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The inaugural
launch of Ibrahim Babangida political rally in Ogun State started on a
wrong footing yesterday, as the National Association of Nigerians
Students disrupted the rally organised by the state chapter of the
campaign team.

The campaigners had
converged at their newly acquired secretariat at Oke-Ilewo area of
Abeokuta at about 2pm, all in T-Shirts emblazoned with Mr Babangida’s
photo and banners, accompanied by drummers and trumpeters for the rally.

The campaigners,
led by the state coordinator, Sunday Bello had set out for the rally
round the town to promote their presidential candidate when hundreds of
students, under the aegis of Joint Campus Committee, stormed the place
in five buses.

The students did
not waste time in dislodging the campaigners, who were seen running
helter-skelter for safety. In their escape bid, a number of placards
and handbills promoting Mr Babangida’s candidacy were abandoned by his
supporters.

As they run pell mell, pursued by the students, the campaigners hurriedly removed their T-shirts in a bid to escape detection.

The students’
actions were, however, not limited to just chasing Mr Babangida’s
supporters away. The campaign office was temporarily seized, while the
canopies erected were pulled down. The entire vicinity recorded traffic
jam as the exercise lasted.

Residents back students

Many residents of
the area, as well as a number of motorists and passersby who witnessed
the incident, applauded the action of the students, saying the
campaigners deserved the treatment meted out to them.

A taxi driver,
identified as Lukmon, said: “I like these students. They are bold and
courageous to have taken that bold action. For God’s sake, these
campaigners are stupid set of people and foolishly bold to attempt to
launch Babangida’s campaign in Abeokuta.” Speaking to newsmen after the
incident, Chairman of the Ogun State Chapter of Joint Campus Committee
of Nigeria Association Nigeria Students, Azeez Adeyemi, said it was an
insult to the indigenes of the state for the campaign team to embark on
a citywide rally.

He said Mr
Babangida’s antecedents in the country, with reference to the annulment
of June 12 Presidential elections, still leaves a bitter taste in the
mouth.

“It is unthinkable that the former military ruler should be allowed to return to power as being planned,” Mr Adeyemi said.

Amnesty
International has requested that Goodluck Jonathan authorize the
release of 30-year-old Patrick Okoroafor, who has been in jail in Imo
State for the past 16 years.

The international
human rights organisation said in an email made available to NEXT that
Mr Okoroafor was just 14 years old when he was arrested in May 1995.

“Two years later,
he was sentenced to death for robbery, along with six others. He did
not have the right to appeal and was reported to have been tortured
while in police detention. In 2001, his sentence of death was
pronounced ‘illegal, null and void,’ and instead changed to detention
‘during the pleasure of the governor.’ In 2008, the Imo State
Prerogative of Mercy Committee recommended that his sentence be changed
to life imprisonment,” the group said.

The road to jail

Patrick Okoroafor
and one Chidiebere Onuoha who was 15 at the time of arrest, petitioned
the then Military Administrator of Imo State, Tanko Zubairu, for
clemency on grounds of age. Mr Zubairu confirmed the death sentences of
Mr Onuoha, and five others, and commuted Mr Okoroafor’s sentence to
life imprisonment. On July 31, 1997, the six men were publicly shot to
death. In May 2009, Mr Okoroafor’s life sentence was commuted to 10
years by the then Governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa. However, the
new sentence commenced on 29 May 2009 and did not take into account the
14 years he had already spent in prison.

“Prison has had serious consequences for Patrick’s health,” stated Amnesty International.

“He suffers from
asthma attacks described by prison authorities as ‘frequent and
life-threatening.’ A prison doctor has recommended that Patrick be
released because of his health. Patrick was a victim of a miscarriage
of justice.

His right to a fair
hearing within a reasonable time and before an independent and
impartial tribunal was violated. Owing to these factors, the torture
and ill-treatment he suffered while in detention, and the amount of
time that he has already spent in prison and on death row, Amnesty
International has been campaigning for the immediate release of Patrick
Okoroafor from prison.”

Reluctant to set him free

The Imo State
government has reportedly been reluctant to release Mr Okoroafor
because they believe he was involved in the killing of 11-year-old
Ikechukwu Okonkwo in Otokoto Hotel, an Owerri-based hotel that featured
prominently in the Otokoto riots of 1996 that shattered the relative
peace of the city. However, reports state that Mr Okoroafor and his
co-accused were arrested for alleged robbery in May 1995; while the
murder of Mr Okonkwo and the subsequent riots, took place in September
1996, when the accused were all in detention.

“On 1 October,
Nigeria celebrates 50 years of independence. Amnesty International is
calling on the President of Nigeria to obtain Patrick’s immediate and
unconditional release from prison and allow him to celebrate Nigeria’s
50 years of independence at home with his family,” stated the human
rights organization.

Speaker of the Ogun
State House of Assembly, Tunji Egbetokun, yesterday led a group of
state leaders, including Iyabo Obasanjo, to the national leadership of
the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to lobby for its intervention in
the legislative crisis that has crippled the state.

Though newsmen were
barred from covering the meeting at the office of the national
chairman, Okwesilieze Nwodo, sources at the meeting said Mr Egbetokun
gave his version of the events that led to the current crisis.

Mr Egbetokun, along
with 15 other members, were indefinitely suspended as Speaker on Monday
by nine members (one-third of the 26 representatives of the House).
Soyemi Coker was elected as the new Speaker.

He appealed to
party leaders to intervene, to prevent the opposition from taking
advantage of the crisis in the forthcoming general elections.

Address the problem

Speaking to newsmen
after the meeting, Doyin Okupe, a spokesman to former President,
Olusegun Obasanjo and supporter of Mr Egbetokun, said that the
intervention was important, as the party primaries and the general
election were just round the corner.

“As elders of the
party in the state, we feel very embarrassed by the development,” said
Mr Okupe. “You cannot explain the recent development where a group of
nine legislators will sack the speaker without having the required
two-thirds majority – and would sack the remaining members of the House
of Assembly. Is that possible?” Mr Nwodo promised to address the
situation.

“The party is no longer the party of yesterday where everybody can
take people for granted and do what they like,” he said. “The party
will delve into the matter to know the next steps to take.” Mr Daniel,
who was expected to have a meeting with Goodluck Jonathan yesterday,
swore in one of the new commissioners approved by the new speaker in
their brief ceremony on Monday, before he left for Abuja where he is
also spending time lobbying.

President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated Moslems on the occasion of this year’s Eid-El-Fitr celebrations.

A release signed by
the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Ima Niboro
said Mr. Jonathan urged “all Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the
Sallah celebrations to reflect on their spiritual life as individuals
and on how they can contribute more meaningfully towards making Nigeria
better”.

He said his
administration has taken notable steps to revitalize the machinery of
governance at the federal level so as to improve the lives of all
Nigerians.

“With your
continued support and goodwill, we shall, in the coming months carry
forward our plans to further stabilize all sectors of our economy,
improve national infrastructure and power supply” the statement said.

“Following the
recent announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) of the timetable for the 2011 general elections, I would also
like, on this occasion, to reaffirm that my administration will give
INEC all the support and assistance it will require to deliver free,
fair and credible elections.”

In his message, the
Senate President, David Mark, assured Nigerians that all necessary
structures will be put in place to guarantee free, fair, and credible
elections so that all stake holders take pride in the 2011 elections.

Mr Mark said,
“There is need for all of us to be dedicated and committed more than
ever before. Fifty years of nationhood is a milestone. No matter the
challenges, we should be hopeful that we are capable of addressing our
problems, as a people bound by a common heritage and mission. The
challenges ahead of the 2011 polls should not be left in hands of
government alone. All of us, all citizens are stakeholders in the
project, Nigeria. It therefore behooves on all of us to make it work.”
He also urged politicians not to see the forthcoming elections as a do
or die affair, saying, “We must abide by the rules of the game and
ensure that our ultimate aim is to serve our people and provide
dividend of democracy for them.”

The Rivers State
governor, Chibuike Amaechi commended Muslims in the state for their
understanding and support to the government in the task of restoring
peace to the state. In his sallah message for the Eid-el Fitri
celebrations, he urged them to use the occasion to pray for the peace,
unity and progress of the nation, as well as for the success of the
2011 elections.

The governor
thanked Muslims in the state for living harmoniously with their
Christian brothers and enjoined them to sustain the cordial
relationship, noting that the state government will continue to
encourage religious tolerance.

Delta State
governorship aspirant, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege also enjoined Nigerians,
irrespective of their religious leanings to continue praying for the
success of the 2011 general elections and for peace to reign in the
country.

The PDP
governorship aspirant called on Nigerians to support the efforts of Mr
Jonathan in enthroning acceptable electoral standards in the country.

He also urged the
people, especially politicians and the youth to eschew violence, adding
that this period calls for sober reflection by all Nigerians on the
state of affairs in the country. He called on Nigerians to support the
adoption of ‘one man one vote’, which he said, will ensure the conduct
of a credible election by the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC).

A legal
practitioner, Juwon Semudara was yesterday sentenced to six-month
imprisonment by an Okitipupa Chief Magistrate Court in Ondo State for
forging a land document.

The lawyer had
allegedly claimed ownership of plots of land at Igbokoda, headquarters
of Ilaje local government with falsified documents. He was said to have
claimed that he bought the plots from the people of Ilaje community.

The community however denied selling any plot of land to the lawyer.

Delivering
judgment in a four-count charge of forgery and altering of land
documents against the legal practitioner, the presiding chief
magistrate, Siji Akinrinsola found the accused guilty on two-counts and
sentenced him to six months on each, with an option of fine. The
sentences are to run concurrently.

The accused person
called one Estron Omowole as his witness but the court held that the
prosecution proved that the documents were forged.

Clever by half

Mr Akinrinsola
said contrary to the claims of Mr Omowole who said he was the signatory
to the document, the signature he signed in court and in his statement
to the police were different from the one on the land document. He
added that Mr Omowole was “only being clever by half.”

“Being a retired
teacher, a legal veteran and litigant of note, he should know the
importance of appending signature to a document,” the judge said.

Mr Akinrinsola
said “cogent, direct and conclusive circumstantial evidence led to one
possible conclusion, and that was that the accused, who is a sole
beneficiary of the forged document and who has presented it in several
fora, including at Igbokoda and Oktipupa High court, was the forger of
the document.

Members of the
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the 33 local government areas of
Oyo State have petitioned the national chairman of the party, Bisi
Akande over the manner the party is run in the state.

The petitioners,
numbering 165, warned that unless the national leadership wades in to
arrest the crisis, the party may not make any impact in the forthcoming
general elections.

They said the
leadership style of certain members of the party does not encourage
popular participation and equal opportunity is not given to those
aspiring to various elective offices.

They complained of
deliberate exclusion of members from the executive councils of the
party from wards to the state level, while some others are denied
membership cards of the party.

The petitioners
specifically accused a former governor of the state, Lam Adesina of
appointing his stooges into the councils, thereby depriving others from
participating in the running of the party.

“We have watched
with keen interest and admiration the quality of leadership being
provided at the National level by your good self and Ahmed Bola Tinubu
to integrate new and old members in order to move party forward, but in
Oyo State reverse is the case because the leadership here is about how
to exploit members through self interest,” the petitioners said.

“Pursuant to the
above, Lam Adesina has excluded new members from ANPP and other parties
whose involvement would have been as an asset to the party as a whole.
It is on record that the EXCO of Oyo State was handpicked by him alone
which is contrary to the constitution of the party ACN and the
Electoral Act.”

Attempts to speak with Mr Adesina was not successful. But the state
spokesperson for the party, Wasiu Olatubosun, said the petition amounts
to “crying wolf where there was none.”

Ogbonna Onovo, the
immediate past inspector general of police, was sacked due to his
inability to quell the alarming rate of kidnappings in the country, a
source in the police who asked not to be named, told NEXT yesterday.

The source added
that the recent resurgence the fanatical group Boko Haram was the last
straw that sealed the fate of Mr. Onovo, who replaced Mike Okiro in
August, last year. He thus became the Inspector-General of Police with
the shortest stay in office in the nation’s history.

Tainted record

“The president was
not happy with the way Onovo handled the killing of Mallam Mohammed
Yussuf [Boko Haram leader] while in police custody,” the source said,
adding that “The recent uprising forced the president to act.”

Under Mr. Onovo’s
watch, kidnapping had gone virtually unchecked in the South-East and
various parts of the country. The former Inspector-General was also at
the centre of huge controversy throughout his one year tenure.

The police source suggested that there were also some ethnic pressure in the sacking.

“From day one, the northerners were not happy with the appointment,” the source said.

“They had wanted
Yar’Adua to bring in John Hamza Amodu to replace Okiro.” The source
revealed that Mr. Jonathan who is travelling to America for the United
Nations general assembly wants to ensure that his house was in order
before the trip.

“Mr. President is travelling to US now, removing the IG now would
make him appear proactive in the eyes of international communities’’
the source said.

The decision to
replace service chiefs is no light one, even for the most courageous
commander-in-chief. But when a president, who is largely considered
weak or content with the status quo, upsets the apple cart, people
can’t help being jolted.

Since ‘inheriting’
our nation’s topmost job from his former boss, Musa Yar’Adua, who died,
Goodluck Jonathan’s approach to decision making would, at best, be
described as cautious.

Comparing Mr
Jonathan with former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, is like comparing
chalk and cheese. The former president was unabashed when making
decisions. In a move akin to what President Jonathan is just doing
after five months in power, it took Mr Obasanjo just days into what
then was still a fragile transition from years of military
dictatorship, to retire all service chiefs. He did not stop there; he
proceeded to root out all military officers that have been “tainted” by
political appointments.

Despite obstacles
placed before him by some prominent members of the Yar’Adua presidency,
it was surprising in the extreme to watch Mr Jonathan pondering matters
before he took the initiative. But with yesterday’s sacking of the
former service chiefs and the appointment of their replacements, Mr
Jonathan is beginning to show that he has what it takes to make the big
decisions.

Show of power or not, opinions are divided as to what might be the significance of this move.

Kayode Soremekun, a
professor of political science at the Covenant University, Ota, said
this might have everything to do with the general elections in January.
He explained that this might be a move by the president to guarantee
his success at the poll next year, saying that in “Third World
post-colonial context, this type of situation is not new”.

Mr Soremekun’s
supposition may not be far-fetched. Could it be that Mr Jonathan has
held on to this very moment before drawing this clever card, to warn
his opponents that he too is astute in this political ping pong? We can
only speculate and wait to see how things unfold.

But one thing is not in doubt. The president is obviously displeased with the deplorable state of security in the country.

Tired of incompetency

The list is
endless. There is the simmering sectarian violence in Jos; and in the
south-east, kidnappers reign supreme. The former Inspector General of
Police, Ogbonnaya Onovo’s incompetence was exposed like an offensive
sore when he could not apprehend the kidnappers of five journalists
snatched along the Aba-Ikot-Epkene Road even after relocating his
office to the state.

The sack of the
service chiefs coming barely 24 hours after a band of extremists
suspected to belong to the infamous Boko Haram sect almost effortlessly
ransacked the Bauchi Central Prison, is an indication that the
president is definitely fed up with incompetence.

The interesting
twist in all this that most people may be missing is Mr Jonathan’s real
strength: making his opponents to perpetually underrate him.