Boko Haram: Arrest Ciroma, Lawal Kaita – Clark

ABUJA—ELDER statesman and prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, yesterday, stoked his campaign against Northern leaders over the activities of Boko Haram by asking security agencies to go after former Minister of Finance, Mallam Adamu Ciroma and former Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawal Kaita.
The former Federal Information commissioner, who challenged former President Ibrahim Babamasi Babangida to a joint public debate on national issues to ascertain who is actually senseless or senile, insisted that northern leaders must speak out on the activities of Boko Haram if they were not backing the group.
Reading a prepared text on behalf of Chief Edwin Clark at a Press briefing inAbujayesterday, Legal Adviser to the Ijaw leader, Kayode Ajulo, said that Ciroma and Kaita’s comments before the massive killings could serve as substantial evidence against them.

The E.K Clark statement

The text read in part: “Chief Clark’s challenge to the leaders of the North is predicated on the misguided statements of some of the Northern opinion leaders since the inception of this administration. For example, in October, 2010 during a build up to the last presidential election, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, a prominent Northern leader promised to makeNigeriaungovernable if the President did not come from the North.

Chief Edwin Clark

“And as if on cue from Lawal Kaita, several other leaders of Northern Political Leaders Forum, headed by Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, of which Gen. Babangida is a prominent member, followed suit with similar reckless comments which might not only threaten peace in Nigeria but also Nigeria’s very existence.
“Recently in March this year, Lawal Kaita issued another threat to the effect that the only condition forNigeriato be one is for the presidency to come to the North in 2015.”
According to Clark, northern leaders must show genuine commitment, be proactive and speak out now towards addressing the challenges posed by the Boko Haram insurgency against the backdrop that precious lives of Nigerians were being wasted daily across the country in Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Abuja and Bauchi among others.
On General Babangida’s reaction to his public lecture last Wednesday, particularly where it was alleged that senses had since departed him,Clarksaid that the public debate or discourse with Babangida must be free of interference and prompting from aides.
He added: “Let it also be noted, for the record, that Chief Clark delivered a one hour, 20 minutes lecture very coherently and articulately without having to refer to a written text. Nigerians stand a better position to judge as to who is senseless or senile as suggested by Gen. Babangida who can only make public utterances through texts prepared by aides and speech writers.”
Insisting that the former military president was side-stepping comments on Boko Haram,Clarkurged Nigerians to ask why he had been silent for so long on the issue.

How it all started

The exchange of brick-bats between Clark and Babangida started last week Wednesday when Clark at theSecondStateof the Federation Lecture organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS inAbujaclaimed that some northern leaders were not speaking out against increasing spate of violence in the country.
He had specifically challenged Babangida and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari to condemn the activities of the Boko Haram group that have claimed responsibility for the insurgency campaign in many parts of the country.
But replying the elder statesman on Sunday through his spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua, Babangida slammed Clark for not recognizing the historic role he played in unifying the country, just as he warned Clark not to crucify him, adding that with his age, what should be the cardinal posture of Chief Clark was to proffer solutions to the problem of insecurity in the country.
According to Babangida, “we view this misguided and senseless statement in very bad taste and we take very strong exceptions to his drooling and implied conclusion.”
Countering yesterday, the elder statesman, who described Babangida’s statement as total insult and total misconceptions, said, “the statements showed nothing but insulting miscomprehension and misconception of Chief E. K. Clark’s innocuous expressed opinions and the challenge thrown down to the leaders of the North on the need to resolve the Boko Haram menace.
“Ordinarily, Gen. Babangida should have joined many other Nigerians who applauded Chief E. K. Clark for crying out over the wanton loss of lives being experienced daily over the senseless killings ofNigeria’s women and children, Christians and Muslims alike.
“Chief E. K. Clark is committed to the unity ofNigeriaand peace within its borders. This was aptly demonstrated when some youths in the Niger Delta took arms against the Federal Government of Nigeria, resulting in the near total shut down of oil production; crude oil production which normally stood at 2.5 million barrels per day was reduced to 700, 000 barrels daily. Chief Clark led a delegation of Niger Delta leaders into the creeks to appeal to the youths to lay down arms and embrace peace.

How Clark ended militancy in Niger Delta

“Chief E. K. Clark also went to the creeks with the then Vice President, now President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, particularly to Okerenkoko and Camp 5 (which was the headquarters of the militants), thereby laying the foundation for late President Yar Adua’s amnesty programme.
“Therefore, amnesty did not come on a platter of gold, but through the genuine determination of the leaders of the Niger Delta, led by Chief E. K. Clark. Today, crude oil production inNigeriahas risen to about 2.7 million barrels per day.
“It is therefore imperative, irrespective of the name calling, to restate what was said at the NIALS lecture on the state of Nigerian Federation that ”Gen. Babangida and other Northern leaders must speak out, be proactive as well as demonstrate genuine commitment to address the challenges posed by the Boko Haram.” This is more so as precious lives of Nigerians are being wasted daily across the country in Borno, Yobe, Sokoto,Kano,Kaduna, Kogi,Abuja, Bauchi, etc.
“Chief (Clark) is surprised that Gen. Babangida would belatedly suggest that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan should use Moslem clerics, when he, by his experience, and position is fully abreast of what to do in the circumstances of Nigeria bearing in mind his exalted membership of the Council of State and his former position as President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of Nigeria. After all, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, a former President like Gen. Babangida not only spoke out strongly on this issue but went toMaiduguriin the aim of securing peace for the country.
“The attempt to label Chief Clark as an ethnic jingoist has no basis whatsoever as he has always believed and maintained that no ethnic group should be a second class citizen in Nigeria and that no Nigerian life whether from the North or South, East or West should be wasted.
“Taking regard of his age and stature, Chief Clark wants to state that he fully forgives Gen. Babangida whom he regards as a younger friend for the unfortunate statement attributed to him. If anything, Chief Clark holds the view that the thoughts and energy exerted by Gen. Babangida against him should urgently be redirected towards finding a lasting solution to the Boko Haram menace in the North.

A call for dialogue

“It should be restated that Chef Clark has severally emphasized the need for dialogue with Boko Haram and other aggrieved groups with a view to resolvingNigeria’s current security challenges.
“It is in this vein that Chief Clark speaks to his good friends in the North, including General Babangida once again, irrespective of Gen. Babangida’s threat of litigation, that they should openly condemn Boko Haram and join hands with the Government and good people ofNigeriatowards finding a lasting solution to the challenge posed by the Boko Haram menace. Any laxity on their part would, either wittingly and unwittingly, potentially put them out as accessories to the present security scourge in the Northern part ofNigeria.
‘’If this simple advice above is urgently heeded, it will save Gen. Babangida the need to wear uniform once again at the age of 71 to fight for the unity of Nigeria.”

2013 Budget: FG to spend N4.929trn

ABUJA — THE Federal Executive Council, FEC, yesterday, approved the 2013 draft budget proposal with a fiscal framework of annual projected revenue of N3.891 trillion and a expenditure of N4.929 trillion.
The 2013 draft budget proposals contain a deficit of N1.038 trillion. The draft budget proposal is to be submitted to the National Assembly next month.

The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who addressed state House correspondents after the FEC meeting, said the budget will be ready in September, while the actual laying will be in the first week of October.
Okonjo-Iweala, flanked by the Minister of State, Finance, Yerima Ngama and Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, yesterday, said FEC’s meeting also deliberated on the presentation of medium term fiscal framework for the 2013 budget.
Although details of the draft proposals were not made available, the Finance Minister, in giving insight of what is to be expected in the 2013 budget, said the Federal Government had reduced the recurrent expenditure component of the draft budget proposal from 71.47 percent of the total budget in 2012 to 68.66 percent.
She said: “We are increasing the Capital Expenditure from 28.53 percent in 2012 to 31.34 percent in 2013.”
Okonjo-Iweala said the resources of the country would be managed prudently and transparently, while ensuring priority was given to the key growth sectors of the economy and national security.
She said: “Fundamentally, the focus of the Federal Government’s proposal on budget 2013 as reflected in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper is that the budget should make practical impact on the areas that matter most to the Nigerian people— job creation, power supply, roads, rail, other infrastructure and of course, agriculture.
“The proposals for the 2013 budget are based on a rigorous review of the performance of the global economy with regard to negative economic developments around the world which have the potential to negatively impact the country’s economy.”

Is like tuface is expecting 7th child with his wife annie macauley

Is like tu baba is expecting another child from his wife annie macauly. Hmmmm !!!

Education: '57 Percent of Nigerian University Lecturers Have No PHDs'

8 August, 2012

 

20,520 of the 36,000 lecturers in 61 public universities in Nigeria (which is about 57%), have no PhDs. This is crippling the quality of manpower in the system, Professor Mahmmod Yakubu, Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has said.

 

Yakubu, who spoke in Abuja yesterday at a meeting for heads of tertiary institutions, indicated a disproportionate number of students registered for undergraduate studies.

 

He said 85% of students were enrolled for undergraduate studies, 5% sub-degree, 5% for postgraduate for diploma, 3% for postgraduate masters and only 2% PhD candidates.

 

The Federal Government had recently appealed to first generation universities to concentrate more on postgraduate studies to fill the dearth of quality manpower.

 

The University of Ilorin, which now has a 60/40% ratio in favour of postgraduate studies, and the University of Ibadan are the only universities in compliance.

 

In July, when the National Universities Commission (NUC) presented the benchmark minimum academic standards for Postgraduate Programmes, Education Minister Professor Ruqayyatu Rufai directed the commission to seek funding from TETfund to conduct a staff and student audit of all public universities in Nigeria to verify the number of shortfall of lecturers in the system.

 

The last verification exercise conducted by NUC was in 2007, where it was revealed that tertiary institutions have a shortfall of 61,738 academic staff especially in the areas of science and technology.

The police in Lagos on Wednesday docked a 24-year-old driver, Sadu Kehinde, charged with reckless driving and causing damage, obstruction and death.

The accused, who resides at No. 4B, Tonner Close, Safejo, Alaba, was arraigned before an  Oshodi Magistrates’ Court over the death of a chief, his wife and driver.

Cpl. Kehinde Olatunji, the prosecutor, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Aug.3, along the Gbagada-Oworonsoki expressway flyover, near Anthony Village, Lagos.

He alleged that the accused, who was in charge of a Turbo Star truck with registration number LND146XB, drove on the public highway in a dangerous manner.

Olatunji said that the action caused the death of one Chief Diji Akinfe, 81, and his 73-year-old wife, Kike.

“The accused lost control and as a result, the container on the truck fell on a Toyota Avalon saloon car with registration number  SQ32AAA, driven by the late chief’s driver , named Abiodun, who  also died on the spot.

The accused, however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate O. Adelabu refused the bail application of the accused and ordered the Investigating  Police Officer to duplicate and forward the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, for legal advice.

She ordered that the accused be remanded in Kirikiri prison and adjourned the case to Sept 20. (NAN)

Mercy Johnson Hiding Her Pregnancy !!!

According to reliable sources, Mercy Johnson was spotted with her hubby, Prince Okojie on Friday, August 3, 2012 in Asaba, Delta State at about 4pm, at the Asaba Airport. She was said to have worn a black dress that day.

Sources also said that Mercy was about to board an Arik flight from Asaba to Lagos that day when this incident about to be reported happened.

What surprised many, as one of the sources informed Nigeriafilms.com was that, Mercy was reportedly seen covering her stomach with her hand bag. Some of them, as the source said, wondered why she, as a married woman, would want to hide her pregnancy from the public, who already have knowledge of have read about it in the media.

This, as said, caused confusion among the surprised 'spectators' who could not but wonder why Mercy was doing such. Nawaoo !!

Whats the problem with this pictures.....?

Tiemkenfa Francis Osvwo, one of the suspects detained in the October 01, 2010, Independence Day bombings in Abuja has died in Kuje Prison, and his lawyer, Festus Keyamo is alleging that he was murdered. Keyamo's statement yesterday below...

“Murder of Suspected ‘October 1, 2010’ Bomber in Kuje Prison

We are solicitors representing some of the Accused Persons Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Charles Okah & others alleged of carrying out bombings during the October 1, 2010 Independence Day Celebrations in Abuja.

On, Saturday March 3rd, 2012 one of the suspects in the case by the name, Tiemkenfa Francis Osvwo (Alias General Gbokos) died in the Kuje Prison. 

Continue reading...

His death came on the heels of series of complaints by counsel representing him and his co-accused about the maltreatment meted out on the accused persons by the Nigerian Government in custody.

The sickness leading to the death of TIEMKENFA FRANCIS OSVWO (ALIAS GENERAL GBOKOS) started when their cell was fumigated with a strange substance on the 8th of January, 2012, which affected the health of all the four suspects. Suffice it to reiterate that we, their solicitors raised alarm about that development at the time.

Prior to his death in custody, ‘Gbokos’ had been urinating and defecating on himself in the prison and despite pleas by his solicitors requesting that he be treated properly, no one attended to him.

On the 21st of February, 2012 TIEMKENFA FRANCIS OSVWO (ALIAS GENERAL GBOKOS) collapsed in court which stalled hearing for that day but despite the order of the court on the day in question that TIEMKENFA FRANCIS OSVWO (ALIAS GENERAL GBOKOS) be medically attended to by the Prisons authorities, no medication was administered on him. It was obvious therefore that the authorities wanted him dead.

May we for the upteenth time resound our alarm that other accused persons in the October 1, 2010 bombing still in Kuje Prisons are facing similar conditions that claimed the life of TIEMKENFA FRANCIS OSVWO.

At this juncture, we are constrained to state that we find it extremely inequitable that virtually all the suspects linked to the Boko Haram bombings have been enjoying bail while our clients, the alleged masterminds of the October 1, 2010 bombings, (still presumed innocent) continue to suffer indignities in custody.

We therefore, respectfully, call on all well-meaning Nigerians join in the call for their bail and the Nigerian Government to facilitate the release of the other suspects in custody with a view to attending to their deteriorating health before they die in custody.