UNIPORT 4: Parents Protest Unwarranted Killings

Some concerned parents, under the aegis of Nigerian Youths Must Live, have called on the government to take decisive steps to halt unwarranted killings in the country.

The group said it was outraged by the killings of four students of the University of Port Harcourt in Aluu, Rivers State, and other unresolved killings.

NYML lamented that the trend had compromised the safety and well-being of youths in the country.

When on Monday the group met in Lagos, there was an outpouring of emotions as speakers roundly condemned the trend and asked the Federal Government to rise to the challenges of insecurity and other vices in the land.

Convener of the group, Mrs. Roli Craig, said the NYML was formed as an advocacy group to compel the government to address the problems in the land.

Craig, a lawyer, said parents had resolved that they would no longer take excuses from the government for “senseless killings” in Nigeria.

She said, “You will recall that in recent times, young female students returning from their schools were raped. Many more were killed in school while most recently in Port Harcourt, four young undergraduates were murdered in the most barbaric and savagery manner.

“Prior to these events, were the senseless killings of youth corps members while serving their fatherland in the aftermath of the 2011 presidential election in some parts of the country.

“Most of us who are parents today, attended higher institutions far away from home and served as corps members in different cultures. We were cared for and protected by the government and our host communities.”

A parent, Femi Dosumu, lamented the trend, wondering where the country got it wrong.

Dosunmi, the managing director of Pumpco Limited, said, “It will be an admission of failure if I do not appeal to the authorities to halt the killings. We want our leaders to ensure swift justice and bring those connected with the infamy to book.”

Another parent, Mrs. Bisilola Asenuga, said the Human Rights Watch statistics showed that up to 3,000 persons had been killed by gunmen in Nigeria since 2009 was scary.

She said the high number of unemployed Nigerians could be linked directly to the rising insecurity level in the country.

Another parent, Sesan Adeniji, said corruption had devalued the value system of “our people” and, warned that if graft was not eradicated, the myriad of socio-economic and political problems facing the country would persist.

I Can’t Dump PDP, Says Akala

Alao Akala

Former Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala has described as wicked the rumour being peddled that he wanted to dump Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for another party.

The party has been enmeshed in leadership crises with each faction claiming recognition by the national secretariat of the party.

Though, Akala enjoys loyalty of many followers being the former governor, some chieftains of the party like Elder Wole Oyelese and others kicked against him being the leader of the party in the state.

Describing those peddling the rumour as political prostitutes, the Ogbomoso-born ex-governor wondered why on earth he would dump a party that had made him what he is today.

While speaking with newsmen, Alao-Akala denied nursing any ambition to leave the party.

He said, “I am even surprised that you are raising such an issue with me when you all know that I am a sworn member of the PDP and nothing will make to leave the party.”

Wondering about the origin of the rumour he asked,  “why would I want to leave PDP?” According to him, there is no election at hand in which he is  involved in directly or indirectly. “Even at that I will never leave PDP. Those behind the rumours are, perhaps, afraid of me”, he said.

He stressed that the perceived political foes who peddled the rumour might be afraid of him that being in the same party with them could be a continued injury to their interests.

“I state unequivocally that the rumour is wicked and malicious being peddled by idle minds. I am not leaving the PDP,” he said.

JTF: We Killed 24 Boko Haram Members in Maiduguri

 IGP,  Mohammed Abubakar

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State Tuesday disclosed that it killed 24 suspected Boko Haram members in different parts of Maiduguri metropolis on Monday night during series of encounters with its personnel.

Similarly, no fewer than 25 persons were killed and properties worth millions of naira destroyed in a renewed attack by Fulani herdsmen against residents of Yogbo in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State on Sunday. Among those killed were children and women.

THISDAY had reported that not less than 16 explosions were heard in some part of the metropolis in the daytime even as the explosions and gun battles continued into the night.

“It is terrifying,” said one resident of the Gwange area in the northeastern city of Maiduguri. “We sat up the whole night because of gunshots and explosions. Everybody is inside because it is not safe to venture out.”

Residents said the military then swarmed the area, engaging suspected Boko Haram in running gun battles through the night and into Tuesday.

“A bomb has just gone off not far from my house. I am now crouched behind my couch,” said the resident, who asked to not be named.

Another resident of the area said he and his neighbours have “been indoors since Monday evening.”

Suspected Islamists “were chased by soldiers through this neighbourhood while the explosions and shootings continued through the night,” he said, also requesting anonymity.

Last week, residents claimed as many as 30 people were killed during a rampage by soldiers after a bomb attack that left at least three troops dead in Gwange, although the military denied the allegation.

The military has not yet commented on reports of the latest violence.

Spokesman of the task force, Lt Col Sagir Musa, in a statement in Maiduguri, said the sect members attacked JTF locations in Zannari ward and Lagos Street along Gwange on Monday night leading to the confrontations.

According to him, rocket propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were used by the insurgents in the attacks.

‘’The terrorists used civilian residences, homes as launching areas for the attacks at different times on Monday night, 2012. All the attacks were repelled, 24 terrorists were killed,’’ Musa said in the statement.

The JTF spokesman claimed that no civilian casualty was however recorded but added that a soldier was wounded during the attack.

According to him, one RPG purpose machine gun, seven AK 47 riffles, one FNC riffle, 24 assorted empty magazines, 950 assorted ammunition, two pistols, large quantity of assorted IEDs materials and several bows, arrows and cutlasses were recovered from the attackers.

‘’The atmosphere in Maiduguri has been normalised since the early hours of Tuesday (yesterday) as people are going about their normal businesses,’’ he added.

Musa warned residents to desist from allowing their homes to be used as launching pads for attacks on troops and civilians, saying such action would be dealt with appropriately.  

An eye witness in Yogbo who said the killings occurred at about 7 am when most of the residents had gone to church, said residents’ attention were drawn to the tragedy by the cries of children being murdered by Fulani marauders who disappeared immediately after perpetrating the cruel act.

Consequently, thousands of residents have fled the village to Makurdi, the state capital, to seek refuge elsewhere. But police spokesman, Daniel Ezeala, told journalists that the force had deployed troops to the area to forestall further attacks.

This recent attack was a resurgence of previous Fulani attacks in Benue communities which had claimed thousands of lives, houses and farmlands this year. Earlier this year, governors of Benue and Nasarawa States signed a peace accord at Yelwata, a border town, to end Fulani herdsmen/Tiv farmers squabble.

Suspect Accuses Policeman of Joining in the Lynch of Aluu Four

Police Headquarter 

More revelations are emerging on how four University of Port Harcourt undergraduates were killed as a suspect in custody, David Ugbaje, Tuesday accused a policeman of participating in the lynching of the deceased.

He said the policeman joined the mob in the killing of the four students at Omuokiri, Aluu, in Rivers State on October 5.

Also yesterday, the police announced that they had arrested the fleeing principal suspect in the murder, Lucky, alias Bright, who raised the false alarm that labelled the students as armed robbers, which prompted the rage of the mob.

Lucky was said to owe one of the victims some money and they had gone on a debt-recovery mission, when he accused the deceased of trying to rob him.

Ugbaje told journalists Tuesday in Port Harcourt, when the police paraded him and 12 other suspects for their alleged involvement in the crime, that one of the policemen who met them when the mob was beating the students joined them in beating the victims.

He explained that it was after the policeman had partaken in the beating that he requested that the students be handed over to them, a request which the mob refused.

As Ugbaje narrated, “along the line, two policemen came around. One of the policemen was pleading that the boys be left alone, but the other one even joined us in beating the boys. After beating the boys, the policemen now said let the boys be handed over to them. The crowd said no: We no go gree. The policemen now told us that whatever this will result to, they (the crowd) will bear the consequences.”

Ugbaje’s narrative tallied with the eyewitness account of Miss Ibisobia Elkanah, an elder sister of one of the victims, Tekenah Friday Elkanah.  Ibisobia said the police were not repelled by the mob as claimed by them (police), but that one of the policemen suggested that the victims be burnt alive.

“The police van came, went into the mob and they were talking to them (youths). The people kept quiet as the police were making statements. I heard them laughing. You know, they were happy. They kept quiet again. The police talked and they laughed again. The next was for me to see three policemen coming out of the mob, boarded their van. And, one of the said ‘burn them alive’. I must confess, I was gripped with fear,” she said.

But the police’s storyline has been that they were chased back by the murderous mob, forcing them to call for reinforcement from the Joint Task Force (JTF). However, men of the JTF did not come until several hours after the students had been killed and burnt.

The police had earlier announced the arrest of 21 suspects in connection with the crime, including the traditional ruler of the community.

Those paraded included the traditional ruler of Omokiri village, Alhaji Hassan Welewa, Lawal Segun, Lucky Orji, Cynthia Chinwo, Ekpe Daniel, George Nwadei, Gabriel Oche and Ozioma Abajuo.

Others were Chigozie Evans Samuel, Endurance Edet, Uwem Sampson Akpabio, David Chinasa Ugbaje and Ikechukwu Louis Amadi (alias Kapoon).

However, while the police allowed journalists to interview Ugbaje, Amadi and Segun, other suspects, especially Welewa, were shielded from the press.

Briefing journalists, the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Indabawa, said the police arrested two additional suspects, Amadi and Ugbaje, at about 3pm on Monday.

He said the police were forced to parade the suspects because of the enormity of the crime and the interest the crime had generated.

“It is not the philosophy of the Inspector General of Police to parade suspects. Nonetheless, the gruesome manner in which the crime was committed, coupled with the direct and glaring involvement of some of these suspects and the interest generated by the heinous crime left the police with no option than to parade them,” he said.

The Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Abubakar, had ordered a full investigation into the crime.

Ex-Militants Donate N52.7m To Flood Victims

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State

Ex-Niger Delta militants undergoing reintegration have donated N52.7m to flood victims in the region.

A statement from the Head of Media and Communications of the Presidential Amnesty Office, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, as saying the money was donated by 26,358 beneficiaries of the Phase I and II of the amnesty programme.

According to Kuku, the ex-militants agreed to contribute N2,000 each from the October allowances to raise the N52.7m to those seriously affected by the flooding disaster.

Alabrah said the members of staff of the Amnesty Office also donated between 20 to 30 per cent of their October salaries to flood victims in Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Delta, Edo and Rivers states.

He said an 18-man relief committee of volunteers from the Amnesty Office headed by the Technical Assistant on Reintegration, Mr. Larry Pepple, had been constituted.

According to Alabrah, the committee has the responsibility of procuring relief materials and liaising with the various state governments to distribute them to the beneficiaries.

Flood: My Personal House Now Under Water -Jonathan

Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday while commending development partners and organisations that have so far responded to the cries for help by Nigeria, to rehabilitate her citizens affected by the flood, has disclosed that his personal house in Otuoke that was initially spared, has been submerged by flood.

“Nigeria is so devastated by the flood. Sometimes when you watch on television, you do not appreciate what we are going through. I travelled from North to South and on Sunday I was in my village after touring my state. I left my village on Sunday morning and as at that time water was about entering my compound.  As at this morning the information is that my house up to the windows level is under water,” he said.

Speaking at the official launching of save one million lives, A United Nations Commission on Life Saving Commodities for Women and Children at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Jonathan said: “So, you can see what people are passing through within this period. But with the assistance the development partners will give us and people who are in the humanitarian sector, we will soon get over it.”

Meanwhile, the Dickens Sanomi Foundation yesterday disclosed that after five days of rescue operations in various parts of Delta and Bayelsa states, it had successfully evacuated about 12,300 flood victims from danger-prone areas.

The Foundation, which had called on the state governments to establish more camps with adequate security, said it was overwhelmed by the situation on ground, insisting that unless more camps and enhanced security were set up, human catastrophe looms, as the rising water level continues to sack more communities and villages.

The Coordinator of “Project Rescue 10,000 Flood Victims in Delta and Bayelsa states” of the Dickens Sanomi Foundation, Daniel Idonor, said the 15-man team of experts and professional socials workers had visited 42 communities.

Senate Passes $78b/d Oil Benchmark

Mark

The Senate Tuesday passed the 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) with the adoption of $78 per barrel of crude oil as the benchmark on which to base government revenue projections in the 2013 budget on.

The Senate’s oil benchmark for the budget is $2 lower than the $80 per barrel that the House of Representatives approved during its passage of the MTEF and FSP on October 9 and $3 over the $75 per barrel contained in the 2013 Appropriation Bill President Goodluck Jonathan submitted to the National Assembly last Wednesday.

The middle-of-the-course figure approved by the Senate is expected to ease tensions in the swirling controversy that has pitted the House against the presidency on what should be the appropriate oil benchmark to adopt for the 2013 budget on which debate begins today in the lower chamber.

With the difference in the figures approved by the two chambers of the National Assembly in their passage of the MTEF and FSP, and in line with parliamentary tradition, they would have to raise a joint committee that will reconcile the figures and come up with what will eventually become the eventual oil benchmark for the 2013 budget.

In approving the $78 oil benchmark, the Senate had considered the report of its joint Committee on Finance, and National Planning, Economic Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, in plenary Tuesday.

Senate President David Mark said the production benchmark for the three years would be 2.53 million barrels per day in 2013; 2.61 million barrels per day in 2014; and 2.65 million barrels per day in 2015.  The upper chamber also upheld the exchange rate at N160 to $1 as the House did.

Briefing the media on the outcome of the report, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the difference in the oil benchmarks approved by the two chambers of the National Assembly would be resolved at the joint committee level.

He said: “On this difference, the two arms of the National Assembly, that is the Senate and the House of Representatives, we will now go for a conference and the result of what we do at the conference committee will now be the final position of what will be presented to Nigerians.”

On the recent outbursts by Jonathan’s aides over the budget, he said: “Let me state this for the record; we do not believe that President Jonathan has sent anybody out to cast aspersions on the Senate or the House of Representatives.

“Our belief actually is that those individuals speak for themselves and they are not doing the president any good, because our belief is that each arm of government is supposed to work harmoniously and do everything for the interest of the common person in Nigeria for all of us who make up the citizenry."

Abaribe said the desire of the Senate was to build a harmonious relationship and to be in accord with the executive as a way of reducing conflicts to the minimum between both arms of government, this is just as the House will today commence debate on the 2013 Appropriation Bill.

The bill was initially listed for debate and second reading yesterday but the debate was shelved due to time constraints.

House Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, announced that the debate would commence at plenary today after the House Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, had introduced the bill, stating its key components as proposed by the executive arm of government.

Checks revealed that the budget debate might be stalled by complaints arising from the alleged poor implementation of the 2012 Appropriation Act and non-adherence of the executive to the report of the House on the MTEF and FSP.

It was, however, learnt that there might be more to the benchmark war than meets the eye as investigations have revealed that the benchmark controversy has its roots more in politics than in the management of public finances and the economy.

Sources in the House said the lawmakers have not forgiven Jonathan and his cabinet over the alleged poor and selective implementation of the 2012 budget.

The lawmakers believe that the presidency deliberately under-funded the budget, especially the provision for constituency projects.

The lawmakers, it was learnt, are also suspicious of the presidency over its perceived role in the $620,000 bribe saga that consumed the suspended Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee on the Monitoring of the Fuel Subsidy Regime, Hon Farouk Lawan, as well as the subsequent handling of the subsidy probe report.

Why We Killed 24 In Kaduna Community -Fulani Leaders

Fulani

Even as the Kaduna State Police Commissioner, CP Olufemi Adenaike yesterday debunked allegations that the attack on Dogon Dawa village where 24 people were killed last Saturday was led by a police officer, leaders of the Fulani community from the area have claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was a reprisal from their members.

The leaders of the Fulani herdsmen who were at the state police headquarters in Kaduna yesterday claimed responsibility for the Dogon Dawa attack, explaining that “it was a reprisal for the arrest, humiliation and killing of our Fulani herdsmen by the vigilance group from the village.”

The Fulani leaders whose names were not given to the press for security reasons maintained that, “the Fulani people have been accused severally of committing all kinds of atrocities by the vigilance group, especially now that Fulani people are returning from long time grazing from places like Kwara, Niger and Kogi State.

“And in Birnin/Gwari, there have been problems of robbery and all sort of vices, such as cow theft. It was on that basis that the community established the vigilance group to ensure crime-free community.

“It is this vigilance group that is now killing our people who go about their lawful businesses accusing them of robbery.

“The vigilance group of Dogon Dawa indiscriminately kill our men calling them armed robbers; they also steal our cattles, so our men carried out a revenge on them,” the leader stated without remorse.

The Fulani leaders who were at the police headquarters to voluntarily give information of the last Sunday attack, however, stated that it was attempt of their members to salvage themselves from the “so-called” vigilance group that led to the reprisal attacks.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Commissioner, CP Olufemi Adenaike has debunked in the strongest term that, contrary to the report that one of his officers led the team of the attackers, saying his men rather made frantic efforts at addressing the situation.

The CP who paraded the Fulani leaders at the police command whom he said came to voluntarily give vital information on the attack alongside the accused police officers, further informed that the police had since commenced thorough investigation on the attack and will definitely fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

In the same vein, the Police Officer in charge of the Kuyello Police Outpost, ASP Musa Ashero, who was accused of leading the attackers spoke to newsmen at the press conference organised by the CP,  saying, his job was to protect lives and property of the citizens and not to lead attackers to take lives of people.

According to him, “I have served the police for about 32 years and about to retire, so why will I engage in an activity that will tarnish my image and efforts put into the police force for these years?

“When the vigilance group arrested the four alleged armed robbers, I made efforts to retrieve the men into the police custody so that we can interrogate them properly. The vigilance group resisted my efforts and vehemently took them to Dogon Dawa village, when they overpowered our efforts.

“When the attack started on Sunday, I informed the Divisional Police Officer of the local government (Birnin Gwari), CSP Abu Birchi Abubakar who immediately called the Mobile police to rush to the scene but they said they had no fuel in their car, so I personally gave them N2000 to buy fuel but getting close to the village, they said the firing was too much so they had to stay back,” he explained.

Lagos Turns Fela’s Home Into Kalakuta Republic Museum

The Lagos State Government has turned the house of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti, into a museum to “promote cultural heritage and mark the 74th birthday” of the legendary musician.

Inside the museum located at 8, Gbemisola Street, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, to be and managed by Total Consult, are Fela’s trademark items like dresses, shoes and household materials.

The dresses are about 3,000.

Others include covers of the albums of the late musician.

Images on the album covers bear a variety of styles and typefaces which echo and comment on the works and politics of the artiste.

According to the state Commissioner for Tourism and Inter-Government Relations, Mr. Disun Holloway, the Kalakuta Republic Museum is to bring back the old social life and culture to Lagos.

He noted that it was impossible to overstate the importance of Fela to Lagos and the global musical village.

He said, “It is only appropriate to have chosen a day as this to declare this monument open today to mark the 74th posthumous birthday of the legendary musician. It is also the beginning of Felabration – a weeklong series of festivities to celebrate a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician, human activist, tourism stakeholder and political maverick.

“This is a deliberate attempt at bringing the old social life back to Lagos through the creation of places of relaxation within safe and secure environment. As demonstrated by the involvement of the state government in this museum, it is pertinent to reiterate our commitment towards boosting tourism.”

Speaking on behalf of the family, Femi, son of late Fela Kuti, hailed the state government for its support.

He, however, said the museum would only serve its value if the legacies his father fought for were brought to the reality.

He urged government at all levels to rise and foster equality and eradicate poverty in the country.

He added, “We say a big ‘Thank You’ to the Lagos State government. We are not one that supports any government but ensure that all is well for the citizens. I sincerely commend Governor Fashola who has stood out to be recognised with this.

“This would serve as a step forward if the cause my father fought for is achieved. The issues of poverty, electricity, education and many other vital ones aimed at making the nation a pillar for envy. Our children should be able to see the vision of pan-africanism through the struggle of my father. When we eradicate poverty and our value increases, then we can say we have value and reason to celebrate our coming generations.”

A former Minister of Planning, Chief Rasaheed Gbadamosi, was a friend of Fela, described the museum as ‘a memory brought alive’.

He said Fela was a true definition of democracy and an icon for equality.

He said, “This brings a lot of memory. It replaces the bad moment when we lost Fela. It clearly shows that while we lost Fela, his remains should always give us hope that goodness will return.”

Also, the curator of the museum, Mr. Lemi Gharioku, said the museum was a deserved one as it would preserve the legacy of the icon.

He added, “More can be done to celebrate the hero who demonstrated persistency despite all odds and threats. Fela has been recognised internationally, and is worth to be celebrated in his state and country where he fought for liberation, transparency and equality of all people.”

Also at the event were Fela’s other children that include Yeni and Seun; and founder of Evergreen Music, Mr. Femi Esho.

ONDO POLL: I Spent Millions Of Pounds On Mimiko –Tinubu

Tinubu

Former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu has claimed that he supported Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko with millions of pounds in cash during the legal battle to reclaim his mandate after the 2007 election in the state.

Tinubu made the allegation during the Redemption Rally organised by the Action Congress of Nigeria in Akure to mobilise support for the party’s candidate in Saturday’s governorship election, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu.

The ACN leader said Mimiko was economical with the truth when he claimed that he did not receive money from him while the battle lasted.

Tinubu, who quoted copiously from the Holy Bible while addressing the people, insisted that he gave money and vehicles to Mimiko as part of his contribution.

He said, “Mimiko claimed that I did not spend money when he had problems with his mandate, this is not true. It is a lie. He came to me and begged me to support him, rolling on the ground.

“He (Mimiko) claimed that Wole Olanipekun was there when we were planning the strategy, this is not correct. Rotimi Akeredolu was among the lawyers we organised for him.

“He collected money from me. I spent millions of pounds sterling but he betrayed me. It was Yemi Osinbajo who travelled to Israel and other countries to arrange the experts that helped him prosecute the case.

“People warned me not to help him because of his antecedents of being a serial traitor. He betrayed Adebayo Adefarati, Olusegun Agagu, and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo among others, but I still helped him.

“Mimiko has called me a godfather, yes, I am a positive godfather and even, god fatherism is biblical and that is why Christians refer to God as their father.

“I play god-fatherism in the South-West for the good of our people. My godfatherism is for progress, it is for mentoring. I have brought development to Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, Edo and Ogun states and the people are better for it.”

Tinubu condemned the mega school concept of the Mimiko administration, saying the schools were not meant for a low populated state like Ondo.

He said, “Mega school is not meant for Ondo. You don’t have the population. The mega school concept can only work in places like Lagos which is densely populated.

“Mimiko is just deceiving you with his mega school idea. It cannot work. We build millennium schools in Lagos where we have thousands of children. What you have in Ondo is a deceit.”

The ACN National Leader said Ondo would lose a lot if the people refused to put an ACN government in place through their votes on Saturday.

19 Women Raped in Benue Camps for Flood Victims

Benue camp for flood  Victims

It was double jeopardy for 19 female refugees at various resettlement camps in Benue State who were raped by men who were not bothered by the discomforting displacement they are suffering as a result of the flood. Cases of rape have been reported in four of the designated camps.

The incident may have heightened the woes of the people who were displaced from their various homes by the flood that has ravaged many parts of the country, as they are already cumbered by congestion, hunger, physiological inconveniences, and possible epidemic.

Some of the state governments, like Delta State, have introduced mobile clinics within the camps, to handle any health challenge of the displaced people.

THISDAY checks revealed that the insecurity within the camps and the lack of privacy has given rise to frequent cases of rape there. “It has become a daily occurrence in the four official camps,” a source said.

The act, it was gathered, is being perpetrated by young boys and men in the camp, who have also become idle having been sacked from their farmlands.

The young men were said to have found a passion in developing randy inclinations within the camp. When THISDAY visited some camps such as Wurukum, Saint Catherine and Wadata, many of the parents who spoke to THISDAY decried the orgy of sexual affront within the camps. In St Catherine, a parent who condemned the growing act, hinted that the male adults in the camp may be compelled to organise vigilante teams within the camp, so as to ensure that “our wives and daughters do not get molested by miscreants and rapists”.

The source lamented that it is bad enough that “we are in this condition, yet it is worse that some ill-bred persons will come and compound our worries by beginning to attack our wives and daughters”.  He pointed out that the consequences of rape are far more telling, as it has both social and medical consequences for victims.

It was not certain if there was any medical service in some of the camps visited.

One of the victims, a 19-year-old girl who craved anonymity, disclosed that she was raped two days ago at about 10pm in the camp, by a young man she could not identify.

According to her, "I just walked back into the camp after I had visited a former neighbour in town. I got into the camp that evening, while I was walking towards the classrooms where we sleep, somebody called my name from a dark spot.

"I tried to find out who it was, but before I knew what was happening, somebody grabbed me from behind and threatened that he would stab me to death if I shouted. He pulled me down and raped me.

"I am not the only one they have done this to, there are so many other girls; there are over 19 of us that have been raped in the last few days, but we are all hiding it because of the shame, but if we don't cry out, we will not get help because we are helpless.

"And if we don't cry out because of the shame, the people behind these evil act will continue to torment girls and women in the camps."

Many persons have expressed fears that the situation in the various camps has made women vulnerable and could promote illicit acts, especially in camps that are heavily over-populated.

A former Executive Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Power Ziakede Aginighan, had recently called for security on both camps hosting the flood victims as well as their communities from which they have been evacuated. He had argued that whatever that is left of the property of the victims needed to be protected as well, so that they might have something to fall back on when the floods recede.

When contacted, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue State, Mr. Ejike Alaribe, Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the rape cases had not been reported to the police.

Alaribe, however, assured the victims that the police would intensify surveillance around the camps in order to stem the unhealthy development.

Killings: Falana Threatens FG, Firms With Law Suits

Femi Falana

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has decried the increasing rate of extra-judicial killings in the country.

This came as he threatened to drag the Federal Government, Dangote Transport Company and and Conoil to International Criminal Court for these killings.

Falana said this at Ilawe-Ekiti on Sunday night while speaking with journalists at his residence.

He said the rate at which the Joint Task Force, the police and some individuals were killing defenceless citizens must be stopped before the nation was thrown into anarchy.

He cited the alleged killing of 30 civilians in Maiduguri, Bornu State by the JTF early this month, the UNIPORT killings, the killing of three final year students of Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti by a truck at Aramoko-Ekiti, among others.

The human rights lawyer also tasked the Ekiti State Government to ensure that those who killed Mr. Ayo Daramola at Ijan-Ekiti in 2006 were brought to justice.

Falanu, who lauded Governor Kayode Fayemi for restoring peace to the state, however challenged him to ensure that those responsible for stoning a 70-year-old woman to death in Omuo-Ekiti for alleged witchcraft are brought to justice.

Falana said many Nigerian families had been forced into mourning and hardship due to the killings of their breadwinners.

He said, “I have taken the SAN title with a renewed commitment to fight oppression. I am involved in the defence of right to life which is the most important.”

Court Refuses Capital Oil Boss, Others Bail

Ubah

The detained Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Ifeanyi Ubah, and four principal officers of his company monday suffered a setback in their bid to regain freedom.

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Lagos, refused their ex-parte application in which they sought to be released by the police.

Also detained are Nsikan Usoro (Head of Trading), Godfrey Okorie (Depot Manager), Chibuzor Ogbuokiri (General Manager, Operations) and Orji Joseph Anayo (Executive Director, Operations).

They were arrested on October 9 by men of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the police for allegedly defrauding the country of N43.291 billion through the fuel subsidy scheme.

Last Thursday, a Magistrate’s Court in Tinubu, Lagos, presided over by Magistrate Martins Omowunmi, granted a request for remand, which was brought pursuant to Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos by the police, and ordered that they be kept in police custody for 14 days.

The police said they were being investigated for offences bordering on economic sabotage, obtaining money by false pretences and stealing.

They were accused of defrauding the Federal Government of the said sum “by falsely pretending that the company had imported and sold 53,874 million litres of petrol during the 2011 fiscal year through 26 transactions”.

Monday, their lawyer, Joseph Nwobike (SAN), argued the ex-parte application with which he sought their release pending the determination of the substantive suit challenging their continued detention.

Listed as respondents in the application were the Inspector General of Police (IG), Commissioner of Police, SFU, and Francis Idu Alonyenu (a Chief Superintendent of Police).

The application marked: FHC/C/CS/1203/2012 contained two prayers.

The first was for an order directing the respondents to admit the applicants to bail or release them from detention pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The second was for an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further arresting and detaining the applicants in relation to the same fuel subsidy issue pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Israeli Air Strike in Gaza Kills Palestinian Militant

 Body of Palestinian militant wrapped up ready for burial

 

An Israeli air strike in Gaza killed a Palestinian gunman and wounded another on Sunday, hospital officials said, hours after Israel killed the leader of an al Qaeda-linked militant group.

An Israeli military spokesman said the men targeted had been preparing to fire rockets into Israel, reports Reuters.

The air strike, which targeted a motorcycle in southern Gaza, came hours after Israel killed two other militants in a similar attack late on Saturday.

Both Hamas, the Islamist group that rules Gaza, and Israel identified one of the men killed in the earlier attack as Salafi jihadist Hisham Al-Saedni.

Hamas said Saedni had headed Tawhid and Jihad (One God and Holy War), a group with an Islamist ideology shared by al Qaeda, while the Israeli military said he had helped found a kindred militant Salafi movement, the Hashura Council of the Mujahideen.

Saedni had recently been planning a attack that would be carried out in the neighbouring Egyptian Sinai, the Israeli military said in a statement. The desert peninsula has seen a surge of Islamist militant activity during the political upheaval rocking Cairo since early 2011.

A number of Jihadist Salafi groups have surfaced in Gaza in recent years. Unlike Hamas, they endorse an ideology of global Jihad and some accuse Hamas of failing to implement Islamic laws in the coastal enclave.

Hamas rejects permanent peace with Israel and the two sides fought a three-week war from December 2008 into January 2009. The border is tense with frequent clashes. About 40 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel in October.

Israel says it holds Hamas responsible for any attacks launched from Gaza, which has been under the group's control since 2007.

CBN’s Crackdown on Bank Debtors Pays Off

CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

The noose tightened on a category of bank debtors are already yielding dividend as some of them are beginning to fall heads over heel to redeem their obligation but banking industry watchers insist on full disclosure of the deal between the Central Bank of Nigeria (which takes the credit for the repayment) and the debtors, reports Festus Akanbi

From all indications, the name-and-shame tactics employed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to rattle some delinquent bank debtors appear to be paying off. This is because after the initial criticisms which greeted the failure of the CBN and the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to reconcile bank debtors’ list, some of the debtors are said to be responding to the crackdown initiated by the CBN although some members of the banking community are raising eyebrows over the nature of the settlement arrangements between the debtors and AMCON.

The debtors list released to banks last month had sparked off a raft of denials and counter claims by some of the companies and individuals whose names featured prominently on the list of those to be axed for their failure to redeem their indebtedness to banks. However, the apex bank and  AMCON were said to have since reconciled their lists, paving the way for the recent moves by some of the debtors to clear their debts.

Banking industry analysts, who responded to the sudden desperation of a number of debtors to redeem their image by paying up in the past few weeks, said despite the initial dust raised by the restriction placed on this category of businessmen and firms, some of the debtors have realised there was no other way of staying in business other than to meet their obligations to the banks. They contended that credit for the renewed negotiations between some of the debtors and AMCON on how to repudiate the debts should go to the CBN for tightening the noose on bank debtors.

AMCON Recoups N800 billion

One cheering news last week was the disclosure by the AMCON that to date, the corporation has recovered or restructured over N800 billion. A report quoting AMCON MD Mustapha Chike-Obi disclosed that to further demonstrate the success of its recovery efforts, Net Oil and Cross River State Government are out of the debtors’ list, having redeemed their debt obligation to AMCON. “Net Oil and Cross River State Government are no longer direct obligor to AMCON,” Chike-Obi said. By the end of 2011, AMCON had acquired over N3 trillion non-performing loans and recapitalised all the banks in grave situation, to the point where they have enough capital to fund their vital role of providing credit to the economy.

Big Relief

According to banking sector analysts who are optimistic about the success of the current debt recovery exercise, the recent liquidation of the N141 billion debt owed AMCON by the Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited and Forte Oil Plc, Mr. Femi Otedola, would go a long way to guarantee stability to the banking industry because it has opened the floodgate of similar repudiation of old debts by some of those firms whose names appeared on the list.

They explained that although AMCON had bought the toxic debts from the respective banks, the repayment of the total amount of money has vindicated CBN on its name-and-shame tactic even as there were reports last week that other sundry debtors are holding talks with AMCON on how to repudiate their debts. Some of those in crucial talks with AMCON on how to exit the debtors list, according to sources, included firms in the oil marketing sector. However, AMCON is said to be keeping the list of debtors currently negotiating with it secret until the conclusion of such negotiations.

The CBN had, in a move aimed at strengthening financial stability and instilling discipline in the banking sector, blacklisted 113 companies as well as their principal shareholders and directors, where the outstanding value of the loans purchased by AMCON amounted to N5 billion or more, from taking further credit from banks until the full liquidation of the agreed indebtedness.

Eyebrows Over Negotiation

AMCON had recently confirmed it has approved the transfer of Otedola’s assets as well as an undisclosed sum of cash to the corporation as full and final settlement for his liabilities although details of the deal are still being kept under wraps.

Meanwhile, some critics of the ongoing deal over the debts, especially the deal with Zenon Petroleum debt, said AMCON owes the banking community a detailed explanation over the arrangement it entered into with Otedola. This they, argued will give both the Corporation and the Zenon boss, a clean bill of health considering the worry over the true values of assets forfeited in the deal. Similar worry was contained in the position of the House of Representatives, which insisted that the negotiation over the Zenon’s debt should be made public. The House of Representatives said in a statement that it will probe the payment of N140.9billion to AMCON by the Zenom chairman. However, industry sources said apart from Otedola, other debtors are already reacting to the CBN hammer by surrendering their assets to meet their obligations to AMCON.

According to a source, some of the debtors who could not raise the needed cash are already following the footsteps of Otedola by surrendering their assets which include property scattered all over the country. Some are even said to have expressed their readiness to trade off their luxury items including private aircraft and yachts in order to clear their names.  On why AMCON is silent on the identities of the affected companies since they have shown readiness to pay, the source said the corporation was just being careful until the deals are finalised before it gives them a clean bill of health. The source disclosed that because of the heat brought to bear on them by the publication of the list and the realisation that access to new facility had been effectively blocked by the CBN memo, some of the debtors have gone as far as withdrawing some of the cases they instituted against CBN and AMCON from court.

In the opinion of a Lagos-based financial analyst, Mr. Bode Olatunde, CBN should be commended for its courage to publish the debtors’ list, which also contains names of powerful persons that were perceived to be close to the corridor of power including some state governments.

No Free Loans

“The truth is that the CBN’s list has shown that we are all equal before the law. Nobody had thought the apex bank could crack down on some of those businessmen whose names featured on the list. I believe that for once, the culture of impunity is destroyed in the business circle and this will go a long way in reminding prospective borrowers from the banks that they must certainly account for whatever facility they draw from the banks.

“I also believe that this development will impact positively on banks’ finances now that everybody knows that the days of free loans are over.

“This shows that the CBN does not have any sacred cow and all it is saying is that people should honour their obligations,” Olatunde said.

He explained that the debtors’ list was released to enable banks know those who they should not lend to because the banks will only know those they are exposed to. It is also to prevent predator borrowers who move from one bank to another using the same collateral to borrow from different banks.

He added that the CBN’s action clearly showed the regulators meant well since the money used by AMCON to buy off these debts from banks are tax payers’ funds

A leading member of the Financial Market Dealers Association of Nigeria, who would not want to be quoted, said the policy of naming and shaming will sanitise the industry: banks would no longer give out credits without securing it and debtors would also be willing to honour their obligations. And, according to him, given the fact that some of these debtors have gone to court to technically delay payments, this is a clarion call to the judiciary to speedily facilitate the cases so that tax payers’ money will not go down the drain.

Similarly, some bank shareholders have expressed support for the decision to blacklist those that are indebted to AMCON to the tune of N5 billion and above.

President Renaissance Shareholders Association, Mr. Olufemi Timothy, said: “It is a very good development. A situation where someone is owing and you give that person some concession and still he is not willing to pay, I think the best thing to do is to stop that person from getting further credit.

“The decision by the central bank is commendable and we must all support the CBN. The policy should be fully implemented and should not be politicised.”

President, Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA), Chief Timothy Adesiyan, described the latest move by the central bank as a major antidote to banking failure and further step in the protection of their investments. According to him, blacklisting the debtors would make them to pay up.

Aluu Killings: Community Denies Involvement In Death, Demand Release Of Monarch

Seven days after four students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) were killed by an irate mob in Aluu in Ikwere local government area of Rivers State, the community yesterday broke its silence on the matter.

The community denied that its members were involved in the incident and demanded the immediate release of its detained traditional ruler, Alhaji Hassan Welewa.

The people warned that they would not fold their hands against any further destruction of their community and the infliction of pains on them.They urged security agencies to take note of plans to attack Aluu community by some ethnic groups whose sons were victims of the mob action.

Spokesman of Aluu Garshon Benson, who disclosed this during a media briefing attended by the chairman, Aluu Council of Chiefs, Richard Kalu, called for the release of the detained traditional ruler.

Benson also called on security agencies to stop the harassment and arrests of innocent Aluu natives and urged the outfits to carry out a thorough investigation of the gruesome murder of the students and bring the culprits to book.

He said: “It has come to our notice that some ethnic groups in the state whose sons were among those murdered on our soil are threatening to attack Aluu. We really sympathise with them for the loss of their children and reiterate that no Aluu man has a hand in their death.

“We implore them to allow security agencies to fish out the actual killers of their sons, but also warn strongly that we will no longer fold our arms and watch further destruction of our communities and the infliction of pains and injuries on the good and law-abiding people of Aluu clan.”

Defence Minister, IG Turn Down PDP Requests for Security

Mohammed Abubakar

Internal dissensions are taking their toll on the strength of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the security of members is increasingly becoming the victim. From the poor financial position of its national secretariat to division and squabbles within its state chapters, the troubles of PDP seem to be present everywhere.

At the weekend, it emerged that the PDP national secretariat had a premonition of Monday’s attack by armed thugs on the Ogun State secretariat of the party in Abeokuta, and actually sought protection from the police, which refused the request for extra security.

The Senator Oladipo Odujinrin-led executive of the party, which is loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and recognised by the national headquarters, had penultimate Friday taken over the state secretariat from the Chief Adebayo Dayo-led executive. But on Monday placard-carrying members from the different local government areas of the state, suspected to be instigated by another faction of the party, stormed the secretariat to protest the takeover. They were countered by an armed group that invaded the state secretariat.

However, a memo dated August 27, 2012, signed by the PDP National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, which was available to THISDAY, showed that the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Muhammad Dikko, turned down the party’s request for additional police protection for the Ogun State chapter.

The letter to the IG from the national secretary, with reference PDP/N5/08.12, titled, “Occupation of the Ogun State Secretariat of the PDP,” read, “Further to my last correspondence to you notifying you of the recognition of a new state executive committee of the PDP in Ogun State by the National Secretariat, I wish to inform you that the new executive committee headed by Senator Dipo Odujinrin is the body that should legitimately occupy the state secretariat  of the PDP in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

“Accordingly, I should be most grateful for your assisting the Odujinrin-led executive committee to take effective possession of the PDP secretariat in Ogun State for its operation as the validly recognised body that is administering the PDP in Ogun State.

“Your directive for the compliance to the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Police Command, would be deeply appreciated in order to allow for peace and orderly conduct at the state PDP secretariat.”

A presidency source, however, told THISDAY that the IG did not heed the request, rather he directed the Commissioner of Police in the state to advise him on the line of action to take.

It was, apparently, due to the security lapse at the secretariat that the armed hoodlums took over the premises, THISDAY gathered.

Another letter by Oyinlola to the IG, dated July 31, 2012, and titled, “Request for Adequate Police Protection to the National Vice Chairman, South-south at No. 1 Orisejobor Street, Otovwodo, Ughelli, Delta State, and Orderly,” was also turned down. No reason was given for the rejection.

The PDP national secretary’s letter seeking police security for the party’s vice chairman read, “The Inspector General of Police is earnestly requested to, please, consider and authorise the release of police security to the National Vice Chairman South-south PDP, Dr. Stephen Orise Oru, in his residence at No 1 Orise Jobor Street, Otovwodo, Ughelli, Delta State, and orderly with full security to shuttle between Delta State and Port Harcourt in River State, the zonal headquarters.

“Consequently, I request your continuous gesture and assistance to the members of the National Working Committee and the PDP in general in view of the current security challenges.”

The request was not granted.

According to a source, “This is not a sign of good things in the party, as in the past, the police would quickly accede to the request of the party, immediately on asking.”

An NWC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, lamented the attack at the Ogun State PDP office, saying, “If there was a police protection as requested, the armed hoodlums would not have taken over the party office.”

PDP had also been refused security beef-up at its national secretariat at Wadata Plaza. When the present National Working Committee led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur assumed office, the national secretary, Oyinlola, wrote a letter to then Minister of Defence, Dr. Harilu Bello Mohammed, requesting that an Armoured Personnel Carrier be stationed in front of the national secretariat of the party to reinforce security at the headquarters, but the request was disallowed.

Kidnapped Osun Speaker’s Wife Rescued in Ogun

Ikemefuna Okoye, Ogun State Commissioner for Police

Wife of the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. Najeem Salaam, who was kidnapped in Ejigbo area of Osun State last week by some unknown gunmen was saturday  rescued from her captors at Ogunmakin area, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, by security operatives who acted on tip-off.

Two of the alleged kidnappers were shot dead while trying to escape with their victim as the rescue operation turned violent when the security men engaged the kidnappers in a shoot-out.

However, after the exchange of gun shots,  three of the hoodlums were  nabbed and taken to the State Police Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.

It will be recalled that some hoodlums  on Tuesday evening, kidnapped Mrs. Salaam who was reported to be returning home from her shop in Ejigbo .

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Commissioner for Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, has confirmed the arrest of three suspected kidnappers of Mrs. Muiba Salaam, saying the suspects were in police custody while investigation had commenced into the incident. Okoye disclosed that the Osun Speaker had already arrived at the police command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta to see the condition of his wife.

He, however, stated that the Speaker’s wife was in stable condition.

However, a source said the arrest of the kidnappers was facilitated by men of the state vigilante group.

IBB: Jonathan Has Not Declared Second Term Bid

IBB

Just one year into his four-year term and without an express wish to seek another term, those imputing a second term intention to President Goodluck Jonathan are being unfair to him, and in fact distracting him, former military president Ibrahim Babangida has said. Babangida said this in an interview with THISDAY at his Minna home.

The issue of whether Jonathan should seek a second term or not has been one of the hottest topics on the national political scene as the country marches towards another general election in 2015. Some groups in the northern parts of the country are opposed to a Jonathan second term and want the presidency to go to the region in 2015. They base their demand on the belief that the north, which produced the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, ought to be compensated for the period he did not serve out before his death in 2010.

Yet, down south, especially in the South-east, many politicians are demanding that the zone should produce Jonathan’s successor. They feel strongly that the zone has been marginalised and should be allowed to produce the next president to give the people a sense of belonging, even though they remain largely noncommittal on whether to contest against the president in 2015.

Jonathan himself has also remained silent on his intentions ahead of 2015, and he has not denied the growing insinuations that he is in fact interested in doing another term, fuelling speculations that he would be contesting the next presidential election.

But Babangida said the rash of activities around Jonathan’s suspected second term bid were unnecessary and diversionary.

According to the former head of state, “You can’t make a view or you can’t make opinion on something Jonathan didn’t say anything about.

“So it will be unfair. I think we should allow him to run the course; he has a job to do now. He has just been elected. I think it’s not up to one year or one year plus.

"So he has got three more years. What he did or what he does will recommend him to the public and to the Nigerians.”

Babangida said the unity of the country and issues that would promote it should be the focus of Nigerians at the moment.

“I think one of the most important things for Nigeria at 52 that each and every one of us should be grateful for, talk to God, talk to ourselves about is that we are able to maintain this country as one despite all the problems that we had in the last 52 years. I look forward and pray that we will continue to remain one.”

He stressed that the current security challenges faced by Nigeria is not a peculiar problem, saying the recent Arab Spring in North Africa has the tendency to awaken pent-up nationalist feelings in other parts of the world.

But Babangida said Nigeria’s security problems “can be tackled by all of us Nigerians, every one of us, irrespective of which part of the country you live, you must be determined to say, now look, enough is enough, this will not happen, you have to find a solution.”

He believed dialogue and fairness remained the best solutions to the nagging problem of insecurity.

Jonathan Meets Southern Leaders on State of the Nation

Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday night held a meeting with some select leaders from three geo-political zones of South-east, South-south and South-west at the presidential villa, Abuja. Sources at the meeting said the state of the nation topped the agenda at the meeting.

It was gathered that former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark led the South-south delegation to the meeting. Other leaders from the South-south at the meeting were the former governor of Delta State, Felix Ibru; former Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw and the former military governor of Akwa Ibom State, Idongesit Nkana among others.

From the south-east were First Republic minister, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi  and former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife.

The south-west delegation was led by Bishop Ayo Gbonigi and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae.

Clark told THISDAY that the meeting also explored the modalities for the possible convocation of a national conference. Such conference, he said, would not seek to split the country but would rather set pre-conditions for peaceful co-existence. “We are talking about a national conference. A conference whereby Nigerians will meet to discuss the basis of unity in this country and also to look into our constitution and decide whether it is the best instrument we have for this country. We are not talking about the sovereign national conference.

“We believe that the National Assembly cannot do it alone. We believe that if there is a national conference which is constituted by representatives from over 250 ethnic nationalities in this country, they will be able to produce a document to form the basis of their unity.”

Another South-south politician that attended the meeting told THISDAY: "We went to pay homage to the President and asked him not to be distracted by the politics of the members of the National Assembly. We also received briefings on the state of the nation, especially the challenges of the insecurity in the country."

It was gathered that the meeting between the President and the Southern leaders also discussed the Bakassi issue and why Nigeria did not appeal the judgement.

"The President took time to explain to the southern leaders why the federal government did not appeal the ICJ judgement as being clamoured for.

"The President explained that though he gave his words at the United Nations that that Nigeria will abide by rule of law as it affects the country and its relationship with other countries. But that when he returned from the United Nations meeting, he met the resolutions of the two arms of National Assembly mandating Nigeria to appeal.

"He explained to us that he immediately set up a committee of experts, who met severally and came up with the recommendations that there was nothing new that should make Nigeria appeal the ICJ judgement."

"The President told us that the committee reported that the National Assembly was merely playing to the gallery and politicking. The President explained to us that if Nigeria had appealed to the ICJ and loses again, that it would create an image problem and that Nigeria will be seen as a country that couldn’t abide by international commitments. Accordingly, he told us that it was in the overall interest of Nigeria that the ICJ judgement be left alone."

The source said that the President assured the southern leaders that his administration was not deliberately avoiding the resolutions of the National Assembly and "assured us that he holds the National Assembly in high esteem."

The southern leaders, the source said, told the President not to be distracted by the National Assembly and advised him to be focused. "We also told him to ensure that there was a substantial improvement in the standard of living of Nigerians.

"We did not discuss the politics of the 2015, but we assured him of our continued support in the governance of this country. We reassured our faith in the continued unity of Nigeria, despite discordant tunes by some Nigerians," the source said.

Also, he said that the President briefed the southern leaders on the challenges of insecurity in the country, especially the Boko Haram crisis.

According to the source, "the southern leaders were satisfied with the efforts of the federal government to tackle the security insurgence.

"We also discussed the recent flooding in the country and called on the President to tackle the issue pointedly, the source said.

Awolowo, Achebe Controversy Unnecessary – Ndigbo Lagos

Achebe

UMBRELLA body of Igbo living in Lagos, the Ndigbo Lagos, has described as unnecessary the flickering controversies trailing Professor Chinua Achebe’s comments in his new book, “There was a country,” that late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was part of General Yakubu Gowon’s cabinet that initiated pogrom and genocide as a policy that killed millions of Igbos especially children during the civil war.

At a time Igbo and Yoruba leaders of the South-East and South-West as well as their counterparts in the South-South were forging an alliance and hammering out solutions to the country’s protracted socio-economic, political and developmental problems, the Professor Anya O. Anya-led group said what was needed now was sustaining the unfolding harmonious relations between the Igbo and Yoruba nations.

“Ndigbo Lagos deems the ongoing heated reactions to Elder statesman and world renowned writer, Prof Chinua Achebe’s personal chronicle of his experience during the civil war as being very unnecessary. The issue of what roles all actors on both sides played during the events leading to the unfortunate civil war and the prosecution of the war itself have for a long time been in the public space,” Ndigbo Lagos said in a statement by Chief Chuma Igwe, publicity secretary.

Noting that Chief Awolowo had spoken for himself in response to similar issue in 1983, Ndigbo Lagos said Awolowo’s response was enough to close the matter.

It said: “At this point in time the South-East, SouthSouth and South-West are in consultations working together for a better Nigeria to ensure that such a situation does not arise again. Ndigbo Lagos believes that the commendable quality of interpersonal relationship between Ndigbo and the Yoruba Nation should be sustained and translated into mutually beneficial political, social and cultural relationship for the progress of our country.

“The ongoing demand of the South-East for  the creation of additional one state, the serious infrastructure deficit subsisting in our geopolitical zone and the Igbo Presidency project are areas Ndìgbo Lagos believes the South-West should come out with unequivocal support for the Ndigbo position.

“We should focus on how the two nations and indeed the entire South can cooperate to enthrone fairness, equity and justice in the Nigerian polity. That is the legacy we should aim at, moving forward.”