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As Nigeria reels under the pain caused by terrorists in the country, African leaders at the ongoing 23rd Ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, have condemned the spate of attacks by terrorists and insurgents on the African continent.
The Chairman of the AU and Mauritanian President, Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, speaking at the opening of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government yesterday morning, said the continent's leaders must rise to the occasion and adequately respond to contemporary security challenges.
He added the tragic events across the continent are a reminder that to ensure peace and security, there is need for a better understanding of the continent.
President Goodluck Jonathan was present at the meeting, but THISDAY gathered that he was expected to return to Abuja immediately after the bomb blast that 21 persons in Abuja Wednesday.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu would represent him at a meeting of the Assembly on Friday.
Wali in his address to the Peace and Security Council on Wednesday evening, had called on Africa to strengthen its security linkages and early warning systems as a way to curb terrorism and insurgency in the continent.
Speaking with THISDAY, Wali disclosed that although Nigeria was not prepared for terrorism as it was alien to its shores, the federal government was now working assiduously to adequately empower the armed forces and security agencies to cope with the new realities.
He also expressed the commitment of the government to a implementing a long-term strategy to curb terrorism through human welfare programmes.
Also at the meeting on Wednesday evening, Ugandan President, Museveni, who is the Chairman of the PSC, called on national governments to build competent detribalised and non-sectarian national armies.
He blamed the policy of sectarianism for the spate of conflicts and insecurity across the continent.
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.
Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, his Federal Capital Territory (FCT), counterpart, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) yesterday condoled with the management and staff of the New Telegraph Newspaper over the death of their Managing Editor (North), Mr. Suleiman Bisalla.
Bisalla died with 20 other Nigerians in the Wednesday's bomb explosion in Abuja.
Aregbesola said the news of the sudden death of Bisalla was indeed a depressing, miserable and sad piece of news to him.
In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola described the untimely death of Bisalla as one that had once again robbed the media industry and the country of a young, energetic man and a fine journalist.
The governor said, the sudden transition of Bisalla would no doubt leave a huge vacuum in his immediate work place, New Telegraph and the media industry as a whole.
He described the death of the journalist and the 20 others as an enormous sacrifice signposted by the pervading atmosphere of insecurity that for sometime now has enveloped some parts of the country.
The statement said in part: “There is no gainsaying the fact that the nation, media world and particularly the budding New Telegraph will miss Bisalla’s invaluable contribution to the newspaper as well as informed writings and reportage.”
Also, Maku in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Joseph Mutah, described the late Bisalla as a dedicated and talented professional who acquainted himself satisfactorily as a reporter and editor.
The minister however, urged the staff of the New Telegraph Newspaper not to be demoralised by the sad and unfortunate incident.
On his party, Mohammed described Bisalla as an outstanding journalist who practised the journalism profession in line with its guiding ethics and principles.
The minister stated that there are valuable lessons to be learnt from the life of Bisalla, stressing that humility, hard work, honesty and integrity were his guiding principles.
Similarly, a statement by the NGE president, Mr Femi Adesina, said: “As we condole the Bisalla family, and the families of the other dead victims, we can't but ask: where and who next? Nigeria, very sadly, has become one huge sepulcher, and death now very cheap. Unnatural deaths have become so commonplace, that Nigerians are almost becoming inured to the news of it, except those directly affected. This is not good for our common humanity.
“We recognise the almost intractable nature of the insurgency in the land, and government is trying its level best. But it remains the bounden duty of government to secure the lives and property of the citizenry, and we, therefore, ask that our security agencies will not relent in carrying out their constitutionally prescribed duties. Terrorism must never get the better of us. Never. But we must devise new tactics and strategies to rein in the situation.”
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 senator representing Delta North in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has reiterated the federal government’s commitment at ensuring that projects are completed within stipulated time frame and to specification.
Dr. Okowa gave the assurance during an unscheduled inspection visit to the project site of the multi-billion naira NCC Digital Bridge Institute, located at Ugbolu, near Anwai, in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, which he facilitated.
The lawmaker, while expressing satisfaction with the pace and level of work so far done, noted that the institute when completed and put into use, would boost the manpower requirement in the Nigerian communications industry.
“We are hopeful that when completed and eventually operational, the NCC Digital Bridge Institute, will not only train needed manpower for the country’s communications industry, it will also create employment for our people as well as increase social and economic activities in the host community and its environs, thereby bringing a lot of benefits to our people,” he stated.
While acknowledging that the terrain on which the institute was being built was challenging, he, however, maintained that the seeming undulating topography would help in accentuating and giving a better aesthetic beauty to the institution when completed.
The architect-in-charge of the project, Chima Okigbo, and the site engineer, Williams Egbele, while briefing the senator on the level of job so far done, assured that the project, being handled by Azaka Nigeria Limited, would be completed within stipulated time, and that quality job would be delivered.
They however, disclosed that they were able to overcome the initial challenge of dealing with a difficult terrain, but noted that having passed that stage the job was moving on smoothly, adding that they were optimistic of completing the project on schedule.
They noted that, “ For Delta State to have an institute of such magnitude and significant national importance is a big plus to the state and the people.”
Other areas inspected by Senator Okowa, included the administrative block, auditorium, classrooms, laboratories, clubhouse, students’ hostels, canteen and maintenance block among other structures.
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 National Conference yesterday adopted the recommendation of the Committee on Politics and Governance that Nigeria should adopt a true federal structure with the states operating as the federating units. With this, it was agreed that the creation of local government areas be done by the states as they deem necessary.
However, decision on the establishment of the structure, composition, finance and functions of local government councils were put on hold pending discussions on the report of the Committee on Political Restructuring.
On the right to self determination, delegates agreed that minority groups that wish to exist as separate states and meet the criteria for state creation should be allowed to do so under the instrumentality of the relevant laws and procedures as part of their right to internal self determination.
In making this proposal, conference said it recognised the unconditional rights and freedom of every and any other ethnic nationality that considers itself as unjustly subjected to real and perceived injustice and marginalisation to join their kith and kin through the instrumentality of relevant laws.
Conference also proposed stiff penalties for elected public office holders who move from one political party to another before the expiration of their mandates.
It said such elected public office holders who abandoned their parties midway for new ones without cogent reasons are to loose their seat.
It was also resolved that inducement of voters with money and materials on Election Day should be treated as a criminal offence and perpetrators severely punished. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) are to fashion ways to ensure that physically challenged persons, especially lepers, are registered and actually vote in elections.
These were parts of the recommendations adopted by the conference delegates during the debate and consideration of the report of the Committee on Politics and Governance led by Professor Jerry Gana with Chief Olu Falae as Co-chairman.
Delegates also accepted the proposal that government should not fund any political party, but that they should be funded through membership subscription, levies, donations, investments, sales of party cards and other fund raising activities
The proposal that unelected chairmen of local governments often referred to as Transition Committee Chairmen or such unelected representatives at the local government areas should be sanctioned by withholding the statutory allocations pending the conduct of election into such local governments was also accepted by the conference.
On anti-corruption and ethics in governance, members accepted the proposal that Anti-corruption Agencies (ACAs), especially the EFCC and the ICPC, should take up any corruption case that is in the public domain without waiting for a petition.
It said refusal by the anti-corruption agencies to act on any corruption cases that has come to their knowledge should constitute an act of misconduct, criminal negligence or dereliction of duty that will attract appropriate sanctions.
Conference also accepted the proposal that all anti-corruption agencies should be empowered to invite anybody living above their means to explain their source of wealth, and if the agencies are not satisfied with explanations to the acquisition of such wealth, the person shall be charged to court.
Upon conviction, the person shall forfeit the entire proceeds from corruption and be sentenced to half the prison term attached to the sum of the money or its equivalent.
It also resolved that asset declaration form submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau, should be made accessible to the general public. Such declaration of assets by public office holders should be before and after assumption of office.
The proposal that a special account be opened and designated as Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF) into which all recovered proceeds of corruption shall be paid into was adopted.
Conference also agreed to transfer the responsibility for ensuring compliance, on the FOI Act from the office of the Attorney General to the National Human Rights Commission.
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 APC at the end of the first meeting of its National Working Committee, NWC declared the just-concluded election as neither free nor fair as it claimed that the process that led to it was skewed to favour PDP. The party said it had as such directed its members and officials who were arrested or limited in the days leading to the election to seek legal redress.
A communiqué of the meeting issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed stated thus: ”In order to prevent a recurrence of what happened in Ekiti, especially the militarisation of the process, the harassment and intimidation of citizens, especially those in opposition, my party has decided to challenge in court some of these constitutional breaches and will also encourage our leaders and supporters, who were arrested, harassed and intimidated to seek the enforcement of their fundamental rights that were recklessly abridged by the security agencies.”
He further stated that: “We believe that the events leading to the D-Day in Ekiti negate the principles of a free, fair and credible election. From the militarisation of the election to the police attack on our supporters, arrest and detention of our leaders across the state and the use of huge funds to induce voters, the federal authorities skewed everything in favour of the PDP.” According to him: “With thousands of armed troops, police, state security and civil defence personnel deployed to Ekiti, the state was simply under a total lockdown.
APC planning mayhem in Ekiti — PDP Responding to the APC communiqué yesterday, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said the APC was about to resort to what he claimed were the party’s old behaviour as he claimed the party was set to cause mayhem in Ekiti State.
Noting that the communiqué of the APC demonstrates their ‘preference for anarchy and blind homage to nihilism and destruction of the democratic order’, Metuh said: “The APC has once again confirmed that it is nothing but a chaotic organisation, totally averse to democracy and orderliness. It has shown that it is a party of desperate, frustrated and violent individuals promoting a Janjaweed ideology.”
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.
PORT HARCOURT — POLICE have arrested members of a 15-man gang that allegedly raped a 16-year-old girl in Gbuga area of Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The state Police Commissioner, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin, told newsmen, yesterday, at the Police headquarters in Port Harcourt that the girl allegedly attended a party organised in the area, adding that she took a glass of strong drink offered her by one of the rapists which made her pass out before she was allegedly raped by 15 men.
He said: “The victim reported that she attended a party at Ogbuga Street in Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt organised by one Tina.
“While at the party, she was given a glass of strong drink by Tambari Dumlesi. That was the last memory she had before she was raped by 15 men. She woke up to find herself in torn boxers and with swollen privates.
“The victim has since been taken to the Police clinic for check up and treatment while three suspects have been apprehended. Investigation is still on.”
Police nab ritualist
He said his men also arrested a ritualist and kidnapper in Igwuruta area of the state, adding that a human skull was among items recovered from him.
According to the Police Commissioner, the suspect confessed that the human skull was that of a lady he allegedly murdered for money rituals.
He said: “The Special Anti Robbery Squad responded to a tip-off and led a combined team to arrest a suspect of cultism, kidnap and ritual killing in his home in Igwuruta, Rivers State on June 24, 2014.
“At the point of his arrest, the suspect was discovered to be in possession of two locally made pistols, live ammunition and a human skull. These were recovered from him.
“Upon subsequent investigation, it was revealed that the skull was that of a lady murdered by the suspect and his gang. The suspect also owned up to using the skull as a medium to get rich, claiming that the skull speaks to him and provides him with 10, 20, 30 Naira notes after special sacrifice.
“The suspect has since confessed his membership of the brutal cult group, Dey?well.”
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.
ABUJA—As outrage from within and outside Nigeria continues to trail last Wednesday’s bomb blast in Abuja, which claimed 22 lives and left 50 others injured, some of the survivors have narrated their close shave with death.
The Department of State Service, DSS, on its part disclosed that security agencies actually obtained intelligence reports two weeks ago that the terrorists planned to attack a busy shopping mall or market in Abuja. Major markets in the city were virtually deserted, yesterday, following the bomb blast.
Taxi driver cheats death A taxi driver, who identified himself as Malachy Odo, said he was caught up in the midst of the ravaging fire after the bomb exploded at the car park of Emab Plaza.
He said: “I had arrived at the plaza in my cab minutes earlier. After the last passenger alighted from the cab, I was reversing when I heard the explosion. My car went up in flames, and I struggled to pass through the window and in the process my left hand caught fire. As I was running for my dear life, broken glasses pierced my feet. I was later rushed by rescuers to Maitama General Hospital.”
Another survivor, Mrs Mary Andrew, said she was lying on the ground beside her groundnut tray, while waiting for buyers at the entrance of Emab Plaza, when the blast occurred.
According to her: “I was lying down when the bomb exploded, and my baby was also with me. After the blast, I discovered that three of my fellow groundnut sellers were dead. I was very lucky, I was not hurt, and I thank God for saving my life.”
I was covered with broken glasses —Olasupo
Samuel Olasupo, who sells and repairs mobile phones at Emab plaza had this to say: “I was about to take step out of my shop to the gate to buy corn, when the bomb exploded. I was thrown to the floor and my body was pierced by pieces of glass. When I recovered from the impact of the blast, I gave glory to God.” He said the bomb-laden car was said to have been parked at the entrance of the plaza for more than 30 minutes with nobody inside.
Daniel Itodo said he was still searching for his cousin, 24-year-old Bassey Bassey, who hails from Cross River State. Bassey, who was said to be the first child of his parents was working with a pharmaceutical shop at the plaza.
“I was at home when I heard about the bomb blast at Wuse II, and I remembered that my cousin, Bassey Bassey was at the shopping plaza. I rushed to the pharmacy where he was working at Emab plaza, near Banex. I was told that about three minutes before the bomb blast, my cousin left with a customer that came to the pharmacy to buy some drugs. Since then his phone has been switched off and he is nowhere to be found. I have gone to University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and National Hospital, where I saw health officials attending to some injured people brought to them, and I learnt four persons were in the intensive care unit. But I was not allowed to have access to them. I went to Garki Hospital and I could not see him there.”
He continued: “I went to Maitama General Hospital where I saw up to 10 dead bodies. Four could not be identified because the bodies were charred. One of the bodies was without a head, with intestines packed on one side.
“The parents are yet to be informed because we have not seen him dead or alive. We are still searching for him. I will meet with the manager of the pharmacy to know whether the customer was alive or both of them died and for the management of the pharmacy to tell us the exact story about our brother’s whereabouts.
“I want the government to step up security, because it is very painful as innocent Nigerians are daily becoming the objects of attacks. The security agencies should improve on their strategies because these terrorists are spreading fast across the country.”
Another eyewitness who spoke to Vanguard identified himself as Joseph Okonkwo. Okonkwo who said he is a journalist said his office was located at Emab Plaza. He said he writes for Legis Magazine based in Abuja.
Said he: “As I was entering Emab Plaza, yesterday (Wednesday), I walked past a particular shop I normally go to which is close to the gate. I later saw the person I went to visit and discussed with him after which I suddenly heard a big bang. A lot of things flew into the air. I saw a lot of smoke.
“I began to run and when I was about to jump a fence, I saw some people whose skin had been peeled by the heat generated by the blast. They were trying to jump too. Everybody ran to the back side because the explosion occurred at the gate. Some people who were close to me were affected by the blast. The impact of the blast is still disturbing me. I was psychologically affected but physically okay.”
Speaking to news men at the scene of the blast yesterday, the FCT Commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr E.C.Ewurum confirmed that some suspects were arrested by security operatives at the scene of the explosion. He said they had been taken away for interrogation. He also said three ambulances involved in rescue operations had already taken the dead and injured victims of the blast to different hospitals within the city.
My close shave with death
“My name is Ikechuku Iba, aka Ogbologbo. I am a taxi driver in Abuja, my park is at Emab plaza and everybody in the plaza knows that I always stayed at the exact spot where the bomb went off yesterday. That was where I usually parked my car, waiting for passengers. But thank God, on Wednesday, 30 minutes before the bomb went off my sister phoned me to come. I was reluctant at first because it was the peak of activities but I later decided to go. Just 30 minutes after I left the Plaza, the bomb went off. Thank God I wasn’t around and thank God I went to Asokoro to see my sister. A lot of people were calling me to ask whether I was involved because they all know I was always there.
“There was a particular boy I saw being taken to the hospital and I knew the mother as a banana seller, I used to buy banana and groundnut from her but she was caught up in the blast and she died. I knew so many others who died. When I went to Maitama hospital yesterday to check people, I recognised about four people but some people were badly burnt”. On whether there was any of his friends missing, he said: “There was one Mallam Shehu who used to sell fruits at Emab plaza; we have been looking for him since the blast but we are yet to locate him, and Saheed, who sold provisions had his two legs cut off; the woman that used to sell banana, who we called Mama Bobby died in the blast. One Mama Charity also died as well as one Hausa man that used to sell guava. So many other people died. “We are still looking for one of our drivers whose car was completely burnt in the blast, his name is Ukpu. We have checked Maitama Hospital, he is not there.
We got intelligence report of plans by terrorist to attack— DSS 24 hours after the bomb blast, the Department of State Services, DSS disclosed, yesterday, that security agencies got intelligence report two weeks ago showing that terrorists planned to attack a busy shopping mall or market in Abuja.
Deputy Director Information, Department of State Services (DSS), Marilyn Ogar, who made the disclosure, said “when we got the report we had to go from one shopping complex to another telling people to be more security conscious and vigilant. Every day since the report, our surveillance teams went round the motor parks, markets, supermarkets, trying to ensure that the instruction we left behind were strictly adhered to.
“Yesterday (Wednesday), the surveillance team was here (Emab Plaza) up till about 12:30pm observing, monitoring. When they discovered that the security people here were enforcing what they were told, the team retreated.” She urged Nigerians to continue to give security agencies information that will help them stop the terrorists in their track.
Also speaking, Force Police Public Relations Officer, ACP Frank Mba advised managers of big companies and owners of cinemas and busy shopping malls to help by instituting a strong access control regime and also install CCTV cameras.
Mba reiterated the importance of shielding hawkers from entering shopping malls saying, “it’s also good to keep away hawkers from busy places, because hawkers attract people which make the target softer”.
We’ll defeat the terrorists — Sambo Meanwhile Vice President of Nigeria, Namadi Sambo, yesterday, condemned in strong terms, the activities of terrorists saying “this cowardly and unjust act will be defeated; evil can never be sustained”.
The Vice President, who was accompanied by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Senator Ayim Pius Ayim; the Minister of FCT, Sen. Bala Mohammed; the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro and the Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide spoke when he visited the scene of the bomb blast.
Reiterating Government’s commitment towards fighting terrorism, Sambo said: “Mr. President will not leave any stone unturned until we defeat this terrorism. Terrorism cannot survive in Nigeria or any part of this country. We are doing everything to ensure that within the shortest possible time, this will become a matter of the past”.
Another victim dies, 52 injured, 34 vehicles damaged One of the injured, who was at admitted at the Intensive Care Unit, ICU, of the National Hospital is dead. Vanguard investigations across the major hospitals in Abuja, yesterday also revealed that the number of those injured was 52. The police told journalists at the scene of the blast that only 17 people were injured.
Specifically, the Director-General of the FCT Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Alhaji Abbas Idriss said the 52 injured victims are spread across five hospitals in the FCT: Maitama has a total umber of 36 victims, Wuse Hospital, 7; National Hospital 6; Garki Hospital 2 and Turkish Hospital 1. It was equally learnt that while 17 vehicles were completed destroyed , a total of 34 were damaged.
Major markets deserted A visit by Vanguard to major markets in the Abuja metropolis showed that they were virtually deserted as very few traders ventured to open their shops. Customers also preferred to shop at neighbourhood shops. Most affected were: Wuse, Garki, Utako.
The Head, Corporate Affairs of the Abuja Market Management Limited, AMML, Mr Innocent Amaechina, who spoke to Vanguard on phone yesterday, said the scanty market activities in the FCT was quite natural because of the explosion the previous day.
But he advised that rather than panic at the development, residents should be reassured that government was on top of any possible security breach in the markets.
“The fact is that people are afraid naturally because of what has happened and people are becoming more security conscious especially after the bombing of Emab plaza.”
He said the agency is in close collaboration with security agencies to see that markets in the FCT are safe for Abuja residents.
US, EU condemn Abuja bomb blast The United States (US) and the European Union have also condemned the bomb attack at the Emab Plaza, Abuja, describing it as heartless act.
The US in a statement issued yesterday, by its embassy in Abuja, said: “We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and call on all Nigerians regardless of region or religion to join in and support efforts to put an end to this evil against humanity,” it enjoined.
The US said it remained committed to supporting Nigerians in their struggle against violent extremism “and to helping the Government of Nigeria as it works to counter these threats to citizens and its national called on the Federal Government to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. The EU in its statement said, “We condemn in the strongest terms the bombing of a shopping centre in Abuja, killing 21 people. This attack is the latest in a long series of violent acts terrorising the Nigerian population.
“We express our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims. As demonstrated by the increased support we have provided recently, the EU stands with the government of Nigeria in its fight against terrorism and violence, and for the rule of law and human rights,” it said.
NBA asks FG to step up efforts to end terrorism The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in its reaction yesterday, urged the federal government to intensify its efforts towards ensuring an end to the current reign of terror in Nigeria.
The association, in a statement it issued in Abuja yesterday, signed by the National President of the association, Chief Okey Wali, SAN, read: “The Nigerian Bar Association received with shock the sad news of bomb blast in Emab Plaza, located at Wuse II area of Nigeria’s Capital, Abuja on June 25, 2014 which resulted in the unfortunate and untimely death of 22 persons and left many more injured.
“This latest bomb explosion in Abuja is only part of a series of sporadic bomb blasts in some parts of Nigeria. “The NBA outrightly condemns this bomb blast, which has caused deaths and grievous bodily injuries to many Nigerians.
“There can never be any justification for these dastardly and brazen acts of carnage. “This latest bomb explosion brings to the fore the need for the Federal Government of Nigeria to intensify efforts in bringing these acts of terrorism and insurgency to an end.”
CAN, Catholic Church condemn blasts THE Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN and the Catholic Church has also condemned the bomb blast, saying that these activities of Islamic fundamentalists have brought untold embarrassment to the nation.
In two separate reactions last night, Secretary General of CAN, Rev. Musa Asake and the Director of Social Communications at the Lagos Archdiocese, Monsignor Gabriel Osu were unanimous in pleading with the Federal Government and especially the security agencies to fashion tactics in dealing with themenace, admonishing that the leadership of the Church has been restraining Christian youth to avoid plunging the nation into a huge conflagration we may be able to contain.
Asake maintained that the Federal Government has done a great deal to stamp out the renewed wave of terrorism in the country, “but they still need to do more since these Islamic jihadists have refused to respect the sanctity of human life.”
According to him, there is the urgent need to effectively monitor the nation’s borders and stop these foreign muruaders because “I am yet to believe that Nigerians will mindlessly bomb their fellow brothers in these dastardly manner and still able to sleep at night.”
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.
Broadcast journalist and politician, Senator Chris Anyanwu was a refreshing face on Nigerian television in the early eighties with her unique reportage of the National Assembly, and subsequently, her gripping narratives of the dynamics of the international energy market. Trained in American journalism schools, Anyanwu following her days at the NTA and stint as Commissioner for Information in the mid eighties, made a unique incursion into print journalism with the introduction of The Sunday Magazine, TSM in the early nineties before anchoring her media dreams on radio with the establishment of Hot FM at the turn of the century. With a heart of steel encased in physical frame of unfading beauty, the journey to success was not always smooth for Anyanwu. It was especially so for her when beauty and brain collided with the brawn of the Sanni Abacha regime at the peak of that regime’s bastardisation of human values. Senator Anyanwu has lived to tell her story which has since progressed through two terms in the Senate and is now focused on an anchor at the Imo Government House. Following a morning walk out session and over a breakfast of fruits, she spoke on her time in the Senate and the continuing plea of Ndi Imo for help. Excerpts:
By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor
ALMOST eight years in the Senate now. How has it been? It’s been good. It’s been good. The Senate has been very satisfying for me in one sense and that is the fact that I have been able to lobby for projects going to the East, especially Imo State. I have always said that Imo State and the Southeast have been very underdeveloped even in the years that the Nigerian Federal Government was investing in industries and institutions, but not much was done in my state.
So, we have a situation where people go to school and after that go to Lagos, go to Abuja and even to other places where the opportunities are more. But that does not make for development, rather it dries it of useful manpower and the ripple effect of a large income earning population is not felt. You know if people are working there, paying taxes there and buying there, it will trickle down to the ordinary people and lead to advancements but we haven’t felt it because there have been very few opportunities.
Now with me in the Senate what we have been trying to do is to try and lobby the Federal Government to bring projects, and we are talking about the basics like roads, water, hospitals and we have moved on to the higher levels and talking about employment, building institutions that can employ people or prepare people for self employment or employment elsewhere.
Building institutions
That is where we are and to that extent I can say that it has been satisfying for me because I have been able to do a few of those and made my contribution.
What would you describe as your most challenging experience in the Senate? The challenge has been that you don’t pass laws by yourself. You may have all the enthusiasm, you may come up with one million bills, but at the end of the day it has to follow a process that is so sluggish. The fact that you pass a bill in one chamber does not guarantee that it will be passed in the other chamber. You have to have them passed in both the House and the Senate and it has to be done within a time frame that allows you to also go to the president and secure his assent.
The very sluggish process of passage of bills in the Nigerian legislature is very challenging if not frustrating, not just to me, but for most legislators. I wish there was some way of quickening the process of passage of bills. You see, it takes a lot of work to get meaningful bills. Often you have consultants, you have lawyers, a lot of research goes into them and these are things we think can have very meaningful impact on the people.
Is there any particular bill you proposed that has been so affected? Off course! In the last assembly, my Sexual Offences Bill which was unanimously passed by the Senate did not go through the House and that journey was wasted.
It began the journey again in this assembly, now it has again gone to the committee in the Senate but the question again is if it gets a third reading in the Senate will it go through the House in the life of this assembly?
And here is a bill that would have provided a legal framework to deal with Boko Haram and others who prey on young Nigerian girls.
If you have strong laws punishing those things it is going to be a restraint on others, but you see that bill is stuck somewhere.
One of the most important bills that I have been part of is the Occupational Health and Safety Bill. The bill is the answer to the abuse of Nigerian workers in the work place. It is a law protecting the Nigerian worker in the workplace and the workplace starts from a home where you have a given number of people, small businesses where people are exposed to all kinds of situations. Even in the farms where farm helps are spraying chemicals unprotected, building construction sites where people are working without helmets and all that.
The Senate has passed that bill for more than one and a half years now and it has been sent to the House but the House has not responded and has not even scheduled.
Why has the House not responded? I don’t know, maybe it is their own internal administrative issue or they have a number of bills, I don’t know.
You have covered the National Assembly as a reporter and now you are a senator. Is there a change in your perception of the National Assembly? Is it really a place that flows with Ghana Must Go? Well that was not my perception. In my time as a correspondent I didn’t see it as a place that free money went round at that time. At that time democracy was quite new and the quality of people in the National Assembly was not quite as high as the people you have now. Then, you saw a number of people who were out of place and the debate was not as rich.
So, when you saw those who spoke well and debated intelligently, they were the superstars and you were in awe of such persons.
Debating intelligently
At that time you had a lot of farmers and all sorts of people in the House of Representatives and people whose backgrounds did not really prepare them well for the job and so, you saw them following their leader and doing whatever their leader said they did, but now, you have young men and women who know their onions and who have been educated well and who have quite some experience.
In the Senate you have phenomenally well experienced and well prepared people but if in the end the result as good as has been expected, then there must be something in the internal processes that makes it impossible for us to get the best out of these people.
You are chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy. Has the Navy under your oversight made any contribution to the war in the Northeast? We are not supposed to reveal all these, but the navy from the beginning has been involved in anti-terrorism because the navy has a corp of personnel that I want to say are the best trained for anti-terrorism and they were trained by American Navy SEALS. They have been there and they are there and they are contributing and play a very pivotal role.
Are you concerned over what some regard as the early retirement age of Nigerian military officials? I personally, have very serious concerns over this issue. A lot of our strong men, a lot of our well prepared officers and men are being sent out of the force because they have reached the age of retirement and we spent a lot of money training many of these people abroad and we don’t get to use them.
I think we have to do something so that well trained persons can be retained in the system and institutional memory that is necessary to have continuity and to make progress can be preserved.
In the last three years that I have been chairman of navy we have had three chiefs of naval staff. That’s too much. For a nation that is facing challenges you cannot afford to continue to change leadership that rapidly because each time you change, you lose momentum.
Any particular challenge you face being a woman in the Senate? No! Absolutely no! Let me tell you the first time I became conscious that I was a woman was during the time of Abacha when I was arrested and when a soldier said you are a woman. Before that when I worked in NTA, I used to fly in helicopters, I used to go in ships and do all sorts of things and did jobs that many of my male colleagues were a little bit afraid to do.
In the Senate there is no such thing as a man or woman there, it is the job.
You have returned to the PDP in Imo State. Yes. Is it different from the PDP you left in 2007? Times change and the atmosphere changes. The headship changes and they bring to the table their own ways of doing things, so I would not be surprised if it has changed since the leadership has changed.
People were surprised that after you helped to enthrone an APGA governor that you ditched the party? But you have to look at the dynamics and one would be stupid not to respond to the internal dynamics or even the external dynamics.
Even the governor we voted in is no longer in APGA. He has ditched APGA and is now in APC. You know he never had any strong loyalty to APGA or any party and I will not be surprised if he ditches APC tomorrow. I left as a matter of pragmatism and in the overriding interest of my constituency.
Are you satisfied with the government you helped to install? I don’t like to discuss the government or Rochas. I don’t believe in harassing people in government. I could be part of bringing you to power, but once you are seated there I leave you to do your job. If you succeed, you take responsibility.
If you fail, you take responsibility. If that government fails, he will have only himself to blame because both myself and Imo people have left him to his own devices. He has enjoyed more peace than any governor we know in the history of Imo State. Not because he is a superstar or superman.
Not because he even deserves it, but because let us leave him and see what he can do. I will not even engage in assessing him when the time comes, Imo people will assess him.
There is hearsay about your intention to vie for the governorship. Is it true? Yes! I am studying that possibility, I am consulting the people of Imo State. I am looking at Imo State, what the situation is there, what needs to be done and I am studying at how I can contribute to a greater Imo State. Yes, I am looking at that right now.
What is driving this aspiration? Imo needs help.
You think you are in the best position to offer this help? I believe so. I believe I am ready, I believe I have been well prepared for this, I believe I have the passion to drive this, I believe I have the knowledge, the exposure, and the capacity to do this.
It is not about money. I hear some people boasting that they have the deep pockets to get the governorship. That is absolute and total nonsense. The people that say this provoke an inquest into the source of their deep pockets. If a guy has never worked in his life, if a guy did not inherit wealth, if a guy is not known to have a huge account when he entered the political sphere and now he has deep pocket to prosecute this, you ought to ask, where is this money coming from? It is only in Nigeria that such asinine statements can be taken without proper and immediate investigation.
You cannot reap off a people and use the money to buy them and then spend four years to recover the investment and that is what is going on.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
A former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, has dismissed claims in some quarters that he betrayed a former Secretary of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Chief Frank Kokori, during the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
He also noted that had Kokori not survived his incarceration, he (Osoba) would have been blamed.
Osoba, who said this in Lagos at the launch of a book, Frank Kokori: The Struggle for June 12, regretted that those enjoying the benefits of June 12 struggle today were not among those who fought in the struggle.
He said: “I am here to celebrate Kokori and my survival too. It was alleged that I gave Kokori up. Thank God he survived. Otherwise I would have been blamed.
“Only 49 of us signed the document when NADECO was formed behind the late Moshood Abiola. The youngest of us then was Labaran Maku, the Minister of Information.
“My name would have died with Kokori. I know nothing about how he was betrayed and lured out to be arrested.”
In his remarks, former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who was represented by a former Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr. Dele Alake, said: “In spite of Kokori’s incarceration and torture, he remained a symbol of consistency, perseverance, responsibility and a galvaniser of oil workers who staged massive protests for the emancipation of Nigerians.
“I am aware of his role in the struggle for June 12 actualisation. I thank and appreciate him for the role he has played and is still playing for the enthronement of genuine democracy in Nigeria.”
The book is a memoir which gives account of the June 12 struggle. He noted that he wrote the book to showcase the heroes and gladiators who helped Nigeria achieve democracy, but were neglected in the present political dispensation.
“The book is a candid account of my roles and the roles that other heroes played in the quest to revalidate the June 12, 1993 presidential election,” Kokori stated.
Also speaking, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was represented by Mr. Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, commended Kokori for the book, saying that no better person could tell the story of June 12.
The book reviewer, Mr. Kayode Komolafe, Deputy Managing Director of ThisDay newspapers, described it as distinct from other books on June 12.
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.
Prominent Nigerians are expected to grace the ninth Ramadan lecture of the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) on peace and leadership on Sunday in Abuja.
MMPN chairman, Abdur-Rahman Balogun said in a statement on Sunday that the lecture would hold at National Mosque Hall, Abuja on Sunday June 29, starting from 11 a.m.
While Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger State was slated as the chairman, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, Minister of State, Defence would be the father of the day and Mohammed Abubakar, Inspector-General of Police as Special Guest of Honour.
The lecture which was ninth in the series, Entitled: “Peace and Leadership: The Missing Link” will be delivered by the duo of Prof. Musa AbdurRaheem of University of Ado-Ekiti and Malam Nurudeen Lemu.
Other guests expected at the occasion are the FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed as Chief Host, while Prof .Ishaq Oloyede, Secretary-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) would be the Spiritual father of the day.
Others were Director-Generals of Voice of Nigeria, Malam Abubakar Jijiwa, FRCN, MalamLadanSalihu, federal lawmakers, Islamic scholars, members of the public and the media. Balogun said in the statement that the choice of the topic was to proffer solution to the current challenges in the country as it affects Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
He said all stakeholders including religious groups, security agencies, scholars in various fields and students have been invited to grace the occasion.
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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