Ngige And The Tribunal Re-branding Of Akunyili To Learn Political Character.

 

From when he was governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige is too enthusiastic to respect. This earned him the admiration of many, beyond Anambra State, as a man who believes that anything is not possible in the judicial system except  justice. He is a man not known for many words but action, ever proficient to lead in any office he is and very frail to take his political opponents on propaganda even when the opponents are showcasing foolish behavior and unimportant idiosyncrasy with defect of character and are wrongly proud.The hot political teapot of the Anambra Central senatorial seat came to arrest when on Tuesday 21^st February 2012 the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Awka struck out the petition instituted by the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the bigheaded Professor Dora Akunyili, against the election of Dr. Ngige of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), for lack of jurisdiction. It could be recalled that on May 17, 2011, Akunyili had filed a petition challenging the result of the April 2011 poll in which Ngige was declared winner of the Anambra Central senatorial seat. This decision of the tribunal was a follow-up to the February 14 and February 17 judgments of the Supreme Court on the subject of 180 days within which election petitions could be heard.

Before this judgement was made, there was a media report that said that Akunyili was confused of which she later frigidly rushed to the media and said that she was not confused. But well meaning Nigerians doubted her claim, because this is a woman who was with the NAFDAC and was dealing deliriously with fake drug peddlers before she was redeployed to the nation’s Ministry of Information of which she was also excelling in. But before Nigerians could pronounce Jack Robinson she has resigned Czar of the Information house of the federation and abandoned her Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and pitched tent with the APGA for the mirage senatorial seat of her town.  Nigerians watched her with irredeemable confusion too, as well.The same confusion had followed her and she didn’t take to cognizance that the Supreme Court made it clear that 180 days for the hearing and determination of petition under the 1999 Constitution cannot be extended even where it is forwarded for retrial. The counsel to Ngige, Mr. Emeka Ngige (SAN), for this reason urged the court to strike out the case in line with the Supreme Court decision and reminded all that this brings to front the stipulation of the 1999 Constitution, which states that the decision of the Supreme Court shall be enforced by all authorities as well as courts with subordinate jurisdiction. And the court did not run polluted of that decision. Counsel to INEC, Mr. Ositadinma Nnadi (SAN), informationally, while associating himself with the submissions of Ngige, harangued that “where a court lacked jurisdiction, the proper order will be to strike out such petition…. and do the needful as a debt owed to justice”. The submission of the counsel to Akunyili, Mr. Obiora Obianwu (SAN), to oppose the application, at-a-standstill followed the confused state of mind of his client who was racketing to oust the indomitable Ngige. While Ngige is not known for propaganda and political insult, Akunyili used that advantage and wanted to draw the pity of Nigerians thinking that they were daft by making Ngige look like a common criminal, which he is not and might not be, by saying that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was investigating allegations of bribery leveled against the party during the rerun election in the senatorial district insisting that there was over-voting in 1,500 polling booths and that only one booth was found to have an error in favour of APGA. Akunyili was expertising on the fact that Ngige is a man who does not recompense to farce of detractors and was accusing him of desperation in seeking to blackmail and intimidate the tribunal Election Tribunal sitting in Awka and with a view to leading astray justice as if the Justices do not know their job and how to institute it. Akunyili cited a statement she said that was circulated in the Internet blogs by the Anambra State Chapter of ACN as her optimum proof of the desperation of Ngige and his party to blackmail and intimidate the tribunal. Holy Onwumere!Those who know journalism will attest to this that fact is sacrosanct but fiction is practical joke. In a statement signed by Akunyili’s media aide, Mr. Isaac Umunna, she was still confused when she could not make a meaningful statement with whatever she meant by ‘Judiciary Vigilante’ of the ACN. She said: “My attention has been drawn to a statement issued yesterday, February 13, by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Anambra State Chapter, and circulated among Internet blogs, in which Anambra ACN announced that it has set up and is training a ‘Judiciary Vigilante’ charged with policing the National Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Awka.” Did you understand anything from this statement? Nothing! Absolutely nothing!!It is a fact that the guilty is always running and this could be found in Akunyili’s statement against Ngige, as if she was telling the observer Nigerians that the judiciary should not be trusted ‘as a platform that can be manipulated’ perhaps she had done so before, but the court can never be fooled. Hear her again: “The task of the vigilante, according to the statement entitled ‘ACN sets up, trains Judiciary Vigilante’, ‘is to keep a watch on the Judiciary closely and pay attention to some special persons so designated to ensure that the adjudication currently on-going in the ill-fated petition of Dora Akunyili is above board.’ ACN also claimed that my case/that of my party, APGA, against the announcement of Dr. Chris Ngige as the winner of the April 2011 Anambra Central Senatorial District election have collapsed. By so doing, the ACN has arrogated to itself the power to decide the verdict of the tribunal.” Was this not a muddled statement coming from a disordered Akunyili? Ngige can never be distracted. Nonsense! Arrant nonsense!!  She was also at the height of political propaganda and abracadabra thinking that Nigeria today was the Nigeria of 1999-2007 when the winner carried it all. She went further to expose herself to the gallery for people to laugh at, when she said:  “The sheer arrogance and deliberate twisting of the facts by Dr. Ngige and the ACN in their desperation to confuse the public and poison people’s minds regarding the on-going sitting of the tribunal. Their ultimate aim, of course, is to blackmail and possibly intimidate the tribunal with a view to getting it to endorse his stolen mandate. They had earlier written a petition against the panel, vowing to ensure its disbandment, only to apologise before the panel and claim that they didn’t know who wrote the petition.” Did you hear her say ‘stolen mandate’? She was supposed to tell Nigerians who also wrote the petition owing to her statement that the election was a ‘stolen mandate’. She jumped ship again and wanted to coerce the learned gentlemen to see her treacherous outburst as a means of judgement, but alas, the judiciary knew better and was clever than she thought she could foist on it. Observers of the politics of Akunyili could attest that she sustained an unhealthy propaganda war on the tribunal for too long against Ngige who was quiet because the innocent can never be afraid. She was biting like a wounded snake and was accusing everybody even when the court had not said that such persons were guilty. Please hear Akunyili again: “The propaganda war started when they recruited Dr. Alex Anene, the new Returning Officer for the first election held on April 9, 2011, to orchestrate a stalemate and cause a re-run in some places instead of announcing the authentic results that gave me a clear victory.” From her statements it is obvious that Akunyili was not expressing a wish or assumption but rather, she was categorically saying, while Nigerians were reading meanings into her body language, as a person who was commanding orders for the judiciary to succumb to, but the later has shown her that in law the learned gentlemen don’t pay heed to calculated propaganda like hers. What happiness was Akunyili expressing that (ICPC) had started investigating the activities of Anene during that election, whereas the judiciary has already ridiculed her case by throwing it out for lack of substance? Did you hear “for lack of substance”?   Is it not better she save herself of further shame by not thinking that the ICPC will find anything more than what the court has told her ‘confused’ case? All the lies against Ngige to lure the judiciary in favour of Akunyili, the former and his team that Akunyili labeled “propagandists” were quiet because they knew that it’s needless joining issues with a woman whom even the mindless child in the street knew was confused and without any iota of decent political character . The honourable and courageously learned men later sieved the chaff from the wheat by rendering justice in favour of Ngige no matter how many attempts Akunyili made to bring Ngige’s name to disrepute. She didn’t succeed! Earnestly, she didn’t succeed!!While the case has been struck out against Akunyili, she has resorted to saying that it was done on the ground of technicalities, having swaggered that the tribunal was hearing her case on merit, and that Ngige and his people were panicking because of what she described as,  they have seen the handwriting on the wall. It is better that Akunyili turn a new leaf and leave Ngige alone. She should know that her side attractions and distractions have come to an end in the political lexicon of this Anambra senatorial seat with Ngige. She should learn how not to inflate judiciary matters with mercenary of propagandists.  She should learn how not to say “over voting”, because there will never be a trial without attainable platform. Did she not eat her words under oath at the tribunal when she was made to admit at the tribunal that her votes were pumped up in six random polling booth samples?  She should save herself further embarrassment by understanding that the case for all practical purposes has been won by Ngige.

Odimegwu Onwumere writes from Rivers

Suspected hoodlums disrupt Ondo ACN rally

Suspected political thugs disrupted a rally organised by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, at the weekend.
The rally was sponsored by a senatorial candidate, Dr. Paul Akintelure, to welcome the Hausa community, led by the Chairman of Ore Sabo, Mallam Buhari Alasan, into the ACN. 
The event, which was held at Sabo Market, was disrupted by hoodlums. Some people were injured. Akintelure’s campaign bus, tents and chairs were vandalised.
The police restored peace to the area and the ceremony was shifted to the ACN secretariat on Ondo Road.
Police spokesman Aremu Adeniran said: “Some people protested against the ACN’s plan to hold a rally at Sabo Market and the DPO was invited. He met with some ACN leaders and they agreed to move the event to their secretariat.”
The ACN Local Government Mobilisation Committee Chairman, Mr. Eniku Omotayo, alleged that the hoodlums wore Labour Party (LP) branded T-shirts.
Omotayo said: “I phoned the ACN State Chairman, Mrs. Jumoko Anifowose, when we were attacked and she informed the Commissioner of Police. A few minutes later, policemen, led by the DPO, arrived at the venue and arrested three of the hoodlums.
“The attack forced us to shift the programme to our secretariat, where it was peaceful and well-attended.” 
Condemning the attack, Akintelure said: “ACN is a peaceful party. We do not have thugs, but the masses love us.” 
Mrs. Anifowose and the party’s Treasurer, Mr. Ade Adetimehin, said the ACN would not be intimidated by the attack. 
LP Publicity Secretary Femi Okunjemiruwa denied any association with the thugs. He said LP has no thugs. 
In Akure South Local Government, Ward 10, nine LP and their members defected to the ACN at the weekend. 
They are Alhaji Muhammad Igbera, Mr. Insimiyyu Umar, Mr. Olu Founder, Mrs. Kike Afe, Mr. Saka Azeez, Mr. Sunny Channel, Mr. Saka Lateef, Alhaji Yusuf Elepo and Mr. Abdasiu Adegunnu.

Show your face, Atiku tells Boko Haram

A former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has urged members of the Boko Haram to embrace the opportunity offered for dialogue with the Federal Government in the interest of unity, stability and economic development of the country.

Abubakar made the call against the backdrop of renewed attacks by members of the sect in Jos and Gombe, which had led to scores of death over the weekend.

The former vice-president, who spoke on Monday in a statement by his Media Office in Abuja, said no one would take the group or its agenda seriously when it continued to remain faceless.

He said it was high time the group stepped out to articulate its grievances and thereby opening a window for dialogue.

He reiterated his earlier position that there could be no justification for the killings of Nigerians under any guise.

Abubakar decried the killings and destruction of property, noting that the activities of Boko Haram amounted to a declaration of war on the Nigerian state.

He said, “If Boko Haram and its leadership have something to say; if they have any grouse against the Nigerian state, the proper thing for them is to come out in flesh and state it, so that a process of dialogue that will eventually lead to the resolution of the crisis and the siege on Nigerians can commence in earnest.”

He expressed his condolences to the affected families and governments and people of Plateau and Gombe over the weekend killings in Jos and Gombe.

Ibori pleads guilty to money laundering

Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, on Monday, in a British Court pleaded guilty to charges of money-laundering, conspiring to defraud and obtaining a money transfer by fraud, officials said.

Ibori, 53, entered his plea at Southwark Crown Court. He is to be sentenced on April 16.

According to the Associated Press, Paul Whatmore of the Metropolitan Police Proceeds of Corruption Unit, said Ibori’s guilty pleas capped an inquiry which began in association with Nigerian anti-corruption investigators in 2005.

Ibori was immune from prosecution in Nigeria between 1999 and 2007 when he was serving as governor.

Whatmore said, “We will now be actively seeking the confiscation of all his stolen assets so they can be repatriated for the benefit of the people of Delta State.”

“It is always rewarding for anyone working on a proceeds of corruption case to know that the stolen funds they identify will eventually be returned to some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world.”

A statement by Metropolitan Police said Ibori used the money to buy lavish houses in London and Johannesburg, a fleet of armoured Land Rovers, and a $20m private jet. He racked up credit card bills of $200,000 a month, police said.

Nigeria’s anti-graft investigators, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, had arrested Ibori in 2007, and police in London got a court order to freeze U.K. assets of £35m ($55m) which allegedly belonged to him.

In 2009, a court in Ibori’s home state capital, Asaba, dismissed 170 charges of corruption against him.

The case was reopened in 2010 by Nigerian investigators, but Ibori evaded arrest and fled to Dubai. He was detained there at the request of British police and extradited to London in 2011.

British prosecutors previously won convictions against Ibori’s wife, Theresa; his sister, Christine Ibori-Ibie; his mistress, Udoamaka Onuigbo; his lawyer, Bhadresh Gohil; a financial agent, Daniel Benedict McCann; and corporate financier, Lambertus De Boer.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has described Ibori guilt plea as a victory for the rule of law.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, in an interview with our correspondent on Monday said the commission had been vindicated by the appeal against the judgment of Justice Marcel Awokulehin of a Federal High Court in Asaba which quashed all the 170 counts against the ex-governor.

He said, “We see it as victory for the rule of law. The decision to plead guilty has more or less vindicated the position of the EFCC that we have a watertight case against James Ibori.”

Onyekakeyah: Rochas: Marching to real transformation

ONE development paradigm that has proven effective in propelling real time economic transformation around the world is the adoption of a model that combines mass education with infrastructural development. My inquiry while in Japan attested to that. This model is at the root of the astronomical transformation of Japan from a hitherto peasant agrarian economy to a world leader in technological development. That model is also behind the miracle in China, Singapore and Malaysia, among others.
You may call it two-point agenda in the Nigerian parlance. That is how many countries that have seen development achieved it. We cannot do otherwise here in Nigeria. If we waste the next 50 years doing the wrong thing and pursuing misdirected selfish objectives, we will remain where we are or even worse.
Once the masses of the people are educated and basic infrastructures are provided to make life comfortable, every other aspiration of the state would fall in line. Peace and harmony would be achieved. No one would cry marginalization. But without education, if you like build skyscrapers and gold-coated railways, roads and bridges, they will be vandalized because the intended beneficiaries don’t know the value.
That is why oil pipelines, electricity cables and railings on bridges, etc, are constantly being vandalized in Nigeria. The people are illiterates. They don’t appreciate the value of those facilities. Their mentality is poor. Paradise is not meant for the unclean, the filthy at heart.
Against this backdrop, the recent declaration of free education by the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is laudable, historic and heartwarming. It sounds like a dream to many; being the first of its kind in Igbo land where school fees has for centuries prevented millions from going to school. The future of Imo State will be bright if this policy is sustained. We take the Governor by his word.
Furthermore, the Governor has embarked on an aggressive roads infrastructural development throughout the State. My investigation shows that the Governor has embarked on a massive rehabilitation of abandoned inner city roads in Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe in addition to a fifteen (15) kilometre road rehabilitation project going on simultaneously in all the 27 local government councils of Imo State. The people say a miracle is taking place in Imo State!
But cynics are wondering how the Governor is going to fund all these projects? Where is the money going to come from, they ask? But I have no doubt that Owelle Rochas Okorocha, who has been a selfless individual, has the capacity to effectively accomplish the task he has set for himself. Here is an individual who has proven through his Rochas Foundation that free education is possible in Nigeria. All the Rochas Foundation Schools in Owerri, Jos and Ibadan offer free education. And yet, no one has ever asked how he is able to do that?
For one thing, Rochas is telling Nigerians that the states have money to accomplish any project if those entrusted with those monies are honest and want to work in the people’s interest. Rocha’s pragmatic effort is akin to what former Governor Sam Mbakwe did in the old Imo State. Governor Mbakwe had on assumption of office in October 1979 embarked on several educational and infrastructural projects all at the same time. They include building one cottage industry in each of the then 21 Local Government Councils, Imo State University, Imo Airport, Imo Concorde Hotel, Amaraku Power Plant, and rural roads development, among others. That is how a selfless leader works for the benefit of the people. Rochas is in the mold of Mbakwe.
The Rochas education expansion programme is of critical importance. Coming at a time when the disgust generated by the hike in school fees in the entire school system by former Governors Achike Udenwa and Ikedi Ohakim administrations, the Rochas free education policy serves as a soothing balm on the wounded hearts of Imo people.
All right thinking citizens of Imo State should support the Governor because of his capacity to bring needed change in Imo State. On his part, Governor Okorocha should ensure that the free education policy is entrenched by way of a difficult legislation passed by the Imo State House of Assembly to prevent a looting governor tomorrow from overturning it.
Addressing a large crowd at the Imo Freedom Square in Owerri on Tuesday, February 21, the Governor declared that “no student of Imo State origin studying in any institution owned by the state would pay fees”. He announced scholarships for all students and pupils of Imo State origin from primary through secondary and university level.
According to the Governor, students of Imo State origin studying in Imo State University will receive a scholarship of N100, 000 per annum out of which N80, 000 will be free while N20, 000 is loan to be repaid by the student after graduation.
Students in the polytechnics pursuing the Higher National Diploma (HND) will receive N80, 000 made up of free N60, 000 and N20, 000 loan. Those on the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) programme will receive N60, 000 broken down into free N40, 000 and N20, 000 loan. All primary school students will equally receive N25, 000 scholarships per annum. The Governor added that the loans are interest free and have no collateral attached.
But one thing missing from the Governor’s scholarship package is the apparent exclusion of students of Imo State origin studying in other states of the federation. What is the fate of those students? Are they excluded from the scholarships? Why I’m asking is because in 1982, while studying at the University of Lagos (Unilag), I received bursary award from the Governor Mbakwe administration.
The Governor should be magnanimous to extend the scholarships to all students of Imo State origin studying anywhere in the country. Making studying in Imo State owned institutions a precondition for receiving the scholarship would engender undue pressure to gain admission into those institutions. Since all students of Imo State origin can’t confine themselves only to Imo State owned institutions, those outside the state should not be left out in the Governor’s progressive education programme. The contributions of these ones are also needed for the development of the state.
For the first time in history, Igbo children have the opportunity to go to school free without being hindered by the inability of their parents to pay school fees. The burden of school fees has over the centuries prevented millions of Igbo people from going to school. As a matter of fact, it is the failure of Igbo parents to pay school fees that led to the resort to business by the Igbo.
The Igbo took to business as a last resort rather than by choice. And, doing business as illiterates has not been helpful to the Igbo. They’re at the mercy of government policies that always go against their business interest. That, partly, is the reason why the Igbo are not among the richest business tycoons in the country despite their acclaimed business acumen.
Consequently, any process that could bring about radical change in Igbo world view is welcome. Education would certainly perform that magic and take the state to a higher level of efficiency and productivity. That is what transformation is all about. And that is what made the developed world what they are today. Rochas has effectively begun the process by this singular act.
Transformation entails a fundamental change in character with little or no semblance to the established past. There must be a total detachment from the unenviable past. Education is transformational because it brings about fundamental changes in the character of the human person and by extension the human society. Without education, there is no much difference between man and the primates. The mental capacity developed through education is what makes the difference. That is why it is the bedrock of human civilization.
The world is divided into developed and undeveloped nations, which is another way of saying educated and uneducated nations. The benefits of education are numerous and include mental and physical development and wellbeing, attitudinal change, material prosperity, civilized behavior and character, etc. The aggregate of all of this results in development.
On the other hand, the consequences of illiteracy (or lack of education) include the opposite of all of the above positive attributes plus poverty, disease, stagnation, backwardness, fear and dependency syndrome all of which aggregate to underdevelopment. The only force that can liberate a people from the morass of poverty and underdevelopment is education. Without education, forget about national development in the modern technological sense.
Now that the world has moved from industrial age to information technology age, the challenge is even greater. None educated persons have no space in today’s world. Imo people should rally around Rochas in his effort to transform the state. The other states of the federation should embrace free education as the only means to develop Nigeria.

At 84, Eze returns from school

Many people who studied Eze Goes to School when they were pupils will hardly ever forget the story of the village boy’s eventful journey through school. What they may not know, however, is the whereabouts of the author, Onuorah Nzekwu. The good news, is that although now an old man, his pen is still flowing with milk and stories.

The veteran returned to the centre of attraction in Lagos on Thursday when he presented a new novel titled Troubled Dust. The event was held at the News Agency of Nigeria’s complex in Lagos. Incidentally, the book was hitting the shelf as the funeral rites of the late Biafran leader, Emeka Ojukwu, were reaching the climax. 

For the renowned author and journalist, it was celebration galore as he also marked his 84th birthday as well as his 50 years of marriage and publishing. He began writing in 1961 with Wand of Noble Wood, followed by  Blade among the Boys and Highlife for Lizards, written in 1962 and 1965 respectively.

His big break in the literary world however came when in 1964, when he co-authored Eze goes to School with Michael Crowder and its sequel, Eze Goes to College in 1988. Nzekwu, who was also the first general manager of NAN,  has other works  such as The Chima Dynasty in Onitsha (1997) and Faith of Our Fathers (2002).

Troubled Dust tells the story of the Nigerian civil war between 1967 and 1970 – from the perspective of the Biafrans. According to elder statesman, Ambassador Arthur Mbanefo, who was the chairman of the occasion, the novel is a welcome idea since all the veterans of the war,  especially the principal characters,  have seemingly failed this generation  by not documenting the events of the war.

The novel launches Nzekwu into the guarded ‘cult’ of novelists who have written about the war, including Elechi Amadi – Sunset in Biafra; Eddie Iroh – Toads of War; Buchi Emecheta – Destination Biafra and Chimamanda Adichie – Half of a Yellow Sun.

Overwhelmed by the outpouring of praise for his writing prowess, the octogenarian author could only mutter a “thank you everybody for coming to honour me” to the audience. Fellow writers that included Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, however, did much of the talking. To  Ezeigbo – author of Roses and Bullets, which also centres on the civil war – Nzekwu is a stylist and one of Nigeria’s finest writers “whose books depict the cultural interest of his people.”

Other writers who were present to celebrate with Nzekwu included award-winning writer and director of Children’s Literature Documentation and Research Centre, Mabel Segun – who is also Nzekwu’s contemporary; Prof. JP Clark and Prof. Femi Osofisan.

The ‘return’ of Nzekwu further indicates that old Nigerian writers may have lost physical energy to ageing, they are still largely mentally and creatively alert.  That is why at old age, the likes of Mabel Segun and Gabriel Okara emerged winners of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, beating younger folks in the game.

Till they breathed their last, T.M Aluko and Amos Tutuola were still productive. About two months ago, Lagos-based Mobolaji Adenubi presented five books to mark her 70th birthday, while Elechi Amadi, Akinwumi Isola, Adebayo Faleti, among others, are still writing and participating in other aspects of the creative arts.  Similarly, novelist and poet, Omo Uwaifo, has continued to write books.

Yobo to set new national record

Captain Joseph Yobo will set a Nigerian record for international matches when the Super Eagles tackle the Wasps of Rwanda at the Stade Regionale de Nyamirambo in Kigali on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old defender equalled the Nigerian record of 86 caps, jointly held by late midfielder Mudashiru Lawal and former captain Nwankwo Kanu, when the Eagles swept past newly- crowned African champions Zambia 2-0 in Kaduna on November 15, 2011.

On Wednesday, Yobo will become the first Nigerian to get 87 caps through the 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Rwanda.

The Nigeria Football Federation has congratulated the Fenerbahce defender, who will also celebrate 11 years on the road with the senior national team next month.

“This is a milestone that is worthy of recognition, and we commend Yobo for not only being in there for so long, but also serving as a role model for the upcoming players with his exemplary conduct and patriotism and zeal,” NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu said on Monday.

Wednesday’s match will see a dream combination of Europe-based stars and the players from the domestic league, who did well in holding Angola’s Nations Cup-bound squad to a goalless draw in a friendly in Abuja in January and defeated Liberia 2-0 in Monrovia in February.

Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has to convince the technical crew that he is as sharp as ever and deserving of the number one shirt ahead of Chigozie Agbim, while Yobo must compete for a central defence position with Azubuike Egwueke and Papa Idris.

Sunshine Stars’ skipper Godfrey Oboabona is sure to start at right back, but an intense battle looms at left back between England-based Taye Taiwo and Sharks’ Juwon Oshaniwa.

In the midfield, Dickson Etuhu, Victor Moses, Sani Kaita and Joel Obi will have to sweat out with NPL players Gabriel Reuben, Bartholomew Ibenegbu and Obinna Nwachukwu.

Upfront, Osaze Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa, Ikechukwu Uche and Yakubu Aiyegbeni must be up-and-doing with Uche Kalu, Ejike Uzoenyi and Sunday Mba, who scored the two goals against Liberia, all breathing down their necks.

VILLAS-BOAS: I pick the Chelsea team

Chelsea Manager villas boas

CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas denied his team selection for the 3-0 Premier League victory over Bolton Wanderers had been influenced by owner Roman Abramovich.
The former Porto manager had admitted before the Stamford Bridge clash that the Russian had asked for an explanation following Tuesday night's 3-1 loss at Napoli in the Champions League. 
Villas-Boas had named Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Michael Essien as substitutes for that game, and all three started against Bolton, who remain in the relegation places.
Lampard scored the third goal after David Luiz and Didier Drogba's second-half goals had put 
Chelsea in control. Villas-Boas attempted to laugh off suggestions that Abramovich had told him to bring back the three experienced campaigners, who were all trophy-winning mainstays under 
previous managers, including Jose Mourinho.
"I got the call this morning," he joked before adding: "I'm not in tune with Roman's agenda. All I 
know is that it was important for the team to win, mostly for the fans as they have been deserving 
and demanding a lot.  At least they can go home smiling."
The victory lifted pressure off Villas-Boas's shoulders as a defeat would have intensified 
speculation that he might be sacked. "The pressure has been on the team to get results," he admitted. "Our form had not been good and we wanted to get back to winning ways.

Fayemi floors Oni

Gov. Fayemi

•Court lashes PDP candidate

THE dream of a former illegal occupant of the Ekiti State Government House to return to power collapsed yesterday at the Court of Appeal.
An application brought before the court sitting in Ado-Ekiti by Mr Segun Oni seeking a review of the judgment that ousted him from office was dismissed.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin on October 15, 2010, sacked Oni and returned Dr Kayode Fayemi as the validly elected governor. The five-member panel that presided on the case was led by Justice Isa Ayo Salami.
Justice Tijani Abdullahi chaired the panel on the new case. Other members are: Justices Musa Abba-Aji, M.O. Kekere-Ekun, Ismaya Mohammed and R.C. Agbo.
At the resumed hearing yesterday, Mr Ladi Williams (SAN) represented Oni and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr John Baiyeshea (SAN) appeared for Fayemi and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
Oni, in his application filed on March 14, last year, sought an order setting aside the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal in Ilorin.
Besides, he pleaded that the President of the Court of Appeal be compelled to set up a new panel to start the case “de novo” (afresh). 
The application further sought an order directing the Speaker of the House of Assembly to act as governor, pending the determination of the case.
Delivering court’s brief ruling on the case at about 3.25pm yesterday, Justice Abdullahi said the issues for determination were whether or not the court can set aside the judgment and order a fresh trial and whether it had jurisdiction to entertain the case.
Describing the application as lacking in merit, Justice Abdullahi dismissed it, saying: “If there is any case of bias, Oni and PDP ought to have raised their objection against it at the trial Appeal Court in Ilorin.’’
He said  the court could only reverse itself,  if it was  misled to deliver a ruling, if a judgment was  given in the absence of jurisdiction, if the case was  a nullity or obnoxious and  if the court was  misled to accept certain facts or evidence.
Baiyeshea and the State Chairman of the ACN, Chief Jide Awe, lauded the judgment. Williams said his client would head for the Supreme Court.
When the judgment was delivered, members of the ACN, who were within the vicinity of the court, immediately burst into a huge celebration. 
The court’s premises became charged. State Security Service (SSS) personnel and policemen cordoned off the Basiri-Fajuyi road where the court is located. 
Teargas canisters were fired to disperse the crowd.
Before the court session, some ACN members had converged on the Fajuyi Park Roundabout. Members of the PDP were at the Basiri end of the court’s premises.
Policemen and SSS operatives led by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olayinka Balogun and the SSS Director, Mr Samuel Tamuno, stationed their men in-between the supporters of the parties to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
More than 20 police trucks and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) were stationed at the court’s gate.
Fayemi hailed the verdict, describing it as victory for common sense and the rule of law.
The Governor, who was attending a meeting with officials of the World Bank in Abuja during the court’s sitting, said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Yinka Oyebode, that he was happy that reason and common sense prevailed in the case, which “ordinarily ought not to have come before the Lord Justices in the first place”.
Fayemi, who lauded the conduct of the justices, however said it was high time the judiciary put in place a mechanism that “will prevent the likes of jobless busy-bodies like Oni and his cohorts in the Peoples Democratic Party from dragging the judiciary in the mud with frivolous petitions”.
The Governor said his administration had since inception laid emphasis on reconciliation as a virile tool for peace, but noted that it was apparent that some elements within the state, owing to their self-centredness and desperation, are unwilling to two the path of reconciliation.
The statement reads: “We welcome the decision of the justices of the Appeal Court. It is victory for commonsense and the rule of law. But that case ought not to have come before the Lord Justices in the first place, but we thank the Justices for not allowing the judiciary to be dragged in the mud. 
“But it is important for the judiciary to also put in place mechanism that would guard against deliberate attempts by some people to drag its image in the mud.
“Our administration places much emphasis on reconciliation as a virile tool for peaceful co-existence, but it is apparent some people are unwilling to embrace reconciliation.
“This administration remains focused in its efforts to ensure a rapid development of Ekiti State and to liberate the people from poverty and nothing can distract us.”
Oni said he would appeal the judgment. In a statement by his spokesman, Lere Olayinka, Oni said:
“The basis for the dismissal of the case was that we should have raised the issue before the Court of Appeal judgment of October 15, 2010.
“However, in the grounds we raised in our application, we stated that the facts which necessitated the application were not known to us until after the October 15, 2010 judgment. How then could we have raised issues that were not known to us?
“Therefore, since we have the right of appeal, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we have resolved to appeal the judgment of today at the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land. Any moment from now, our Notice of Appeal will be filed.
“Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), especially in Ekiti State, should therefore not despair because we are confident that God will use our case to set a landmark precedence in the history of the Nigeria Judiciary.
“We also wish to commend the judiciary for at least giving us the opportunity to be heard, as against the wish of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its functionaries, who never believed that rights of Nigerians to seek redress on any matter in Court, and duty of the Court to hear the matter must be respected.”

KESHI UNVEILS 11 Home-based for Rwanda

KESHI

THE waiting game on home-based players who will make the Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda , came to a climax on Saturday, when the technical crew named the lucky 11 players that will join an equal number of European based players for the crucial qualifier against the Wasps of Rwanda.

It was another painful decision by Head Coach Stepehen Keshi and his crew as they again took time off to explain to the players that were are as good as those that had been chosen for the trip but not all can make the trip. “Many are called but few are chosen, just put in more effort and you will be back here soonest”, Keshi told the players after assistant coach Dan ‘the Bull’ Amokachi, named the five casualties.

The five players dropped from camp are Sharks goalie, Okemuteh Odah, Warri Wolves midfielder Ossai Uche, Heartland’s striker Izu Azuka, Akwa United’s Solomon Jabason and baby-faced striker Barnabas Imenger of Kwara United.

As expected, Warri Wolves keeper Chigozie Agbim leads ten others that includes his club teammates Azubuike Egwueke and striker Sunday Mba, Papa Idris and Reuben Gabriel both of Kano Pillars and Sunshine Stars of Akure skipper Godfrey Oboabona. There is also Juwon Oshaniwa of Sharks of Port Harcourt , Heartland’s Bartholomew Ibenegbu and Obinna Nwachukwu, Rangers International’s diminutive winger, Ejike Uzoenyi., with Enyimba of Aba’s hitman Uche Kalu completing the list.

Speaking on the decamping, upcoming striker Solomon Jabason, said it was quite an experience for him to have been invited to the national camp and vowed that in due course he would bounce back to the team. “The coaching crew has told us that we still have a 100 per cent chance of making it and I have promised my self that I will be back soon even as I wish the team well in Kigali”, he said amidst smiles.

Awujale gets admission to varsity at 78

The paramount ruler and Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, has returned to university after spending 52 years on the throne and at the age of 78.
The ruler was among the over 200 students who were admitted to the National  Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) for the 2012/2013 academic year at the Awa Community Study Centre, in Ijebu North Local Government area of the state, on Saturday.
Speaking at the institution’s  seventh matriculation ceremony, which was attended by over 45 traditional rulers from the state, the traditional ruler encouraged people to embrace education, saying that there was no age limit in education.
According to him, with determination, one could acquire university education  at anytime of his or her age.
Also speaking, the Limeri of Awa-Ijebu, Oba Amos Abib, said that the decision of the Awujale to proceed to university for higher education was a challenge to all the traditional rulers not only in Ijabuland, but also in Nigeria.
He said that it should serve as an encouragement to all traditional rulers and other people.
Speaking, the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Vincent Ado Tenete, admitted that there were complaints about some areas of operations, but assured that urgent steps were being taken to address them.
Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Professor Mba Okoronkwo, the vice chancellor, noted that NOUN was in transition and evolving, saying inherent develpopmental challenges were inevitable.
Despite the challenges facing the institution, he disclosed that NOUN was rated seventh  among universities in Nigeria by Webometric International, out of eight universities that made the list in the country, and 88th position out of 100 universities in Africa.

Wada can’t be Kogi gov, Echocho tells court

The winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  January 2011 governorship primary election in Kogi State, Jibrin Isah Echocho, has told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that the December 3, 2011 governorship election which brought in Captain Idris Wada as the governor of the state was unconstitutional and hence should be set aside.
This is coming just as an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Alex Izinyon (SAN), asked the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to order Captain Wada to vacate office on the premise that, by virtue of the dismissal of the application by PDP seeking the apex court to give a consequential order, such issue cannot be relitigated upon.
Echocho had through his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Alhaji  Wada and the  AGF as first, second and third defendants in a suit that will be heard this morning.
He is praying an order of the court to set aside the purported governorship election conducted by INEC  on December 3, 2011 and  the press statement made on January 30 particularly the portion that directed Wada to be sworn-in.
Izinyon had in his letter to the AGF stated that, “our stand is that by virtue of the said ruling, it means the prayers to recognise Alhaji Idris Wada as governor of Kogi State who was claimed to be governor-in-waiting when the appeal was pending at the Supreme Court and was not affected by the consequential order of 27/1/12 was not granted as same was dismissed. It stands to reason that Alhaji Idris Wada cannot continue to function over the affairs of Kogi State as governor.

Tinubu urges US to assist Nigeria’s anti-terrorism war

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader Senator Bola Tinubu

 

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader Senator Bola Tinubu has lamented the threat to security in the country, urging the United States to assist Nigeria in tackling both terrorism and corruption. 
    He also called for Nigerian-American cooperation in the strengthening of democratic institutions.
Tinubu spoke in Lagos when he received an official  of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ms. Tamara Klajn. He said America should help Nigeria to strengthen its capacity in these vital areas, adding that they are pre-conditions for democracy, development and prosperity.

Eagles can’t afford to lose Moses — Keshi

Wigan Athletic forward Victor Moses will make his Nigeria debut on Wednesday in Rwanda to ensure England do not cap the highly-rated winger.

Keshi is most likely to play Moses and CSKA Moscow star Ahmed Musa on the wings against Rwanda in Kigali in a 2013 Nations Cup qualifier.

Moses’ nationality switch has been approved by world football governing body FIFA even though speculations persist the forward may be having a rethink and could still jump at a chance to feature for England at full international level.

“I cannot afford to lose Moses to England and the only way I can do that is to feature him,” said Keshi, who picked the Wigan star ahead of on-form Chinedu Obasi of German Bundesliga side Schalke 04.

“It will be a great risk to shut out Moses now coupled with some reports that are linking him with England.

“I really want to give Moses a chance so that we could cap him.”

Moses fled Nigeria for England at a very young age and he has since represented England at various age-group levels.

Last June, he could not make his Eagles debut against Ethiopia in a 2012 Nations Cup qualifier in Abuja because FIFA were yet to give their blessings to his decision to now play for his native country.

But after several months of anxiety, his application to switch nationality finally came through and Keshi has now picked him to make his competitive debut.

Nelson Mandela hospitalised

Former South African President Nelson Madela has been admitted to hospital, suffering from “abdominal pains,” presidential spokesman, Mac Maharaj, has said.

“Mandela was admitted to hospital today, 25 February 2012.  He has a long standing history of abdominal complaint and the doctors feel he needs proper specialist medical attention.

 “In the meantime, we want to advise the general public to respect the privacy of Madiba and that of his family.

“We assure him of the love and good wishes of all South Africans and people throughout the world. The presidency wishes him a speedy recovery,” Maharaj said in a statement in Johannesburg on Saturday.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the statement did not disclose the hospital where Mandela was admitted.

“We want to handle the matter with due regard to his privacy. We will give you updates as soon as we have any. I can assure you that the former president is in good spirit and well,”  Maharaj said.

It would be recalled that Mandela was admitted to Milpark hospital last year when he suffered from a respiratory infection.