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Newly inaugurated
Vice president, Namadi Sambo resumed work at his new office at the
presidential villa, Abuja yesterday and was received by a delegation
led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed.

The former Kaduna State governor is the fourth Vice President of Nigeria.

Mr Sambo was taken
round the Vice President’s wing of the presidential complex where he
met some top government functionaries. He was all smiles as he toured
the complex, waving to the staff, security personnel and journalists
who all took turns to congratulate him.

The delegation
that received the vice president included the ministers of finance,
Olusegun Aganga and Remi Babalola; that of the national planning
commission, Shamusideen Usman and the acting Director General of Bureau
for Public Enterprises (BPE), Bolanle Onagoruwa, all of whose
activities fall under his supervisory purview as the head of
government’s economic team.

Later, the Vice
President received various visitors who came to congratulate him. One
of the early callers was the Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido.

The vice president is, however billed to return to Kaduna tomorrow
to officially hand over power to his successor, Patrick Yakowa who was
sworn in yesterday.

Contrary to the
widely held belief that the Reform Group’s candidate had the backing of
the presidency as the national chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic
Party ( PDP), the pendulum has changed in favour of a new candidate,
NEXT has learnt.

Chieftains of the
party and some National Assembly leaders met with President Goodluck
Jonathan early Wednesday morning, and settled for Fidelis Ozichukwu as
a replacement for the former chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, who retired
last week.

Mr. Ozichukwu was the former national vice chairman of the party in the south-east, and hails from Imo State.

Mr. Ogbulafor
resigned his chairmanship last week Thursday, following the N200
million fraud discovered in the contract award when he was Minister of
Special Duties in 2004. Now, he is facing a court charge over the
criminal offence.

Several names,
including the former senate president, Anyim Pius Anyim, and Alphonsus
B.C. Nwosu, were peddled as the contenders for the job.

The decision to
settle for the less controversial candidate, a source said, was to
avoid another round of rancour between the president and the governors.

The governors were responsible for the emergence of Mr. Ogbulafor,
as against the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo’s preference for Sam
Egwu, the former governor of Ebonyi State.

A youth group, Jonathan Youth Vanguard, yesterday urged
President Goodluck Jonathan to facilitate the creation of wealth in the
nation’s economy to help harness the potential of the youths towards national
development.

The group, which said it formed to mobilise support for the
president to help him succeed in delivering his agenda to Nigerians, averred
that any nation whose citizens wallow in abject poverty and hunger cannot
develop.

“We are determined to mobilise support for President Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan to succeed as he leads our nation to prosperity and greatness,”
national convener of the group, George Turner, said. “We commend and
congratulate Mr. President on his four-point agenda, namely electoral reform,
power supply, security, and Niger Delta development as well as anti-corruption
crusade, which we view as the most critical areas of our national development
challenge.”

The group said the federal government needs to add wealth
creation as its fifth agenda, because a nation whose citizens wallow in abject
poverty and hunger cannot develop.

“Therefore, we call on the president to immediately create
wealth through the development of such institutions as small and medium-scale enterprises
(SMEs), as well as promote competitiveness in the nation’s industrial sector.
We are confident that he will empower the youths meaningfully in a manner that
their future will be securely guaranteed,” he said.

Mobilising for Jonathan

Mr. Turner said the group was established as a youth-based
political organisation that would provide the platform for youths across
Nigeria and in the Diaspora, to contribute to the development agenda and
strategic framework in Nigeria’s political affairs.

“Our agenda is not 2011. We are interested in good governance,
credible leadership of the country, accountability, and better Nigeria. It also
aims to engage the broad minds of Nigerian youths to debate on opportunities
and challenges in promoting principles such as democracy, good government,
social justice, and increased youth participation in politics and good
governance, particularly in meaningful participation of youths in shaping
public policy,” he said.

The group, which said Mr. Jonathan has never made a public
declaration about his interest in running for the 2011 presidential race,
disclosed that its members would not hesitate to mobilise support for him if he
delivers on his promises to Nigerians.

With the official
launch of the Information and Communications Technology for
Development, ICT4D plan document yesterday in Abuja, all the federal
government ministries, departments and agencies have been urged to
start full implementation of the ICT agenda relevant to them.

President Goodluck
Jonathan gave this directive at the opening of the e-Nigeria 2010
summit in Abuja. He said this was necessary, considering the place of
Information Technology in achieving sustainable socio-economic
development in the current global economy.

“We must bear in
mind that this document cannot implement itself,” he said. “It requires
that stakeholders should embark on specific actions and initiatives as
outlined in the plan for us to achieve the desired objective of
mainstreaming ICT into our national development agenda.”

On the part of the
government I direct that all ministries, departments, and agencies
should commence immediate implementation of areas of the Nigerian ICT4D
plan that are relevant to their respective mandates.”

Funding the project

The President, who
was represented at the event by Mohammed Abubakar, minister of science
and technology, said adequate budgetary provision should be made for
various projects and programmes in the implementation of the plan,
adding that the projects should be people oriented and will be
implemented in accordance with best practices and laid-down due process.

Other tiers of
government are to study the document and design mechanisms for active
participation in order to ensure that the process does not widen the
digital divide between the federal and other tiers of government. This
will ensure that all Nigerians play active role in the global
information society and the digital economy.

The ICT4D plan, according to him, is a major tool for driving the Vision 2020 target set by the federal government.

Mr. Jonathan called
on the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to
develop the mechanism, including key performance indicators, for proper
coordination and monitoring of the different programmes to be embarked
upon in the implementation of the Nigerian ICT4D plan.

“This will enable
us have regular reports and updates of progress made in the
implementation process,” he said. “This is in addition to the concerted
efforts to be put in place by all stakeholders in order to marshall
adequate resources for effective implementation.”

Bridging the digital divide

Cleopas Angaye,
director general of NITDA observed that the three-tiers of government
have integrated IT into their various functions with different level of
compliance.

“It is however
apparent that much is left to be done especially in the area of people
oriented IT programmes and initiatives in Nigeria,” he said. “It is in
pursuit of this people oriented programme that NITDA has developed the
Nigerian Information and Communications for Development action plan
which is expected to position Information Technology as engine of our
national development and by so doing, integrate the country into the
current global economy driven by technologies.

NITDA is therefore
using eNigeria 2010 to create awareness and present the document to all
Nigerians in order to aid the use of information technology in every
sector on Nigerian economy. All successful economies of the world are
knowledge based and technologically-driven. Nigeria cannot afford to be
left behind in working towards the globally shared vision of an
information society that enables people to fulfil their potentials,
enhance sustainable growth, accountability and transparency in
governance.”

Clement Dzidonu, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s
coordinator for Nigeria ICT4D plan said formulating appropriate ICT4D
plan will help move Nigeria to right side of the digital divide.

The World Service Trust of the British
Broadcasting Corporation {BBC}, has inaugurated a Media Committee for
Ogun State, towards enhancing the state’s response to HIV/AIDS.

Members of the committee include Dimeji
Kayode-Adedeji, NEXT Newspapers; Tunde Sodeke, Gateway Television;
Temitope Ugbechie, Gateway Radio; Timilehin Akinbode, Paramount F.M;
Afolabi Lawal, Nigeria Television Authority; Mojisola Solaja, Gateway
Television; and Kehinde Akinyemi, Daily Trust.

The BBC World Service Trust representative, Nasir
Nluazu-Isa, while inaugurating the committee, said they should
prioritise HIV issues to ensure that an appropriate HIV campaign,
relevant to the state, is developed and promoted.

The committee, he said, should also plan media
{radio and television} deployment for special events and seasons on a
thematic basis. He also called for effective design news feed for the
HIV news coverage by newspapers in the state.

“In this area, synergy will be encouraged between
civil society organisations and newspaper columnists for full
exploration of the state-relevant HIV issues under columns. Regular
meetings with the media committee members in all the states will help
track the progress of writing,” he said.

He stated further that the BBC World Service Trust will provide regular updates about HIV news and the campaign of the trust.

Half a dozen
members of the House of Representatives, who are staging an event to be
chaired by former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, have denied
fronting for the retired general’s 2011 presidential ambition.

The Initiative, a
relatively long-standing representatives’ group, which has existed
aloof of contentious national issues, stirred controversy Wednesday
after announcing its plan for inauguration, that will be chaired by Mr.
Babangida in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

Responding to
journalists queries on why Mr. Babangida was chosen to lead the May 27,
2010 event, Eseme Eyibo, the group’s leader, said the former ruler was
named after three other shortlisted names were unavailable for that
date.

According to Mr.
Eyibo, who faced reporters with five other members of the group, former
military rulers, Yakubu Gowon, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and the former
Chief of Defence Staff, Awoye Azazi turned down invitations because of
other engagements.

He explained that
Mr. Babangida received the group’s invitation, and assured of his
attendance, months before making public his plans to contest the
presidential elections next year.

“We served the
invitation, and got assurances of his presence during the mourning days
of his late wife, Maryam Babangida six months ago,” he said.

As a group of
lawmakers, The Initiatives, regularly conducts sessions that brings
together commentators within and outside the legislature.

It has recently
completed an incorporation process-the first of such in the National
Assembly- with board members including, retired Chief Justice of the
Federation, Mohammed Uwais, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim,
FCT minister, Sanusi Daggash and former Attorney General of the
Federation, Kanu Agabi.

Its inauguration is
to hold in Akwa Ibom and will have in attendance, Mr. Babangida, human
activist, Femi Falana, Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad and the host
governor, Godswill Akpabio.

Right to contest

Asked if the
planned inauguration, at a time Mr. Babangida is facing severe
opposition to his ambitions, would not viewed as a platform intended to
prop up support for him, Mr. Eyiboh said the group supports no personal
ambition, but aims at helping to evolve good governance. However, he
said as a Nigerian, Mr. Babangida has the right to contest.

“Ibrahim Babangida
has the right to contest any election in this country that is his
private ambition, but The Initiative will not and is not a platform for
political parties, platform for any personal ambition different from
what would serve the interest of Nigeria,” he said.

He said the spread of the invitees indicates that the group has no such intention.

On the possibility
of a repeat of what occurred in Benin, Edo state, “One Man, One Vote”
campaign where the former ruler was openly told he was not qualified to
be in attendance, Mr. Eyiboh said “Falana will be present and Falana is
aware that General Babangida will be in attendance.

“We invited IBB and also invited Falana,” he said. “Babangida knows
Falana will be there, and Falana knows Babangida will be there. We did
not hide anything from anyone.”

The Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole yesterday said members will
work hard to ensure that marriages to underage girls are stopped in the
country.

At a meeting with
members of the Nigerian Children Parliament in Abuja who came to
present their resolution to him, Mr Bankole, who did not mention any
names, said the House has received about eight petitions on the
controversial marriage of a 13 year old girl by a Senator.

“You see, this is
not the first time it is happening; it has happened so many times in
this country and it is not necessary members of the National Assembly,
but even with people from different parts of Nigeria and I say again
people from different parts of Nigeria. It is not peculiar to a
section. But this time around, we are not having it, we are not taking
it lightly. I know that about seven to eight petitions in the House are
calling that we investigate it. And when it comes to the floor of the
House, we will also look into it. I know that the Human Rights
Commission is working hard on this issue and we hope that maybe, for
the first time, people should put a stop to that kind of attitude.”

Mr Bankole said
that he has always passed on the resolutions of the Nigeria Children
Parliament to the appropriate quarters and assured that he would
continue to do so in the interest of Nigerian children.

Unhappy children

The Speaker,
however asked the young parliamentarians not to be discouraged if their
resolutions do not receive immediate attention, adding that from his
experience, not all resolutions passed receive quick treatment. “It is
not everything you asked for you that you get but you have to make sure
that you keep asking believing that one day the executive will listen
to you. Don’t ever stop; keep passing those resolutions. The history of
being Senate President or Speaker is not that of a pleasant one,” Mr
Bankole said.

On the recurring crisis in Jos, the Plateau State capital, the
Speaker said he has visited the city about four times to commiserate
with the families of the victims, some of whom are children. Earlier,
the Senate President of the Nigerian Children Parliament, Esther
Afolayan, called for an increase in the budgetary allocation relating
to children’s welfare while the Speaker of the Parliament, Emmanuel
Attah regretted the slow domestication of the Child Rights Act and
asked Mr Bankole to help.

The trial of Temple Nwankawoala, a
police chief based in Benin, Edo State, on corruption charges, that
started three years ago, continued yesterday at a Federal High Court in
Benin.

Mr. Nwankawoala, a Deputy
Superintendent of Police (DSP), is being charged by the Independent
Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) for
demanding one million naira bribe from a suspect in a case he was
investigating, an act that is contrary to Section 28 of the ICPC Act
2000.

The police chief was investigating the
case brought by Monday Ebohinmen against his employer, Alex Okiye, over
the latter’s refusal to pay him his entitlement worth two million naira.

However, sensing that both parties were
about settling the dispute without him profiting from it, Mr.
Nwankawoala demanded a sum of one million naira from Mr. Okiye before
he could close the case.

“The DSP was alleged to have threatened
to arrest and detain the trailers which the respondent (Mr. Okiye) uses
for lifting fuel, being a petroleum dealer, as well as threatened to
arrest his staff working with the NNPC depot, if he failed to give him
the N1 million,” stated Folu Olamiti, the media consultant to the ICPC,
who explained that it was the persistence of the DSP for the money that
made Mr. Okiye report him to the ICPC.

“A string operation was carried out,
during which the suspect agreed to collect the initial sum of N500,
000, being part payment of the bribe of N1 million,” the ICPC spokesman
explained.

Carrying the loot

The police officer, who is on bail, was
arrested while transporting the initial sum, which was in N500
denominations, along with someone he had hired to help him carry the
money.

While explaining the reason for the
delay in getting a conviction, Mr. Olamiti stated that “the case, which
commenced on June 26, 2007, has suffered several adjournments.”

He, however, stated that “the
prosecution (ICPC) has closed their case after calling on all its
witnesses, while the defence (Mr. Nwankawoala), is yet to close its
case.

Civil society group, the Conference of Nigerian Civil
Rights Activists (CNCRA) on Wednesday charged President Goodluck
Jonathan to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
to make public its investigation into an alleged N2.3 billion car
contract scam in the House of Representatives.

The group, in a statement issued by its national
coordinator, Ifeanyi Odili, and his general secretary, Sina Akadiri,
said it was wrong for the anti graft agency not to make public its
report on the alleged scam.

Mr. Odili said the failure of the agency to pursue
the case to a logical conclusion showed that it was selective in its
anti-corruption crusade.

The leadership of the House were, in September 2008,
accused of inflating the cost of the purchase of Peugeot cars
distributed to committee heads. The House leadership, however denied
any wrongdoing in the matter.

Selective probe

Mr. Odili accused the anti graft agency of refusing to prosecute House members named in the alleged scam.

“Regrettably, the government has been selective with
the anti-corruption war by allowing corrupt high profile government
functionaries to go unpunished whenever they are indicted by the
anti-graft agencies,” he said. “By virtue of the EFCC act, any public
office holder indicted of corrupt practices shall be prosecuted without
recourse to any other authority of the federation.

To our chagrin and consternation, information at our
disposal indicates that EFCC had, for long, concluded its investigation
into the alleged scam and submitted its report to the late President,
Umar Yar’adua.”

Emulate Ogbulafor

“The action of EFCC of submitting report to the
presidency without prosecuting the offenders is a brazen act of utter
disregard to the rule of law and due process being championed by your
administration,” said the civil rights leader.

“The Presidency owes it a duty to, as a matter of
public importance, order the prosecutions of all the indicted public
officers, especially in the case of 2.3 billion naira car contract scam
in the House of Representatives of the National Assembly.”

The CNCRA also advised those involved in the scam to emulate the
national chairman of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Vincent
Ogbulafor who resigned based on allegations of corruption against him.

Contrary to the
widely held belief that the Reform Group’s candidate had the backing of
the presidency as the national chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic
Party ( PDP), the pendulum has changed in favour of a new candidate,
NEXT has learnt.

Chieftains of the
party and some National Assembly leaders met with President Goodluck
Jonathan early Wednesday morning, and settled for Fidelis Ozichukwu as
a replacement for the former chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, who retired
last week.

Mr. Ozichukwu was the former national vice chairman of the party in the south-east, and hails from Imo State.

Mr. Ogbulafor
resigned his chairmanship last week Thursday, following the N200
million fraud discovered in the contract award when he was Minister of
Special Duties in 2004. Now, he is facing a court charge over the
criminal offence.

Several names,
including the former senate president, Anyim Pius Anyim, and Alphonsus
B.C. Nwosu, were peddled as the contenders for the job.

The decision to
settle for the less controversial candidate, a source said, was to
avoid another round of rancour between the president and the governors.

The governors were responsible for the emergence of Mr. Ogbulafor,
as against the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo’s preference for Sam
Egwu, the former governor of Ebonyi State.