Nigeria Content Online

The National Drug
Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said on Thursday that the rate of drug
trafficking at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA),
Lagos, has dropped.

The agency said in
a statement that the drop was noticed in August. “We arrested only
seven suspects (four men and three women) with 8.62kg of cocaine during
the month,” it said in the statement signed by Mitchell Ofoyeju, the
agency’s head of Public Affairs.

It said the number of those arrested for drug trafficking rose to 20 in July with a haul of 28.13kg of narcotics.

“The drastic reduction is suggestive of a natural response to the death of a suspect who ingested the substance.

“It is hoped that drug traffickers will consider the consequences
of their action and quit the criminal acts,’’ the statement added.

Two Russian sailors that were kidnapped about a month ago have been released by unidentified men in the Niger Delta.

The Seafarers Union of Russia confirmed
to The Associated Press agency that the kidnapped sailors, identified
as Igor Ivanov and Andrei Pukke have been released by their captors.
The union also confirmed that the two men are already back in Russia,
but declined to give any further details. However, an unconfirmed
ransom of $60,000 was allegedly paid for their release.

The Congress for
Progressive Change (CPC) will mobilize the masses to demand from public
office holders an account of their stewardship, the deputy chairman of
the CPC Board of Trustees, Sule Hamma, has said.

Mr. Hamma, who
spoke while receiving a delegation of Group Four, Course 32 of the
National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), said if
elected in into government in 2011, the party led by former military
leader Muhammadu Buhari, would ensure that there is sanity in
governance.

“We are going to
use the power of the masses to crush the elites and their cohorts who
have continuously connived to dupe the masses and we will provoke the
masses to look into what their representatives received without doing
anything for their constituencies. If the present situation is allowed
to continue, there would be no hope for Nigerian masses,” Mr Hamma said.

He also said the
failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to
understand the dynamics of the processes of rigging of election may mar
the success of the 2011 general elections.

Unchanged PDP

Mr. Hamma accused
the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of rigging in all elections,
adding that the party has not changed going by the results of recent
local government and senatorial bye-elections across the country.

According to him, the forthcoming elections may not be free and fair after all.

“Given the short
time frame for preparation, lack of infrastructure and lack of INEC’s
understanding of the dynamics of the processes of election rigging by
desperate politicians and their cohorts among other concerns, we do not
see the possibility of free and fair elections in the country,” he said.

The BOT chairman
also alleged that Commissioners of Police, Brigade Commanders, SSS
Directors, Residents Electoral Commissioners (RECs), traditional rulers
and prominent politicians connived and compromise justice by rigging
elections after being “settled.”

Leader of the NIPSS
delegation and Director of Research at the institute, Olu Obafemi, said
the visit to the party secretariat was part of their academic programme
to find out the level of preparation of stakeholders for the 2011 polls.

July 20 2010,
Concord House, London: The inauguration of the Save Nigeria Group
(SNG), UK Chapter. In attendance was Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain
Assembly; Yinka Odumakin; Nasir El Rufai; pastors from the Gain Group
and other activists that formed the SNG, UK chapter. I was representing
the Transform Nigeria Movement. I listened carefully as these gentlemen
enunciated their vision and mission to cleanse the atmosphere of
Nigeria politics so that – quoting Mr Odumakin – “a Mr Elombah can come
back to Nigeria one day and contest for the House of Representatives
and be assured that the votes of the people in his constituency will
count.”

It was a moving
occasion, as Mr Bakare – who has this extraordinary ability to speak
with such force and emotion that turn your eyes misty – narrated how
Nigeria has been held in the jugular by thugs that have captured our
nation, allowed by a seemingly docile populace whose “social mobility”
has quenched. What I heard that day seems to hold out hope that, at
last, some people are determined to bring forth the change we all
desire. At the end of the launch, I attended another meeting with a
journalist from Nigeria, where I confirmed what Donald Duke, former
governor of Cross River State, said at another gathering of the SNG –
that Nigerian politicians look at activists as “wooly-eyed dreamers”.
This journalist (I will call him Mr J) said if we are hoping for a
Nigeria where the people will freely elect their leaders in a free and
peaceful election, we still have a very long way to go. Some of the
things Mr J narrated cannot simply be published. Suffice it to say he
pointed out that “Nigeria is not a country, but an organized criminal
outpost for crooks whose interest is personal aggrandisement and not
the business of taking care of its citizens”.

Mr J further told
me that whatever I read is merely a tip of the iceberg and that if I
get to know the actual amount of looting that goes for governance, or
the debauched life lived by some of the people I admire in government,
I won’t sleep at night.

Recently, Speaker
of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and governor of Ogun
State, Gbenga Daniel, publicly engaged in fisticuffs over a dispute of
who should cut the ribbon announcing the opening of a simple bridge in
Sango-Ota, in Ogun State. How did thugs get to capture governance in
Nigeria? Mr Bakare said at the inauguration that he will never
encourage any sane human to go into Nigerian politics in this polluted
environment. But he added that members of the SNG might go into
politics, “after the atmosphere has been cleansed”.

The RSVP process

I think what we are
seeing is a civilian version of the military in power. Or the
militarised version of the civilians in power. Who killed Bayo Ohu and
Godwin Agbroko? IBB felt challenged by Mamman Vatsa and charged him
with coup plotting and killed him…now tell me who felt uncomfortable
with former Attorney General, Bola Ige and had him murdered? Who killed
Harry Marshall, Dikibo, Odunayo Olagbaju? Who killed Ahmed Pategi and
his police orderly? Who killed Victor Nwankwo, the younger brother of
Arthur Nwankwo? Who killed Kudirat Abiola, John Nunu, Funsho Williams,
Chimere Ikoku, Ayodeji Daramola, Dele Arojo and Isyaku Muhammad? With
the passing of each year, the list grows longer and longer.

Mr Bakare believes no good Nigerian can succeed as a peoples’
politician and serve the people within the polluted waters of Nigerian
politics because the others will change him into one of their kind. Mr
Bakare also believes that only when the people exercise their rights
and take powers back into their hands, by selecting their candidates
and ensuring free, credible and peaceful elections, will such a
cleansing begin. He called this cleansing process RSVP: R-Register to
vote, S- Select your candidates, V-Vote, P-Protect your votes.

His political experience

In the 1990s, I had
a brief journey into politics where I contested for the Kabo Local
government chairmanship position under the zero party system, though I
lost that election. I believe that trial strengthened my resolve to
serve the people. In 1999, I re-contested the chairmanship of Kabo. I
failed the second time again.

The state governor,
Ibrahim Shekarau, appointed me the managing director of Muhammadu
Abubakar Rimi market in 2004, and later appointed me as the executive
secretary of Kano State Guidance and Counselling Board.

Decision not to give up after repeated failure

Going by the
training I received while growing up and during the process of building
a career, I believe that the only real failure in life is the failing
to try. So, I keep coming up stronger and I am more determined to
succeed than before. And if you look at life generally, most of the
people who feared ‘failure’ always fail to succeed in their
undertakings; be it in education, politics, or career building. It is
possible to fail in many ways, while to succeed is possible only in one
way.

His choice of ANPP

When the nation
transited to civilian administration in 1999, the then governor of
Kano, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, invited us to come and assist in moving
the state forward. I took that invitation as a call to duty, but the
reception I received from Mr. Kwankwaso was what made me to detest
joining the PDP, even though it was the ruling party then. So, when I
made up my mind to join one of the other parties, I opted for ANPP
because it is a party where party supremacy supersedes individual
interest.

His decision to join the gubernatorial contest

Actually, during
the course of my working in different positions, especially here in
Kano, I have had the opportunity of interacting with people of
different social classes. And in the process, I came to understand
leadership. When I say leadership, I mean that type of a responsible
and responsive leadership. Responsible because it is backed with
purpose; responsive because it bases its responsibility on what the
people want. To have such a government, there is the need to have those
who understand the people, who live with them, dine with them, and
listen to their problems. It is only then that effective and responsive
governance can be achieved.

However, with the
experience I have gathered through my service and a deep understanding
of the various challenges facing our dear state, I decided to offer
myself for higher responsibility by contesting for the seat of
governor. There are other sectors that need more attention, even though
the present government has tried its best to improve these sectors. I
will build on the foundation that has already been laid.

His plan for Kano State

We will establish
purposeful leadership that focuses on the wellbeing of the people. A
strong economy, qualitative education, improved healthcare delivery
system, resuscitation of ailing industries, industrialisation and
infrastructural upgrade.

Remember, Kano is a
Shari’a state; therefore, the people should expect from us good virtues
of Islamic tenets. As I have said earlier, a responsible and responsive
government that will base its activities on a systematic ordering of
affairs and prudent use of resources.

Let me explain
more. Our mode of governance should be based on people’s needs and
wants. And by calculative use of resources, I mean frugality and
prudence in the utilisation of funds. We will diversify our revenue
generation sources so as not to over depend on federal government
statutory allocations.

Also, the private
sector will be well engaged towards building a robust Public Private
Sector Partnership in execution of government programmes. There are
well researched proposals on these issues, all tailored towards
continuity and consolidation of the good works of the present ANPP
government.

I believe when
given the opportunity to implement these policies, Kano will record
significant transformation in the aforementioned sectors.

Issue of raising funds for campaign

Let me draw your
attention back to what happened in 2003 when the good people of Kano
voted for the present governor, Ibrahim Shekarau.

This is a clear
testimony that power ultimately resides with Almighty Allah (SWT) and
he gives it to whom he deems fit. Agreed, money is an important factor
in running the affairs of politics. But believe me, Kano people are
very politically enlightened. I know they will vote for whom they feel
deserves to be voted for, irrespective of whether he has the money to
spray around or not.

Reports that he is fronting for another candidate

I came out to
contest as a candidate whose conviction and resolve is clear: to serve
the good people of Kano. My vision is to see a Kano with more well
educated individuals, excellent health care delivery system, excellent
infrastructure, and a vibrant economy.

Now, tell me how a
man with such hopes for his state could be fronting for someone. These
are all plans to distract the attention and recognition I am getting
from the good people of Kano as we discuss the issues and challenges
facing our dear state.

Let me also tell
you, many more distractions will follow. This is politics. Let me also
clearly state here that I am not fronting for anybody, period.

As I told you
earlier, our party’s interest supersedes individual interest. If the
party adopt consensus, so be it. However, I am very confident that if
we have to choose a consensus candidate, I will be that consensus
candidate because I have tried to be a bridge builder in our party. I
have cordial relationship and mutual respect for all the ANPP aspirants.

I would rather we focus on issue-based politics that will place Kano
at an enviable position as the most economically buoyant state in the
country.

The Edo State
government has awarded a N30 billion contract for the construction of a
modern moat to check erosion-ravaged Siluko Road, otherwise known as
“Teachers’ House,” in Benin City, the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole,
stated in Benin City yesterday at the commissioning of the newly
reconstructed and dualised Oba Market Road.

The proposed 45
square meters, 7 meters deep moat will capture erosion water from
Adolor Road, in Ugbowor, Teachers’ House in Siluko Road and terminate
at the Ogba River.

The governor
revealed that the contract includes the construction of eight adjoining
roads around the areas captured in the project, all to be completed
with side drains, walkways and street lights.

The Teachers’ House
area of the city has suffered from erosion for many years, and has
defied all palliative measures by past administrations to check the
menace of the ravaging waters coming all the way from Ugbowo, Uwelu and
down to the Siluko area.

Several lives have
been lost and many houses totally submerged as a result of the effect
of the erosion, forcing many to abandon their houses. Those who remain
were always in fear whenever the raining season approached. Driving
vehicles to the area was always a nightmare, resulting in the high cost
of transportation, as many commercial drivers usually abandoned the
route, while those who ventured into the road increased their charges.

Mr Oshiomhole
restated his readiness to give the best to the people of Edo State at
whatever cost. “We are ready to do it, because this city deserves our
all, and we are ready to give,” he said, adding that the government
acquired the waste management equipment at high cost “to help cast away
the waste of the city as it is done in the more civilized world. The
challenge of fixing Benin City will be approached with facts and study,
and work done based on knowledge”.

The waste
management equipment launched include: two units of ELGIN Pelican
three-wheeled broom mechanical street sweepers, 3 units of
Roll-on-Roll-off trucks with hydraulic hook, 350 steel waste bins, 300
galvanized polythene bins, 500 standard wheel barrows, 10 mowing
machines and others.

Mr Oshiomhole also
used the occasion of the commissioning to lash out at his critics. He
said that the occasion was significant to him, as it marks the
fulfilment of some of his electioneering promises, and freedom for all
the people of Edo State from godfathers who hitherto used the lean
resources of the state to finance their party machinery and to further
their own selfish nets alone.

Not borrowing money

Refuting
allegations by opposition PDP that his government has continued to
borrow money to “plant flowers at the Ring Road,” thereby, increasing
the debt burden of Edo State, Mr Oshiomhole said, “We will continue to
borrow to develop Edo State if we have to do so. We will borrow for the
development of our state if necessary. But I am happy to tell you that
we have not borrowed. What we are using is the savings that used to go
to Uromi. He can no longer take our money to Abuja. He can no longer
disburse the state’s money to fund his party machinery. The state is
free for good.

“From Edo North,
Edo Central, and Edo South, godfathers have died and are buried
forever. They can go and take NPA’s money to fund their party. But we
must remind them that those who used NPA’s money in the past to help
rig elections in 2007, we know their address.” He said that the one
purpose he has is to make the wheel of progress irreversible, and that
the struggle will continue until Edo people are free and the children
inherit a clean society.

“Whatever honest mistakes we make in the process of fixing the state, they will be corrected,” Mr Oshiomhole said.

The people of the south-east have given
Goodluck Jonathan their word that they will support him during the
coming presidential elections, but he would be expected to pay a price
for it. The price, according to the governor of Imo State, Ikedi
Ohakim, is that Mr Jonathan must take a good long look at the region
and find ways of improving the lot of its people.

This assertion is coming after the
south-east governors had said they were still undecided about whom to
support for the presidential bid.

Speaking after a private visit to Mr
Jonathan in the company of the Speaker of the Imo State House of
Assembly, Mr Ohakim said the region was obviously waiting for “the big
masquerade to emerge” and since this has happened, negotiations have to
begin.

“The south-east governors had said that
they will not mention who they will support; nobody will force us to
support anybody until all the big masquerades emerge. Yesterday, the
big masquerade emerged, President Jonathan declared and told me that he
will run,” he said. “Before, it was mere speculation. It is only when
he tells me he will run that I will decide whether I will support him
or not. He told me he will run. He told all of us he will run. That’s
why I am here with my Speaker. That’s why I’m here with my leader. We
have decided that we will work with him. But we have to negotiate.
Politics is give me, I give you; you take, I take.”

Uneasy about timetable

Mr Ohakim said what he wanted from Mr
Jonathan was that he must “continue the good work he is doing” and he
“must look at the marginalization of the south-east.” “He must look at
the fact the south-east is the only zone in Nigeria that has one
transmission line of electricity and we must look at the innate ability
of the people and design Nigerian development to capture innate ability
of all the sections of the country,” he said.

Speaking on the election timetable, Mr
Ohakim said if it were possible to buy an extension, he would. He said
he has reservations about the timetable but would only speak about it
after going through it thoroughly.

“INEC has given its own timetable; the work of a politician is to
bend himself to be able to meander through the thorns of politics in
order to achieve his goals,” he said. “We are yet to digest the
timetable which was recently released. I have my own reservation about
that timetable. I am looking at the practicability and the possibility.
We must possibilize the impossibility, if we must make the country move
forward. But we will still re-examine that timetable. I will make
comments on that timetable when I look at it critically.”

The South-South People’s Assembly, at a meeting at
Abuja, suspended AIT owner, Raymond Dokpesi, for heading former
military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida’s campaign organization.

“We totally condemn and dissociate the forum from the
ignoble action of Chief Raymond Dokpesi to serve as DG of the IBB
campaign organization,” Edwin Clark, leader of the forum, told
journalists after the meeting.

Late last month, Mr Babangida announced that Mr
Dokpesi, the chairman of Daar Communications, would head his 2011
presidential campaign under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Mr Dokpesi has, however, denied ever being a member
of the SSPA, although it formed the fulcrum of the support for the
presidential ambition of then governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili. Mr
Dokpesi was also the head of that campaign.

The SSPA has thrown its weight behind Goodluck
Jonathan, who has yet to announce his candidacy. On July 26, the forum,
along with five governors and regional leaders, rose from a summit in
Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with a call on Mr Jonathan to declare for
the 2011 presidential race “without further delay.” Mr Clark said a
rally has been scheduled for Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on September 13, to
urge Mr Jonathan to join the race.

Southern youth for Babangida

Mr Clark also urged the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that political parties adhere to
stipulated guidelines.

“We commend the president for giving INEC all they
need to ensure a successful election in 2011,” he said. “We want the
country to have a free and fair election in 2011.” Meanwhile, another
south-south group, the South-South Youth Assembly, has declared its
support for the presidential ambition of Mr Babangida. The group also
called on Mr Jonathan not to participate in next year’s presidential
election and run instead in 2015.

Its National President, Tony Anucha, says whatever
agreement was reached by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on zoning,
which produced the Yar-Adua/Jonathan ticket in 2007, must be respected
and upheld for 2011. “The position of the PDP on zoning clearly shows
that whatever gentleman’s agreement that existed, must be respected.
The south-south geopolitical zone prefers to have an eight-year go at
the presidency than a four-year go. The north should be allowed to
produce a candidate to complete the zoning understanding. This is the
truth, and we uphold same in good faith,” he said.

Mr Babangida, according to Mr Anucha, has promised to establish oil
and mineral development commissions for the benefit of communities
which produce the natural resources, which will be given through a
certain percentage of accruable revenues.

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in
Ogun State opposed to the state governor, Gbenga Daniel, has rolled out
plans to support the presidential ambition of Goodluck Jonathan.

The faction, made up of the Omo-Ilu Group headed by
Buruji Kashamu and others, has printed and commenced distribution of
membership cards and posters to all the 20 local government areas and
wards.

The project, ‘Re-Build Nigeria Initiative,’ recorded
a large number of members in attendance at the meeting held at Ijebu
Igbo. The event also gave birth to the inauguration of three committees
to reposition the group for the upcoming electioneering campaign.

Mr Kashamu presented the posters canvassing for
Jonathan’s bid, with captions such as: ‘Hello, 150 million
Nigerians…. Who Deserves Better Life Than You?,’ ‘See and be seen in
the Nigeria of your dreams’ and ‘Let your views count, you have the
power.’ The group’s Director of Organization, Tunde Oladunjoye, said
the Omo-Ilu group serves as a stabilizing force within the PDP and that
the new committees would reposition the organization towards presenting
credible candidates for the party primaries and ensuring their victory.

Repositioning to meet challenges

“I want to say with all form of modesty that a lot of
people would have left this party if not for Omo-Ilu, because they are
complaining of lack of empowerment, even dividend of democracy doesn’t
get to the grassroots,” Mr Oladunjoye said.

“We are trying to re-position the organization to
meet electioneering challenges. We need to re-energize to produce
better results, that is why we have come up with three committees.” The
groups are the screening and verification, disciplinary and
reconciliation and campaign and strategy committees.

“We want to even screen our candidates in-house
before they are offered to the party, so there will be little or no
stress. We also use it as a forum to reconcile differences in case
there is more than a candidate for a position,” he said.

“The disciplinary committee will instil discipline within the
organization, to reconcile different interests. We also need to spread
our gospel, canvass, mobilize. We are doing this because we know that
it is an organization that is daily expanding.”

The governor’s call
is contained in a special broadcast to the people of the state to
commemorate the Eid-El-Fitr, where he said politicians should shun all
utterances and acts capable of causing a breach of peace. “The youth
should remember that all the struggles of the leaders are targeted at
them as the future leaders of the country,” he said.

While calling on the people of the state to continue to be
law-abiding, Mr Wamakko solicited their support for INEC in conducting
a hitch-free voters’ registration exercise and election.