AC rejects mega party initiative

Action Congress (AC) leaders yesterday dissociated themselves from the mega party initiative, saying the idea is restricted to politicians battling with fading influence.

They also reflected on preparations for the 2011 elections.

The party leaders hinged the survival of democracy on peaceful conduct of the election.

They added that a successful poll may not be possible unless there is democratic reform.

AC National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba, former Oyo State Governor Lam Adesina, former Ekiti State Governor Niyi Adebayo, AC governorship candidate in Osun State, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola and Alhaji Tajudeen Bello said danger looms in 2011 if the electoral reform process is jettisoned by the Federal Government.

They spoke at a one-day conference of the Ogun State chapter of the party held at the Bishop Court Hall, Onikolobo, Abeokuta, the state capital.

Governor Babatude Fashola of Lagos State evoked passion at the meeting when he canvassed the restoration of welfarist system of government to the South-West states

The conference entitled: "Olumo2009" was attended by delegates from the 236 wards in the Gateway State and leaders of the party from other states of the federation.

Akande described the conference as a meeting of the national stimulators who were set to build and defend AC, instead of joining the mega party.

Thanking the chapter for its dedication, he assured that their labours would not be in vain.

Adebayo said attendance at the conference instilled confidence that the future of AC in Ogun State is bright.

Osoba said former governors, who were elected under the Alliance for Democracy (AD), had not been guests of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) since they left office.

He stressed the need to re-adopt the modified open-secret ballot system.

The system, Osoba said, would stem rigging.

The former governor noted that when Nigeria and Ghana used the method, riggers were left in the cold.

Aregbesola, who spoke on party organisation, suggested that AC should build cadres dedicated to mass mobilisation of party faithful for electoral success.

At the conference were Bisi Adegbuyi, Femi Lanlehin, Lateef Raji, Abiodun Mafe, Daniel Adejobi, Segun Adesegun, Ayo Afolabi, Bimbo Awofeso, Pa Sunmola, Dipo Dina, Kayode Tejuoso, Kayode Soyinka, Pa Farinu, Rafiu Ogunleye, Segun Taiwo and Mudashiru Hussein

Abbe warns militants not to test govt’s might

The Federal Government yesterday closed all possibilities of extending the grace period granted militants in the Niger Delta to embrace peace.

It said by October 4 when the amnesty ends, there will be no extension.

This was the decision at a meeting between President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and the Presidential committee on Niger Delta amnesty.

Also at the meeting were Vice President, Goodluck Joanthan, Governors Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa, Liyel Imoke of Cross River, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Adam Oshiomhole of Edo, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom, Deputy Governor of Rivers Tele Ikuru, the Inspector-General of Police, Ogbonna Onovo, presidential aide on Niger Delta Timi Alaibe, Ministers of Niger Delta Ministry Ufot Ekaette and Godsday Orubebe, amongst others.

After the meeting, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Niger Delta amnesty, Major Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd), told reporters that there cannot be talks with the militants while they are carrying weapons.

He warned the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) against testing the might of the government, noting that the government is prepared to express the sovereignty of Nigeria in all its ramifications.

Gen Abbe also said that the government was resolute in its plan to execute the amnesty to the letter.

He said: "As you notice, Mr. President and the vice president, the governors of Niger Delta Region, Ministers of Niger Delta Ministry, myself and other senior government officials have been deliberating in the last couple of hours and reviewing the amnesty programme and after looking at the various aspects of the programme, we have now come out with the conclusion that all the militants who have embraced the amnesty deserve commendation as patriots of this country, and to believe that between now and 4th of October, if there are other militants who are still in doubt as to the sincerity of government to make use of this opportunity by embracing the amnesty because after 4th of October the amnesty terminates; there will be no extension. Government is firm, is resolute and government will continue with subsequent aspects of the rehabilitation and reintegration of all those who have embraced amnesty."

On whether the government will consider MEND’s condition that they will only listen to their choice envoy, Gen Abe said that the government does not recognise the group as the spokesperson for the militants.

He warned that if they chose to test the might of the Federal Government, the government would defend the sovereignty of Nigeria in all its ramifications.

His words: "MEND is not recognised by the Federal Government as the spokesperson for the militants that are, if they exist at all physically. MEND can not choose for the Nigeria nation, if MEND decides to test the will of government and choose to threaten the very existence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the government is prepared to express the sovereignty of Nigeria in all its ramifications."

He also said that MEND’s demand for the full implementation of the presidential committee on Niger Delta report is an expression of democratic right; adding: "The amnesty was granted unconditionally and they are expected to accept it unconditionally. What is important is that they cannot be discussing with government while they are carrying weapons. It is illegal and they have no right to bear arms."

On what to expect after 4th October, Gen. Abbe said: "Government is going to pay attention to all the militants who have embraced amnesty. They are going to be put together in various camps that have been designated and in these camps they will be categorised and personal contacts will be established with each of them after thorough documentation and their choice of training and settlement will also be identified."

He added: "Government is willing to train them and to join them in any rehabilitation effort that will bring about their going into life as normal citizens without resorting to militancy."

Ogedegbe dies after complications from eye surgery

Former Nigeria goalkeeper Best Ogedegbe tragically passed away on Monday night after being in a coma for a week following an eye operation at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

"It is very sad but Ogedegbe is no longer with us. I visited him yesterday [Monday], but his wife informed me of his death this morning," a top official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Taiwo Ogunjobi, confirmed to Goal.com.

A family member had earlier this week disclosed that Ogedegbe was moved to the intensive unit of the hospital, where he was kept alive with the aid of a life support machine.

"He was in a coma since last Monday, when he underwent corrective eye surgery," said a family member.

Ogedegbe was one of the heroes as Nigeria won their first ever Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 1980. He was preferred by Brazilian coach Otoo Gloria to man goal for Nigeria ahead of the popular Emmanuel Okalla.

Four years earlier, he featured for the Shooting Stars, who became the first Nigerian club to win the African Cup Winners' Cup.

He has worked as a coach with the country's youth team and only recently signed a deal to train Premier League club Sharks of Port Harcourt.

The devil is called Obasanjo

When men are caught in wrongdoing, or are overwhelmed with troubles, they often lay the blame at the door of the devil. Poor chap. And so it is that former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, woke up with a start to discover that at the root of all his legal troubles has been none other than that old vengeance-seeker, former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Verdicts are still some way off in the many cases against Ibori, but I hazard that if in the end the courts find against him, he may yet come up with something novel like ‘Obasanjo made me do it.’ Why not? After all he has blamed him for virtually every other thing.

I am not sure what the man expected when he called that press conference to inveigh against the former president and ex-EFCC boss, Nuhu Ribadu.

If he thought we would all whip out our handkerchiefs and start weeping in collective sympathy over his sudden troubles, then he was badly advised.

He would have been better served to keep his head below the parapet, given that the indefatigable Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, was already doing a good job battling Ribadu and the British on his behalf.

The trouble with press conferences is that your utterances cause those you accuse to activate their right to reply. I believe that Ribadu has done that to devastating effect. I am not sure how to interpret Obasanjo’s dismissive silence. Could that be read as contempt for his accuser? May be.

The former Delta State governor wants Nigerians to believe that his present prosecution is politically motivated because of his initial opposition to Obasanjo’s second term bid. If we accept Ibori’s recollection of events there were 15 likeminded governors, so how come he’s the only one being persecuted?

Much has been made of the fact that Obasanjo has the memory of an elephant, is unforgiving and vindictive. Still the man is no longer in office and has little or no say in who gets persecuted or prosecuted. Depending on who you talk to, it is even said that ties between Ota and Aso Rock could use some defrosting.

If anything it is the likes of Ibori who are the current influence peddlers in the court of President Umaru Yar’Adua. Political lore has it that he and a few others provided the financial magic carpet that swept the current incumbent into office.

For his troubles Ibori was rewarded with the installation of his loyalist and former Delta Finance commissioner, David Edevbie, as the President’s gate keeper in his position as Principal Secretary to the President.

This whole business of Ibori blaming Obasanjo for his woes gets more laughable by the minute. In the eight years in which both men were in power, they always found ways to use each other when it was convenient. Obasanjo deployed Ibori as one of his foot soldiers to force Yar’Adua down the throat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and ultimately the rest of Nigeria.

Ijaw leader and former Information Minister, Chief Edwin Clark, has also in response to the press conference, claimed that the former governor and president worked together to install the current Delta State governor – who just happens to be Ibori’s cousin. At that point Ibori also claimed to be at daggers drawn with Obasanjo!

Just as unconvincing is the motivation that Ibori imputes to Ribadu. If the former anti-graft czar turned political refugee is gunning for him it certainly cannot be over this nonsense about not being appointed Inspector-General of Police.

Any one truly determined to get into such high office in Nigeria would not put all his lobbying efforts into just one basket. So if Ribadu really wanted to be top cop, he would also have had some other people making the case for him, as well as a couple of others who would have declined to do so. Again, how come poor James Ibori is the only being picked on?

The truth is that from the onset officials of this administration charged with prosecuting former governors have been less than enthusiastic about doing the job. Their body language and utterances said it all.

Rather than carry on from where the Obasanjo regime stopped, their overriding priority appeared to be decapitating the pesky leadership then in control of the EFCC, and exposing its supposed shortcomings rather than going after corruption targets.

The only thing keeping Ibori’s prosecution alive is public interest. Secondly, some of the cases are outside Nigerian jurisdiction - otherwise our great defenders of the rule of law in the Ministry of Justice would have pulled the plug long ago.

I think that going forward the former governor would himself greatly by staying away from press conferences, until all the awkward questions swirling around his head are answered.

For years he has battled claims that he was either an ex-convict or corrupt. In one instance he was discharged by an Abuja court. Ribadu claims that while in office as EFCC boss he had established two such cases against Ibori. Unfortunately, he did not give further details.

Aside the cases in court, there is the other matter of 820 million units of shares of Oceanic Bank International Plc belonging to the Delta State Government, being used to secure a loan facility in favour of a private firm – Ascot Offshore Nigeria Limited – with Intercontinental Bank Plc. This was done in January 2007 while Ibori was still in office.

Mr. Ibori must understand that he’s in a bit of jam here. He has questions to answer and needs to come up with a better performance than what he delivered at the press conference. Unfortunately for him the court of public opinion is irrelevant in his current travails. Only the court of law can determine now whether he winds up in jail; and they work with facts not sentiments.

Amputee tells Ekiti Tribunal how thumb-printed ballot papers sparked violence

An Action Congress (AC) witness, Mr. Segun Ajayi, has attributed the violence at the collation centre in Ido/Osi Local Government Area during the April 25 governorship rerun election in Ekiti State to an attempt by Governor Segun Oni’s aides to smuggle sacks of thumb-printed ballot papers into the centre.

Ajayi, who had his leg amputated from the upper thigh as a resulted of the injury he sustained from gunshot wounds he got from those he referred to as PDP thugs and security men attached to Oni’s aides, presented his medical report on the severed leg admitted by the Election Petitions Tribunal at yesterday’s proceedings.

The tribunal rejected the witness statement on oath of another witness, who was subpoenaed to appear before the tribunal, Mr. Peter Oladosu, on the grounds that his witness statement on oath was filed ahead of the subpoena on him.

Ajayi, who brought the severed leg to the court on Monday, averred in his witness statement on oath that he his leg was shattered by bullets allegedly fired by suspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs and armed policemen in the violence that erupted at the collation centre in Ido/Osi Local Government Area.

He could not be cross-examined at the Monday’s proceedings following the foul odour oozing out of his severed leg.

The AC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is aggrieved with the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is challenging Oni’s return as the winner of the election.

Ajayi, in his witness statement on oath, which was adopted before the tribunal, said violence erupted at the centre when Oni’s aides allegedly attempted to force their way into the collation centre in Ido-Ekiti with what he called "rigged results and phony ballot papers" in Ghana-Must-Go sacks.

The witness admitted that the election was held peacefully at Oke Are polling unit 2, Ido-Ekiti, where he acted as agent for the AC, following which he escorted the result to the Ido/Osi Local Government Area collation centre.

The amputee identified suspected Oni’s aides, who allegedly stormed the collation centre in a commando-like manner to include his Personal Assistant (PA), Mr. Bunmi Ojo, the Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Mr. Olusoji Akinbayo and the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Mr. Philip Ojelade.

The witness claimed in his statement on oath that the governor’s aides stormed the collation centre in two vehicles and allegedly shot indiscriminately into the air.

But, he said the crowd that massed at the centre resisted the aides from gaining access into the main building where the collation was going on.

His words: "I know that collation began and everything was going on smoothly without hitch until about 5:00 p.m. when two vehicles containing Ghana-Must-Go bags arrived at the INEC office.

"Trouble erupted because the GMG bags contained thumb-printed ballot papers which the PDP members wanted to forcefully take inside the INEC office.

"The Police fired tear gas canisters and everywhere became rowdy and I suddenly felt that bullet entered my leg from the direction of the vehicle and I became unconscious.

"I was later taken to the hospital where my shattered leg was eventually amputated and now I am bed-ridden and in pain."

Ajayi, the Petitioner Witness 42 (PW 42), who was led in evidence by the Fayemi’s counsel, Chief Anthony Adeniyi, sought to tender the medical report on his severed leg but the move was opposed by counsel to the respondents.

The witness intended to tender the document in support of his averment in Paragraph 5 of his witness statement on oath that he was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Ado-Ekiti, where his shattered leg was amputated.

The medical report, which was the original copy, was signed by Dr. P.O. Abiola.

Opposing the tendering of the report, Mr. Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN), who objected on the grounds that the document was not in Ajayi’s witness statement on oath in line with Paragraph 4 (3) of the Tribunal Practice Direction.

Adenipekun’s second ground of objection was that the witness was not the maker of the document, adding that no foundation was laid for its tendering.

He said the document could only be relevant if the doctor who issued it is summoned to tender it.

Counsel to the PDP, Mr. Obafemi Adewale, aligned with Adenipekun’s submissions, adding: "It is trite in law that evidence dealing with an issue not pleaded is a non-issue".

Mr. Roland Otaru (SAN), counsel to INEC and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), said it is the medical doctor who issued the report was supposed to be called.

Counsel to Returning Officers of Ido/Osi and Ijero, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and Police’s and Inspector-General’s Milton Ohwovoriole (SAN) adopted the submissions of Adenipekun, Adewale and Otaru.

Replying, Adeniyi noted that the issues raised by the respondents’ counsel had been raised in similar situations before the court but were overturned by the tribunal, adding that the decisions of the tribunal had not been appealed against.

Urging the tribunal to consign all the arguments of the respondents’ counsel to the trash can, Adeniyi said the report being sought to be tendered passed the tests of relevance, admissibility and pleadings as demanded by the Practice Direction.

He said the content of the medical report was relevant to the petition at hand, stressing that it was not only pleaded but was also listed as Item Number 18 of Fayemi’s petition.

In a short ruling, Tribunal Chairman Justice Hamma Barka admitted the medical report subject to the weight attached to it.

Ajayi, who was later cross-examined after the report was admitted, said his father was a soldier but he had not handled a gun before.

He denied struggling with the armed mobile policemen at the collation centre, adding that he had never been arraigned in court for any offence.

Oladosu, the PW 43, who told the tribunal that he lives at F5, Iletin Steet in Orin-Ekiti,Ido/Osi Local Government Area and that he works as a driver and farmer.

An attempt to adopt his witness’ statement on oath was opposed by lawyers to all the respondents.

They said it violates the provisions of Section 11 B of the Practice Direction.

Counsel to the respondents faulted the proposed adoption of Oladosu’s witness statement on oath on the grounds that it was dated September 24 while the subpoena issued by the tribunal had September 27.

They argued that it is a subpoena that gives rise to the witness statement on oath and not the other way round.

Another long session of arguments ensued among lawyers who cited a plethora of authorities to substantiate their submissions.

The row was sparked by Adeniyi’s oral application to have Oladosu stepped down from the witness box, a request which was opposed by respondents’ lawyers.

They insisted that the witness be cross-examined.

The tribunal, however, adjourned ruling on whether Oladosu’s cross-examination should continue or that he stepped down from the witness box.

Also yesterday, some PDP members and mobile policemen harassed a photographer working for The Nation newspapers, Toyin Anisulowo and a reporter with Adaba 88.9 FM, Akure, Jide Ogunluyi, at the court premises.

Anisulowo, who left the courtroom to ease himself outside, was harassed by some PDP members who were not happy with his shots on the happenings at the tribunal.

They warned him against coming to the tribunal or he would be attacked.

Anisulowo had to leave the court premises through the second gate.

He was stopped by some mobile policemen who demanded his identity card.

One of the mobile policemen seized his identity card, saying: "The Nation’s photo journalist. Na you we dey find".

Anisulowo was briefly detained by the policemen.

Ogunluyi, who went to find out what was happening to Anisulowo, was also harassed by the policemen.

Anisulowo fingered one of his family members, who is a member of the PDP as the one who revealed his identity to his fellow party faithful.

Ogunluyi also alleged that some PDP members threatened him over the reports of the tribunal proceedings being aired on his radio station. He is the Head of News and Current Affairs.

The news of the reporters’ harassment soon filtered into the courtroom, a development which prompted reporters in the court to rush to the scene.

A senior police officer, who later stormed the scene, warned his men to be civil with journalists who are doing their jobs.

Anisulowo and Ogunluyi were released after the officer’s intervention.

Anisulowo’s identity card was returned to him.

Oshiomhole briefs Yar’Adua on talks with ASUU chiefs

University teachers and the Federal Government resumed talks yesterday, raising hopes of a resolution of their disagreement.

The talks dragged on late into the night, with Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole as mediator.

Oshiomhole, who persuaded the teachers to return to the negotiation table, briefed President Umaru Yar’Adua on his efforts, before the parties went into another round of talks at the National Universities Commission (NUC) secretariat at about 8.15p.m.

Oshiomhole had met with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) leadership at the Labour House, Abuja. He later met with Education Minister Dr Sam Egwu, the leader of the government’s team, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode and ASUU president Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie.

Oshiomhole told reporters that the meeting was to seek ways of ending the over three months strike in public universities.

Oshiomhole said: "This meeting was convened so that we can revisit the dispute between the government and ASUU and the aim is to find a common ground to proceed so that the dispute can be resolved and the university system restored."

The government pulled out of the talks in July, asking the teachers to suspend their strike before the parley could continue.

But the lecturers refused, saying they would only return to the classrooms after their demands have been met.

The National Assembly leadership will join Oshiomhole in resolving the strike.

Senate spokesman Ayogu Eze lamented that the strike was capable of crippling the education system.

He said the intervention would be multi-faceted, adding that the Senate leadership would join the committee on education to dialogue with the university teachers.

A meeting convened by the Senate Committee on Education on July 21, to resolve the disagreement suffered a setback as the committee chairman, Senator Joy Emodi, could not find a common ground with the teachers.

Govt, ASUU resume talks today, SSANU plans prayers

THE intervention of Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, in the industrial disagreement between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) seems to be yielding fruits as both feuding parties have agreed to meet today to explore areas of mutual understanding towards ending the four-month old strike action.

The Guardian learnt that the parley, scheduled for the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja at 4.00 p.m. today, will be preceded by a parley between ASUU and Oshiomhole at the Labour House, headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), at 11.00 a.m.

The meeting, it was further gathered, was meant to smoothen the grounds for the meeting with government officials later today.

Though the detail of those to attend the meeting was sketchy as at yesterday, The Guardian learnt that the President of the Congress, Abdulwaheed Omar, the General Secretary, John Odah, will be leading the ASUU President and his group to the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has instructed its members to observe a three-day fasting and prayers for the early resolution of the imbroglio.

Addressing journalists in Abuja at the end of its emergency meeting, SSANU Deputy President, Malam Bala Gadanga Sokoto, said the association decided to seek God's intervention since the Federal Government has refused to listen to the advice of prominent Nigerians, including the pro-chancellors, traditional and religious leaders.

He said: "This emergency National Executive Council (NEC) has therefore ordered its members to fast and pray between the 5th and the 7th, three days, for God's intervention since government will not listen to the intervention of the Committee of Vice Chancellors, will not listen to that of the Pro-Chancellors and will not listen to that of Chancellors who are custodians of our culture. The important thing is that three very strategic committees, the Committee of Vice Chancellors (CVC), the Pro-Chancellors and finally the Chancellors who also double as the conscience and the custodian of our culture have intervened and government is not interested. We want to resolve this issue so that our students can return to school and give peace to their parents and guardians."

Though he welcomed the latest truce spearheaded by Oshiomhole, Sokoto stated that the effort might be futile if government comes to the meeting with a fixation of an already pre-determined position.

"His involvement is a welcome development. Not just because he is our leader, he is not a former leader, he is still our leader, but because anything that will be an equitable resolution to this issue must be encouraged, welcomed and supported because we believe that the issues at stake are simple and that any sincere arbitrator would be able to see that the issues can be resolved in a matter of days. But this matter cannot be resolved within the concept of a fixated position by the Federal Government but I am confident that our leader must have taken those into consideration before accepting this onerous task," he said.

Oshiomhole's intervention is the latest in the series of efforts by stakeholders to intervene in the ASUU/FG crisis.

The Senate Committee on Education, headed by Mrs. Joy Emordi, had tried unsuccessfully to persuade the teachers to go back to the classroom. The meeting between the committee and the ASUU leadership ended abruptly over a disagreement on how to resolve the crisis.

Besides, an attempt by the Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, to resolve the crisis was rejected when the teachers were asked to suspend their strike. In August, after all attempts to resolve the issue failed, the Federal Government issued a warning that it would invoke the no-work-no-pay rule if the teachers failed to return to work.

And in a swift response, the ASUU leadership called the government's bluff, insisting that the strike would go on for as long as it takes their demands to be met.

In fact, ASUU's President, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, accused the government of playing politics with the university system because, according to him, children of most government officials are not in Nigerian universities but in institutions abroad.

Education Minister, Sam Egwu, shot back, insisting that children of ASUU members were also in foreign universities.

Indeed, there have been several accusations and counter- accusations since the strike started. While the government gave the impression that the teachers were on strike because of salaries, the union insisted that the collective issues affecting the university system informed their latest action.

In an open letter by ASUU to President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua recently, the university teachers blamed the Federal Government negotiating team headed by Gamaniel Onosode for the current deadlock.

According to the teachers, despite the assurances they received that the team had the full mandate of its principal to discuss, resolve and sign an agreement with them, the same team turned around when it was required to sign the agreement after months of painstaking negotiation.

"When the negotiation ended in 2008, two years after it started," ASUU claimed in the letter, "in spite of his admission that he had the mandate to negotiate and sign an agreement with ASUU, your agent, Deacon Onosode, leading the government team, refused to sign the agreement reached by both sides, claiming that he was acting on the instruction of his principal."

What was particularly worrisome, the teachers further argued, was that "contrary to the principle of collective bargaining on July 10, 2009, Onosode announced that the negotiations were to be concluded by individual university councils."

The union then queried: "Is it permissible in a game for the player to change the rules after the game is over and ask the other player to accept the changed rules whether they are legitimate or not?"

The teachers further noted that the government eroded the collective bargaining rule "when the Education Minister announced a 40 per cent take-it-or-leave-it award to ASUU," since "it did not come from the negotiation table." Besides, ASUU reminded the President that when the late Gen. Sani Abacha took a similar step in 1996, by referring ASUU to governing councils, "it (the step) was abandoned when it became clear that it had worsened the crisis."

They continued: "What is at stake is really that ASUU members are citizens, not slaves. ASUU insists on truth and honour in dealing with citizens. We said it that negotiation could end in one week. Those who prefer to leave the university system in crisis instead of promoting industrial democracy, truth and honour are the ones who have refused to sign and have decided to abrogate agreements validly negotiated."

EFCC seeks psychiatric tests for public officers

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chair Mrs Farida Waziri reignited on old debate yesterday, with her call for psychiatric tests for would-be leaders and public officers. This, to her, is a way out of corruption in public office.

She advocated psychiatric tests because, in her view, some aspiring leaders "are mentally and psychologically unsuitable for office with the way they amass public wealth".

Mrs Waziri was delivering the keynote address at a workshop in Kaduna on transparency and accountability in the public service.

She said: "Having dealt with many corruption cases, I am inclined to suggest that public officers should be subjected to some form of psychiatric evaluation to determine their suitability for public office.

"The extent of aggrandisement and gluttonous accumulation of wealth that I have observed suggests to me that some people are mentally and psychologically unsuitable for public office. We have observed people amassing public wealth to a point suggesting ‘madness’ or some form of obsessive-compulsive psychiatric disorder."

In her address entitled: Transparency and accountability in public service: the role of anti-corruption agencies, Mrs. Waziri said the culture of accountability could only be entrenched in the public service if the proper legislation is in place.

"As you may all know the struggle has been on to get the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill passed into law. Closely related to this is the bid to have a whistle blower act passed into law. Let me emphasise that the future of the anti-corruption war may depend on what happens to these efforts.

"If we truly expect a public service that is accountable to the people of Nigeria, then the Freedom of Information Bill must be passed. If you deny the public the right to know, the anti- corruption war is lost, "she said.

Calling for collaboration among the various anti-graft agencies, Mrs Waziri said: "When these agencies work together, they are potentially capable of creating an environment which could make corruption a very hazardous affair for a public officer."

She urged Nigerians to be involved in the war against corruption, adding that it is only through their active involvement that the nation could be saved from the menace.

Mrs Farida said: "When I launched the anti-corruption revolution (ANCHOR), skeptics thought it was just another jamboree. But I think the crisis rocking the banking sector has justified our efforts. Were it not for the swift intervention of the Central Bank and the EFCC, we were surely leading for a crash that would have rubbished our financial system along with your money; your pensions. You cannot afford to be neutral in this war; make it your war."

She urged organisers of the workshop, especially the Kaduna State Government, to create an anti-corruption watchdog in the state public service that could work closely with the EFCC on information and intelligence gathering, budget tracking and project implementation, grassroots anti-corruption mobilisation, anti-corruption education and awareness as well as whistle blower activity, among others.

It was also an opportunity for Mrs Waziri to defend the EFCC’s integrity.

Lamenting that many states in the country were not doing enough in the fight against corruption, Mrs Waziri noted that Nigerians were in the habit of condemning the commission.

She said it was sad that when the commission takes a step to fight corruption, it is opposed and antagonised.

Mrs Waziri said: "When I arrest your friends, you criticise me and call me all sorts of names; you say I have lost track and I’m not doing my job the way it should be done, but when I arrest your enemy you now say I am doing a great job. It mustn’t be so

"Good governance is not necessarily attained because good road or a hospital has been attained or fertiliser has been provided to farmers, because even dictatorial regimes where the rule of law is completely absent provide these, but the question to be asked is: was due process followed in awarding the contracts?

"Has any public officer directly or indirectly benefited? The state of Nigeria today is a fact that most of our public servants are still lacking in transparency and accountability. The private sector does not fare better too

"Menace of corruption is still a large challenge to our developmental efforts as a country. Everybody seems so concerned about corruption but you wonder why it is still happening.

"It is everybody’s fight and not just that of the EFCC. Regrettably, corruption is still seen largely as a Federal Government responsibility."

She noted that it is sad that after 49 years as an independent nation, Nigeria is still where it was because of corruption, adding that it was regrettable that everybody is a victim of the menace.

Mrs Waziri is sure that the passage of the FOI Bill by the National Assembly would help check corrupt practices and curtail rumours of corruption where it did not exist in the country.

"In order for information to be readily available, I am one of the advocates of the Freedom of Information Bill because once the information is not free, citizens tend to speculate and carry very dangerous rumours. All we need to do is to pass the bill and put in place checks and balances so that these laws are not abused," she said.

Mrs Waziri disclosed that EFCC has recovered over N103billion from bank debtors across the country.

According to her, the commission has made giant strides in the recovery of loans within the short span of her tenure.

She said most of the recovered loans were the ones considered insolvent by the banks.

The loans, she said, were granted in complete disregard of banking procedures and questioned the rationale for the granting of a N15billion loan without collateral.

"Most of the recovered loans were collected without the intention of paying back at all.

"Imagine that somebody will collect such large sums without collateral and instead of paying back, they buy houses abroad and open offshore accounts," she said.

Mrs Waziri challenged those criticising her for pursuing bad loans instead of executing her mandate to define the boundaries of her job for her.

She wondered what could be an economic crime if the refusal to pay bank loans was not.

She called on Nigerians to support the fight against corruption, saying: "We stand to benefit from the gains of a corrupt free society."

Mrs Waziri lamented that the evils of corruption were responsible for joblessness, poverty and diseases.

She was, however, optimistic that the efforts of the present administration are paying off as Nigeria has leapt from its 147th position by international rating to 121.

The feat, she said, was accomplished by the strict adherence to transparency and accountability embedded in the concept of the rule of law.

The chairman of the occasion, former Chief Justice of the Federation Muhammadu Uwais, called on the media to expose all cases of corruption without regard to whose ox is gored.

Uwais bemoaned the dangers of corruption, saying it brought the society backward and caused the economy to remain stagnant.

The workshop attracted dignitaries within and outside the state. Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris and Deputy Governor Patrick Yakowa were among those in attendance.

Oyedepo lifts the old at 55th birthday

The Bishop of the Living Faith Church World Wide (a.k.a Winners Chapel), Rev. David Oyedepo, at the weekend lifted the spirits of the poor as part of activities marking his 55th birthday.

Some of his senior pastors were at Regina Mundi Catholic Church’s Old People’s Home, Mushin, Lagos, where they presented some gifts on Rev. Oyedepo’s behalf.

The leader of the team and an Associate Pastor, Mr. John Izebere, said the move was to show Bishop Oyedepo’s love for the aged.

He said the gifts were to nourish them physically and spiritually, adding that the cleric is concerned about them.

The items presented to the Home included seven bags of rice, seven kegs of groundnut oil, five packs of hot balm, two cartons of beverages and five packs of toilet soap.

The delegation also visited the Lagos State government, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Old People’s Home, Sabo, Yaba, where similar gifts were presented to the Social Welfare Officers in charge of the Home, Mrs Sadiat Sabiu and Mr. Ola Omisile.

Another member of the team, Pastor Paul Maijeh, described the occasion as an extension of God’s love in Rev. Oyedepo’s life.

18 die in Abuja–Lokoja road crash

No fewer than 18 persons died in an accident on the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway at the weekend.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Nseobong Akpabio, said in a statement in Abuja that the accident, which involved a luxury bus, was caused by reckless driving on Saturday night.

The FRSC had has published a report in which it identified the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway as "dangerous" and warned motorists to be more cautious on the road.

Akpabio said: "Eighteen persons lost their lives about 10.40pm on Saturday.

"The Commander of the FRSC, Yangoji Unit, Abdullahi Umar, got a distress call regarding the accident at Anini village near Kwaita on the Gwagwalada–Lokoja Expressway.

"A rescue team, led by Umar, moved to the scene. The team also informed the police.

"From an unconfirmed report, one white 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus marked XP 269 BEN from Lokoja overtook other vehicles dangerously and collided head-on with a Luxury bus marked XV 952 APP from Kaduna.

"Seventeen persons died instantly, while two persons were injured.

"Two other persons from the luxury bus were also injured.

"The Toyota bus had 19 passengers on board while the Luxury bus had 50."

He added that one of the injured passengers from the Toyota bus later died in the hospital, bringing the number of casualties to 18.

Sanusi: Banks Must Communicate Risk to Customers

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has asked banks to commence awareness campaign on risk and exposure to customers and key stakeholders.
Sanusi make this call in Abeokuta, Ogun State last weekend at the Annual Conference and Retreat of the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB).
The CBN governor said the awareness campaign would give customers an appreciation of risk in the industry, reduce public anxiety and help improve the health of banks.
“Banks should begin to talk about risk and risk management. Some of the benefits of risk communication include improved collective and individual decision making. Both the purpose of the exchange and the nature of the information have an impact on the benefits. Depending on the situation, depositors and public anxieties about banking system health can be reduced or increased,” Sanusi said.
The CBN governor said banks must communicate risks to customers and other stakeholders including employees and investors through internal and external awareness campaigns, increased disclosure in financial statements and training.
Sanusi had made full disclosure by banks one of his cardinal programmes on assumption of duty on June 4, 2009.
He said this would help to provide adequate information about banks and increase confidence in the sector.
“Risk communication refers to the idea that people are uncomfortable talking about risk as they tend to put off admitting that risk is involved, as well as communicating about risks and crises,” Sanusi said. He added that risk communication could also be linked to crisis communication.
In his paper titled “Risk Management as the Panacea for Preventing Systemic Image Crisis in the Nigerian Banking Industry”, the CBN governor said banks would need to imbibe and practise the seven cardinal rules of risk communication as propounded by Vincent T. Covello and Frederick H. Allen.
He said: “They are accepting and involving the public as a legitimate partner; planning carefully and evaluating the banks efforts; listening to the public's specific concerns; being honest, frank, and open; coordinating and collaborating with other credible sources; meeting the needs of the media and speaking clearly and with compassion.”
He warned that banking is not just about deposit mobilisation and lending, saying it is more about managing loans and other assets created from the pool of deposits. He said that Nigerian banks have taken banking for granted and this is the time to realise that it is a serious and solemn business that demands the highest sense of diligence.
“Banking is about risk analysis and strategic placement of funds to enhance maximum returns at minimal risk. It is not about “my balance sheet is bigger than yours” or “I am the fastest growing bank,” he said.
Sanusi stated that Nig-erian banks would, as a matter of urgent operational importance, need to engage the services of competent Chief Risk Officers (CROs) who should report directly to the board through the MD/CEO.
He said: “As the banks grow bigger and go international, they are increasingly taking on several risks that they have not been familiar with before now. This explains the reason why the ability to manage cross border regulatory risks, currency risks, financial market risks are strange to most of them. Skills development in these areas will be critical going forward. Most banks will have to overhaul their risk divisions in order to help them evaluate and manage the various risks they face in the deployment of the huge resources at their disposal.
“On our part as regulators, we shall continue to evolve and deploy more robust and risk sensitive supervisory framework in line with global best practice to proactively supervise the banks and their non-bank subsidiaries in order to nip potential crisis in the bud. The near future will see greater collaboration among the financial sector regulators and supervisory agencies.
“We are already working with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit and National Insurance Commission on inter-agency cooperation on the implementation of consolidated supervision for the banking sector.”

Nigerians Spend N796bn to Fuel Generators Yearly

N796.4 billion
What Nigerians spend on fuelling generators as alternative power supply every year.

N796.7 billion
What the Federal Government budgeted for capital expenditure for 2009.

Nigerians spend about N796.4 billion on fuel to generate electric power every year, the National Electricity Regula-tory Commission (NERC) has said.
This figure is strikingly similar to the federal budget of N796.7 billion for capital expenditure for the current fiscal year.
A breakdown shows that N540.9 billion is spent on diesel and N255.5 billion goes into the purchase of petrol annually for power generating sets.
These facts were contained in a document authored by Assistant General Manager, Project Monitoring Office, Ify Ikeonu.
Although all the details were not available at press time, THISDAY investigations show that of the amount, industries operating under the aegis of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) spend over N350 billion to fuel their generating sets.
Early in the year, the Federal Government came under heavy criticism for budgeting N2 billion to buy, maintain and fuel generators this year.
According to the details of the budget passed by the Senate in December 2008, the Presidency will spend N27 million to fuel its generators and N14.3 million to maintain them.
Other details were: the National Assembly, fuel, N233 million; National Assembly Office -fuel- N63 million; maintenance, N57.2 million; the National Assembly White House, which houses Chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives - N58 million for fuelling and N55 million for maintenance; the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), fuel and maintenance - N25.8 million; and Police formations nationwide - fuel and maintenance, N110 million.
THISDAY did not gain access to the number of generating sets currently in use in the country as contained in the survey report.
There was also some controversy over the actual estimate of what Nigerians spend to fuel their generators because of a recent report that the entire amount was N50 billion.
It has since emerged that the recently reported figure was for Aba, Abia State, alone.
THISDAY gathered that the amount concerning the monetary value of fuel used in Aba was contained in the report of a survey commissioned in 2007 by Geometric Power, Aba. The survey was conducted by National Rural Electricity Cooperative Association (NRECA) in Washington, U.S.A.
Making the clarification about the amount spent by consumers in Aba in the course of THISDAY investigation, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, Geometric Power Limited, Oseloka Zikora, said: “According to statistics, Nigerians spend about N540.9 billion on diesel and N255.5 billion on fuel (petrol) to generate power and not N50 billion as ascribed to Prof Nnaji in newspaper reports.”
According to him, “the (about) N50 billion quoted is only the share of Aba industries, commercial and residential consumers’ expenditure on fuel and diesel to generate power.”
His reference was to a newspaper report which he said quoted the Chairman of Geometric Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, as saying Nigerians spend about N50 billion for fuel to power their electric generating sets every year.
He said the former Minister had to clarify that aspect because it was understood in some quarters to mean that the figure represented what was spent around the country.
Nnaji had explained at a meeting with the Director-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Dr. Christopher Anyanwu, that the expenditure pattern in fuelling generators was that residents/small commercial entities spend N14.4 billion on generator fuel while the large industries part with N43.2 billion for the same purpose.
However, in the publication, the fact that the figures were limited to the expenditure in Aba was not expressly stated.
Unreliable power supply in the country has seen most households resort to the use of power generating sets as their primary means of electricity, while the state utility company, Power Holding Company of Nigeria, (PHCN), which is essentially a monopoly, hardly meets up to 20 per cent of the nation’s demand. It generates between 2,000mw and 2,500mw.
This has led to a situation where power supply from PHCN is viewed as a standby source, to be used when available, while generators are seen as the principal mode of catering for power needs.
To make PHCN more efficient, it was unbundled into 18 successor companies comprising 11 power generating companies, GenCos, six power distribution companies, DisCos, and one transmission company, Transmission Company of Nigeria.
The country is moving towards a situation where other means of generating power that will involve less expensive fuel, such as solar, are being explored.
Although the initial financial outlay in setting up a solar-powered plant is astronomical, it can last for 25 years without fuel other than solar energy which is captured by the solar panel.
The government also recently signed a contract with a French outfit to establish a wind-fuelled plant in Katsina as a mark of its seriousness to diversify public power supply sources from the traditional hydro and thermal to wind, solar and coal, among others.
To improve power supply however, it has been realised that the private sector must play a critical role, which has led to NERC licensing about 29 independent power producers, IPPs, which are in various stages of completion.
A gas master plan has however been put in place to make gas more readily available to fuel the over 70 per cent of power plants that depend on thermal source of energy.

Ondo Assembly: Labour Party closes in on PDP

Without any controversy, Saturday September 19, 2009 will remain memorable for the people of Akure North in Ondo State.

The local government, which has 12 wards comprising Iju, Ita-Ogbolu, Oba-ile, Ogbese, Igboba, Ilu-abo, Eyelewo and other towns and villages had been in trenches courtesy of some notable politicians in the area who for almost six years held the area in the jugular.

When the trauma lasted, no responsible indigene of the area would want to be proud of being part of this rebellious community.

In fact, Akure North was branded "the most politically volatile" area in Ondo State, where a prominent traditional ruler was on exile for almost four years. He abandoned his throne and subjects because of violence and attacks perpetrated by hoodlums reportedly sponsored by some politicians in the area who were in the saddle then.

Hundreds of indigenes of the area particularly Iju fled the town as its monarch, Oba Amos Farukanmi, the Okiti of Iju abdicated the throne and abandoned his palace, crowns and the paraphilenia of his office for safety.

There were cases of violence and killing of innocent indigenes, massive destruction of private and public buildings by political hoodlums under the aegis of "Soobo boys".

One of the pathetic experience witnessed in the area was in 2007 when the former Majority Leader and prominent PDP member in Akure North local government council, late Emmanuel Oludare Ogunleye representing ward eight in the council was hacked to death in the presence of his octogenarian father in Iju because of political rivalry between party leaders within the same political party in control then.

The palace of the traditional ruler was vandalised, while the properties of his brother and former Alliance for Democracy (AD) senator, Olorunimbe Farukanmi were damaged.

However, with the inception of the Olusegun Mimiko administration, peace is gradually returning to the crisis-ridden Akure North. Oba Farukanmi and his numerous subjects, including the newly elected legislator, Akindele Adeniyi who was the former vice chairman of the local council are now back into their ancestral home.

They entered Iju community recently with ecstacy just like the biblical "triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem" with a promise by Governor Mimiko to renovate the vandalised palace of Okiti of Iju.

This same scenario pervaded in the April 14, 2007 when the House of Assembly election took place in the area. It was won by PDP’s candidate, late Akin Alasoadura. Unfortunately, he could not join his other colleagues during their inauguration in June 2007 as he died shortly after being declared winner.

Consequently, the seat became vacant since 2007, thereby depriving Akure North constituents from sharing out of benefits derivable from the state House of Assembly, especially proactive legislation.

For almost two and half years, the seat of Akure North at the parliament was vacant until penultimate Saturday when INEC took the responsibility of conducting election which many observers described as the most peaceful and hitch-free.

As early as 8.00a.m on the election day, voters trooped out in large number in almost all the units designated for the election.

Without minding the rain that threatened to mar the voting exercise, electorate defied the downpour and cast their votes in peaceful manner at Iju, Ita-ogbolu, Ogbese, Oba-ile, Ilu-Abo, Eleyewo and other communities, security agents were on hand to maintain orderliness.

Aside some pockets of violence in Igoba and Iju where loyalists of the two rival parties (LP and PDP) wanted to out smart themselves; the exercise was smooth and hitch-free.

Though, as it is customary for losers in any contest to attribute their failures to certain cause, both the PDP and AC said the election was not conducted in consonance with electoral laws. But many political observers were of the opinion that the bye-election in Akure North was devoid of violence and could be rated the best since 1999.

They argued that INEC made solid arrangements for hitch-free and fraud-proof election, while police and other security operatives displayed high sense of commitment to the exercise. Many observers recalled that the 2007 general election in Akure North was an exclusive exercise for PDP loyalists that were in control of government machinery then.

They noted that in the past, particularly in the April 2007 general election, there was no election, alleging that PDP, INEC and the police colluded to perpetrate electoral heist against other political parties.

During the period, the common language was ballot stuffing, hijacking of ballot boxes, multiple voting, visible attacks on electorate, burning of opposition member houses and other electoral vices which were conspicuously absent during the bye-election in Akure North.

Though, the PDP’s State Chairman, Dr. Tayo Dairo and his AC counterpart, Mr. Sola Iji criticised the conduct of the election, but opinion from majority observers indicated that the election went according to the dictate of electoral law.

Dairo, who was supported by the party’s secretary, Mr. Sola Oludipe and former Commissioner for Finance, Chief Tayo Alasoadura, said the ruling LP) in collusion with security agencies and state brought political brigandage on the hapless electorate to scare them.

He also accused INEC of giving only 24 hours notice instead of 14 days to the party to submit the name of its candidate, alleging that PDP agents were driven out of the election materials distribution centre.

Said Dairo, "the PDP was not part of distribution of materials or the process of checking the number and authenticity of the documents deployed for the exercise. PDP agents who were supposed to monitor the election were chased away by thugs to allow LP access to voting manipulation at the unit level".

The PDP chair disclosed that the party would challenge the result at the election tribunal when all relevant documents are available.

Also the AC said the bye-election was planned to favour the ruling LP because of the two weeks notice given to the parties.

Iji said contrary to the assurances by Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and the Police Commissioner to conduct a free and fair poll, the experience was disappointing.

Iji condemned the alleged act of fraud, stressing that electoral thuggery and violence received support of the government. The AC leader said the party had rejected the outcome of the result.

But both the state police boss, Iroham and REC, Chief Ayo Dada, described the election as most transparent and hitch-free.

According to Dada, the election was relatively peaceful, saying "all political party agents went through the final result sheets after the election and acknowledged that it went according to the voting pattern, stressing that he was embarrassed by the reports of some dailies on the outcome of the election".

The INEC commissioner maintained that security men were on hand to ensure hitch-free exercise.

Also the Ondo State Police Commissioner said the bye-election in Akure North was devoid of violence.

The Command’s spokesman, Mr Adeniran Aremu, said reports from all the polling units manned by his men indicated that the election was peaceful, stressing that the police did their best to maintain law and order.

According to him, there was no record of violence in all polling centres and the local government collation centre, noting that the police were impartial to all political parties in maintaining law and order.

The State Secretary of Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA), Hon. Pius Omolola, who was also in Akure North to monitor the bye-election, said it was free and fair and conducted without any intimidation.

In his own remark, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi who monitored the election expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the poll, which, according to him, was devoid of any major crisis

Olanusi commended voters for trooping out and conducting themselves with decorum saying "the peaceful conduct of the election is a demonstration of philosophy of Mimiko’s administration which is justice, equity and progress.

Also, Governor Olusegun Mimiko through the Commissioner for Information, Ranti Akerele rejoiced with Akure North citizenry and LP supporters and other progressives on the victory of its candidate.

He noted that the election described by observers, residents and electorate as the first true genuine election since 1999 was made possible through the collaboration of security agencies, INEC and the citizenry that uphold the basic tenets of democracy, which accords recognition to one man, one vote.

Mimiko stressed that future elections would be observed in similar pattern devoid of political brigandage and electoral fraud, urging the new legislator to strive hard to offer proactive legislation to his constituency.

With the emergence of LP’s candidate, Akindele Adeniyi to represent his constituency at the state parliament, there is hope that he would strive hard to give solid representation to the entire communities in Akure North.

Policeman detained over rape suspect’s death in Lagos

A middle-aged man has been killed by the police in Lagos for alleged rape, it was learnt yesterday.

The incident occurred at Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos suburb on Saturday afternoon.

A woman reportedly went to the nearby Iju Police Station, popularly known as "Red House’, to incident a case of alleged rape against a man simply identified as Dele.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) was said to have ordered some of his men to arrest the suspect.

A source said when a police team went to arrest the suspect, he (the suspect), reportedly mobilised street urchins, popularly known as "Area Boys", to attack them.

It was in the confusion that ensuing one of the policemen fired a shot that hit Dele.

But another source said Dele was killed in the house of the woman, who is said to be a friend to one of the policemen sent to arrest him.

The source said the policeman had severally warned the deceased, who is popularly known in the area as "Dele 7 Up" to leave the woman.

He said immediately the policeman got information that Dele was at his lover’s home, he mobilised some of his colleagues with whom they stormed the place.

It was learnt that after killing Dele, the policeman and his colleagues took away his body and dumped it in a bush path.

Police spokesman Frank Mba said the woman who reported the case was in protective custody.

"It was based on the report of the woman that policemen moved in to arrest the suspect. I do not know where the issue of fighting over a woman came into this matter. There was no such thing," he said.

Mba said when Dele was shot,the DPO ordered that his body be taken to the General Hospital, Ikeja. From there, he was moved to Igbobi where he died.

He said the policeman who killed Dele was being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba.

Best Ogedegbe on life support

Nigeria’s goalkeeper during the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations Best Ogedegbe is dying at the Intensive Care section of the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital (UCH) and is breathing only with the aid of a ventilator as at 6.20 pm on Sunday.

NationSport telephone interview with Ogedegbe’s wife from Ibadan was truncated by the woman’s sob only after she had revealed that her husband has been breathing through the ventilator since September 21, after undergoing a surgery on his eye.

But technical committee chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Taiwo Ogunjobi revealed to NationSport that there is the urgent need for well meaning Nigerians like the Lagos State governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), the Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi et al to come to the family’s aid because the goalkeeper’s situation is critical.

"Best underwent an eye surgery but has not come out of coma since September 21. He is just lying down on his bed breathing with the aid of the life support machine and with I’m have been told, if the machine is switched off that is the end. This situation is what I want Nigerians to avert.

"I believe if best is taken out of the country, he would be okay. We have commenced prayers and I trust God to keep him alive until help comes urgently.

"I’m at the UCH intensive care and the doctors are just observing him. It is very bad Ade," Ogunjobi said whilst trying to fight back tears. Then the phone went dead as the man wept.

Siasia harps on precision as Nigeria tackles Spain

HEAD Coach Samson Siasia has told his boys they must be more precise in front of goal if they wish to retain hope of progress to the Round of 16 of the on–going FIFA U-20 World cup finals, as the Flying Eagles take on Spain in their second match of the tournament today.

The 1994 World Cup star bared his mind to the players in the dressing room after Friday’s shock 0-1 loss to Venezuela at the Al Salam Stadium, just before Spain hammered Tahiti 8-0 to sound a note of warning to all teams here.

This is the 13th time that Spain will be playing at the FIFA U-20 World Cup (previously known as the FIFA World Youth Championship) and Monday afternoon’s game is the on-going tournament’s match number 13. Nigeria have won only 13 of its previous 36 matches at FIFA’s second most important competition, yet has picked silver on two occasions and won bronze at the finals in Soviet Union 24 years ago. Pulling no punches in addressing his players and expressing his disappointment with the way they started the game, Siasia said the strikers and midfielders must learn not to pull their punches in front of goal henceforth.

“This is a big tournament and you must learn to take your chances. There is no use creating 50 chances and wasting all of them. You must get to a situation where you can put away five of seven chances. “Nigerians back home are expecting us to go far in this competition and even win the trophy. We cannot continue to throw away begging opportunities.

Against Spain, we must be up to it right from the first minute and show the seriousness that the match deserves”, Siasia told his boys early Sunday morning. The match will bring memories of the final match between both countries at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Republic of Korea two years ago, which Nigeria won on penalties after a scoreless 120 minutes. Nigeria will be wearing green with white stripes while Spain will spot all white with black stripes. The Flying Eagles will still be without injured goalie Dele Ajiboye, while Ikande Harmony, Rabiu Ibrahim and Muhammed Shagari are all still injured. Lukman Haruna, who was sent off against Venezuela, is ineligible for selection.

IBB: Politicians are our problem

Former Military President Ibrahim Babangida seldom speaks to the press. But each time he does, he grabs the headlines. When JIDE ORINTUNSIN met him recently, he spoke about electoral reform, President Umar Yar’Adua, the late Gani Fawehinmi and global economic meltdown. Excerpts:

We have just concluded the Ramadan period, what lesson do you think we have learnt as Muslims and as a nation?

The Ramadan period has afforded us the opportunity to reflect on a number of things. One, our relationship with God and with other people in the society and it has made us appreciate that God did not create us equally and that we have a duty to the less privileged in the society. The period equally taught us how to respect ones feeling, views and religion and to live in peace and harmony in one another.

Nigeria like every nations of the world is under the heavy burden of the global economic meltdown. As a one time President of this country, what in your view is the way out?

I think the situation requires a number of efforts. It needs the efforts by government, efforts by the leadership of this country, the private and the public sector’s efforts. What goes for Nigeria is that we are very innovative as a people. All we need is to put on our thinking cap and get our acts together and work towards a more vibrant economic development.

Don’t you think that the meltdown hit us more because our leaders lack good foresight?

The recession is a global problem. One thing triggers the other and the most important thing for us is to learn lesson from the meltdown and make sure we don’t fall into that trap again. I don’t think it is a question of lack of foresight, but that of leadership. I have been trained as a military man all my life and as a Commander; my job is to instil confidence on every body that we will eventually win the war. We may have problems and casualties as we move along, but as a leader, I will always say we will make. I think it is a problem of leadership.

The financial sector no doubt plays a vital role in the revival of any ailing economy like ours. How will you assess the policies of Lamido Sanusi, the new Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)?

From my experience of this country, for every genuine and sincere measure you took, for every major policy that you make, give Nigerians a day, they will read meaning to it. Before you know it, people will start to read southern or northern agenda to it. That is typical of Nigerians. On the other hand, they will say it is a Muslim or Christian agenda. If you are able to go through that, they will probably say it is Hausa/Fulani or Yoruba agenda. I have always advised that if you have a conviction or you believe that what you are doing is right, then go ahead. I think there are many opinions in Nigeria as there are many people in it. Just go by your conviction. With what the CBN governor is doing, I think he meant well and I know it will be well for the country.

President Musa Yar’Adua has embarked on an electoral reform, what do you think is wrong with pervious electoral policies, vis-à-vis your own electoral policy? Must we always dust the books?

That is an interesting question. During our time, we looked into the electoral systems that obtained from independence to the time we introduced Option A4. We were able to see how elections were conducted; we were able to see what went wrong with some of these elections, so we sat down and decided on how to stop and solve the problems. We then resolved that certain things must be done. Firstly, we resolved that the ordinary man must feel he has a stake, that he has a say. Secondly he must know that his vote counts in determine who governs him, either at the local government, state or federal levels. We tried to simplified the system and make it more transparent and I am glad it worked

But it seems the present system is devoid of these virtues of transparency and simplicity you just spoke about; people believe that the present electoral system has a lot of flaws….

(He cuts in) I think you guys (media) will have to educate and enlighten the people about this. We have enormous information and researches available to us, but I think we have the tendency to try to re-invent the wheels all the time in this country. If not, why do we not want to accept what worked when it has worked. If it has been there for long, fine tune it, if we must, but to start new thing every time has been our problem. We don’t have to loose the nuts every time.

Another area of concern is that of who midwife the new reform. Many feel INEC under the Chairmanship of Prof. Maurice Iwu should not be allowed to conduct the February 2010 Anambra State election. What is your take on this?

My take is that Nigerians are yet developed in our respective minds about how elections are run. It is like soccer match; you either win it or lose it. If you win, so be it. You have that responsibility ahead of you, the promises you made to the people must be fulfilled. If you lost out, you should be contented. Go back and try next time. This how best to do things, but the win at all cost syndrome has eaten deep into our national fabric

But what happens when a candidate is denied of his or her mandate?

You have the court and the tribunals

Are you saying courts and tribunals are the ideal organs to determine election results?

It is not the ideal. I quite agree with you that the courts and tribunals are not the ideal, but the psychology of the people have to change towards this.

So, in essence you are exonerating the system and you are blaming the electoral flaws on the players (Politicians), even when there heaps of allegations against INEC, painting the electoral body as a bias umpire

.

Let us consider the developed democracies of the world. For example, India, with over billion people and over 600 million registered voters, they still conduct their elections and they do it well. Our problem in this country is that our politicians are not honestly working as hard as other politicians in other countries of the world. There the politician goes out to appeal to people to win elections, but here the elites are in control. I am sure you that people like you (the reporter) and some of your elite friends hate the idea of queuing to vote. Those of us go out to vote are doing it for publicity. We all in most cases act it, to give the ordinary man the impression that we are for the system, but thousands of elites don’t want to queue to vote, but they want to decide the outcome of elections.

Can we talk about the outcome of all the meetings you have been holding in Abuja, Kaduna and here in your Hill-top residence? What are Nigerians expecting from these meetings?

I am equally hearing about the meetings like you. A friend of my called and sent me text that he heard a lot of meetings are going on and asked why I left him out. I asked him to tell where and when the meetings are holding. I told him I was dead serious I am not in picture of any meeting and asked him to tell me where the meetings are holding for me to go and report (he laughs). According to them, the meetings are always holding in Kaduna, Abuja and my Hill-top residence. That is Nigeria for you.

You mean you are not aware of any meeting

No. I am saying it emphatically that I am aware of any meeting. I am not involved in any meeting; my friends are not involved in any meeting. To the best of my knowledge, there were no meeting in Abuja , in Minna, Abuja and Kano .

Reports have it that your admirers, supporters and former boys in the military who are now retired are the ones behind the meetings.

(Cuts in) Fortunately for me, they have not come to tell me. So, I don’t know.

But we learnt that they are converging in Minna on the 1st of October to come and persuade you to run for Presidency come 2011 general elections.

My friend, don’t forget you and I have been living in Minna and this is not the first time that such a thing happened and you know my stand. That is life for you my brother.

But sir, what gives you the impression that this time you will not cave in to their pressure?

No. normally, I don’t cave in to pressure. Don’t forget I have 32 years experience in uniform. I am trained to be tough all the time. I cannot cave into pressure. I will rather cave in to sound argument and sound reasoning.

What if by October 1st, they are able to provide you with sound argument and sound reasoning?

I have experience, may be strength. I will be glad to impact this knowledge on those of you coming after us and because they have respect for me, being my admirers, I think they will accept and respect whatever I want them do.

Recently the human right activist and lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi passed on and some members of his family accused you and your administration of complicity in the infection of his lung which culminated into cancer of the lung that eventually killed him.

It is sad that Gani’s family could be thinking like that. I was not the judge that sent Gani to jail. I was not involved in any of his interrogations. It will be wrong for anybody to accuse me of what I know nothing about. I want to believe that the family of late Gani are Muslims like me and because they are, they should believe in what God said in the Holy Quran, that every soul should taste the pangs of death (Kullu nasfsin za,ikatul mautu). If they believe in that, then I don’t have problem with them, if not then, it is their problem. I am happy I have bore my mind about Gani, even before he died. I did not eulogise him like some people are doing after his death. It is wrong of the family to link me with his death.

Groom abandons bride on wedding day

Guests were shocked at the weeked at a Church in Gwagwalada, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), when a 42-year-old bridegroom refused to show up for his wedding.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the bride, the officiating priest, family members, friends and well-wishers waited in vain at the church premises.

A member of the groom’s family, who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity, said the groom had paid the bride price of her bride in 2002.

He said: "But the groom went to the parents of his bride in 2005 to ask for a refund, saying he was no longer interested in the marriage.

"He later went back to the bride’s parents to repay the bride price, claiming that the scale had fallen off his eyes.

"And so, palns were made for the church wedding, with the groom fully in charge, dancing on the bachelor’s eve.

"But to our surprise, with the reception venue fully decorated and the church already filled to capacity with the choir ministering, the groom was nowhere to be found.

"Information later got to us that he drove to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, where he demanded to be placed on admission against the doctor’s advice.

"The groom, however, told some family members who rushed to the hospital to check him that he was no longer interested in the marriage."

The source added that when the priest visited the hospital, the groom told him that he decided to discontinue with the wedding because he had known no peace since he paid the bride price.

Rerun will spell doom for Osun ’ - d nation

Olarotimi Makinde, prominent actor and accountant, contested the election into the House of Representatives in Osun State in 2007 on the platform of the Action Congress (AC). His opponent was declared winner. He spoke with Assistant Editor DADA ALADELOKUN on how far he has gone to seek justice, the implication of the tribunal ordering a rerun in Rauf Aregesola’s petition against Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and so on

As a successful theatre arts practitioner, what actually prompted you into politics?

It is simply the urge to lend my voice to happenings around me in the interest of my people. As an apostle of positive change, I had always been condemning happenings around me, especially in my community, Ile-Ife. At a point, the fear that people often nurse about going into politics did not move me; that is why I boldly ventured into the murky waters of politics the day after the murder of the late governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Engineer Funsho William. At that point, many began to see politics as a danger zone; wives were warning their husbands while fathers warned their wards to steer clear it. I believe that if those with clear idea of how to rescue the country from the doldrums are shying away from politics, the fools will continue to hold sway to the detriment of the masses. That explains my venturing into it.

At what point did you decide to contest for the House of Representatives?

I must confess that while coming into politics, I did not actually dream of contesting. I believe that if I have a leader who is accommodating, who share the same vision and ideal of people-oriented change with me, I don’t necessarily have to aspire to be the head. But at a point, while campaigning with him from one corner to the other, especially in my community, to urge people to help themselves out from the grip of Omisore/Oyinlola and company. When you challenge people to come out to challenge Iyiola Omisore, they tend to have the fear that he cannot be dared. No doubt, Omisore is an illustrious son of Ife but he does not have the genuine interest of the people at heart. We are from the same community. This is a man who has had the opportunity of changing the course of things in Osun State, especially, Ife, but he has not done it. He was deputy governor to Baba Akande, rather than join hands with the man to make meaningful impact, he colluded with others to fight the good old man. In the Senate, he has not done anything to benefit us. He lacks focus and that explains the kind of people he has around him. That was why I declared my intention to run against him for the senatorial seat. But as the Action Congress would think right, it preferred me in the House of Representatives and I picked the ticket for the 2007 elections.

But today, you are not in the House of Representatives; what happened?

Yes, the election came and went, but I’m a living witness to all that happened. Interestingly, Engineer Aregbesola and I had been able to sell ourselves to the electorate before the election. The reason is clear: The failure of the existing administration. The eagerness to have us on board was great and because of that, everyone was on us. But there were several bottlenecks created by the Oyinlola government. Some of our supporters were rounded up and put in various detention centres. Most of out leaders were declared wanted before the polls and on the election date; not a few went underground. At our campaigns, we were being attacked and blackmailed; I was even kidnapped in my father’s house. They caught me, blind-folded me and took me to a bushy place. I was not allowed to vote in an election in which I was contesting. I was in the kidnappers’ den for 24 hours. During the election, I was chased about with dangerous weapons by PDP thugs; I eventually got refuge in the hands of the Police Area Commander in Ife. In broad daylight, the thugs hijacked ballot boxes and did all they wanted to do. Omisore was going from one polling booth to the other in with some PDP leaders who paraded themselves as monitoring officials.

But Oyinlola believes he has brought good governance to Osun…

(Laughs) Osun is stagnant! All revenue avenues are lying fallow; no one has the initiative to harness them to hasten up development. In Osun, there is no good road, no water and peace is a scarce commodity. Recently, Oyinlola promoted about 40 Baales to the position of Oba. Sure, it was a good step, but honestly, it was politically motivated by him. He seems to be tactically preparing for a rerun. And to me, rather than ordering a rerun in Osun, it is better Oyinlola is left there because any rerun will lead most Osun people into their early graves. If the judge that delivered the Ekiti judgement knew it would lead to bloodshed, he would not have ordered a rerun. We have to learn from that.

Anxiety grips ministers as cabinet shake-up looms

Between five and seven ministers may be dropped by President Umaru Yar’Adua in the planned changes in the Federal Executive Council.

The last cabinet reshuffle by the President was on October 29, 2008 when 20 out of the 42 ministers were dropped.

But barely a year in office, investigations have shown, some cabinet members have not lived up to the expectations of a public officer.

A highly-placed source, who confided in The Nation yesterday, said: "They might be from five to seven but it won’t be a complete overhaul like the case last year.

"Some of them are aware that they have to leave but they do not know when."

Findings by The Nation revealed that some of the affected ministers are being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the State Security Service (SSS).

It was learnt that the President is not too comfortable with security reports on the performance and financial activities of the said ministers.

Although the list of the ministers is being kept secret, it was gathered that some security agencies have had cause to interact with them on some issues and allegations.

It was also gathered that some of the affected ministers were not initially cleared by security agencies.

But, based on political exigency, the President decided to give some of these ministers a chance to either prove their mettle or confirm the security reports against them.

Besides a few with below average performance, some ministers are also being investigated for abuse of office, graft, spendthriftness and acquisition of properties.

The source added: "Actually, about seven ministers are seriously under consideration for removal from the cabinet.

"Their exit depends on the outcome of the ongoing investigation of their financial activities by the EFCC and other security agencies.

"Also some of the ministers have not met the performance benchmark put in place by the President. Yar’Adua has been fair to them by allowing them free hand to operate.

"Some of the ministers too have not been prudent and they dispense favours without moral decorum.

"The truth is that in line with the President’s policy of fairness, he will lay the cards on the table for the ministers to see why they have to leave the cabinet.

"A few courageous and dutiful ministers have no cause to fear. In fact, there is a report on a minister who refused moves by an influential leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to give a contract to him.

"The conscientious minister said the party chieftain was not qualified for the job and he won’t want to be dragged before any tribunal after leaving office. It is such ethical ministers that are wanted in the cabinet."

As at press time, most ministers were eager to know whether they will be dropped or not.

Another source said: "They are wielding influence here and there but it is difficult to know the mindset of the President."

Investigation showed that some jittery ministers could not go far because the President does not believe in lobbying.

It was however unclear at press time when the cabinet change will be effected.

Ribadu Demands Assets Declaration Form from Conduct Bureau- disday newspaper

Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has demanded from the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), the Certified True Copies of the asset declaration forms he submitted to its office on December 1, 2008.
This is coming as the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) at weekend called on the former governor of Delta state, Chief James Ibori, to produce evidence to convince Nigerians and his admirers nationwide that he is being deliberately vilified by Ribadu and others.
In a letter dated September 25, 2009 and entitled “Re:Suit No: CCT/ABJ/01/2009 – Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, Request for Certified True Copies of Asset Declaration Forms of Mr. Nuhu Ribadu”, Ribadu disclosed that upon his assumption of office as chairman of the anti-corruption agency on March 14, 2003, he declared his assets in strict compliance with the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
The former EFCC boss, who had since fled the country to London, was arraigned in absentia before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for allegedly failing to declare his assets before and after he served as chairman of the EFCC from 2003 to 2008.
In the letter, which was signed by his lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, he argued that although he was not formally removed as the chairman of the anti-graft commission by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, he nevertheless declared his assets upon the completion of his management course at the Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos, Plateau State.
He urged the CCB chairman to avail him of the document to facilitate his defence at the tribunal on October 2, 2009 when the case against him would be argued.
The full text of the letter read: “As you are no doubt aware our client declared his assets upon assumption of office as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on March 14, 2003, in strict compliance with the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
“Although our client was not formally removed as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes by the President he declared his Assets on December 1, 2008 upon the completion of the Management Course at Kuru.
“In the circumstances we have our client’s instructions to request for Certified True Copies of the said Asset Declaration Forms which were submitted to your office at the aforesaid dates.
“It will be appreciated if you can urgently attend to this application to facilitate the preparation of our client’s defence in respect of his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal which has been fixed for 0ctober 2, 2009.”
Meanwhile, CNPP has also challenged Ribadu to publish the records of all the 31 ex-governors and ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, which Mrs Farida Waziri has been unable to prosecute.
It stated: “This will go a long way to plug the ongoing leakages and once for all in absolving Ribadu of the accusation of being selective”.
In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, Osita Okechukwu, the coalition of opposition parties said that the ball is now in the court of Ibori to prove that the former Chairman of EFCC deliberately lied against him.
Ibori had told a press conference last Friday that he was being persecuted by Ribadu and Obasanjo because of previous disagreements.
“CNPP like most patriots would be happy to witness the resolution of Chief James Ibori's corruption charges, that of all the 31 ex-governors and ex-president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo either way; for without the resolution, corruption will continue to not only hamper our development but scuttle our transition to democracy. Democracy has refused to grow, because those who loot our treasury are using same to impose leaders on us, buy favour and loyalty,” the statement said.
CNPP asked: “How can Nigerians live to see all those who squandered our unprecedented oil revenue, without any tangible investment in the land to go scot-free and enslave us? It is a negative model for any nation that wants to advance in this anarchic global system.
“For it is on record that between year 2000 -2008 the allocation figures are: - the South-South States - N3.2 trillion, North-West N2.1 trillion, South-West N1.7 trillion, North-Central N1.5 trillion, North-East N1.3 trillion and South East N1.2 trillion; without commensurate impact on the people on whose behalf the monthly Federal Allocation is meant for.”
It further said that democracy cannot thrive under monumental corruption, “so now Ribadu has every opportunity to open the lid and save our nascent democracy and the millions of poverty-avaged Nigerians.”

Oshiomhole wades into Fed Govt-ASUU face-off

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday waded into the-Federal Government-university teachers’ rift, raising the hope that he would use his labour background to resolve the dispute.

At his first meeting with Education Minister Sam Egwu in Abuja, Oshiomhole lamented that the teachers’ strike has dragged on for too long.

The strike began on June 22.

Oshiomhole will meet with the teachers next.

He said the dispute could be resolved, adding that the major issue is how to get the government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resume talks.

The government withdrew from the talks in July, asking the teachers to return to work before the negotiation would continue.

But the teachers said they would only return to work after their demands are met.

Oshiomhole said, soon, he and Egwu would meet with ASUU and other parties to strike a common ground on which everyone can build on.

Asked how he will go about the crisis, he said: "I am a labour man any day any where and we will talk through the issues. It will not be helpful to disclose what we will discuss. I think everybody realises that the strike can’t go on forever".

The governor added: "Like any Nigerian, I am concerned about the dispute between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

"We simply can’t allow long closure of universities because the future of our country depends not on our liquid resources, but a function of our human capital.

"I came to dialogue with the minister because I have riends on both sides and I believe that we can talk through the issues and find a formula that will be acceptable to all the parties.

"There is no doubt in my mind that more than any President ever, Umaru Yar’Adua recognises that education is key to our future.

"I also don’t have any doubt that ASUU recognises that for a school to be called a university, there are couple of things that must be present including proper funding, good welfare package for lectures and non- lecturers.

"I am very convinced that these are issues that can be resolved. And by the special grace of God they will be resolved so that the universities can return to normalcy.

"I think the key issue is negotiation and the Federal Government is ready to talk, and I know that ASUU is quite happy and willing to talk. If we all want to talk, let’s talk through the issues and have them resolved in the interest of the country."

Egwu said the government is worried over the situation adding: "We never thought that this problem will linger on up to this moment.

"We in the Ministry of Education have a duty to appeal to ASUU to accept what has been offered while demand for increased funding continues.

"Government is ready to continue the negotiation even if it is tomorrow.

"At the point of negotiation, government is willing to shift grounds."

University students from across the country protested in Abuja yesterday over their demand that the government and ASUU should resume talks to end the three-month strike.

The students, led by Okechukwu Ebodo, a law student of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), said the situation was not funny because youths are now engaging in questionable deals.

Also yesterday, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana, expressed worry that if nothing urgent is done to end the strike, Nigeria’s dream of becoming one of the 20 industrialised nations by 2020 will be at risk.

In a statement made available to The Nation in Ibadan, the monarch urged the Federal Government and ASUU to resolve the crisis.

Olubadan, who observed that the socio-economic and security implications of the strike "are too numerous to mention," said: "In this age of science and technology, every hour lost because of the strike puts at risk Nigeria’s dream to become one of the 20 industrialised nations by 2020."

The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) chapter of ASUU, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) yesterday staged a peaceful protest to the palace of the Oni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade.

They were also joined by the students of the institution.

The protesters had gone to the Oba’s palace to protest the protracted face-off between ASUU and the government.

Five chiefs from the palace interacted with the protesters.

Among the protesters were ASUU President Dr. Ife Adewumi, immediate past president, Prof Idowu Adepoju, Dr. (Mrs), Taiwo Makinde and the student union leader.

Dr Makinde urged the monarch to intervene in the crisis because students were being labelled armed robbers and prostitutes.

Also worried by the strike is the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

NLC President Abdulwaheed Omar yesterday said in Johannesburg, South Africa, that the congress is bothered by the "debilitating effect of the strike on students."

Abdulwaheed, who is in Johannesburg to attend the annual congress of COSATU, South Africa’s trade union, said the concern had made the congress to intervene in the crisis.

He said the NLC held far-reaching discussions with the leaders of ASUU, SSANU and NASU to resolve the crisis.

"When we rose from that meeting with them, we promised to reach out to the Federal Government to ensure they resolve the crisis," he said.

Ribadu: Aondoakaa Wants to Kill Me

Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Nuhu Ribadu has pointedly accused the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) of threatening his life.
Ribadu said yesterday that his refusal to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja over allegations that he did not declare his assets while in office was because Aondoakaa was threatening his life.
The Code of Conduct Bureau had recommended the former EFCC chairman for trial over the allegation and the tribunal had summoned him to defend himself.
Under the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, public officers are required to declare their assets before they assume office.
Speaking through his lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, Ribadu alleged that Aondoakaa had already sent assassins after him.
“He wanted to stay for this trial but for the fear of his life, he had to travel back. If your lordship wants this case to go on, we want an order because already the Attorney-General of the Federation has sent a manhunt on him,” he said.
Tribunal Chairman, Justice Constance Momoh, had fumed over Ribadu’s short visit to Nigeria without staying back to appear before the tribunal.
Ribadu had sneaked into the country about two weeks ago and emerged at the residence of the late legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, to commiserate with his family over his death.
At yesterday’s proceedings, Justice Momoh told Falana that the tribunal was angry that Ribadu came into the country on September 10 to pay his respects to the late Gani and still refused to honour the tribunal’s summons.
Momoh said: “The tribunal is feeling slighted; we just have to take our cool.”
Falana, however, told the tribunal chairman that when his client was in the country, he had wanted to stay back to answer the tribunal until he got intelligence report that some forces in the government wanted him dead.
According to him, “he (Ribadu) wants your lordship to make an order to guarantee him of his security and liberty.”
He added that before Ribadu travelled abroad, two attempts were made on his life in Abuja and Jos.
Falana further disclosed that the ex-EFCC boss was assisted out of the country by sympathisers and that he wanted to be alive to face his trial.
But the tribunal chairman quipped in, asking Falana, “What has Ribadu done to warrant anybody to be after his life?”
Ribadu was expected to appear before the tribunal yesterday to take his plea over the allegation of non-declaration of his assets in office levelled against him.
The tribunal chairman had earlier drawn the attention of the various counsel to the court’s record where the tribunal held that if Ribadu failed to appear before it, the court would allow the prosecution counsel, Ahmed Kyari, to re-introduce his application for bench warrant of arrest on the former EFCC chairman.
Falana, however, urged the tribunal not to go on with the case as he had filed an appeal before the appellate court in respect of the matter, adding that due to the absence of the AGF’s lawyer, the matter had been adjourned till December 16 by the appellate court.
Efforts made by the prosecution counsel to re-introduce his application for warrant of arrest on Ribadu were thwarted by Falana, who warned the three-member tribunal not to do anything that would put it at conflict with a higher court since there was a matter on the same suit pending before an appellate court.
He said: “The tribunal cannot and will not make any order until the Court of Appeal dispenses the application before it. To do otherwise will be a fait accompli.”
The tribunal has, however, fixed October 2 for hearing of the applications before it.
Meanwhile, Aondoakaa has reacted to the allegation by Ribadu that he was after his life.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Taiye Adeyemi, the AGF dismissed the allegation, saying Ribadu was just trying to divert attention from his trial.
Akinyemi said: “The allegation is diversionary. Nothing would have warranted the AGF to be after Ribadu’s life. This is the first time ever in this country that the rule of law would be employed in the conduct of government business and the AGF should be praised for that, and not for a lawyer of Falana’s status to be making such wild, unfounded, unwarranted and malicious allegation.
“Ribadu is a respected Nigerian and if he has a case against him he should come and face it, instead of engaging in this kind of diversionary tactics.”