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The Arewa
Consultative Forum (ACF) has been charged to partner with the Federal
Government in order to stimulate the economic growth and development of
the northern region.

Vice President,
Namadi Sambo said this during the Annual General Meeting and
inauguration of the new National Working Committee (NWC) of the forum
in Kaduna yesterday. The occasion where the vice president was the
special guest of honour, attracted other northern leaders including the
former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon who is the Chairman Board of Patrons.

Mr Sambo said:
“Government and other stakeholders should create the needed drive and
synergy to galvanise and stimulate economic growth and development of
the Northern heritage. We expect a rapid growth in agriculture,
education, transportation, and other infrastructural facilities such
that it will effectively drive away poverty among our people,” he
advised.

“I am particularly
happy that Arewa Consultative Forum has over the years of its formation
been on the right track and forefront in promoting, defending and
strengthening northern unity and the interest of the northern people in
the context of one indivisible Nigeria and contributing in safeguarding
the Nation’s territorial integrity.” He noted that from inception to
date, the ACF has conducted itself with decorum and decency that it has
had flawless succession plans and programmes which were clinically
executed devoid of rancour.

Partnership with government

“We hope for an
effective partnership that will foster unity, peace and progress of the
nation. The promotion of cordial and harmonious co-existence amongst
our people should be a sine-qua-non. It is in our considered hope that
all northerners will support the current executive to realise the
dreams of the founding fathers of the Forum.

“We must eschew
bitterness and politicisation of the lives of our people by promoting
such virtues that will unite rather than divide this blessed country of
ours. We are confident in your ability to partner any government and
stakeholders in that direction which we believe in turn shall
reciprocate this gesture by giving all the necessary cooperation that
the North desires. As we are all aware,

Nigerians believe in the unity and the indivisibility of the country and are geared towards attaining it.” He said.

Failed generation

Earlier in his
speech, the Chairman Northern Governors’ Forum and governor of Niger
State, Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu, lambasted the leadership of the North.

Mr Aliyu, whose
speech was delivered by the deputy governor of Niger State, Ahmed Musa
Ibeto, said, “this probably explains why we are still groping in the
dark over 50 years after Independence and almost 45 years after
Sardauna and indeed 11 years after the pressure group, ACF.” He
stressed the need to properly redefine the role of ACF and similar
groups routing for the socio-economic and political transformation of
the North.

“Are they people
who have misused their opportunity and want to remain relevant? Are
they people who are finding jobs for themselves in retirement and in
solitary life? What are the legacies they have left behind for the
younger generations in terms of exemplary leadership and social
values?” He queried.

“It is very
important to note that to earn the respect of others, we must not be
seen to be championing narrow selfish individual or group interests;
neither must we allow ourselves to be seen as mere opportunist who hide
under the guise of ethnic or religious dominance to agitate for what we
may not achieve under a free, fair and competitive atmosphere”, he
warned.

Inaugurating the NWC of ACF, Mr Gowon admonished the NWC to adhere
strictly to the objectives of the forum while carrying every member
along in its activities.

Benin city was
thrown into chaos yesterday when thugs reportedly loyal to the
suspended chairman of the Anti-Pipeline Vandalisation Committee,
Osakpamwan Eriyo, unleashed terror on residents and passers-by around
the King’s square area, resulting in the death of at least two people
and many injuries.

Mr. Eriyo who is
also the youth leader of the Edo State chapter of the Action Congress
of Nigeria (ACN), was yesterday suspended by the governor, Adams
Oshiomhole, for allegedly assaulting the transition committee chairman
of Oredo Local Government Council and son of Benin oba, Uyiekpen
Erediauwa.

Mr. Osakpamwan, who
was also in charge of collecting revenue from commercial transporters
for Oredo council, was relieved of the responsibility by Mr. Oshiomhole
as a result of the fracas with the transition chairman.

Trouble started
when the ticket boys of Mr. Eriyo tried to compel bus drivers plying
Ring Road to Ugbowo to buy their tickets. The bus drivers resisted, on
the grounds that the tickets are illegal, given that the contractor had
been suspended.

The refusal to
purchase tickets sold by Mr. Eriyo’s men resulted in a fight which soon
spread to Lagos, Ibiwe, Oreoghene streets, and other adjourning roads
around the Kings Square. The ensuing fracas allegedly resulted in the
death of Raphael Oke and Osamwuyi Obaze, both drivers in the Ring
Road/Ugbowo route. Another whose name could not be ascertained as at
press time allegedly suffered a broken neck, and five commercial buses
were seriously damaged.

When NEXT visited
the scene of the incident, about a hundred youth from the palace of the
Benin Oba were seen heading to the troubled zone. Anti-riot policemen
were scattered around the Kings square, apparently to curtail the
spread of the fighting.

When contacted on
phone, Edo police command spokesman, Peter Ogboi confirmed the death of
only one man which he said resulted from the fighting.

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Action Congress on Nigeria has
announced the suspension of Mr. Eriyo from the party. A press statement
signed by the party secretary, Osaro Idah, said that the “party has
suspended the State Youth Leader of the party, Osakpamwan Eriyo from
the party with immediate effect pending the outcome of the on-going
investigation of his recent conduct.”

The Environmental
Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FOEN) has commended the
Senate over passage of the National Tobacco Control Bill. They say the
lawmakers have delivered a major public health tool that will save the
lives of millions of Nigerians from tobacco-induced deaths.

According to the
group, “We salute the courage of the Nigerian Senate for giving this
nation a strong tool to revert growing deaths from tobacco products.
Though this has taken us so long, we are confident that this bill will
save millions of our brothers and sisters from tobacco-related deaths.”
The group had earlier lamented the delay by the National Assembly in
passing the law of the National Tobacco Control Bill, saying that delay
in the passage of the bill may cost the nation more tobacco-related
deaths.

Senate to be remembered

“We also rejoice
with the sixth session of the Nigerian Senate because it will be
remembered in the history of our nation for passing a bill which will
place Nigeria on the map of progressive countries that have initiated
policies and measures to reduce smoking and its attendant health risks.
This senate will also be remembered for passing a people-oriented law
which is aimed at safeguarding our public health and improving the
lives of Nigerians,” the group said in a press statement made available
to NEXT. The national tobacco bill bans the sales of single sticks of
cigarettes, tobacco advertisement, sponsorship, promotions, selling
cigarettes to persons under the age of 18 and smoking of tobacco
products in public places.

The group however, urged the leadership of the National Assembly “to
fast-track the remaining legislative process to ensure that the bill is
presented for presidential assent quickly.”

The crisis rocking the Ladoke Akintola University of
Technology (LAUTECH) has continued as the Medical and Dental Council of
Nigeria directed that the teaching hospital arm of the university
should remain in Osogbo, Osun State.

The university, which is jointly
owned by the Oyo and Osun state governments, became the subject of
controversy following the Oyo State government’s directives that the
joint ownership of the institution should be severed.

The Oyo State
government, earlier in the year, had directed both students and staff
of the teaching hospital in Osogbo to report at a new site located in
Ogbomoso, Oyo State. The Council’s registrar, Dr. A.A. Ibrahim, in a
memo addressed to the provost of the College of Health Sciences
(LAUTECH), rejected any attempt to move the clinical training of
medical students of the teaching hospital to another location outside
Osogbo.

The three-paragraph memo read in part, “The attention of
Council has been drawn to lingering controversies surrounding the
purported movement of the teaching hospital for the clinical training
of your medical students to another location outside the accredited
site Osogbo.

“For the avoidance of doubt, let me restate here that
Council does not recognise any medical training conducted at any
facility not accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
It will, therefore, be in the interest of your institution to ensure
that laid-down training guidelines are strictly adhered to at all
times.

“I am also to inform you that hosting professional medical
examination in such a facility is null and void and of no effect.
Should Council guidelines be infringed, you will be held responsible
and such an act makes you liable to prosecution before the disciplinary
organ of the Council.”

The Movement for
the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has described the Federal
Government’s amnesty programme for former militants from the Niger
Delta region as a failure, accusing President Goodluck Jonathan of
bribing them to sing his praise.

“The amnesty is a
colossal failure as far as we are concerned. The government claims to
be sending so-called ex-militants to places like Ghana and Malaysia for
training. We find this very laughable as we know they would end with
worthless certificates and given jobs as labourers if employed by the
oil companies. The real fighters are who we have as they understand
what they stand and fight for.

“The so-called
ex-militants are not singing Jonathans praises for nothing. They are
being bribed to do so. They know in their hearts that the amnesty is a
big failure.” Jomo Gbomo, the group’s spokesperson said this while
responding to questions from NEXT reporters. The group, however,
restated its plan to “get rid of all Western oil companies operating in
the region that have only polluted and destroyed our land with impunity
and connived with the government to hide the extent of damages caused.”

Threats of bomb attack

In an earlier
e-mail sent on Monday with the theme, ‘Bomb blasts and oil
installations attack’, the group had announced its desire to “soon
commence with simultaneous bomb blasts and attacks on oil installations
in the Niger Delta and other strategic locations in Abuja and Lagos
States of Nigeria.” According to the group, in order to avert avoidable
loss of lives, “advance warnings for immediate evacuation as previously
will be issued and a final warning thirty (30) minutes prior to the
blasts, after which will follow a statement of claim in line with our
modus operandi.” However, when asked why some of its previous e-mail
notifications had not been carried out, Mr Gbomo said “Previous threats
have been issued but not yet carried out for security reasons best
known to us. It is up to the general public to yield to this warning
for their best interest. The security services know themselves that
there is a massive planned attack but don’t know when or where.” The
group however warned the general public to steer clear of all political
gatherings or meetings of any sort.

Reaction to the warning

Already, people are
responding to the threat issued by the group. The Action Congress of
Nigeria has since cancelled its presidential rally to Bayelsa State for
security reasons. The National Youth Leader of the party, Ebikibina
Miriki, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the
party’s flag bearer Nuhu Ribadu’s rally was cancelled by the national
headquarters due to security reports.

He said the party has decided to take its campaign to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The Inspector
General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Abubakar Ringim has called on Nigerians
to disregard the threats by the Movement for Emancipation of Niger
Delta to bomb Abuja, Lagos and some oil installations.

Mr Ringim, however, urged Nigerians to be cautious and report any suspicious movement

At least five
persons, including Aminu Ibrahim, the Aide De Camp (ADC) to Katsina
State governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, were confirmed dead in an accident
involving the governor’s convoy along Katsina – Daura road on Tuesday.
Mr Shema however escaped with minor injuries.

The accident
occurred in Zakaliya village of Mashi local government council along
Katsina-Daura road around 9:45am, while Mr Shema was on his way to
Daura to prepare for the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the
town.

The accident,
according to the FRSC sector commander in Katsina State, Habu Dauda,
involved the governor’s official vehicle, a black Land Rover jeep and a
commercial bus, with registration number XA 668 ZAR.

An eye witness said
that the driver of the commercial bus was obviously scared when he
heard the blaring siren and lost control, thereby hitting the
governor’s vehicle.

NEXT learnt that
the driver of the commercial bus, who could not be identified as at
press time, was among those who lost their lives, just as 10 others
were said to be receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre,
Katsina.

Mr Dauda attributed the accident to careless driving.

The PDP rally later went ahead, although without the usual fanfare
as Mr Shema ordered drummers and dancers to stay away as a mark of
respect for the deceased.

The presidential
candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, Muhammadu Buhari
stole the show at the official flag-off campaign of the Bauchi State
governor, Isa Yuguda on Monday.

Shortly after his
declaration, Mr. Yuguda had told thousands of his supporters who
gathered at the campaign rally in Jama’are area to vote for President
GoodLuck Jonathan in the general elections, but the entire crowd
chanted, “We will vote for Buhari.”

According to Mr.
Yuguda, who is the North East Zonal Campaign coordinator,
GoodLuck/Sambo Campaign Organization, “The South has never failed to
support us in the North in various elections. The North owes the South
because for the past 50 years they have supported us which led to Sir
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa becoming the First Prime Minister in Nigeria.’’
He continued, ‘’it was this support that also led to the emergence of
Shehu Shagari as President of Nigeria. If they have supported us in
these ways, why cant we give them this opportunity to also serve?
President Goodluck has promised to serve for only one term as
president’’ In a bid to convince the crowd to support his cause, he
said further that ‘’the President has also promised to build Almajiri
schools for the over 9.5 million Almajiris that we have in northern
Nigeria as well as other developmental projects and programmes that we
will enjoy in the north’’

No to Jonathan

But despite his
attempts, the people, who were mainly PDP members, chanted, “we don’t
want Jonathan, all we want is Baba Buhari. He is the candidate of our
choice and we will vote for him alone’’.

Speaking earlier on
his agenda for the state, Mr. Yuguda said his priority areas in the
last four years included education and health said he will not relent
in his efforts to deliver dividends of democracy to the people if
reelected. He said he will provide more jobs, construct more roads,
provide electricity.

In his remark, the
PDP Deputy National Secretary, Musa Babayo reiterated the support of
the national body of the party for Mr. Yuguda’s re-election bid: ‘’I
won’t be wrong if I say PDP has already won the coming elections in
Bauchi and throughout the country,” he said. “PDP is a party that
stands for justice and fairness. That is why we want you to vote for
PDP candidates so that they can deliver the dividends of democracy to
you,” he added.

The Senate on
Tuesday called off passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill for the
second time in one week, but this time in counter protest to series of
protests calling on the lawmakers to pass the Bill.

It said it will not
be blackmailed into the passage of the Bill by protesters who claim
they are more patriotic than the senators.

A group of students
from three universities in the Niger Delta region had on Tuesday
morning barricaded the entrance to the National Assembly demanding the
passage of the Bill and subsequently, an apology from the deputy Senate
president who had last week dismissed them as “charlatans.”

The Senate
president, David Mark, said his colleagues had also received a minimum
of 20 disparaging text messages intended to stampede them into hastily
passing the bill.

“We are as
patriotic as those sending text messages. I do not think any Nigerian
can be more patriotic than the senators,” Teslim Folarin, the Senate
leader, said while requesting its withdrawal.

The Bill was
subsequently withdrawn, to be heard on “another legislative day” and
not even the next legislative day, indicating a major setback.

The Senate is
expected to proceed on a recess after today’s plenary to enable members
who are running for a rerun in the April 2 senatorial elections to
prepare for their elections.

“We will take it, but not as those who want to blackmail us want,” the Senate president told his colleagues.

Members of the
House of Representatives have, however, promised to begin third reading
of the Bill today if its committee on petroleum is able to distribute
it to all members by midday today.

Since the PIB was
introduced into the two chambers of the National Assembly in December
2008, it has suffered series of delays due to disagreements on the
provisions of the Bill by various relevant parties. The Bill has also
undergone series of amendments and its true provisions are still
unknown.

The Senate decision
on Tuesday to suspend legislation on a Bill based on protest calling
for its passage is the first in their ending four year term. Analysts
say the politics of the PIB is beyond the lawmakers and protesters, a
factor that could have motivated the action by the senators than the
stated reason. The protesters, however, said they will not be
discouraged.

“This development
will only strengthen our commitment to continue the struggle to ensure
that the PIB is passed into law,” David Ogbolor, leader of the group,
said.

Non charlatans

The students, who
had barricaded the main entrance of the National Assembly that morning
to press home their demands, said their protest was sparked by the
deputy Senate president’s “embarrassing” comments last week where he
waved them off as “charlatans”.

The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is conceived to repeal the
Petroleum Act of 1969, and consolidate about 16 other petroleum
industry laws into one single, transparent, and coherent document. The
objective is to establish a comprehensive legal and regulatory
framework for good governance, transparency, and accountability, with
regard to operational and fiscal terms for revenues management, and
removal of confidentiality clauses in licences, leases, and contracts
in the nation’s petroleum industry.

The traditional
ruler of Orile-Owu in Isokan Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba
Adesoji Afelele, yesterday died in an auto crash which occurred on
Osogbo-Gbongan road in the early hours of the day.

Mr Afelele, aged 75, was said to have died with his wife in the crash.

It was gathered
that the traditional ruler and his wife were on their way to Ode-Omu,
also in Osun State, when the accident occurred.

The crash

Sources told our
correspondent that an 18 seater hummer bus belonging to AIT rammed into
the vehicle killing Mr Afelele and his wife instantly.

The sources also
said that four other people apart from the traditional ruler were
seriously injured in the crash and have been taken to the Obafemi
Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife for treatment while the
corpses have been deposited at the mutuary of the hospital.

Mr Afelele was said to have ascended the throne in 1981 and was preparing for the 30th coronation anniversary celebration.

Mr Afelele was
until his death a permanent member of the Osun State Council of
Traditional Rulers and a prominent traditional ruler in Yoruba land.

Before ascending the throne in 1981, he was a teacher and chief examiner for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

Son’s reaction

Reacting to the
death of his father and stepmother, Muyiwa Adejobi, who is the Ogun
State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident. “We have
also contacted my siblings and other family members, and I’m on my way
to our town for the family meeting to discuss the burial arrangement
which will be made available soon,” he explained

Igbo leaders, under the aegis of
Eastern Leaders Forum (ELF) yesterday asked the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) to fill the vacant position of the party’s national
chairman vacated by Okwesilieze Nwodo, before the April elections.

The deputy national chairman of the
PDP, Haliru Bello Mohammed, has been acting as the national chairman
since Mr Nwodo’s resignation over series of litigations against his
membership and chairmanship of the party.

At a press conference in Abuja, the
group appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to hasten the process of
appointing a substantive national chairman who should be from the south
east zone before the April general elections. They said such an
appointment will give Igbo people a sense of belonging in the party.

The group forwarded names of two
prominent members of the party from the south east to Mr Jonathan and
the PDP leadership last week for consideration as the party’s national
chairman.

The names of a former speaker of the
House of Representatives, Agunwa Anakwe and a former chairman of the
PDP in Anambra State, Dan Ulasi were allegedly presented to Mr Jonathan
during his visit to Akwa Ibom State.

Chukwuemeka Ezeife, leader of Forum,
argued that Mr Jonathan’s inability to respond to their earlier demand
to fill the position has become a source of worry to the group as some
of the president’s opponents are already exploiting the situation to
their advantage.

“We call on President Jonathan and the
PDP to hearken to the voice of Ndigbo and restore to them the position
of the national chairmanship of the PDP before the general election,”
he said.

In need of goodwill

Mr Ezeife, a former governor of
Anambra State said the zone will still vote for the PDP in the April 9
presidential poll, if the president fails to act as demanded by the
group. He, however, warned that it will make the Igbo race “feel
marginalized and removed from the current scheme of things.” Mr Ezeife
confirmed that the PDP governors in the zone were initially opposed to
the appointment of another chairman from their domain to replace Mr
Nwodo, but have since changed their minds and joined forces with the
Igbo leaders to demand that the position be filled by an Igbo.

“While some may have shown some apathy
towards it several weeks back because of the freshness of the
Nwodo/Chime saga, the same cannot be said today,” Mr Ezeife said. “The
south east governors, as elected representatives of the people, would
not look elsewhere when the agitation for the position has heightened.
They are now even in the vanguard to drive the present process to
ensure the emergence of a truly acceptable national chairman.”

He said that the people of the zone
will need the goodwill of Nigerians to achieve the ambition, pointing
out that the south east zone cannot go it alone.