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The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has said it would not accept the proposed increase in electricity tariff.

The union said Friday that the planned tariff increase would only compound the hardship Nigerians were going through in the midst of erratic power supply.

General Secretary of the union, Mr Joe Ajeero, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

“The union stand is very clear on this; we shall stand to reject any hike in the electricity tariff.

“We told them when they were privatising this sector that they will add to the burden of the people, but they insisted and have their way by force.

“I am glad that other unions are now joining us to reject this planned submission against the poor and vulnerable Nigerians.”

The Defence Headquarters on Friday said intelligence reports have hinted fresh plan by some interest groups to embark on a renewed campaign aimed at attracting international condemnation and indictment of the Nigerian military and its operations in the northern part of the country.

Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, in a statement said the said campaign is to rely heavily on doctored and falsified audio-visual materials, some of which are already trending in the social media. This, it said, would be coordinated and funded by a prominent political leader whose state is presently under the state of emergency.

“The details of the plan, which is already being fine-tuned by a group of media professionals, (are) to be presented for the final ratification and funding by the political figure. The design is expected to forcefully whip up sentiments of genocide allegedly targeted against a particular religious group.

“The planners of this crusade also hope to use it to gain some mileage in the drive to secure international attention as they have not achieved this sufficiently despite previous efforts. The programme, which is also meant to reinforce the ongoing media campaign against the military, was adopted as an alternative by those who are bent on politicising the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the northern part of the country.

“It will be recalled that a newspaper, apparently testing the waters, last week published some of the doctored pictures which the Defence Headquarters instantly repudiated, pointing out that they do not represent activities or operations of the military.

“This headquarters wishes to reiterate its rejection of pictures and video footages from unverifiable sources claiming to reflect activities or so-called atrocities purportedly perpetrated by Nigerian security forces. They do not reflect or depict the true state of affairs or operations of Nigerian military or any of the security forces. The public is advised to watch out and not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by these acts of infamy orchestrated by this desperate group.”

It noted that the dastardly acts of terrorism are against all Nigerians and all peace-loving people all over the world; and that “no amount of propaganda by apologists of terror group can justify the evil acts of terrorism by attempting to cast the Nigerian military and security forces in bad light.”

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACFM) on Saturday appealed to the Boko Haram insurgents to accept the amnesty offer by the Federal Government.

A statement issued in Kaduna by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, said the group must stop further destruction of innocent lives.

The statement was issued to condole the government and people of Borno over the murder of the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrissa Timta, by the insurgents on Friday.

“ACF appeals to the Boko Haram members to accept and embrace the amnesty proposal of the Federal Government, and stop the wanton destruction of lives and property of innocent people.

“The Forum further calls on governments at all levels to show transparency in the execution of the amnesty programme in the interest of peace and reconciliation.”

It noted that the insurgents were killing innocent people for no just cause, adding that the group must stop the carnage and embrace peace.

The ACF prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Emir and for his family to have the fortitude to bear the loss.

Timta ascended to the throne as a third class chief in Oct. 1981 and was elavated to first class status in Jan. 2014. [NAN]

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Yobe on Saturday organised a bye-election into Nangere constituency of the state house of assembly.

The member representing the constituency, Adamu Degubi, was killed by gunmen in June 2012.

Two parties: the All Progressives Congress (APC) which fielded Alhaji Saidu Baba, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that fielded Shuaibu Ibrahim, are contesting the election.

A NAN correspondent, who covered the election, reports that security operatives have been deployed to all parts of Nangere Local Government Area to ensure peaceful conduct of the exercise.

INEC had deployed electoral materials and manpower to polling units by 8 a.m., with accreditation commencing immediately while voting started at 12.30 p.m.

Voters in the area said the election would afford them the opportunity to elect another representative to the state’s assembly.

The Emir of Nangere, Alhaji Muhammadu Ibn Grema, appreciated the efforts of INEC in the conduct of the election, saying it would give the people a representation in the state’s assembly.

“The people of Nangere have been without a member in the Yobe State House of Assembly for two years now, which means that our interests have not been represented there.

“The people have been well mobilised and sensitised for peaceful conduct of the election”.

Hauwa Usman, a house wife, said the election would help to provide the constituency with infrastructure. (NAN)

DIRECTOR GENERAL OF BPP – EMEKA EZEH

The Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mr Emeka Ezeh, has said that 156 contractors are being prosecuted for violating the procurement law.

Ezeh, who made the fact known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday, said the infractions ranged from forgery to tendering of fake documents.

The director-general said such contractors must have been cleared illegally by government officials in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to carry out jobs.

He warned that government officials who accepted incompetent contractors would be prosecuted.

“Naturally, the contractors go to various government MDAs because they are the ones that process their documents.

“All the government officers involved have been invited for questioning and possible prosecution.

“Already established rules for administrative and criminal breaches will be followed in their sanctions.

“The EFCC, ICPC will do the investigation to establish the culpability or otherwise of the officers involved.

“So depending on its findings, they will be prosecuted accordingly”, he said.

Ezeh said breaches of the procurement act were often caused by ignorance and as such BPP had set up a training school to educate key officers of MDAs on the right procurement processes.

He said “5,000 procurement officers and stakeholders have received training from us so far.

“We do this because we believe that the understanding of the rules makes it easier for people to get the job done.

“So after understanding the rules and if they still find a way to sidetrack them, they are on their own.

“But we will continue to encourage people to do the right thing”.

Ezeh said that the training was at no cost to the MDAs/

He said the procurement training school catered to different sectors from oil and gas to agriculture.

He said that as part of efforts to ensure good procurement practices, MDAs were encouraged to establish a department of procurement headed by a director.

“Since MDAs began to set up departments of procurement, there has been improvement in procurement procedures.

“There has been so much improvement in terms of not just the saving of money but in terms of compliance”, he said. (NAN)

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has decried Friday’s killing of the Emir of Gwoza, and the attack on two other Emirs, by suspected Boko Haram gunmen.

The three traditional rulers – the Emirs of Gwoza, Uba and Askira – were traveling in a convoy to Gombe State for the funeral of the late Emir of Gombe, when they were ambushed by the gunmen, who opened fire on them.

The Emir of Gwoza, Idrissa Timta, died in the early morning attack while his colleagues narrowly escaped with some palace guards reportedly missing.

The umbrella body for Christians in Nigeria noted that the killing again demonstrates the “evil plans of Boko Haram”.

A statement by CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor read in part: “I am pained by the fact that the attack is coming at a time when the wise counsel of the traditional institution is most needed to fight insurgency in that part of the country and to help check moral decadence in our society”.

Ortisejafor urged Nigerians to resist all forms of intimidation by Boko Haram reminding them that keeping quiet in the face of the sect’s violent activities will not stop the insurgents from coming after them.

“I want to use this opportunity to remind Nigerians of the need to continue to unite in the fight against terrorism in our land, it is an act that we all must denounce and fight with all that we have got, probably the emirs were attacked for their condemnation of Boko Haram but this must not deter us”, he said.

A group under the aegis of Civil Society Task Team on Security and Electoral Reform (CSTTSER) has blamed the growing insecurity in the country on the failure of Federal controlled Nigerian Police Force (NPF). It there called for State Police as a way out.

The Coordinator of the Group, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu stated this yesterday in a press conference in Abuja, where he spoke on the rising state of insecurity in the country.

Nwagwu, who is also a delegate to the ongoing National Confab, said that the network was established as a voice against the rising cases of armed robbery, kidnapping, assassination and terrorism, “as a result of the failure of the federal police to effectively police the country”.

He said that the federal police has failed to lived up to expectation, and without security, individuals within the State would find it difficult to engage in productive activities.

“The security situation in Nigeria has deteriorated over time, there are increased cases of armed robberies, kidnapping, assassination and terrorism. The NPF has been unable to stem the tide of insecurity and increasing crime wave in the country. This has led to the agitation of State Police.

“The country is now divided along two lines: those who support the creation of state police and those are opposed to it, meanwhile, there is little discussion on a framework for the operation of state police that prevent abuse and ensure greater security for the country,” Nwagwu said.

According to him, the argument by the protagonists that State Police would be used to intimidate political opponents and used to rig elections was not tenable, as Nigeria during the first republic operated federal, regional and native or local administrative police.

Citing the examples of advanced countries like United States of America (USA), Canada and India that are operating both federal and state police and are doing so successfully, Nwagwu however explained that, “for the operation of State Police in Nigeria, there is the need to establish a State Police Service Commission made up of a Chairman who must be non-partisan and members drawn from interest groups such as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Media, Civil Society, Women, Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA) and the private sector”.

He added that the power of Governors could be limited to policies and appointment of the State Chief Executive of the Police and should not extend to operational use of the force.

“We cannot pretend we don’t have State police in one guise or the other, what we are just saying is to constitutionalise it. With State Police, there would be better security of lives and property and the barrier of language which is presently a problem would be dealt with”, he said.

The group however recommended among others that, the 1999 constitution should be amended to provide for State Police, and that the police force should be removed from the exclusive list and be placed on concurrent list to enable the establishment of State Police.

It also recommended that Federal Police Service Commission should set up standard and policies for the operation of State Police in the country, and that a proper framework for its operation should be adopted and implemented to prevent the abuse of State Police.

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) yesterday gave the Federal Government a 14-day-ultimatum to intervene in what it termed the abuse of the judicial process in the protracted leadership crisis within the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) failing which it will mobilise members for a nationwide strike.

NUPENG President, Igwe Achese, made this known at a press conference in Lagos, while expressing the union’s concern over the judgement passed by the High Court Justice Valentine Ashi on Wednesday overturning the judgement of a high court in Port Harcourt on the 20th of March 2014.

He expressed sadness that the judiciary could allow itself to be used to truncate justice, adding that the judgement has discredited the judiciary and the wheel of justice, equity and truth.

He therefore appealed to the Chief Justice of the Federation and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice (Mrs.) Alooma Muktar to intervene in the abuse of the judiciary process, especially the “sale of judgement, when an appeal on the case is still pending at the court of appeal, Port Harcourt”.

He equally called on the intervention of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice on the abuse of the courts to obtain Kangaroo judgement, as done in the judgement given in the IPMAN Crisis at the High Court in Abuja on Wednesday.

“We condemn the judgement in its entirety and still stand by the judgement of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, which declared Chief Obasi Lawson as the IPMAN President, until a superior court of law says otherwise.

“The idea of using the judiciary to buy judgement does not augur well for the democratic process that the nation has been enjoying for the past 15 years. It does not in any way protect the constitution of our great country in the eyes of the world”, Achese said.

Speaking further, he said the union was involved in the leadership crisis because 60 per cent of IPMAN members are in NUPENG, adding that the union cannot fold its hands and allow members in IPMAN to suffer.

He noted that the collective bargaining agreement signed with IPMAN and Independent Marketers Branch was yet to be implemented for about 10 years due to the leadership crisis that has become the hallmark of the petroleum marketers association.

The past leadership of IPMAN, he lamented, had frustrated the union’s efforts towards unionising workers in IPMAN depots.

He said the union had written several letters to the federal government, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the State Security Services for their intervention, adding that the efforts had not yielded any positive result due to the non-challant attitude of the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke on the crisis.

“There have been intervention and reconciliation by the Department of State Security Services but the outcome was never adhered to by the Aminu Abdukadir’s faction. They deliberately refused to obey the court judgement of the federal High court in Port Harcourt that declared Chief Obasi Lawson as the IPMAN President”, he regretted.

“We advise the Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo faction, to first of all go and vacate the judgment in favour of Chief Obasi Lawson, in a higher competent court of jurisdiction (Appeal Court) before parading themselves and supporters as the national executive of IPMAN,” the NUPENG boss said. [Thisday]

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital asked for the creation of six new republics in the country, including Biafra Republic.

MASSOB members in their thousands, who converged on the Ojukwu Memorial Centre in New Owerri for the inaugural edition of the commemoration of Biafra Day on May 30, when the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu declared the Republic of Biafra in I967, agreed that the time was ripe for the Igbos to have their own republic.

MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, decked in the navy blue Biafran uniform with the other members of his group, urged the Federal Government to do the will of God and let their people go.

Uwazuruike, who addressed the large followers of the group in company of two representatives of MASSOB in the United Kingdom, Mrs Francese Joseph and Tina Joseph, said May 30 was a watershed in the life of every Igbo man and woman.

“It is the watershed in the history of the geographical expression called Nigeria. It is the aftermath of the mistake of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates by Lord Lugard.

“It is the reflection of the deep-rooted hatred among the major ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. It exposes the irreconcilable disdain existing between Islam and Christianity. It is all about a failed state called Nigeria”, Uwazuruike said.

The MASSOB leader noted that 47 years after Ojukwu declared the Republic of Biafra, the reasons that informed his declaration are still playing out in the country.

“The reality of May 30 can no longer be hidden”, Uwazuruike said adding: “[but] the Abuja politicians and contractors are not deterred. They believe in the elusive one Nigeria, the one Nigeria that is their cash cow. The one Nigeria that is their source of corruption and impunity. The one Nigeria that is their instrument for inequality. The one Nigeria that is shielding them from all sorts of evils”.

He expressed dismay that it was the common man who bears the brunt of the evil perpetrated by the Abuja politicians and contractors, who he said God has hardened their hearts like the biblical Pharaoh of Egypt.

He noted that as long as the intent and purpose of the amalgamation of North and South were to disadvantage the latter, the country would never make progress.

Speaking on the state of the nation, Uwazuruike said: “The exercise was not done with clean hands. It failed to receive the blessing of God. That is why Nigeria remains a crawling baby after 50 years. The anger of God is on Nigeria. There is too much blood in Nigeria. The blood of the common man is used to sustain the evil called Nigeria. Insecurity in Nigeria can never abate. It is the sign of the anger of God”.

He, therefore, warned that his group would not guarantee its non-violent posture if anywhere in Igbo land is bombed or attacked by any militia or whatever group under any guise.

He said the only panacea to the myriad of problems bedeviling Nigeria was to grant independence to the six geo-political zones of the country.

“National Conference cannot solve the problems of Nigeria because there is deep-rooted hatred among the different nationalities. The hatred is so deep and cannot be wished away. We only pretend to love ourselves. The hatred is natural. It is in our blood. No amount of preaching on nationalism can change Nigeria.

“The only solution is to divide Nigeria into six geo-political zones: namely, South East (Biafra); South West; South South; North East; North West; and North Central”, he suggested, adding that was what Ojukwu tried to achieve in 1967 but was misunderstood.

The TY Danjuma Foundation announced that it has given out a total of N2 billion to organisations in form of grants between 2010 and 2014 just as it disclosed that 75 organisations also benefited from the body within the stipulated period.

This was made known by the foundation’s executive director, Dr. Florence Etta-Akin Aina, at the occasion of the TYDF’s fifth grantees training on Friday in Benin City, Edo state.

The three core intervention areas of the foundation according to Aina include education, quality healthcare and income generation for women and youths.

She also pointed out that 7 million persons have been treated of non-tropical diseases by the Foundation within the same period.

The executive director stressed that this year alone, N77.5m grants have already been disbursed to 11 organizations across the country, adding that seven of the 11 organisations were implementing Edo Community Fund projects.

She noted: “The foundation has funded 75 organisations to implement 117 projects in 18 states of the federation, including the federal capital territory. This year, a total of 288 project proposals were received for the 2014 grant cycle.

“From the proposals, 44 were recommended by staff review team and forwarded to the board of trustees who approved grants to 25 organisations, totalling N250m for the year”.

Aina stated that the aim of the foundation was to continually impact on lives of the vulnerable in the society.

“We seek government collaboration with the NGOs that the foundation works with. This collaboration will enhance their effectiveness thereby making us achieve our core value”, she posited.

Information Nigeria reports that the foundation was established in 2008 by former Minister of Defence, Lt. General Theophilus Y Danjuma (rtd) GCON, with the objective of improving the quality of life of Nigerians by supporting initiatives that improve access to health and educational opportunities.

The remains of a former Lagos State governor and father of billionaire businessman – Femi Otedola – Sir Michael Otedola, who died in April, have been laid to rest.

Sir Otedola’s final journey home was on a grand note in his native, Epe town amid tight security on Friday.

On hand to bid the former governor farewell as he ended his earthly sojourn were President Goodluck Jonathan, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State.

In his sermon at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ibowon, Epe Local Government, Monsignor Philip Hoteyin, Chaplain of Marian Shrine, Lagos Catholic Diocese, urged President Jonathan to strengthen the unity in the country.

Hoteyin said: “Nigerians are everywhere. Everywhere you visit Nigeria is regarded as the greatest. Let us remain one of the greatest countries that we have always been”.

The chaplain noted that the country was regarded as a family, adding that efforts must be made to keep the country united.

Monsignor Hoteyin urged Nigerians not to forget that they are visitors on earth and would one day be called home.

He said, “We all must be the way, the truth and the light in whatever we do. This is because we will all die, but we do not know when, how and where it will happen. That is why man must be very careful while on earth.”

Though attendance at the burial ceremony was strictly by invitation, dignitaries that graced the event included the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and wife of Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola.

Others were the former governors of Ogun and Anambra states, Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Peter Obi.

But for providence, gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram sect members would have killed the Emir of Askira, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammadu on Friday.

The Emir, who is a delegate to the ongoing national conference, made the startling revelation in a text message to the Deputy Chairman of the conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi.

Information Nigeria had reported that suspected Boko Haram gunmen on Friday ambushed the convoy of dignitaries on their way to attend the funeral of the late Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar.

The Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrissa Timta, who led the convoy, was killed in the ensuing attack. However, Muhammadu, who was among the traditional rulers in the entourage, narrowly escaped the daring attack.

The Assistant Secretary in charge of media and publicity of the conference, Mr. Akpandem James, who stated this in a statement in Abuja on Friday, expressed delegates’ relief at the Emir’s lucky escape.

James said, “In response to a text message sent to him by the Deputy Chairman of the Conference, Professor Akinyemi, the Emir who was taking a deep breath after the miraculous escape, said, ‘My deputy Chairman, I’m most grateful, it was a narrow escape’.

“Akinyemi in a solidarity message to the Emir said, ‘Your Royal Majesty, on behalf of the National Conference, please accept our heartfelt relief at the failure of the attack on your convoy. We thank Allah for your safety’”.

James added that Akinyemi, who has been standing-in for Justice Legbo Kutigi (rtd) since the death of his wife on Wednesday, expressed the joy of the delegates over the escape of the Emir and whole heartedly condemned what he called the “cowardly and dastardly attack”.

The Presidency has welcomed ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s offer to mediate with Boko Haram on the release of the over 200 girls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, last month.

But the Presidency’s approval of the ex-president’s intermediary role is on the condition that there will be no exchange deal involving detained insurgents.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who made this known from Accra, Ghana, where President Jonathan is attending a meeting of West African leaders on security in Mali and Nigeria, said: “The President welcomes any initiative on how to address this insurgency. He has always said that tackling insurgency is a collective effort.

“I am not aware of any objection to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s initiative; we do not mind anyone assisting the government. As an elder statesman, the government welcomes his intervention”.

It would be recalled that Obasanjo had on Thursday night indicated his resolve to re-open new channels of dialogue with the sect after a preliminary meeting with families of Boko Haram in Abeokuta earlier in the week but stressed it would have to be with the blessing of President Jonathan.

But for providence, gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram sect members would have killed the Emir of Askira, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammadu on Friday.

The Emir, who is a delegate to the ongoing national conference, made the startling revelation in a text message to the Deputy Chairman of the conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi.

Information Nigeria had reported that suspected Boko Haram gunmen on Friday ambushed the convoy of dignitaries on their way to attend the funeral of the late Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar.

The Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrissa Timta, who led the convoy, was killed in the ensuing attack. However, Muhammadu, who was among the traditional rulers in the entourage, narrowly escaped the daring attack.

The Assistant Secretary in charge of media and publicity of the conference, Mr. Akpandem James, who stated this in a statement in Abuja on Friday, expressed delegates’ relief at the Emir’s lucky escape.

James said, “In response to a text message sent to him by the Deputy Chairman of the Conference, Professor Akinyemi, the Emir who was taking a deep breath after the miraculous escape, said, ‘My deputy Chairman, I’m most grateful, it was a narrow escape’.

“Akinyemi in a solidarity message to the Emir said, ‘Your Royal Majesty, on behalf of the National Conference, please accept our heartfelt relief at the failure of the attack on your convoy. We thank Allah for your safety’”.

James added that Akinyemi, who has been standing-in for Justice Legbo Kutigi (rtd) since the death of his wife on Wednesday, expressed the joy of the delegates over the escape of the Emir and whole heartedly condemned what he called the “cowardly and dastardly attack”.

The Nigerian Navy have arrested 11 Nigerians and one Ghanaian who allegedly sneaked into a Spain-bound vessel, MV African Osprey.

The stowaways whose ages were between 12 and 26, reportedly hid inside an unused cabin in the ship said to have been laden with hazardous materials.

The suspects were identified as Mustapha Ayinla, Bernard Amadi, Azinabor Gideon, Isaac Delight, Daniel Timothy, Justice Agburum, Anthony Oladipupo, Emma Okon, Idowu Adeyemi, Philip Israel, Holly Osatwie and Boniface Douglas, a Ghanaian.

Recovered from them , were kegs of water which they intended to drink during the trip, snacks and cassava flakes (garri).

The rescue of the stowaways according to the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ilesanmi Alade was carried out in conjunction with personnel of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency,NIMASA, even as he reiterated the Nigerian Navy’s drive to make the nation’s waterways safe for legitimate businesses to thrive.

He however appealed to ship owners and seafarers to ensure that thorough security checks were conducted onboard prior to departure from Harbour.

Commander Beecroft, Commodore Emmanuel Uwadiae, while explaining how they were arrested said midway into the journey the suspects who apparently inhaled the chemical substance, started banging frantically on the door of the cabin, thereby attracting the cabin crew.

“The Nigerian Navy took custody of 12 suspected stowaways at the Lagos anchorage. The suspects were found onboard MV African Osprey which had cast off from Tin-Can Port Apapa on May 19, 2014, he said.

The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, has warned the controversial Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to desist from distorting the history of the Niger Delta struggle for its selfish interest.

Kuku, who claimed to have played a prominent role in ending the Niger Delta crisis, also warned the shadowy group not to drag the name of President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, into the mud because of its pecuniary interest.

“Some of us who played significant roles in ending the agitation in the Niger Delta cannot be silent when some persons try to foist a skewed history of the crisis on us,” he said.

Kuku, while speaking to journalists in Abuja, flanked by a Niger Delta leader, Elder Timi Ogoriba, said he could not understand what MEND wanted to gain by trying desperately to change the history of the Niger Delta struggle and denigrate the persons of Jonathan and his wife, who also risked their lives to bring about peace in the region.

“The persons that claim to be behind MEND are in no position to write the history of the Niger Delta agitation. I challenge whoever is claiming to be MEND now to controvert the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan, at the time he was Vice President, played a significant role in ending the insurgency in the Niger Delta.

“Where were those behind MEND now when our late beloved President Umaru Yar’Adua, who because of his concern for the peace of the region, sought to end the conflict and destruction of oil facilities, the kidnapping of expatriates on the Niger Delta waterways and the proliferation of arms, then dispatched his Vice, Dr. Jonathan, to Tompolo’s Camp 5 in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State?”

MEND had criticised Kuku over his comments in a televised interview on Boko Haram’s insurgency in the North-East and the role of some individuals in the Niger Delta agitation prior to the Federal Government’s offer of amnesty to former militants as a way of ending the restiveness in the region.

Kuku, who is also chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) wondered when MEND became Boko Haram’s mouthpiece as to know the real reason the terrorist’s group spurned the government’s offer for dialogue.

“I have no apologies to offer MEND for my comments on Boko Haram and the commendable and patriotic role of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, since the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction saga commenced. If it angers MEND, then I wonder whose interest they are fighting for,” he said.

Christians under the aegis of TEKAN/ECWA have urged President Goodluck Jonathan to ignore a statement credited to the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, alleging marginalisation of Muslims in the country, saying Nigeria will be great only if leaders like the Sultan will tell the truth.

The Sultan was recently reported to have spoken at a national prayer session organised by the NSCIA where eminent Islamic scholars gathered to pray for peace and security in the nation that if the government can address injustice against Muslims, the seemingly intractable security challenges will be surmounted, adding that Muslims are not happy, but willing to support the government in its efforts towards peace and stability.

In his reaction, National Head of TEKAN/ECWA bloc of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. (Dr.) Emmanuel Dziggau argued that if the head of NSCIA was serious, he should identify those marginalizing Muslims in the country.

The group described the Sultan’s claim of marginalization which was widely reported, as inciting, explaining further that a close look at the statement could be interpreted to mean that unless the perceived injustices against Muslims are addressed there will be no end to the current insecurity in the country.

“We are yet to overcome similar statements by an eminent Muslim politician who vowed to make the nation ungovernable if he was not pronounced winner of the 2011 presidential election. When the CAN leadership called for his arrest for making such inflammatory statement many Muslims accused him of heating up the polity, but today Nigerians know those who are heating up the polity,” the statement added.

The group therefore warned traditional, religious and political leaders in the North against such inciting statements capable of motivating uninformed Muslim fundamentalists into killing innocent adherents of other faiths in the name of fighting perceived injustices.

“We therefore call on the Federal Government to call the revered Islamic leader to order before another Islamic group will begin another round of terrorist attacks on innocent Nigerians perceived to be marginalizing Muslims as the Sultan had claimed,” TEKAN/ECWA pleaded.

It maintained that the Christian community in the North in particular and other parts of the country which has been at the receiving end of several untold injustices in the country is, however, happy that the recent adoption of over 275 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok has loosed many tongues who had hitherto remained silent.

“Over the years, Christians in the North had cried themselves hoax over discriminatory laws which had made it impossible for them to practice their religion without let in accordance with the tenets of the 1999 Constitution. As a deliberate matter of policy most core northern governments have refused to sign Certificates of Occupancy, C of O, for Christian organisations to build churches.

“It is also a well known fact that governments in the region have also deliberately discriminated against Christians in appointments into government service for the simple reason that nobody will speak on their behalf. There are several cases of elected Christian politicians who were suspended on some flimsy excuses and who have not been reinstated despite numerous pleas for justice.

“It is only the truth that will save this nation from the present morass that we have inadvertently found ourselves. For far too long we have pretended and lied to ourselves. We must therefore take advantage of the Chibok schoolgirls to tell ourselves so home truth for a proper and true healing process,” the statement said.

Continuing, Dr. Dziggau said: “Nigeria and the international community must appreciate the leadership of CAN for his unwavering efforts to restrain Christian youth from retaliating numerous unprovoked attacks, institutionalised marginalisations of Christians in the hands of political, religious and traditional leaders.

“Our appeal to His Eminence, the Sultan, is for him to ensure that truth is being told at all times even of it hurts, rather than deceiving the whole world with this story of marginalisation of Muslims.

Nigeria will be great only if leaders like the Sultan will tell the truth at all times and in all situations because if there is any seemingly marginalisation of Muslims, it’s the traditional, political and religious leaders of Northern extration who have pauperised and marginalised their followers that have led to the current mass poverty in the region. [Vanguard]

Hon. Bitrus Kaze, member representing Jos South/Jos East at the House of Representatives, has described the reported efforts being made by the Federal Government to offer amnesty to Boko Haram terrorist sect despite its continued bombings and killings of innocent citizens as a step in the wrong direction.

“I do not subscribe to any form of dialogue with terrorists; we will not grow weary of making the point resoundingly clear that no country the world over has succeeded in curbing the menace that way,” said Kaze.

The lawmaker stressed in a statement issued in Jos yesterday, that such effort, coming at a time the international community has declared to support Nigeria to stamp out terrorism, will boomerang.

He added: “Motivated by the tension, anxiety and sense of fear permeating the nation as a result of terrorism, those who canvass this awkward idea cannot be right. This should explain exactly why the Alhaji Kabiru Turaki dialogue committee was and will continue to be a perpetual failure”.

He recalled that Boko Haram members earlier rebuffed the attempt made by President Jonathan to offer amnesty to them in April 2013 adding, “the terrorists categorically declined and instead offered amnesty to Mr. President”.

This amnesty “coming shortly after securing a reluctant approval from both Houses of the National Assembly, and when global outrage against the abduction of about 200 school girls from Chibok gingered foreign collaboration, the renewed offer of amnesty to the Boko Haram can’t be a step in the right tinued bombings and killings en mass, cannot be a step in the right direction”.

A security source said on Friday that the President was caught between the quest to use the swap option to secure the safe release of the girls and to retain the support of the Western countries supporting Nigeria in the campaign against terrorism.

The source said the President would have adopted the swap agreement to get the girls released, but for the stiff opposition to the deal by the United States and other Western powers.

It was learnt that the Western powers insisted that it was not proper to swap the girls for terrorists.

The source said the countries whose equipment were already on the ground in Nigeria and were involved in the search for the abducted girls threatened to pull out of the united action against the insurgents.

The source said the President and his security managers came under pressure at the nick of time to call off the deal because of the strong desire to keep the support of the Western countries.

It was further gathered that the President and his team also did not want to abandon the option of negotiation because of the grave implication of possible public outcry against the government if the girls were killed.

The source stated that the Federal Government was more disposed to adopting the option of negotiation which had the support of the Ulamas and others considered close to the leadership of the Boko Haram sect.

It was further stated that the negotiator, who brokered the deal between the insurgents and the Federal Government, Ahmad Salkida (a Nigerian journalist), was still in the country because of the possibility of resumed negotiation with the sect.

The source said, "It is true that there was serious pressure. it is clear the US, the UK, and others did not want us to swap or negotiate. But can we succeed without negotiation?

"The Ulamas are saying we should negotiate; An activist, Shehu Sani, advised that we should negotiate, even former President Olusegun Obasanjo supports negotiation.

"The government is in a dilemma in this matter, whether to use negotiation to rescue the girls or to satisfy the Western powers.

"Also, the government does not want the foreign troops to pull out their weapons. There was excessive pressure from these countries."

Indications of possibility of negotiation with the insurgents became clearer during the week when the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, told journalists that the military had located where the girls were being kept.

Badeh, however, said that the military would not use force to ensure the girls' release to prevent the insurgents from killing them.

When asked whether the government was still pursuing the swap deal, the Chairman of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, said, "The President has stated the stand of the government (referring to Jonathan's Democracy Day address). Who is talking about swapping? The President has said we are ready for negotiation and that is where we stand."

Omeri, however, did not explain the nature of the negotiation.

The presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, had denied knowledge of the swap deal.

"I am not aware of an attempted rescue plan taking place last week,'' a British newspaper, The Mail, quoted him as saying.

Journalists contacted the spokesperson for the British High Commission in Abuja, Robert Fitzpatrick, to react to the report that UK was one of the countries that pressurised the Federal Government to drop the swap deal.

Fitzpatrick, stated, "Abductions are complex and the official response cannot be played out in public. This often hands the advantage to the abductors, meaning speculation can be dangerous."



via nigerianeye

The former Education Minister, stated this at a symposium in Abuja.

She alleged that hoodlums were paid on Wednesday to disrupt the everyday sit out of the group.

Their campaign that is centred on the return of the 164 girls that are still incarcerated by Boko Haram since 14th April, 2014.

The theme for the symposium was 'Citizens, accountability, and Democracy'.

It would be recalled that hoodlums from another group wearing a T-Shirt with Release our Girls inscripted destroyed some of the chairs, spoilt camera, mats and harassed members of #Bring Back Our Girls Campaign group ,

According to her, "The inability of President Goodluck Jonathan to visit Chibok shows the insensitivity of the federal government, to the plight of the relatives of the abducted girls".

Reacting to what happened Wednesday at Unity Fountain in Abuja, she said, "Hoodlums were paid yesterday, to disrupt our everyday sit out but our group is not deterred. We will continue until they Bring back our girls well and alive".

Oby said, it was rather unfortunate that the federal government inaugurated a committee 2 weeks after the girls were adopted this showed the commitment of the government in rescuing the girls.

"It has been found that actions taken 24 hours after kidnapping determines how soon those kidnapped would be rescued".

A Professor of Law, Professor Awal Yadudu, in his address said all hands must be on desk in ensuring the rescue of the 164 Government Secondary School Chibok, Borno State.

According to him, "We must all put our hands together to ensure the rescue of the girls well and alive. We shouldn't lose focus. It is imperative for all of us to see ourselves as human beings and not as human beings fighting over faith.

"There is a unity for unity of purpose to fight evil in our society. When we talk about accountability we must be united. We must not allow ourselves to be used".



via nigerianeye

The Sultan was reported as saying during a national prayer session organised by the NSCIA where eminent Islamic scholars gathered to pray for peace and security in the nation that if the government can address injustice against Muslims, the seemingly intractable security challenges will be surmounted, adding that Muslims are not happy, but willing to support the government in its efforts towards peace and stability.

Reacting to the statement, the National Head of TEKAN/ECWA bloc of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. (Dr.) Emmanuel Dziggau argued that if the head of NSCIA was serious, he should identify those marginalizing Muslims in the country.

The Christian group also described the Sultan's claim of marginalization which was widely reported, as inciting.

They explained that a close look at the statement could be interpreted to mean that unless the perceived injustices against Muslims are addressed there will be no end to the current insecurity in the country.

"We are yet to overcome similar statements by an eminent Muslim politician who vowed to make the nation ungovernable if he was not pronounced winner of the 2011 presidential election. When the CAN leadership called for his arrest for making such inflammatory statement many Muslims accused him of heating up the polity, but today Nigerians know those who are heating up the polity," the statement added.

The Christian group therefore warned traditional, religious and political leaders in the North against such inciting statements capable of motivating uninformed Muslim fundamentalists into killing innocent adherents of other faiths in the name of fighting perceived injustices.

"We therefore call on the Federal Government to call the revered Islamic leader to order before another Islamic group will begin another round of terrorist attacks on innocent Nigerians perceived to be marginalizing Muslims as the Sultan had claimed," TEKAN/ECWA pleaded.

It maintained that the Christian community in the North in particular and other parts of the country which has been at the receiving end of several untold injustices in the country is, however, happy that the recent adoption of over 275 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok has loosed many tongues who had hitherto remained silent.

"Over the years, Christians in the North had cried themselves hoax over discriminatory laws which had made it impossible for them to practice their religion without let in accordance with the tenets of the 1999 Constitution. As a deliberate matter of policy most core northern governments have refused to sign Certificates of Occupancy, C of O, for Christian organisations to build churches.

"It is also a well known fact that governments in the region have also deliberately discriminated against Christians in appointments into government service for the simple reason that nobody will speak on their behalf. There are several cases of elected Christian politicians who were suspended on some flimsy excuses and who have not been reinstated despite numerous pleas for justice.

"It is only the truth that will save this nation from the present morass that we have inadvertently found ourselves. For far too long we have pretended and lied to ourselves. We must therefore take advantage of the Chibok schoolgirls to tell ourselves so home truth for a proper and true healing process," the statement said.

Continuing, Dr. Dziggau said: "Nigeria and the international community must appreciate the leadership of CAN for his unwavering efforts to restrain Christian youth from retaliating numerous unprovoked attacks, institutionalised marginalisations of Christians in the hands of political, religious and traditional leaders.

"Our appeal to His Eminence, the Sultan, is for him to ensure that truth is being told at all times even of it hurts, rather than deceiving the whole world with this story of marginalisation of Muslims.

Nigeria will be great only if leaders like the Sultan will tell the truth at all times and in all situations because if there is any seemingly marginalisation of Muslims, it's the traditional, political and religious leaders of Northern extration who have pauperised and marginalised their followers that have led to the current mass poverty in the region.



via nigerianeye

He called on Nigerians to pray for the country amid the frequent terrorist attacks, which have led to the deaths of many innocent people in the last five years.

The President acknowledged that the country was passing through challenging times and therefore urged Nigerians to be committed in their prayers for the country.

He also made reference to other countries that had passed through similar challenges and encouraged Nigerians not to lose hope in the current situation.

He said, "Please pray for the country. As a nation, we have challenges. Some other countries have passed through their challenges. Continue to pray for the nation with commitment."

Meanwhile, the President joined many other prominent Nigerians to condole with Otedola family.

Jonathan advised Nigerians to emulate the lifestyle of the deceased whom he said had made a positive mark in his service to the country.

He said, "Issue like this gives us concerns, making us to think about life. To our late father, we are quite happy because he has left a mark in the sand of life. He has served us gracefully and has left us gracefully.

"What lesson will we leave when we also leave this planet? That is the challenge for all of us. He has been a father to all. We pray that God would raise someone who will fill the gap that he has left."

Shortly after the service, Jonathan left in company of his wife, Patience, for Accra, Ghana, for an official assignment.

Otedola, who died on May 5, 2014 at the age of 88, was buried amid tight security with former President , Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Jonathan's wife, Patience; Lagos, Ogun and Anambra states governors, Babatunde Fashola, Ibikunle Amosun and former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, in attendance.

Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, and former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, also attended the event among many other dignitaries.

Delivering his sermon at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ibowon, Epe Local Government, Monsignor Philip Hoteyin, Chaplain of Marian Shrine, Lagos Catholic Diocese, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to strengthen the unity in the country.

Hoteyin said, "Nigerians are everywhere. Everywhere you visit, Nigeria is regarded as the greatest. Let us remain one of the greatest countries that we have always been."

He noted that the country was regarded as a family, adding that efforts must be made towards keeping the country as one.

The chaplain urged Nigerians not to forget that they were visitors on earth.



via nigerianeye