Agent denies Moses' deal agreed

Victor Moses

Super Eagles midfield pearl, Victor Moses' agent has denied reports that a £9million deal has been agreed to take the Wigan forward to Chelsea.

Wigan value Moses at nearer £10million, and speculation has increased in the last 48 hours that the 21-year-old is poised to join Chelsea. But Neil Fewings, who is the agent for Moses, has moved quickly to deny the reports.

"Reports that a £9million deal has been agreed between Chelsea and Wigan are not true," Fewings said.

Moses has been linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge throughout the current transfer window, with Latics apparently rejecting an initial £6million offer for the player.

Overnight it looked, and it did look very much like, Victor Moses was set to sign for Chelsea in the coming hours. The belief across the internet was that Chelsea and Wigan had agreed a £9 million fee for the player and the player was on his way to London to have a medical and talk over his new contract.

I had to say that when I saw that come up on my browser I thought, 'That's it Victor has gone'. Yet no 'reliable' source has come forward and stuck their neck out about Moses’ departure. When I say sources it looks like the Daily Mail (I know) was the start of the rumour.

Yet it seemed to gather pace with many other sources joining in. And many Chelsea fan-sites seemed to be jumping in on the bandwagon. Yet still no official confirmation.

Yet as I was about to write about said topic, and say it will likely go through on Monday as Chelsea are playing in the Community Shield (as I speak). And how the loan signing (or reported loan signing) of Ryo Miyaichi would and has opened the door for Moses to leave.

Yet the new twist being reported is that Moses’ agent has said a deal has not been agreed. And the other interesting thing, is that Moses appears to have sacked his agent.

The reported comment has come from a Neil Fewings, not Tony Finnigan who was known to be Moses agent.

There were rumors about earlier in the summer that Moses had sacked his agent.

Having done some digging into Neil Fewings, it appears that he is one for making transfer happens. He was the man who sorted out the Jordan Henderson and Darren Bent moves away from Sunderland last summer.

At the moment everything seems to be going on behind close doors, hopefully more can be leaked as and when it happens.

$3m subsidy bribe: Farouk Lawan weeps

By KINGSLEY OMONOBI, Abuja

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the probe of fuel subsidy mismanagement, Mr. Farouk Lawan

Detectives at the Police headquarters investigating the $620, 000 oil subsidy bribe money collected by erstwhile chairman of the House of Representatives Subsidy Probe Panel, Hon. Farouk Lawan from oil magnate, Mr. Femi Otedola, at the weekend disclosed to Vanguard that the decision of the Police not to stand in the way of the embattled Farouk travelling out of the country on religious grounds, followed his keeping to the terms of his bail conditions.

Aside reporting to the Police Special Task Force on two times daily basis, or whenever his presence was needed to shed more light on some issues, Farouk Lawan is said to have wept in one instance when it dawned on him that he had been abandoned by his colleagues to swim alone and was neck deep in the bribery allegation and that it will take close to a miracle to escape the consequences.

When the issue of his travelling for pilgrimage ‘Umrah’ came up, the authorities studied his conduct and analyzed his willingness to cooperate with the bribery investigation. In most cases, all the addresses, information needed from him were provided and were found to be true; the only exception being that he regretted that his colleagues in the house, disappointed him when the $620, 000 which he claimed he kept in the house was not forthcoming.

It was gathered however that a specific time frame within which the embattled former chairman would perform his religious obligation and return to the country, was agreed and signed, and failure to keep to the agreement would lead to ‘certain actions’, the source said.

Vanguard was made to understand that up until when the investigation was concluded last week and the report submitted to the Attorney-General’s office for legal advice, Farouk had continued to insist that his colleagues would bring the money to him to hand over to the police.

It would be recalled that Vanguard reported last weekend that authorities of the Special Task Force investigating the $620, 000 bribery scandal concluded the investigation, had written its final report and submitted the case file to the Attorney- General’s office.

Consequently, Hon. Farouk Lawan who has been in the eye of the storm over the bribery allegation, is set to face a 15 count charge of conspiracy, bribery, corruption, and lying under oath among others.

However, contrary to the widely held belief that going by the provisions of the law, the giver and taker of bribe are liable to face criminal charges, Vanguard gathered that Chief Femi Otedola who gave the bribe might be a prosecution witness if the recommendations of the investigation report is approved by the Attorney-General.

While intimating Vanguard of a watertight case file owing to the fact that painstaking steps had been taken to plug any envisaged loophole in the report, sources disclosed that it will be difficult for the defence lawyers to arm-twist both Farouk Lawan and Boniface Emenalo the secretary of the committee from complicity in the allegation.

Vanguard gathered that among new addition to the charges included in the case file, were attachments detailing how Farouk Lawan collected and concealed the bribe monies from both the House Committee on Subsidy probe and the ploy to deceive investigators that he handed over the money to the chairman of the Financial Crimes Committee for safe keeping.

Asked if the non recovery of the hard cash of $620, 000 would not stand in the way of nailing the culprits in the scam, a source said, the Police is very optimistic that even though the $620,000 was not returned to be used as exhibit, there is overwhelming evidence to get conviction for the duo.

Recall that Hon. Lawan claimed in his statement to the Special Task Force (STF) that the $620,000 bribery money was handed over to the chairman House Committee on drugs and financial crimes, Adams Jagaba. Jagaba however rubbished the claim and challenged Lawan to prove how the money was given to him which he (Lawan) has so far failed to do.

Nigerian Olympic Basketball Player denied being from Nigeria

The popular US based celebrity news website has poked fun at one of Nigeria’s basketball players at the just concluded London Olympic.

Al-Farouq Aminu is an NBA star playing in the Olympics for Nigeria. According to Aminu, he has NEVER ACTUALLY STEPPED FOOT in Nigeria.

Aminu landed himself in trouble when he was pointedly asked “Are you from Nigeria?” He denied being from Nigeria though acknowledging that his father was.

TMZ appears bewildered that a person who is not from a country or who had never been to a country could actually represent that country in any game much less at an Olympic game.

It does however appear that under Nigeria law, Aminu naturally acquired his citizenship of Nigeria from his father’s status as a natural born Nigeria. It is the view of the Liberty Report that Aminu’s natural response should have been “yes, because my parents are Nigerians and the Nigerian constitution permits dual citizenship” rather than the denial especially in view of the context in which the question was lobbed at him. It appears the interview was at the games village in London where Aminu was at the time camped as a Nigerian basketball player!

It is our view that the denial served as fuel that made him into an object of TMZ ridicule.

Thus, Aminu would have been right to claim Nigerian citizenship naturally as well as represent Nigeria at any game.

It is however a considerable moral albatross that Al-Farouq Aminu is patriotic enough to be ready and willing to play for Nigeria but that patriotism never gingered him to claim that he is from Nigeria or even visit Nigeria till his adulthood.

That surely appears akward.

Ethnic minorities and a new Nigeria

August 9, every year is the date set aside by the United Nations as the World Indigenous Day. The Ethnic Minority and Indigenous Rights Organization of Africa (EMIROAF), celebrates with indigenous nationalities, tribal, cultural and civil society organisations all over the world to mark this glorious day that reminds and strengthens them in their struggle for freedom and liberty. We commend the United Nations and all its agencies for the great solidarity and support to indigenous peoples in all their continued struggles for self-determination, economic and social development.

Yearly, August 9, brings together millions of indigenous peoples and civil society organisations from the five continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, America and Australia to promote solidarity among indigenous nationalities within the United Nations system.

Through lobby, debates, research, case and group studies, indigenous and ethnic nationalities the world over, have made steady progress at the United Nations. Right from the first approach to the League of Nations in 1923, about the cruel, harmful and repressive nature of the centrally controlled heterogeneous states imposed on the world by centuries of slavery and colonialism to the establishment of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) on July 28, 2000, and to the consequent adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) on September 13, 2007, it has been a great breakthrough for which indigenous nations will forever be grateful to the United Nations.

The mandate of the UNDRIP made provisions on how to pursue the struggle for self-determination, autonomy, economic and social development by indigenous peoples without violence.

Articles 3, 4, 9, 13, and 20 of the UNDRIP says, and I quote,” 

Article 3, “Indigenous peoples have the right to self determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development”

Article 4, says, “Indigenous peoples, in exercising their right to self determination, have the right to autonomy or self-government in matters relating to their internal and local affairs, as well as ways and means for financing their autonomous functions”.

Article 9, says, “Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right to belong to an indigenous community or nation in accordance with the tradition and customs of the community or nation concerned. No discrimination of any kind may arise from the exercise of such a right.”      

Article 13, (1) says “Indigenous peoples have the right to revitalize, use, develop and transmit to future generations their histories, languages, oral traditions, philosophies, writing systems, literatures and to designate and retain their own names for communities, places and persons”.

Article 20 (1) says, “Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and develop their political, economic and social systems or institutions, to be secure in the enjoyment of their own means of subsistence and development and to engage freely in all their traditional and other economic activities.”

The goals of the Nigerian state as outlined by the nationalists at independence laid emphasis on the political, economic and cultural autonomy for the federating regions. Any intimidation or harassment of indigenous citizens because of their struggles for self-determination, therefore tantamount to genocide and a grave crime against humanity. It is on this score that we welcome the declaration of self determination and political autonomy by the Ogoni indigenous people in Nigeria

In summary, EMIROAF recommends that the different nationalities in Nigeria, including the Edo, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Idoma, Tiv, Itsekiri, Jukun, Igala, Ebira, Ijaw, Isoko, Fulani, Kanuri, Nupe, Ibibio, Efik, Gbagl, Ewe, Batonu, Birom, Ikuere, Ika, Ukuani and all other ethnic and indigenous nationalities not mentioned here should go to their respective centre of civilization in their God given territory to discuss and workout the basis of their co-existence with other nationalities. The era of the centrally controlled nation state has become obsolete that needed to be consigned to the scrap heap of history. The only guarantee for survival, peace and unity in Nigeria is the recognition of the ethnic and indigenous nationalities as the federating regions.

-Ilenre is Secretary-General of Ethnic Minority and Indigenous Rights Organisation of Africa

Bolt: No respect for Carl Lewis over drug slur

Newly-crowned "greatest-ever sprinter" Usain Bolt has said he had lost all respect for Carl Lewis, the man whose on-track exploits he has surpassed with his unique Olympic double-double but who still leads the way in self-regard.

American Lewis is the only other man to win two Olympic 100m gold medals, the second coming in 1988 when he was promoted from second place after the disqualification of Ben Johnson. He won the 200m in 1984 but managed only silver four years later. He did, however, have a remarkable run of success in the long

jump, winning that event in four successive Games for a tally of nine golds in all.

In the wake of Bolt's triple-gold record success in Beijing Lewis was quick to point the finger of suspicion at him and Jamaica in general.

"I think there are some issues," he said at the time.

"Countries like Jamaica do not have a random (drugs testing) program, so they can go months without being tested. I'm not saying anyone is on anything, but everyone needs to be on a level playing field. I'm not saying they've done anything for certain. I don't know. But how dare anybody feel that there shouldn't be scrutiny,

especially in our sport?" He has continued to fire broadsides ever since but Bolt, now with his sprinting record unquestionably superior, hit back.

"I'm going to say something controversial right now, Carl Lewis - I have no respect for him," Bolt said, having cited 1936 quadruple champion Jesse Owens as a man he held in the highest regard. The things he (Lewis) says about the track athletes, it's really downgrading for another athlete to be saying something like that about other athletes.

"I think he is just looking for attention really because nobody really talks much about him. It was really sad for me when I heard the other day what he was saying, it was upsetting. So, for me, I've lost all respect for

him, all respect. It was all about drugs, about drugs stuff for me. For an athlete to be out of the sport saying that was really upsetting for me. As far as I am concerned he is just looking for attention."

Lewis tested positive three times for a stimulant before the 1988 Games but had the results overturned by American officials.

He was named "Athlete of the 20th Century" by the IOC, the IAAF, and American magazine Sports Illustrated and has always seemed uncomfortable with the idea that someone from the 21st century could surpass his achievements.

Revealed: Why opposition coalition wants Jonathan impeached

MEMBERS of the House of Representatives on the ticket of General Muhammadu Buhari-led Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) have, at a meeting held with the leadership of the party, revealed that the impeachment threat against President Goodluck Jonathan was to avenge his “disregard” for the House.
At least, three members of the CPC in the House of Representatives attended a meeting with the party’s leaders in Abuja, on August 4, where details of ongoing situation in the House were discussed.

It was gathered that the lawmakers told the party’s chieftains that the impeachment threat had nothing to do with budget implementation by the executive, but was simply aimed at targeting the president for allegedly having no regard for the House.

A source told the Nigerian Tribune that “the three CPC lawmakers intimated the meeting that most members of the House of Representatives, including those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the CPC and the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), had come to the realisation that the executive arm of government had no regard for the House.

“They confirmed that it was because of this allegation that they arrived at the decision to impeach the president,” the source said.

It was also gathered that the House members told leaders of the CPC in confidence that the issue of non-implementation of the 2012 budget was just used as an excuse, as members of the two leading opposition parties had earlier intimated leaders of their respective parties that they planned to move against the president.

The meeting was also informed of the plan by the lawmakers to sustain the public posturing on the allegation of budget implementation and that the various caucuses of the CPC and ACN would be meeting to review the situation in August, before the resumption of the National Assembly.

Sources further confirmed that the opposition lawmakers had the confidence of the Speaker, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, who, they said, relied largely on opposition parties and his friends in the PDP for sustenance.

OIC: OBJ, IBB should be prosecuted for treason - Uka

For systematically violating the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by attending the G8 Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) in 2001, Professor Emele Uka has said that former Nigerian leaders, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Babangida, should be tried for treason.

Professor Uka, who is the Prelate and Moderator of General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, made his position known on Sunday, while speaking with journalists during the 20th general assembly of the church in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

He explained that against the backdrop of the constitution, which makes the country a secular state with provision for freedom of worship, the act of the former leaders had automatically enlisted Nigeria among the Islamic states of the world, hence the fight by the religion to maintain the status.

He said: “This country, constitutionally, is supposed to be a circular country, but when we find a systematic violation of the constitutional provision, attempts by Muslim leaders: I mean somebody like Ibrahim Babangida, I mean somebody like Sani Abacha to systematically Islamise Nigeria, we don’t need to be pretentious about that.

“They wen to register Nigeria in OIC as an Islamic country and unfortunately, during the last meeting of the G8 Islamic countries held in Egypt in 2001, Olusegun Obasanjo identified himself, carrying Nigeria as an Islamic country by attending that meeting, thereby making the people to feel that Nigeria is an Islamic country and Islamic countries do not tolerate another religion.”

Professor Uka maintained the this was the reason behind present insecurity situation in Nigeria, occasioned by the Islamic sect’s insurgency, saying that the situation would persist except the country is deleted from the list of Islamic countries of the world.

Giving reasons for his position he stated; “Islamic countries forbid their country being ruled by a Christian. That is why they feel that for Jonathan to rule Nigeria successfully, he must be converted to Islam because they can’t stand being ruled by a Christian. That is the fundamental problem. Nigeria must delete itself from G8 Islamic countries of OIC. Nigeria must return to a secular state that it was.

Challenging the arms of Government in Nigeria to rise to their constitutional duties Uka said; “I challenge the National Assembly members, I challenge the executive I challenge the judiciary on why they are there seeing the constitution being violated and they are not saying anything. I wonder what state they think Nigeria is? Otherwise; how can you have the IG to be a Muslim, the governor of the central bank is a Muslim, Attorney General of the Federation is a Muslim, the security adviser is a Muslim you are ruled by Sharia. That is what is ruling the Northern part of this country so they don’t want you to be there.

“Why should our people be killed? Why should they begin to run away from the north meanwhile the constitution guarantees that a Nigerian citizen can reside anywhere in the country? They are violating the constitution and these people who have sold our country to Islamic countries must be charge for treason.

“It is the highest crime any citizen can commit against his country and except Nigeria is removed from the list of Islamic state of the world; which Obasanjo and Babangida registered it by attending the G8 summit, the spat of killings in Nigeria will continue.“

Ronaldo better than Messi –Bolt

Usain Bolt has claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo is a better player than Lionel Messi, with the world’s fastest man explaining that the Real Madrid ace is a more “complete” player than the Barcelona forward.

The Jamaican sprinter, who defended his 100m gold medal this summer at the Olympic Games in London, as well as adding the 200m and 4x100m relay titles to his name, believes there is only one clear winner for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

“No doubt Cristiano is better than Messi. He is a more complete player,” he told Portuguese channel RTP.

“I would give the Ballon d’Or to Cristiano. He has managed to stay on top and that’s the most difficult thing.”

Both Bolt and Ronaldo hold each other in mutual regard. The 25-year-old first attended a match at the Santiago Bernabeu against Deportivo La Coruna in 2009, and was last seen prior to the Blancos’ Champions League 6-2 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in December.

Afenifere berates Akande for attacks on Fasoranti, Falae

National Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria, Chief Bisi Akande

Pan Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has berated the Action Congress of Nigeria  Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, for his attacks on  its Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, and Chief Olu Falae for being part of Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s rally to declare his intention to seek re-election in Akure  on July 25.
Afenifere General Secretary,  Chief Seinde Arogbofa, said in an interview with reporters in Akure, on Sunday that Akande’s action “smacks of  disrespect for elders.”
Arogbofa said, “It was the action of Akande and his cohorts in the ACN that made the reconciliation of Afenifere members impossible because of their selfish agenda.”
He said the group’s  decision to support Mimiko’s  second term bid, “which drew the ire of Akande and his ilk was taken in the best interest of Yoruba and not because of inducement from any quarter”.
He added, “I do not expect Akande, a former governor and once a jolly good Afenifere brother to have gone to town to call his senior brothers names.
“I expect that even if his Public Relations Officer went out of his way to insult and be rude he should still have cautioned him.”
Arogbofa accused the former Alliance for Democracy governors, including Akande, who were elected in 1999 under the umbrella of Afenifere, of destroying the organisation “and made the reconciliation in the group almost impossible for their selfish agenda”.
He said, “It is a fact that he (Akande) won the 1999 election using Afenifere label and the grace of the late Chief (Bola) Ige, not through his popularity or versatility.
“Then more than any other person Akande was the one that made reconciliation in the Afenifere family impossible up till today, not Fasoranti.
“From 2004 to 2005 we held about six meetings in the Akure residence of the leader and about six others in the Lagos secretariat of the organisation to resolve the bitter feud between Akande and Senator Akinfemwa.
“But because he, Akande, was not always forthcoming, he literally stalled the peace moves. I still keep the records of the meetings and for decency I don’t want to go into details.”
“Less than five years ago this our brother was also instrumental to aborting the reconciliation meeting between the Afenifere brothers at a peace meeting in Premier Hotel in Ibadan where he shyly stopped the re-union of all the Afenifere Progressive Parties of A.D, A.C and DPA.

Don’t delay restructuring of polity, says Opadokun

There is an urgent need for the restructuring of the polity and the only vehicle is Sovereign National Conference, the Coordinator of Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), Mr. Ayo Opadokun, has said.
The pro-democracy activist said the plight of ethnic nationalities perceived as second class citizens would only come to an end, if there past deprivations and injustice are redressed.
Opadokun urged minorities to intensify the clamour for re-arrangement, wondering why Yoruba in Kwara and Kogi states are still lumped with other ethnic nationalities in the North Central geo-political zone.
He said President Goodluck Jonathan has only adopted former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s style by packaging the Belgore Committee, which has not come up with any novel recommendation.
Opadokun canvassed an end to shadow chasing and window dressing, recalling that previous plots to foist a third term agenda on the country at the 2005 Constitutional Conference collapsed like a pack of cards.
He said it is difficult for the leadership to turn the mere geographical expression to a virile nation, having wasted opportunities to reconfigure the political space.
The CODER chief added: “ Why will  President Jonathan ignore the popular will of the greatest majority asking ethnic nationalities and other stakeholders to meet in a representative assembly to confront the national question?
“Its the unwillingness of our rulers to govern us legally and legitimately that makes Nigeria to be part of the 10 most corrupt nation in the world and also in the company of those with the highest infant mortality rate. How can anyone explain that as much more money is earned by Nigerian government from petrol dollars, the worst their living conditions?
“Nigerians are going through a worst deprivations. No doubt with much government yet there is no governance. Every one must be a local council by sinking his own borehole and fixing a generator to power himself to survive”. 
Opadokun said Justice Alfa Belgore should not have chaired the panel, pointing out that he is one of the leading icons of the Belgore’s dynasty which have usurped a very strategic and historic town, Ilorin. 
He said Afonja, a rebellious war commander, sold the land to the Fulani dynasty, lamenting that, up to now, the Fulani descendants are still on the conquering offensive. 
He added: “How will Belgore react to the genuine agitations of Yoruba people of Kwara and Kogi states that they should be packaged together, and  with boundary adjustment, they should make the seventh state of the Southwest? Our agitation predate the current wickedness going on in Nigeria. 
“Since the NPC and NCNC opposed the position of the AG that the report of the Henry Willinkson Commission must be acted upon before the ceremonial independence, other Nigerian leaders have not acted better either. For example, Ayo  Opadokun is of the Ibolo stock of the Oyo Yoruba. In fact, historically, Offa is the headquarters of the Ibolo people. Ibolo extends to Iwo in Osun State now being positively and ideologically governed by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
 “Furthermore, no Yoruba from Kwara and Kogi states can successfully compete for any socio-political and economic position before he is reminded that he should go to the Southwest. It is painful when people of your nationality tell you that you are a northerner. We are neither birds or animals”.
Opadokun maintained that the campaign for a national conference by the Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF), Middle Belt Forum, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Lower Niger Federation, Afenifere, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and other credible Nigerians underscored the imperative of the national debate.
He said the conference of ethnic nationalities cannot be hijacked by the government.
Opadokun added: “Time is fast running out for government on this matter. NADECO has received a number of delegations which have produced their own constitutional drafts that they will present at the conference. Those who are currently living as second class citizens and those who have been denied their economic rights can no longer watch the usurpers’ a continuous free reign. The current Nigerian state cannot abort an already delivered baby.”

President should not joke with impeachment threat’

Dr. Babatunde Adejare

 

House of  Representatives member Dr. Babatunde Adejare (Agege Constituency) spoke with reporters in Lagos on national issues. Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU was there.
Could you shed light on your activities in the House of Representatives in the last one year?
The major work I have put myself to doing in that House is how to see that the Public Procurement Law works to perfection. We have a very nice law about procurement, but the execution has not been the way it should be. There is supposed to be a Procurement Commission; there are lots of agencies that are supposed to be set up by the Executive arm that have not been set up; there are a lot of things they are not doing as per what the bill says. So I have put upon myself by a way of motion to see that we have proper maintenance of this Procurement Law. We as a House started the subsidy thing, we told you when the problem came and the president said he was going to remove subsidy on petrol. It was a serious problem on our hand then, we cut off our recess and we even sat on Sunday. And one of things we promised the people was that they should not go on the streets or go strike, we said we will look into the subsidy issue. We even went to extent of looking into whether anybody was even subsidising anything, and that was how it started and here we are today. And as far as subsidy is concerned, you have been able to see that there are so many shady deals; we have been able to discover that we don’t need that huge amount to subsidise our petrol. We also discovered that the way the subsidy was managed and funded was not according to the law of the land. The law does not permit anybody, not even the president to dip hands into our money without any appropriation to back it up.
Why is the House always at loggerheads with the President?
One of the sad days I have had in recent times was May 28. I can’t remember exactly what programme it was, but I think it was a parley between the three arms of government at the federal level. And the President came on the National television to say that the House of Reps is his problem and without being prompted, he went ahead to say that we don’t do things the way they wanted us to do it, and that it is only us that will not do things the way they wanted it. I felt bad because it came from my president, which I believe should not see it in that light. But at the same time, I was so happy that the president knows this, I am glad and I hope that the people themselves heard him that day and they are now seeing it too the way I was seeing it. Sincerely speaking, we are not there to satisfy the president; we are there all of us, including the president, to satisfy the people. If we are doing that, no apology to Mr. President for him feeling the way he is feeling. I am even happy he is feeling that way because that has made them to even sit up better than before. The fear of the House of Representatives is the beginning of wisdom in government practice, it is not about intimidation, it because they all know that we will do it the way it ought to be done. They are a lot of things we need to do, but believe me sincerely, in the nearest few months, you will start seeing all these things coming up. I just want to beg the people on behalf of my colleagues that we need your supports; we are your representatives in that government and we are both your eyes and ears. For the little we have done, I can assure our people that they have not seen anything yet. This is our country and we won’t go and import outsiders to come and run it for us, we have to do it ourselves. I believe that Mr. President should see as instrument to use to achieve his aim of making Nigeria better. 
What is your position plans to impeach the President, if the budget is not 100 percent implemented? 
Concerning the debate on the 2012 budget, that is how well the budget has been executed by the executive. We all felt that as a House, we owe it a point of duty to our people to see that our budget is not just paper documents; we have to see that the budget is executed to the letter. We know that the budget cannot be implemented to a 100 per cent, but at least, let us start targeting up to 80 to 90 something per cent. In that way, even the infrastructural renewal that we are talking about will be easier to achieve. But you are talking about building up your infrastructure, which is what we should do as country, but your budget as at now which is half of the year is still less than 30 per cent executed, it does not speak well of us. . It is true that as the president he has the right to say this budget should look like this and as a House a too we have the right to say this and this should not be like this because this and this are what we are getting from our constituencies, and that is the law. so if we as a House see that what they are doing is not right we need to talk and say no, we need to say you are not doing the right thing and that what we are doing. As of July, all the revenue generating agencies of the federal government have already generated about N3 trillion, which is N1.7 trillion less the total budget, yet we have plan for deficit, this government has taken the N400 billion to balance the deficit, they have taken it already alone. And yet, you have not released more N400 billion out of the N1.7 trillion Capital budget. We are making more money than we are spending and that is the belief of some of us. But if it is not like that, they should make their account public.  
The Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said that 100 percent implementation is impossible. Would the House still proceed to impeach the President who had explained that he was distracted by Boko Haram sect?  
With all due respect to the Finance Minister, I am aware she knows we are not buffoons in that House. When we say 100 per cent, we know it might not actually be 100 per cent, but something close to that. If we are all serious and determined to face these issues, let us start from somewhere and believe me sincerely, we will go ahead and start the impeachment process if that target is not met. At least, we all saw it when the Deputy National Secretary of the PDP came out to say it is true that the President has done some wrongs and that the House is right to say they want to start impeachment process. If his party has alluded to that fact, then what are we talking about? We are only trying to help the President to make sure he doesn’t disappoint our people. I am sure that Mr. President will be as surprised as me to know that the budget performance as at today is still about 12 to 18 per cent. On the issue of Boko Haram being a stumbling block to his administration’s performance, when we get to the floor of the House, we will take all issue as they come. 
There have been clamours for a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) and this seems to have divided the National Assembly. What is your view? 
It seems some people are not comfortable with that word ‘sovereign’, let us remove the word sovereign if that is what is causing problem. Let’s just have a National Conference. There is no way we won’t come to this table.

Okwechime, Duke join UBA board

Mrs. Rose Ada Okwechime and Mrs. Owanari Duke

 

Financial giant United Bank for Africa Plc has appointed two women - Mrs. Rose Ada Okwechime and Mrs. Owanari Duke - to the Group board. 

The appointments were made at a meeting of the Board of Directors in China on July 13, according to a statement from the bank.

The appointments, which have received the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), bring to four the number of women on the board.

Mrs. Rose Ada Okwechime is the Managing Director of Abbey Building Society; a multi-billion naira mortgage institution. She has served as a public company director for over 20 years and her experience of the financial services industry includes service at the Bank of England. Mrs. Okwechime was a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of Standard Trust Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc. 

She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria; the Chartered Institute of Bankers, London; the Institute of Brand Management; the Institute of Direct Marketing of Nigeria and a member of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria.

Mrs. Duke is a former First Lady of Cross River State and a lawyer, a specialist in mediation and dispute resolution and a philanthropist. She has been the Managing Partner of the law firm of Duke & Bob-Manuel and also the Executive Chairman of Allied Merchants & Brokers Limited.

She is a Member of the Board of UNCTAD (United Nations Centre for Trade & Development) and the Country Director of EMPRETEC Nigeria Foundation; a UNCTAD Private Sector Support Initiative to assist Nigerians achieve higher levels of productivity and competitiveness among Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises SMEs.  Mrs. Duke graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with LLB Hons in 1983 and a BL at Nigerian Law School, Lagos in 1984.

“We welcome these distinguished members  to our Board and look forward to benefiting from their wealth of experience, as we continue to provide the required leadership and drive to grow shareholder value and delivering on our objective of being a leading African financial services institution” said Chief.  I C Ogbue, Chairman, UBA Board of Directors.

Electronic voting not likely in 2015, says Jega

Jega

 

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chair Prof. Attahiru Jega has technically ruled out electronic voting in the 2015 elections. He said permanent voter cards would soon be distributed. He also hinted of a restructuring of the operations of the election umpire. Jega rated the conduct of Edo State governorship election very high and promised fairness in the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State. He also spoke on a wide range of issues in this interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  

Permanent voter’s card coming soon 

“As you know we did biometric data registration; before the end of this year, we will start issuing the permanent voter cards and these permanent cards that we are going to issue are chip-based, just like many of our own bank cards.

“So they carry all the information on a microchip which is embedded in the card of the voter.

“So what we believe we can achieve at the minimum by 2015, is that we can achieve 100 per cent authentication at the polling units.’’

“If a voter comes to the polling unit and brings out his or her card, we will be able to determine 100 per cent whether he is the legitimate holder of the card.

“So the issues of people using other people’s cards to go and vote; the issues of stealing cards or even buying cards will be squarely dealt with and that, we believe we can achieve, God willing by 2015.

“We already have all the data in our database; we are now going to issue the permanent voter cards; all we need to do between now and 2015 is to buy what I call card readers in which we will store all the information,’’ Jega said.

The INEC chair explained further that card readers would be available in all the polling units to ascertain the legitimacy of the holder.

Jega also said that the process of identifying valid owners of the card would go a long way in terms of improving the credibility and the transparency of the electoral process.

Electronic voting in 2015

“Technically, there is no proposal by INEC that it should be adopted in 2015.

“Right now, if we are to introduce electronic voting in this country, we have to do a lot of piloting.

“We have to do a lot of sampling of existing machines right now, because of that prohibition, we can’t even attempt to do it.

“Now, if that is done in good time, and we are able to explore the possibility and it seems feasible, then obviously at that time we will tell Nigerians that it is feasible, and then maybe we should try it.

“But right now, we haven’t gotten to that stage; right now what we want is the removal of a major hindrance for INEC to even begin to explore the possibility of electronic voting.

“But what INEC is trying to do and then we are really again improving the use of technology in elections is that as you know we did biometric data registration.’’

Restructuring 

“The problem is that in Nigeria, anytime you talk about restructuring and reorganisation, people think you are talking about retrenchment; it needs not be so.

“In INEC, our restructuring and reorganisation is not synonymous with retrenchment. We are doing everything possible to bring efficiency and effectiveness and it can be done without the kind of massive retrenchment that people fear and expect.

“We also need to motivate people. So, a lot of the reform efforts we are trying to bring has to do with what levels of motivation and adjustments in the conditions of service.

“In a matter of a month, maximum two months, we will have the kind of restructuring and reorganisation that we would be pleased with in terms of actualising that vision of having the best election management body in Africa.’’

Transparency

“We believe we have done quite a lot to lift the bar in terms of transparency and credibility of the electoral process.

“The challenge for us as we move toward 2015 is to learn the lessons of all the elections which we have conducted and to continue to plan and improve upon the conduct of subsequent elections.

“Many Nigerians want perhaps a perfect electoral system and it is possible to have near perfection in planning election, but unfortunately in the Nigerian context, things have been so bad for so long. As I quite often say, it takes a lot of time, energy and resourcefulness to be able to get there.’’

 On Edo election

 “So, by all credible standards and measures, there was a high turnout this time around in Edo State than there has ever been in the election in the state since 1999. So, it is not correct to say there was voter apathy in Edo State.

“We did our best to prevent it, but it was caused by a combination of factors and in Edo State, the delay was experienced in only two out of 18 local government areas.

“We deployed a strategy in which we sent materials to the most difficult terrain areas first; to the farthest local government area first and then we distributed to the nearest local government areas last.

“That’s why Oredo Local Government Area and the other local government areas which are within Benin City were the last where materials were distributed.

“But by 3am, the materials had been distributed to what we call Supervisory Presiding Officers, who were supposed to go to the wards and distribute to the other Presiding Officers who go to the polling units.

“But there was no security coverage, and we cannot move election materials unless there is security coverage.

“Some of the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) were posted to Edo on Thursday by the Inspector-General of Police and most of them did not get to their stations until almost mid-night on the preceding Friday.

“The police could not mobilise for a very long time. Though the posting of the senior police officers was done with the best of intentions, it affected timely deployment of security to some areas.

“The Supervisory Presiding Officers in Oredo Local Government Area, on the eve of the election, demanded that they must be paid in full before they proceeded for the election; it was unusual, it has never happened, but we had to pay them to ensure that materials now go to the field.

“We must do everything possible to ensure that materials arrive in good time, but sometimes in spite of everything you do, challenges emerge in the field and they obstruct smooth conduct of the process.

“In Edo State, no voter was disenfranchised. Where there were delays, the Resident Electoral Commissioner extended the time for accreditation and voting.’’

Ondo governorship election 

“Ondo State is not as riverine as any of these three states that I have mentioned and you can see that there was no complaint in the Bayelsa election about difficulty because of the place being riverine.

“Wherever there is difficulty in terms of either security challenges or in accessibility these security agencies provide the support that we need.

“Where it is necessary to lift materials by boat, the Navy provided the assistance. Where it is necessary to transport by air, the Air Force also provides the necessary assistance.’

 Money politics 

“Obviously, it is unfortunate that in Nigeria there is a lot of use of money in politics.

“It is unhealthy, it is illegal and we have to do quite a lot to minimise the role of money in politics and, we in INEC, it’s is one of the reforms measures that we hope to introduce long before 2015.

“We in INEC are committed to ensuring that by 2015, we would have even more effective mechanism in place to be able to monitor campaign financing; to be able to monitor candidates’ expenditure and to also monitor a party’s expenditure.

“You know it is a constitutional responsibility and we will continue to do it. I think a few months ago, we issued the results of the last audit and we pointed out parties that were in default and so on.

“So really parties are not also serious about accountability, and we have our responsibility to keep on pushing them so that they become more transparent and more accountable in the way in which they keep their finances.

“But I think it is part of politics that members of a party will become aggrieved and when they are aggrieved sometimes, they think the only option available to them is to actually leave that party and move to another party.

“There is no doubt that the level of internal party democracy in our political parties leaves much to be desired

“And we are doing our best to improve on our engagement with political parties so that we can encourage them to be more democratic in their outlook. 

De-registration of political parties

“The Constitution and the Electoral Act gave INEC the power to de-register political parties and we have commenced that process and it is ongoing.

“So, until there is a change in the legislation, obviously, any political party that does not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, we are obligated to de-register it.

“So, it is an ongoing process. It’s a continuous process and we will do it.

“I think there are very useful models of registration of political parties in other countries that we can learn from.

“‘It is good to have a multiparty system and to allow as many parties as possible to register, but we really need to sanitise the process of registering political parties.

“This will ensure that only the most deserving in terms of their programmes, their constitution, and their physical presence in states and in localities that are registered.

“But being a registered political party does not necessarily mean that you must field candidates in all elections.

“It may be necessary for some parties to bid their time until they are ripe enough to field candidates at elections.

“So, we think that’s the way to go rather than to limit the number of registered parties to just a few.

“The fact of the matter is that INEC does not have the capacity to prosecute all offenders successfully because of the magnitude of offences.

“There are still many cases which are still pending in the courts, but a successful prosecution is predicated on INEC prosecution.

“Then the police must do the investigation and provide the necessary evidence, and the courts should hasten the process of prosecution.”

Osun defends Soyinka’s appointment

Prof Soyinka

Osun State has dismissed the protests of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola against the appointment of Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka as Chairman, Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU) as hogwash. 
A statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said Oyinlola’s claim that the CBCIU does not belong to Osun is the most despicable comment to have emanated from the former governor.
Okanlawon wondered how the centre has been funded since its establishment, pointing out that Oyinlola delivered a speech on January 7, 2009 during the commissioning ceremony where he stated that his administration provided $680,000 for the procurement of archival materials.   
The statement added: “It must be stated here that for Oyinlola to have personalised the centre by making himself the chairman either in or out of office through the law setting it up was another height of impunity for which his administration was notorious.
“This was a major odium that was yanked off the law passed under Oyinlola through an amendment signed by Governor Rauf Aregbesola in July this year, now called “State of Osun Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (Amendment) Law 2012”.
It explained that the choice of Soyinka was informed by the “genuine commitment and determination of the current administration to the promotion of our people’s heritage”.

Tinubu, Fayemi: Re-engaging the national question

Asiwaju Tinubu and Dr. Fayemi

 

Almost 52 years after independence, Nigeria is still grappling with the dearth of visionary and exemplary leadership. Besides, there are salient national questions begging for answers. EMMANUEL OLADESU and AUGUSTINE AVWODE present the views of two eminent Nigerians, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, on the way out.

Questions abound on the future of Nigeria’s fledging federalism. Many stakeholders contend that, central to peaceful co-existence, stability of the country and consolidation of democracy is the resolution of the national question.

Is the country not ripe for restructuring? Should the power-loaded distant federal government devolve power to the state? Why should governors who are chief security officers depend on the Inspector General of Police for security of their states? How should the 1999 Constitution be reviewed? What is the basis for a national conference?

These fundamental questions resonated at the launch of a book: ‘The Nigerian Political Turf: Polity, Politics and Politicians’, written by the Group Political Editor of ‘The Nation’, Mr. Mobalade Omonijo. Eminent Nigerians who spoke at the ceremony, which held at Muson Center, Lagos, including the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Senator Bola Tinubu, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin and Senator Ganiyu Solomon, lamented that the non-resolution of the fundamental issues germane to national unity and stability constituted a drawback.

“Nigeria needs fixing and this fixing is a task for both the leaders and followers”, intoned Tinubu, who was represented by former Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan. “Nigeria is fast becoming a country of lamentations. Lamenting about our condition will not bring about change. Only action will”.

Fayemi, who delivered a lecture titled: ‘The Nigerian polity, politics and politicians: Moving from transactional to transformational leadership’, faulted the leadership recruitment procedure in the country, noting that many in the corridor of power are political traders. He said the resolution of these problems is being delayed or postponed because Nigerians are docile.

The governor observed that the country cannot afford to avoid conditions that can accord it the status of a nation-state. “Many of the internal contradictions of the Nigerian state have been sharpened to a point that the bare bones are now visible. The failure to address the national or nationality questions in an inclusive manner is evident in the varied responses across the country to conflicts over identity, nationality, self-determination and autonomy”, Fayemi added.

These puzzles, in his view, are tied to the question of what type of federalism to adopt. Fayemi observed that, unlike in the past when the government decreed issues, including religion, autonomy and resource control as constitutional “no-go areas”, Nigerians are now openly debating them, thereby putting to test the hitherto authoritarian might of the ‘federal centre’.

“What is the nation called Nigeria?, What does it mean to be a Nigerian?, How do we manage diversity and difference in a multi-ethnic, multi-faith polity? These are some of the questions that we avoided in the events leading up to May 29, 1999, in the desperation for anything but the military”, he added.

Many core issues captured by the book and re-echoed by Tinubu have shaped the perception and direction of response to the political milieu by aggrieved ethnic nationalities. They include the continuous controversy over the 1999 Constitution, lack of true federalism, unending battle for control and power by politicians, elections and electoral reforms, fuel hike and corruption.

Taking a swipe at the monopolisation of power, privileges and resources by a tiny political class, Tinubu said Nigeria has become a country where everything is politicised and where, unless you are in politics or connected to someone in politics, you are not likely to make headway.

More worrisome to the former governor is the growing insecurity in the land. “The present state of insecurity and bombings is symptomatic of a free fall. The government must act quickly and intelligently to curtail the situation before Nigerians resort to self-help”, he said. But he quickly added that that the solution is not beyond reach. Noting that the debate over state or community policing is long overdue, Tinubu emphasised that “Nigeria needs to decentralise its policing system in line with universal policing trends”.

In the pre-1999 period, the resolution of the national question was on the agenda of pro-democracy activists. However, when democracy was restored, power landed on the palms of retired soldiers who compounded the nation’s woes during the long period of military rule. “We ended up with a democracy with pseudo-democrats”, Fayemi said, pointing out that these emergency democrats have created strains and international contradictions threatening the flawed system.

“Nowhere are the limits of the democratic project in Nigeria more apparent than in the question of creating appropriate institutional arrangements for the political accomodation and management of social diversities and differences”, he stressed.

The consequence is national crisis of ethnic nature. As Fayemi put it, the lethality of many of these conflicts has been transformed in score and intensity with the unrestricted availability of small arms and unemployed youths. “At the core of the crisis either in the Niger Delta or in the North is the failure of politics to allocate authority, legitimise it, and use it to achieve the social and economic ends conducive to wellbeing”, he said.

Fayemi called for state or community police. But he also said that in its drive for security, leaders should also focus on ‘human security’, which includes access to the means of life, provision of good roads, sustainable environment and democratic freedoms.

The governor canvassed “a new political and economic framework, guaranteed by a new federal constitution, that would transfer power, and with it, the control of economic resources, to local people; allowing them in turn to pay appropriate taxes to federal coffers”.

Also, Fayemi hammered on good governance, saying that it is better to take politics beyond political parties. “The immediate challenge for all of us is to concentrate on how to rescue our people from bad governance”, he added.

The sure path to resolving the leadership question in the country, according to Tinubu and Fayemi is mass participation in the process of governance. At the event, they canvassed vehemently in their separate presentations, an end to the passive attitude which many Nigerians elite have displayed all along. 

Tinubu warned that “Nigeria is right now at a sorry pass and no one needs a soothsayer to reveal that Nigeria is almost at the tipping point”. He warned that except all join hand and speak out, and jointly find a solution now, no one will be spared.

He told the story of a German protestant pastor, Martin Niemoller, during the Nazi rule to illustrate his point.  He adopted a passive attitude when the powers that be came for those who were involved, thinking that he would be spared but how wrong he was. 

According to Tinubu, “But we cannot continue like this. That we are where we are today is because the politicians, in whatever garb, have turned politics into zero sum game. Winner-take-all. Some kind of booty game. 

“A rat race where you must gobble up as much as you can in the shortest time possible. Nigeria is prostrate because we have taken the morality out of politics and replaced it completely with enlightened self interest. 

“The resounding message from Omonijo is that unless we speak up, unless we mobilize for action, unless the people wake up from the slumber, a Moses will not emerge, a revolution will not happen and Nigeria will remain in the auto-repair section”, he stated.

He listed the consequences of maintaining a passive disposition. In his words: “When we refuse to speak up against injustice against our fellow citizen. When we fail to rise up in defence of our rights and freedoms; when we slumber and sleep rather than line the streets to make our case and demand that those who misrule us be pushed out; when we behave like we are a sadistic people who enjoy pains being inflicted on us by those elected to protect us, we open ourselves up to abuse, exploitation and pauperization. As Nigerians, we must learn to walk the talk, we must band together to demand from our leaders that our country is better governed and we must not relent until we witness the changes we so much desire. Else, darkness will descend. And no man, either from Sokoto to Samunaka, or from kontagora to kaduna, or from Ibadan to Imo, or from Delta to Plateau will be spared”, he warned. 

He insisted that “Nigerians have a right to demand to be governed properly”, saying the Arab spring protests and the near revolutionary process that it continues to unleash remains most instructive in the Nigeria situation of today.

Fayemi explores what he described as “citizens’ engagement in democracy”. He argued that  “ the issue should not be one for politicians or non-politicians, but the extent to which we are able to achieve citizen participation in our democracy.   The issue of leadership – particularly, how we conceptualise leadership is central to the discourse.

“In my view, our discussion should really focus more on the making of leaders and citizens in a good society because without direct citizen participation, the legitimacy of our political institutions will continue to decline. It is for this reason that I strongly believe that leaders – be they politicians or non-politicians should worry because their ability to lead effectively is being seriously undermined by the desertion of average citizens from the public space, deepening the crisis of legitimacy in the country. 

“Yet, this lack of legitimacy cuts both ways.  When we the people withdraw our trust in leaders or discountenance politicians, we make our democratic institutions less effective and risk making ourselves ungovernable.   

“For the majority of our citizens – democracy was supposed to bring the end of military dictatorship in form and content; they hoped that it would bring greater involvement of ordinary people in politics, whether in the federal, state and local institutions or even in civil society ones.  “They hoped for real and immediate dividends in employment, clean water, affordable shelter, accessible health care, improved education, reliable and consistent power supply, rehabilitated roads and food on the table. If democracy is not capable of wiping out poverty, curbing corruption, guaranteeing transparency and improving people’s well being and quality of life, it is at best an empty concept, at worst a sham to many. 

“Poverty and despair, oppression and humiliation, economic and social insecurities are breeding grounds – even if not the only reasons – for violence and conflict. As much as Nigerians want democracy, they also want to see concrete evidence of democracy making a difference in their lives and not just in an instrumentalist sense of embracing freedom. 

“Understandably, if you make political discourse more negative as some do – you deliberately turn ordinary people off politics; more people grow cynical and stop paying any serious attention to politics.  This experience is not unique to us in Nigeria; in fact it is the crisis that democracy is experiencing all over the world, with low turn out at the polls and scant regard for political leaders. 

“Yet, if we as citizens choose not to play a part in this process of activism in our communities and our state, we will get the politicians we deserve, allow the hijack of the political realm by special interests, religious bigots and ethnic jingoists only keen in the promotion of their narrow agendas. So, being political is being patriotic and we all must be ready to leave our comfort zones to embrace active engagement”.

He argued that the field must not be left in the hands of those he described as ‘charlatans’. He insisted that when serious people turn away from participating in politics, those who have nothing to offer invariably take over.

“It is my belief that committed social activism must help provide the road map that people can employ to help undertake various empowerment projects that will give them control over their own destinies and lives. It is the belief that public office is too serious to be entrusted in the hands of charlatans and that when serious people turn away from politics, the field is left to those who have nothing to offer than crass opportunism and damage to our people’s well being. 

“We must – politicians and journalists alike - be determined to ensure that the State empowers rather than dictate, enables rather than control, pushes power down to the people and shares the responsibility of governing with them rather than turn them to supplicants at the table of power wielders”.  

This is a direct challenge to the Nigerians elite who often than not like to criticise and grumble aloud but would do nothing in the long run to effect a change. In essence, Tinubu and Fayemi are tasking Nigerians to dare to participate in the process of governance than adopt the now famous Sidon look attitude of the late former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Chief Bola Ige during the Gen Sani Abacha transition program.