Erico faults Keshi on Europe-based Eagles

Former Super Eagles assistant coach, Joe Erico, has faulted the action of Stephen Keshi in featuring Europe-based players in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda last week.

Keshi had taken 11 foreign-based players and 11 players from the domestic league to Kigali for the encounter which ended goalless but Erico, a former goalkeeper, said the home-based players could have done better all by themselves, going by their performances in recent friendly games against Angola and Liberia.

He said, “I’m happy that Keshi warned the players that whoever of them that didn’t want to play should forget about the team. I don’t know if Keshi said he would exclude some foreign-based players or not but if I were he I would have featured the team of domestic league players against Rwanda after seeing their performances in the friendly games, and I would have been satisfied no matter the outcome of the encounter.

“Thank God we did not lose; at least we got a point in Kigali. I believe Keshi must have seen the problems in the team and by now he should have solutions to them.

“The return leg fixture is very important because we must win to advance to the next stage. I expect the coach to be bold enough to make the necessary changes in the team before June.”

Erico also frowned at the overuse of some players in the junior national teams, saying the coaches managing them were lazy and desperate to win.

“Recycling players for junior national teams is evidence of laziness on the part of the coaches. If the coaches are determined to bring new players of the right ages into the teams, we can succeed. They have to ignore the results – whether win or lose – and focus on the development of our football,” he said.

“We always encounter these age problems when we want to win by all means at age-grade competitions. If we accept the fact that we win some and lose some, then we can afford to focus on development.”

ACN mobilises for Ondo governorship poll

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain Chief Olusegun Abraham has declared his intention to contest the next governorship election in Ondo State.




At the weekend, he was endorsed for the position by elderstateman and leader of Akoko Consultative Forum, Chief Adeyemi Falade, who urged the people to rally round him to salvage the state from the "rudderless and insensitive leadership in the state".
Falade spoke when the aspirant visited him at Oka-Akoko. The community leader lamented that Akoko had been marginalised, urging sons and daughters to support Abraham, who he described as an accomplished entrepreneur and successful manager of human and material resources.
Falade said: "If all Akoko rally round Abraham, I am sure other indigenes of the state would follow suit because of his track record of selflessness".
Also, in Lagos, former Power and Steel Minister Dr. Olu Agunloye, told reporters that Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who recently celebrated his third year in office, was celebrating the imminence of his ouster by ACN, adding that the coast is clear for the opposition party. However, Information Commissioner Kayode Akinmade described his submission as wishful thinking, stressing that there is no cause for panic because Mimiko’s achievements would speak for him on poll day.
The bulk of ACN aspirants are from the North District. Among them are Dr. Jayeola Ajatta, Dr. Olu Agunloye, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose, Awodeyi Akinsehinwa-Apata, Dr Tunji Abayomi, and Prof. Ajayi Boroffice. Other contestants, include Saka Lawal, Sola Iji, Gbenga Abraham, Rotimi Akeredolu, Wale Akinterinwa, Segun Ojo, Olorunnimbe Farunkanmi,Jamiu Ekungba, and Tayo Alasoadura. In the last two weeks, they have been unfolding their aspiration to rule the state. The undisputed LP candidate is the incumbent, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who is seeking a second term.
Currently, ACN aspirants are indulged in self-projection. Observers point out that more efforts should have been devoted into solidifying party structures, especially at the grassroots. The end result is that personal structures are more potent than party machinery and party leadership is weakened because top echelons are also neck-deep in the governorship race. It is believed that the option of consensus candidacy, if adopted, would make the platform overcome the challenges associated with multiplicity of aspirants.
Agunloye, who is touring the wards in the state, said: "Ondo is better administered under the ACN. The wind of change is blowing across the Southwest and the state should not be left behind". His posters adorn major streets across the state. But, in the Akoko axis alone, his ambition is being opposed by four aspirants; Abraham, Ajatta, Boroffice and Abayomi.
Addressing party supporters in Akure, 73-year-old Ajatta, said: "Contrary to what people thought impossible, I will defeat the incumbent governor, Olusegun Mimiko, and form a new government that will move the state forward next year".
He said that his age is not a barrier, recalling that Ondo State has fared better under septuagenarian governors; Adekunle Ajasin and Adebayo Adefarati, adding that only ACN governor can properly deploy the resources of the state to its development.
Ajatta promised to fight the infrastructure battle at the grassroots by tarring roads, building hospitals, and schools. He also said that he would restore public accountability and halt the one man show in public administration.
Another aspirant, Felix Rawa, who is from Ilaje council, said, since ACN is challenging LP, the end has come for the structure relied upon by the governor. He added: "If AC had not supported Mimiko against Agagu, he would not have become governor. Now that ACN is contesting against LP, the coast is clear. Mimiko should pack and go".
At a recent stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, Mimiko tendered an account of his stewardship, saying: "When we assumed office, I said that I would work for the people. Then, there was a disconnect between government and people. I can say confidently now that, not only are people participating in governance, they feel that they are also part of government".

In the pictorial presentation of his achievements, the governor took the audience through the process of governance, especially the implementation of his 12-point programme, which he code-named "Caring Heart". The exposition covered agriculture and food security, wealth creation. employment generation, community development, infrastructural development, rural electrification, education, health care services, housing and sports.

ARG: How to fast-track Southwest’s growth

•Governors: Fayemi (Ekiti), Mimiko (Ondo), Ajimobi (Oyo), Amosun (Ogun) and Aregbesola (Osun)

 

Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) is presenting “Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN)” in Lagos today. Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU highlights elements of the road map for the region’s development.

Southwest is waking up from slumbers. Three weeks after its six governors, experts, professionals and other stakeholders revolved to pursue the region’s integration agenda, the Afenifere Renewal Group is lending support to the initiative with the public presentation of the "Development Agenda for Western Nigeria" today in Lagos. The cultural, socio-economic and political blue print is, perhaps, the first conscious attempt at evolving a development framework for the zone in the post-Awolowo era.

Expected at the Lagos City Hall, venue of the presentation, are traditional rulers, academics, captains of industry, leaders of commerce, politicians, government officials and other stakeholders.

ARG leader Olawale Oshun, who briefed reporters in Lagos at the weekend, observed that the region, which was widely acknowledged as a model for other zones in the country, had lost its glory and slipped in the march of development. The former Chief Whip of the House of Representatives doubted if the region could regain its towering stature and secure progress for the Yoruba under the current lopsided federal arrangement.

With Oshun at the briefing were other chieftains, including the National Secretary, Ayo Afolabi, Publicity Secretary Kunle Famoriyo, Planning Committee Chairman Dipo Famakinwa, Tokunbo Ajasin, Ademola Oyinlola, Ade Adeagbo and Toke Benson.

In his view, the gains of the past have been wiped out and the region is now a shadow of itself. "Today, our roads are bad. When our governors summoned the courage to resolve the power failure through private initiative, it was shot down by the federal government. Our young graduates are unemployed and quality of life is declining everyday", he lamented.

Oshun said, ARG had been inundated with bitter complaints and requests for a master plan that would prevent a repeat of the past holocaust in the region. In response to this demand, he said the organisation asked the Yoruba Academy to come up with a comprehensive development blue-print, which had been previously presented to five governors and legislative arm in the region.

However, contrary to critics of integration, the implementation of the blue-print would not herald the collapse of the six states into one administrative region. Rather, it is only meant to expose its rulers to the daunting challenges and opportunities for collaboration for progress and survival within the hostile federal climate.

The agenda is beautiful on paper. As it becomes a public document today, Southwest has thrown the challenge to other regions to thread the same path by looking inwards and building on collective effort. "We have the focus that at the end, the person that will benefit from development is the ordinary man", Oshun emphasised, advising Southwest to take its destiny in its hand because "no federalism thrives on sharing money without productive initiatives".

DAWN is an 80-paged book produced by Southwest egg heads. The extensive research, brainstorming sessions, and publication were not sponsored by any government. "We produced it through our sweat and blood for the progress of our region and posterity", said Afolabi, who expressed the hope that it would become a working tool for the governors.

ARG views the region as an economic bloc. Therefore, a regional approach to its development would be cost-effective and economically viable, especially in the areas of infrastructure, industrialisation, commerce and agriculture. In this vein, development is not an exclusive government affair. Private sector and civil societies should collaborate with government for success. As goals are set, time frames are also set. More importantly, ARG has suggested modalities for evaluating the implementation process.

Justifying the Southwest perspective on development within a federal Nigeria, ARG stated that "the concentration of legislative power and fiscal resources in the federal government sometimes at the expense of the states and regions allows the federal government to control the pace and nature of economic development of various regions".

In addition, the group cautioned against relying on federal allocation, pointing out that the spoils from the federal purse will always be sub-optimal and unfair. The non-implementation of the road map may be risky. Since the states are too small to attract international funding on a large scale, they can tap from the advantage of collective bargaining for national and international funds for development.

The six states; Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Lagos; are not equally endowed. This underscores the import of comparative strength and advantage in productive activities. Development activities proposed for the states by ARG are as follows: Ekiti (Education and human capital, agriculture and Tourism), Lagos (Commerce, industries and services), Ogun(oil and gas, energy and industries), Ondo (Oil and gas, energy, agriculture (cocoa)), Osun (Tourism, agriculture (cocoa and animal husbandry) and Oyo (Agricultural vale-chain-processing, packaging and Small Scale Enterprises).

Key elements: The ARG submits that, if the framework is pursued to a logical conclusion, Southwest would migrate from "mainstreaming to region-streaming".

Budgetary re-direction

For the Southwest to be on the fast lane to development, ARG suggested a "shift emphasis of budgets towards capital expenditure". This has implications for governance in the region. To achieve this, there may also be the need to cut over-spending on recurrent expenditure, bloated political bureaucracy, extravagance in government, frivolous spending on unnecessary overseas travels, and adherence fo financial frugality.

Power self-sufficiency

The states can strategically tap from the privatisation process of the PHCN generation and distribution entities, especially at Ikeja, Benin, Ibadan and Lagos. Independent Power Projects can also be considered for the Southwest industrial estates, tertiary institutions, teaching and general hospitals, water works, airports, government secretariats, seaports, high income residential areas, major markets and commercial centres.

Agriculture

According to ARG, "policy framework should link agriculture with manufacturing, through extending agricultural value-chain to storage, processing and packaging". The group also believes that agriculture is meaningful, if it can boost food security and employment in the states. To accomplish these, it is recommended that states should increase budgetary allocations to the sector, first by five percent, and in another three years, by 10 per cent. The group also called for the establishment of Southwest Agricultural Market Information System.

Human capital development

The main thrust is that "education should be for sustainability and development". This, in ARG’s view, is achievable, only if it extends from mere knowledge acquisition to skill acquisition, and the skills should be relevant to industry, entrepreneurship, social values, justice and concern for the living environment.

ARG suggested that civics and basic science should be re-introduced in primary schools, adding that the civics syllabus, which should be based on Yoruba concept of Omoluabi, should promote the ideals of Yoruba heroes, including Samuel Ajayi Crowther, Obafemi Awolowo, Adekunle Fajuyi and others.

Other suggestions include a regional standard education inspectorate, computer education, elavation of polytechnics to degree awarding technical and technological tertiary institution, common data base for educational planning, and regional scholarship trust fund, collaborative research projects in education.

Health

ARG suggests preventive approach to medicare and a system of sanitary inspection, based on persuasion and incentives, rather than punishment and sanctions.

Transportation

Southwest governors should construct virgin roads, upgrade the existing ones and rehabilitate others linking them to the federal roads that leads to ports, since they have no control over the federal roads. Integrated rail transportation is also possible, if the hindrances are removed. ARG said the states can negotiate with the federal government to construct rail lines in the zone. It stressed: "A rail link from Benin City to Lekki Lagoon is a distance of 100-150 km. This will open up a tremendous amount of commercial activity with the eastern part of the country, reduce the pressure on the Lagos-Ore-Benin Road. Furthermore, it will open up the bitumen area of Ogun and Ondo States. This loop, to be completed by the development of inland waterways, through the Lekki Lagoon to Badagry, will turn the Epe axis to a major passenger and goods terminal with tremendous commercial benefits".

Housing and urban development

Southwest, says ARG, should establish a "Southwest Mortgage and urban Development Bank, which will be a secondary mortgage bank, to assist home owners, developers, primary mortgage companies and savings and loans operators to access funds for their housing development. The group also said that "the idea of the development of a "Rural Integrated Development Authority for the region is long overdue".

Security and law enforcement

ARG suggests that "community policing and neighbourhood watch capacity in the Southwest should be strengthened, beginning with raising of awareness in schools". It therefore, asked legislators to push for laws that would back state and community police.

Culture and Tourism

ARG advocates the establishment of Culture Board of Western Nigeria to coordinate the tourism activities and make the sector income yielding to respective states.

Governance reforms

Southwest government should shun avarice, graft, corruption and other vices. According to ARG, inclusive governance, accountability and focused policy with constant measurement would foster administrative efficiency in the region.

Conflict management

Four building blocks were suggested. They are the establishment or reactivation of the Public Complaints Commission/ Office of ombudsman, Regional Early Warning Centre, apolitical Council of Elders, and Peace Education at all educational levels. To ARG, these would encourage home-grown conflict management in the zone.

Salami defends his integrity

Ayo Salami 

 

Suspended Court of Appeal President Isa Ayo Salami yesterday appeared before the five-man Reconciliation Committee of the National Judicial (NJC).





He is to return to the panel again on April 26 after it will have met with other stakeholders, including former Chief Justice of Nigeria Aloysius Katsina-Alu.
Justice Salami, The Nation learnt, was invited last Friday by the panel, which is headed by the Deputy Chairman of the NJC, Justice Aloma Mukhtar.
Other members of the panel are Justice Pius Aderemi (rtd JSC), a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, the Chief Judge of Benue State and the Chief Judge of Taraba State.
A source said "the committee asked Justice Salami to explain what led to the crisis of confidence between him and ex-CJN Katsina-Alu.
"They also sought his opinion on how he thinks the matter could be resolved," the source said, pleading not to be named because he is not permitted to speak with the media.
"Justice Salami took his time on what happened and how the Babalakin Panel, the Abdullahi Committee, the NBA Committee and the Uwais Panel looked into the matter.
"After a lengthy session, the panel gave Justice Salami April 26 for further interaction after consultations with all parties to the crisis."
Another source said: "Justice Salami repeatedly explained his innocence, insisting that there was no leakage of the judgment of the Sokoto Appeal Tribunal.
"The session was sober after the suspended President of the Court of Appeal made his submissions."
A member of the Justice Aloma Mukhtar panel, who spoke in confidence, said: "We have started reconciliation talks with Justice Salami and other stakeholders, especially a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu.
"We are hopeful that we will be able to come up with genuine reconciliation and amicable resolution of the matter."
The NJC, last week, raised the five-man panel to reconcile warring stakeholders in the judiciary.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher, on October 14, last year set up a 29-member stakeholders’ Judicial Reform Committee, which was headed by a former CJN, Justice Muhammadu Uwais. The committee recommended the reinstatement of Justice Salami and immediate reconciliation of the suspended PCA with Justice Katsina-Alu.
The report of the five-man panel will guide NJC’s recommendations to President Goodluck Jonathan.

The President is empowered to determine Justice Salami’s fate - in line with the process outlined by the Part I, Paragraph I, Section 21(b) of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 292(1)( a)(i).

Ribadu task force set to boost revenue

Ribadu

The Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force will explore ways to boost government revenue, it was learnt at the weekend.
Led by former anti-corruption czar, Malam Nuhu Ribadu,  the Task Force  is set to create new revenue opportunities in addition to its core assignment of determining all petroleum upstream and downstream revenue.
A source close to the taskforce said it will explore how to plug loopholes by demanding the review and strengthening of applicable laws.
The source said: “The task force sees its mandate as a huge responsibility. It will therefore be proactive and far-reaching in carrying out that mandate without going outside its terms of reference.
“It will carry out an analysis of existing laws and crude swap agreements to identify areas that need to be strengthened to plug loopholes and wastages. 
“The analysis will also enable the taskforce determine if there are laws that need a review with a view to boosting revenue that come from the by-products of crude production and exploration.
“Don’t forget that the chairman is a man of integrity who would want to protect his reputation. And remember that members of the committee are Nigerians of repute.
“So, expect to see far reaching recommendations even as it concerns petroleum pricing, because at the end of the day, they would not want to disappoint Nigerians. 
“They would rather want a pricing regime that Nigerians will support even if subsidy is removed in order to end rent seeking revenue losses. This will all be done in the interest of Nigerian.”
The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison- Madueke named the 2011 Presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as the chairman of task force to achieve probity and accountability in the petroleum industry. 
The taskforce, which also has the former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye as a member is mandated to “work with consultants and experts to determine and verify all petroleum upstream and downstream revenue (taxes, royalties, etc. due and payable to the Federal Government of Nigeria.” 
The taskforce was urged to take all necessary steps to collect all debts due and owing; to obtain agreements and enforce payment terms by all oil industry operators. 
The minister directed the taskforce to develop an automated platform to enable effective tracking, monitoring, and online validation of income and debt of all drivers of parastatals and agencies of the ministry. 
It was also mandated to work with word-class consultants to integrate system and technology across production chain to design and monitor crude oil production and exports, ensuring at all times, the integrity of payment to the Federal Government of Nigeria. 
Other members Malam Abbah Kyari, Mr. Benedicta Molokwu, Mr. Spo Sasore (SAN), Mr. Tony Idigbe (SAN), Mr. Tony Idigbo (SAN), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Itulah Ighodalo and Dr. Mrs Omolara Akanji and others.

Oni’s wild goose chase

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni

 

THE disgraced and illegitimate former Governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni, appears not to care how many times he bites the dust. Mr. Oni indeed delightfully epitomises the aphorism that he who is down, needs fear no fall, as he engages in stunts that shred his already tattered reputation. The tragedy however is that he always tries to smear one public institution or another in his free falls. During the election it was the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its officials that his actions endangered; now that a stolen mandate has been retrieved from him, it is the courts that he is seeking to put to shame and ridicule.

In pursuit of his inordinate ambitions, Mr Oni tried to pull the wool over the eyes of the Court of Appeal sitting in Ado-Ekiti by asking the court to reverse the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal that sat in Ilorin. Thankfully, the share absurdity of this abuse of the process of the court has been pronounced by the Court of Appeal while dismissing the case. The appeal panel was chaired by Justice Tijani Abdullahi, with such other members as Justices Musa Abba-Aji, M.O. Kekere-Ekun, Ismaya Mohammed and R.C. Agbo. The learned justices emphasised that the matter should not have come before them in the first place.

We recall that in a well considered judgment, the Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin on October 15, 2010, sacked Mr Oni from the Ekiti State Government House, and returned the incumbent governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as the validly elected governor of the state. The judgment, delivered by a panel headed by Justice Ayo Salami, was hailed by all and sundry as bold, incisive and fair; and a clear message against those who rely on rigging to get to power; that they will ultimately lose it. We also recall that the Court of Appeal was then the final court for governorship election petitions, and so the sour grape of Mr. Oni ended there.

Having exhausted the judicial process, Mr Oni then resorted to shenanigans, as he sought with other desperate interests to cast aspersion on the integrity of the learned justices that sat on the appeal, particularly Justice Salami. While the National Judicial Council (NJC) has not found any merit in the petition by Mr. Oni against the learned justices; he still went ahead to ask for a review of the judgment on the grounds of bias on the part of the panel members. To further show the absurdity of his reasoning, Mr. Oni made his application for a review in the Ado-Ekiti division of the Court of Appeal, instead of the Ilorin division, where the appeal was heard and the judgment delivered.

Despite the public odium that greeted Mr. Oni’s latest attempt to ridicule the judiciary, he was reported to be interested in further appealing to the Supreme Court. While he is entitled to further his show of shame, we are of the opinion that this further attempt should be quickly rebuffed by the court, to send a clear message that the abuse of the courts cannot be tolerated by the highest court in the land. In furthering his plans, we hope that Mr. Oni pauses to weigh wherein lay the interests of the people of Ekiti State in this charade. Considering his days in office, we doubt whether Mr. Oni would have the courage to parade the streets of Ekiti as a democratic governor were he to be given the opportunity by this means. We doubt. 

Joel Obi: I'll be Bigger than 'Jay Jay'

IN THIS exclusive interview with MTNFootball.com, Inter Milan midfielder  Joel Chukwuma Obi has revealed that he hopes to be a bigger star than Nigeria 2002 World Cup skipper Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha as he hopes to help the Eagles win the 2013 AFCON and reach the final of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He assures that there is no cause for alarm after the 0-0 draw in Rwanda in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier and also speaks on the big role Jose Mourinho has played in his blossoming career.

Many fans back home in Nigeria see Joel Obi as new Jay Jay Okocha, what can you say?I thank them for that compliment. It means they love and appreciate my qualities as a footballer.
I am a young man who is ready to put in anything I have for Nigeria and my club, I will do my best for Eagles, but mind you I am not Okocha and I can't be Okocha. There can never be another 'Jay Jay' Okocha, he made his mark in Eagles while he was there.
I am Joel Obi and I am aspiring to do more than Okocha in the national team. He has done a lot for Nigerian football and I wish to surpass him. I will do my best so as not to disappoint Nigeria, myself, the fans and the coach.
Are you related to Mikel Obi?
Yes and No. We are related as far as football is concerned because we are one big family in the Super Eagles, but if it is blood relation, no. I am from Imo State while Mikel is from Anambra.
What are your ambitions as a player?
I want to make it big. I want to be one of the best in the world and win a lot of trophies at club level. I want to play and win the African Cup of Nations starting with the one in 2013 and I wish to play at World Cup in Brazil in 2014 and set a record.
What record?
To be among the first set of Nigeria players to reach final of the FIFA World Cup or at worst reach semi-final in Brazil.
Do you think Eagles have all it takes to reach that height?
Yes, Nigeria is a blessed country and there are a lot of players home and abroad. I am optimistic we will get there.
But the Eagles started the 2013 Nations Cup qualifiers on a laboured note with a draw in Rwanda?
 We went there to win but it was not to be. I don't want to give excuses for not winning the match, but I am sure we will put it right in the return leg.
You are playing for one of the best teams in the world, Inter Milan, how do you feel?
The feeling has been great and wonderful since I joined Inter reserves. I was very happy when coach Jose Mourinho promoted me to the senior team to train with players like Zanetti and Eto'o.
It was wonderful and they motivated me a lot to raise my game. I owe my progress here to Mourinho because he gave me the breakthrough I needed to launch myself.
You have played a limited number of games this season so far, are you disappointed?
No. Inter are a big team with a lot of young as well as experienced old players, and so being on the list of registered players and making it to the bench is an achievement but I want to press further.
I am learning here and to get a chance to play in the team is a great achievement for me.
I am happy that anytime I play, my coach and teammates praise me for a good outing, which is enough motivation for me to get better. I will continue to do my best to see that I tie down a regular shirt with Inter.
Finally, what message do you have for your fans?
They should keep praying for me and I will keep making them happy and proud of me. They should also keep faith with Eagles, this is a new team being built and I am sure we will get it right under coach Stephen Keshi.

Oodua groups slam Oyinlola

Olagunsoye Oyinlola

The Oodua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC) yesterday criticised former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola for “trying to further diminish the reputation of the Nigerian judiciary.”

ONAC is a coalition of 25 Yoruba groups, including the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Oodua Liberation Movement (OLM), Yoruba Revolutionary League (YRL) and Oodua Youth Alliance (OYA), among others.

In a statement by its Secretary, Mr. Sunday Akinnuoye, and Woman Leader Alhaja Medinat Agbaje, ONAC described Oyinlola’s decision to sue telecommunication giant, MTN, as “a daunting affront on Nigerians and their right to the free-flow of information, which MTN currently provides.”

It accused Oyinlola of waging a desperate war to undermine democracy in Nigeria.

The statement reads: “The suit against MTN over the electoral disputes in Osun and Ekiti states, filed by Oyinlola, is disgraceful. We are aware that the decision of the Court of Appeal is final on governorship election disputes and the court has already given its judgment.

“It is ridiculous and unethical to see a group of desperate politicians trying to scuttle the will of the people as affirmed by the court, the final arbiter on the matter.

“The people of the Southwest affirmed the court’s decision through their overwhelming vote for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) during the 2011 elections. 

“It is on record that Oyinlola lost his ward and local government during the last elections. What other form of rejection can a man suffer to realise that the people detest him?

“We want the PDP to realise that when people are not allowed to express their democratic choice, they are often tempted by aggression and discontent. 

“The Southwest enjoys some level of peace largely due to the fact that the choice of the people was respected during the last elections. It will be catastrophic for the future of the country, if the PDP runs a full circle in its well-noted culture of impunity, which the party is desperate to instal in the Southwest by undermining the decisions of the judiciary on electoral matters.”

Bakare urges FG to prosecute subsidy profiteers

Pastor Tunde Bakare  | credits: File copy

Vice-Presidential candidate for the Congress for Progressive Change in 2011 elections, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has called on the government to prosecute those who illegally benefitted from fuel subsidy.

The Serving Overseer, Latter Rain Assembly, spoke at the church’s auditorium on Sunday while delivering the Part Four of a sermon titled, ‘Intervention in Governance: Wisdom for Public Service’.

The cleric, who used the biblical story of King Solomon and the two women who brought a case over the maternity of a child to him as a metaphor, stated that President Goodluck Jonathan must do justice to Nigerians by ensuring that the subsidy fraud was thoroughly investigated.

He said, “God will give the President the wisdom on how to do it. A leader needs wisdom to administer justice. Wisdom is the tree of life. The subsidy issue must not be swept under the carpet. There should be justice because there can never be peace without justice.

“This is not a matter of politics. We should fix the problem before the problem fixes us. There should be no attempt to sweep the matter under the carpet, else every other thing will not work. We need to know who collected certain amount of money and what it was used for.”

Bakare added, “Sometimes, we think that integrity was enough to serve in government but in the Nigerian context, it had shown that it is not. Integrity is not enough, experience counts.”

He lamented that a majority of the Nigerian political leaders are only concerned about themselves while those who elected them wallow in abject poverty.

According to Bakare, no good leader will look down on the people he is supposed to serve and call them “ordinary”, “miscreants” and “masses”.

He added, “No leader that is worth his salt will look down on the people he is supposed to serve and call them ordinary, masses and miscreants. They only become ‘great’ when he was seeking their votes.”

On whether the Save Nigeria Group, which played a major role in mobilising Nigerians during the fuel subsidy removal protests in January had abandoned the fight against unpopular government’s policies, Bakare declined comments.

One feared dead, 40 vehicles vandalised in Lagos violence

One person was feared dead and 40 vehicles vandalised on Sunday as hoodlums went on the rampage in Ebute-Meta area of Lagos.

Ttwo tricyles and seven shops were also vandalised during the violence when some youths suspected to be supporters of Mr. Alao Owolabi, a member of the House   of Representatives, representing the Lagos Mainland Constituency, clashed with some hoodlums in the area.

An eyewitness, who craved anonymity, said the lawmaker’s supporters besieged the area to avenge the harassment meted out to him by some hoodlums on Saturday.

He said, “Yesterday (Saturday), when he (Owolabi) was driving home, some youths hailed and wanted him to give them some money. But he declined and the youth banged his car in annoyance. So, the lawmaker brought in some policemen and identified the man who banged his car. However, the youth did not allow the policemen to take the man away and this resulted in a fight. During the fight, the lawmaker’s cloth was torn.

“When the violence escalated, a policeman shot one person in the hand. Later, the policemen reinforced and started shooting. This morning (Sunday), we just saw some area boys from Otto who besieged our neighbourhood. They started shooting and destroying shops. They also took away telephones and money from traders.

“On their way back, they met a policeman in mufti coming from a church and wanted to rob him. But the policeman resisted and they shot him. He also brought a gun and shot in the air to escape. In the ensuing confusion, one person was killed.”

  Mr. Adenowo Raji, whose car was also damaged, said the police had assured him that those who suffered losses would be compensated.

Raji said, “The incident was a spill over of what happened on Saturday night. Some youths at a social event harassed the lawmaker on his way home and I think some of his sympathisers came to avenge what the youth did to him.

“But unfortunately, they went on the rampage and started destroying property of innocent people. It is very pathetic that this could happen in a broad day light. The police have advised that we should record the destruction with a video camera and also take pictures.”

Another victim, Mr. Lukman Balogun, said those who suffered losses should be compensated.

“I am sure more than 40 cars were damaged. We want everything to be replaced. It is an insult to the community,” Balogun said.

Another victim, who identified herself simply as Mrs. Sherifat, said goods in her shop at 19, Herbert Macaulay Street were stolen by the hoodlums.

An electronics dealer, who identified himself simply as Dauda, said, “The hoodlums came to meet me and insisted that I should give them money. When I refused, they brought out gun and another attacked me with a cutlass. They took the N25,000 with me; damaged my car and goods worth N200, 000.”

A trader at the scene, who was also affected, Ngozi Onyeachi, said all she depended on had been stolen by the hoodlums.

She said, “They destroyed all my drinks and took away the N62,000 I collected from my monthly contributions. The police should ensure that my money is returned.”

Efforts to speak with the lawmaker proved abortive as policemen guiding his residence turned our correspondent back.

When contacted on the telephone, the spokesman for the state police, Mr. Joseph Jaiyeoba, said he could not reach the Divisional Police Officer, Denton Police Division, under whose jurisdiction the violence occurred, to confirm the incident.

Nigeria debut big boost for Moses

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez believes Victor Moses’ first taste of senior international football will also benefit the club.

The 21-year-old made his debut for Nigeria, the country of his birth, as a second-half substitute in the goalless draw with Rwanda on Wednesday.

His international allegiance had been in doubt for some time as he had previously represented England up to Under-21 level.

But now his decision has been made, Martinez hopes it will have a positive impact on the player and the team.

“For a long time I knew it was a big decision for him and now he can concentrate on what he has to do rather than what he would like or was dreaming to do,” said the Latics boss.

“Now he has been able to make that decision where to play his international career and that is important as it has settled him as a human being.

“Victor was really focused on finding a role and being himself in the Premier League and our club and now he has done that and feels very happy with what he is doing.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, if you have issues and you don’t know where you are it does affect your career.

“Now he is ready to just fight for his place for Wigan and Nigeria with no doubts in his head which can unsettle him and that is important.”

Although Moses only played 28 minutes, Martinez is confident a sustained international experience will only enhance the winger as a person and a player.

“It is a real contrast of styles for a start and for a young player that is going to give them a great freedom,” said the Spaniard.

“Sometimes as a player you can be a little bit closed into one way of playing.

“He had a completely different role against Rwanda and as a young player that opens your mind and it will help Victor to develop, especially tactically and understanding the tempos of the game.

“He has to take advantage every time he plays. When you start you are just assessing it but after 15-20 games at international level you understand different ways to play.

“That is going to help him as a player and if he does that he is going to help us because we are going to have a stronger individual.

“It has been a big season for Victor. We had a young man and now he is a proper adult.

“In football terms he is starting to be very experienced.”

A midweek international fixture causes all kinds of logistical problems for managers and Martinez was no different as he only had Paraguay international Antolin Alcaraz and Honduras defender Maynor Figueroa back from South America on Friday afternoon.

“It is a very rare situation where the boys have international commitments in between two Premier League fixtures,” he said.

“It is not ideal but I do think the football authorities should look into it.

“I support players in representing their countries and I understand it is difficult for an international manager to get the group together.

“But we have to be fair to the athletes and to play three games in a week — including a 14-hour flight — is not realistic.”

EFCC arraigns Lagos Speaker, aide for money laundering

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, before a Federal High Court in Lagos for money laundering.

Also arraigned in the court presided over by Justice Okechukwu Okeke on Thusday was the Speaker’s Personal Assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi.

The accused were charged with amended 20 counts of money laundering.

The EFCC alleged that between April 2010 and July 2011, the accused conspired to illegally accept various cash payments of N510m from the House of Assembly without going through a financial institution.

The arraignment before Justice Okeke followed the transfer of the case by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, from Justice John Tsoho, who earlier disqualified himself from the case.

EFCC’s counsel, Godwin Obla, had earlier sought that the charge should be read to the defendants.

The defence counsel, Tayo Oyetibo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, did not object to the reading of the charge to his clients.

The accused, who pleaded not guilty to all the counts, were granted bail shortly after taking their plea.

The Speaker was granted bail on personal recognition. However, Justice Okeke demanded that the Clerk of the state House of Assembly, Segun Habiru, should stand as surety for Atoyebi’s bail.

Though Obla did not oppose the accused persons’ bail application, he had, however, urged the court to reject Oyetibo’s demand that their bail be hinged on personal recognition.

Justice Okeke adjourned the matter till March 26 and 27 for trial.

The EFCC said the accused persons’ offence contravened sections 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under Sections 16 (2) (b) of the same Act.

ACN Reps warn Jonathan about impeachable offences

Action Congress of Nigeria members in the House of Representatives on Thursday warned President Goodluck Jonathan over alleged non-implementation of Acts passed by the National Assembly.

The lawmakers said the non-implementation of Acts, particularly Appropriation Acts, was an “impeachable offence”.

The lawmakers gave the warning as the House debated a motion on the non-implementation of the Hydroelectric Power Areas Development Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010.

Minority Leader of the House and leader of the ACN caucus, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, recalled that the executive had consistently ridiculed the House by allegedly ignoring “several legislation passed by the National Assembly”.

He said, “We have many of such laws; they are not being implemented.

“Take the Appropriation Act for instance, it is meant to be implemented 100 per cent.

“But, every year, the President comes here and says the money law has been implemented 60 or 70 per cent and we clap for him.

“This is the most important Act (Appropriation Act) of the National Assembly, yet it is not implemented.”

Gbajabiamila advised the House to collate all the laws passed by the National Assembly but not implemented, adding that the Executive should be told the consequences of not implementing the laws.

Another ACN lawmaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, warned that the House could be compelled to invoke the powers of impeachment if it became necessary.

She said, “The non-implementation of the Appropriation Act is an impeachable offence.

“Let us be reminded of this: that the laws passed by this House should be implemented” .

The sponsor of the HYPPADC motion, Mr. Ibrahim Abo, observed that the “non-implementation of the Act is capable of causing disaffection between the Executive and the Legislative arms of government”.

He told the House that though N352.5m was appropriated to the commission in the 2011 budget, “no concrete action has been taken by the implementing ministry”.

He said the commission had the mandate of developing hydroelectric power producing communities by addressing the “poverty, loss of properties and diseases” suffered by the inhabitants.

The House mandated its Committee on Power to investigate the non-implementation of the Act and produce a report within four weeks.

However, the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, said the National Assembly was hesitant to invoke its powers to impeach the President because lawmakers did not want to “heat up the polity unnecessarily.”

Mohammed stated that the House would continue to engage the executive in discussions and keep the country at peace rather than invoking the impeachment option.

He added, “We will not do those things that will heat up the polity unnecessarily.

“But, this is not to say that when the time comes for us to use those powers we will shy away from using them”.

Mohammed also spoke on the move by the House to grant full autonomy to local governments in the country.

Eagles were lucky —Keshi

Keshi

SUPER EAGLES’ Chief coach Stephen Keshi has expressed satisfaction with the players performance against the Wasps of Rwanda on Wednesday evening at the Stade Regionale de Kigali, stressing

We were lucky to come home with a draw. I want to go home happy with a draw than a loss, we made mistakes, but we will correct them.

We were lucky to escape defeat especially in the last minutes. We came here for victory, but the Rwandans shocked us with their enterprise during the closing stages.

“ I will take the boys back home to the drawing board to discuss what we have seen in Rwanda. When they come to Nigeria, we will know what to do, we will 

Messi absence blow to Barca

Already well adrift of great rivals Real Madrid, Barcelona must face Sporting Gijon this weekend without top scorer and talisman Lionel Messi.

The 24-year-old added to the 28 goals he has scored in the Primera Division this season with his first international hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-1 win against Switzerland on Wednesday night but he must sit out Saturday’s match at the Nou Camp through suspension.

Pep Guardiola’s side have the opportunity to close the gap at the top of the table to seven points, with Real not playing until Sunday, and Barcelona president Sandro Rosell insisted this week they have not given up hope of a fourth successive title.

“The word impossible should exist, but not for this case,” said Rosell. “Impossible is when mathematics say so. Meanwhile, nothing is impossible.”

Sporting sit only one place off the bottom of the table but the game has been given added spice by coach Javier Clemente’s comments this week that he did not like Barcelona’s much-lauded style of football.