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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