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The Action Congress
of Nigeria, (ACN) on Tuesday in Benin City voted back most of its
principal executive officers to run the affairs of the party for
another four years.

All members of the
executive committee, except Usman Bugaje, the former national secretary
who plans to pick the party’s presidential ticket, were returned
through a unanimous affirmation of voices at the Samuel Ogbemudia
stadium-venue of the national convention of the party.

In place of Mr. Bugaje, a former senator from the North-West zone, Lawan Shuaibu, was elected National Secretary.

Mr Akande was
returned unopposed with 1008 votes at the election supervised by former
governor of Anambra State, Chris Ngige, who was chairman of the
election committee. Boss Mustapha from Adamawa was returned as the
deputy national chairman.

The event went smoothly, except for instances of unruly behaviour by some of the supporters of the party who heckled delegates.

One of the
delegates to the convention and the Lagos State commissioner for
information, Opeyemi Bamidele, said Mr. Akande was returned because the
party needed a man of strength, courage, character and experience to
lead it.

Experience matters

Bisi Akande, in his
acceptance speech, said he was determined to nurture the party to
greater heights. He berated the PDP for its poor leadership.

“The more I see ACN
grow, the more energetic I become, and the more willing I become in
serving Nigeria,” he said. “Nigerians are happy with the party and the
achievements of the party so far. But the PDP government has completely
destroyed the nation’s education. Nigeria needs more than good luck to
survive.” Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fasola observed that the
time to remain focused more than before is now, in order to lead the
country to the promise land.

Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, said party members have all demonstrated a commitment to progress,

saying that Nigeria must become the flagship nation for all black nations of the world.

He recounted his ordeal before he could reclaim his stolen mandate.

“I refused to give up. And my doggedness and resilience have paid off today,” he said.

Other returned officials are: national organising secretary,
Abubakar Kareem; welfare officer, Regis Uwakwe; national legal adviser,
Muiz Banire and national publicity secretary, Lai Muhammed.

After initial
setbacks, Henry Okah has finally taken his push for bail in
Johannesburg to a high court with the court fixing January 4 for
commencement of the appeal.

Mr. Okah is
charged with terrorism-related offences in connection with the October
1 bombings in Abuja, and is being held in custody at a Johannesburg
prison following the denial of his bail application by a Johannesburg
magistrate’s court on November 19.

The counsel to
Mr. Okah, Mr Rudi Krause, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in
Johannesburg on Tuesday that the appeal had been set for January 4,
2011.

He insisted that the magistrate’s court erred by not granting his client bail given the facts presented during the hearing.

Mr. Okah had
argued in the bail application that he was innocent of the charges
levelled against him and promised he would not evade trial as he was
not prepared to live as a fugitive.

He had argued
that underlying evidential materials relating to his alleged phone and
e-mail contacts with suspected perpetrators of the bombings had not
been provided because they were non-existent and could only have been
fabricated.

Mr. Okah had also
insisted that he was not a member of the Movement for the Emancipation
of Niger Delta (MEND), which had accepted responsibility for the attack.

He further said that he was convinced he would be let off the hook if the case eventually went on trial.

The suspect had also told the court that he had health concerns and was due for an operation.

Illegal occupant

The prosecution
had, however, maintained that Mr. Okah remained a flight risk as he was
living illegally in South Africa and had the ability to influence
investigations into the matter if granted bail.

The state urged
the court to keep him in custody as it had a strong case against him
and had evidence of his contact with the perpetrators of the October 1
bombings.

Nigeria’s Attorney-General Mohammed Adoke, in an affidavit to the court, also urged the court not to grant Mr. Okah bail.

Magistrate Hein
Louw, in denying him bail, held that he was convinced that Mr. Okah was
indeed the MEND leader contrary to his claims and MEND had accepted
responsibility for the bomb blasts in Nigeria, which claimed no fewer
than 12 lives.

The magistrate stated that probably the most damning evidence
against him was that his wife, Azuka, in her own handwriting, had
referred to him as leader of MEND in some correspondences.

The Senate on
Tuesday urged the Federal Government to immortalise the late Anthony
Enahoro by naming a national monument after him.

It also resolved
to send a letter of condolence to the family, people and government of
Edo State just as it observed a one minute silence in honour of the
late elder statesman.

The resolution
followed a motion by Odion Ugbesia (PDP, Edo- Central) in which he
observed that the deceased was a committed leader who held tenaciously
to his beliefs and principles.

“Pa Enahoro, then
30 years, fired with youthful zeal, patriotism and idealism, and as a
member of the Federal House of Representatives, took the nation and the
international community by storm with the motion which led to Nigeria’s
independence in 1960,” he said.

In his remarks,
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, said late Enahoro
“had done well for this country and his life is worthy of emulation.”

Condolences

Friends and
political associates of late Anthony Enahoro have opened a condolence
website and have started making plans for a befitting memorial of the
life, times and struggles of the departed nationalist.

The late Mr Enahoro
passed on at 6am last Wednesday in his country home in Benin City.
According to Olawale Okunniyi, PRONACO Spokesman, the names of the
websites and telephone line dedicated to condolences as well as other
information on the life, times, struggles and burial of the deceased are: www.anthonyenahoro.org and www.anthonyenahoro.blogspot.com, +23418055545915.

In a statement
released yesterday by Mr Okunniyi, “the first website will be managed
by Enahoro’s associates in Europe, while the second will be anchored by
his caucus from the Nigerian end. The two will run concurrently.
Materials gathered from both shall form ingredients of a major visual
and oral documentary on the life, times and struggles of the
nationalist. “We therefore wish to enjoin members of the general public
and teeming supporters and followers of Mr Enahoro’s activism to
register their remarks on the departed Icon on these two official
domains as we have resolved to give our leader and mentor a befitting,
first class burial and memorial.” He said.

Burial programme

The group however
stated that it will in conjunction with the family formally announce a
programme and reception team on Wednesday.

“The team is
expected to support the immediate family and the central burial
committee, which will be constituted in the course of the week as the
actual burial is tentatively proposed for January 2011.” Also, the
Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, Sunday Ola Makinde has called on
the government and Nigerians as a whole to preserve and advance the
ideals and values which late Mr Enahoro stood for.

Mr Makinde
described the death of the octogenarian as a big loss to the country
especially at a time we are still in search of credible elections and
dividends of democracy.

In his words, “Pa Enahoro is one of the heroes of our country’s
struggle from colonialism and his demise is no doubt a rude shock and a
big loss especially at a time when our country is in dire need of wise
counsel as we continue in our struggle for peace, stability and good
governance.”

A federal high
court in Abuja yesterday ruled that there was no bail for the October 1
bomb blast suspects, saying that the offence which they are charged
with is a very serious one. In his ruling on the bail application
brought by Charles Okah and three others accused of terrorism and
treasonable felony by the Federal Government, Gabriel Kolawole, said
the offence which the accused persons are standing trial for, carries a
maximum sentence of death and life imprisonment in the second case,

“The offence
which they are charged with is serious in nature, is a very serious one
indeed,” he said Specifically he said he is unable to lay his hands on
any concrete fact or evidence that will convince him to grant the
accused bail. “I am not satisfied and convinced that if the accused are
granted bail, they will be available to attend their trial.” According
to him, violence and terrorism have never been a part of Nigeria’s
history and said the application for bail is hereby dismissed.

The court had, on
December 7, ordered that they be remanded in the custody of the State
Security Service (SSS) till the date fixed for the hearing of their
bail application, and after the bail application was refused, they were
taken back by the SSS.

Mr Kolawole
therefore ordered the SSS to ensure that they are given access to their
counsel and members of their family in order for them to have adequate
time and facilities to prepare their defense.

He also ordered
the prosecutor to within a period of 30 days from yesterday provide the
proof of evidence to the defense counsel in order for them to prepare
for their defense.

Not time for evidence

At the hearing of
the bail application, counsels to the 1st, 3rd and 4th accused persons,
Barristers Ogeneeo Otemu, Ugochukwu Ezekiel and Ibrahim Idris told the
court that there was no proof of evidence before the court and as such
the accused persons should be granted bail pending the trial.

But counsel to
the 2nd accused person, was not present in court and the Judge
expressed surprise at the absence of the lawyer whom he noted was
present at the last adjournment date. Similarly, he noted that the 2nd
accused person’s lawyer did not file his bail application and written
addresses as earlier ordered.

Also counsel to
the 3rd accused person, Mr Ezekiel, told the court that “no prima facie
case has been made out against the 3rd accused person” and that the
prosecution was unable to prove that his client has a criminal record
saying that he was never charged or convicted of any criminal
allegation.

Mr Idris, lawyer
to the 4th accused person, said that “having discovered that the bundle
of evidence are not admissible, the 4th accused has resolved not to
controvert them and that even in interlocutory proceedings, evidence
must pass admissibility test”.

The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF),
Ibrahim Dankwambo, resigned yesterday to pursue his political dream of
becoming the next Governor of Gombe State, in the forthcoming 2011
elections.

Mr Dankwambo’s resignation brought to an end months of speculations about his political future.

In his letter of disengagement, titled “Withdrawal of
Service as Accountant General of the Federation”, Mr Dankwambo said the
decision was in response to the call of his people to participate in
the unfolding political process.

In the letter, which was addressed to Mr Jonathan,
the former AGF stated “I wish to inform you that I have withdrawn from
the service and voluntarily relinquished my appointment as the
Accountant General of the Federation with effect from Monday 20th
December, 2010. This has become necessary in order to answer the call
of my people at home to participate in the on-going political
activities in the country.” Copies of Mr Dankwambo’s letter, which were
also sent to all senior government officials, also called for the
submission of comprehensive and up-to-date details of the activities in
their respective departments in soft and hard copies by Thursday,
December 23rd, 2010.

Tying loose ends

Before formally bringing his three years tenure to an
eventful end, Mr Dankwambo held a 15 minutes closed door meeting with
the Minister of State for Finance, Yabawa Lawan Wabi, in the absence of
the Minister of Fianace, Segun Aganga, who travelled outside the
country on official engagement.

It was gathered that already, the Director of Funds, Babayo Shehu, has stepped into the office of the AGF in acting capacity.

A holder of the award of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), Mr

Dankwambo was appointed AGF since April 2005, when he took over from his predecessor, Kayode Naiyeju.

Born on April 4, 1962, Mr Dankwambo attended the
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and graduated with a Bachelor of
Science (B.Sc) degree in Accounting in 1985. He also attended the
University of Lagos, where he got his Master of Science (MSc) in
Economics in 1992, before proceeding to the Delta State University,
Abraka, for his Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Science, in 1998.

Dankwambo started his working career with Coopers and
Lybrand International (Chartered Accountants), now (Price Water House
Coopers) from 1985 to 1988. In 1988, he worked with Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) till 1999, when he was appointed, the Accountant-General
of Gombe State, a post he held till 2005, when he became the AGF.

Adefowope Olorode, chairman, Lagos State branch of
the Road Transport Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) on Tuesday said
nobody under the union would be allowed to be used as a thug by
unpatriotic politicians.

Mr Olorode, who was sworn in only a week ago, said
transport unions were not made up of miscreants and should not be seen
as the breeding ground for thugs to be used to unleash violence during
electioneering campaigns and voting.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos
that his members were already being sensitised to better know their
rights and the legal roles expected of them in the democratic process.

“We are talking to one another on the need to
actively participate in the nation’s political process; that is, we
must register to vote and ensure that we vote.

“We will ensure that our members are law-abiding
and not in anyway involved in any form of violence before, during and
after the 2011 general elections”, Mr Olorode said.

The chairman said though it was not out of place
to have members who could be quite active politically– even to the
extent of contesting party elections– others would have their choices
and not be forced to support any candidate.

“Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians, including RTEAN
members. When it is well with the nation, it is well with RTEAN members
and their businesses.

“We dream of a prosperous and peaceful Nigeria now
and in the future, so that our children and their children would not
pour curses on us”, he said.

He appealed to government at all tiers to give road maintenance and
expansion priority to ensure smooth and s movement of goods and people
throughout the country.

The protracted
leadership tussle that has hitherto turned the Edo State House of
Assembly into a one-party assembly might soon end as the house
yesterday recalled four of its members who were suspended in February
this year.

The suspended
legislators including the erstwhile Speaker, Zakawanu Garuba (Etsako
West I) were suspended for allegedly using dangerous weapons in the
forceful change of the House’ leadership on February 22, 2010.

Mr Garuba alongside
his former deputy, Levis Aigbogun (Ovia North East I), former Majority
Leader, Frank Okiye (Esan North East I) and Blessing Agbebaku (Owan
West) were however asked to apologise to the assembly and withdraw
their cases from the court.

Spirit of the yuletide season

Majority Leader of
the House, Philip Shaibu who moved the motion for the recall of the
suspended members, explained that the decision to recall the members
was in line with the spirit of the yuletide season as well as the
spirit of unity to strengthen the nation’s democracy.

The motion which
was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Paul Ohonbamu, however listed
conditions that must be met before they could be fully re-admitted into
the House.

According to him,
Mr Zakawanu and his colleagues “must withdraw all cases in court
instituted by them against the Edo State House of Assembly or any
member thereof.

“They must formally
apologize to the House in writing, for their roles in the fracas on the
floor of the House on Monday, February 22, 2010.

“They must sign an undertaking with the State Commissioner of police, to be of good behaviour thereafter.” He said.

Meanwhile, the
House in a plenary session on Monday, swore-in the member-elect
representing Igueben constituency, Steven Idehenre of Action Congress
of Nigeria (ACN) who was declared winner of the election held on April
14 by the Appeal Court last week.

The relevant oaths
were administered by the Clerk of the House, Egbe Evbuomwan under the
watchful eyes of the Speaker, Bright Omokhodion and other members.

The House also
cleared two commissioner nominees. They are Francis Osakpamwan
Evbuomwan and Ojeabu Ochei Callistus who were sent by the Governor of
the state, Adams Oshiomhole for screening and confirmation.

Gladys Nwafor, a
national commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission,
said the commission will prosecute anyone found guilty of malpractice
during the forthcoming voter registration.

Mrs. Nwafor said in
Bauchi at the weekend that the immediate prosecution of the offenders
would serve as a deterrent to other persons with similar motives.

According to her, the commission has set an example with the recent prosecution of some offenders in the Anambra by-election.

“We are using the
Anambra issue as a case study. So, anybody found guilty or engaged in
electoral malpractice will be dealt with accordingly, no matter his or
her status,’’ she said.

She however assured Nigerians that the Attahiru Jega-led electoral
commission would conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2011.

The Ekiti State
Police Command says it has deployed 750 officers to provide security
during the by-election into the Moba state constituency 1 in Moba
Council Area. The spokesman for the Command, Adebayo Jimoh, in Ado
Ekiti on Monday said that police authorities had ordered ‘stop and
search’ inspections on all vehicles coming out and going into the
constituency as part of measures to forestall any breach of the peace.

The by-election to
be organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is
scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 22. The constituency became vacant
following the death of Saliu Adeoti, the former deputy speaker of the
House of Assembly on October 27. The election is expected to hold in 49
polling booths in five wards that make up the constituency.

“So far, 750 policemen from the command have been deployed to take
part in the Moba Constituency 1 by-election to ensure peaceful conduct
of the election. The Commissioner of Police has equally visited the
constituency and all the polling booths to assess the security
situation,” Mr. Jimoh said.

Anambra State
governor Peter Obi was moved to tears last weekend when he visited
victims of a fire disaster at Uli, Ihiala local government area of the
state.

Mr Obi said he had
come to commiserate with them and to assess the level of damage wreaked
by the inferno when a fuel tanker fell on the road leading to the
Anambra State University at Uli, destroying houses and goods worth
millions of naira.

Speaking during the
inspection, the governor said he wished the disaster had not happened.
He said he feels pained when any part of the state suffers in any way,
because there was enough hardship in the state already. He remarked
that his government was working round the clock to ameliorate the
situation.

The governor, who
had earlier sent a commissioner to assess the damage as well as
directed the State Emergency Management Agency to pay full attention to
the incident, said he felt compelled to visit in person to show how
dispirited he was.

Consolation

He assured the
victims that they would be compensated and promised that he will appeal
to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to replace the burnt
wire and restore electricity to the affected homes.

The Legislator
representing Ihiala 1 Constituency at the state house of assembly,
Simeon Ohajianya said that he was often humbled by the way issues
affecting any part of the state touched the governor.

“When I informed
him about the disaster, he was touched. For once, one could see a
governor who is passionate about the welfare of his people. If you do
not love this state, after dealing with the governor, you will be
inspired to love the state,” Mr. Ohajianya said.

The traditional ruler of Uli, Onyedi Ebekue, said that his people
were grateful to the governor who had continued to show them love and
care.