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The House of Representatives will today formally
consider lifting the suspension of its members who were sanctioned in
June, 2010, for leading calls for the removal of the Speaker, Dimeji
Bankole, accused of fraud.

Two members, out of the 11 lawmakers banned, are to
be considered first, following a guideline which spokesperson, Eseme
Eyiboh, said will accept such reviews on individual basis only if the
affected members quit litigations, and tender apology.

The roles played by Ehiogie Idahosa (Edo State) and
Olugbenga Onigbogi (Osun State) – who did not seek legal redress – will
be reviewed today in a report that is expected to recommend their
recalls.

Both members, with nine others, under a group named
The Progressives, asked for Mr. Bankole’s removal, accusing him of
misusing House 2009 capital budget funds amounting to N9 billion. On
June 22, agitations for the Speaker’s removal led to violence, which
left two members hospitalised.

Members of the group, led by Dino Melaye, were forced out of the sitting, and handed indefinite suspension terms.

The House Ethics and Privileges committee, the
equivalent of an in-house jury, which scrutinises erring members, laid
reports of over three months of hearings on the matter last week, and
the House indicated yesterday that a resolution will be reached to pave
way for their recall.

The report will be the first to be considered on
Tuesday, according to the House weekly notice paper released Monday,
amid alleged threats by some members to disallow proceedings until the
recommendations are concluded to reinstate the members.

Although members of the group, Mr. Idahosa and Mr.
Onigbogi, were absent from the chamber during the fracas, the two
lawmakers petitioned the House, offering to surrender themselves for
internal inquiry.

Two other members of the group, Gbenga Oduwaye and
Kayode Amusan, who also waived their rights to court action and last
week offered to be investigated, will be considered next while Austin
Nwachukwu who withdrew his case from court will also receive attention,
the Ethics committee chairman, Saleh Minjibir, said.

The leader of the group, Mr. Melaye, and five others, challenged the ban in court, and are expecting a ruling November 15, 2010.

“For those who are still in court, we expect that
some of them will take similar step to obey and respect the
institution, but we assure you that the House will take necessary steps
to ensure that such a thing does not repeat itself again,” Mr. Eyiboh
said.

The House Ethics committee, which also investigates corruption
allegations against its members, had promised it will probe the N9bn
charge against the Speaker, but is yet to make any report on that.

The Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation has
commended the pan Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, for
endorsing the presidential bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

It also commended another group, the Igbo Professionals
resident in Lagos, for their objective and nationalistic position that Mr
Jonathan is the preisdent Nigeria needs at the moment.

Sully Abu, the director of media and publicity of the
organisation, said “Ohaneze and the Igbo Professionals are pointing the way to
the Nigeria of our dreams where Leadership is determined by competence rather
than ethnicity”.

Mr Abu urged Nigerians not to be deceived by those who have
been using primordial sentiments to divide the polity.

“The endorsement of Jonathan by these patriots has put paid to
the devious machinations of those divide-and-rule politicians who think they
can hoodwink our Igbo brethren by dangling fake carrots, even when their antecedents
are full of broken promises,” he said.

He called on all political aspirants to emulate the president
in embracing an issue-based campaign devoid of ethnic rancour and acrimony.

NPC forms

Meanwhile, the national executive committee of the Nigeria Peoples
Congress (NPC) at its meeting on Monday fixed the costs of its nomination forms
for members aspiring for elective office during 2011 general elections.

In a communiqué signed by its national chairman of the party,
Ngozi Emioma, the party approved N1 million for office of president and
N500,000 for the governorship office.

The others are Senate (N200,000), House of Representatives
N100,000, House of Assembly N50,000. Women aspirants, he said, are exempted
from nomination fees.

Mr Emioma said that the NEC strongly condemns the spate of
violence, arson, bomb blasts, armed robberies and kidnappings in the country
and calls on security agencies to halt the trend in tandem with section 14 (2)b
of the 1999 constitution which states that, “the security and welfare of the
people shall be the primary purpose of government.”

The NEC, he added, also urged the federal government to take
steps to alleviate the sufferings of the masses who, it said can no longer
afford three square meals a day due to the harsh economic meltdown, in addition
to various natural disasters particularly flood, erosion and desert
encroachment that have worsened the plights of these citizens.

Mr Emioma also said the NEC asked the government to expedite action on the
minimum wage the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) demanded, stressing “Nigerian
workers deserve a fair deal and improved standard of living.”

The members of the
Ondo State House of Assembly seeking re-election in the 2011 general
elections under the platform of the Labour Party should go to their
various constituencies and campaign, the party’s leadership has said.

Olaiya Oni, the
Labour Party chairman who dropped the hint when the 13 lawmakers went
to the party’s secretariat to procure nomination forms.

Mr. Oni noted that
the party was ready to conduct transparent primaries adding that there
will be no automatic tickets for any political office holders seeking
re-election.

The party chief,
however, commended the nine LP lawmakers who were declared winners of
the election held on April 14, 2007 for their steadfast and rare show
of loyalty when the party was struggling to regain its mandate.

“For 21 months that
we were battling to reclaim our mandate, the nine LP lawmakers shunned
all forms of financial inducement and remained steadfast to our course.
They were sending N400, 000 to the party secretariat regularly.

“It is not as if we
are endorsing them as a party; we are only commending them for the work
they had done in the past. We will also be glad if they are re-elected
to continue the quality representation they have been providing for
their people.”

The lawmakers are:
Emiola Dare, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, Oladejo Adeloye, Akinsiku Afolabi,
Abiodun Ogunbi, Omotayo Abidakun, Henry Akinsuroju, Bakita Bello,
Ayodele Awodeyi, Samuel Pelemo, Oyebo Aladetan, Olatunji Dairo, Adeniyi
Akindele and Dejo Adeloye.

Speaking on behalf
of his colleagues shortly after submitting the forms the Majority
Leader of the Assembly, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, said, “We decided to come
as a team to submit our forms because we believe that together, we can
effectively work with the executive to deliver dividends of democracy
in the next political dispensation.

“We are seeking re-election because we had many unfinished assignments at the House which we hoped to complete”.

The federal
government has set up a sub-committee to streamline and report on the
status of the Lekki Freezone Methanol Project, with a view to making it
more explicit, and to outline those areas needing immediate action for
implementation.

Vice president,
Namadi Sambo, stated this while meeting with a committee set up by the
federal executive council to look into the methanol project.

The VP noted the
need for a complete synchronisation and review of all contractual
claims including those of engineering and electro-mechanical works.

He charged the
Ministries of Finance and Justice to provide “detailed financial
commitment of government, and examine the existing legal agreement,”
with a view to bringing up a clear view of the project.

The committee,
which is to be chaired by the executive secretary of the Nigerian
Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Mr. Mustapha Bello, an engineer,
is expected to submit its report within three weeks.

The vice president
emphasised the need for a consultant to effectively supervise the
project and harped on the need to prioritise on “our economic issues
with a view to resolving them accordingly.”

He also enjoined
the committee to critically look at the concept, cost, and location in
terms of raw materials supply for the project. He directed that the
Ministry of Petroleum Resources should be the client ministry.

Earlier, the
meeting examined the directives of the Federal Executive Council, as
regards the need to proffer recommendations on the methanol project.
Mr. Mustapha briefed the committee on the concept and progress of the
project.

He said the project
was conceptualised on a debt conversation strategy and that the
promoters were to buy the Federal Government debt and use it to develop
the project. The concessions unavailable were in terms of loans and
grants but subsequently, government exited from the debt conversation
strategy and no money was appropriated for the project.

The account was maintained by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He urged that the project should not be dragged backwards as a result of the issues observed.

In attendance at the meeting were the Attorney General and Minister
of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, SAN, the Minister of National Planning,
Shamsuddeen Usman, and the Minister of State, Finance and Commerce,
amongst others.

The
fresh air breathed by residents of Edo State following a month-long
lull in the activities of kidnappers came to a sudden end yesterday
morning as a former Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of
Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Eugene Okpere was abducted in Benin
City.

This is certainly
not good news as it could trigger another health crisis as medical
workers have decided to down tools, compounding the near collapse of
healthcare system in Edo State.

Mr. Ukpere, a
professor of obstetrics and gynecology, was allegedly kidnapped on his
way to the early morning Sunday service at about 6.30 am.

According to family
sources, the former CMD was driving out of his house in BDPA Estate,
opposite UNIBEN, Ugbowo, Benin City when he was accosted by four armed
men who dragged him out of his car and took him away.

As at the time of
filing this report yesterday, it was gathered that his abductors have
opened contact with the family but were yet to name their ransom.

Thanks to Enahoro

The state chapter
of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) immediately embarked on an
indefinite strike to press for the unconditional release of their
colleague. State Chairman of the NMA, Philip Ugbodaga told newsmen
yesterday that doctors in all public hospitals would not admit new
patients but would only attend to those already on admission and those
with emergency cases.

“We are calling an
emergency meeting tomorrow (Monday) to discuss the way forward.
Meanwhile I have instructed doctors in the state to embark on an
indefinite strike, but during the strike, we will attend to those that
have already been admitted and emergency cases, we will no not go on
ward round. We are calling on emergency meeting of the exco and we are
demanding unconditional release of Professor Okpere,” he said.

Mr. Ugbodaga told
NEXT that doctors will attend to patients already in admission as a
sign of respect to elder statesman, Anthony Enahoro who is currently
undergoing medical care in the UBTH.

Edo State police
image maker, Peter Ogboi, could not be reached as his mobile line was
switched off. A senior police officer who pleaded anonymonity however
told NEXT yesterday that the state command was yet to be informed about
the abduction of Mr. Okpere.

The incumbent CMD of the hospital, Michael Ibadin was few months ago kidnapped in a similar manner in the same area.

A former governor
of Oyo State, Lam Adesina, has cautioned President Goodluck Jonathan
not to shield governors facing allegations of corruption from
investigation.

Mr. Adesina, who is
also the leader of the Action Party of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, at
the weekend, accused the president of preparing a soft-landing for some
governors allegedly implicated in cases before the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by preventing the commission from
pressing the cases to ensure that they do not return to office next
year.

The opposition
politician said many of the governors, who are members of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), are hiding under Mr Jonathan’s presidential
ambition to escape the law.

“We have it on a
good authority that President Jonathan recently called the chairman of
the commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri, to the Presidential Villa where he
ordered her to stop forthwith, further prosecution of the serving
corrupt governors while her attention should be focused on former
governors who were not well disposed to his ambition to return to Villa
in 2011,” Mr. Adesina said.

He said the
development could set a bumpy trap for the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), whose chairman, Attahiru Jega, has, at
different forums, reiterated their readiness to give credible elections
to the nation and its people next year.

“Apart from the
fact that such corrupt governors, mostly drawn from the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), came into office through the back door created
by the infamous do-or-die antic of former President Olusegun Obasanjo
in 2007, they have manifested total disaster in governance and allowing
them to repeat the fraud in 2011 would spell doom for the country and
the states they come from in particular,” said the former governor.

Making reference to
the current governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, whom he
described as one of the affected governors, Mr. Adesina said the
governor has shown lack of respect for the public purse.

“The incumbent, who
has numerous substantiated cases of official corruption and looting of
public funds hanging on his neck but could not be made to answer for
these cases at present owing to the immunity he enjoys as a sitting
governor. But the same man is busy creating panic in the state and
beyond in his preparation for another term in office,” he said.

“It is to the
common knowledge of the people that Mr Alao-Akala does not care a hoot
when it comes to siphoning public funds, going by his antecedents; but
he added another dimension recently when he purchased 1,000 brand new
buses and cars from the government funds to pursue his electioneering
campaigns ahead the 2011 elections while daring those who asked
questions about the matter to go to hell”.

Nigerian governors,
at the weekend, donated a sum of N62 million to the family of late Yobe
State governor, Mamman Ali, who died at a United States hospital in
January 2009 after a prolonged battle with leukaemia.

The governors,under
the umbrella of Nigeria Governors’ Forum ,according to a press
statement signed by its Director General, Assishana Okauru asked its
Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, to hand
over the money.

The money was
subsequently presented to the family of the late governor in a brief
ceremony at the Kwara State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.

Accompanied by a
member of the State House of Assembly, the brother to the late governor
and Yobe State Deputy Governor, Abubakar Ali, who represented both the
state and his brother’s family at the event, thanked the group and
promised that the money would be used for the upkeep of the family left
behind.

“Mr. Saraki prayed
for the repose of the soul of the late governor, who he described as a
committed member of the NGF and a patriotic Nigerian who served his
state and country well during the 51 (fifty-one) years he lived on
earth,” the NGF statement said.

“Immediately Ali
died, a decision was taken by the NGF to stand by his family and make
moral and financial contributions to them.” He explained that the
donation was made by every member of the NGF (excluding Yobe State) as
a token contribution to the welfare and upkeep of the family members
left behind.

The forums’ secretariat however states that the N62 million
represented the contribution from 31 states received to date, who each
contributed N2 million to the fund. Once the balance is received from
the remaining four states, their contributions would also be sent to
the late Governor’s estate, Mr Okauru said.

The race to decide
who will be the governorship candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic
Party{PDP} has led to tension and discord among members of the Ogun
West Elders Forum, hitherto an apolitical group established to ensure
the emergence of a politician from the zone as the next governor of the
state.

The faceoff between
the leaders was brought into public glare at the weekend in Abeokuta,
as different factions, at separate press conferences, tackled each
other over candidates of their choice.

The two aspirants
at the centre of the hullabaloo are a former military governor, Tunji
Olurin, and Gboyega Isiaka, former managing director, Gateway Holdings.
Mr. Olurin is said to be the candidate of former president, Olusegun
Obasanjo, while Mr. Isiaka is said to be the choice of the state
governor, Gbenga Daniel.

Messrs Obasanjo and
Daniel are opposed to each other politically, hence the issue of
succession has became a power play between the duo.

A faction of the
Elders Consultative Forum, headed by Ishola Olateju, held a press
conference to declare their backing for Olurin, whom they claimed has
the credentials to represent the zone at the governorship election.

But reacting to the
position of the Olateju-led group, another factional leader, Olawale
Bankole, declared that the authentic choice of the zone is Mr. Isiaka,
whom he said they have agreed to pitch their tent with.

Mr. Bankole said
the endorsement of Olurin by the other group, “is a calculated attempt
to mislead and deceive the people of Ogun West.”

“We, therefore,
call on the good people of Ogun west and Nigerians at large to
disregard the purported views and activities of this group, as they do
not represent the position of the Ogun West Elders Consultative Forum,”
he said.

Not to be sidelined

The Olateju group,
at the press conference, however, said the other group carried out its
work without informing all members of the Forum.

“They went round and picked two of our members, but did not tell us to nominate them,” he said.

“We don’t know how
they arrived at their decision. Their decision was not totally
acceptable to others who were screened, but they said it was their
internal problem which they would solve,” Mr. Olateju said.

He said it was the forum which approached Mr. Olurin to contest and they are convinced about his quality.

“He is the candidate we have recommended. We believe we have not
made any mistake or error. Olurin is just 63 and still agile.
Experience is the best teacher, and his experience has outshined other
aspirants. We would not fold our arms and see Olurin being sidelined,”
he said.

The
Ooni of Ife, Okunade Sijuwade, at the weekend, called on Yoruba leaders
to be united, despite their different political affiliations, for the
purpose of accelerating the development of the region.

The monarch, who
made the call in Igbokoda, Ilaje local government area of Ondo State,
during the coronation of Obateru Akinruntan as the Olugbo of Ugboland,
said the region could not but remain relevant in the scheme of things
in the country.

Accompanied by
other 23 traditional rulers from across Yoruba land, Mr. Sijuwade said
the people of the southwest would maintain their leadership position in
the country if traditional rulers play their roles well to earn the
respect of the subjects.

“It is necessary
for traditional rulers and the people to be united and allow peace to
reign, so that the Yoruba race will continue to witness a robust human
and infrastructural development,” Mr. Sijuwade, who was the chairman of
the occasion, said.

While appealing to
the people of Ugboland to support the new monarch, the Ooni tasked Mr.
Akinrutan to make use of his wisdom and God given wealth to develop the
riverside community under his jurisdiction.

Ondo State
governor, Olusegun Mimiko, said the development of the oil-rich Ilaje
area of the state could only be achieved if all ethnic nationalities in
the area work in harmony.

Develop Ilaje communities

The governor also challenged the new monarch to ensure that all the communities in Ilaje live in peace and harmony.

“I want to urge Oba
Akinruntan to bring the Mahins, Aheris, Etikans, and the Ugbos in Ilaje
together for the collective benefit of the people,” he said.

He pledged that the
state government would continue to provide an enabling environment that
would encourage the people of the state contribute to the development
of their communities.

The head of Ojadele
ruling house, Roberts Nana, said the coronation was a celebration of
victory over some people that wanted to lord themselves over Ugboland.

Mr. Akinruntan said
his emergence as the monarch had been predicted 28 years ago by a
frontline prophet in the area, whom he said told him that he would be
inaugurated as a monarch with anointing oil, and not with the
traditional “Akoko” leaves.

Also in attendance
at the ceremony were the Oyo State deputy governor, Taofeek Arapaja;
his counterpart in Ondo, Ali Olanusi; Speaker of the state House of
Assembly, Samuel Adesina, and Folashade Bent, a senator, who was
conferred with a traditional title.

Following
the recent air mishap and “fraudulent” text messages from unknown
persons faulting the air worthiness of Aero Contractors,the Nigerian
Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over the weekend disclosed that the
airline is still qualified to carry on with its regular flight
operations.

Dispelling fears of
possible compromise in the safety of the carrier’s fleet, the
regulatory agency disclosed that it would not hesitate to ground the
airline should there be failing standards in the carrier’s flight
operations.

“That they are
flying should tell people that they are certified to do so; otherwise
their operations would have been grounded,” said Sam Adurogboye, media
head for the civil aviation authority.

Admitting that the
authority was aware of the recent incident involving the airline, Mr.
Adurogboye said that “Aero is fit to continue its operations.” Earlier,
Aero in a statement, disclosed that the regulatory agency gave it a
“clean bill” following a check on the carrier’s aircraft by engineers
from the authority.

Last week, a viral
text message condemning the air worthiness of two aircraft belonging to
Aero Contractors was sent to some passengers and media houses, alleging
that some officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)
are aware of the airline’s degenerating safety standards.

Deceitful texts

The development,
which came after the carrier’s Boeing 737 aircraft had a technical
fault resulting in the emission of smoke in the cabin that scared
passengers and saw some of the travellers sustaining injuries, is
criticized by the carrier as being “the handiwork of disgruntled
competitors who are threatened by the success of the airline over the
last few months.”

When contacted,
however, Akin Olukunle,spokesman for the Federal Airports Authority of
Nigeria (FAAN) disclosed that no official of the authority will speak
to anyone on issues pertaining the air worthiness of an airline, adding
that the text message was “deceitful.” “Whoever said he spoke to us is
not telling the truth,because it is not the duty of FAAN to comment on
matters affecting an airline,it is the regulatory agency that does
that,” he said.

On the issue of the air mishap, Aero disclosed that it is a globally
accepted rule in airline operations that no flight operation can be
conducted when a warning signal is detected, adding that it will not be
deterred by any blackmail from any source about its fleet airworthiness.