CONTROVERSIES AS REGARD OSHIOMOLE'S QUALIFICATION

According to PILOT News publication, titled "LET THE TRIBUNAL DETERMINE OSHIOMHOLE’S ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS"
Friday, 14 September 2012. By Kassim Omomia.

As the Edo election tribunal sitting in Benin gears towards another round of making a legal milestone history over the outcome of the July 14 Edo election for which the PDP candidate, General Charles Ariavbhere is challenging the authenticity of the elementary school certificates of the ACN candidate and Edo governor, comrade Adam Oshiomole, not much could be said for now if the result before INEC and contested by the PDP are the true reflection of the comrades governors claims according to reports.


But no matter how critics posit the current certificate anomaly, it is the courts or the tribunal, in this case, that am make a judicial pronouncement.

But accordingly, rather that make a public mince meat of the result issue of the comrade governor, a media gimmick ,especially the social media , one would have expected that the trial should not be prejudged at this stage but that the Edo Tribunal be left alone to determine the academic qualifications of Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as it comes under investigation.

It is true that beside other issues bothering on alleged irregularities in the July 14th polls , General Ariavhere’s position for which he has approached the Tribunal is over Oshiomole’s claim of both primary and secondary school education.
But viewed from the documents he tendered to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alongside an affidavit before the last Edo State Governorship election, the comrade-governor claimed to have attended Iyamoh Primary School, Iyamoh, in the then Midwest state from 1957-1962.

However, according to reports quoting sources at the Edo State Ministry of Education said that the same Iyamoh Primary School was founded in 1976, — about 14 years after the governor supposedly graduated from it.
Though the name on the primary and secondary school certificates simply bore Adams Aliu, and then his Ahmadu Bello University Adult Education certificate (1973-74) (also submitted to INEC) bore Adams O. Aliyu, while subsequent certificates bore his current name Adams Aliyu or Aliu Oshiomhole, his critics see it as an absurdity.

Notwithstanding the pressure of the opposition and their interest in this matter, records show that the comrade governor was born on April 4th, 1952. The comrade governor in a handwritten affidavit he personally deposed to said he had no previous names other than Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole.

The Governor also wrote in the affidavit that he attended Iyamoh Primary School, which he did not tender a certificate from the school or the education board to confirm attendance and graduation.
Yes there are also alleged discrepancy in Oshiomhole’s stated date of attending the primary school questions the truthfulness of his claim to have graduated from the elementary school and moved on to a higher school at that time, of which his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Peter Okhiria, declined to comment since according to him, the matter was already in court.

But what discerning minds and critical observers of the political happenings in the state argue is that Oshiomhole has lifted Edo State from the rubbles and terrible leadership the state suffered in the hands of convicted former Governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion of the PDP, and despite the alleged discrepancies, it is only the judiciary as represented by the tribunal can give verdict on the said academic qualifications.

Though it was gathered that the governor who contested and won back-to-back the last two governorship elections in the state under the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and recorded an overwhelming victory over the PDP in the last poll, had reached out to the presidency and the PDP ,following which the party will participate fully in the ACN administration in the manner the governor extended his hands of fellowship to his opponents , including the PDP, sources close to government house Benin noted that the gesture is not connected with the matter presently in the Tribunal.

Against this , his critics see his recent trip as the only governor from the opposition that accompanied President Jonathan on his working visit to Malawi and Botswana on Monday as a true relationship that will finally spur the party and its candidate from puling out of the case eventually. However this goes, analysts are of the view that the intervention of the Oba of Benin, who had earlier informed the President of his desire to see him return as governor smoothened the path for the deal between the governor and the Presidency.

But notwithstanding all the allegation and attendant media hype, the position of the constitution and the proclamation of the tribunal will determine all this, an aide of the governor told pilot politics desk.
According to the 1999 constitution: “a person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if:
(a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth;
(b) he has attained the age of thirty-five years;
(c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and
(d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.”
The comrade governor’s reelection it will be recalled, followed his trashing of Charles Airhiarvbere, candidate of the PDP, who was his closest challenger, by 477,478 votes to 144,235, in the July election.



OSHIOMHOLE SPEAKS ABOUT HIS ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS ..

The only thing that I found humiliating is the fact that they said I forged a Modern Three Leaving Certificate,not school certificate.If I chose to forge a certificate,I did not forge Oxford,Cambridge, Harvard,UNIBEN or even AAU that I can call the VC who is my appointee and say arrange something.So, it’s a Modern Three Leaving Certificate that I will forge? What prestige does it confer on me. It doesn’t make any sense.It has even been phased out.It is just crazy.I attended Ruskin College, Oxford.If you Goggle Ruskin College,you will find that it is there,as we speak.It does not require a trip to London to establish that fact.I did not only attended,I was the best foreign student.I won the best foreign student award,as a result of my academic performance. If you are so lazy that you can’t go outside to check this.

My opponent,Retired Major General Airhiavbere,claimed that he went to NIPSS and I know it is true. He went to NIPS in 2008 and he is very proud that he was in NIPSS, but I went to NIPSS about 21 years before him. I was the youngest participant ever in NIPSS in 1987 and my grade is there.I made B+ with all my rascality. The participants at that time included SSS people,military intelligence people and this was under a military regime. Overall,I got a B+.This was 1987. My challenger,who is alleging that I didn’t go to school went to NIPSS in 2008. I am his senior by many years. Among my classmates at NIPSS are people like the former SGF, Ufot Ekaette, Brigadier Tunde Ogbeha,a former senator currently on the NDDC board, Nuhu Aliyu, again a two-time senator from Niger State, who was a DIG of Police. I could go on and on. And they respected my contributions because when you are radical and you proffer radical argument against the received wisdom of the establishment, the general attitude is that people tend to dismiss you.For them to acknowledge that I got a B+ shows how much I put in.

So,what does it require,under the constitution to be eligible to contest election? It’s not school certificate but secondary school attempt.And when you go into the full definition,you find that even a primary school certificate,plus 10 years work experience are enough requirements to contest for the office of the president of Nigeria.This is not my opinion; you can take the constitution and read and find out how it defines qualification. When they were suggesting to amend that section during the last constitution amendment some people were opposed to the idea of amending it.

Would you argue that I’m not literate, that I have not worked for 10 years? These people have no history. They are pathological liars. To lie is their first name,their middle name and their surname. I have abstained from commenting extensively on this issue because I wasn’t sure it will not be subjudice for me to talk about it,but they have continued to sponsor some hired writers to talk about it. If I didn’t go to school, and I can correct retired Airhiavbere about the difference between tiers of government and arms of government,then I’m a genius. I didn’t go to primary school and yet as far as I know,I have done better than him in every material particular intellectually. I can engage any professor in any matter.If I didn’t go to school and I know as much as I believe I do,may be I’m a genius.

Just to make the point,these guys are just lying and the good news is that these institutions are there.You can go to NIPSS on your own and find out if I was there and whether I had a B+ or not. You can go to Ruskin College at Oxford;ask Professor Otobo. He was doing his Ph.D in Oxford while I was there. These people are alive, assuming there was an issue.

At some other level,they argued in their court papers that there was no nexus between Adams Aliu and Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole and there is a difference between Aliu as in ALIU and ALIYU. What is the difference? How a Yoruba man pronounces Oshiomhole is not how Edo man pronounces it. Does it really make any difference? The truth is,I was born in my village, around Auchi area where you have my father a Muslim, my mother a Muslim. ALIU,that is the way our people spell Aliu.Even right now,in my official document here,I saw that the printer,an Edo person,printed Aliu. In the North,they are going to write that same name as ALIYU. I lived all my adult life in the North and so I started spelling my name exactly the way it is spelt in the North because that is how everybody else spells it and I added Oshiomhole because that is my local name, as opposed to Adams Aliu, which are English and Muslim names. Not that I changed name,I just added Oshiomhole to settle the issue of where I come from.If you say that Aliu is not I,that is to say,I didn’t attend the primary school. I didn’t attend the modelschool; you go to Oxford to find out if Adams Aliu,as in ALIYU Oshiomhole attended the school. If yes,is that superior to the requirement of our constitution?

So,this is to say I was a genius.I didn’t go to school,but I was able to read and write to a point that I convinced the school authorities in Oxford that I was eligible to be admitted and that they gave me the benefit of the doubt and admitted me and I performed so well that I was the best overseas student.

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Bauchi Governor, Dismisses Civil Servant Over Facebook Post

Bauchi Governor, Dismisses Civil Servant Over Facebook Post

A civil servant in Bauchi State who made a facebook post questioning the financial integrity of the State Governor has been dismissed. Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State ordered the dismissal of Abbas Faggo over a facebook comment in which he accused the governor of corruption. A letter terminating Mr. Faggo’s appointment and signed by one Ibrahim Shehu for the Head of Service of the State, said his appointment was terminated “because his services are no longer needed”.

The termination of the appointment took effect from October 10 this year when he was first suspended. Mr. Faggo’s troubles started when he accused the governor of monumental fraud and corruption, questioning the source of funding of the governor’s son’s wedding which took place recently. Mr. Faggo had been arraigned by the Police before the Chief Magistrate of the state for the same offence.
However, the Chief Magistrate, Adamu Madaki, on Friday November 16, struck out the case against Mr. Faggo because “it was not properly filed.”

Below is the content of Mr. Faggo’s dismissal letter:
TERMINATION OF APPOINTMENT
I am directed to refer to the civil service commission’s letter No.
CSC/PRO/S/001/T.V dated 1st November 2012 to convey the commission’s approval of your suspension and termination of appointment from Bauchi State Service with effect from 10th October, 2012 as your service is no longer required, please.
Signed
ibrahim shehu
For: Head of Service.

Below is the controversial Facebook post which angered the governor, and for which Mr. Faggo was arrested, detained and arraigned in court for allegedly defaming the Mr. Yuguda’s character.
“Those of us resident in Abuja, are witnessing yet another Bauchi wedding, this time we understand is the Governor’s son that is hooking the one-time PDP’s Chairmanship aspirant’s daughter. Inside sources said, already:
“Top officials of the Min. for Local Govt, along with the ALGON Bauchi State chapter are asking the 20 LGA’s to sign out N2m each as donation for the wedding next Saturday of the Gov’s son. They awarded contract for calendars and note pads to an Abuja printing press. Contract for coffee mugs, Wall clocks, bags, badges etc. was given to a Lagos based lady. They will all carry the pictures of the groom and the bride. An SUV Jeep was also suggested as a wedding present to Ango. Finally the 20 LGA chairmen will all send their wives to Abj where the jamboree is taking place because Yuguda is now Abuja based.

“The story is all over town too, that in April $80,000 was sent to the ango on his graduation by the SSG, on the orders of the Gov. This is as a result of request by the groom to buy a limited edition M/Benz Series.
“In Nov, 2009, when the Gov latest wife, also acquired thru Bauchi funds, was having her first child in Washington DC the sum of £150,000 was sent to the SSG by the then Accountant General for onward transmission to Yuguda. One wonders, why all this, as he has 21 kids from 3 wives earlier and all of them born in Nigeria.

The thinking is that he is using Bauchi state money for the purchase of citizenship thru birth, for his latest 2 kids in the USA. Already a house has since been purchased for Yuguda in Maryland through a once upon a time VOA staff, aide of his. “These things are happening in a state where staff salaries are becoming very difficult to pay and inevitable retrenchment is looming day in day out. God save Bauchi State.

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Nigeria needs state police

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday said Nigeria needs state police to keep its nooks and crannies safe at all times.

Ajimobi told reporters in Ibadan, the state capital, that although the police are doing their best to ensure security, the present imposition of a centralised police force on Nigeria’s federal structure has rendered the force inefficient.

He said Nigeria, as a country that practices the Federal System of government, is ripe enough for state police.

The governor said other countries practicing the Federal System, such as the United States (US), Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, India and Ethiopia, have state police.

Nigeria’s Federal and Presidential systems are patterned after those of the US, but the policing system has no bearing to the US’s system.

He said: “The constitution of the US allows the federal, state, local and even special districts, such as universities, to perform police functions. The relationship among all the police services is properly coordinated for the exchange of intelligence and crime prevention.

“The Federal Government of Australia maintains police forces alongside the federating units. Germany is a federation made up of Landers (equivalent of states). The German Constitution concedes most of police powers to the 16 Landers, even though the Federal Government is allowed to legislate on the subject.

“In Switzerland, the constitution empowers the federating units, which are called the Cantons, to share policing functions with the Federal Government. In Canada, the national government shares policing functions with the federating units, which are called provinces.

“In India, each state has its police force. The State Police Force is responsible for maintaining law and order in the townships and rural areas, while major cities have their respective Metropolitan Police Services.

“It is evident from the foregoing that Nigeria’s refusal to reflect the federal structure in its policing structure is the exception, rather than the rule in comparative federal systems.

“The challenges of the police, such as funding, manpower and training, could be easily addressed if Nigeria adopts a federalist police structure through state police.”

The governor said the review the 1999 Constitution should include the establishment of state police.

He said: “My conviction is based on my experience. I was a member of the Senate between 2003 and 2007 and I partook in the federal exclusive legislative responsibility of police functions.

“I have been governor for about 19 months now and anyone conversant with the history of Oyo State will know it is no mean feat to be the Chief Security Officer of a state like Oyo.

“When I assumed office, the state was one of the most turbulent states in Nigeria. Brigandage, violence and a culture of impunity were the order of the day.”

Ajimobi praised officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force for complementing his administration’s initiatives to address the fundamentals that predisposed the state to such violence.

He said: “While the officers and men of the police have been supportive, the structure of centralised police has made it impossible for us to move at a desirable speed.”

The governor said the provision of state police should come with checks and balances that would preclude the police from abuse by governors.

He suggested the establishment of a state police service commission, of which the Chief Judge, paramount traditional rulers, representatives of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (SCIA) will be members.

Ajimobi said a review of the national revenue formula and a change in the priorities of states could ensure that state police, when created, could be effectively funded by state governments.

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Edo State - to have the biggest fertiliser plant in Africa.

Edo State - to have the biggest fertiliser plant in Africa.

Edo people have insisted on having more development with their votes.

President of the Dangote Group Alhaji Aliko Dangote said the foundation of a N300 billion fertiliser plant, the biggest in Africa, will be laid in Agenebode in January.

Dangote said the company, which will be completed in three years, would create over 10,000 jobs.

He said: “Oshiomhole has delivered on roads and infrastructure. Now, he is going to deliver on job creation. We will partner him to create jobs here.

“We will build the biggest fertiliser plant in Africa here in Edo State.

“It will cost us $2 billion. I assure you that in the next three years, we would be exporting fertiliser from here to other parts of Africa.”

Oshiomhole thanked everybody for standing by him.

He said by God’s grace and with the support of the people and the ACN, he will remain focused on improving the state.

During his swearing in at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Oshiomhole urged the police to apprehend the killers of his former Principal Secretary, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde.

He said he has the capacity to make the state uncomfortable for the police until they apprehend Oyerinde’s killers.

The governor said he would ensure that policemen “stop harassing innocent citizens just like they did to the Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor”, in the search for Oyerinde’s killers.

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Governor Adams Oshiomhole second term pledge

Governor Adams Oshiomhole second term pledge

BEFORE a huge crowd of dignitaries, workers, politicians and ordinary folk, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday began his second term with a pledge to continue with his achievements.

The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin-City venue of the ceremony was filled to capacity.

Yesterday was declared a public holiday by the Edo State Government to mark the event.

The Government House and the streets leading to the Government House got some facelift.

Traffic was high on major streets, especially those leading to venue of the event and security was tight.

Former House of Representatives member Patrick Obahiagbon, who was a compere at the ceremony, held the audience spell bound with his high sounding words.

Oshiomhole came into the venue in a long convoy. He was accompanied by some governors, including The Delta’s Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and his Rivers counterpart Chibuike Ameachi.

Deputy Governor Pius Odubu was dressed in a white Benin traditional attire. Oshiomhole was decked in his trademark short-sleeve khaki.

The crowd was entertained by a special ceremonial parade by the police, led by Bassey Etim, a Superintendent. Traditional dancers from across the state performed.

Ambulances were on stand-by to attend to emergency cases.

Members of Nigerian Union Teachers who last week threatened to boycott the event over the sack of some of their members were present.

Professional Wood Workers Association members, who wanted Oshiomhole to fullfill his promise of establishing a furniture park, were there.

The secretary of the association, Lucky Nagbama, is sure that Oshiomhole would perform better.

Chairman of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Osakpamwan Eriyo, said a central motor park, in line with the on-going construction of roads in Benin City, was needed.

This, he said, would enable members of the association removed their vehicles from the streets.

After the oath of office was administered on him and his Deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, by the Chief Judge, Justice Cromwell Idahosa.

Oshiomhole said tertiary education would get a big boost.

He also said he would ensure massive development of industries and attract direct foreign investments that would ensure that youths are gainfully employment.

The governor thanked the people for their massive support at the July 14 governorship election, saying that he would not renege on his electioneering promises.

“I salute all co-contestants during the election whose roles have helped to deepen and strengthen democracy in our state.

“We continue to count on your support to take Edo State to the next level. I use this opportunity to invite all of you to join me to transform and reposition our dear state,’’ he said, adding:

“I believe that it is very critical that we take full advantage of our renewed mandate to build a solid future without forgetting the past.

“We must realise that at the end of the day, it is our responsibility to leave lasting legacies that will continue to promote the general good.

“Our people deserve the best and must, therefore, not be treated as objects of manipulation, but as citizens that participate robustly in the politics of their communities to advance their interests.

“It is under such conditions that politics can throw up good leaders, democratic policies and programmes that would benefit our people.’’

Oshiomhole praised traditional rulers for their immeasurable goodwill, prayers and support before, during and after the July 14 elections.

He also paid tribute to his late wife, Clara, his assassinated principal private secretary, Olaitan Oyerinde, and four journalists who died during his campaign.

Among the dignitaries at the inauguration were former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon and the leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Oshiomhole’s party, led by National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande and National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Peter Obi (Anambra), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) attended the ceremony.

Business tycoon Alhaji Aliko Dangote represented the business community. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) team was led by its President Abdulwaheed Omar.

There were also former Minister of Defence Maj-Gen Godwin Abbe and Senators Chris Ngige and Daisy Danjuma. Ex-governors Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Otunba Niyi Adebayo also attended.

From the royalty came the Oba of Benin, who was represented by palace chiefs and Benin crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa. The Sultan of Sokoto was represented by the Magajjin Sokoto.

Oshiomhole said: “With the power of God on our side and our sheer determination to change a situation we began the journey of mobilising and inspiring the people to accept that if something is wrong, time cannot make it right.”

“With the support and guidance of God, we are here as free people to participate in the swearing in ceremony. Only God in his infinite powers could have helped us to defeat those forces of darkness so that its light can shine. So I ask you to join me to give thanks to Almighty God for all his mercies and for all he has done, not only for me, not only for Action Congress of Nigeria, but indeed for the good people of Edo State and Nigeria,” he said.

Outlining his blueprint for the second term, the governor said: “We are now determined to shift focus to industries. We are now determined to do all of those things we need to put in place, not only to retain the investors that are already here but also to attract new foreign direct investment.”

He expressed joy that with the positive and enabling environment that government is creating, private investors are responding positively.

On water supply, Oshiomhole said: “We are determined to rescue the water supply in Benin City and sustain our borehole projects in our rural communities.”

The Ekiti State Governor said he is convinced that Edo people would witness greater development in Governor Oshiomhole’s second term given Oshiomhole’s genuine concern for the development of the state and his people-oriented policies.

Fayemi who was among prominent national leaders that graced the inauguration ceremony Oshiomole occupies a special place in the hearts of Edo people through excellence performance.

Describing Oshiomhole as a performer and achiever in governance, Fayemi said his second term in office would afford the people of Edo State to reap more dividends of democracy.

Fayemi said “ The Edo election has taught us some lessons and has set a precedence for us in Ekiti to follow. The Edo people have shown that good performance will always be rewarded. I have no doubt that Edo State will witness greater development during this second term and through good performance, ACN will win more states in next election.

The election that culminated the swearing in of Adams Oshiomhole for his second tenure in office, is being recognized as the most free and fair election ever conducted in Africa. By local and international observers

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PRESIDENT OBAMA'S VICTORY SPEECH

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S VICTORY SPEECH

President Barack Obama's speech in Chicago after his re-election Tuesday night

Thank you so much.
Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward. It moves forward because of you. It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression, the spirit that has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the great heights of hope, the belief that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams, we are an American family and we rise or fall together as one nation and as one people.

Tonight, in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America the best is yet to come.
I want to thank every American who participated in this election, whether you voted for the very first time or waited in line for a very long time. By the way, we have to fix that. Whether you pounded the pavement or picked up the phone, whether you held an Obama sign or a Romney sign, you made your voice heard and you made a difference.

I just spoke with Gov. Romney and I congratulated him and Paul Ryan on a hard-fought campaign. We may have battled fiercely, but it's only because we love this country deeply and we care so strongly about its future. From George to Lenore to their son Mitt, the Romney family has chosen to give back to America through public service and that is the legacy that we honor and applaud tonight. In the weeks ahead, I also look forward to sitting down with Gov. Romney to talk about where we can work together to move this country forward.
I want to thank my friend and partner of the last four years, America's happy warrior, the best vice president anybody could ever hope for, Joe Biden.
And I wouldn't be the man I am today without the woman who agreed to marry me 20 years ago. Let me say this publicly: Michelle, I have never loved you more. I have never been prouder to watch the rest of America fall in love with you, too, as our nation's first lady. Sasha and Malia, before our very eyes you're growing up to become two strong, smart beautiful young women, just like your mom. And I'm so proud of you guys. But I will say that for now one dog's probably enough.

To the best campaign team and volunteers in the history of politics. The best. The best ever. Some of you were new this time around, and some of you have been at my side since the very beginning. But all of you are family. No matter what you do or where you go from here, you will carry the memory of the history we made together and you will have the lifelong appreciation of a grateful president. Thank you for believing all the way, through every hill, through every valley. You lifted me up the whole way and I will always be grateful for everything that you've done and all the incredible work that you put in.
I know that political campaigns can sometimes seem small, even silly. And that provides plenty of fodder for the cynics that tell us that politics is nothing more than a contest of egos or the domain of special interests. But if you ever get the chance to talk to folks who turned out at our rallies and crowded along a rope line in a high school gym, or saw folks working late in a campaign office in some tiny county far away from home, you'll discover something else.

You'll hear the determination in the voice of a young field organizer who's working his way through college and wants to make sure every child has that same opportunity. You'll hear the pride in the voice of a volunteer who's going door to door because her brother was finally hired when the local auto plant added another shift. You'll hear the deep patriotism in the voice of a military spouse who's working the phones late at night to make sure that no one who fights for this country ever has to fight for a job or a roof over their head when they come home.
That's why we do this. That's what politics can be. That's why elections matter. It's not small, it's big. It's important. Democracy in a nation of 300 million can be noisy and messy and complicated. We have our own opinions. Each of us has deeply held beliefs. And when we go through tough times, when we make big decisions as a country, it necessarily stirs passions, stirs up controversy.

That won't change after tonight, and it shouldn't. These arguments we have are a mark of our liberty. We can never forget that as we speak people in distant nations are risking their lives right now just for a chance to argue about the issues that matter, the chance to cast their ballots like we did today.
But despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America's future. We want our kids to grow up in a country where they have access to the best schools and the best teachers. A country that lives up to its legacy as the global leader in technology and discovery and innovation, with all the good jobs and new businesses that follow.

We want our children to live in an America that isn't burdened by debt, that isn't weakened by inequality, that isn't threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet. We want to pass on a country that's safe and respected and admired around the world, a nation that is defended by the strongest military on earth and the best troops this - this world has ever known. But also a country that moves with confidence beyond this time of war, to shape a peace that is built on the promise of freedom and dignity for every human being.

We believe in a generous America, in a compassionate America, in a tolerant America, open to the dreams of an immigrant's daughter who studies in our schools and pledges to our flag. To the young boy on the south side of Chicago who sees a life beyond the nearest street corner. To the furniture worker's child in North Carolina who wants to become a doctor or a scientist, an engineer or an entrepreneur, a diplomat or even a president - that's the future we hope for. That's the vision we share. That's where we need to go - forward. That's where we need to go.

Now, we will disagree, sometimes fiercely, about how to get there. As it has for more than two centuries, progress will come in fits and starts. It's not always a straight line. It's not always a smooth path. By itself, the recognition that we have common hopes and dreams won't end all the gridlock or solve all our problems or substitute for the painstaking work of building consensus and making the difficult compromises needed to move this country forward. But that common bond is where we must begin.

Our economy is recovering. A decade of war is ending. A long campaign is now over. And whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you, I have learned from you, and you've made me a better president. And with your stories and your struggles, I return to the White House more determined and more inspired than ever about the work there is to do and the future that lies ahead.
Tonight you voted for action, not politics as usual. You elected us to focus on your jobs, not ours. And in the coming weeks and months, I am looking forward to reaching out and working with leaders of both parties to meet the challenges we can only solve together. Reducing our deficit. Reforming our tax code. Fixing our immigration system. Freeing ourselves from foreign oil. We've got more work to do.

But that doesn't mean your work is done. The role of citizen in our democracy does not end with your vote. America's never been about what can be done for us. It's about what can be done by us together through the hard and frustrating, but necessary work of self-government. That's the principle we were founded on.
This country has more wealth than any nation, but that's not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military in history, but that's not what makes us strong. Our university, our culture are all the envy of the world, but that's not what keeps the world coming to our shores.

What makes America exceptional are the bonds that hold together the most diverse nation on earth. The belief that our destiny is shared; that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations. The freedom which so many Americans have fought for and died for come with responsibilities as well as rights. And among those are love and charity and duty and patriotism. That's what makes America great.

I am hopeful tonight because I've seen the spirit at work in America. I've seen it in the family business whose owners would rather cut their own pay than lay off their neighbors, and in the workers who would rather cut back their hours than see a friend lose a job. I've seen it in the soldiers who reenlist after losing a limb and in those SEALs who charged up the stairs into darkness and danger because they knew there was a buddy behind them watching their back.

I've seen it on the shores of New Jersey and New York, where leaders from every party and level of government have swept aside their differences to help a community rebuild from the wreckage of a terrible storm. And I saw just the other day, in Mentor, Ohio, where a father told the story of his 8-year-old daughter, whose long battle with leukemia nearly cost their family everything had it not been for health care reform passing just a few months before the insurance company was about to stop paying for her care.
I had an opportunity to not just talk to the father, but meet this incredible daughter of his. And when he spoke to the crowd listening to that father's story, every parent in that room had tears in their eyes, because we knew that little girl could be our own. And I know that every American wants her future to be just as bright. That's who we are. That's the country I'm so proud to lead as your president.

And tonight, despite all the hardship we've been through, despite all the frustrations of Washington, I've never been more hopeful about our future. I have never been more hopeful about America. And I ask you to sustain that hope. I'm not talking about blind optimism, the kind of hope that just ignores the enormity of the tasks ahead or the roadblocks that stand in our path. I'm not talking about the wishful idealism that allows us to just sit on the sidelines or shirk from a fight.

I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting.



America, I believe we can build on the progress we've made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunity and new security for the middle class. I believe we can keep the promise of our founders, the idea that if you're willing to work hard, it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love. It doesn't matter whether you're black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it here in America if you're willing to try.

I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as divided as our politics suggests. We're not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are and forever will be the United States of America.

And together with your help and God's grace we will continue our journey forward and remind the world just why it is that we live in the greatest nation on Earth.

Thank you, America. God bless you. God bless the United States.

" It would have been much more better if countries can learn from this patriotism .... Nigeria in particular...

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Lamentations in Aluu

Lamentations in Aluu

Lamentations in Aluu: The same students I served for 35yrs have turned round to destroy all I laboured for – Retired UNIPORT staff PHOTO: A deserted Aluu after the invasion by UNIPORT students. Inset top right are Mr. and Mrs. Toku, whose son was among the UNIPORT Four, while bottom are people fleeing Aluu.

As the police continue with their investigations into the circumstance surrounding last week’s killing of four students of the University of Port Harcourt, CHUKWUDI AKASIKE reports that those behind the act will suffer the burden of guilt for a long time Rivers, a state that prides itself as the Treasure Base of the nation, has been battling flood disasters in three local government areas before it received with shock the news of the grisly murder of four students of the University of Port Harcourt by a lynch mob.

The people of Omuokiri Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area, one of the host communities of the tertiary institution, ohave been on the defensive since then about the circumstances that led to the lynching of the undergraduates. The four students – Chidiaka Biringa, Kelechi Ugonna, Lloyd Toku and Tekena Erikena- were branded thieves, brutalised and set ablaze by some members of the community for allegedly stealing a laptop computer and a BlackBerry phone. The incident, which occurred on Oct. 5, 2012, has attracted condemnation from the international community. Not a few believe that the jungle justice meted to the UNIPORT Four gave out those behind the act as uncivilised, barbaric, cruel, inconsiderate and heartless.

Though many stories have been peddled about the circumstances that led to the killing of the students, the one that appears to be logical was that the students were forcibly held by some indigenes of Omuokiri Aluu community, after a student purportedly owing one of the slain students raised a false alarm that sent community members coming for Erikena, Ugonna, Toku and Biringa’s jugular. For over two hours, the lynch mob stripped the students and beat them with cudgels, while a huge crowd urged them on.

The gory episode went on even as one bloodthirsty man was seen in a video tape taking it upon himself to hit the obviously defenceless and almost motionless undergraduates until they began to gasp for breath. Not satisfied, the man gave the students the final blows before mobilising his fellow executioners to set them ablaze. Surprisingly, a group of policemen that came from Isiokpo could not save the situation. By the time operatives of the Joint Task Force and some parents of the students came to the scene of what many termed a disgraceful act by a community, three of the undergraduates had died. The remaining one that was gasping for breath died before the JTF could get him to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

Satisfied that the students were dead, people of Omuokiri Aluu community went about their normal business, giving the impression that they did nothing wrong. Last Sunday, the State Police Command swung into action and arrested 13, including a community leader, who allegedly endorsed the killing of the four students. It was at that point that the people of Aluu realised that they goofed by lynching the UNIPORT Four. Since the arrest, community members have been leaving their houses in droves in order to avoid being arrested by the police.

Again, the rumour of a possible reprisal by UNIPORT students to avenge the slaying of their colleagues, sent shivers down the spines of the hitherto fearless people. Ultimately, Omuokiri Aluu was deserted by its inhabitants, whose burden of guilt was not difficult to notice. The saying that a clear conscience fears no accusation came to the fore. In this situation, the conscience was not clear and there was no need to be stubborn about leaving the area to avoid being arrested. But those who agreed to stay waited and got a large dose of UNIPORT students’ anger.

The students, who were mobilised by the National Association of Nigerian Students, blocked the busy East-West Road for many hours on Tuesday. They later stormed the community to vent their spleen on the people of Omuokiri Aluu. Houses, cars and other valuables were set ablaze within 30 minutes of the raid in the area, which is 3km from the institution. Sensing that they were now on the defensive, the inhabitants of the area insisted that they were not involved in the killing of the undergraduates. Not even one of them (Omuokiri Aluu people) could point at one man or woman that was among the killers of the slain students. But those whose properties were damaged lamented their loss and sought government assistance to restore whatever amount their burnt property would cost.

When Saturday PUNCH visited the area, some indigenes of the community were seen in a pensive mood over the loss of their valuables. One of the leaders of the community, Elder Sunday Ahanonu, said that he lost all he laboured for to the reprisals by students of the university. Ahanonu, whose house was torched by students on Tuesday, expressed shock that security agents could not stop the rampaging students from their destructive mission. Explaining that he worked with UNIPORT for 35 years before retiring, Ahanonu said he had lost everything he achieved in the past to the rage of the students of the university. He appealed to the state government and the management of the university to compensate him for the destruction of his property, adding that he and members of his family were not involved in the killing of the four UNIPORT students. “I am a retired civil servant. I worked with UNIPORT for 35 years. But all I have achieved for many years have been destroyed by students from the university. I don’t know where my family and I will lay our heads when my only house has been burnt. I lost the sum of N850,000 cash, which I kept in my house to the students. I could not take the money to the bank because I was not feeling okay and went to the hospital. It was at the hospital that I learnt that my house was burnt by students,” the 65 year-old father of 15 children lamented.

A woman, Pauline Nwankwo, told Saturday PUNCH that she left the village when she learnt that security agents had embarked on the mass arrest of residents, but came back to notice that her beer parlour had been burgled. Nwankwo stated that the rampaging students forced their way into the beer parlour and carried away her freezer and drinks. “As a woman, I had to run away when we noticed that the police were embarking on a mass arrest of people. The students broke the door to my beer parlour and took away a freezer I bought for N66,000. I want the government to pay me back all I have lost. The students were killed far from here at the Borough pit. We don’t know anything about the killing of the students,” she said.

Members of the community were also seen leaving their homes in droves to other places in order to avoid being attacked by angry students of the university. One of them, Comfort, told our correspondent that she was taking her children to Elele and would only come back whenever normalcy returned to Omuokiri Aluu. An artisan, Mr. Wisdom Ajuwon, who deals in repairing home appliances along the Omuokiri Aluu Road, said he lost property worth N500,000 to the rioting students. Showing our correspondent a list of what he lost to the fire ignited by students, Ajuwon appealed to the state government to come to his aid. A cleric in the area, Pastor John Paul, described the situation in the community as terrible. Paul observed that people were running out of their fathers’ land like refugees.

While the heavy presence of security agents in Aluu to forestall further breakdown of law and order is appreciated, many are of the view that the mere refutation of the crime was not enough to give the people of the area a clean bill of health. A Port Harcourt-based social commentator, Mr. Ben Amachree, said the killing of the UNIPORT Four would forever haunt the people of the community. Amachree pointed out that those involved in the killing of the students could forever suffer the burden of guilt if nothing was done to address the injustice against the slain undergraduates Though, the university has been shut down indefinitely to prevent any further ugly incident, it is the prayer of every discerning mind, especially the grieving parents of the deceased, that those responsible for the killing of the young undergraduates are brought to book. PUNCH

Scottish independence: Deal struck for single-question referendum in Autumn 2014 - News - Scotsman.com

Scottish independence: Deal struck for single-question referendum in Autumn 2014 - News - Scotsman.com

"UNITY IN DIVERSITY" 2

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

“Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression. There are no ‘Nigerians’ in the same sense as there are ‘English,’ ‘Welsh,’ or ‘French.’ The word ‘Nigerian’ is merely a distinctive appellation to distinguish those who live within the boundaries of Nigeria and those who do not.” [From Path to Nigerian Freedom by Obafemi Awolowo]

How true is the aforesaid statement to you as a Nigerian? Somebody once's said ... "We really all must sit down and devise a better way for the peoples currently in Nigeria to live well (survive) without worrying about the geography called Nigeria. The human beings must come first before the esoteric issues like sovereignty, national unity. indivisibility and the rest of the man made slogans".

Nigeria is not only a great nation in Africa but one of the major eyes of Africa and the world. May this celebration (Independence Day) not only be a merry one, but also a reflecting juncture for many to put peace and Unity were it originally belongs in Nigeria. - Unity, peace and development seems to be synonymous.

If a multi-ethnic society affects the bacillus of nationalism, it loses its strength and durability. And we need to understand how far-reaching effects can cause condoning attempts to stir up ethnic hatred, and hatred toward people of another culture and another religion. Shakespeare ones said; "There is tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune".

Many people are so unrested in their fears and hating peace is the most threatened thing they can imagine. One thing i know for sure is that, the pursuit of peace sometimes comes with a steep price.



Civil peace and inter-ethnic accord - it is not established once and forever a frozen picture. On the contrary, it is a constant dynamic, dialogue. It is a hard work of state and society, which requires very delicate decisions and wise policy that is capable of "unity in diversity." We must not only respect mutual obligations, but also finding common values to all.

I am confidence that we can ensure the harmonious development of a multicultural community, based on our culture, history, type of identity and religion. We can agree that many Nigerian citizens found themselves abroad, call themselves Nigerians. And do consider themselves as such, regardless of ethnicity. According to Ricardo Flores Magon.... We are free, truly free, when we don’t need to rent our arms to anybody in order to be able to lift a piece of bread to our mouths.

A huge role here belongs to education. The choice of educational programs, diversity in education should be our undoubted achievement. But the variation should be based on immutable values, the basic knowledge and understanding of peace. The civil challenge of education, the education system - to give each one absolutely requires the amount of human knowledge, which is the basis of self-identity of the people.



And, of course, we look forward to active participation of peace in Nigeria. At the heart of Orthodoxy, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity - with all the differences and peculiarities - lays the basic, common morality, moral and spiritual values: compassion, mutual support, truth, justice, and respect for elders, the ideals of family, life and work. These value systems cannot be replaced by anything, and we need to strengthen it.

The BIG question is have we forgotten that when fine gold is tested in the furnace, it does not change or vary in strength, but rather gets purer the more it is hammered and handled in various ways? Do you not know that the best things are those that are most debated and argued about? Deeply convinced that attempts to preach the idea of building a mono-ethnic state contradict our entire history. Moreover, it is the shortest way to the destruction of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian state. God Bless Nigeria! Happy Independence Day!!!

Saudi Arabia deports Nigerian women pilgrims

Saudi Arabia deports Nigerian women pilgrims

Saudi Arabia yesterday ignored protests by the Nigerian government over the deportation of female pilgrims to the holyland as the Saudi authorities deported another batch of 510 Nigerian female pilgrims to this year’s hajj. 171 pilgrims had earlier been deported on Wednesday.

The authorities of Saudi Arabia insisted that the women were unaccompanied by male relations which was considered against laid down rules of the kingdom. An adamant Saudi Arabia has so far refused to yield any ground to Nigeria on the issue of alleged unaccompanied female pilgrims, in spite of spirited diplomatic efforts by the Federal Government. An intriguing development was that the husband of one of the female deportees also returned home with his wife, in protest, when the Saudi Authorities refused to clear his wife, even after explaining that he was the husband of the woman.

A highly placed source at the National Hajj Commission who disclosed this said that the return (in protest) by the male pilgrim in question was an indication that there was more to the stance of the Saudi authorities than meets the eyes. He said: “On board of the plane bringing the women is also a male pilgrim. He decided to return home with his wife in protest when his explanations and entreaties to the fact that his wife was accompanied fell on deaf ears. That shows clearly that there is more to the issue than meets the eyes”.

It was learnt that the Chairman of the commission, Mallam Mohammed Bello, had a hectic day in Abuja, yesterday, as he had to shuttle between the Presidency and the National Assembly to brief his bosses in the executive, as well as, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who is the leader of the Federal Government delegation to this year’s hajj. Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were, until yesterday, still making efforts to get the necessary clearance for a Federal Government delegation to visit Saudi Arabia with a view to resolving the issue.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had on Wednesday constituted a Presidential delegation to interface with the Saudi authorities over the issue surrounding the detained Nigerian female pilgrims at King Abdul-Azziz International Airport, Jeddah. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, named Aminu Tambuwal as leader of that delegation. Other members are: Minister of State II for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nuruddeen Mohammed, Ambassador Shehu Galadanchi; Sheikh Sherif Saleh and Chairman of the Hajj Commission, Muhammad Bello. The delegation is expected to depart for Saudi Arabia as soon as an appointment is finalised with the appropriate Saudi authorities.

Senate had on Wednesday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to liaise with the King of Saudi Arabia, King Fahad Abdulaziz to allow over 1, 500 Nigerian female pilgrims stranded in Saudi airport entry into the holy land to perform their hajj. The directive was upon the adoption of a motion entitled, ‘Refusal of the Saudi Arabian Authority to grant entry to over 500 Nigerian female pilgrims’ sponsored by Senator Atiku Bagudu. Leading debate on the motion, Bagudu lamented the refusal of Saudi Arabian authorities to allow the pilgrims entry into the country despite fulfilling all visa requirements. He said, “Over 500 Nigerian female pilgrims from the various states of the federation that arrived Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj were denied entry upon arrival at the airport in Jedda and Medina. “All the requirements for visa and entry into Saudi Arabia had been met by the pilgrims and were still denied entry.”

The motion was widely supported by Senators as some of them that spoke yesterday urged Nigerian government to quickly intervene in the crisis, adding that the stranded pilgrims are going through untold hardships. Senator Uche Chukwumerije, PDP, Abia while contributing to the motion asked the Federal Government to develop a new foreign policy that will protect Nigerians abroad. He said, “Nigeria must take a robust diplomatic position and make it clear to the world that any Nigeria anywhere must be given protection of that place, if they failed, we are going to visit same on their citizens here.” Chukwumerije also urged the Senate to mandate local coordinating authorities to ensure that pilgrims fulfill all the legal requirements of Saudi Arabia before embarking on pilgrimage.

Senate President, David Mark, who presided over the motion in his ruling, decried the situation despite interventions from Federal Government. Mark urged the Saudi Arabia authorities to allow the pilgrims perform their religious obligation having arrived in the country. He said, “I think that from the effort so made by the Minister of foreign affairs, rather than urge government, I think that we should ask the President to talk directly with the Saudi king because the way they operate there, nobody else may make any difference.

The foreign Affairs Minister has done all he can, he has spoken to his counterpart, he has invited the ambassador, they have done whatever they possibly can and nothing has changed “Our pilgrim having gone this far, we should insist that they should be allowed to perform the hajj and if there are lessons, we will take the necessary corrections.”

It will be recalled that no fewer than 1200 Nigerian female pilgrims from Taraba and Katsina states who were denied entry into Saudi Arabia and deported from the Medina airport, yesterday arrived the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, .. Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Khalid Abdrabuh yesterday gave an assurance that the controversy over the detention of about 1,200 female Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia will be resolved today. More than 908 women were detained at the Jeddah Airport while 171 of them were deported to Nigeria on Wednesday.

The Saudi Ambassador explained that the issue of detention of pilgrims who failed to meet entry requirements was not restricted to Nigeria. According to him, some pilgrims from other countries have also been subjected to similar screening on arrival at the Holy Land. He also hinted that officials of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj were already holding talks with a delegation of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mecca on the issue. He made the pledge shortly after meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal at the National Assembly.

The Federal Government had on Wednesday given the Saudi Arabian government 24 hours to resolve the issue. The Vice President, Namadi Sambo who gave the order also appointed Tambuwal as head of federal government delegation to Saudi Arabia to resolve the impasse. On the strenght of that presidential intervention, Tambuwal met with the Saudi Arabian envoy behind closed doors on Thursday where the duo deliberated on the way out of the pilgrimage standoff. Tambuwal who spoke to journalists at the end of the meeting also disclosed that the Nigerian mission in Riyadh has been meeting with the Saudi authorities to resolve the situation. However, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, has warned that Nigeria will not hesitate to bring back her people if the issue was not resolved today.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria had on Wednesday briefed the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House on the matter. The standoff began when the Saudi Arabian authorities discovered that hundreds of female Nigerian pilgrims were without their statutory male escorts which is a prerequisite to entry into Saudi Arabia.

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Why Airhiavbere should respect party discipline & people’s mandate

Abubakar Yesufu, a former president, Students Union, University of Benin; chairman, League of Patriotic Lawyers and one of the 22 lawyers the late Gani Fawehinmi led to defend MKO Abiola’s Concorde Newspapers in the celebrated case between Supreme Court judges and the media house, opens up on Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s re-election, the case filed by General Airhiavbere of the PDP against the result of the poll, Boko-Haram and the CBN’s bid to introduce N5, 000 note.

Excerpt: Oshiomhole was re-elected overwhelmingly by the people of Edo State, but the PDP candidate, General Airhiavbere, has gone to the tribunal contesting the eligibility of the Comrade-governor. What is your take on this? First, the league tries as much as possible to distance itself from partisan politics. Second, the case is subjudice and there is a limit to which we can comment on this. We have since advised and written to General Airhiavbere as an officer and a gentleman to withdraw this petition.

Oshiomhole’s overwhelming victory was altogether not unexpected. The comrade’s service delivery was unparalleled. A visit to Edo State before the election would reveal the developments, from road construction to rehabilitation of dilapidated schools, from youth empowerment to robust and economic growth, were all just too visible to ignore by Edo discerning voters. I last saw caterpillar/bulldozers during the days of Gwarto, Mother Cat, Niger Cat when these construction giants held sway in the then Bendel State.

The comrade-governor re-ignited these and other projects reminiscent of Ogbemudia’s days. Suffice to say that these developments were not just confined to Benin City, the state capital, but also replicated across the three senatorial districts. Third, the comrade-governor had a lot of fiery foot-soldiers like Charles Idahosa that took the campaign beyond the state to even Edo in Diaspora, conscientizing and sensitizing them. The General really had no chance. Advice to Airhiavbere Since the party chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, deputy governorship candidate Abulagba and other respected party chieftains advised against this case; he should do the needful by adhering to party discipline. He ran a good campaign. He must also respect the wish of his party and the will of the people. Afterall, he did not run as an independent candidate.

On Oshiomhole’s qualification canvassed by Airhiavbere I think the General is mistaken. Oshiomhole’s humble beginning cannot be a plank for disqualification. The General should be a good student of history. The comrade-governor has never denied his humble background. History is replete with men of humble beginnings. Harry Truman, a former president of the United States, had a very humble beginning. He indeed took over from Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Truman was born into a farming family in Missouri; after high school, Truman was employed in a few odd jobs, before returning to labour on the family farm. College was not on the cards for Henry, he could not afford to attend any school except West point, they even turned him down because of his poor eyesight. Truman then became the only president to serve after 1897, who did not have a college degree. He was elected as a county judge in 1934 and rose to be a senator, then V.P to F.D.R. When F.D.R. died, he became the president. History is replete with examples of men of humble beginnings.

Henn Ford 1863-1947, Ronald Reagan 1911-2004, Andrew Carnage 1835-1919, Booker T. Washington 1856-1915, Milton S. Hensley 1857-1945 all had very humble and sometimes obscure beginnings. Their beginnings did not obscure their greatness or contributions to society. The Nigerian constitution says all you require is school certificate or its equivalent. Oshiomhole’s qualification transcends this.

On N5, 000 bank note Governor Lamido Sanusi has not convinced Nigerians what this bill is out to cure. The 40 billion cost of production is senseless. Is this policy out to cure our hyper inflation exhibited by the high interest rate, improper banking discipline, unemployment, corruption or what? Issues like this should be discussed before a decision is taken. This policy reversal or a somersault would have been avoided. The introduction of the N5, 000 would strengthen corruption; right from 1973, when the naira was re-denominated to reflect higher value, it has often led to regime of increased and sustained poor fiscal financing. Sanusi should concentrate on how to bring down this double digit interest rate, retrenchment of bank workers without terminal benefits, etc.

On Edo after Oshiomhole It is too early to comment on this. We are only advising the comrade-governor to sustain the developments he has commenced. One thing, however, is certain: We shall no longer tolerate mediocrity at Osadebey Avenue (Government House). On Boko-Haram The Federal Government must initiate sustained process of dialogue with the group. The present crop of elites the government is engaging to dialogue on behalf of Boko-Haram brought all the misgovernance to the North. Dialogue should be with the leaders not those that brought this anomaly.

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Confession: Man Who Lost Wife and Son To Governor Mimoko’s Election Rituals

History is characterized by tragic irony. Mr. Ademuyiwa Adeyeye, a former aide of Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, must have thought the steps he allegedly took to ensure the victory of the governor in 2007 governorship election in the state would change his life for better. But tragically, the steps led him and members of his family to sorrow, tears, blood and death.

In his shocking revelation in an interview programme on the only private radio station [ADABA FM] in the state last Friday, claimed they took several lives in different parts of Ondo state to ensure Mimiko's victory in 2007 election. Ademuyiwa revealed that Governor Mimiko sent him, the late Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Oye Alademehin, the late Senator Iwakun and one other person to India to consult marabouts.

According to him, they also went to a town in Ijebu land where they were told to go and be killing goats in different towns and villages in the state. The lot fell on Ademuyiwa to kill the goats. But without knowing, he was killing human beings. After the killing, Ademuyiwa, who said he was well known among members of the drivers' union [NURTW], said he met his wife on his way back and hugged her, but immediately his wife developed swelling breasts. He said he spent all his fortunes on his wife's health. Doctor eventually told him the wife had cancer of the breast and had to remove the pair of breasts. At the end of the day, he lost the wife. He also told listeners that he lost one of his children.

Revealing this, Ademuyiwa said "We went to India to make rituals. When we got to Ondo State, the governor and late Alademehin [a.k.a Dead Body] said we had to kill goats in different parts of the state for peace to reign. Of course, I was the one that killed the goats without knowing that I was killing human beings. On my way back, my wife met and hugged me. Her breasts began to swell. I took her to different traditional healing homes. "When I did not get good result, I took her to the hospital.

It was at this point that the doctor said it was cancer of the breast. They removed the two breasts, yet I lost her. I also lost my son. It was at this point that I was advised to go to a church in Lagos. It was there I met T.B Joshua who is from Akoko, he said I should go and confess my sins to the people of Ondo State". While narrating how they started the spiritual's trip, Ademuyiwa explained that "When we were coming from Ijebu where will were giving a python snake which would bbe an instrument for the governor, some people laid spiritual ambush for us.

Alademehin told me to drive on, because I was the one that drove the car, I told him no. "He now called the Ijebu herbalist who told us that he already saw it. He then removed the embargo; we brought the snake and dropped it very close to the governor's pond in Ondo. It is still there as I speak with you. If you doubt my story, go there. You will see the snake. You can also tune your TV to the Emmanuel TV and you will see my deliverance there. "Everybody in the drivers' union knows me very well. The governor came to me with N3million after losing my wife and a child. I told him I don't want blood money again. I want peace in my family, not blood money". "When I visited the T.B Joshua's church, [Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos ]the man of God told him to go and confess his sin, saying that he was the only precondition for him not to lose other children.

"I want you to forgive me. I don't want to lose any of my children again. I have lost one of them as well as my wife. The man of God that comes from Akoko land with a big and popular Church in Lagos told me that until I confess and ask for your forgiveness, I will lose more people in my family. Every members of the drivers' union knows me very well. The man of God gave me anointed water. I want you to tune to his TV channel if you are in doubt. You will see the day I was delivered" He said. According to him, a python was given to them by one of the herbalists in Ijebu land.

The dangerous snake, he said, is currently around Mimiko's fish pond in Ondo town. Speaking on the ordeal of his wife, Ademuyiwa said, the late Hon. Alademehin came to his aid by giving him money. He said among the people that went for that ritual, he was the only one that is alive and not afflicted by any disease, but not without losing his wife and one of his children, His words, "I am the only one who is still alive and not afflicted by any serious ailment among the four of us who perform the rituals for Mimiko. After seeing the snake, I asked late Senator Iwakun if there would not be any repercussion. Iwakun said he did not mind whatever repercussion that might arise from killings and the python charm. Four days later, Iwakun gave up the ghost. "Before the death of Iwakun, Hon. Oye Alademehin had an intractable ailment that led to his premature death.

Governor Mimiko visited him on his sick bed in one of the Lagos hospital and promised him that he would take care of his family since he laid down his life for him to become the governor of the state. The last person that was privy to the devilish act is at Alagbaka in Akure, currently battling with paralysis. "When the man suffered the killer ailment, Governor Mimiko gave him N6million. But that money could not cure his infirmity".

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GSM Service Providers May Have to Withdraw Services from the North

Following the series of attacks on the installations of GSM service providers and some other telecommunications service providers in the north over the past few days, the umbrella body of the telecommunication operators, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) on Thursday said its members – MTN, GLO, Airtel and Etisalat will cut off services from the North. According to ALTON, the number of base stations vandalized in the north so far has been put at 26. Yet another base station belonging to an indigenous telecoms infrastructure company (IHS Nigeria) was bombed in Kano on Thursday, barely 24 hours after the attack on several base stations in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe states. According to the ALTON president, Gbenga Adebayo, an emergency meeting of the association’s executives had been called for today (Friday) to decide on what next to do. He says, “If it becomes impossible to continue to do business in the face of rising attacks on telecoms sites, operators will naturally suspend operations in the area… This is because beyond base stations, these elements may begin to target telecoms operators‘ offices and data centers among other key infrastructure. That is why it is important that the situation is curtailed before it gets to that point.” Meanwhile, JTF in Borno State yesterday said terrorists’ attacks on telecom masts were designed to “disrupt” communication services and prevent residents from providing information on the activities of gunmen to the military and the police so that they can protect life and property.

Election reslt in benin

Election reslt in benin ....imaguero colledge...acn ...488.....pdp.....122. Oredo College ACN -717. PDP - 148 Etsako Central Fugar Ward 2. unit 7 PDP 169 ACN 129 unit 8 PDP 87 ACN 141 unit 2 PDP 96 ACN 133. Edo Auchi Poly, 2012! RESULT counted at Auchi Poly leaves ACN with 178 votes and PDP 18 votes. Etsako Central Fugar Ward 2. Unit 6 ACN 153 PDP 115. Unit 5 ACN 76 PDP 70 Unit 3 ACN 137 PDP 120 Results for Ward 6, Oredo LGA Sapele road, Benin.

Unit 33 ACN 194; PDP 16; Unit 34:ACN,199; PDP 13 Unit 14, Ward 10 Oza Primary School, Oredo LGA, ACN 129 PDP 35. Unit 018, ACN 14 PDP 35. Unit 12 ACN 121 PDP 19. Unit 16 ACN 131 PDP 23. phranky: Isiukhukhu unit in Adolor ward 3, in ovia north east LGA, ACN: 122, PDP 17 Urhokpota hall final count, ACN 235 PDP 37 Unit 4 Ezomo in Ora Adolo ward ACN 152 PDP 21 Idia college ACN 7,923 PDP 262 Emotan college ACN 7263 PDP 169

Ovia north east Adolor ward 3 co-operative unit ACN 208, PDP 17 Ward 5 ovia north east. ACN 832 PDP 236 phranky: weka Primary school, useh ward 7. ACN. 2,298 PDP 89, Ward 9 Asora Grammar school Edo Election result, Oredo Ward 4 Unit 2 orokponta Hall ACN 223 PDP 37 Ward 2, unit 8: ACN 141, PDP 88, unit 7, ACN 169, PDP 129 in Fugar, Etsako 12:00 Large voter turnout, heavy presence of security personnel noticed, as governorship election goes underway in Edo.

Seven candidates are contesting the Edo state governorship election today: Adams Oshiomhole - Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Andrew Igwemoh - Labour Party (LP) Charles Airhiarvbere - Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Frank Ukonga - Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP). Paul Orumwense - National Conscience Party (NCP) Roland Izevbuwa - Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Solomon Edebiri - All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Notes: The CPC candidate stepped down on Wednesday, but his name remains on the ballot.

voters turned out in large numbers with some arriving at the polling centres at 6a.m. In Benin and nearby local government areas, prospective voters arrived at polling centres as early as 7a.m. waiting for electoral officials to arrive so that they could be accredited to vote. In Aduwawa polling unit in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, some voters told NAN that they arrived at the centre at 7 o’clock to exercise their franchise.

Although the electoral officers had yet to arrive at the centre at 8.11 a.m., more than 150 prospective voters had queued up to be accredited for voting. A voter, Mr Solomon Abangwe, said that he arrived at the station at 7, 30a.m. At Oba Market, Urhokpota Hall, in Oredo Local Government Area, a large number of voters waited for election officials to be accredited to cast their ballots. The situation was the same at Eyaen Ward 7 in Uhunwonde some party agents expressed satisfaction with the large number that waited to be accredited to vote.

An electoral official told NAN that because of the large population in the area, the centre was carved out into six voting units to take care of the population. At Asoro Polling Station in Oredo Local Government Area, a prospective voter, Mrs Esehe Idehen, said she had been at the centre with 10 members of her family to exercise their franchise ``I ready to wait till 5 o’clock,’’ Idehen said in pidgin English. Another voter, Mr Patrick Omoregie, said: ``I came very early just as all other persons. Although the electoral officials are not here, we are ready to wait. ‘’ An agent of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr Osazuwa Emokpae, said he arrived at the polling centre at 7.30p a.m and added that he was not worried that the election officials had not arrived at the centre.

However, the agent of the candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Chidubem Ijeaku, said that he was worried that if the officials did not arrive on time the people might leave. At Garick Memorial Nursery/Primary School polling centre, the polling booth of the PDP candidate, Gen. Charles Arhiavbere, a voter, Rev. Sonny Ewerisima, said he arrived at the station at 6.a.m. Meanwhile, accreditation of voters started in Ehor Uhunmwode Local Government Area, at 8a.m.

In Auchi in Etsaka West Local Government Area, the main market was closed as voters thronged to the polling centres to exercise their franchise. The accreditation of voters began at 8a.m. in the area and went on peacefully. Soldiers have stopped vehicles moving between Oluku and Ekiadolor. Potential voters are going back home, and the military using copter for aerial surveillance.

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How Babangida killed Maryam

Nigeria Health Watch: How Babangida killed Maryam: Dear Readers, As we continue our period of reflection on 2009...find below this thought provoking piece that was first published in Sahara...

THEWILL - Expanding the National Conversation - June 12: The Babangida Speech That Followed The Pain

THEWILL - Expanding the National Conversation - June 12: The Babangida Speech That Followed The Pain

Subsidy Probe:EFCC Probes Rep Over $3m Bribe

Subsidy Probe:EFCC Probes Rep Over $3m Bribe

DECENCY A SIGN OF DIGNITY

“As Wendy Shalit was alarmed by widespread immodesty, she also notice That there were still at least some people who wore very modest clothes” These people turned out to be some of the most radiantly romantic and happily married people. Meanwhile, immodest people who flaunted their bodies and hooked up in casual sexual encounters with other people turned out to be jaded and bored. They are less happy, less romantic even less sexy. The truth is that modest people aren’t against sexuality; they value it too highly to throw around. “The more precious something is, the more it most conceals and protects itself”.

Your body and sexuality are too precious to put on display and make available to just anybody. Pastor and author Douglas Wilson says, “Many of the current fashions for young women appear to be apparel in standard use down at the local Hooker Training Academy”. Wilson’s wife, Nancy told him, “It must be difficult for men these days trying to figure out which ones they have to pay for and which ones are free”. Wise women know that if a man is worth having, he won’t be the kind that chases every flirt in a short skirt. Wise men know that if a woman is worth having, she has enough modesty and dignity to keep from making herself an object for everyone to gawk at.

If you are modest, you may certainly be attractive and have a passionate love life in marriage. If women want to be taken seriously, they must avoid clothing that’s sexually suggestive. “Be honorable to yourself if you wish to associate with honorable people”. By Stephen.

“I know of no case where a man added to his dignity by standing on it” Attributed to Winston Churchill (1874 - 1865).



Dress decently and sensibly so that people won’t look at you as a sex object or a show-off, but can focus on who you are and what you‘re able to do. Be a wise man and a wise woman and DRESS FOR SUCCESS.

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By. Stephen