Nigeria Content Online

A correspondent of
Vanguard newspapers in Kano State, Abdulsalam Muhammad, and his family
escaped death by their whiskers when they ran into hundreds of rioters
along eastern by pass in Kano yesterday.

Mr. Muhammad was
travelling on the highway with his entire family to his residence in
Naibawa quarters of the municipality when they ran into hundreds of
hoodlums.

The hoodlums who
were mainly teenagers were being supervised by a man in his early 40s,
and without provocation descended on them and in the ensuing melee, his
wife Safiya Lawal was attacked with weapons.

Others who sustained
injury in the attack include Umi Zabaida Muhammad( 6) and his younger
brother Muhammad Naziru Muhammad (3) sustained various degree of injury.

His personal car was vandalised while trying to escape the furry of the rioters.

Several other
motorists travelling on the highways suffered the same fate as no fewer
than 8 burnt vehicles littered the entire stretch of the strategic
highways.

Three house owners
in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have sued the MTN Nigeria
Communications Limited and one Sangotokun Banji for erecting a mast in
their neighbourhood without caring about the implication on the
residents’ health.

The applicants, Messrs. Oluwadare James, Ogundipe Kamoru and Mrs. M.A. Ogundipe, have houses at Idi-Isin, in Ibadan.

They alleged, in
their separate statements on oath, that Mr. Banji sold his half plot of
land to the telecommunication firm for the purpose of erecting a GSM
mast in the predominantly residential area without minding what becomes
of the health situation of those who live within the place.

According to them,
they had earlier reported the matter at the Akobo Divisional
Headquarters of the Nigeria Police where they were advised to go to
court to seek appropriate redress.

They further claimed
that the Landlords and Residents Association of the area also wrote the
state commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, whose
ministry is responsible for the erection of masts across the state, for
necessary actions to stop the impending environmental disaster.

The claimants added
that their lawyer, F.A.Bello and Co., had written on their behalf to MTN
through her Chief Liaison Officer at Bodija, Ibadan, to suspend the
construction of the mast due to proximity to their houses.

But in spite of the effort, the defendants went on with the construction, violating their right to decent living.

The claimants said
they were well aware of the danger posed to the residents when mast is
erected in their area, which, they said, included loss of memory, sleep
disorders, tiredness, and cancer. They further claimed that the health
crises are associated with radiation effects from telecommunication
masts like the one under contention.

They said they were
sure that the MTN Nigeria Communications Limited did not acquire the
requisite approval before embarking on the construction of the mast.

Mistura Oladeinde, a
judge of the Oyo State High Court has been assigned to adjudicate in
the matter, and has adjourned till May 4 to allow the telecommunication
firm file its defence.

Former commanders of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) yesterday during a news conference in Abuja, said, “The outbreak of violence in the northern states and the Federal Capital Territory following President Jonathan’s victory in the presidential election is an invitation to chaos.” It specifically warned that incitement of youths to violence by some northern leaders was an attempt to provoke them to return to hostilities.The group, which spoke through its national cordinator, Sobomabo Jackrich, aka General Egbere Papa, wondered why the North “which had always received the support of the South-South and indeed southern Nigeria in previous elections should be wasting innocent lives and property because President Jonathan of South-South extraction has won an election.”The North thinks it will remain in power perpetually. From the inception of this country, the South-South region had given the North all the necessary support in previous elections in spite of the fact that we produce the wealth of the nation.Why will the North not reciprocate even in the face of what is now known as the freest and fairest election? We all queued up to vote and we know the election was free and fair. INEC is still announcing election results and people are on rampage killing and maiming,” the group noted.

The group, therefore, warned: “We will not fold our hands and watch. We know how to defend ourselves and our resources. By this violence, the North is clearly pushing us and we have a way with violence. Even when we were in the struggle, we never wasted innocent lives. President Jonathan’s victory at the polls must remain sacrosanct. General Buhari should call his supporters off the streets before it is too late.”

A former national
publicity secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change has asked the
party supporters to look inward and direct their anger on those he
called “internal saboteurs.”

Aghanya Dennis
claimed that the party’s woes in last Saturday’s presidential elections
resulted from “sabotage within”, asking the party’s presidential
candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, to resist the temptation of being dragged
in the mud.

“The elections have been lost and won, but we must move ahead,” Mr. Aghanya said.

The former party
leader said in a statement issued in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital,
that “the election was adjudged very free and fair by the international
and local observers. I want to advise aggrieved CPC sympathisers over
the outcome of the presidential election to direct their anger towards
those within the CPC who sabotaged General Buhari before and during the
elections.”

He added that despite CPC’s petition to INEC, the party lost the presidential elections.

“We lost the election, not because we did not deserve victory, but
because we failed to appreciate the magnitude of the task ahead,
deliberately refused to put in place all that was required or refused to
harness all the privileges that came our way,” he said.

Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel yesterday in his Sagamu residence predicted a tough governorship election in the state on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 and called on the electorate to be vigilant.While speaking to labour leaders, he said the governorship contest in the state would be between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Adetunji Olurin; the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Ibikunle Amosun and Gboyega isiaka of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN).

The out-going governor declared that the PDP has lost its grip of the Southwest as a result of inconsistent ideologies.Mr Daniel asked leaders of industrial unions in the state to assess all the three candidates very well and make an informed choice in the interest of socio-economic and political development of the state. ” Labour friendlyOf all the three candidates, the only person that can speak the language of the workers that can understand the language of the minimum wage is Gboyega Isiaka of the Peoples Party of Nigeria.” Mr Daniel said.

In his comment, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Akeem Ambali said the labour unions in the state desire continuity adding that this remained the only way to preserve the interest of the workers in the state.Similarly, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress in the state, Seyi Adebanjo urged the governor to ensure that the demands of the state workforce are fulfilled.Some labour leaders who spoke at the meeting lauded the labour friendly policy of the governor describing him as a leader that has respect for the interest of the workers.

A former military
head of state, Yakubu Gowon has asked political leaders whose supporters
are engaged in violence over the results of last Saturday’s
presidential election to call them to order.

Mr Gowon, who
described the eruption of violence in some parts of the country as
unfortunate, said it was capable of truncating the process of
transparent polls, which the country has witnessed in the last two
weeks.

“It is most
unfortunate and regrettable,” the former head of state said in a
telephone interview with NEXT yesterday. “Any true Nigerian with good
conscience will not allow that. This is happening even when the entire
result has not been fully announced and probably because they gathered
some information.

“It is regrettable
and uncalled for and I hope the leadership of those involved will do
something that will really curtail the madness that comes from the
reports that we are hearing. It is regrettable that this is happening
after such a very good election we have had in the last two weeks.”

Mr. Gowon said
although the entire result of the presidential poll has not been
announced, it is clear that “Nigerians have decided democratically what
they want.”

He said that he
had expected those that are losing to accept the outcome of the poll,
but “unfortunately there has been violence which marred the celebration
and joy that we are having free and fair election.”

No suspension

The former
military ruler argued that it would have been wrong for the Independent
National Election Commission (INEC) to suspend the announcement of the
result of the election because of the violence, warning that it might
create the unfortunate situation witnessed in 1993 when the announcement
of that year’s presidential election was suspended.

He said: “I don’t
see any reason why the announcement should be suspended as a result of
the action. But let us not prejudge what INEC will do. Those in INEC
know what to do but we should be careful so that what happened during
the 1993 presidential election is not repeated.”

Also speaking on
the uprising, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani asked the leaders of
those involved to quickly address them because their actions will not
benefit anybody.

“The political
leaders of such areas should quickly address their followers and tell
them that nobody stands to gain anything from any uprising,” Mr Nnamani
told us in a telephone interview.

“The profile of
Nigeria is rising as a result of the two elections so far and anybody
who tampers with this enthusiasm is not doing the country any favour.

“They should immediately address their supporters.

“People are happy with the progress and if there are errors in one or two places, violence will not make it to be better.”

He noted that
Nigerians are now aware that development starts from the ballot box,
adding that if the country must actualize the Vision 2020, emphasis must
be placed on educating the people.

Mr Nnamani, who
commended the corps members used for the elections for doing a good job,
warned that postponing the announcement of the entire result of the
election could fuel the crisis at hand.

“I don’t think it
is necessary, it will be postponing the evil’s day because most people,
by now, have known the result, but we want it to be official.

“Political leaders
should come forward and show the spirit of sportsmanship. The errors
some parties are complaining about are not substantial. I am not saying
it is perfect but we can build on this,” the former senate president
said.

On his part, the
chairman of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency
(PPPRA), Ahmadu Ali described the uprising trailing the presidential
polls as “primitive.” “What is happening is primitive. Just because a
party loses election people are going on rampage,” Mr Ali said in a
telephone interview.

The former
national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called on the
presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) to
refrain his supporters from unleashing violence in the country if he
truly loves it.

“Buhari should
come out and make a statement if he truly loves this country. And I know
that he loves this country. I know Buhari. He should call his people to
order immediately. He has full responsibility on his head because to
take to violence is primitive,” Mr Ali said.

He also called for proper education of voters and supporters of political leaders, saying no religion believes in violence.

Aminu Kofar-Soro, the Sokoto State Commandant, Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on Monday warned the people to steer clear
of any political violence and thuggery. He told the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) that already, detectives had been deployed to identified
“black spots” to gather intelligence information to enhance the security
situation in the state.”We will do all that it takes to sustain the
peaceful environment in the state,” he said. Mr Kofar-Soro also warned
politicians to desist from encouraging any form of violence, saying: “We
will not tolerate any form of violence during and after the polls. We
are out to ensure the safety of lives and property.” He advised parents
not to allow politicians to use their children as political thugs,
warning that security officers had been ordered to arrest and prosecute
any person or group of persons found breaching the peace. MR Kofar-Soro
appealed to the public to assist security agencies with useful
information on criminal activities in their areas for prompt action.
“Security matters should not be left in the hands of security officers
alone,” he said.

The Kaduna Police
command has arrested four nationals of Niger Republic and a Nigerian,
in connection with the bomb explosion which occurred in two separate
areas of the Kaduna metropolis on the night of the presidential
election in the state.

The suspects are:
Abdulazeez Abubakar, Ja’afaru Abu, Sammaila Alhassan and Abdulahi
Suleiman. The Nigerian among them is named Mohammed Hari.

The state Police
Commissioner, Haruna John told newsmen yesterday that the incident
happened at Happy Day hotel in Kabala West and Magajin-Gari between 8
and 10pm respectively, leaving about eight persons injured.

Investigations in progress

He disclosed that
police investigation led to the arrest of two suspects, one Abubakar, a
Nigerien and Samaila Alhassan believed to have sponsored the dastardly
act in Kabala West. He said the duo already gave useful information in
connection to the crime. He dispelled rumour that any life was lost in
any of the two incidents and reassured the general public of the
security of life and property in the state. According to the
commissioner, the explosion at Magajin-Gari took place very close to a
collation centre and cracked the building of a Court and also uprooted
two trees around the vicinity. He said the police immediately visited
the scene where it confirmed that there was no casualty.

One of the
suspects, Mr Abubakar claimed that the prime suspect, Mr Alhassan who
incidentally is his father-in-law, gave him the explosives which he
said he was ignorant of. But Mr Samaila denied the statement, saying he
was not the one who gave his son-in-law the device.

Mr Abubakar, who is the prime suspect, explained that he has been
residing in Nigeria since the onset of the Ibrahim Babangida
administration and could not have engaged himself in such dastardly
act.

An election
monitoring group, Project 2011 Swift Count, has condemned the detention
of some accredited observers by security forces and other groups during
Saturday’s presidential election.

In an interim
statement on the election, the observer group said it was also
concerned that accredited observers were denied access to polling units
where they were assigned to monitor and that some of its observers were
arrested and detained.

“We are extremely
concerned about accredited observers being denied access to polling
units,” Dafe Apkedeye, Project 2011 Swift Count’s 1st Co-Chair, said.

“In several states, Project 2011 Swift Count observers were harassed and in some cases detained by security forces.

“The Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security forces must take
all necessary steps to ensure accredited observers have access to
polling units and collation centre.”

According to the
group, the most worrisome was the situation in Warri North and Warri
South LGAs in Delta State where observers of the group were detained.

“Several of our
observers there were detained throughout the night by the security
agencies without just cause. This action is unacceptable,”

Mr. Apkedeye said,
also urging INEC, security agencies and all others involved, to as a
matter of urgency do everything in their power to address this
situation and prevent any similar occurrences in the future.

Project 2011 Swift
Count is a joint initiative of the Federation of Muslim Women’s
Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN); Justice, Development and Peace
/Caritas Nigeria (JDPC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Transition
Monitoring Group (TMG).

Equal access right

Speaking a press
briefing at the Sheraton Hotel in Abuja yesterday, Mr.Akpedeye told
journalists that for the presidential election, the group deployed more
than 8,000 accredited observers to all 774 local government areas, over
7000 stationary observers at polling units and nearly 1,000 observers.

It asked the INEC
to ensure that all accredited observers, not just international ones,
should be allowed to move freely and to access polling units and
collation centres across the country. It also recommended that security
agencies should refrain from any action that will prevent accredited
observers from carrying out their mandate.

Not less than 10
people have been killed while cars, houses and other valuables were
destroyed in the aftermath of the presidential polls in different parts
of Bauchi State. The violence also extended to Gombe State, as
supporters of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) protested
against what they said was the collusion between electoral officers and
the ruling PDP in the state to deny their party victory in the state.
Although attempts to burn the private home of the state governor,
Danjuma Goje was foiled, the protesters razed the home of the state
chairman of the PDP and those of his neighbours.

The mostly young
protesters are displeased that the PDP recorded about 32 percent of the
votes counted in the state and they blame the state government for this.

In Bauchi, the
campaign office of the Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda located on Ran
Road was completely burnt down while several vehicles belonging to PDP
agents were also burnt by the irate youth who blocked the main Ahmadu
Bello Way leading to the Sa’adu Zungur Model School which served as the
collation centre for the presidential election.

In Azare, angry
youth set the house of the Bauchi State chairman of the PDP, Ibrahim
Yaro-Yaro, on fire as well as the house of the Deputy National
Secretary of the party, Musa Babayo just as other structures belonging
to PDP members were torched.

Security cordon

In Misau, reports
have it that the family house of the secretary to the state government,
Ibrahim Dandija was torched by the youth while a youth corps member,
who was an electoral official in one of the polling centres, was beaten
at his station during the exercise and is now receiving treatment at an
undisclosed hospital in Bauchi.

In Alkaleri, the
youth unleashed terror on people, setting buildings and cars ablaze
just as the Chairman of Kirfi Local Government Council, Ibrahim
Galadima and that of Bauchi LGC, Sabo Abdullahi Mohammed were molested
while their vehicles were destroyed.

In Wuntin-Dada and
Guru Area of Bauchi metropolis, three people were killed by the youth
who questioned why the PDP won in some of the polling units in the
area, just as two more people were killed in the Kofar-Dumi area of the
Bauchi metropolis with pockets of houses and cars also torched in the
areas.

Armed soldiers as
well as anti-riot policemen have been deployed to strategic locations
in Bauchi to maintain peace. A police source said a number of the
protesters have been arrested by the State Police Command which,
however, has not made any public comments on the violence.

Calls to the
Commissioner of Police, John Abakasanga and the command’s spokesperson,
Mohammad Barau were not answered as at the time of going to press.