President Goodluck Jonathan, President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, former Nigeria’s Vice President Atiku Abubakar were among several national leaders that have expressed various emotional feelings over the death of Senator Uche Chukwumerije yesterday. In his condolence message issued today by his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan described the deceased as an ardent believer in national unity, peace, political stability and progress. The President said that the late senator, whom he referred to as a patriot and nationalist, has left behind an impressive legacy of discipline, honesty, integrity and hard work in public service. The President believed that the late Senator Chukwumerije, “who had a distinguished career as a journalist, social critic, Minister of Information and Senator, will be long remembered for his dedication and passion for a just and equitable society.” He called on the friends, associates and family of Senator Chukwumerije to honour his memory by continually upholding the values and principles which he lived for and never stopped fighting for till his death. In his condolence message issued by Director of media and publicity for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, General Buhari said that the death of Senator Uche Chukwumerije has diminished the generation of true progressives in Nigeria and the African continent. Buhari said that Senator Chukwumerije was a Pan-African par excellence, adding: “as a man of my own generation, I observed the progressive political activities of Uche Chukwumerije and admired the Pan- African interests and national patriotic zeal which dominated and dictated major part of his actions and pursuits.” The General recalled that in the Second Republic, Chukwumerije’s parted ways with the ethnic and regional politics of that era to identify with Mallam Aminu Kano, the leader of the masses (Talakawas) and this “marked him out as a worker for national unity and a man of noble values.’ “As a media practitioner, Chukwumerije was a professional who did his job with passion and conviction in all positions he held. I was not surprised he was a leading voice in the Senate for twelve years, where he had been serving the Federal Republic till death came calling.” The President-elect noted that Comrade Chukwumerije, as he was fondly called by admirers, lived an active life and never sat on the fence on any national issues. “Senator Chukwumerije has played an exceptional role in the business of legislation in the country and we will all dearly miss him as an outstanding politician and an elder statesman. “I sincerely condole with his family and friends, especially his constituents in Abia North senatorial district, the people of Abia State and members of the National Assembly.” Atiku Abubakar also described late Chukwumerije as a fine gentleman, saying was well cultured, sartorial in style and in presentation. “As a politician, he was very classy and as a statesman he was exceptional. His death came as a rude shock and I do sincerely pray that God grants his family, the people of Abia State, friends and colleagues at the National Assembly the fortitude to bear the loss.” Amongst others that have condoled with the nation and family of the late Senator were the Senate President. David Mark, House of Representatives leadership, led by speaker Aminu Tambuwal, governors and members of the business community. [myad]
Kano Pillars Football Club on Sunday defeated visiting Enyimba International FC of Aba 1-0 in a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) week four match.
Moses Ekpai scored the only goal in the 43rd minute from a solo effort in the match played at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
Speaking during the post-match conference, the Kano Pillars’ Head Coach, Okey Emordi, expressed delight at his team’s style of play.
He however acknowledged that his players wasted many goal scoring opportunities.
“It was a good match. Both teams played very well. But we (Pillars) had several chances, and we failed to convert them.
“It is a game we contested very well. It was a game of the two top teams in the league.”
Also speaking, Enyimba’s Head Coach, Kadiri Ikhana, said his team prepared very well for the encounter.
“The match was a classic between two good sides.” [myad]
Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator-elect for the Ogun East Senatorial District, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has cried out for help against former President Olusegun Obasanjo whom he said has been instigating foreign security agencies to apprehend him in Nigeria and extradite him to the United States of America, USA, to answer to drug related charges.
Kashamu has therefore sent a Save-My-Soul (SMS) letter to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) insisting that the subterranean plot to ‘capture’ him has thickened even as he begged the Commission not to stand by and watch his fundamental human rights trampled upon at the behest of former President Obasanjo.
It will be recalled that it was Kashamu that persuaded Justice Valentine Ashi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting at Apo to order security agencies in Nigeria to confiscate Obasanjo’s autobiography entitled “My Watch.”
It took the former President some efforts to get the high court to vacate that confiscation order which had even prohibited both Vendors and Libraries in the country from as much as touching the autobiography.
Kashamu had insisted that portions of the book dwelt on his alleged involvement in drug pushing and an allegation that he is a wanted fugitive in America; a subject matter he said had already been surrendered to a competent court of jurisdiction.
In his petition to the NHRC, Kashamu urged the commission to investigate the alleged move to abduct him and forcibly take him to the US to answer to charges bothering on drug related offences.
The petition, dated April 15th, 2015 was written on his behalf by his lawyer, Mr. Ajibode Oluyede and entitled: “Prince buruji Kashamu: Abduction Plans By United States of America Agents in Collaboration with Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria.”
The lawyer in the petition which was addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Professor Bem Angwe, stated: “Kashamu has instructed that we bring certain important facts and records to your attention with regard to the illegality of this plan and the malicious and unpatriotic motives of those behind it and seek your urgent intervention in accordance with the jurisdiction expressly given to your commission by the National Human Rights Act 1995 as amended to carry out and inquiry into the matter in order to establish the culpability and compromise of certain institution in this despicable plan and to protect our client’s fundamental human right to liberty, life and dignity of their person.” [myad]
One time Nigeria information minister during the regime of military President Ibrahim Babangida and current Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije is dead. He died today at the age of 75 at a Turkish hospital in Abuja.
Chukwumerije was elected a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in April 2003, representing Abia North Senatorial District.
According to a statement by a family representative, Chidi, the Senator died on Sunday after a long but gallant battle with lung cancer.
“On the evening of Sunday, the 19th of April, 2015, surrounded by his family, Comrade Uche Chukwumerije passed into the open arms of history, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, after a long but gallant battle with lung cancer,” the statement said.
“His life is many volumes, which can only be told with care and time, of dedication and focus, integrity and discipline, and an unbroken love for the highest ideals of our shared humanity.
“Details of burial arrangements will be announced in due course. We ask only for your prayers and good wishes.”
In the Fourth Republic, Chukwumerije was elected to the Senate on the PDP’s platform, but he fell out of favor with the party’s leadership when he opposed the 3rd term agenda Chukwumerije eventually decamped to the PPA in 2006, and was reelected to the Senate on April 28, 2007.
Last December the rumour of his death went viral with the politician coming out days later to describe the rumour as the handiwork of “a few ungodly and irresponsible individuals.”
Chukwumerije, who was divorced with seven children, studied Economics at the University of Ibadan. [myad]
The Nigerian Presidency has denied allegation in some quarters that it spent public funds amounting to N2 Trillion for the recently concluded nation-wide campaign, especially for President Goodluck Jonathan to be elected for a se3cond-term in office.
A statement from the special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati described a front-page story in a national daily of April 19 alleging that the Presidency spent a whopping N2 trillion on the 2015 General elections as malicious.
The statement also referred to the publication to the fact that a Committee of Five has been set up by President Jonathan to conduct an audit of how the funds were disbursed by party members and state officials as mischievous, false and embarrassing.
Dr. Abati made it clear that the President has not set up any committee as alleged in that story and that it is not true that the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) used state funds, or spent N2 trillion during the campaigns. The innuendoes are wrong-headed; the motives behind the story are suspicious.
“The story alleges, for example, that the Presidency spent N2trillion on elections and embarked on a money-sharing spree to party members, support groups and state officials. The authors of the story and their self-appointed megaphones further insinuate that public funds were deployed in this regard. Their allegation of a theft of public funds is extremely malicious.
“How much is the budget of the Federal Government of Nigeria? The annual budget of the Federal Government is a little over N4 trillion. The story is practically suggesting that half of the federal budget was spent on elections. This kind of reckless insinuation is meant to incite the public and instigate national crisis.
“With FAAC having to do everything possible every month to ensure disbursements and with the Federal Government heavily committed to the war against terror in the North East, where is the alleged N2 trillion from the Federal purse? President Jonathan and the People’s Democratic Party conducted the 2015 elections in strict accordance with the rule of law. The suggestion of any unlawful conduct cannot be sustained under any circumstances.
“President Jonathan has done his best to protect and strengthen democracy and promote peace. He justly deserves all the accolades that he has received from both Nigerians and the international community for this. Certain persons and interest groups may not be happy that his profile has further risen and that his legacy is assured; but they do their country gross disservice when they act so unpatriotically.
“Anyone who is engaged in imposing a crisis on the country by any means is not being fair to Nigeria. We can only appeal to the public to be wary of such reckless tactics now on display, which form the substance of an odd, malicious campaign after the elections.
“We are particularly worried that since the March 28 and April 11 elections, some persons have continued to work very hard to diminish the Jonathan Presidency. They need to be reminded that the time for politics is over; it is now time to focus on the in-coming government, with emphasis on national development and moving the country forward.” [myad]
A community leader, the Oyewoga of Ode Irele in Ondo State, Moses Enimade, has confirmed that the “mystery” behind a strange and unknown killer disease that has ravaged a town in Ondo state, killing at least 14 people, is a punishment for the “sacrilege” committed against Molokun, the local deity in the area.
Mr. Enimade, who is next in command to the Oba, Cornelius Olanrewaju-Lebi, said yesterday in Irele that some stubborn youths broke into the inner room of the Molokun shrine on April 15, adding that Molokun is a deity of the land.
“Only the Chief Priest and High Chief Gboguron are qualified to enter the shrine.”
The chief said that the youths entered the shrine and made away with traditional items in a bid to acquire extra-ordinary powers and engage in money ritual.
“They were not qualified to enter the (shrine). They had to face the death penalty.”
The Oyewoga said he could not remember the last time Molokun or any other gods had to strike like this in the area.
According to him, there is no community or town without its own culture and tradition, saying that what happened in Irele was the judgment of the gods on the youths.
“Even the Kabiesi himself is not permitted to enter the Molokun Shrine’s inner room except the Chief Priest and High Chief Gboguron. Sacrifice must be performed before they can enter.
“Because these youths want to be rich at all costs, they entered the sacred place and made away with traditional items and 20 of them have died as a result of their desperate acts,” he said. “We have to appease the gods or else many will still die and we have to bury them according to tradition. Their corpses belong to the gods and will be exhumed if buried by their families.”
No fewer than 14 people have died of severe headaches and blindness in the town recently. He victims have tested negative to Ebola, the deadly and incurable virus that killed thousands across West Africa, including Nigeria.
Mr. Enimade debunked the rumour that the deaths were caused by strange disease or Ebola virus quoting from Proverbs 29:1 in the Bible which say: “He that had been reproved and hardened his neck shall suddenly be destroyed without remedy; so youths of nowadays must be careful.”
Some residents appealed to the chief priest to make the necessary atonement to avert calamity in the town. They said news of the deaths had given the town and state a bad name. [myad]
Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on public matters, Dr. Doyin Okupe has said that the over 200 missing Chibok Schoolgirls were deliberately kidnapped to make outgoing President Jonathan led government look incompetent and ultimately fail at the polls.
Okupe who is opening up for the second time after a sustained silence owing to PDP’s defeat at the March 28th Presidential Polls said on his facebook timeline Saturday morning: “One of the reasons the Chibok girls were kidnapped was to present Jonathan’s administration as incompetent and hold it to ransom against 2015 elections.
“One of the reasons the BBOG was formed was to sustain and internationalise the embarrassment. One of the reasons President Jonathan lost the election was a national and international conspiracy predicated on this carefully choreographed and assiduously sustained perception.
“One of the issues that will be in the hand over notes will be the missing girls. What is reasonable and expedient for well-meaning men and women of good conscience is to dialogue with the incoming administration on what best new approach to employ to find and rescue the Chibok girls.
”Not much can be achieved, except mischief, by continuing to flog this administration on this matter.” [myad]
There is excitement in the polity over the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 28 presidential election, which has produced the General Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo presidency. To consolidate the victory, the APC posted majority seats-64 out of 109- in the Senate. It also clinched the majority seats in the House of Representatives. So, Buhari’s party men and women in the National Assembly will be able to watch his back, so to speak. The fear of impeachment should therefore be non-existent. But this is not a sure banker. Validation: Ghali Umar Na’Abba was speaker of the House of Representatives on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when there was friction in their relationship with the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo, also of the PDP. The same thing happened in the Senate under Anyim Pius Anyim as senate president when he (Anyim) was the opposite number of Na’Abba in the Upper House. Obasanjo was the rabble-rouser, the troublemaker, the agent provocateur who forced the Legislature to consider the impeachment option.
Nigerians have been treated to so much political drama in the ecology of the Executive-Legislature interactions in the largely-dominated PDP government: the show of presidential might; the high turn-over rate in the leadership of the senate between 1999 and 2003 occasioned by Executive interference and sponsorship; the attempts to coerce the Legislature into genuflecting at the table of the Executive for handouts; the culture of impunity nurtured and promoted by Obasanjo and all. Now, one is compelled by the outcome of the 2015 general elections to believe that change has come. It is expected that the APC, with its change mantra, will take the driver’s seat on May 29, this year, to offer different approaches and perspectives to governance and Executive-Legislature relationship; which is why there is the need for the APC to get its rhythm right from the outset, otherwise, it will unwittingly be viewed by Nigerians from the same prism with which they viewed government, governance and Executive-Legislature interactions when the PDP was in the saddle.
Has the APC got it right with its Buhari-Osinbajo presidency? Good question, but time will tell the rightness or wrongness of the decision to couple Buhari and Osinbajo into, and for an APC presidency. Second, will the APC get it right with the Presidency of the Senate, which I understand now engages the attention of its National Caucus? Time again will tell. But whether or not time will resolve it in favour of the Nigerian people is moot. This is because, the choice of a senate president lies with the leadership of the APC, not with the Nigerian people. It is the man, the fait accompli choice that is packaged and delivered on the floor of the Senate on June 2 or thereabouts as the senate president that Nigerians will live with. That is how it works. Being the majority party, the APC will use the strength of its number to choose the first among equals in the Senate.
Who WILL the first among equals be? Again, only time will tell. But who SHOULD the first among equals be? I certainly have some ideas and suggestions about who SHOULD emerge from the gallimaufry of elements and tendencies, which are coming in to shape the 8th Senate, to steer the leadership of the Upper Chamber as Senate President. From media reports, two geo-political zones are jostling for the plum position: North Central and Northeast. Both can justify their demand for the position. And either of them can, in the long run, get it. The zone which gets it is not much of an issue to me. What is critical is who steps in as Senate President in June, this year. Should the APC decide to cede the position to the North Central, there can be no question as to the preeminence of Senator George Akume in the race for the coveted seat. I will explain why in a short-while.
First, in the pack of APC senators from the North Central zone, he is the first two-term governors (1999 to 2007) to win election into the Senate. He crossed over from the Benue Government House to the Red Chamber in Abuja. And he made the ambitious, if not courageous move, to be the senate president. He, as a PDP senator, contested against the incumbent, Senator David Mark in the 2007 witty and gritty election, despite the gambit by the other camp to deploy the ranking rule against him. The rule was jettisoned on the floor on the day of the election to allow his participation in the exercise, which he lost, understandably, to Mark, who effortlessly won again, in 2011, this time unopposed. By this time, Akume had left the PDP for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on which platform he won re-election and emerged as the Minority Leader in the Upper Chamber.
Second, he is perhaps the only former governor from the North Central zone in the Senate, who is not carrying the baggage of money laundering or corruption prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). His candidature is therefore in apple-pie order within the context of the capacity to fight corruption which is seemingly manifestly located in a Buhari presidency and which the senate presidency is expected to complement.
Third, he is much more experienced in terms of ranking among his colleagues from the zone. The fact that he has been the Minority Leader since 2011 gives him a strategic edge. Having performed creditably especially from the mid-term of his minority leadership, it will only be appropriate to reward a loyal and committed leadership by elevating rather than downgrading him by bringing one of the senators he has been leading to now lead him as senate president. The best move in the circumstance is to push him up to continue his leadership, this time, of the entire senate. After all, he has had his eyes on the senate presidency ball since 2007; and by that token, he is assumed to be well prepared for the rigours of the office.
Fourth, and this has to do with his individuality, is the aura of camaraderie which he exudes. Akume, a northern Christian, is a jolly good fellow, a fact to which many of his colleagues have, over the years, attested; he is humble, unassuming, respectful and generous. He does take anybody for granted and he is always touched by the plight of others, which is the reason he is extremely loved by his people who have continued to vote for him regardless of the political party he belongs. In the last senatorial election, a Tiv friend of mine, Lovetty Mackyur, told me that Akume did not print a single poster for his election as he has become a poster in the minds of his people.
One thing that a Buhari presidency can rest assured of is the unflinching loyalty and complementarities of an Akume senate presidency. Unlike some of his former governor colleagues from the zone who cannot be trusted with power, who can betray their own people, this Tiv son is a rare breed with a very large heart which predisposes him to quickly and easily forgive his traducers and forget the past. As far as the North Central is concerned, the cap fits him. Providence, and nothing else, would have fully manifested and borne its name if another Benue man on the platform of another party takes over from Mark, who is also from Benue. Like Mark, Akume will deliver if he is given the chance to preside over the affairs of the Upper Chamber.
As I round off, in case the APC leadership decides to cede the position to the Northeast zone instead, my vote will go to no other person than Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan (Yobe North). He will come to the job with a background of public office that is devoid of corruption. A very cerebral legislator (with a Ph.D in Remote Sensing) and consummate contributor to debates on the floor of the Senate, Lawan has proved to his constituents to be dependable and trustworthy; and this perhaps explains why they have continued to vote for him since 1999. He was in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007 and he has been in the Senate from 2007 till date. He has just been re-elected for another four years. Like Akume, he has an edge in terms of credibility and absence of corruption baggage, over some former governors from the zone who may be interested in the position of senate president.
I only hope that the APC leadership, guided by Buhari as to how he plans to fight the corruption scourge, will consider very well all the options and settle for the best from either North Central or Northeast zone.
Mr Ojeifo is the Editor-in-Chief of The Congresswatch magazine in Abuja. [myad]
The dreaded Nigeria’s Boko Haram has given South African government 24 hours within which to make the Xenophobic attacks come to an end or face an extinction of its citizens living and doing businesses in Nigeria.
In a video tape released today via www.mzansidaily.co.za, the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau said: “If South African government does not contain the situation we will execute all South Africans living in Nigeria, Chad, Niger and other surrounding countries, even the South African Embassies in the African countries.”
Boko Haram spoke against the background of the continued attacks against foreigners in the Capital city of South Africa, Johannesburg, which is gradually extending to Durban. [myad]
Zimbabweans are set to start attacking all citizens of South Africa living in Zimbabwe in retaliation for the indiscriminate attacks currently being waged on immigrants by South Africans in South Africa.
The president of Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu), Gilbert Mutubuki has already made a call to Zimbabwean youths to start revenging xenophobic violent attacks by attacking individual South Africans operating in Zimbabwe as well as their businesses.
Zinasu is Zimbabwe’s largest students’ body which represents thousands of students at all universities and colleges across the country.
At least, five people have been killed – including a teenager – and 46 people have been arrested since the violence flared in Isipingo, outside Durban on Friday in South Africa. About 7 000 people of different nationalities are living in tents provided by the provincial government for those displaced by the violence.
Addressing journalists in Harare after an anti-xenophobia demonstration organised by Zimbabwe civic society groups at the South African Embassy, Mutubuki said it was high time the country’s youths retaliated by attacking South African businesses operating in Zimbabwe such as Pick n Pay and others.
“Right now we have South African businesses such as Pick n Pay operating freely here, but our brothers are being butchered in South Africa. Today in the morning, South African students at the University of Zimbabwe were having breakfast freely in the dining hall, but our sisters and brothers are getting killed. It’s high time we should do the same to all South African businesses here until they stop all this nonsense,” said an angry Mutubuki.
Mutubuki’s call came after over 300 Zimbabwe human rights and civic society activists demonstrated at the South African embassy located in the Belgravia area in Harare this morning.
The protesters were denouncing King Goodwill Zwelithini and President Jacob Zuma son Edward, accusing the two of sparking the xenophobic violence in South Africa. There were also waving placards inscribed with messages like “South Africa is not island and should stop this nonsense” and “Stop it, South Africa”, “Africa is home to all” among others.
The demonstrators also handed over a petition to South African Embassy officials.
The protesters were later dispersed by heavily armed Zimbabwe police.
Some of the South African businesses operating in Zimbabwe include Pick n Pay, Edgars and Standard Bank among others.
South Africa, with a population of about 50 million, is home to an estimated five million immigrants. Over one million Zimbabweans are believed to be living in South Africa as economic or political refugees. [myad]
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
