Nyako, who has gone underground since his impeachment on Tuesday, would be arrested for treason over the memo to the northern governors on April 4, 2014.
Nyako, in the memo, had accused President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration of genocide against the North.

He had accused the administration of organising the killing of citizens and then quickly attributing same to the Boko Haram sect.
Nyako had stated, “Cases of mass murders by its bloody minded killers and cut-throats are well known, but it attributes the killings to the so-called Boko-Haram

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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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Why We Did Not Kill Obasanjo” – Boko Haram Leader

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Read Time:6 Minute, 21 Second

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Information recently made available to 247ureports.com through a high ranking contact within the organizational structure of the terrorist Islamic group, Boko Haram reveals unnerving revelations regarding the recent attacks on Kano, Bauchi State – and the aborted attack of September 15, 2011 visit by former President of the federal republic of Nigeria, General Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo to the home of the in-law of the slain leader of the Boko Haram, Babakura Fuggu in Borno State.

It was gathered that the leader of Boko Haram, Imam Abubakar Shekau who is currently hiding away in Qoundere, Cameroun following the recent and ongoing attacks on Kano and Bauchi State – had deliberated seriously on the assassination of the former president of Nigeria, General Obasanjo on September 15, 2011 while on a visit to Borno State to the home of the in-law to the slain leader of Boko Haram [Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf].

According to the Boko Haram source, former President Obasanjo had made first contact with Yusuf’s in-lawal, Babakura Fuggu [eldest son of Yusuf's in-law] in early September 2012 concerning opening a channel of dialogue with the terrorist group. The leadership of the group took it uneasy with the choice of Babakura – [since the line of leadership did not automatically follow  family lineage as in traditional settings. As a 'religious' group they did not see Babakura as the rightful person to take over from Yusuf.] – For this reason, the leadership of the group ‘silently’ objected to the meeting between Babakura and Obasanjo.

As Obasanjo concluded his secret meeting the previous day at the Green House with three other religious group [Jamatu Nasir Islam, JNI and CAN] in Jos, the capital of Plateau State on the Wednesday of September 14, 2011, and took off the following day to Borno State, the terrorist group, according to the source, marked the former President within their ‘firing range’ from the moment he landed in Borno State at minutes after 11am till he departed the State in the late afternoon of the same day. According to the source, “we were not sure of him”.

“He was going to be a big catch” said the source who explained that the leadership halted the operation as Obasanjo went inside the residence of Babakura.

“Obasanjo was good to us. We had no problem with Obasanjo. We had him. We could have taken him out”, as he recalled that the sharia movement took off during the period when Obasanjo was president. “The problem started during the late President Yar’Adua regime. Goodluck only inherited the problem. We have no problem with Goodluck. But his Ijaw people around him are deceiving him”.

Interestingly, the Boko Haram source who spoke in fluent English with a slight American accent explained the decision to ‘finish’ Babakura Fuggu came due to what transpired between Obasanjo and Babakura. “We learnt he asked for money”. Babakura requested on behalf of Boko Haram monies to enable the group defray litigation costs and other minor financial requests which the leadership of Boko Haram considered menial and demeaning. The wife, Yakolo, was said to have received money from the former president to the tuned of N500,000. Babakura Fuggu was gundown on September 17, 2012 as he existed his home by his younger brother in the company of other young men dressed in reddish-orange babarigas each armed with AK47s – just barely forty eight [48] hours following the visit of former President Obasanjo.

Meanwhile, information available to 247ureports.com reveals the reason Kano and Bauchi State were attacked a few days ago as having to do with failed promises by the State governors of the two states. The entire northern governors, according to the Boko Haram source, have ongoing relationships with the group. “Most of them pay us monthly to leave their states alone”.

In Kano State, the former state governor, Malam Shekarau reached an agreement with the terrorist group in late 2004 for an initial monthly disbursement of N5million which was later bumped up to N10million in 2009. The agreement, according to the source, included provision of institutional infrastructural support through the Hisbah [Islam police] project which received yearly budgetary allocation of N1.01billion. The gubernatorial election of April 2011 which introduced Rabiu Kwankwaso as the new governor changed the agreement. The Kwankwaso administration was quick to dismantle the Hisbah set up – and the said agreement to disburse N10million monthly. The governor proceeded to make arrests of known Boko Haram members. Boko Haram leadership who had found comfort in Kano did not appreciate the Kwankwaso administration’s policy on Boko Haram. According to the source, “we warned the Governor of the consequences”.

“We concluded on Kano in December 2011″. The abrupt end to the oil subsidy strike and protests served an opportunity for the group to strike. The preparatory work for the attack and the selection of targets had already been completed. According to the source, an estimated number of casualties was calculated to net 300 minimum. “The go ahead order” was given on Wednesday [January 18, 2012] evening before the leader of the group left the country to Cameroon on the early morning of Thursday, the following day.

In Bauchi State, the Governor, Malam Yuguda reached similar agreement with the leadership of the group. A monthly disbursement of N10million was agreed upon along with provision of training grounds on the many mountain scattered in Bauchi State. The governor also promised to give them security against arrests by the federal government.  The agreement was reached in June 2008 but mid 2011, the governor stopped the disbursement of the N1omillion regularly. Boko Haram were not happy but remained loyal to the agreement because of the unfettered access to the mountains of Bauchi as training camps.

However the arrest and detention of their number 3 man by the State Security Services [SSS] fractured the relationship between the governor and the terrorist group. According to the source, the State was attacked to free the number 3 leader of Boko Haram and to “teach them a lesson”. The detained leader schooled at the prestigious Lincoln University located in the State of Connecticut, USA and owns a block industry in Bauchi State near the home of the former governor of Bauchi State – an area densely populated by Boko Haram operatives.

According to the source, “the northern governors are overwhelmed”. They are aware of the capabilities of the Boko Haram operatives operating in their respective states. Some of the State government officials visit the terrorist groups in their training camps to watch the training exercises. “We train harder than the Nigerian military and they see it” said the source while ‘lamenting’ that the governor continue to tell the President that the menace of Boko Haram is under control.

The Boko Haram source made it emphatic that “we [they] have the weapons and are in control. We are not asking for Islamic Nigeria. We want our men free”.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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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Anger grows towards Russia over MH17 crash

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Read Time:5 Minute, 14 Second

Outraged world leaders heaped pressure on Russia Sunday to press Moscow-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine to allow investigators proper access to the crash site of the Malaysian MH17 jet.

Rescue efforts were in disarray as armed gunmen in fatigues and balaclavas refused to allow international monitors full access and the grisly remains of some of the 298 passengers killed have yet to be removed.

Ukraine has warned that the rebels, who Kiev and the US have accused of blowing the plane out of the sky with a missile, were "hours away" from removing key evidence across the Russian border.

As fears grew that evidence was being tampered with world leaders voiced their frustration with Moscow, pushing East-West ties to crisis point after months of discord over the Kremlin's interference in ex-Soviet Ukraine.

US Secretary of State John Kerry told Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that Washington was "deeply concerned" investigators were denied "proper access" to the crash site for a second consecutive day.

His spokeswoman Jen Psaki later said the "unacceptable" insecurity at the crash site was an "affront to all those who lost loved ones and to the dignity the victims deserve".

"The United States is also very concerned about reports that the remains of some victims and debris from the site are being tampered with or inappropriately removed from the site," the State Department said.

Kerry was backed by leaders from Britain, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Australia and France — as well as Ukraine — in calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to intervene in getting an international probe under way.

– 'Absolutely chaotic' crash site –

There was growing concern about the whereabouts of some of the bodies which had been removed from the crash site, while others were left lying in field in the rural part of eastern Ukraine where the Boeing 777 jet was brought to ground.

British Prime Minister David Cameron called for tougher European action against Moscow if Putin did not change tack.…

"If President Putin does not change his approach on Ukraine, then Europe and the West must fundamentally change our approach to Russia," he said, writing in the Sunday Times newspaper.

"Russia can use this moment to find a path out of this festering, dangerous crisis. I hope it will do so. But if that does not happen then we must respond robustly,"

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte — his nation mourning the loss of 192 compatriots — said he had called on Putin during a "very intense" conversation to "take responsibility" for a credible investigation.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the crash site was "absolutely chaotic" as he sought to recover 28 bodies of his compatriots killed in the disaster.

"My fear is that Russia will say the right thing, but that on the ground interference with the site, interference with investigators, interference with the dignified treatment of bodies will continue," he said.

International monitors were met on Saturday by Kalashnikov-wielding militias who allowed them access to only the outskirts of the field — its swaying sunflowers hiding dismembered remains of charred and decomposing bodies of victims whose lives were cut short on Thursday.

The Ukrainian government issued a furious statement declaring that "terrorists with the support of Russia are trying to destroy proof of this international crime".

– Missing black boxes –

Malaysia's transport minister expressed alarm before boarding a flight to Kiev over "indications that vital evidence has not been preserved in place".

"One of the crucial questions is the fate of the black boxes," said Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe spokesman Michael Bociurkiw.

The head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, into whose airspace the doomed jet strayed to avoid bad weather, said his men had never recovered the data recorders or tampered with evidence.

The diplomatic wrangling was accompanied by uninterrupted fighting across Ukraine's eastern rustbelt — a Russian-speaking region of seven million people who largely view the more nationalistic west of the splintered country with mistrust.

Putin rejects all charges of providing either funding or military support to the insurgents who in April seized towns in the region demanding independence after a pro-Western government took power in Kiev.

Their move came just two weeks after Russia — stunned by the removal of pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych, annexed heavily-Russified Crimea.

Ukrainian troops pressed on with an offensive against the rebels, reporting they had taken full control of the main airport of the neighbouring separatist stronghold of Lugansk and launching all-out offensives against two nearby towns.

Government troops said they had also established full control of Donetsk airport for the first time since it was seized at the end of May.

Kiev said the latest clashes killed five soldiers and wounded another 20.

– 'Wake-up call' –

US President Barack Obama and major world leaders now agree that the Malaysia Airlines jet was blown out of the sky at 33,000 feet (10,000 metres) by a sophisticated surface-to-air missile fired from rebel-controlled territory.

Kiev has gone a step further by accusing militias of using a Russian-supplied Buk system to down the jet after confusing it with a Ukrainian military transporter.

Ukraine has released recordings of what it said was an intercepted call between an insurgent commander and a Russian intelligence officer as they realised they had shot down a passenger jet.

But Putin has blamed the tragedy on Kiev's three-month military operation.

The plane's downing came less than a day after the United States unleashed punishing sanctions against some of Russia's most important energy and military firms — most of them with links to Putin — and urged more hesitant European leaders to follow suit.

The European Union — many of its member states dependent on Russian gas — took the far less punitive step on Friday of curbing some future investments in Russia and leaving the option open for broader sanctions.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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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Obayori: For Nigeria, Devolution of Power is Crucial

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Read Time:9 Minute, 51 Second

Dr. Femi Obayori, an environmentalist and a South-west delegate to the National Conference, spoke with Jaiyeola Andrews, on South-west delegates’ position on derivation formula and status of local governments, among other issues

Do you subscribe to the insinuation that at the end of the national conference, nothing meaningful may be achieved?
For me I think that would be too pessimistic; this conference is a bit different from previous conferences in that it is actually a national conference not a constitutional conference. Whereas it is true that many of the delegates have been nominated by government, but you will also agree with me that you have people coming from two sides, you have groups that are actually nominated, some selected by some people, so it is not as it used to be when people of the same class or same political hues are coming together.

Then secondly, is that at the end of the day what is most important is the outcome of the report of that conference, something that can be handed to the people, something people can hold on to that this is quite different from the previous conference and then become the basis of which those of us who are activists can begin to challenge the status quo, that is if the government refuse to do something back.

And remember also that we are advocating that the report of conference be subjected to popular referendum and it is a generally accepted principle all over the world. The president has told us that effort is being made to get the necessary thing done so that the report can be submitted for referendum. For me the first thing to do is to get a very plain report, something that is radical in fashion from time, something that will show that Nigerians, for once, have come together to negotiate their common existence and I think that is the most important thing.

South-west delegates had once threatened to walk out of the conference, based on their frustration on the devolution committee, what is your position on that?
One of the reasons we are here from time to time as part of the delegates, we are from Kogi State, some of the reasons we are here is to assist Kogi people, we also want restructuring and we think that restructuring in the parliamentary system is better. Power in Nigeria is too concentrated at the centre, we have a federal government that is too powerful and too overbearing and has too many resources at its disposal.

And all the authorities as it is are being used to hold the rest of Nigerians as slaves in their country. The devolution of power is very important and it is central to what we have come to do and I am sure Yorubas are not going to endorse anything that is against their interests; Yorubas are interested in devolution and it is high time everybody becomes interested in devolution, which is not just a game of numbers.

Do you support Northern delegates’ stand on the reduction of derivation to five per cent?
I think they are just grandstanding and it shows clearly one thing, that some people, some sections of the country, benefit from the present report; they benefit from the unitary system that is called the federal system. The unity contributes to the centre and that is the other way now, the federal government fends through the various components of the federation and that is not how federalism should be.

People have often said that most people in Nigeria are not viable. Naturally there’s this concept that we are not viable. We have just been told that Kogi State of all states is potentially the richest state in Nigeria in terms of mineral resources. Those mineral resources are not developed, every part of the country can contribute something and one of the ways to ensure that people actually look inward is this issue of derivation, if you are not contributing, if you are not generating wealth it is interesting to work with what is accrued to you and for me 5 per cent derivation is taking us backward.

Although you have 14 per cent, people are saying they don’t know what the government is using as yardstick. Talking from experience my own pick on that is that we should review it upward up to 50 per cent or more. What it means therefore is that some people will be benefiting at the centre.

We can begin to think of a period of gradual increment from 14 per cent to 30 per cent growth. But for it to be reduced back to 5 per cent is retrogressive and it’s like they feel on their own part that they can’t even contribute to the economy, but they are actually contributing and they have the potential, they are not indolent as a people. I think it’s the leaders that need to put more effort in rehabilitating the efforts of the people, by the time you organise and look inward you can empower the people to create employment to add values to explore your natural resources, develop agriculture so that when you send people to work, then you create opportunity and put your resources into use.

What is your take on the move to scrap local governments?
Well, I think people are getting that wrong, actually nobody has said local government should be scrapped. What the committee has just said is that let local government be the responsibility of the state.

In the federal system, the federating unit is as it is or the region as it is, and when you have that type of situation the state that wants to create a local government, it can create the number of local governments, but we have shortcomings whereby local government also will take allocation from the federal government and I don’t think it is proper, what the committee has said is that look; the federating units are the states; let them create and fund local government.

Look it’s simply because as we are, the military in the past has created local governments. Lagos State for instance has only 30 local governments and Kano that used to be one state, and if you agree with me they don’t have the population of Lagos, they have 70 something or 80 something per cent. Arbitrary creation of state and local government has subsided.

After all the local government is meant to bring government, according to them, closer to the people, which government are you bringing closer to the people? Is it the federal government or the state? And when you look at the local government allocation you will ask yourself what they have been doing. Local governments are supposed to operate at community level and their functions are clearly defined, but you will discover that what they are doing these days is that they want to take the allocation, they will just mismanage it, share some among themselves and apart from paying salaries they don’t even do any other thing.

In some states waste management, market you see it as the burden of the state. For God’s sake, these are the functions the local government should perform for the state indirectly to their thing. It will allow state to create local government and form local government based on the peculiarity of the various community people because as you go down to the grassroots, the culture of the people, their history, their experience as a people, becomes very important and that does not have anything to do with the overall national development.

To what extent has your committee gone on issues at the national conference?
I’m in science and technology committee and specifically on sub-committee on under technology and committee assurance, at the level of my own committee we are committed to report on board committee the preliminary reports to a larger committee and we are into recommendation.

Sometimes, generally in technology we have a lot of paper work that has been done, we have action plans, we have agencies, many of them do not function, many of them are falling and failing and seriously there is not much that we need to do if we feel that those bills have not been passed into law. For instance NAFDAC, which has been established almost 15 years, has not been passed into law, the building has not been completed, it is dilapidated and nothing has been done about the bill, it is still lying there, nothing has been done. So we are proposing that the bill will be passed into law speedily.

Are you not worried over the security challenges facing the nation?

Everybody is worried about the security system. I am equally worried and you will agree with me that when you talk about terrorism in Nigeria we have moved to another level, government itself has admitted that we have the worst case of terrorism in Nigeria where children are targeted and where women are targeted. The people who have been abducted are women and they are teenagers and it portends serious danger particularly during the recent occurrence that most of them are forcefully married off to their abductors in a high level of dehumanisation but generally for security in the country. To me it seems all hands are not on deck to solve the problem of this country.
At times people even over-politicise it along partisan lines, it is either the opposition party is blaming the presidency or the ruling party is blaming the opposition.

We all know that what we have on our hand is not a local issue whereas it could be true that Boko Haram emerged as a local Islamic group that started adopting terrorist method. I think what we have is a movement that has actually evolved into an international Islamic terrorist organisation. You discover that Nigerians have been alleged to have been in Afghanistan as far back as 1990, so if they now have problems in Nigeria it is only natural that international groups will come to their rescue so you won’t be surprised if what we are dealing with is international. You will recall their role in northern Mali and you will also recall that they were very active in Libya in 2011 and even in Syria.

What we are saying is that Nigeria has a population of 170 million and half of the population is following Islam and where they can establish their sharia state and also as the fallback in position if they have problems because of the size of the country, resources of the country. It is part of the global security problem we are confronting as part of the people, that freedom is very important and people must be allowed to air their views. Your know people are looking at it as Nigerian problem or people created Boko Haram in order to harass the people.

I think it’s a very wrong approach, if we have a wrong understanding of a problem, definitely your approach to tackle the problem will be wrong and ineffective for me we have a lot to do internally and we are at a global security crisis but fortunately government needs to do a lot in terms of empowering people in terms of education, empowerment.

The emergence of this Islamic group is a result of neglect of people. 60 per cent of Nigerian people are unemployed and we have about 100 million living below poverty line. Definitely something will crop up somewhere that will attract the youth that are taken out of the production and distribution process.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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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NIGERIA: Lagos Government, NARTO Biker over Mass Transit Buses

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Read Time:9 Minute, 7 Second

As the Lagos State government and the National Association of Road Transport Owners try to find a common ground following disagreements over the operation of some federal mass transit buses in the state, there are insinuations that 2015 politics may be part of the problem. Anayo Okolie reports

While the Peoples Democratic Party is tightening up in states where they are in control, the opposition All Progressives Congress is also not leaving anything to chance. Leaders of both parties are coming up with policies they believe would brighten their chances.
In what appears to be part of the 2015 politics, the Lagos State government recently impounded some federal government mass transit buses allocated to the state, reportedly, insisting that the colour of the vehicles must be changed from blue to red, or they won’t be allowed to ply Lagos roads. The belief in political circles is that allowing the buses, which were registered under the Federal Mass Transit scheme and run by the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), to operate within Lagos State would project the PDP-led federal government in the state. This is something APC does not seem to be disposed to, analysts think.

It would be recalled that the federal government acquired 1, 600 buses as part of measure to cushion the effects of the sudden removal of fuel subsidy on January 1, 2012. The acquisition of the buses formed part of the N10 billion revolving loan set aside by the government to address the problems of the transport sector in the country.
The Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, had said that diesel-powered buses would be distributed to transporters to run in the major cities at a highly subsidised rate. He noted that identified transporters with requisite capacity would be given the buses at five per cent interest rate payable in five years.

Upon the acquisition of the vehicles, several groups and organisations, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Road Transport Employers Association (RTEAN), and NARTO, benefited from the allocations.
The buses in question were later redistributed across the states by the different groups as directed by the federal government.
However, after over two years of being on the road, the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) and the Vehicle Inspection Office started impounding the buses, allegedly, on the orders of the Commissioner for Transport, Kayode Opeifa.

NARTO said six of the buses had been impounded, prompting the organisation to put the remaining 31 buses out of the road.
The executive secretary of NARTO, Mr. Emmanuel Gowon, who reacted to the seizure of the vehicles after two years of plying the Lagos roads, however, ruled out any political motive. He said since there was a policy on transportation in Lagos, his association was bound to comply. He pleaded with the government to give the association some time to put its house in order, insisting that the sudden clampdown on the vehicles had only succeeded in inflicting hardship and suffering on the families whose daily bread depend on the buses.

Gowon said, “The impoundment came to us unexpectedly, because these buses were given to NARTO and other groups by the federal government during the fuel subsidy demonstrations that followed the removal of fuel subsidy by the government in 2012. They are not private vehicles. NARTO was allocated some of the vehicles, according to the federal government, to alleviate the problem of transportation for the masses and the advice then was that those groups should distribute those vehicles evenly across the states of the country and the zones.

“Given our understanding and experience that human and vehicular traffic are more in Lagos and that there was need for such buses to be more here, we allocated more to the South-west than other zones so they can assist. They’ve been operating for over two years. Recently, some of them were arrested and we got a notice that we should not be operating in the colour it is presently. That we have to comply or go, in line with Lagos State policy that has to do with mass transit.

“You know, they have mass transit policy and process to be followed before running a mass transit, it involves obtaining a licence and changing the colours to red, which is the approved colour, but on our own ignorance, we had thought that since the federal government has given us the buses, we didn’t have to change the colours.
“As we speak, the buses are off the road but we have been talking with the government as regards the mass transit policy. They said we must comply, and we have commenced with the process. Once we get the licence, we’ll change the colour. That’s where we are now and it’s something you can’t do in a day.”

On the impact of the impoundment, Gowon said the immediate challenge was on how to repay the loan, explaining, “It’s affecting the monthly rentals that we are supposed to be making to Infrastructure Bank, the bank that is driving the project for the government. As it is, members are unable to meet up the monthly rental. The association is now supplementing from its own fund because it’s association’s vehicles, we distributed. As far as the bank is concerned, we must have to make payment. It is NARTO that they know.

“As businessmen, it is not always within our desire to be antagonistic to our host government wherever we are, that’s why we are discussing with them to find a way out of the logjam, so we can operate. Apart from the economic deprivation it has brought to our members, we have to bear in mind that each bus you remove from the road, you are taking food off the table for 30 people, if you take 36 off the road, meaning over 1000 people are suffering and you know the implication. It’s almost a month now and we are still talking, we’ve had meetings with operatives of the Lagos State government, we are trying to find a way out, we cannot fight them, we cannot use force. If it’s the licence, we are processing it for the past six months. Once we get it, we now move to the colour angle, so long as it doesn’t conflict with any other law that we must maintain a certain colour. We only want a good environment.”

On the insinuations of politics in the whole affair, Gowon said, “I don’t suspect any political undertone; we don’t read such things into our relations with the government. We are always loyal to our host government. As businessmen, we have no choice, in Lagos here, we must be loyal to the state government, that is APC, and at the federal, we must be loyal to PDP. We only try to strike a good relationship with our host government so our business can thrive.”

However, Opeifa denied impoundment of Federal Government Assisted Mass Transit buses, explaining that the state government only impounded buses that are privately owned in a bid to ensure compliance with the state’s policy on transportation.
The commissioner said, “We are not preventing any federal bus from operating in the state. Once we are sure you are part of the Federal Government Assisted Mass Transit, you will operate. But anything short of that will not be accepted here in Lagos.”

Regarding the claims by NARTO, he said, “They’ve applied for licence but we are not issuing licence now. The general agreement handed over to everybody or group given buses is for them to go and operate according to the law of the state. NLC, TUC got, the leadership of NARTO stole their own vehicle and got here; they converted the buses to personal use, when they got to Lagos. We didn’t know about it. Only NURTW, NLC and TUC are operating the normal way. We left them initially but suddenly they started collecting money from people saying they have licence to operate in Lagos, they started painting blue colour and wrote FGN, there is nothing like that. They bought vehicles and started issuing fake licence to people and we don’t want this to continue.

“All those states, we give their vehicles special treatment, the one by NARTO is a corrupt programme. Lagos people bought into it, they have come to my office to beg, promising to register if I release the vehicles. They are not ready to do that, they are using politics of destruction. They should go and register with LAGBUS. Let them know that NARTO is not involved in public transportation; it was an error to have involved them in the SURE-P.

“It’s a big fraud; the federal government only played politics with the Sure-P. if it’s true they are running mass transit, ask them who owns the vehicle. They are collecting money to register people, are they government. They are off the road now and will not operate until we say so.”

Some officials of the VIO, who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, insisted that the buses were ordered off the road for security reasons, explaining that their insistence that buses that operate in the state should operate in Lagos colour is for easy identification.
“There was nothing wrong for commuter buses operating in the state to register with the State Commuter Bus Association (LAGBUS),” a VIO official said, stressing that even franchise buses have keyed into the policy. “All of them are categorised. We have 21 zones in the state. We have commercial Kabu-kabu, mass transit, buses, taxis, car hire and tricycle and registration is free. Each driver and conductor will go to Lagos State Drivers Institute, after which the drivers and conductors are kitted with badges.”

But a chieftain of the PDP in the state, who preferred anonymity, wondered why the state government had to wait for over two years before insisting that the buses must change to the Lagos colour.
He said, “The fact that the APC-led government in Lagos state is coming with this policy few months to the election speaks volumes. Their action clearly leaves a lot to be desired and we are watching them. If they think federal buses should not operate on Lagos roads, then we know how to respond.

“Meanwhile, let them also have it in mind that there are federal roads within Lagos and if we should enforce our own policy, what will come out of it will definitely not be in the interest of the common man.”
 

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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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Pension, Human Rights and the Nigerian Situation

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Read Time:7 Minute, 8 Second

But for those with hearts of stone who would rather give their babies live snakes rather than delicious fish, it is a shock to hear the heart rending rendition of live stories of hundreds of thousands of Nigerian aged pensioners who have so far been dispatched to their early graves by those thieving bureaucrats in government offices who corner the pension entitlements of retirees.

As far back as two decades ago, I grew up in a neighbourhood with children of some retired Nigerian Railway Corporation workers and even police retirees who were subjected to the horrendous ordeals of traveling from Kafanchan in Kaduna state to the so-called pension offices in the then federal capital of Lagos in search of their pension and entitlements.

Some of these patriots who dedicated their youth to the service of humanity and the Nigerian nation were left desolate by the system and allowed to die miserably without enjoying the fruits of their labour.

Sadly, it is unlikely that there is any rational Nigerian who has not read about the sad experiences of retirees in this country who have been made to stand in the heat of the scorching sun and other elements of the hot temperate weather for many hours even in their fragile condition just so that those who run the corrupt pension scheme in the various government offices can verify their identities. Many were known to have collapsed and died before it was their turn.

These miserable tales of Nigerian pensioners received even much more notorious rating and further tarnished the global image of Nigeria when it emerged few months back that a serving permanent secretary in the Federal Civil Service in Abuja; a director in the office of the Head of Civil Service of Nigeria, among other accounting officers in the pension office, allegedly stole over N30 billion belonging to the Nigerian police pension.

Public outrage swelled when the Abuja High Court slammed an apparent slap on the wrists of one of the notorious convicted pension thieves charged before his court with a pronouncement of few months jail sentence or an option of fine running to few hundreds of naira.

This erstwhile top civil servant who allegedly cornered mind blowing and/or humongous public fund from the police pension was reported to have immediately paid the paltry fine and was on the verge of regaining his freedom when public protests compelled the powers-that-be to order his re-arrest for retrial.

That Abuja High Court Judge was dragged before the National judicial council [NJC] and slammed with a year suspension from duty without salaries for this spectacular official indiscretion of setting a big time pension thief almost free of sanction for his monumental crime against pensioners.

The Nigerian National Assembly has also intervened in the series of scandals trailing the federal pension office in the recent time.

Perhaps, the most enduring panacea aimed at addressing the various challenges confronting the administration of pension schemes in the country was the recent passage by the National Assembly and the signing into law by President Goodluck Jonathan of the pension Reform Bill into an Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.         

Observers are keen to point out that this reform of the corruption-ridden pension sector as recently done by the current federal administration is another remarkable achievements in the human rights annals of Nigeria.

Some human rights scholars have even equated this achievement of the pension reform Act of 2014 with the signing of the National Human Rights Commission amendment Act which was done by the current President Jonathan government which has given financial and operational independence to the human rights commission of Nigeria. For a long time to come, the legacy set by this government in the area of cleaning up the stench ridden pension sector will remain enduring. But there is the urgent need to demand accountability on the part of the oversight agency so that the good provisions of the new Act would see the light of the day and for would be pension thieves to be made to face the full weight of the law.

The Pension Reform Act of 2014 is a remarkable human rights milestone because it is meant to clearly promote section 34(1) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) which spells out thus; “Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of person, and accordingly – (a) no person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment”.

With the coming into being of this Act, it is expected that the dignity of every pensioner would become sacrosanct and the chances of corruption has significantly been eliminated. But the onus lies on the enforcers of the law to ensure effective use of the law.
Already, President Jonathan has also sent to the senate for confirmation, as Director General, the name of Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, who was acting as director general of Pension Commission (PENCOM) and spearheaded the advocacy for the passage of the pension Reform Bill into the pension reform Act of 2014.

Among the salient aspects of the pension Reform (amendment) Act of 2014 are: to enhance the powers of the National Pension Commission, in the institution’s regulatory and enforcement activities, enhance the protection of pension fund assets, unlock the opportunities for the deployment of pension assets for national development, review the sanctions’ regime to reflect current realities, provide for the participation of the Informal Sector and also provide the framework for the adoption of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) by States and Local Governments.

It is widely believed that the reform is a product of the joint effort of the Goodluck Jonathan administration and the National Assembly to put an end to the era of impunity and, in some instances, of widespread corruption in the various Pension Departments.

The Act as currently reformed has enhanced the regulatory authority and efficiency of the commission to provide greater oversight on, and reposition the Pension Transition Arrangement Departments (PTADs) for greater efficiency and accountability in the administration and payment of pensions under the Defined Benefits Scheme.

From the benefit of hindsight, the implementation of the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2004 dealing with the establishment of Pension Transitional Arrangement Departments (PTAD) for the administration of pensions for pensioners under Defined Benefits Scheme has been challenging due to not only many ambiguities in the law, but also widespread corruption.

For instance, while the number of pensioners under this Defined Pension Scheme or old pension scheme (that is those who retired before the Pension Reform Act 2004 came into being) were supposed to be dropping since no new people are joining and those under it are aging and transiting to the great world beyond, the number has been increasing.

Various Pension Departments inflate the numbers with ghost pensioners (those who never existed and those who existed, but had died and were not declared dead to the government by the Pension Departments).  An instance whereby a serving commissioner in Abia state alleged recently that his late Father’s name has remained in the pension list long after he had died. But with these pension reforms, such irregularities would be weeded out.

It was under the former pension regime that all corrupt cases originated unlike the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The Act as amended has now therefore repositioned the Pension Transition Arrangement Departments (PTADs) to ensure greater efficiency and accountability in the administration of the Defined Benefits Scheme in a way that payment of pensions would be made by the Accountant General of the Federation directly into pensioners’ bank accounts in line with the current policy of the Federal Government rather than channeling the benefits through the various Pension Departments.

It is the expectation of the majority of Nigerians that the enforcement of these pension reform amendment law of 2014 will restore sanity and discipline in the administration of pension schemes in Nigeria to save retirees from the unwarranted ordeals of dehumanizing torture.

Besides, the Pension Reform Amendment Act 2014 prescribes new offences and stiffer penalties against the violation of the pension law and all forms of mismanagement or diversion of pension funds and assets under any guise. This is about the most important and interesting aspect of the Act which, if enforced vigorously, will be the final nail on the coffin of corruption and looting of pension fund in Nigeria.

– Mr. Onwubiko &Ugochi Izuagba (Miss), work with Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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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Al-Makura: Threatened by Impeachment Gale

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Read Time:7 Minute, 6 Second

 George Okoh, in Lafia, examines tense relationship between Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura and the House of Assembly, which has culminated in the impeachment move against the governor

The  stormy relationship between the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and Governor Tanko Al-Makura had been thinly veiled for a long time.
It had raised concern among residents of the state, many of who knew the tension between the executive and opposition-dominated legislature would one day burst. What was not clear was when and how that would happen.
So when recently the 20 Peoples Democratic Party members of the Assembly moved for Al-Makura’s impeachment, it was hardly surprising to residents and indigenes of Nasarawa State.

Frosty Relationship
The relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government was anything but cordial, as the Assembly continued to set booby traps for the governors. The frosty relation reached a boiling point last week when the Assembly asked the Clerk of the house, Ego Maikeffi, to serve Al-Makura an impeachment notice after accusing him of 16 offences bordering on gross misconduct. All 20 PDP lawmakers in the house endorsed the move during a sitting presided over by the speaker, Ahmed Mohammed.
Of the Assembly’s 24 members, only four are in the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state.

Complicity
The impeachment notice seemed to confirm earlier reports that the state’s lawmakers had met at a guest house in Asokoro district of Abuja last week to hatch a plan to remove Al-Makura from office.
The attempt to impeach Al-Makura is coming on the heels of the impeachment of the Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako. Many believe the move to remove Al-Makura is part of a deliberate attempt by the PDP-led federal government to weaken the APC in the state ahead of the general elections next year.
Al-Makura’s special adviser on special Duties, Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi, said some unseen hands in the Presidency were behind the impeachment notice to the governor.

Abdullahi alleged that proxies, which included a minister from Nasarawa State, some National Assembly members from the state, and a point man from the South-south currently at the national conference, were being used to execute the plot.
Abdullahi said some selfish individuals had sold the impeachment idea to the presidency as a way of making PDP to reclaim the governorship of the state. He alleged that financial inducements were involved in the process, which, according to him, has been supported by the deputy governor, Damishi Luka, to actualise his longstanding ambition of becoming the state governor with the speaker as deputy governor.

“If this is not coming from the Presidency, why did the IG of Police deploy 160 mobile policemen to guard the Assembly and the members to hatch the plan? This is the largest single deployment in peace time,”
Abdullahi said. “When over 70 security personnel were killed at Alakyo, the IGP did not deploy personnel to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators. But he finds it convenient to deploy mobile policemen to perfect an impeachment plot.”

Second Attempt
This is the second time the house is making a move to remove the governor from office. In August 2013, the house had summoned the governor for allegedly flouting its resolutions. The Majority Leader, Godiya Akwashiki, a PDP member representing Nasarawa Eggon West, said they were uncomfortable with the governor’s penchant for rejecting and disobeying the legislature’s resolutions.
Among other things, the lawmakers were also said to be unhappy with the governor over an alleged disclosure by his aides that lawmakers were paid N300 million leave grant by the governor and a quarterly constituency project fund of N10 million for each member since the beginning of Al-Makura’s tenure.

The Assembly had passed a resolution that the state government should reverse the naming of transport schemes and new school buildings Ta’al, a name similar to the governor’s popular acronym and registered company named Ta’al Nigeria. A source said the governor could lay claim to the public assets in the future.
The house, therefore, resolved that the name of all model schools named Ta’al be changed and the blue colour the school buildings were painted be changed because it symbolised the colour of the Congress for Progressive Change, the governor’s original party, which is now part of the APC coalition.

On November 3 last year, lawmakers resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to look into reports presented by four standing committees which carried out on oversight of the government between May 29, 2011 and November of 2013.
The ad hoc committee was mandated to look into reports of the house committees on public accounts, health, local government and chieftaincy affairs, commerce and industry, and capital market, and report to the Assembly for further deliberation.

The house has since received reports from four of the five committees.
The public accounts committee report alleged extra-budgetary expenditure of about N3 billion by the Government House, Deputy Governor’s Office and the office of the Secretary to the State Government. It said of the N400 million Federal Government flood intervention fund of 2012, only about N100 million had been properly utilised, and N100 was found to have been improperly spent. The remaining N300 million was kept with the state emergency relief agency.
The three committees also accused the government of various financial misconducts, including extra-budgetary spending and misappropriation.

But a member of the Assembly representing Awe South constituency, Aliyu Umaru, told reporters last year that the resolution to invite
Al-Makura to appear before the lawmakers was not connected with any plan to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor.
“It’s a normal activity as a house, we are doing our job,” Umaru had said.

2015 Politics
The present impeachment move against Al-Makura is generally seen as part of a PDP scheme to win the governorship of the state in 2015. The PDP is alleged to have directed its members to make life uncomfortable for the governor and discredit his government if he cannot be impeached.
The PDP state chairman has continued to accuse Al-Makura of corruption and non-performance, with the governor constantly under pressure to defend his policies.

Financial Constraint
In a recent interview, the governor said its bloated workforce was a major drag on its meagre resources.
“I would say it is a paradox. We want to be part of the international community by keying into the rave of the world, which is democracy.
But our democracy comes at a huge cost if you look at the arms of government and the amount they get, viz, what goes to the populace.
And you may wonder if the democracy is worth it,” Al-Makura was quoted as saying. “Take my state, for instance, where 1% takes more than 90% of the revenue accruing to the state. If you look at the salaries, emoluments and allowances of officials of the executive, legislature, judiciary, civil service and so on, and put the cost together and compare it with what is left for development you will discover that it is 5 % or less. And all the people benefitting from this are less than 1% of the population.”

He continued, “Of the N2.7 billion monthly allocations we get, our wage bill first charge is about N2.4 billion. So we have only N300 million to spend on everything else, including building infrastructure and taking care of security challenges. In fact, at the end I have only about N100million left for capital projects, if not for internally generated revenue that has improved.
“When I came there were even months when I had less than N100million for capital projects. I realised that I was just a paymaster. Once the end of the month comes, all we do is give out monies because these are statutory payments. How can we then develop? And I cannot overnight change statutory allocations to any arm of government.”

But with the wind of impeachment now threatening to blow him down, Al-Makura would need to make strategic changes, at least, to try to repair his relationship with the Assembly. But it is doubtful if any changes on the part of the governor can steer the lawmakers away from  the course of impeachment.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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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