Why I want to succeed Shema in Katsina – Senator Idah

Senator Ibrahim Idah is a gubernatorial hopeful in Katsina State. Ahead of the PDP governorship primary, he says he is the candidate to beat for the party governorship ticket.

He flaunts his numerous achievements in the civil service, where he retired as permanent secretary in the Ministry of Defence and in the Senate where he served as Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence as his unique selling points.


In this interview with TAIWO AMODU in Abuja, he enunciates his vision for Katsina State, praising Governor Ibrahim Shema for laying a solid foundation for the development of the state.
How has your experience been in the Senate?
Serving in the Senate is a collective work in the sense that as a Senator, you are part of 109 people and you have a clearly defined constitutional responsibility which is to work towards realising good governance for the country and you also have a collective responsibility in overseeing the disbursement and use of public funds and you also have a role to ensure that governance is performed in such a manner that the electorate will get the dividends of democracy and leadership gets the right environment to govern.
You as an individual, you also have your own role. I was Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence and Army and I don’t think that was accidental because when I was in public service, I was permanent secretary in the Ministry of Defence, that means I was already familiar with the environment. So, when I became Chairman on Defence, it was not difficult to appreciate the problems in Defence establishment at that time and to work towards finding a solution.
As a legislator, your role in terms of promoting interest of various arms of government is to make case for their budgets, if there is need for more funding for them, and you also have responsibility to ensure that whatever is appropriated for them is also used for that purpose. As an individual, you can sponsor a bill on any issue, it does not necessarily have to be related to the issue of the committee you are overseeing or of which you are a member. So, I was fortunate enough to champion bills and motions that have direct bearing on Nigerians. I will give you an example. I sponsored a bill on the establishment of infrastructure to check encroachment. I also sponsored a bill that provides proper management of financial system. These are just the few ones, and we also have motions. Motions are just statements you make, you raise in the chamber ultimately leading to a decision, the decision is not binding as law but it is advisory. It is a pointer to government or any other party concerned. If there is need to focus on a specific issue, what you will do in the motion is to have prayers, it is in the prayers that you will make specific requests that you want government to do.
Once the issue is debated and resolutions are taken one by one and adopted, then the motion will be passed. Then, the appropriate agency will take it up. Although, not legally binding, it is always respected and invariably implemented.
Also, as a senator, you have constituency projects, here it is interesting, people think when you mention constituency project, people think senators are given money, no it is contained in the appropriation. The only thing is that you as a legislator, you have a figure mentioned; it is left for you to apply those figures to the projects that have direct bearing on your constituents. You have no involvement in the actual execution of the project, nor do you have any involvement in the disbursement of the funds but you have the responsibility of ensuring that the amount is used for something beneficial to your constituency, and here, I did a lot of boreholes, primary health care, rural roads, employments, skill acquisition centres and then you also have influence of scouting around for employments and here it may not necessarily be your constituency alone because as a senator, you meet people from many places other than your own constituency.
In the area of employment, I will say that I was instrumental in the recruitment of over 1800 people into public service especially military agencies. Now, I grab that as one of my achievements, because till date when I walk around, I see many people come to greet me, in the end, they salute and tell me that I was instrumental in their joining the service.
What is your vision for Katsina State?
First of all, I said I have been in public and private sectors, so I know precisely what local problems are. These are problems of poverty, illiteracy, very poor health condition especially in respect of women, so definitely, I have a very clear vision of the problem. I want a government that is caring, making basic needs of life not only available but affordable to all. That is my vision and I think I wish to translate it into eight-point agenda. We also find out that the problem affecting Nigerians is insecurity. And I believe that apart from the Federal Government that is in control of the military and other security agencies, I think within the purview of the Constitution, there is a provision that gives a lot of powers to local authorities in maintaining laws and order, that is why the state governors are chief security officers, in conjunction with already existing institutions, especially the traditional institution. I intend to ensure that Katsina remains a peaceful place, the current government is doing a marvellous job in maintaining security of lives and property. Somehow Katsina has been peaceful, not by accident but by hard work. Now on the issue of employment, poverty comes where people are idle or they are not optimally utilized, we have teeming youths that are unemployed who have finished their education but they are idle.
What do you want to be remembered for?
I think people need to reflect after retirement on what they have done that is good and what they have done that is bad, weighing both of them. Please, make sure that good things outweigh bad ones. So, I am driven by sense of service and loyalty and by sense of commitment to make this world a better place. I want to leave a legacy of service. I want people to miss me when I leave the service. I want them to look for people that are like me or better than me, I don’t want them to be eager to get rid of me. And finally, the best way to serve is to serve with sincerity.

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Jonathan plotting to be life president – Balarabe Musa

Former Governor of old Kaduna State and national chairman of the de-registered Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa is an outspoken politician who treads where other politicians fear to do so.

Little wonder in this exclusive interview with Saturday Sun, Balarabe Musa did not hide his feeling about President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid, saying that he (Jonathan) is plotting to stay beyond 2015 as attempted by his predecessors, using Boko Haram insurgency as an excuse to remain in power.
“So, what is surprising, it should be ex­pected of Jonathan who wants to continue after 2015 election by any means, he will do whatever it takes to continue, including, mak­ing it impossible for the election to hold, it is not impossible because as I said it, it was attempted three times by his predecessors, military governments, military president, of course, who hid under civilian government using military control.” He spoke extensively on this and other national issues with NOAH EBIJE in KADUNA. Excerpts:
The political atmosphere is heating up towards 2015 general elections as various aspirants have started col­lecting nomination forms for different elective offices. What do you find in­teresting in this development?
I have not seen anything interesting, there is everything negative, and it shows quite clearly that politics of election in this country has been monetised. There is no possibility of having capable leaders because anybody who emerged has emerged out of money power, and not out of merit. Therefore, it shouldn’t be expected of such leaders to serve the public in­terest because you can’t pay so much to serve the public. It is the public that can pay you to serve, but you cannot pay so much to serve the public, it is self-deceit.
Anybody who has paid so much to serve the public will first make sure that he recov­ers his so-called investment before he will start serving the public, if he will even serve the public at all, because the possibility is that he will continue to serve himself as we have always seen since the beginning of the Second Republic in particular.
There are several views for and against the defection of the House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal; what is your own view on his defection from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposi­tion All Progressives Congress (APC)?
Well, he has exercised his fundamental hu­man rights, he has defected to the APC just as others defected from APC to the PDP. This is money politics.
What about the removal of his secu­rity aides by the Federal Government even while he is still the Speaker?
It is a gross misconduct on the part of the Federal Government because Tambuwal is still the Speaker of the House of Representa­tives until the members of the House decide otherwise. The law is clear about it.
Despite the ceasefire agreement between the Federal Government and Boko Haram, bombings and killings continue unabated. What is your view on this agreement?
When I reacted to the announcement of the ceasefire, what I said then was that it was good news, but unbelievable, and now it has proved to be unbelievable because the cease­fire after what had happened came so quickly and so secretly, I believe somebody is deceiv­ing someone, particularly that there is a sus­picion that the Federal Government is behind the insurgency. The government is using the insurgency as agent provocator for its politi­cal purpose, particularly for 2015 elections. So, government can carelessly say that there is a ceasefire when there is nothing like that. I have now been proved right and justified. A lot of informed people believe that Boko Haram was taken over by the real militants for the purpose of destabilising Nigeria, start­ing from the North, so that the country can be controlled for the purpose of 2015 elections, and that is it.
Don’t you think that it is external forces that are behind Boko Haram rather than the Federal Government?
No, it can’t be external forces, the real ex­ternal forces are the western powers, and for the time being, they are concerned with the security of their investments, and their politi­cal interest in Nigeria, and these are not served by the insurgency. Certainly, it is government itself that is behind the insurgency.
What is the implication of Boko Ha­ram capturing more territories in the North East?
Well, it means that very soon, they will overpower the government. Certainly, it means that 2015 general elections may not hold in those areas captured by the insurgents and even more areas. We are talking of four states, not three states, now under their con­trol, and gradually it will involve the whole country. And it may favour the government very well because, according to the consti­tution, the President hands over to elected President, so if there is no elected President, President Jonathan will continue until there is an elected President. So, there is another way of having third term in another way. The President has been wishing to continue after 2015, and it is becoming very difficult for him because he is not electable because of lack of performance, but if he wants to continue, he will do whatever it takes to continue including, making it impossible for the election to hold.
Even at the risk of the lives of the people?
Of course, it was attempted so many times before, this was attempted by the late General Sani Abacha, it was attempted by President Olusegun Obasanjo, and even General Ibra­him Badamasi Babangida attempted it. So, what is surprising, it should be expected of Jonathan who wants to continue after 2015 election by any means, it is not impossible be­cause as I said it, it was attempted three times by his predecessors, military governments, military president, of course, who hid under civilian government using military control.
What is your take on the 2015 pres­idency now that President Jonathan has picked PDP nomination form for re-election?
The implication is that the political situa­tion in the country will even be more uncer­tain, it is something he should not do legally and politically, and he also wants to be de­clared winner by all means through rigging, not only through the use of incumbency but through the use of money power. The situation of the country will be more critical because he will not be able to win legitimate election, he will not. Nigerians will be so stupid to give mandate to somebody who has already failed, we are not talking of sentiments, and we are talking of reality. If the politicians want to go along with rotation, since it is a political safe box, but let them pick someone from the same area, but not Jonathan who has demon­stratively failed. Everybody, including people from his own state, is not happy about the level of this insecurity, poverty, corruption, stealing and criminal waste of resources, and so on. Nobody wants him, not even the people from his own local government; this is not the type of Nigerian they want. Nobody is happy about this situation. Let him go, we can still have somebody from Bayelsa, if not from the South-South, we can’t hold unto the President who has demonstratively failed and is endan­gering our lives and the future of our country simply because he comes from another part of the country.
Political observers are saying that Nigerians are fond of asking for a change of leadership, a kind of quick replacement of a leader. They asked IBB to go, same to Abacha, ditto Obasanjo, and now they are asking Jonathan to go. What is really the problem with the leadership of this country?
Let Nigerians stand up now because we are seeing something that we have never experi­enced before, that is the control of the country by the insurgents. We didn’t see it before this time, eventually this will involve the whole country if they are allowed to go the way they are going. There will be insurgents throughout the country. There are other insurgents aside Boko Haram who are responsible for crimes leading to loss of lives and property, and they can unite to wreak more havoc.
Before now, some Nigerians were quoted to have said that they will make the country ungovernable for Jonathan. Don’t you think such Nigeri­ans may be behind the insurgency we are witnessing today?
Who are these Nigerians?
No name was mentioned, but we believe you are aware of this state­ment?
Then Jonathan is helping them, he knows about them and he is helping them. This is the person you cannot trust, is he not the person who said that Boko Haram is everywhere, even in his government, but has he done an­ything about it? It means he is part of them. Even if anybody said he will make his govern­ment ungovernable, he is making it easy for them to succeed in making it ungovernable.

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Boko Haram: Gusau, Dasuki should be probed – Rev. Asake, CAN scribe

Rev. Musa Asake is the General-Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Since he assumed office some years ago, he has always spoken up against re­ligious extremism in Northern Nigeria, as well as the plight of Christians in the region. For the CAN scribe, the recent brouhaha surrounding the use of a private jet belonging to the President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor for an alleged arms deal was a set-up masterminded by the some elements within the Nigerian security forces.

In this interview with FRED ITUA, Asake speaks on the growing influence of Boko Haram in the North, refusal by key Muslim leaders to speak up, why it is im­perative to sack the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki and Minister of De­fence, General Aliyu Gusau, among other issues. Ex­cerpts:
CAN has been under severe attack from pastors and other senior clergymen over the $9.3 million involving Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor’s private jet. The integrity of CAN has equally been called to question of late…?
What I can say here is that, when someone is talking, you look at the person talking. If you are able to know who is talking, then you can answer the individual. There are times also, if you begin to respond to what some people are saying, you will be promoting them. There are some people who are nothing in the society, but they want to be known. I do not want to waste time on Pastor Chris Okotie. As a pastor, I am not judging. But I must say that Okotie is not qualified to say what he said. I want to leave that. I do not think he has any moral right as a pastor to say what he said. I do not know whether he is a member of CAN. Since I have been in this office, I have never seen his name or even heard of his name. He has not attended any of our meet­ings here. So, he cannot and should not speak for the Christian community. There are many things himself as a Christian leader should not say.
As for Cardinal Okogie, I respect baba. I have never met him in person. But I was shocked to hear what he said. He has led CAN and during his time, Nigeria was taken to membership of Organisation of Islamic Coun­tries (OIC). He did not say anything. Christians are suffering what they are suffering because Okogie kept quiet. CAN, led by Ayo Oritsejafor, has been outspo­ken, challenging the government. He has been speaking on behalf of Christians, especially those in the North. Northern Christians do not have a voice under any gov­ernment in the region. But this time, they have some­body who is speaking in their defence. Somebody like Okogie should cover his face in shame. They should not be speaking. Now that they have said what they said, the Federal Government has spoken out. They have ad­mitted that the money was their own. Now, what can they say again? So, me, I do not want to say anything bad about them. I leave them to their conscience and to their God. If somebody paid them to say what they said, judgment day is coming. That is all I can say.
Some Christian leaders and Nigerians have alleged that there was a conspiracy regard­ing the use of Pastor Oritsejafor’s private jet in South Africa. Many Nigerians were worried that the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) did not come out to say anything about its role. Do you equally suspect there was a conspiracy?
I believe that and I believe that is what happened. There are hundreds of private jets in this country. The presidency has private jets. Now, who told them that Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has leased his jet? That jet was leased to a company. That was the jet they used in carry­ing that money. When they did that, who told the South African government? I think the office of the NSA needs to explain. I still hold strongly that the NSA is mischievous. He needs to come out. That is why I am calling for their dismissal. He should resign or dismissed by the Federal Government. He wanted to tarnish the image of the president of CAN and that of Christians in general. Let me say one thing. The God that we serve is alive. When you set out to destroy someone, you will destroy yourself. They have not suc­ceeded in destroying the image of CAN pres­ident or Christians. They should try another method. They will not succeed.
Many Nigerians believe that the current leadership of CAN appears to maintain a close relationship with the government in power. Don’t you think this might be misconstrued and that some level of distance should be maintained?
You see, it hurts when I hear or read some­thing like that. What is CAN? It is a Chris­tian body. CAN was started to checkmate government and to fight the suppression of Christians in Nigeria. Now, do you expect the CAN president to checkmate the pastors? Are they government? When they say Orit­sejafor is very close to the government, I do not understand. Please, that is our Christian leader. The Muslims have their own leader and that is the Sultan of Sokoto. Does he not go to the Villa or talk to the president? Why are they not talking about the Sultan? They are talking about CAN president. Let us get all the telephone companies in Nigeria bring out what both leaders have been saying. Let us display that of the CAN president and that of the Sultan. Let us see who goes there most. We Christians, when they attack our leaders, we keep quiet. We get some nominal Chris­tians also joining the group. Let me tell you. The Sultan is closer to the government than the CAN president. Let them check the re­cords.
You have repeatedly kicked against some Muslim leaders who frequently abuse CAN leaders. It appears that abuse has become a normal thing. Why has CAN not taken a firm stand about that?
You see, Christianity teaches living in peace with one another. We read from our Bible where it says vengeance is of the Lord. We have been taught not to retaliate. We are human beings and we are being pushed to the wall. The way some Muslims attack Chris­tians and Christian leaders is alarming. The way they attack CAN president is bad. We are saying enough is enough. Let me tell you why they are doing that. We have never had a leader in CAN that has spoken so loud and clear on behalf of Christians in this country like this current one is doing. As I have said in other places, Oritsejafor is not from the North. I am from the North. I know what I suffer in the North. Oritsejafor does not have a church in the North. But look at how he is spending his resources and speaking out in defence of Christians from the North. He is not only speaking out, he is spending his resources for Boko Haram victims. He is spending his money for those who can­not help themselves in the North. Now, the northern leaders, the so-called elders in the North, northern politicians and the Sultan who is the head of the Muslims in Nigeria have not done what Oritsejafor has done for Christians in the region. You are a journal­ist. Help me and take me down memory lane to show me where Sultan has visited these victims of Boko Haram to sympathise. Or tell me where he has sent in materials to help the victims. Or maybe where he has spoken against Boko Haram. I want you to help me. This is where I am confused. I am this confused because I am a northerner. I know the marginalisation we as Christians in this part of the country suffer. Go to Kano, Sokoto and Katsina. All the Christians, who are indigenes of those states, are considered third or fourth class citizens. Have you heard the Sultan speak on their behalf? Have you heard anybody speak on their behalf? When the Muslims come together, they start saying stupid things like Muslims in the South are not treated well. You cannot use a fraction of what is happening in the South to compare with what is happening in the North. Please, you are a journalist and you should be able to make this very clear that this attack on CAN president is because he is speaking on behalf of northern Christians that are voiceless. I want to assure the whole world now that any attack on the CAN president or the Christians will be returned fire for fire. I am not kidding.
There is a report that Boko Ha­ram now controls more than the size of three states in the North. You are also aware that some major towns in the north are currently under the oc­cupation of Boko Haram terrorists. Do you harbour any fear that if these terrorists are not stopped, they might overrun the entire North?
They have already run over the North. That is why we are calling with a loud voice that President Jonathan should sack the Min­ister of Defence and his NSA. They are do­ing nothing. They are the people that have allowed this thing to happen. Like Gusau, the Defence Minister, Jonathan brought him back. When the late Andrew Azazi was in office, he was fired because the Muslims mounted pressure on Jonathan that he should be fired. They brought in a Muslim, Dasuki. Then they brought in Gusau who had been in this office in the past. He even resigned and contested for the presidency. I cannot under­stand the rationale for bringing him back. What we were told at that time was that they were going to put an end to Boko Haram. Ever since Gusau came back and met with Dasuki of which they are both in laws, ter­rorism has been bad. What is happening in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno is the plan of Dasuki and Gusau. If they are not sacked, the presidency will live to regret it. These people are not helping this country. Let us not pre­tend or play over it. Let me tell you. It will get to a point where everybody will have to start defending himself. The Christians are being killed everyday in the North. If you go to Yola now, the streets are occupied with Christians that have been dismissed from their places of living. They are not homeless because of some blood suckers called Mus­lims in the name of Boko Haram. Muslims will tell me that these are not real Muslims. Who are real Muslims? They are fighting the cause of Muslims. They have not changed their agenda. Anybody trying to tell me that they are not real Muslims should tell me if they are Christians. Let the real Muslims stop them. If we have anybody parading himself as a Christian and then doing things like this, we will have to stop him. If we do not stop him, it means we believe in what he is doing.
You just raised a point that Chris­tians might have to start defending themselves. When are we going to get to that point?
Well, in Christianity, we fear God. Even when our youths get up to retaliate, we say no to them. But if the government continues to keep quiet and leave the Minister of Defence and NSA who are aiding Boko Haram, then we will start protecting ourselves.
President Goodluck Jonathan has been in power for more than five years. Do you think he has done enough in his fight to demolish Boko Haram? Under his leadership, Boko Haram has become very strong?
The president, as a person, is working very hard. He is very concerned. He wants to bring this mess to an end. But those surrounding him are not with him. Let me make it very clear. The president sees himself as president of Ni­geria. That is why he is doing what he is doing. But the Muslims do not respect him. They do not accept him. They believe that unless a Mus­lim becomes president, Nigeria will never be in peace. Let me repeat what I have said before. Check the results of the elections in 2011. The Muslims in the North did not vote for President Jonathan. They do not believe in him. Those that even surround the president do not believe in him. Those in his cabinet will never get any votes for him. Let me make it very clear. They did not vote for him in 2011. They will not vote for him in 2015. Many people surrounding Jonathan are hypocrites. When they go back home, they reduce themselves to nothing, but Islam. It is very clear. Quote me anywhere.
After the 2011 presidential elections, we witnessed the crisis that followed in the north and how Christians were killed. Sheik Gumi has openly declared that if Buhari loses in 2015, there will be crisis. Do you suspect a repeat of what happened in 2011 if Buhari se­cures APC ticket and he does not win eventually?
That is where the Federal Government al­ways fails us. When Buhari came out, all he

was preaching was hate. When he did not win, it was his own boys that started burn­ing churches. Nobody said anything to them. When Sheik Lemu panel came up, was Bu­hari not indicted? Churches that were burnt and people that were killed, did they com­pensate their families? What happened? They returned, gave the money meant for compensation to governors who are Mus­lims. Christians were cheated. If Buhari runs, to me, is not news. Right now, you can see the kind of people that are his supporters. See the kind of people that are following. The other day, I was watching the television and I saw his followers trying to strangle people’s necks. That is even happening among his fol­lowers. What if he loses? To the Islamic cleric that made that statement, my question to him is this. Can’t he get the attention of Buhari? Is it only Buhari that we have in this country that if he does not rule, Nigeria will cease to exist? We need to save lives. I want people to know that after this life, there is judgment of God. Whatever one does in the secret, before God, it will be made known. The political sit­uation in Nigeria has been put under religious dimension. If you have 100 people in a room and then 80 of them are Christians, while the other 20 are Muslims, they will want to ensure that the leadership of that group must be a Muslim. They believe that they were born to rule. We have endured this thing for too long. I want to challenge our Christian leaders and pastors of mega churches in this country that are keeping quiet, thinking that they are safe, I want to remind them of the book of Esther, Chapter 4. When people were planning to annihilate the Jewish race, Esther sent a word to Modecai that her people were about to perish. He told her to speak to the king on their behalf. She sent a word back, complaining about the bureaucracy. He re­minded her that the salvation of the Jewish rested solely with her. Esther went to the king and the Jews were saved.
During Adolf Hitler’s era, there was a pas­tor by the name, Pastor Martin Niemöller. He was a supporter of Hitler. He did not want to come out to condemn what Hitler was doing. He was thinking he was in a safe situation. Before he died, he left these words, “First, they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Trade Un­ionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.” My brother, I want our leaders in Nigeria to take this message very strongly. Just because you are in a protective area where nothing will happen to you does not mean you are safe. The words of Pastor Niemöller will soon come to pass in Nigeria. It will come to a point when whether you are a Muslim or a Christian, Boko Haram will get to you. We have seen where Muslims who stood up against their preaching were killed. When they started, it was not like that. Those people in the North, who are not speaking right now, will be left alone one day and they will have no place to run too, we are in a war and this war is affecting everybody. I realise that the leadership of Muslims in the North are afraid of Boko Haram. Many Mus­lims are sympathetic to Boko Haram. They sit back and watch people being killed.
I went for a burial in southern Kaduna where 170 people were killed and put in one grave. Where are our Muslim leaders in the North? How many of them go around to visit these people? I visited a primary school where kids were roaming around, naked. Their parents have been killed. Nobody is speaking. Nigeria is in a sorry state and may God help us all.
Two years ago, the President of CAN, Pastor Oritsejafor told the whole world that Boko Haram would be taken to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Has that idea been jetti­soned?
We intend to follow through. But let me ask you. Who are these Boko Haram mem­bers? Look at the Army and the entire securi­ty circle. The common person there is risking his life. Now, we have saboteurs among our own security people. What is being done to them? Not even once has anybody been con­victed. Are we saying that we do not know the people behind them? We are still on that case. Just give us time. Very soon, you will be hearing from us.
It’s been over 200 days since Chi­bok schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram. While politicians are busy seeking re-election, CAN has equally be silent. Many of these kid­napped girls are Christians. Why the silence from CAN?
It’s not so much a silence. If it were under our control, those girls who would not have spent a day there. It takes me back to the Minister of Defence and the NSA. The entire security lies with them. If those girls were Muslims, I guarantee you that they would not have spent more than two days. Now, the thing has been politicised. But God has the fi­nal say. We are speaking. We have resorted to prayers and trusting God that at His appointed time, these girls will come out with a testi­mony. We are not quiet.
Even with the recent statement credited to the leader of Boko Haram that the girls have been converted to Islam and married out?
I do not think that is true. It is a propa­ganda. I have also discovered that when Boko Haram suffers serious casualties from our security agents, they go to the social media, telling the whole world that they won. Even journalists are not helping matters at all. If they kill two people, journalists write that they kill 30 people. When our security forces defeat them, journalists do not report it with the same zeal. I want to challenge journalists in this country to be fair to us. You journal­ists are promoting those bloodsuckers. Some­thing is wrong with the chain of order in our security circles. If we change the NSA and the Minister of Defence, I guarantee you that we will see a change.
Are you suggesting that the NSA and the Minister of Defence be re­placed with Christians?
No. There are good Muslims. There are God-fearing Muslims. I am talking about individuals that are doing nothing. I am not talking about religion. There are God-fearing Muslims that will do that which is required to be done if you put them there. You can put a Christian there and he will also mess up. I am talking about Nigeria. Let us look for credible Nigerians to man those positions.

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Photos: Chika Ike shoots as a Turkish Princess as she celebrates birthday

This lady and drama...lol. Happy birthday to
her! See more photos after the cut...

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Controversy over Bishop Oyedepo's school inthe UK

This is exactly how BBC put it before his
people come after me now...:-) Read below..
A Nigerian church accused of linking poor
discipline to witchcraft wants to open an
independent school in Kent. Winners' Chapel
International, which is currently under
investigation by the Charity Commission,
wants to open the school at its Dartford site.
Human rights campaigners and the National
Secular Society are urging the government to
turn down the school bid. The church, whose
leader Bishop David Oyedpo was filmed
accusing a woman of being a witch, declined
an interview.
The organisation, which has its headquarters
in Nigeria, is known as Living Faith Church
Worldwide and also Winners' Chapel
International (WCI).
Bishop Oyedepo, its leader in Nigeria, has
been shown on YouTube slapping a woman
and accusing her of being a witch.
His son David Oyedepo Junior is the pastor at
WCI's European headquarters in Dartford,
where the church organisation wants to open
Kingdom Heritage Model School for children
aged four to seven.
But groups including the National Secular
Society (NSS) have raised concerns amid
claims the church links child "disobedience"
to witchcraft - citing the David Oyedepo
Ministries website, which states "disobedience
is as terrible as witchcraft".
Stephen Evans, from the NSS, said the
Metropolitan Police had investigated 27 cases
of child abuse related to witchcraft this year.
He said: "There's a need to be vigilant and
there's a need to tackle this. You don't do this
by allowing organisations that believe in
witchcraft and are associated with witch-
hunting to open in the UK."
The school application is being considered by
the government. The Charity Commission
confirmed concerns raised about Winners'
Chapel International included conflicts of
interest and the charity's financial
management. In 2011, Bishop Oyedepo's
fortune was estimated at $150m (£94m).
Source: BBC

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Paul Okoye celebrates his wife asshe turns a year older today

Happy birthday to her!

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Dorobucci VS Aye: Which song is more popular?

There is no gain saying it, the Nigerian music scene has definitely come a long way, and this year, music lovers have been bombarded with dozens of hits.

If we were to do a countdown of five songs that have dominated the year, Don Jazzy’s Dorobuchi and Davido’s Aye will definitely make the list because of their popularity. Today, songs go viral minutes after they are officially released, thanks to the social media. And that goes a long way in determining how the songs fair. This week, Showdown zeros in on Dorobucci and Aye, two of the most popular songs of 2014.
Dorobucci:
Released on May 1, 2014, Dorobucci is an Afropop song composed by artistes signed under Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records featuring Tiwa Savage, Don Jazzy, Dr. Sid, D’Prince, Di’Ja, Reekado Banks and Korede Bello. The video of the song was lavishly shot in South Africa. Since its release, unofficial records claim the song has received over 21 million downloads. It has also received two award nominations. They are Best Pop Single 2014 and Song of The Year, at the Headies 2014.
Aye:
Aye is Davido’s 4th official single from his forthcoming album entitled, Sophomore. Produced by TSpize, it was released just before Valentine’s Day, 2014. The song has earned Davido several awards including Hottest Single of The Year at the 2014 edition of the Nigeria Entertainment Awards and Most
Gifted Video of The Year, at the Channel O Music Video Awards 2014 among others. The video of the song was shot and directed in Nigeria by Clarence Peters and it was uploaded to YouTube on February 7, 2014.

…And the people’s verdict:
It’s Aye – Fred Okoh, lawyer
As for me, I find Aye more popular than Dorobuchi. The video of the song is far better than that of Dorobuchi. It is natural and compliments the message of the song. Davido should be commended especially as the song is a breath of fresh air from his traditional style.
Dorobucci video wasteful – Edith Chizoba, undergraduate
Shooting Dorobucci in South Africa was the biggest blunder of Don Jazzy and co. As a journalist, could you honestly tell me what justifies the SA shoot? The problem with our artistes is their wasteful business sense; they like wasting our foreign exchange.
Aye is superior – Ruth Bamiloye, businesswoman
I don’t expect such a question from you because the answer is glaringly obvious. Aye is better by all standards; Aye is superior.
Aye is a masterpiece – Christian Ozor, civil servant
Aye is a masterpiece any day. The song would remain evergreen for a long time to come. But in terms of beats, Dorobucci is better. For instance, if you close your eyes and both songs are played at the same time, you are more likely to dance to Dorobucci.
Dorobucci‘s quality poor – Dayo Babajide, accountant
The quality of the video for Dorobucci makes mockery of Don Jazzy and his team of stars that featured in the song. Aye is the product of a singular effort, yet it is a lot better than what a conglomerate of celebrated stars did. Dorobuchi is a star-studded project full of errors.
Aye is far better – Onyemaechi Ephraim
Truth is that Davido’s Aye is far better than Dorobucci in all its ramifications.
Give it to Aye – Jacob Obazelle, technitial
Why are you asking? Are you not aware of the several awards and nominations that Aye has won for Davido? How many can you count for Doro? Let me tell you, Doro cannot compare to Aye in any way because Aye is meaningful.
In fact, the only thing you can manage about Dorobucci is the beat.
Dorobucci is over-hyped – Lucy John, undergraduate
When Don Jazzy was inundating his instagram with Dorobucci, hopes rose immensely and people had expected that the song would be a bang! But unfortunately, when it was dropped, it didn’t live up to expectation. But Davido’s Aye, which didn’t even enjoy any hype is still being celebrated all over Africa.
Dorobucci’s video is shoddy – Oduma Job, graduate engineer
I’m still in doubt whether Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage and others actually shot the Dorobucci video because it is shoddy. I say this because when you consider the quality of the video and try to match that with the rating of those behind the song, one would be tempted to suspect that they shot the video under duress. Meanwhile, the Aye video which is so simple and was locally shot is so wonderful; little wonder it has been bagging awards since its release.
Aye more accepted  – Rotimi Ogumbiyi, transporter
Remember that you are comparing Aye that was done by a single artiste with Dorobuchi, which was done by a consortium of stars? But even at that, the popular saying that a tree cannot make a forest was shattered by Aye.
Davido’s Aye became the forest which Dorobuchi could not be.
What does Dorobucci mean?– Omoruyi Salaudeen, security expert
There is something about Dorobucci that the Mavins Crew and Don Jazy are not explaining to Nigerians. That is what I feel is affecting the song in terms of popularity. Nigeria is a very religious country; predominantly Christian. It was once rumoured that Dorobucci has something to do with being spiritual or occultic but the Mavins later offered a defence that was viewed by many people as unsatisfactory. Don Jazzy came up with a confused explanation. According to him, Dorobucci represents ‘anything Good.’
Doro is more popular – SOJ Tijani, electronics dealer
No two ways about it; Doro is more popular than Aye. The reason is that it is more danceable than Aye. Doro is currently a must-play at clubs and parties but you cannot say the same for Aye.
Doro living on old glory – Jane Madu, caterer
The little you are hearing about Doro is based on the popularity of Don Jazzy and Tiwa Savage. If the song was a human being, I would have said that he is riding to limelight on their backs. But for them, the song wouldn’t have made any impact because it’s of poor standard.
I have problem with Dorobuchi video –Titi Oyebamikle, undergraduate
Dorobucci and Aye are not really poor songs but the thing is that some people may have reservations when you consider the video of Doro. But nobody will certainly say any bad thing about Aye. Both songs have nice beats but the problem is Doro video.
It’s Aye all the way – Sade Odukoya, undergraduate
It’s Aye o! No explanation is even required to justify it. You and I know, just like everybody does that Aye is much, much better than Doro.
Even kids know Aye is better –Douglas Iwuji, entrepreneur
Why do you people like throwing up subject matters that have obvious answers? Please, stop testing our intelligence because even little children are aware that Aye is far better than Dorobucci by all standards.
Aye has wider acceptance – Helene Okike, undergraduate
Aye is more popular because it has wider acceptance than Dorobucci. Aye appeals to the young and old, men and women, children and adolescents as well as the religious. But I doubt if Dorobucci will ever appeal to any serious Christian because it is rumoured to be linked with marine powers and occultism. Aye is in the class of Onyeka Onwenu’s evergreen song, One Love.

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I dumped lucrative oil & gas job for music -Lady Judith music

Lady Judith (Nwachukwu Akpomejevwe Judith), a gospel artiste, has been in the industry for the past 15 years. The former Vice President of PMAN came into limelight in 2008 when she dropped the hit single, There Is A Name.

She has performed at various concerts both at home and abroad, and has done several singles with the likes of Onyeka Owenu and Queen Salawa Abeni among others. Today, Judith is set to drop her debut studio album. In this chat with Damilola Fatunmise, the Sapele-born-singer opens up on her new album and call to music.


Tell us about yourself?
I am Lady Judith Ojevwe Nwachukwu. I am a married woman blessed with a set of intelligent twins; a boy and a girl.
For how many years have you been in the business?
Over 15 years now and I am basking in the grace of God.
Why did you title your latest album Thankful?
The title of the album is Thankful because it is the testimony of my life and what God has done for me, my family and my business. In short, I can’t thank Him enough. The only thing I can give Him is praise and I know that if I praise Him with all my heart and with my entire soul,
He will do more for me like the Holy Book says.
Why gospel and not hip-hop?
There is a part in everyone that cries out for God and the Bible says ‘we are in the world and not of the world.’ What that
means is that we are not expected to do things in the way of the world. However, I celebrate hip-hop artistes but I know I am on earth for this assignment of singing about God, and if I don’t do it, I will have to answer on Judgement Day. I am compelled to do what I am doing.
Why is it that gospel artistes are not recognised the way hip-hop artistes are?
We are not expected to live according to the world. That the hip-hop artistes are being celebrated does not mean we are not working. Good for them, we are in a world where sex sells. If you shoot a video in this country without showing boobs and bum, you have not done anything and gospel videos don’t feature all these because we have values; I am talking about morals.
How is your husband coping with your music career?
He met me on stage and he can’t stop me because that is the only way we can have peace, so he is encouraging me to do what I love to do.
The gospel music scene is saturated with so much talent. What sets you apart?
With all humility, I will say my uniqueness is what sets me apart. I do my things to make a mark. I have spent a lot of money and time in order to come out with a good job because the market is very competitive. So, I have a lot of good songs to offer the industry.
What about PMAN?
PMAN was good. I made my own impact and I was able to meet a lot of people.
Though PMAN is now a shadow of itself, my advice to my fellow artistes is that a house divided will keep falling. But if we are united, we will stand. So we should  just team up and work for a better union.
You have being singing for over 15, why did it take you this long to come up with your album?
Before now I was working with NNPC. I had babies at home to take care of. At a time I went back to school and then I eventually travelled out of the country. But now I am fully back in the business. Besides, music is not what you can just do and fold your arms; you must work hard to bring out a good album.
Why did you give up your lucrative oil job for music?
Because I was sent to do gospel music and I must fulfil that purpose.
Where is your career headed?
My career is headed for the top. I am not limiting myself at all; I see myself winning a Grammy in the nearest future. I keep growing, I won’t stop but I will keep moving.

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Halima Abubakar’s take on pre-marital sex

Sometimes, looks are truly deceptive. Do not bet on Halima Abubakar’s seductive movie role or dressing. Despite her dynamite appearance, the Nollywood actress has made a shocking revelation. Her words:
“I do not have sex.” Consequently, she advised young girls to desist from pre-marital sex and focus on building a worthwhile career for the future.
She recalled a thorny path on the ladder of success in Nigerian ‘Make- Believe’ world. “It was very difficult and stressful time for me but I knew where I was heading. I just kept telling myself to be focussed and push harder.”
Today, Halima is a popular actress. A multiple award winner, she is one of the few Nigerian English actresses that hail from the North.

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Day female fan emptied bottle of beer on my head –Victor Essiet

Victor Essiet of The Mandators fame, remember him? He was the musician who alongside the late Peggy Essiet gave us classics like Rat Race and Tribulations way back in the mid-1980s to early 1990s when reggae ruled the Nigerian music space. Essiet recently returned to Nigeria after a long sojourn in the US. He shares his over 20 years stage experience today.

When was the first time you performed live on stage?
That was in 1980. Then I was still in school. I also performed during the launch of my first album at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
How was the show?
I was very good because I had been practising for a very long time so the show did not come as a surprise.
Did you panic before the show?
Yes I was panicky!
How were you able to overcome that, did you take any stimulant?
No, I don’t take stimulants before going on stage?
How did you overcome stage fright?
You know, talent is physical but music is spiritual. When you are able to connect with the audience and you discover
that they are hailing you, your day is made as an entertainer
How do you prepare for a show?
Based on experience, I don’t rehearse all the time. I wake up anytime I want.
However, the only precaution I normally take is that I drink only warm water and I make sure that I don’t touch any drink that contains alcohol.
Do you take alcohol?
Not really, but I prefer some wine.
You use so much of energy on stage, what do you take?
I take little water because if I load my tummy with too much water I won’t be able to perform. Mind you, if I take any
stimulant it will be problematic because I am hyper-active.
What’s the relationship between you and your female fans?
Nice relationship; I love them and they love me too and it feels great. I treat them with respect because they are very
dear to my heart.
What crazy thing has a female fan done to you?
Lots of crazy things; at times when they get excited, some take of their blouses while I am performing! I have seen lots of
crazy things which one can not mention but one I will always remember was the day a female fan came on stage and out of
excitement poured drink on my head and the security guys had to take her off the stage. I later cautioned the security guys to handle her with care because she did it out of excitement.

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You’re hypocrite, speaker replies ex-minister

While reacting to the call by Chief Babatope that he should resign as Speaker, House of Representatives, Tambuwal, who spoke through his Spe­cial Adviser on Media, Mallam Imam Imam said the PDP chieftain was not in a position to give him such a piece of ad­vice.

Describing Babatope as a hypocrite, Tam­buwal said Babatope lacked the moral stand­ing to make such a call.
According to him: “Those, who live in glass house, should not throw stones. How can Babatope call on Tambuwal to resign? He lacks the moral standing to make such a call. Why did he not resign when he was a minister during Abacha regime when the late dictator’s government was busy assassinat­ing Nigerians? Which is more honourable— defecting to APC or serving in a government that killed its citizens? Did Babatope resign from Abacha government when good people were being killed, people like Ken Saro- Wiwa, Kudirat Abola, Alfred Rewane just to mention a few. Why did Babatope refuse to quit?
Imam, who added that the speaker would not like to make further statement on the is­sue, said: “This matter is already in court, and to that extent, we will not like to talk on it, let the judiciary make its pronouncement on the matter”.

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Ekweremadu gets support from Chime’s kinsmen

The contest for the Enugu East senatorial ticket in the Peoples Democratic Party certainly promises to be one of the toughest political contests in the history of the state. The contest is between the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and the state governor, Sullivan Chime.

While the governor is banking on his powers as the leader of the party in the state, Ekweremadu is holding tight to his closeness to the National leadership of the party, as well as his Abuja connections. Of course, the sour relationship between the two leaders has continued to create division in the party in the state and also among supporters.
Thus the recent event in Udi, hometown of the governor where the Deputy Senate President was given a tumultuous reception has been receiving attention from political watchers within and outside the state.
It was meant to be a condolence visit to Udi Local Government Area that weekend, but at the end it was turned into a political carnival. The crowd was thick; the roads were blocked and even the popular Udi palm wine joints which dot both sides of the road as one drives in from the four-corner end were all under lock and key. It was unexpected, but all that was for Ekweremadu the same man in ‘battle’ with their own kinsman, Governor Chime.
The Udi people hijacked the opportunity provided by the condolence visit to the Onyia family for the death of their illustrious sons, Obiora Onyia and Emma Onyia and turned it into another political rally as men and women, young and the elderly trooped out to endorse Ekweremadu for a return to the senate.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman in the local government, Hon Uche Ogbodo, started it all when in his speech he announced that PDP executive and political stakeholders in the local government had earlier met and endorsed Ekweremadu to return to the senate. Said he: “Looking around you can see who is who in Udi Local Government Area, I can see the pioneer chairman of PDP in the local government and other stakeholders, and I don’t think we still have other members left. You are all witnesses to the programmes and projects of Senator Ekweremadu in Udi ranging from water, electricity, roads and empowerment. That is why we have no option but to endorse him. On behalf of Udi PDP executive, we have resolved to endorse Ekweremadu for another four years in the senate.”
Corroborating the party chairman, other PDP stakeholders in the area, among them Hon. Mike Oba, former House of Assembly member and Hon. Austin Ene, declared their support for the endorsement, noting that Ekweremadu and President Goodluck Jonathan brought Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, among other major projects, to the South East zone.
Addressing the gathering, the Coordinator of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) and Jonathan Support Group (JSG) in Udi Local Government Area, Hon. Emeka Aneke said that people of Enugu West senatorial zone had already renewed Ekweremadu’s mandate for a third term in the senate.
“This mandate is a public investment by the masses. The expected returns on this huge investment are your delivery of social justice for the masses measured in terms of quality representation, human capital development and empowerment, rural infrastructure development, accountability and prospects building”.
He highlighted some major projects attracted to the local government by Ekweremadu, pointing out that the first asphalted road and erosion control from Nkwoagu to Uwani Amokwe, the solar plant and street light at Udi town, the Enugwu Obinagu erosion control project, were attracted by Ekweremadu.
He listed other projects by the senator in Udi to include the Umuabi Abor erosion control project, construction of Oji/Udi 33kv feeder for power improvement, IKEOHA scholarship scheme, adult literacy and widowhood care programmes in all communities in the local government area.
“As our senator, we attest to the fact that you are very visible nationally and internationally and a pride of not only Enugu State but the entire Ndigbo and Nigeria.”
Addressing the people at Umuneke Udi, Ekweremadu announced that he will set up a master plan for comprehensive development of the local government area. This plan he said will make 9th Mile, the major commercial centre of the council area a hub of economic activity in the South East zone of the country. He declared that the master plan will be named “Obiora Master Plan” in memory of the late Onyia.
He observed that the people of Udi have not received fair share of infrastructural development, good governance and youth empowerment that they deserve.
He described Udi as the cradle of development in Igbo land where development started. “So, we are here to pay respect to the great people of Udi, who helped us to gain independence as Enugu people. They gave Wawa meaning, they made us proud because among the Igbo, you cannot speak about the judges without speaking about people like Justice Onyeama, Justice Nnaemeka Agu, Aniagolu and, of course, the late C. C. Onoh. We also have professors of note from Udi and also traditional rulers who gave our people character. We are here to pay our respect to this great local government that we are all proud of.
“So, I’m going to work with the elders, the leadership of Udi and, of course, the stakeholders to develop a master plan that will ensure that our people of Udi will have access to the best quality infrastructure. We are going to ensure that 9th-Mile is re-designed and re-developed so that it will be the hub of economic activities in the South East.”
A PDP stakeholders and guber aspirant from the zone, Chief Anayo Onwuegbu, who accompanied Ekweremadu, said: “Ekweremadu is one who fully embraced his opponents, we are speaking in the domain of my good friend and brother (Gov Chime) whom
I was told only yesterday that he is aspiring to– the office of the senate of Enugu West district which is presently being occupied by the Deputy Senate President; and I think it is historical that the people of Umuneke decided to come out en masse like this to sound it loud and clear that they want to identify and endorse Deputy Senate President against his opponent who happens to be the Governor of Enugu State and it is historical because it is not normal, that’s the importance of today.”
Another political leader in the zone, Emperor Baywood Ibe said: “We thank you (Udi people) for receiving warmly our brother, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, we are happy to be here, when your own deny you, you have no place to go; we have accepted our own, we are one, Udi and Awgu and all the greater Awgu people are brothers, but in the time past, some people have been treating us with contempt but they fail to understand that you cannot suppress people that are determined to move forward, you cannot bring them backward, and that is why we have decided to move forward as a group, we now have Save Awgu Forum, but now it is no more Save Awgu Forum, it is Save Enugu Forum, that is the way, because we have decided to move as one.
“This is an appeal; I can see that Udi people are eager just like us to save Enugu State. This is the time when we are going to remind our people to stand up and speak with one voice, the people have spoken, and when the people speak, they (opponents) begin to shake, so shall it be. The people have spoken that Ikeoha (Ekweremadu) is the man to beat. So, we thank you.”
Chief Mike Ugwu, a member of the House of Reps in the Second Republic also spoke, saying: “I’m a stakeholder of PDP in Enugu West and, therefore, I know everything about PDP. What I’m saying is that Ekweremadu has the capacity of being a senator, because I was a member of National Assembly, you have to talk to people, you have to lobby to get projects to your own zone and somebody who has been executive governor, should after eight years have a rest, because he will just be resting in the National Assembly.”
For Dr. Nnamdi Ene, a native of Oninagu, in Udi: “My assessment of today’s gathering is that it is actually what it should be. The people of Udi got the information, just a rumour that their senator will be coming on a condolence visit and they all thronged this place to show their solidarity and with this number of people gathered, you can imagine what will happen by the day he will be coming on a campaign; that shows that the senator is doing very well and that he is loved by the people and they will want him to go back to the senate.”

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Tambuwal must go – Babatope

Former Minister and member, Board of Trustees, BoT, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ebenezer Babatope, has insist­ed that the embattled Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, should quit office if he wants Nigerians to see him as a man of honour.

While react­ing to Tambuwal’s defection to the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Babatope described the development as very unfortunate, adding that Tambuwal through his action has betrayed the ruling PDP.


“The best thing for Tambuwal to do now is to resign as the Speaker, House of Representatives. He has betrayed PDP. If he is a man of honour, he should hon­ourably resign his position. PDP will not miss him. The party is even going to wax stronger following his departure. But he should resign as the speaker,” he declared in this interview with TUNDE THOMAS.
The PDP chieftain also talks on Presi­dent Jonathan’s re-election, PDP’s chanc­es in Lagos State in 2015 and a host of others. Below is an excerpt:
What is your reaction to the defec­tion of the Speaker, House of Repre­sentatives, Aminu Tambuwal, from the Peoples Democratic Party, to the All Progressives Congress?
Tambuwal, through his action, has em­barked on a wild goose chase, and in the end will regret his action. What he did is a strange development for Nigeria’s democra­cy, for somebody in his position as number four citizen to abandon the political party on which platform he became speaker to join another party.
Although as an individual, he is entitled to freedom of association and speech, be­lieve me, he has laid a very bad precedent which historians will find condemnable for years to come. But I wish him the best of luck and I can assure him that PDP will not be worse off by his action. His defection will become a source of strength to PDP.
Some members of your party, PDP, have been insisting that Tam­buwal should vacate his position as the Speaker of House of Represen­tatives since he was elected on the platform of the party, but Nigerians have also insisted that Tambuwal should retain his position citing cas­es of other politicians who have de­fected from other parties to join PDP and still retain their offices, what is your reaction to this?
PDP asked Tambuwal to resign his posi­tion purely on the basis of honour. Tambu­wal should resign his position on honour as the Speaker of the Lower House having left PDP. Even there is honour among animals, not to talk of human beings. He got to the post of speaker in a manner not approved by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
If you can still remember very well, PDP leaders sat down after the last general elec­tion in 2011 to determine who will hold what position, and the position of the Speak­er of House of Representatives was zoned to the South Western part of the country. But Tambuwal went out to lobby some PDP members, and members from other political parties to become speaker. Right from 2011, Tambuwal assumed position not given to him by PDP. It is a mark of honour for him to resign. But for him to remain in that posi­tion without being a PDP member is unac­ceptable. It is unfair. If Tambuwal is a man of honour, he should throw in the towel as speaker.
Why did the PDP refuse to sanc­tion Tambuwal when he went against the party’s directive to contest the post of speaker?
When we talk about legal aspect regard­ing Tambuwal’s action, the courts are per­mitted by convention and practice not to give rulings that will compound the prob­lems of the society, as doing so will throw the country into chaos, and that is why the judiciary at times are cautious on certain is­sues.
PDP was very cautious over this issue when Tambuwal violated the party’s princi­ple. What do we do? We need to handle the issue very carefully because if we fail to do so, it could trigger a number of events with­in PDP which may have negative effect not only on the party, but the country as a whole.
Mulikat Adeola-Akande from the South- West geo-political zone should have been the speaker, but Tambuwal came from no­where to hijack the position of speaker. Even when PDP leaders were looking for him with the aim of persuading him not to go ahead with his plan to become speaker, he made himself inaccessible. Nobody saw him, but he got some rebellious members of PDP in the House to back him, and with the support of APC lawmakers, he became the speaker.
Again, people don’t know this, the Board of Trustees of PDP considered the matter, and felt that they should really set up a com­mittee to examine the whole issue and rec­ommend to BOT what BOT should recom­mend to PDP about what the party should do on the issue, and this led to the setting up of Onyeabor Obi Committee, and I was a mem­ber of that committee, Sule Lamido, gover­nor of Jigawa State, was also a member.
After our meeting, members of the com­mittee felt that the only thing we can do to assuage the feelings of the South West and therefore recommend that somebody from the South-West should be appointed as chairman of party’s BOT. Obasanjo, who was then the party’s chairman, BOT, didn’t allow the recommendation to work for what­ever reason known to him.
President Jonathan now has to do several things to assuage the feelings of the people from the South-West by giving the zone sev­eral other appointments.
Eventualy, if Tambuwal has the courage to resign, then for goodness sake, the posi­tion of speaker should be given to Mulikat Adeola-Akande in line with the party’s deci­sion.
Why is PDP insisting that Tambuw­al should resign since defection has become a common feature among Nigerian politicians?
People can move from one party to anoth­er because we have not got law that regulates this. Having said that, as regarding Tambu­wal’s position as speaker of the House of Representatives, he got there by the virtue of being an elected PDP member, and PDP won majority in the House. What Tambuwal has done amounts to total betrayal of the party. Imagine Tambuwal leaving the party when we are all busy preparing for election in 2015. What can amount to betrayal more than that? Tambuwal has compromised his position, he has compromised his party, and he has thrown confusion into the country’s politics. But Tambuwal is a young man, I wish him the best of luck, but I hope he re­traces his step.
Tambuwal and members of APC are taking measures to ensure that he retains the office of speaker, they have gone to the courts, how do you see this development?
Let’s wait and see what will come out of all these. Tambuwal can’t eat his cake and at the same time have it, he should be a man of honour. He is no longer in PDP, he should leave what belongs to PDP for the party. If I were Tambuwal, and I did what he did, as speaker of the House of Representa­tives.
Some members of PDP have instituted court cases against President Goodluck Jonathan, they are asking the court to de­clare the president as being inel­igible to seek re-election, claim­ing that the President had taken oath of office twice, what is your position on this?
Those PDP members that have gone to court are only exercising their con­stitutional rights. It is a pity they have not come to hire me as their lawyer, I will collect their money and go to court on their behalf. But what I know is that PDP has decided that President Good­luck Jonathan should seek re-election. No court of law can administer the PDP. The courts will never do that. What courts can only do is to give guidelines to interpreting party’s policies, but the courts can never dictate to PDP on what to do.
As far as we in PDP are concerned, we are focused, and we have chosen President Goodluck Jonathan as our flagbearer for 2015 presidential elec­tions.
How do you see the letter writ­ten to President Jonathan by a popular Islamic cleric in Kaduna, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, pleading with the President not to seek re-election, but rather any other member of PDP can run for the election?
I would advise that nobody should take the letter to the president seriously. Nigerians should discountenance the letter. It is God that decides the fate of nations and individuals. Why should he say that Jonathan and Buhari should not contest? Why should he say that he sees danger ahead if Jonathan and Bu­hari contest? If Gumi is an astrologer, he should be able to see things that are positive. But again, as a Nigerian, Gumi is free to say whatever he wants to say but for us in PDP, we will not allow President Jonathan to take that kind of advice.
Lagos State has always been difficult for your party, PDP, to win and as 2015 is fast approach­ing, APC leaders have vowed to humiliate PDP again, what do you say to that?
For 2015, APC is in trouble in Lagos State. But APC has been able to sustain itself, because it has been using propa­ganda to hoodwink people. PDP is do­ing everything possible to defeat APC in 2015.
Are you saying that APC’s days in Lagos State are numbered, and the era of Tinubu’s influence is gradually coming to an end in Lagos politics?
Tinubu is a very difficult person to understand. We are watching Tinubu 100 per cent. To us in PDP, Lagos State is important to us in 2015. Honestly speaking, I think some elements believe that they have to push out from APC the Tinubu phenomenon, and it has got to a stage where those of us in PDP will benefit from that kind of thing.

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How fire from oil spillage almost razed Foursquare campground

Tuesday, November 4, 2014 was a day that petrochemical fire would have razed the expansive camp of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria located in Ajebo, a community in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Some villages in the vicinity of the camp such as Derupatan, Ajebo, Ashaidun, Oniworo and Fidiwo would have also been reduced to rubble by the raging fire, but for providence.
The incident occurred less than a week to the commencement of the annual national convention of the denomination slated to hold from Monday 10th to Sunday 16th Novem­ber, this year, at the Foursquare Campground, Ajebo. The main gate of the camp is beside Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at Alapako/Ogun­makin area.
The fire reportedly broke out at about 12noon and burnt uncontrollably for several hours before it stopped by itself. Some nota­ble members of the church, who were at the camp with a view to putting necessary things in place prior to the convention, and scores of villagers were said to have been very alarmed.
When Saturday Sun met with the Chair­person of the Foursquare Camp Board, Rev (Mrs) Yetunde Sodipo, who is the District Overseer of the church in Ifo District, Ogun State, she said the authorities of the camp no­ticed oil spillage on the Asha River that pass­es through the camp about three months ago. The stretch of the river that passes through the camp is about three kilometres.
Letters, according to her, were written to the manager of the Nigerian National Petrole­um Corporation (NNPC) in Abeokuta and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Owode- Egba, informing them of the development and the need to address the situation.
The Camp Manager, Rev Ebun Bella, who was at the camp when the incident oc­curred, took over the narration from there. He explained that at about 12noon on Tuesday, he suddenly noticed a thick black smoke bil­lowing into the air, with fire and intermittent explosions from the Asha River.
“I suddenly noticed the fire at the back of the old National Temple. The smoke was too thick and nobody could stay in about 600 metres away from the river because of the heat from the fire. People at the camp ran for safety. Also, car owners hurriedly jumped into their vehicles and drove off towards the second gate for safety.
“The smoke covered the old National Temple, Harold Curtis Hostel, the Camp Can­teen, the Foursquare Women International (FWI) building and other hostels that are not far from the Asha River. It was an ugly de­velopment.
“The fire was burning on top of the water and also burnt the green vegetation along the river, including trees, palm trees and bam­boos, along the river. The river flows from Olosun, Ajebo, Ashaidun side through the camp to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. So, we noticed that the fire came from those ar­eas along the river path, and burnt towards the expressway.
“We thank God the fire incident did not happen during dry or harmattan season; oth­erwise, the whole camp might have been burnt down. Also, we thank God that the na­tional convention had not started. If it had, I could not imagine the kind of commotion that would have engulfed the camp.
“But about three months ago, we had no­ticed oil spillage on the river. So, we wrote letters to the NNPC, Abeokuta and the DPO, Owode-Egba Police Divisional Headquarters. The NNPC later told us verbally that the leak­age point of the petrol pipeline that caused the spillage had been repaired. So, the NNPC said it would not pose any danger to us again. Thereafter, the spillage stopped. But we sud­denly saw the fire on Tuesday afternoon.”
Bella also said the police have begun in­vestigation on the fire incident, adding that a Deputy Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, on Wednesday, led 11 other policemen on an assessment visit to the scene of the in­ferno.
One of the campers, Mr. Tosin Iwala, told Saturday Sun that when he suddenly saw the thick black smoke and the fire, he left the caf­eteria in front of the old National Temple and ran away.
“The smoke overwhelmed the camp. I did not know that it was oil spillage that caused it. I was only imagining how fire could be burn­ing like that on top of a flowing river, not a stream. We thank God that nobody died in the camp and none of our property was razed.”
When the reporter visited Derupatan, one of the villages in the camp area, a young man, who introduced himself as Sherifudeen Afo­larin, lamented that a septuagenarian lost his life to the fire incident.
He said the old man, Pa Idris Ajinikirun, who was blessed with heavy beard and mous­tache, was working in his farm when the fire broke out, saying: “The information I heard was that the old man did not die immediately. He was roasted by the fire at about 2p.m on Tuesday. He was taken to hospitals. He was rejected in the first two hospitals he was taken to and died in the third one where he was ad­mitted.

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Duke, Imoke at ‘war’ over guber race

The age-long re­lationship be­tween Governor Liyel Imoke and his predecessor, Mr. Donald Duke seems to have broken down as the latter has taken a swipe at the processes adopted by the party leadership in Cross River to select the next governor.

There has been no love lost between the two friends.
While Imoke insists that his successor must be a member of the PDP family and chosen by the people, Duke contends that major­ity of the PDP members have been shut out through the processes put in place by the leadership headed by Imoke to choose the next governor.
Addressing a political rally on Thursday at the Holy Child Girls’ Second­ary School in Calabar, Duke, who handed over power to the incumbent in 2007, said he cannot un­derstand the real meaning of PDP family being ban­died about as his adminis­tration accommodated all shades of opinions unlike now.
Duke said it is unaccept­able for a few privileged people to hijack power to the detriment of all Cross Riverians, stressing that it is only change of baton to the wish of the people that can salvage the state and the PDP.
He said, “I don’t know the meaning of the word family. I know better still the meaning of the word, PDP family. You see in 1999, when we assumbed office, we were not all in PDP. So there were some in APP as at then and of course there were others in PDP. My first task as gov­ernor was to bring all of Cross River to PDP family. I was the chief executive of that family.
“I was the head of that family. And by the time I left in 2007, all of us, all of Cross River State resided in one family.
Now, families, when they get very large, they have challenges, but the only way one can keep everybody together is by showing leadership; by be­ing honest, by being forth­right and being straight forward. Members of the family should not guess what the leader or lead­ers or elders of the family think. They should know. You don’t guess what God wants of you.”

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FG undertakes not to undermine Tambuwal

The Attorney Gen­eral of the Fed­eration and the Inspector General of Police have given an undertaking not to do anything that will un­dermine the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives as a re­sult to his defection to the opposition All Progres­sives Congress [APC].

In doing so, the federal agencies asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss the suit filed by Aminu Tambuwal border­ing on the perceived moves to impeach him as well as the withdrawal of his secu­rity details as Speaker.
When the case resumed yesterday for hearing, the presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed re­vived its earlier orders for the parties to maintain the status quo.
The judge premised the order to maintain status quo on verbal undertakings by the defendants’ lawyers not to do anything that would destroy the subject matter of the case.
In a short ruling, Jus­tice Mohammed held that: “Parties are on agreement that the res should not be tampered with. The plain­tiffs are satisfied by the undertakings granted the defendants not to tamper with the res.
“The lone issue now is the security of the plaintiff.
“On the issue of juris­diction, the court has pow­er to determine whether or   not it has jurisdiction.
“The preliminary objec­tions will be taken together with the substantive case.
“Parties are hereby di­rected to maintain the sta­tus quo pending the hearing of the suit and the prelimi­nary objections.”
The court however did not make any order direct­ing the police to reinstate the security details of the Speaker. Justice Moham­med was silent on this. He adjourned the matter till November 17.

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C’River PDP suspends guber aspirant, 10 others

The crisis rocking the ruling Peo­ples Democratic Party, PDP across the country deepened in Cross River State yes­terday when the party suspended one of its gov­ernorship aspirants, Mr. Goddy Agba, and 10 other stalwarts over alleged gross indiscipline as well as outright abuse of party rules and guidelines.

Besides, the party lead­ership referred the Sen­ate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, and Hon. Chris Etta, House of Rep­resentatives member to its national headquarters for appropriate sanctions over their alleged conducts in the just concluded ward del­egates’ election in the state.
Those sanctioned include Dr. Sandy Onoh, immediate past commissioner for Envi­ronment, Hon James Tam­bang, Mr. Tony Mkpang, Liganus Odigha, Dr. God­win Igile, Kenneth Ndoma- Egba, Samuel Willie, Ubi Itam Ettah, Barr Venatious Ikem, former PDP Publicity Secretary, and Ernest Irek. Speaking at a press brief­ing at the party secretariat in Calabar, the party chair­man, Ntufam John Okon, said the decision to suspend the 11 members was arrived at after the state Execu­tive Working Committee’s meeting that examined the roles played by each of them during the last ward congress.
Ntufam Okon said the suspended members by their conducts have not only ridiculed the party, but did everything possible to compromise the system just as they have taken the party to court against the its rules.
“Following the just-con­cluded delegate congress, a lot of issues occurred. We have some party members that have ridiculed the par­ty, and gone against party rules. Some of them have gone to court against party rules. Some have been in­duced to compromise the system. And some other party members from across the state have sent petitions to me.
“And I had to summon the party Exco in the state to sit over them. We did not have to waste time unneces­sarily over them so we are not accused.
I, as a person don’t have the power to sanction. When the Exco looked at the whole petitions they passed a resolution that those involved in such alle­gations be suspended. They are referred to appropriate party committee in line with constitution of the party for thorough investigation.
“For Sen. Victor Ndoma- Egba and Hon Chris Ettah, we don’t have power to sus­pend them. Constitution of the party says because they are members of the Nation­al Assembly if anyone has case against such should be referred to the National Working Committee”, he stated.
Insisting that their action is in order, the chairman said, “the party will not sit down and watch those who want to destroy the struc­tures of the party,” stressing that the party treats every member equally no matter which office you hold or status.
The suspended members are to appear before the dis­ciplinary committee headed by Barr (Mrs.) Josephine Effiom, former chair of Ak­pabuyo LGA.
Reacting to his purported suspension yesterday, Sena­tor Ndoma Egba dismissed it as mere rumour and a non-issue.
He further said he was yet to be officially notified by the Cross River State chap­ter of the party.
“I’ve heard the rumour; I don’t believe that the state chapter of the PDP will dis­play such crass ignorance.
“If they did, then, it’s a pity and quite unfortunate. It would be a comedy of very frustrated people, as far as I’m concerned.”
The Senate Leader prom­ised to throw more light on the development on Mon­day.

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Skye Bank records N12b profit

Skye Bank Plc has announced its Third Quar­ter result with moderate growth in some performance indices. It recorded a profit before tax of N12.3billion during the period, which repre­sents a quarter on quarter growth of 33 percent.

With gross earnings of N97.1billion, the bank was able to reduce its in­terest expense by 15 per cent year on year to close at N30.3billion compared to N35.7billion as at Sep­tember 2013. This is in line with its operational strategy of increasing the volume of low cost funds in its deposit portfolio.
The bank closed with a year-to-date net loans and advances balance of N576billion showing a 6% increase year on year. Similarly, customer depos­its grew to N801.7billion as against N726.8billion of the previous year while as­set size remained strong at N1.1trillion with a 3 per­cent year-on-year growth.
The bank said barring any unforeseen circum­stances, the growth pattern would be improved in the remaining period of the fi­nancial year.
“Our loan impairment charge increased by 62 percent year on year to N7.5billion, being a delib­erate policy of aggressive provisioning early in the year to enable a fairly sus­tained position and avoid high concentration in the last quarter of the year. Non-interest income im­proved by 15 percent YoY to N17.6billion compared to N15.2billion of the cor­responding period in 2013.

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Broadband: Nigeria has tremendous opportunities for growth-EVC

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Eugene Juwah has disclosed that the country still has tremendous opportunities for growth in internet deployment.

Juwah, who was speaking shortly after after a nail-biting election in Bussan, South Korea recently, noted that there had been so much development in the country’s Communications sector, which she was ready to export and share with the international community.
“The Nigerian Telecommunications industry has grown in leaps and bounds over the last decade. The growth rate continues to be impressive. Our industry statistics shows the Country’s Active voice Subscriber Base of about 132 million as at today;  Tele-density of 92.41 percent; Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of over $32 Billion and Telecoms contributes 9 percent to Nigeria’s GDP. Nigeria still has tremendous opportunities for growth, especially in the area of broadband deployment.
“As a Country, we have valuable experiences to share. We have also been recognized in various fora globally for the achievements we have made in regulating and developing our telecommunications sector. We continue to enunciate programmes and regulatory frameworks, as well as adapt global best practices in the regulation of our telecommunications industry. We carry out our regulatory role based on the principles of fairness, forthrightness and firmness. This has been demonstrated over the years in all the initiatives and programs we have implemented”.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s efforts to remain in the ITU Council were also rewarded as the Nigerian campaign was spear-headed by the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, and supported by  Juwah.
Johnson urged the Nigerian delegates to work harder in the campaigns next time in order to make the outcome less anxious and stressful. The Minister was referring to the thick anxiety that enveloped the Nigerian delegation when the name wasn’t called at the expected time.
The ITU Council is the highest decision making body and acts as the union’s governing body in the interval between Plenipotentiary Conferences while one of the Board’s main functions is to approve rules of procedures to facilitate application of the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and the geo-stationary-satellite and non-geostationary satellites orbits.
The 48 membership Council seats are distributed thus: The Americas (9 seats); Western Europe (8 seats); Eastern Europe and Northern Asia (5 seats); Africa (13 seats); and East Asia and Australia (13). Although the seats are fairly distributed across the regions, a whole lot of international politicking and diplomatic maneuvering usually come into play and this saw countries like South Africa and Iran voted out of the Council.
The Nigerian Communications Commission formed the arrow-head of the country’s return to the ITU Council.
From the outcome of the elections the appeal hit a positive note as Nigeria was retained in the Council, while some other high profile countries lost out.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone provided by Airtel Nigeria.

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Jonathan opens Akwa Ibom Stadium

President Good­luck Jonathan who laid the foundation stone of the Akwa Ibom Stadi­um two years ago was on hand to commission the sumptuous arena yester­day. Assisted by two serv­ing presidents of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama and Côte d’Ivoire’s Al­assane Drmane Ouat­tara, as well as former President of Ghana, Jer­ry Rawlings, the presi­dent declared the edifice open at quarter past six in the evening (6:15pm).

He paid tributes to Gov­ernor Godswill Akpabio, who executed the project in record time, pointing out governments in the fed­eration sometimes initiated programmes, which they were often unable to finish.
“This has not been the case here. I therefore com­mend the governor for the achievement”. He also pointed out the signifi­cance of Akwa Ibom, be­ing the first state to host three serving presidents at the same time on occa­sion that had nothing to do with a major political or economic meeting. The commissioning preceded the Nigeria versus Ghana football match.
Ghana’s president in his goodwill message, devi­ated to commend the coun­try on how the Ebola virus was contained and showed how Nigeria can achieve a lot if all work together.
President John Dramani Mahama also spoke as the chairman of ECOWAS, remarked that the stadium will not just be a nest for champions of Nigeria, but also that of West Africa, Africa and the world.
He hoped that the arena will breed future Serena Williams, Nemar, Pele and other notable names of the world.

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