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October 31, 2005

Police hunt for group over claim on mishap

A MAN-HUNT for members of the Coalition of Militant Action in the Niger Delta (COMA) has been initiated by the Police. The group had last week claimed responsibility for the Bellview plane crash at Lisa Village in Ifo Local Council of Ogun State on Saturday, October 22.

From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Police Command, which is co-ordinating the efforts to unmask the members of the self-confessed militant group, has therefore appealed to the public for useful information that could lead to their arrest.

All the passengers and crew members on board the flight from Lagos to Abuja died in the accident.

The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Samuel Adetuyi, who urged the public to assist security agents to track down the group at the weekend, said that the claim by COMA was of national importance and pleaded that the matter should not be trivialised.

He added that as the Yuletide approaches, the command had prepared itself to secure the state against all forms of criminal activities.

While responding to questions from journalists in his office, Adetuyi said: "If there is any information about it, please come and let me know because this is a very grave national issue and it should not be trivialised. So, if there is any information that you have, please let us have it."

COMA, in a statement by its Alliance Leader, Mr. Alaye Teme and Chief Strategist, Mr. David Igbi, had claimed responsibility for the air mishap. The group attributed its attack on the aircraft to the continued incarceration of the leader of Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo.

Adetuyi also explained that there was on ground a joint task force of the police, army, air force and navy to check the activities of criminals in the state.

The task forces, he said, was being strengthened to sustain the command's anti-crime campaign.

He also hinted that more mobile policemen had been drafted from other states to Rivers by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero.

But Asari-Dokubo, charged with treason and felony, commiserated with the families of the victims of the accident.

He described COMA's claim as most irresponsible and intended to achieve nothing than to blackmail him and the Niger Delta region.

The NDPVF leader, who spoke through his attorney, Mr. Uche Okwukwu, said the statement by COMA that its members would continue to attack the infrastructure of the Nigerian state until he was unconditionally released was aimed at nothing but to present his struggle, ideas and principles in bad light.

Asari-Dokubo further said that the group's claim was also aimed at smearing his agitation by presenting him as insensitive to humanity contrary to his believe in justice, equity, peace and love.

Distancing himself from COMA's action, he said the group's claim to be in alliance with his organisation was deceitful.

"I urge the general public, the security agencies, the government and the families of the victims of the ill-fated plane to disregard the contention of this non-existing group and see Alhaji Asari-Dokubo as one who is touched by these deaths," he said.

Okwukwu explained that his client had since 2004 renounced violence when he surrendered all his arms to the Federal Government.

According to Okwukwu, Asari-Dokubo had moved from the creeks to an organised and lawful society. He said the NDPVF reaffirmed this in his brief and instructions to him during their three days incarceration when he (Asari-Dokubo) was first arrested.

The lawyer said his client was committed to non-violence and described COMA's claim as wicked and a cheap blackmail. He also commiserated with the President Olusegun Obasanjo on the death of his wife, Stella and the 117 persons that lost their lives in the Bellview plane mishap.

Posted by Publisher at 03:56 PM | Comments (0)

Breaking News: Missing Illinois College Student Found Dead

The body of Olamide Adeyooye, was found in Newton, Mississippi last Friday morning. Adeyooye, from Lagos, Nigeria, was a clinical sciences senior at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois.

By Walter Bell
(Crime Library)

She had been missing since October 13th, when last seen in a Normal video store.
On Monday morning, October 17th, Newton law enforcement authorities received reports of a chicken coop fire, off highway 80 in Newton County. Four days later, the property owner went to clean up his burned-out structure and discovered the body of an African-American female amidst the debris. The shocked man immediately notified the Newton County Sheriff's Office.

Mississippi Highway Patrol crime scene investigators began processing the crime site. Authorities noticed the unidentified body matched the physical description of Adeyooye, which they had received from electronic alerts. On October 24th, the Newton Sheriff's Office notified the Normal Police Department about the similarities and possible link.

Illinois authorities quickly sent Olamide Adeyooye's medical and dental records to the Newton County medical examiner. Yesterday, it was announced the body found in the chicken coop was hers. No cause of death has been released since there is an ongoing investigation.

"As far as the cause of death, we believe she was already deceased when the body was dropped off in Newton County," said Newton County Sheriff Jackie Knight. "We have investigators from Illinois here with us, but we believe the actual death took place in Illinois." He added that there were no signs of sexual abuse.

Lieutenant Mark Kotte of the Normal Police Department said, "We still have a list of persons of interest and that hasn't really changed. We still have quite a few people we need to talk to, and also people now that we will be re-interviewing." Kotte said they are still looking for Adeyooye's killer and her green Toyota Corolla, which is still missing.

The murdered woman's father, Adiodun Adeyooye, expressed his deep grief and commented that he wanted justice. "I believe Olamide's spirit will find the culprit. Whoever might have killed her, Olamide's spirit will find him out in Jesus' name."

Adiodun Adeyooye's 21-year-old daughter was to graduate in December.

Walter Bell can be contacted at wabell@comcast.net

Posted by Publisher at 03:51 PM | Comments (0)

Nigeria to pay $6bn foreign debt today

ABUJA—AS the nation struggles to it feet following the tragedies which paralysed government and economic activities in the last one week, Nigeria is today expected to take the first step to exit the Paris Club by clearing the arrears it is owing the creditors which stands at about $6.00 billion.

By Emma Ujah
Posted to the Web: Monday, October 31, 2005

Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who toiled to secure the $18 billion debt relief from the club of creditors gave this indication in Abuja. According to the minister who admitted that last week was a trying one for President Olusegun Obasanjo and Nigerians said in spite of the difficult situation the nation was going through, the president still wanted work on the debt issue to continue.

Her words: “We are mourning with the rest of the nation. There is no doubt that the tragedies of last weekend have really shaken the nation but it is the President’s wish that work continues. He is leading by example to demonstrate that we should march on and that is why we are continuing with the implementation of the debt deal with the Paris Club. We have done the necessary work before hand and the October 31 date for the first payment is still very much on.”

Meanwhile, officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance said President Obasanjo had sent a Bill to the National Assembly to seek its approval for the payment. The Senate Chief Whip, Mr Udo Udoma and three other federal legislators, Mr Bob Effiong, Alhaji Farouk Lawal, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, and Mr Sadiq Sanusi, Chairman of the House Committee on Loans, Aid and Debt Management who witnessed the signing of the agreement in Paris, promised to ensure the National Assembly worked with the executive to meet the terms of the agreement.

Under the agreement signed between the Federal Government and the Paris Club at the group’s headquarters in Paris on October 20, Nigeria was expected to pay the $6 billion arrears upfront, as a first step towards the cancellation of the $18 billion debt under the Naples Terms.

Under the Naples Terms, Nigeria would be required to settle arrears owed to the club. Arrears here refer to amounts of principal, interests and late interests that have fallen due, but have not been paid.

Under a standard practice of the Paris Club, debtors must clear arrears prior to commencement of debt relief negotiations. Nigeria’s case was, therefore, special in that the club gave its words on the relief even before the arrears are cleared.

Once the arrears have been cleared, there would be a reduction of the stock in favour of Nigeria on Naples Terms. This means that the club will write-off up to 67 per cent of the total debt stock. “Naples Terms” is derived from the fact that terms was used for the first time in Naples, Italy, in 1994.
What remains of Nigeria’s debt stock after the cancellation on Naples Terms would then qualify for a buy-back arrangement at a discount rate. It means that Nigeria would be able to pay less than the face value of the remaining debt, thereby making buy-back savings.

Posted by Publisher at 03:48 PM | Comments (0)

Achebe: Oral tradition not needed

World-famous Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe has said that Africans should not be overly concerned if the long-established tradition of oral storytelling dies out.

Many African communities have a long tradition of oral storytelling

Achebe, once described by Nelson Mandela as "the writer in whose presence prison walls fell down," told the BBC that he agreed that the art was dying out - but insisted it could be revived "if we decide that the oral story is absolutely necessary."

"Oral storytelling was important when I was writing - it may not be important when the next generation is writing," he said.

"Obviously I believe in the importance of stories, but whether oral, or written, or televised, I cannot lay down the law.

"We are fascinated by the oral tradition, and it's right that we should be fascinated. But if it's not going to work any more in the future, then rather than sit and weep and mourn, why don't we find out what has come to replace it?"

Maintaining Igbo

But Achebe, who last year rejected an award from his home country on the grounds that the country was in a "dangerous" state of affairs, also spoke about the need in Nigeria to continue telling stories in Nigeria's native languages.

Achebe, who is very critical of colonialism and its aftermath in Africa, explained that he himself writes in English because he is a victim of linguistic colonialism.

But he added that he felt it was important not to "lose sight of the need for our mother tongue."

I hope I have shown it is possible to show respect to English and Igbo together

Chinua Achebe

"The situation may well develop in the future, in which the different languages of Africa will begin to reassert themselves," he added.

"I have made provision for that myself, by writing certain kinds of material in Igbo. For instance, I will insist my poetry is translated back into Igbo while I'm still around."

He insisted that he wrote in English not to attract a wide international audience, but simply because he had been educated in English.

But he added that his use of English was inspired by his Igbo background.

"When I'm writing in English, Igbo is standing next to it," he added.

"I have therefore developed, I think, this possibly, in which these two languages are in communion.

"I hope I have shown it is possible, in these two languages, to show respect to English and Igbo together."

Posted by Publisher at 02:12 PM | Comments (0)

October 29, 2005

Igbo in Warri transact business with Biafran currency

Few days after members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) organised a market fair in Onitsha, Anambra State, many Igbo traders in Warri, Delta State have started transacting business with the Biafran currency in the oil city.

francis onooronholo

Investigation by Saturday Independent revealed that many of the traders now accept the outlawed Biafran pounds and shillings in their day-to-day transaction.

A meat seller at Igbudu market, Darlington Nwani who was seen with a heap of the currency in his shed, told Saturday Independent that the money was legal tender because in Kano where he buys cows, it was accepted from him.

According to him, he had travelled to Kano severally to buy cows and on each of the occasions, he used 500, 000 Biafran pounds for transaction and it was accepted.

He said the value of the money was higher than the Nigerian Naira in Kano, adding that one Biafran pound exchanged for over N150.

An Igbo textile trader at the Warri main market, Nwadiegu Ekeh, who was also seen accepting the money, said it is exchanged easily at the Onitsha main market.

The textile trader said the Biafran currency was becoming acceptable each passing day.

Other traders like Godwin Nwajagu, Sunday Igbomara and Chris Nnanemere were also seen doing business with the currency, which they said had been transacting business with it in Warri for the past two months.

Nwajagu who sells leather said that at the Onitsha trade fair where he participated all traders freely used the currency.

Investigation revealed that only Ibo traders accept the currency while others reject it, describing the Biafran currency as an illegal tender.

For instance Ruth Obaye from Edo State and a petty trader at Igudu market said she would never accept the money from anybody.

According to her, “politics apart I am an educated person and I know what is legal and illegal tender. Nobody can come to my shed with the Biafran money and I will accept because it is illegal.

“The Igbos are accepting it for political reasons just to create awareness among themselves about Biafra and nothing more and I wish them good luck”.

Contacted, the DPO in charge of the Warri police A-Division Mr. Olivia Amaechi said he was not aware of the circulation of the Biafran currency in Warri.

According to him, “I will dispatch my men to carry out thorough investigation into the matter and anybody found with such currency will be arrested and prosecuted.”

Correspondent, Warri

Posted by Publisher at 02:00 PM | Comments (0)

Only APGA can give Ndigbo the Presidency – Chekwas Okorie

Chief Chekwas Okorie, National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, still has absolute confidence and trust in the dreams of the party as a credible medium for progressive elements to achieve political power in spite of the leadership crisis that has been threatening the party.

In this interview with Regional Editor, South-East, SUNNY IGBOANUGO, Okorie said so far, only APGA is poised to actualise Igbo dream of producing Nigeria’s president. Excerpts

H ow did your meeting go last weekend? What were the resolutions?

Well, the meeting was the caucus of the South-East Congress. The South East Congress is the new name we gave to the South-East Political Leaders Forum, which Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke and I are co-conveners. That particular meeting was stalled a bit, because of the APGA crisis. But now the APGA crisis has taken a definite shape, heading for a quick resolution, one way or the other, legally or politically. So, we decided to renew efforts, because time is of the essence. So, the caucus met and took far-reaching decisions. One of the highlights of the meeting is that Igbo people will contest the 2007 presidential election. Igbo people will fight together on the platform of one political party. And that party is APGA, and that APGA is the one under my leadership. The committee set up at the previous meeting, headed by Dr. E.J.K. Onyewuchi, the ANPP Chairman in Imo state, submitted a report, in which they said that they had investigated the allegations against me and found them to be frivolous. They have also visited offices of APGA in the South-East zone and found out that all the officers were loyal to Chief Chekwas Okorie. They also contacted other members and Igbo people generally and they said that the APGA they would want to associate with is the APGA under my leadership. That was in their report and that report was adopted. We now also agreed that APGA would go into alliance with any of the major political parties, who have definite constituencies, for the purpose of forming a viable coalition government in 2007. APGA would be prepared, that is the South East Congress under APGA, would be prepared to assume either a senior or junior partner in that alliance, depending on our performance. It was also agreed, to sell this effectively to Igbo people. All the other similar organisations in Igbo land would be invited to participate actively in the activities of the South-East Congress. So the Onyewuchi committee was then further mandated to continue with their assignment of reaching out to the other groups. Another highlight of the caucus meeting was that the caucus would now move from state to state, beginning with Anambra. So by November, about the 20th of November, the South East Congress would be meeting in Awka, Anambra State. The caucus would now be holding a day before the congress itself. So, the next caucus would be at Chief Ume-Ezeoke’s residence in Amichi. In fact, he is the Chairman. We believe that in five months, we would already be in 2006. We would have covered the whole of Igbo land and then, we can take Delta and Rivers, where Igbo people are domiciled and then come back to the round table to see how far we have gone.

What was the attendance like?

Well, being a caucus, it was limited. We invited the governors, all of them. We received goodwill messages. They didn’t send representatives. But Chief Ume-Ezeoke, the Chairma was there. Myself, the co-convener, then Dr. Chudi Nwike, the National Treasurer of AD was there, Reverend Obioha, the Vice Chairman South-East, AD was there. From the ANPP side, of course I mentioned Dr. E.J.K. Onyewuchi. Don’t forget that Chief Ume-Ezeoke is the Deputy Chairman, Board of Trustees of ANPP. Chief Anike Nwoga, the National Youth Leader of ANPP was there. Dr. Joe Nworgu and Prof. Nworgu were there. Prof. Bonny Okere was also there, Chief (Mrs.) Maria Okwo and Chief Bridget Orjiako, former Commissioner in Anambra State, were there. Quite a number of people came. I can’t remember their names. But we were about 30, selected from the various states. Those who couldn’t make it, who belonged to the caucus, including Dr. John Okam, and Dr. Francis Egu, the secretary really, but he became ill and could not make it and somebody stood in for him.

Is this not another individual, independent and fragmented attempt at solving the Igbo problem, which has been identified as one of the greatest hiccup against achieving that goal? I ask this because there are some big names I expected to hear, which I did not hear. So what is the picture, where do they fit in?

No, quite frankly, when this thing started, there were other people. Chief John Nnia Nwodo was part of us originally, although I am not saying that he is no longer part of us, because he sent words to say that he was not disposed, Dr. Ikedife, who is a known name in Anambra and Igbo land, also sent in his regrets. I don’t want to start naming our members who didn’t come. I just talked about those who were there. But going to the question proper, I agree with you that a number of experiments have been made in Igboland to find a common platform for the promotion of Igbo political agenda. But one experiment has succeeded and that is the APGA experiment. Nobody can say that APGA has not become a movement, a political movement for Igbo people. So what is now left is to bring people, who belong to other political parties to see reason why it is in the collective interest of the Igbo people to embrace the movement called APGA, even if they still remain where they are, for the purposes of negotiating our people back into the mainstream of Nigerian politics, instead of the individual negotiations that have failed over the years. And in order to carry more people along, that was why the Dr. E.J.K. Onyewuchi committee was set up and further directed to reach out to these other groups that are springing up now and again.

The South East Congress is ahead of the others. The others are still at that preliminary stage of trying to organise. There is nothing you can do politically, in any part of the world, without pursuing them politically. That is why, when you hear that Ohaneze is going to bring a consensus candidate, it sounds so naïve and laughable. Because a cultural group cannot just bring a candidate and post him to a party. It is the party that can bring a presidential candidate, so that the cultural group can now work through the party. This is where the Yorubas are a bit more organised, where the Afenifere, know s that it is not a political group, so it works through the AD. Arewa would do the same thing through the ANPP. So the congress has identified a political party. And the people of the South East area, without being prompted, have also identified a political party of their own. So all we have to do now is to assure all the other people that they have accommodation in APGA and that nobody would be judged in terms of the time he joined. You can come and promote your own political agenda, aspiration, on that platform.

What is happening in the PDP, has helped to reinforce the fact that come rain, come shine, your own is your own. So, I believe that as we move from this stage, people will begin to see how all-embracing, the movement is. And it is to allow politicians and non-politicians the chance to participate in packaging the Igbo political agenda that we decided to use a name that is not a registered political party. But there is no doubt in our minds as to the vehicle to be used in actualising that agenda. That is the difference. Between the South East Congress and any other formation in Igboland. If you ask the others, they will not be able to pinpoint. If they tell you that it is the PDP, of course, immediately you begin to laugh, because PDP has been appropriated, and we know who appropriated it and that the Igbo interest is not part of their programme there.

So you believe that the project by Ndigbo to produce the next president of the country is still viable?

Yes. It is still viable. What we continue to harp on is to ensure free and fair election. Once we have an election in which the votes of voters will count, I don’t see how that cannot happen. Ordinarily, nobody would have expected that MRS. Angel Merkel of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany would become Chancellor. But when they went to election that was free and fair and there was no clear winner, her party was able to negotiate itself into prominence by giving accommodation to others and that saw to her emergence. In arrangement in which the LPD got more of the prominent ministerial position over and above the LCDU that is forming the government, that is what coalition is all about. That is why I said we will be prepared to either be senior or junior in the coalition. If there are two or three parties that have agreed to go into coalition, we must have an open mind that whoever is senior in terms of performance will be allowed to form government. So, with that arrangement, the two or three parties that had agreed to work together will now know what their chances are if they eventually emerge. But it is not to throw up our hands and say we cannot produce this thing when the prospect of becoming senior in that coalition is prized.

What are the indicators to guide you?

Majority of Nigerian progressives are inclined to APGA because it is broad based than the other parties. The PDP actually is not a progressive party. In fact, it is one of the most reactionary parties we have ever had in this country. There is no amount of pretence that will make people not to see the reality. The entire South-East people are emotionally and sentimentally attached to APGA. And I can tell you why: When we were conceptualising this party, it was deliberate on my part, because I initiated and conceptualised what is called APGA today. It was deliberate on my part to come up with the logo, the Cockerel. I also came up with the name UPGA. UPGA was a kind of an alliance, which was not a political party in 1954 when it was formed. Dr. Michael Okpara was the leader, with deputy leader, Michael Fajemro, from the west. And then the cock on the symbol of the NCNC which Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe led. So, I thought that I needed to gain two things that will evoke the memory of these great icons politically. So, I brought these things in. I then came up with an additional amendment to their condition that no name used before will be allowed to be used again and no logo or symbol used before will be allowed to be used again. I then went back to the drawing board and changed United to All. That was how we moved from UPGA to APGA. And then, we used the acronym, ADDA and put it under the cock, so that the cock can hang on the acronym. And that has therefore changed the logo. So, this invoked the reaction that we expected and that was how people came to be attached with it up till today. That is one.

Now, you go to areas where the NCNC and UPGA influenced, the Middle Belt, the UNITED Middle Belt Congress, led by J.S Taka was part of UPGA and of course the West. NCNC was part of UPGA, the Bornu Youth Movement was part of NCNC. The Northern Elements Progressive Union was part of UPGA. So, all those places that UPGA covered, either the same people or their children or those who were much younger at the time are naturally attached to APGA. So, this is the foundation from where we are going. And that is why in spite of APGA not having one local government to its credit, it became the fastest growing political party, rising to become the foremost opposition party over and above the ANPP that has seven governors and several local governments and senators and legislators at the National Assembly. So, we have a strong foundation. There is no doubt that there is crisis at the centre but the crisis would soon be over and then we would do a double-quick match to recover lost grounds. But I will tell you again about the presidential ambition in APGA now. We have two approaches at hand. It is either one long jump from where we are now into Aso Rock or up step and jump. These are two athletic events: the long jump and the up step and jump. So, this up step and jump is the one that we will capture through coalition. A long jump is when we do it, alone which is a little bit more remote.

Recently, you made a call to Igbo people to rise and fight the war that is about to consume them. I don’t know if there has been any reaction since when you echoed that challenge?

Well, there were some reactions. For instance, the South-East Congress considered very seriously sending a high power delegation led by its Chairman to Professor Maurice Iwu to find out why he would choose to destroy APGA; to find out why APGA constitution could be so flagrantly violated under him? If it was true that the Guobadia regime took the decision, as he is claming, why didn’t they implement it? If they allowed him to come and do it, why didn’t he ask questions if he was to be believed at all? That they were not saying that Chekwas Okorie must be chairman at all cost but that their position is that if Chekwas Okorie must be removed at all cost there should be due process in his removal. The congress also frowned at a situation where an Igbo man like him will be used to distabilised the Igbo political agenda. That was considered; and there was another opinion to tarry a while, may be for one or two more weeks to see whether based on all the memoranda sent to him from many quarters including APGA, he would have a rethink. If he doesn’t, then they would go to meet him with these views; and whatever he says will be made available to entire Igbo people; perhaps in the next five weeks congress and meetings coming up in Awka on the 20th of November and then Igbo people will know who their enemies are. This is because you must let the people know where their problems lie. And if it is from the internal force, they should be able to know that this is where it is coming from. And if it external forces, they should be able to know, because if you don’t know who your enemy is, you may be fighting in the wrong direction. But one thing is obvious, the Igbo people have decided that in 2007 they would be preparing for two things: first option is an election that will be free and fair, the second option is war in with which they will defend themselves. A situation where somebody will come in, write results and ask us to go to court will not arise again and it will not be tolerated. So, if anybody is nursing that kind of idea, that he can manipulate machines and deny the Igbo people their inalienable right to choose their leaders, the person should just forget such ambition because it will not be taken or tolerated.

How prepared is APGA for elections?

Well, by now some people would have indicated interest to run on the platform of the party but with the confusion Maurice Iwu has created, it would be difficult to present a candidate until this matter is resolved. And this is why we believe he is doing what he’s doing deliberately to make it difficult for APGA to present candidates and campaign for their candidates from the united platform. We hope he would not be seen as a traitor who has come to destroy Igbo people. I said this because there was an election a week ago in a ward, a bye –election in a ward in Isu local government of Imo State. And the State Independent Electoral Commission, INEC in Imo State decided for the first time, I don’t know whether it was because of the crisis in the PDP in which Achike Udenwa is being marginalised, but the commission decided to have a free and fair election. I am quoting the commission, there are 3,400 registered voters in that ward and because people no longer have interest to come out and vote, only 1105 voters voted. And they counted these votes in the ward there and then to the satisfaction of everybody. APGA got 1119 votes; PDP got 245 votes; the rest of the votes were shared by the remaining 28 olitical parties. This is a free and fair election in a ward in Imo State last weekend. So you can imagine that, and this happened when nobody went to campaign. When we have a candidate in a senatorial zone and we all launched out to campaign and if INEC decides to conduct a free and fair election, APGA will take 90 percent of the votes. And APGA candidate will be sworn in. So, that is why the PDP is tired of battling with APGA and Iwu has made himself a winning tool in their hands. He may continue to exacerbate the APGA crisis so that it would not be able to present the front. If there is change of mind on their part, I can assure you that APGA will not just present a candidate but would win.

Posted by Publisher at 01:59 PM | Comments (0)

Stella will be re-buried in Iruekpen – Monarch

I will pay compensation – Obasanjo

In line with tradition, Stella Omotola, wife of President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was buried yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, will be reburied in her parents’ home in Iruekpen, Edo State.

uwakwe abugu
Bureau Chief, Benin.

However, during the re-burial, her body would not be exhumed but a measurement of her grave would be taken with a stick and that stick reburied in Iruekpen.

And to assuage the grouse of Stella’s homestead, President Olusegun Obasanjo at the burial assured the Esan people that at the appropriate time, whatever fine imposed for defying their custom would be paid.

According to Obasanjo, he was aware of their complaints that their daughter was sleeping “permanently in Abeokuta” but that “ at the appropriate time, whatever fine that may be imposed, will be paid.

This has finally put paid to speculations on the matter.Esan Youth Movement had in a paid advert during the week, protested the internment of Stella outside her ancestral home..

Insisting that the custom of the Esan people must be respected, the traditional ruler of Abia, Iruekpen where Stella’s parents hail from, the Onogie of Ogwa, Esan West Council Area, H.R.H Zaiki J. Ehizogie, said the son of the late First Lady, Muyiwa, is expected to lead the ceremony.

The traditional ruler explained, “After the so-called burial, yes, I call that so-called burial in Ogun state, the final resting place has to be in Abia, Iruekpen.”

The monarch said that Stella was buried in Abeokuta in line with her will and that is why they acceded to it. According to him, apart from the question of the couple deciding their final resting place when they die, the arrangement was accepted because “it is a family arrangement, it is a formal respect for the President and then, for Pa Abebe.

“We accept that they can choose their burial site but we also reserve the traditional right to our daughter’s final resting place. So, we expect that the final arrangement would be complied with shortly so that our custom will not be too grossly abused or neglected”, he maintained.

“But we don’t need to exhume the corpse. All we need to do is to take the measurement of the grave where she was buried using a stick. Then, that stick will be formally re-buried in Abia, Iruekpen here. All the other procedures will be followed by her people, particularly her first son. That is the custom here”, he insisted.

Asked when that will be done, he explained that “the consultation will be held with our people here and the time for that final burial will be fixed but that will be after the Abeokuta burial.

He contended that there had been much pressure from the Esan people especially those living outside Edo State, who questioned the decision of the Abebe family and the elders in accepting that Stella be buried in Abeokuta.

The deceased’s father, Dr. Christopher Abebe, was away to Abuja when our reporter visited his Abia, Iruekpen country home during the week to get his comments on the matter.

But his immediate younger brother, Thomas Abebe, toed the line of the monarch.

According to him, the issue of where the late Mrs. Obasanjo would be buried had raised much dust amongst the Esan people within and outside Iruekpen immediately the burial programme was announced.

He said he personally went to Abuja to confer with his elder brother over the issue of the burial site since there were protests from their people.

Abebe explained, in passable English, that his brother told him that he had agreed to the arrangement of the burial taking place in Abeokuta because Obasanjo revealed that he and his spouse had agreed to be buried in the same place.

“Obasanjo said that he would send people to us to explain the agreement they had reached regarding their burial place. It is our old custom to bury our daughters when they die. But when they write a will they reverse it,”he stated.

Posted by Publisher at 01:57 PM | Comments (0)

SSS Seizes Newspapers With Biafra Briefs in Rivers

Men of the State Security Services (SSS) yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State began mass seizures of all newspapers and magazines in the state that carried any story, article or information on Biafra nation from newspapers’ vendors.

From Okon Bassey in Port Harcourt, 10.28.2005

The swoop on the vendors came a week to the hosting of the 72nd birthday of the former warlord of Biafra, Dim Emeka Ojukwu in Port Harcourt, November 5, 2005 by the Igbo in Rivers and Bayelsa states.
THISDAY gathered that the SSS men clamped- down on the vendors in the early hours of Thursday and warned them to henceforth stop assisting in the circulation or displaying of newspapers and magazines on the streets of the state that contain Biafra stories.

Though no arrest was made, a vendor at the Education Bus-stop in Port Harcourt told THISDAY that, they were given the last warning to desist from selling or distributing newspapers with Biafra stories and cautioned that they (vendors) know the type of papers to sell.

Sources said among those papers seized with cover price ranging between N50.00 and N200.00, were Global Star, Eastern Pilot, News Desk, The Igbo Spirit Magazine, Freedom News, Voice of Biafra, National Question and the Mandate.

Posted by Publisher at 01:56 PM | Comments (0)

Protests In Jos Over Us, Britain’s Support For Israel

Hundreds of Muslims in Jos yesterday took to the streets after Jumat prayers in protest against the stance of the United States of America and Britain on the call by Iran that Israel should be wiped off the map of the world.

From Ahamefula Ogbu in Jos, 10.28.2005

Dressed in red, the protesters who paraded major streets in the Plateau State capital also distributed leaflets most of them in Arabic which some of them who spared some steps to respond to questions said were in condemnation of the two countries.

The peaceful demonstrators in an apparent show of displeasure with the official position of US and Britain dragged their flags along the streets where they staged the protest thereby causing panic among residents of a possible breakdown of law and order.

Shops around Dilimi and Abuja markets temporarily closed in apprehension of the protest possibly getting out of hand and becoming a full blown inter religious.”

Posted by Publisher at 01:55 PM | Comments (0)

The bellview plane crash: Oh, we got no chance for final goodbye, families lament

“A voice was heard in Rama, Lamentation, weeping and great mourning. Rachael was weeping for her children and would not be comforted because they are no more.” — Matthew 2:18

Story by Chioma Anyagafu, Assistant Editor and Fred Iwenjora
Posted to the Web: Saturday, October 29, 2005

HOW else will you describe the disaster that befell Nigeria last Saturday when Bellview Airlines Flight B3 210 crashed at Lisa village in Ifo Local Council of Ogun State, killing all 117 people on board? Is there ever any compensation for life? How will you compensate a woman who not only lost her husband in the crash but also the opportunity to say a final goodbye and give the body a befitting burial? How do you console a woman begging to be given only a finger or an ear of her late husband to take home as something to represent the whole body?

What story would calm a woman who had prepared a yam porridge for her daughter and her son-in-law who were coming in from a honeymoon, but never got home while the prepared food remained in the freezer for 48 hours after the young couple had long died?

How do you calm a husband who pleaded with his wife to postpone the journey till Monday since Saturday and Sundays were no working days to no avail? Would a young man who drove his own brother to the airport and was told his brother had missed the flight by fifteen minutes and should wait for the next one ever comprehend how his brother entered the same flight he was told he missed after the former had left?

Questions, questions, questions! These were some of numerous questions that demanded answers as relations after relations of people perished in the ill-fated Boeing 727 Bellview flight trooped into the corporate headquarters of the airline at Opebi in Ikeja, Lagos or at the airline’s office at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
It was, indeed, heart-rending as emotions ran high for hours and for days. Some came crying, others registered their protests as they all demanded answers from the officials of the airline concerning their beloved ones who were in the Abuja-bound flight that Saturday night.

The tears, the pains, the expression of anger, the visible apprehension, the feelings of hopelessness were all natural expectations from people so anguished by the cruel tragedy.

Who do you calm? The widow, the widower and the orphans whose circumstances were created by the crash? Would some relations of these victims ever get over the agony, the psychological trauma of losing their loved ones? How will parents who lost their only sons or daughters ever recover from the reality that their wards whom they waited for at the Abuja end of the airport that Saturday night would never land to their embrace? Could anything have saved the pilot from flying with his sister in the same aircraft? What is the future for Faith and Patience Imasuen, the twin daughters of the pilot who flew the ill-fated Bellview flight 210?

Indeed, there have been no answers. Only questions and questions. It was a pitiful sight at the corporate headquarters of Bellview as relatives of the dead got nothing but only insurance forms to fill, with words of consolation coming from the airline’s officials who were also mourning because even their beloved ones also died in the crash.

Saturday Vanguard was there and at the airport for days and came face-to-face with the bereaved families. And for all, one common denominator was the feeling of emptiness by the distinct families that they would get no chance to bury their dead, even as they did not get any opportunity for the last goodbye. We bring to you the grief, agonies and views of the affected families.

‘I narrowly missed boarding the
flight but my brother died in it’

SOLA and David Oneh, both of Deeper Life Church came to join the shuttle bus from Bellview office to the sight of the crash. Sola was the person who accompanied Steve Bayo, (92 on the list of the crash victims) to the airport that day. Both were to travel together because they had much belongings but the sight of many passengers at the airport who wanted the same flight made them to drop Sola. He tells the story.

I cannot get this picture off my head. I saw all the people that boarded the flight because Steve and I got there early. We had much load and we spent so much time booking them in. I even helped the white couple and their son with some of their loads at the booking. There was also another old lady who boarded the flight whom I also helped with her luggage.

My brother (Steve) had wanted us to travel because his load was too much but many people wanted that flight because of the time. There were some people who still missed it and perhaps they never knew how lucky they were at that point at the airport. I stood with the passengers and interacted with many of them because I stayed long. I had to wait for Brother Steve to leave before I left.

We had already concluded plans. We had called the Abuja end and asked them to bring a bigger bus to the airport to pick our belongings. I waited till they boarded the airline’s bus that took them to the tarmac. I watched from a distance as they boarded the plane.

I still remember the mood at the airport, the discussions, the laughter, the phone calls. You know whenever it is time to board flights, people make calls and we were all standing there. I would have been a victim but something happened at the airport that made us to buy only one ticket. If we had come late, perhaps I would have boarded that plane but because we came early and finished checking in our goods and made arrangements for a bus to wait at Abuja to pick them, we decided that there was no need for me to travel with Steve.

What I really want now is to be taken to Lisa Village. We have been coming since the Sunday that it was confirmed that the plane was sighted somewhere. They even showed our cheque, the Deeper Life Bible Church cheque. Brother Steve had died but God knows better. It’s unfortunate we had no chance to say bye to him but we know he is happy with the Lord.

Too sad, he’s gone without a final
word, mourns Uche Okolo’s brother

Casmir Okolo, elder brother of Uche Okolo who died in the ill-fated flight from Lagos to Abuja still looked stupefied as he brought out the particulars of his brother and began to fill forms given to him at the corporate headquarters of Bellview Airline. He paused, looked up and asked his companion, Clement who brought him to the place if his brother, Uche, was now being referred to in the past tense. As a man, he tried not to shed tears but they were unstoppably rolling down his cheeks.

“So, we’re filling forms that Uche is dead, abi? And he is not coming back? Clement, are we now filling forms about Uche and we’re talking about him in past tense? Uche that missed his flight by 15 minutes! How did he get into it? He called me to say he missed his flight and would wait for the next one. Yet, it was the one he missed that crashed and he was in it. How did it happen?”

Ironically, it was the same Clement who brought Casmir to the premises of Bellview plaza that also drove Uche to the airport that Saturday evening.
“I was with him at the airport,” he told Saturday Vanguard. “Uche was my boss and my friend. We got to the airport 15 minutes behind schedule. He had already missed the flight because the flight was loaded and set to leave when we got to the airport. The engine of the airplane was running already when I dropped Uche. The ticketing officers told him to wait for the next flight and I handed over his personal effects.

“Uche always travelled like that. He said he wanted to come back Sunday morning. He made many calls at the airport and asked me to tell some of his friends and associates he had appointment with that weekend to come on Sunday afternoon. Then, he asked me to leave and I did. We all knew he missed the flight by 15 minutes and I can’t really say how he ended up boarding that same flight.”
According to his shattered brother, Casmir, “we’ll all die but how did Uche die this way, without even saying a word to us?”

We didn’t want my wife to travel that night— Olaniyan
MR. Olaniyan was one of those who insisted on being taken to the site of the crash. His wife, Mrs. Remilekun Olaniyan was among those who perished in the crash. Olaniyan went to the site, saw the debris and trembled all the way back because he was convinced from what he saw that nothing could have saved the victims.

We didn’t want her to travel that Saturday night. We all begged her that since it was Saturday, that whatever she wanted to do could wait till Monday but you see, she gave some good excuses why she needed to be there that Saturday night and that’s that. The rest is history.

You and I know the story but I have come to ensure that really there’s no mistake. No, there was none. My wife that left that Saturday evening is not coming back to us.

‘Nkiru was pregnant when she died with her husband’
Oby Oluigbo and her sister Vivian, both wearing dark glasses to cover their blood-shot eyes came out of the Bellview plaza on Opebi fuming. Their anger was not directed at anybody but at fate itself that dealt them a deadly blow. Their younger sister, Nkiru and her husband Chukwuemeka Okoli were on their way back from Ghana and some African countries where they went for their honeymoon when they boarded the ill-fated Boeing 727 Bellview flight that crashed Saturday night.

“Isn’t this life incredible?” Oby asked the journalist. “Isn’t it funny how things turn out? Nkiru was my younger sister. She was aged 22 years, so full of life. A few weeks ago, we were all together, family and friends during her wedding to Chukwuemeka and everybody was happy. Nkiru was pregnant with her first child and died with it and her husband. Is this life not wicked?”
Oby Oluigbo told this paper that her sister and her husband were returning from honeymoon, the last lap of which they spent in Ghana.

“They called us before they boarded that flight that they were already in Nigeria and would be in Abuja in the next one hour. They asked us to wait for them at the airport and asked my mother to prepare yam porridge for them which she did. We’re still waiting for their flight to land.

“Do you know that none of the wedding gifts has been opened? Not even an envelope or a gift has been unwrapped. Everything is still like that, like they were given to them during the wedding. Some people even brought their presents after my sister and her husband had embarked on their honeymoon. And they were coming back from that honeymoon when it happened.

“Have I told you about the child? Nkiru was pregnant, her first child and they all perished. Do you see the way life is? You needed to have seen my sister and her husband, so full of life, very much in love, so happy and now this happened!

“Where do I begin their story and where do I end? Do you know that my mother prepared yam porridge and is still waiting for her daughter (Nkiru) and son-in-law, Chukwuemeka to come home and eat. The yam porridge is still in the freezer. My mum is still waiting for this joke to be over. But it’s alright. They are happy wherever they are today. God will take care of them.”

But Vivian would want more explanations. “It’s not God’s wish for anyone to die young. Nkiru was 22. Are you saying no one could explain this? Are they saying this could not have been avoided? Just three minutes after take-off and it was death. Why did it take Nigeria so long to find where the aircraft crashed? Did rescue come early enough to try and save some souls?

“Some things have not been properly explained to us and that is what we are demanding from the government and the airline. What really happened? Nkiru and Chukwuemeka and all others would feel better in their graves if we find answers to their death.

“And could you imagine the misinformation? We had been all over the place, from Kwara to Ogbomosho, Kishi, Shaki and finally to Lisa village. We’ve seen the debris and all we know is that Nkiru and Chukwuemeka are dead. All we want to know is why the happy couple, so much in love and their unborn child would ask us to prepare yam porridge for them and are not yet back. We saw the carcass of the plane. We know where Nkiru and Chukwuemeka are buried. It’s so painful we won’t be able to give them a befitting burial. It equally painful that we couldn’t meet our sister and her husband after their honeymoon.

“Is this the end of a story that began happily? Nkiru was younger than us but she found love earlier and settled down in marriage. Now, is this the end? Buried in that strange land we went to with body parts scattered all over the place? It is a sad story. This is nonsense. We want to know what happened?”

NANM will forever miss Sabulu, says Okoh
COMRADE Linus Sabulu, president of the National Associaton of the Nurses and Midwives (NANM) had come to Lagos to be part of the Nurses and Midwives Council of Nigeria meeting. The meeting had lasted from Thursday - Saturday, October 22, 2005.

Sabulu who hailed from Gombe State had checked out of the hotel and was eager to rejoin his family in Abuja even though his wife had told him not to bother returning till the next day. Love for family had an upper hand and that was how he boarded the ill-fated flight.

According to Frank Okoh, secretary of the Lagos State chapter of NANM who was with him on Friday said: “Sabulu had thought the meetings would have ended on Friday but it spilled over to Saturday. I had gone to his hotel room to discuss some personal and association matters. He was full of hopes for our association and how to put it on the path of progress. The association will really miss his astute leadership. He rose from auditor to financial secretary, deputy president before eventually becoming the president in the over ten years of his involvement.

“Sabulu was a very nice guy. I am not saying so because he’s dead. He was a result-oriented leader. His driving force propelled the association to greater height. He was a man always after success. Only God knows why he and the other passengers of the ill-fated Bellview flight had to die that way.

“Our association’s executives have been meeting and will soon come up with plans on how to honour him. He was a friend and a wonderful colleague. We would forever remember him for his positive attitude to things.”

‘It’s a pity search-and-rescue efforts were slow’
KUNLE Martins is the president of Cabin Crew Members Association of Nigeria which was formed in 1990. Three crew members who belong to the association in the persons of Victoria Etim, Queen Ozekhome and Sanni Steve were involved in the air crash. Martins spoke on what the body intends to do to ensure that the families of the deceased get their entitlements.

There are those who would point to the risky nature of our job, but I want to tell you that some people have flown for thirty five years and nothing has happened to them. But I want to call on the government agencies involved in this business to take it seriously. I say this because a few months ago, we organised a seminar/workshop on safety in air transportation in Nigeria. No one came from FAAN, NAMA.

But Governor Tinubu who didn’t even have a stake, sent a representative. I want the government to put certain checks in place. Government must check how much money is released to different agencies and how they spend the money. This administration must look into these things.

It is also shameful that our search and rescue team could not trace where the aircraft crashed. I was with the AIT crew when we got to Lisa. I saw pieces of parts of the aircraft and human beings and could only imagine what may have happened to the plane. Our lives are not safe. It is not like that all over the world. We only have to rely on God.

I have been flying since 1993. I started with Okada Air. I see the work as just another job. An accident does not make you not to drive around anymore. What must worry Nigerians is the lack of knowledge and inability to take prompt action when there is an emergency.

The area where we, as a union, will take seriously is monitoring what happens to the insurance pay cheque of the victims. This is an area where there is always a problem. I recall the case of one young woman who worked for one airline and died on active duty. We fought that case until she was paid her entitlements. I don’t believe Bellview Airlines will try to do anything funny. But as a union, we’ll only monitor it to see that the families receive the rights of our late colleagues who were wonderful crew members of note in Nigeria.

Posted by Publisher at 01:54 PM | Comments (0)

Tribute: To reflect and...Act

WHEN one loses a loved one and it occurs in an abrupt manner, such that you least expected it to happen, it dawns on you with a clarity more real than imagined that indeed man’s existence on earth is a vain pursuit after the wind.

By Hector Igbikiowubo
Posted to the Web: Saturday, October 29, 2005

The ill fated Bellview flight 210 crash last Saturday at Lisa, in Ifo, Ogun State which claimed 117 lives abruptly is one such instance.

I understand that one of the passengers who got on board the flight had arrived the airport a little late and was told that he could not get on board the ill fated flight. The passenger then called his home in Abuja to inform them he would not be returning till the next day. However, in a last ditch effort to get on board the plane which was still on ground, he approached one of the officials and after a tip had changed hands, he was taken to the plane where the official called on the radio to let those conducting check-in know that there was one more passenger approaching the plane. He succeeded in boarding the plane and the rest like we know is history. How could he have known that he was tipping his way to his death?

Although the rest of the passengers who boarded the ill fated flight did not have to tip any official to get on board, an inspection of the flight manifest shows that some of those who boarded did so with tickets belonging to other people. Could they have taken the chance if they knew it would be their last? Certainly not!
Although no life lost in the crash could be said to be greater than the other, I feel a personal connection with Mr. George Ikemefuna Enenmoh, the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Ascon Oil whom I spoke with one hour before he boarded the flight. Enenmoh bestrode the oil industry like a meteor in the sky.
Barely three months ago, he celebrated his 50th birthday, the expansion of his company’s petroleum product’s storage capacity from 30 million litres to 70 million litres, the commissioning of an 18,000 line capacity telephone exchange and the commissioning of two ships.

Enenmoh had at least three hundred staff in his employ and these staff were a reflection of his belief in one Nigeria. He strove for perfection in a manner only he could and he believed in the regeneration of Nigeria through enterprise, hard work and discipline. With Enenmoh there was no dull moment. Maybe, he knew his days were numbered when last week, he sent me a mail insisting that I had to read it. The mail was titled ‘to reflect and ....act’. There is no better way to give an insight into the persona called George Ikemefuna Enenmoh. It read:

The difference between the poor countries and rich ones is not the age of the country. This can be shown by countries like India and Egypt, that are more than 2000 years old and are poor.

On the other hand, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, that 150 years ago were inexpressive, today are developed countries and are rich.
The difference between poor and rich countries does not reside in the available natural resources.

Japan has a limited land territory, 80 per cent mountainous, inadequate for agriculture and cattle rearing, but it is the second largest economy in the world. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw materials from the whole world and exporting manufactured products.

Another example is Switzerland, which does not plant cocoa but has the best chocolate in the world. In its little territory, they raise animals and till the soil four months per year. Not enough, they produce dairy products of the best quality. It is a small country that transmits an image of security, order and labour, and this has made it the world’s strong safe.

Executives from rich countries who communicate with their counterparts in poor countries show that there is no significant intellectual difference.
Race or skin colour is also not important: immigrants labelled lazy in their countries of origin are the productive power in rich European countries.

What is the difference?
The difference is the attitude of the people, framed along the years by education and culture.

On analysing the behaviour of the people in rich and developed countries, we find that the great majority follow the following principles in their lives:
*Ethics, as a basic principle;
* Integrity;
*Responsibility;
*Respect for the laws and rules;
*Respect for the rights of other citizens;
*Work loving;
*Strive for saving and investment;
*Will of super action;
*Punctuality.

In poor countries, only a minority follow these basic principles in their daily life.
We are not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature was cruel to us. We are poor because we lack attitude. We lack the will to comply with and teach these functional principles of rich and developed societies.

If you do not forward this message nothing will happen to you. Your pet will not die, you will not be fired, you will not have bad luck for seven years and also, you will not get sick.
If you love your country, let this message circulate. A majority of the people this message reaches could reflect about this and change.

For want of better adjectives to qualify Enenmoh, I would call him a true Nigerian patriot who accomplished so much within his 50 eventful years on earth, impacting on people, thinking and conducting affairs within and outside the country. Even though he could afford to live a life of lavish splendour outside Nigeria, his abiding faith in the regeneration of a prostrate Nigerian polity kept him rooted to the motherland. He presented several papers at various fora within and outside the Nigerian oil and gas industry and was in the vanguard of increased local participation in the oil and gas sector.

On his 50th birthday, I asked him what he looked forward to doing in retirement and he said he planned to build a school someday where he could pay attention to imparting knowledge. May his soul and those of others who lost their lives in the ill fated flight find repose in the bosom of the Lord God.

Posted by Publisher at 01:53 PM | Comments (0)

The bellview plane crash: Udeka’s wife cries: God, why me?

NUMBER 13, lshola Taiwo Street, Lekki Phase I, Victoria Island in Lagos, was, Tuesday afternoon, like a Mecca of sort.

Stories by Celestine Okafor, Assistant Editor
Posted to the Web: Saturday, October 29, 2005

From the array of exotic cars parked outside the gate, you could observe that people, lots of people were in the premises of the sprawling edifice to condole with the deceased family whose breadwinner and Managing Director of African Continental Bank (ACB), Mr. John Udeka lost his life in the ill-fated Bellview crash last Saturday night.

As the reporter entered where the late banker’s wife, Mrs. Mamune Udeka was sitting with some family members receiving visitors, one of them, a cousin to the late Udeka said: “I know you want to speak to madam over this incident. It’s a pity she won’t be able to talk now. Uncle’s death has thrown everybody off balance.”
Determined, however, to talk with Mrs. Udeka who sat on the chair, even if to conmiserate with her and in the process chip in a few questions, the grief-stricken woman looked at her guest without uttering a word. She was too shocked for words.

And when she found the courage to talk, Mrs. Udeka said: “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe that John has left me this way! It just can’t be true. Will I ever come out of this pain? God, where do you want me to start from? I’ve always served you and reposed my faith in you. God, why? Why? Why me?” she asked as she began to cry.

At this point, a female sympathiser, a middle aged woman held her close to herself and began to offer consolatory words. Mrs. Udeka suddenly got up and as if forgetting something, walked into the inner room and came out again a few minutes later and back to her position.
Without talking to anybody in particular this time, the widow yelled: “Oh life, so this is life? God, I thought you loved me. Why did you allow this to happen to me? Why did you allow this to happen to him (John Udeka)?” •
Mrs. Udeka acknowledged the comforting words of the visitors but would not go into any further interview. “What do I say? I just can’t say anything. This is just too much for me,” she lamented amid tears.

We bow to the will of Allah,
by Waziri Mohammed’s brother

IBRAHIM Mohammed, younger brother to late PDP chieftain and chairman of Nigeria Railway Corporation, Alhaji Waziri Mohammed who was among the victims of last Saturday’s plane crash at Lisa village sees the death of his brother and mentor as the will of the Almighty Allah.
My brother’s death was painful, very painful to everybody in the family. We were not expecting that Alhaji would die so soon and in this manner. He was such a lively young man. He was good to everybody in the family. He cared for everybody who needed his help and attention.

He used to advise us on the need to work hard in life and to be faithful to Allah. He was a deeply religious person who was never fanatical about his faith. He tolerated everybody who came his way. He also made friends in both high and low places. He was a respected person in the high circles because of the way he carried himself and the way he related with people. He was a good model in humility. Among you journalists, he had lots of friends that I know very well. For him to die in this manner, is most painful. Everybody in our family is seriously affected by his death. Infact, right now, more and more people are coming into the house to offer their condolences. People have been coming in and going out since this incident happened on Saturday.

His wife, Zainab and other family members are right there inside the house receiving people. The President was here in the house yesterday (Tuesday) to condole with our family. The Senate President and some members of the National Assembly and PDP officials were around to also sympathise with us.

The most painful aspect of it was that we could not pick his corpse because of the way their plane crashed. We would have loved to give him a befitting burial. We understand the rescue operation teams are still trying to put a lot of things together. I hope they (rescue operators) can be able to recover his body.
It is very said that this kind of thing can happen in this country and there would be this kind of delay before rescue efforts began. The death of my brother is painful but we have left everything to God as Islam would admonish us. I believe that Allah chose to call my brother at His own time. So, there is nothing anybody can do. We have resigned to the will of Allah.

I want to use this opportunity to condole with Mr. President on the death of his dear wife and other families like us who lost their loved ones in that crash. They should take heart because this is a shared pain. It is only the Almighty Allah that knows why that thing (plane crash) happened.”

I leave our future to God– Igwe
MRS. Ketebu Igwe, wife of Chief Joseph Igwe, Bolingo Hotel boss who was among the victims of last weekend’s ill-fated Bellview flight to Abuja says she leaves their future to God. Agony and grief arising from unexpected tragedy involving the sudden loss of a loved one has a way of drying words from the mouth of the bereaved. Mrs. Becky Ketebu Igwe, a former minister of state of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in President Olusegun Obasanjo’s first term (1999-2003) however found herself in this situation following the crash.

She was understandably not in the mood to respond to any press chat and worsened by the fact that she was busy receiving sympathisers including President Olusegun Obasanjo as well as other dignitaries who were around to condole with her and her family over the death of her husband. The ex-minister however managed to say: “I am mourning right now please. I lost my dear husband a few days ago and that’s enough tragedy for me. But I leave my sorrows and our future to God.”

We’ll probe the crash, pledges Nzeribe
House of Reps committee chairman on natural disaster, Hon Chuma Nzeribe says that his committee mandated on Monday by the House to investigate the circumstance surrounding the crash in Ogun state last Saturday night would leave no stone unturned in its quest to probe the incident.

Yes, the House committee on natural disaster headed by me is currently probing that crash. Though we are starting our investigation formally next week, we have started making moves in that regard. It is a 10-member committee. The decision for mandating the committee to move in and investigate the matter was based on a number of reasons. That incident falls within our legislative jurisdiction as house committee on natural disaster because we indeed regard it as a natural calamity which cannot be explained until a proper probe is carried out.

Secondly, it’s a disaster which claimed the lives of 117 Nigerians and non-Nigerians including eminent people of this country. That incident also affected most families across the six geo-political zones as you can see that mourning is taking place simultaneously in virtually different homes across this country. So, it is a national calamity.

Thirdly, there is an urgent need for us to know all that happened regarding that air crash, whether it was a result of human error or something like that. People are eager to know all that happened so that we can take measures, adequate enough, to forestall such occurrence again in the future.

Fourthly, we are going to investigate the extent of culpability of the appropriate aviation agency or agencies responsible for response intervention and rescue operations but who perhaps failed to do their job. So, we are going to look at the aviation management in general and then make our recommendations to the House for appropriate action.

Now, I am not going to pre-empt the committee because I don’t know for now what form our investigation will take until we start. But what I can tell you is that we are going to visit all the necessary places especially the site of the crash. We are going to invite all the persons, agencies or organisations concerned or connected with that ill-fated flight including the management of Bellview airline.

We will like to look at the profile or history of the aircraft and management profile of Bellview airline and how they take care of safety of their passengers because we are talking about what involves human lives.

Above all, we will like to know why NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency) and all related agencies couldn’t act promptly. We need to find out all these details and report back to the whole House of Reps that mandated us to do this assignment. And in the cause of carrying out our investigations, we are going to look at the handling of our aviation system in order to know how safe we are. I must assure that whoever is found culpable would be mentioned and exposed by my committee because that incident was a big shame.

Posted by Publisher at 01:52 PM | Comments (0)

The bellview plane crash: GRIEF, PRAYERS AT LISA VILLAGE

THERE was grief everywhere at Lisa village where the Bellview aircraft crashed last Saturday night. The shock was understandable and unstoppable. Most of the families that turned up for the inter-faith service in honour of the crash victims turned away inconsolable.

By Okey Ndiribe
Posted to the Web: Saturday, October 29, 2005

More pitiable as they arrived were the wives of the dead ones and the children who had lost their fathers or mothers. For the former, they always had their friends and relatives who offered helping hands and words of consolation when the women came to the stark realities that it was, indeed, this Lisa forest that their beloved ones were buried underground.

The case of Oby Oluigbo was more pathetic. She had lost her sister and in-law in the air crash She could not hold back her emotions and burst into tears while President Olusegun Obasanjo was addresing the congregation last Thursday. While the younger Oby wept uncontrollably, her elder sister, Vivian told this reporter that their sister named Nkiru had married Chukwuemeka Okoli recently and both of them perished in the air crash.

However, Mrs. Grace Yetunde Omotade who also lost her husband in the crash managed to pull herself together. She said it was the belief she and her children had in Jesus Christ that had sustained them during this trying period. She said her three daughters have been devastated by news of their father’s death even though they were all living abroad.

Mrs Sabulu, wife of the late Comrade Sabulu President of National Association of Nurses and Midwives ( NANM) was in a state of deep shock and could barely utter audible words when she was approached by a group of journalists for an interview.
The sleepy village was thronged by thousands of people from different parts of the country who attended the inter-religious service. As early as 10 a.m., many Christian and Muslim clerics had arrived the village to begin preparations for the inter-faith service. The choir of Winners chapel was on hand to render various renditions for the day.

President Olusegun Obasanjo who arrived Lisa at about 1 p.m, urged relatives of the victims of the crashed aircraft to refrain from grieving too much and take solace in the injunction of the holy books of Christianity and Islam that there is life after death.
He said that relatives of the air crash victims must not weep like people who have no expectations of a life after departing this world.

President Obasanjo who attended the occasion along with several members of his Federal Executive council and the governors of Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti , Oshun and the Deputy Governor of Lagos State expressed condolences to the Nigerian and foreign families of the victims over the air crash. on behalf of himself and the Federal Government.

He thanked all those who have so far participated in the rescue efforts at the scene of the crash. He thanked the govermnor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel for his efforts in arranging the inter-religious service at the scene of the crash.

He further stated that the national tragedy had revealed to him that Nigerians could be united in sharing grief and sorrow, adding that there was no household in the country that had not been affected in one way or the other by the event of last Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
The Christian service was led by Bishop Oderinde of the Methodist Church.
Pieces of papers and documents were seen lying all over the place. The bulk of the search and rescue team was made up of men of the Nigerian Navy.

Among the dignitaries who attended the service were Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and his counterparts from Oyo, Chief Rasheed Ladoja; Ekiti, Prince Ayo Fayose and the deputy governor of Lagos State Prince Femi Pedro.

Also present were the the Minister of Finance, Dr Mrs Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Aviation Professor Babalola Borisade; Minister of Information Mr Frank Nweke ; Speaker of the House of Representatives Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Sunday Ehindero.

Efforts to excavate the remains of the crashed Bellview aircraft from where it was buried underground at Lisa village, in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State would commence today.

Sources close to rescue workers at the scene of the crash told Saturday Vanguard that necessary equipment needed to pull out the remains of the aircraft would commence as soon as the equipment for the exercise by Julius Berger Construction Company arrives Lisa today.

Posted by Publisher at 01:51 PM | Comments (0)

The bellview plane crash: Desolate forest yields corpses

THE rusty, desolate forest of Lisa, an equally sleepy village in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, delivered mangled bodies of the 117 passengers who died in the Bellview Flight, Saturday night. In bits and pieces, the remnants from that tragedy stretched as far as the eye could go.

By Ikechukwu Eze
Posted to the Web: Saturday, October 29, 2005

Identity cards, uncashed bank cheque, Nigerian passports, used airline ticket stubs and bibles were among some personal belongings picked from the crash site by anxious relations and rescue workers, Sunday evening.

But getting to Lisa was more tortuous for the relations, journalists, rescue workers and adventurers who embarked on the journey after news filtered in that the ill-fated flight had at last been located several hours after the aircraft went down.

It progressed like a trip to nowhere. It was one hour into the journey from Ifo bus stop and the dare-devil commercial motorcyclist (okada man) was still going at break-neck speed. His pace was quite inconsistent with the narrow, erosion-tortured dirty track that snaked on endlessly. It was getting dark, a situation worsened by the cover provided by interlocking foliage from the sprawling thick forests.

Of course, one saw it coming and that did not need a soothsayer’s crystal ball. The cyclist and this reporter fell after the bike attempted to hop over a sudden deep crater on the road. There was no obvious injury, just a mild pain on the left foot.

Naturally, there was apprehension of some sort but the journalist’s instinct took over: rather than spare a moment to nurse the pain, one’s mind was already tinkering with an appropriate headline: ‘An Okada crash on the way to the plane crash scene.’

When the editor deployed one last Sunday afternoon to go in search of the site of the Bellview Airlines plane which crashed Saturday night, information about the actual location of the disaster was still scanty. “Get to Ifo in Ogun State and find your way to a village called Lisa.” That was all the brief.

At Ifo, many people admitted that they had heard about Lisa and the crash but only a handful knew how to get there, since according to them, the place could only be reached on a bike. I talked to several commercial bike operators who declined. Later, one brave okadaman popularly called Ebube named an outrageous price. There was no other option than to accept.

As the journey progressed, the road became narrower and more dangerous as the forests turned thicker. It was a journey further and further away from civilisation. No houses, no farms, just the enveloping groove. There were many motorbikes already abandoned in the forests. Ebube guessed that some either did not have enough fuel for the long journey or they buckled under the strain of the rough terrain.

The feeling of expectation and adventure gradually gave way to despair and utter apprehension. It got worse when one finally lost service on my GSM phone. How can I be traced in the wilderness if anything went wrong with the journey? There was the thought about returning to Ifo, but what would one tell my editor? How were we going to inform our readers?

“Keep going, it is still far away,” was the refrain we kept getting each time the cyclist tried to find out the location of Lisa from the people we passed.
I have always wondered why most plane crashes occur in the middle of nowhere: either in the wilderness, on rocky mountains or into the bowels of the deep blue sea, away from human habitation. Perhaps, that is God’s intervention to save cities from devastation and limit the damage.

Finally, we didn’t need anybody to tell us when we eventually got to our destination. Lisa, a sleepy, hilly settlement amidst a cluster of low-lying houses, that evening transformed into a centre of global attention. Fire service trucks, Lagos State government ambulances, Red Cross road runners and cars, mostly SUVs belonging to relatives of crash victims had already made their way to the village. Hundreds of people, mostly curious youths, thronged the narrow beaten path to the crash scene. Dusk was setting in. But not to an extent to prevent those arriving at that time to still see the devastation caused by the sudden coming down of the Boeing 737 aircraft in the wild.

From a distance, it looked as though a forest had been cleared by a bulldozer to signal the beginning of the construction of a gigantic stadium. Big trees were uprooted and shrubs cut to size. Perhaps, the experienced pilot still had the state of mind to attempt a tutored landing as there was ample evidence of efforts made to taxi. But since there is no runway in the bush, the plane only ran for a short distance before slamming its nose into the ground with an impact that created a crater deep and wide enough to bury a skyscraper. Obviously part of the ill-fated plane remained buried in the crater as smoke was still coming out from under the earth by Sunday night.

And all that could be seen were small pieces of metals and other splintered plane parts scattered all over the forest as pieces of papers and other documents were strewn all over the place.

The sight was awe-inspiring. Nondescript roasted body parts and strands of flesh were clinging to trees, shrubs and grasses. It was the sight of disaster beyond description, a crash which manner of destruction had no precedence. Except forensic experts think otherwise, the option of easy identification was simply not there as there were really nothing anybody could call human bodies; only burnt, chopped parts and crushed skulls.

The rescue workers could only but gather as much human parts that were put into one big bag, as Nigerians continue to lament the long hours taken before the crash site could be located. Soldiers, firemen, villagers, sympathisers and relatives of the victims and other onlookers stood in awe, as if pondering the futility of humanity.
Questions were asked without waiting for answers. Tears rolled down cheeks freely and mouths that were aghast found it difficult to speak. Indeed, people were too shocked to speak.

The only sound of life came from the generating set powering the Outside Broadcasting (OB) van of one television station which had braved it to the bush to beam live reports to people’s living rooms. “It’s so sad that it took Nigeria such long hours to find out where something as big as a plane crashed.” That was all one man managed to say to break the silence.

The Baale of Lisa village, Chief Sadiku Odugbemi told Saturday Vanguard that the villagers had not seen anything like that before, stressing that they were only lucky to be alive to tell the story. “What if the plane had crashed directly on the tiny houses in this small village with villagers already gone to bed? All of us would have been history,” he said.

The night before, Chief Odugbemi told this reporter that the villagers saw a huge ball of fire fly over their heads, then a loud bang and a defeaning sound like a thousand cars crashing. They were too afraid to come out of their homes that night, so it was only in the morning that they managed to go to the sight of the crash.
Ironically, the crash site belongs to Odugbemi. According to him, the place was his farm which he had been tending for about ten years. He planted cassava, cocoa, kola and oranges which were all destroyed in the devastation.

The Baale was emphatic that he would not be asking for any compensation because the villagers were also saddened by the unfortunate incident. His plea was that the government should conduct an environmental impact assessment to determine whether the affected farm land still retained its fertility, especially after the impact of the crash. But more than that, he pleads with the government to do everything to ensure that no epidemic results from the crash that may hit Lisa villagers.

Posted by Publisher at 01:50 PM | Comments (0)

Family Seeks Probe Into Ubani's Death

APPARENTLY suspecting foul play in his death, the family of the late human rights activist, Chima Ubani on Thursday called for a probe into the incident.

FROM GORDI UDEAJAH (UMUAHIA)

Ubani's brother on behalf of the deceased family told the human rights community that they risk losing credibility if they fail to investigate and discover the real cause of their son's death.

According to Chidozie "those who murdered Ubani did not murder his spirit. He lived a good life and was prepared to stay in darkness. He was offered a job at the Institute of International Tropical Agriculture but he rejected it for human rights struggles."

However, it was indicated that the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) had set up a committee in conjunction with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the auto crash that killed Ubani.

According to the CLO's president Titus Mann, "it will be na夫e and irresponsible of us to dismiss the accident as one of those that happen on our roads."

Meanwhile, to immortalise Ubani's, the Abia state government has instituted a N2 million endowment fund for his children. It also named a street in Aba after him.

The state government also donated N500, 000 to the family of the late Vanguard Newspaper photojournalist, Mr. Tunji Oyeleru.

Posted by Publisher at 01:49 PM | Comments (0)

Haim hails Okocha's return to Bolton

Bolton Wanderers, defender, Tel Ben Haim, as stated that the trotters are happy to have the team's captain Austin Okocha and Gary Speed back to the squad after their injury lay-off.

BY EDDY OHIS ASEIN

Speaking in the club's website, Thursday night, the Isreali international said that:: It's great to have both players back to the team ahead of Thursday's UEFA Cup tie.

The captain (Okocha) has been a source of inspiration to the team, i think he is one player any coach would want to play. he quite, discipline and has great potentials and he is one of the most experience players in the squad right now. We have missed him in the last few games and I must say he is coming back at the right time, when the team is preparing for Thursday's UEFA Cup,・he said.

Posted by Publisher at 01:11 PM | Comments (0)

October 28, 2005

Bellview plane crash: Pilot’s family disowns widow; They wont succeed, says Victoria

STRONG indication that the centre may no longer hold for family of pilot of the crashed Bellview plane which killed 117 people, Captain Lambert Imasuen emerged yesterday when two members of his family disowned one of his widows, Victoria.

FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE and OLATUNBOSUN SOWEMIMO

A Customs Officer, Victoria had lived with her husband until his death last Saturday and allegedly had children for him.

But speaking with Daily Champion yesterday, at the late pilot’s Ajao estate Lagos residence, his family members said Victoria was not known to the family and so unwelcome.

They also raised alarm that an imposter had approached management of Bellview airlines claiming to be next of kin of the late pilot.

Younger brother to the late pilot, Eghosa Imasuen and his elder sister, Omonigho, alleged that property of their late brother were already being looted by suspected "relations of the self acclaimed widow."

They said the only widow known to the family was Florence who is presently with the late pilot’s mother in Benin, mourning.

According to them, claims of marriage to their pilot brother by Victoria is a hoax and therefore, "we don’t know her as a wife to our brother."

Eghosa and Omonigho challenged Victoria to come out and tell the world any member of the Imasuen family that knew and was present at their wedding, if indeed she was married to the late pilot.

"In Benin, we have a tradition and also marriage has a process. We don’t know Victoria, the only person we know as our brother’s wife is Florence now in Benin.

"Any other person is just wasting her time, Florence is our brother’s wife, she has four children Uwa, Usosa Tracey and Osayande who is barely two years old.

"To the best of our knowledge Victoria is just a girl friend or at best a concubine. She has no child for Captain Imasuen our brother. No legal marriage between them. How come she is now claiming to be the widow," the relations argued.

They also told Daily Champion that imposters have invaded the family laying claims to the property of the late pilot.

Omonigho said the Bellview Airlines management had told the family of the presence of a 20-year old boy at the company claiming to be the next of kin to the dead pilot.

She further said, that the family and the Airlines management have reached an agreement that names filled by the late pilot in his employment form should be used to determine the next of kin.

However, speaking with Daily Champion Victoria explained that she was just a victim of circumstances lamenting that those claiming to be family members were no where to be found when Captain Imasuen was alive.

Sobbing, the widow said she had two children for her late husband and that she was duly and legally wedded to the Pilot with genuine family members in attendance.

Victoria, who was surrounded by her relations wondered why the death of her husband would now tear the family apart having lived peacefully with her husband for years.

Boasting she was ready to brave the odds to defend her rights in the family, Mrs Imasuen said she was aware that devil was at work and was using the family members that are now threatening her.

"I have two children for Captain. I am a legitimate wife," she stated.

Posted by Publisher at 03:50 PM | Comments (0)

...What came to my mind – Obasanjo

WHEN I heard of the crash, what came to my mind was that most of the victims, if not all, must have said to their relations that we are coming home’. Is this (scene of the crash) home?"

KOLA ADEPOJU, Abeokuta

These were the words and poser of President Olusegun Obasanjo as he toured site of the tragic plane crash at Lisa, Ifo, in Ogun State, where a Bellview aircraft crashed last Saturday killing all 117 persons on board.

His lamentation came even as a lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, who had earlier visited the site where he lost a niece, Mrs Queen Morrison (nee Ozekhome) said he had no confidence in the foreign experts the government had invited to help unravel mystery behind the crash.

Speaking at an inter faith prayer service for the repose of the souls of the victims at Lisa, Obasanjo regretted that the victims who left the Ikeja Airport with the hope of returning to their relations died in the crash.

Going philosophical, he said "that should serves as a lesson to every one of us because whether we like it or not, there will be a day when our destination will be cut short."

Obasanjo, who noted that the crash affected every family in the country charged Nigerians to use the prevailing unity in sorrowing and mourning the death to bury differences and be united.

Besides, he charged them "not to mourn like people that have no hope in God but to do otherwise, because both Christianity and Islam tought that there is life after death."

According to him, "while we are mourning and sorrowing together, we must bury whatever may be our differences and be united."

"But should we continue to mourn like people that have no belief in God and I know that both Islamic and Christian religion give us hope that is beyond death," he added.

The president, charged relations of the deceased and Nigerians at large, to realise that "there is not much we can do for the dead except take care of what they left behind."

Thereafter, Obasanjo and Governor Gbenga Daniel proceeded to scene of the crash and laid wreaths in honour of the dead.

Decked in a two pieces "agbada" Obasanjo, who arrived scene of the crash at 11.45 a.m. was received by Governors of Ogun, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun states along with the deputy governor of Lagos State.

He was accompanied by the Ministers of Finance, Aviation, Information and National Orientation and Police Affairs.

Information and National Orientation Minister, Mr. Frank Nweke (Jnr) who had earlier visited the scene wept like a baby describing the crash as too tragic for him to bear.

Earlier in his sermon at the inter faith service, General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev. (Dr) Wilson Badejo described death as a gateway to better things, especially paradise.

Gov Daniel read the only lesson of the service from the book of Job Chapter 14 verses 1 to 14.

Posted by Publisher at 03:46 PM | Comments (0)

Stella, agent of stability –Iwuanyanwu; More Nigerians pay last respects

FRONTLINE politician and member, Board of Trustees of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief (Dr.) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has said that with the death of First Lady, Chief (Mrs) Stella Obasanjo, Nigeria has lost a stabilizer.

IHEANACHO NWOSU and RASHEED BISIRIYU

Chief Iwuanyanwu stated this just as more Nigerians paid tributes to the former First Lady at the lying-in-state held at Agbeloba House, Abeokuta.

Speaking with Daily Champion yesterday, Iwuanyanwu, who also expressed sadness over the crash of Bellview aircraft which claimed 117 lives, said the late Mrs Obasanjo was a nation builder, a home builder, and a mother.

"The woman was a leader, a mother, her role was more or less reconciliatory at all time," he recalled, maintaining that "she was a true mother and she spent all her life making peace."

He said: "Nigeria will miss the services of a stabilizer. She was a stabilizer in the system", explaining that "most cases when people have problem, they go to her. She made herself accessible to people, she was interacting with everybody".

Chief Iwuanyanwu, a one time Presidential aspirant wished that the First Lady had lived to see the ongoing socio-economic and political reforms by the President Olusegun Obasanjo government to the end.

"Like you know the husband is championing a reform. Any student of history knows how reformers are regarded. No reformer has ever been lived by the people, people always turn against them.

"If all these our reforms are fully implemented, they will completely change Nigeria. He needs somebody like Stella, who is a rare gift to him, stand by him. This is what she has been doing in the past six years", he said.

Likening the former lady to the late Princess Diana of the United Kingdom, the philanthropist said the hope Mrs Obasanjo had given to physically challenged children as well as her love for the oppressed and the downtrodden will remain indelible in the minds of Nigerians even with her absence.

According to him, "of course, for the physically challenged, they found a mother in her", adding that "the death of Stella is similar to that of Diana of Britain because the way Diana was regarded in Britain is more or less the way Stella is regarded here".

Elaborating, he said "she interacted with the poor, the underdog, the handicapped, physically challenged and the rich. Everybody was going to her for succour".

Counselling President Obasanjo on how to bear the loss, Chief Iwuanyanwu urged him to continually place his trust in God. He said: "the president has been somebody who has put his trust in God and God has been guiding him. God has used him to achieve a lot of things. He should remain with God".

On the crash of Bellview aircraft flight 210 last weekend, Chief Iwuanyanwu described the incident as a tragedy which will be difficult to forget.

Betraying emotion, he said: "it is a very said thing for Nigeria to lose such a galaxy of illustrious persons in such a painful manner".

Meanwhile, the lie-in-state of body of the First Lady, in Abeokuta yesterday provided an avenue for reconciliation between President Obasanjo and Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, as both embraced each other in public.

Professor Soyinka, an avowed critic of Obasanjo administration in the last six years was also one of the conveners of a parallel Sovereign National Conference along with elder statesman, Chief Anthony Enahoro.

Before the arrival of the President at Agbeloba House in Abeokuta, venue of the lie-in-state, Prof Soyinka was already in the hall with Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, with other dignitaries.

As soon as the news came that the President was around, the Nobel Laureate came out to receive him and they both embraced. This drew an applause from the crowd.

Prof. Soyinka prayed for the repose of the First Lady and commiserated with the President over her death.

Earlier, in his short speech, Governor Daniel had urged the first family to be invited and prayed for God to bless the soul of the departed.

Serving and former governors, Ministers, captain of industries and friends of the first family were at the place to pay their last respect to the First Lady.

The dignitaries later moved to Government House, Abeokuta for Christian wake which started at 6.00 pm.

Among those who attended the event are Governor Peter Odili and his wife, his Ondo State counterpart, Dr Olusegun Agagu , Lagos State Deputy Governor, Chief Olufemi Pedro, Minister of Power and Steel, Dr Lyel Imoke and his wife, Education Minister, Mrs Chinwe Obaji with her husband, and Housing and Urban Development Minister, Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

Others are former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Chief Chukwuemeka Chikelu and factional National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy, Chief Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa former Chief of General Staff, Lt General Oladipo Diya, Chairman of Diamond Bank Pascal Dozie, former chairman Oodua Group of Investment, Otunba Jobi Fele, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Executive Chairman of Champion Newspapers Limited, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and President Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Mr. Ray Ekpu, the Secretary General, Mr Emma Agu, who is the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Champion Newspapers.

Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor (Mrs) Dora Akunyili, Newswatch editors, including Mr Dan Agbese and Mr Yakubu Mohammed.

Also at the venue were Chairman Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu and Chairman Daar Communication, Dr Raymond Dokpesi.

Posted by Publisher at 03:44 PM | Comments (0)

Diamond Bank acquires Lion Bank; Platinum, Habib banks merge

DIAMOND Bank Plc yesterday secured final approval from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to acquire Lion Bank of Nigeria Plc. It is the first actual takeover of a bank in the consolidation race.

OKEY NWANKWO

CBN’s final approval was conveyed to Diamond Bank in a letter signed by Mr G. A. Oladejobi on behalf of the Director of Banking Supervision.

Also boards of Platinum Bank Plc and Habib Bank Nigeria Plc have approved merger of the banks to form PlatinumHabib.

Chairman of Platinum Bank, Professor Pat Utomi and his counterpart at Habib, Alhaji Kola Abiola speaking yesterday at a press conference in Lagos, said the emerging bank will be a formidable institution that will be at the forefront of banking in the post consolidation era.

But the CBN letter issued yesterday reads: "We refer to your letter of October 17, 2005 in respect of the above subject matter and hereby convey final approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria for the proposed takeover of Lion Bank Plc by Diamond Bank Plc.

According to the letter, Lion Bank has handed over its banking licence to the Director of Banking supervision.

Following the final approval, the two banks have fused as one business entity operating under a single trade name - Diamond Bank.

Daily Champion notes that both banks signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on June 14, on the basis of which they agreed to combine their operations under the Diamond Bank brand name.

The signing of the MoU in Jos was followed by a due diligence examination of the operations of Lion Bank, while the two banks adopted a common business strategy as well as a programme of business alignment for their combined entity.

On August 27, 2005, the acquisition process was boosted when the CBN gave its approval-in-principle for Diamond Bank to proceed. This was followed shortly by The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) approval-in-principle on September 9, 2005.

The Diamond Bank/Lion Bank combination has been widely adjudged to be the fastest of such arrangement since the inception of the bank consolidation drive by the monetary authorities.

Diamond Bank’s strategy for meeting the CBN equity benchmark for banks has been that of retaining its brand and brand equity post-consolidation, and to achieve this objective without eroding its underlying fundamentals as a very profitable operations.

Towards meeting this objective, the Bank had in late 2004 executed a highly successful Private Placement share offer scheme. The offer itself was 125 per cent subscribed. The outcome of the PP immediately raised the Bank’s shareholders ‘ funds from N6.7 billion to about N19 billion. A further 100 per cent consolidation of year 2005 net earning took the shareholders’ funds to about N21 billion.

Diamond Bank also approached the capital market in September to raise an additional N6.8 billion in equity through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of 1 billion shares of 50 kobo each at N6.80 per share. At the end of the offer scheme, and with the Lion Bank acquisition, the Bank’s shareholders’ funds will be in the region of N33 billion.

On his part Prof. Utomi said the group has already applied to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for pre-merger consent while application for approval-in-principle will follow immediately.

He said both banks intend to conclude the merger in record time, ahead of the December 31 deadline for the consolidation programme.

The Platinum Bank chairman said the merger arrangement has gone beyond getting "unstuck" as considerable time has been spent out all essential issues.

On the choice of partners, he explained that the two banks came together in order to build an institution that would create values for stakeholders.

He said "our strategic intent is to build a national and diversified franchise creating superior value for our stakeholders through an unmatched superior customer service experience.

Prof. Utomi said in order to achieve and surpass this goal the emerging institution will be built on effective corporate governance framework, performance oriented corporate & culture and executive leadership that is firm and inspirational.

On his remarks, Alhaji Abiola said the merger brings Habib Bank to a new phase of growth.

According to him, the emerging institution will provide clients and customers unrivalled services adding the union will create value for shareholders.

PlatinumHabib Bank group has a combined asset base of over N116 billion, deposit base of N60 billion, shareholders fund of over N25 billion, gross earnings of over N14 billion with a network of 10 on-line, realtime branches.

Posted by Publisher at 03:43 PM | Comments (0)

Auto crash claims 20 lives in Enugu

The spate of tragedies that has bedeviled and bewildered the nation since last Sunday apparently continued on Thursday in Enugu when an early morning accident allegedly claimed the lives of over 20 people and several others in critical conditions.

The accident which occurred along the Enugu-Nsukka expressway in the early hours of the day involved a luxurious bus that was apparently heading for the northern part of the country and a Mercedes 911 truck laden with heavy logs.

Eyewitnesses said over 20 people perished in the mishap and when the Daily Champion visited the scene bodies of seven of the deceased passengers were seen spread across the road with the injured and other survivors moaning in agony while volunteers made frantic efforts to pull more bodies from wreckage in which both vehicles were damaged beyond recognition.

A police patrol team which later arrived the scene and together with other sympathisers, volunteered their vehicles began to remove the dead bodies and the injured to nearby hospitals and mortuaries while many other passersby stayed back to bemoan the disaster.

Among those who died in the mishap were two female youth corpers identified by their uniforms, drivers of both vehicles and many young men believed to be traders as well as some middle aged women.

Most of the survivors were too much in pain and shock to talk to reporters but one of them who gave her name as Mrs Nnamdi said she boarded the bus at Onitsha while it was in transit adding that she did not know where it was coming from.

She said the accident occurred around 6.30 am when the luxury bus driver attempted to overtake a lorry at a bend and ran into the on-coming truck loaded with timber adding that the passengers had warned the driver over his reckless driving until the incident happened.

"We kept warning the man but he refused to listen, then i saw him swerve suddenly and the next thing I heard was gboa! and you can now see what happened", she wailed.

Efforts to reach zonal commander of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the police Public Relations officer in the state for comment on the tragedy proved abortive as they were said not to be on seat while their telephone liens failed.

Posted by Publisher at 03:39 PM | Comments (0)

Uwazuruike: MASSOB gives 7-day ultimatum

Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, (MASSOB), has given a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to release its leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruke, or face wrath of members nationwide.

Emma Ogu, Owerri

Chief Uwazuruike was arrested in his home at Okwe, Onuimo council area of Imo state Tuesday evening, by men of State Security Services, (SSS).

MASSOB in a statement in Owerri yesterday signed by its Deputy Director of Information Chris Mocha, said members of the group were shot at by the security operatives while trying to effect arrest of Chief Uwazuruike.

"MASSOB wishes to state as follows: that chief Ralph Uwazuruike should be released unconditionally or brought to a court of competent jurisdiction immediately.

"That if within seven days starting from today (Thursday) October 27 our demand is not met MASSOB will not be held responsible for anything that happened in the Biafran territory, the statement read part.

The association also urged security agents to realize that "they are holding the father and initiator of non violence in the Biafran struggle", stressing that the association’s non violent philosophy should not be seen as weakness.

"Daring us will be suicidal", MASSOB warned.

A MASSOB activist who spoke to Daily Champion Mr. Isaac Isreal, said the movement has mobilized its memebrs across the nation for action, should the authorities refuse to release Chief Uwazuruike or charge him to court within seven days.

Israel however disclosed that MASSOB has contacted some lawyers to secure release of chief Uwazuruike.

While he noted that MASSOB will continue to remain nonviolent in-line with its philosophy the activist said the group has been pushed to the wall by the arrest of Chief Uwazuruike. "We cannot remain silent, the world will hear us if they refuse to release him" he warned.

Daily Champion gathered that Cheif Uwazuruike was flown to Abuja on Wednesday in a jet which took off from the Port Harcourt international Airport.

Eye witness confirmed that the MASSOB leader spotting a black T-shirt with a fez cap on blue Jeans trousers, was accompanied on the journey by three SSS.

Posted by Publisher at 03:31 PM | Comments (0)

Court remands Adams, Fasehun, 8 others

A Magistrate’s court sitting at Igbosere, Lagos, yesterday ordered remand of factional leaders of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr Fredrick Fasehun and Chief Ganiyu Adams, along eight others, in prison pending formal charges against them.

ACHILLEUS UCHEGBU (Deputy News Editor)

Those remanded along with the duo are Chief Muraina Komolafe, Oluwatoyin Osoba, Samusideen Opeloyeru, Aremu Niyi-Oba, Edward, Olushola, Alhaji Mudashiru Adeniji, Chief Wahab Isiaka and Oyinlola Awe.

Daily Champion gathered that as they await outcome of an advice from Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), the accused persons will be formally charged for conspiracy to commit murder, murder, malicious damages to properties, rioting, causing fear to members of the public by bearing firearms, arson and managing unlawful society.

Making the remand order, the magistrate, Mr Olufemi Isaac, jettisoned contention by the prosecuting counsel that the application for remand of the suspects, was brought pursuant to section 263 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) of Lagos State, which gave the court power to remand an accused person pending when advice of the DPP is received to ensure a formal charge.

Police prosecutor, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Columbus Okaro, informed the court that the accused persons were brought for an order to remand. He argued that the application was brought pursuant to section 336(3) of the CPL, Cap C18, Vol II, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.

"We have brought the accused persons to court, for the court to take cognizance of their arrest and for the court to order (their) remand in custody, so that police can conclude its their investigation and send the case file to the DPP for advice and subsequently, arraign them before a High Court. That is our humble application and we ask the court to grant us our application", he said.

However, lead counsel to the accused persons, Chief Fred Agbeyegbe opposed the application, but invited a junior counsel, Wahab Shittu, to argue the objection.

Arguing the application, Shittu told the court that "procedure adopted by the police is unknown to the law of this country, as the police is (are) yet to fulfill conditions needed before this kind of application is brought. First, the application for remand is purportedly brought under section 263(3) of CPL."

According to him, the said provision cannot be read in isolation, without considering import of Section 263(1)(2) all of which, he said, are necessary in the matter.

"The section envisaged the existence of a proceeding. It also envisaged a situation where the court will have the power to hear the charge the accused persons may be charged with. Clearly, this court cannot ask the accused persons to come back to this court, because clearly, the offence attached, being murder, cannot be tried by this court. The law does not recognize the mechanism of a holding charge. The Court of Appeal, has made it clear that holding charge is unknown to our law", he contended.

He further asked the court to refuse the application to remand the accused persons in custody.

Ruling on the matter, the magistrate disagreed with the defence counsel, saying what was before the court was not a case of holding charge, but one for remand of an accused person, who the police have every reason to believe will be charged for an offence, as provided under section 263(3) of CPL.

He further noted that the police have satisfied the court that a case for the remand of the accused persons has been made.

Mr Isaac however disagreed with the position of the police that the accused should be remanded until they (police) concludes their investigation.

He said: "The accused persons are to be remanded until the DPP advice and I hereby order the police to forward the case file to the DPP for advice and I want to adjourn this matter so that I can monitor the matter".

The court adjourned till November 11 for further hearing.

Adams and Fasehun were arrested by the police last Saturday allegedly in connection with violence at Iyana Ipaja in Lagos which led to the death of at least six persons while many others were wounded.

Posted by Publisher at 03:27 PM | Comments (0)

Pro-chancellors console Obasanjo

COMMITTEE of Pro-chancellors of the Nigeria Federal Universities has condoled with President Olusegun Obasanjo on the death of his wife, Stella.

OKEY NWANKWO

The committee in a condolence letter signed by its Chairman Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) and Secretary General Professor Musa Abdullahi also expressed their sympathy on the recent Bellview plane crash which claimed 117 lives.

Consoling the president, they said: "We collectively mourn the passing of a warm, likeable, patriotic and supportive wife, a friend to the needy your staunch support through the travail and uneven swings of fate."

They prayed that God, who has guided the President through his eventful life will also give him, his family and the nation the fortitude to bear the loss.

According to the body, the additional loss of 117 active Nigerians in the plane crash is a national disaster of great proportion.

The pro-chancellors urged President Obasanjo not to spellcheck despair adding that as mortals, we cannot question the Almighty, the creator of the universe, who gives us knowledge of almost everything but deprives us of the knowledge of the time and circumstances of our return to Him.

They concluded with the words of Saint Francis of Assissi, "may the God Lord give you the strenght to endure the circumstances you cannot change, the capacity to change the circumstances you can, and the abiding wisdom to know the difference."

Posted by Publisher at 03:19 PM | Comments (0)

Stella’s funeral stalls Al-Mustapha’s trial

Funeral services for former First Lady, the late Chief (Mrs) Stella Obasanjo, yesterday stalled trial of former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to former Head of State, the late Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Lt Col Mohammed Umar Adeka and Onwuchekwa Okorie, over alleged involvement in an alleged plot to topple President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration as a prosecution witness stayed away for the service.

ACHILLEUS UCHEGBU (Deputy News Editor)

The witness, Dr. Umar Ardo, is Special Assistant to Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Political Matters, and was absent from court as the tragic death affected the presidency.

Prosecuting counsel, Mr Oke, informed the court that he received a call from Ardo that he will not be present at the trial "because of what happened in the presidency."

The prosecutor told the court that Ardo had to skip court for administrative reasons. He consequently asked for the adjournment of the matter.

The application for an adjournment was not opposed by the defence which said it would have been surprised if he had come to court.

But Al-Mustapha’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo told the court that he had filed an application, which has been served on parties, and that the court should take notice of it.

Justice Daniel Abutu fixed further hearing in the matter for November 11.

Posted by Publisher at 03:17 PM | Comments (0)

Delta postpones forum

In response to the tragedies that befell the nation last weekend, and in sympathy with the bereaved families, Delta State government has announced postponement of a stakeholders’ forum where it planned to present "Facts Behind the Figures (1999-2004).

The new date is November 10.

Commissioner for Finance David Edevbie who announced rescheduling of the forum, said the development was in line with the mood of the nation.

He described the two tragic incidents of the death of First Lady, Chief (Mrs) Stella Obasanjo and the air disaster, as a great loss to the nation.

He also conveyed condolences of people of the state to President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Federal government and families of the bereaved.

Facts-behind-the-figures is the platform through which the state has been exposing impressive developmental projects it has recorded between 1999 and 2004.

The first of its kin din Nigeria, the 372-page report, which comprises Volume One (Main Report) and Volume Two (Appendices), shows in detail how revenue received by the state since 1999 has been utilised.

The report gives a breakdown of Recurrent Expenditure (N167 billion) by Ministry and government department and capital expenditure (N144 billion) by local government areas and senatorial districts.

Posted by Publisher at 03:15 PM | Comments (0)

Mission closure’ll not affect hajj - Ambassador Kazaure

Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ibrahim Musa Kazaure, has said that the closure of Nigeria’s Hajj mission in Jeddah will not in any way affect the Hajj operation. He described the closure as “a move in the interest of the Nigeria’s pilgrims.”

By Jibrin Abubakar
Speaking to Daily Trust yesterday in Abuja, Ambassador Kazaure said that the government had redeployed the Nigerian staff and dispensed with the services of the foreign staff. Nigerian pilgrims, he said, will be better off with the reorganisation.
Ambassador Kazaure had on October 15, 2005 written a letter (copy obtained by Daily Trust) to the head of the Nigerian Hajj mission in Jeddah informing him of President Obasanjo’s directive to close the mission “with immediate effect.” The Nigerian staff, who are officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are to wind up their affairs and return to Abuja by the end of November.
Daily Trust sources also revealed that Foreign Minister, Oluyemi Adeniji, had sent a telegram on October 12 to Ambassador Kazaure directing him to commence winding up the Hajj mission.
Ambassador Kazaure, who called on Muslims to regard the closure as a positive development in the Hajj operation, described the closure of the Hajj Annex as “long overdue.”
He said that it duplicated the services provided by Nigeria’s consulate in Jeddah and the embassy in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
The diplomat said that nine officers were deployed by the Saudi government to the Nigerian embassy in Riyadh for the Hajj season and seven to the consulate in Jeddah.
He said no other country which has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate in Jeddah operates a Hajj Annex.
“How many countries have Hajj missions?” he queried. Answering himself, he said: “Not even Indonesia, the number of whose pilgrims is larger than that of Nigeria.”
According to him the Hajj annex was insignificant since the Hajj Committee, the Directorate of Pilgrims’ Affairs (DPA), and the State Welfare Boards are responsible for the negotiation and supervision of accommodation, transportation, and everything else that affects the pilgrims in the Holy land. “Where then does the Hajj annex come in?” he wondered.
He dismissed the insinuation that the Hajj mission was not run with funds from the federal government, adding that the staff were employees of the federal government.
He said that if the Hajj office in Jeddah must exist, it will have to make do with only one desk officer,
“Let us be patriotic. How many times do we perform Hajj in a year? What are these officials doing there? We go on Hajj once a year for God’s sake,” he said.
When contacted, the chairman of the Technical Committee on Hajj, Professor Aliyu Abubakar Gwandu, told Daily Trust on phone yesterday that he was aware of the directive but could not give further details as to why it was closed.
He directed our reporter to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Tanko.
“I will not recommend anybody else other than the Minister to provide you with the information,” he said.
When contacted, Mrs. Lliya (Lydia) Rhoda, the media officer attached to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Abubakar Tanko, told Daily Trust that the minister has travelled to Ogun state to commiserate with President Obasanjo over the death of his wife.
Meanwhile a staff of the Foreign Affairs ministry who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity said that the operation of the Hajj Mission in Jeddah does not in any way affect the nation’s economy.
He said that the Annex was maintained with money from the “pilgrims’ offshore funds,” even though some of the staff were seconded from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“This is a religious office, not a political office. The government cannot close the mission without due consultation with the religious leaders involved,” he said.
According to him, the Hajj Annex is tasked with the responsibility of coordinating Hajj activities in Saudi Arabia. Other duties performed by the Annex include coordinating the pilgrims’ accommodation arrangements in the Holy Land and liaising with the Saudi authorities on behalf of the pilgrims during the Hajj season.
A Daily Trust correspondent in Saudi Arabia, Isa Umar Gusau, had reported that the return to Nigeria of over 40 members of the Hajj mission staff could undermine the already overstretched capacity of the Department of Pilgrims’ Affairs in the Foreign Ministry.
Another Daily Trust reporter said that the controversy comes as the National Assembly is about to debate a bill to establish an independent Hajj commission.

Posted by Publisher at 03:14 PM | Comments (0)

Bellview: No condolence register at NASS for victims

More than 48 hours after the pledge by the Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, that a separate condolence register would be opened at the National Assembly for the 117 victims of the Bellview air crash, no such book was made available as of yesterday.

By Habeeb I. Pindiga

People have begun to grumble about the non-provision of the promised register for the crash victims.
During the special emergency session of the Senate on Tuesday, Chief Nnamani was prompted by an observation by Senator Titus Olupitan to announce that a separate register besides the one already opened for the late First Lady, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, would be opened for the air crash victims.
Daily Trust reporters observed however that no such register has been made available to sympathisers.
A glance through the condolence register for the late Mrs. Obasanjo showed that over a hundred persons had documented their messages.
Senator Olupitan had drawn the attention of the Senate on Tuesday to the fact that while a condolence register was promptly opened for the late First Lady, none was made available to eulogise the 117 air crash victims. He proposed an amendment of the motion under discussion to include opening such a register. Chief Nnamani did not think it necessary to indicate that in the motion however but promised to direct that such a register be opened “immediately” after the session.
When contacted for an explanation, Chief Nnamani’s spokesman, Mr. Tunde Asaju, declined to comment. “I cannot comment,” he said, “as I am not a Senator.”

Posted by Publisher at 03:13 PM | Comments (0)

CBN conveys mourners to Ogun for Stella’s burial

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has bought several air return tickets for people who wish to travel from Abuja to Abeokuta for the burial of late Mrs. Stella Obasanjo.

By Ahmed I. Shekarau, Shakirat Abdulmajeed

The bank is also to provide return tickets for people from the southern part of the country to attend the thanksgiving service in honour of the late First Lady at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja.
Although Daily Trust learnt that the apex bank had chartered two aircraft for this purpose, the Deputy Director and Head of Corporate Affairs in the CBN, Mr. Tony Ede, denied the story.
According to the CBN spokesman, “We only provided Virgin Nigeria air tickets for some of those wishing to attend the burial in Abeokuta and the thanksgiving service in Abuja.”
Mr. Ede continued: “We are only supporting the President by assisting people to attend the wake-keeping in Abeokuta and the thanksgiving service in Abuja.
When contacted by Daily Trust yesterday to confirm whether the CBN had actually chartered any Virgin Nigeria’s aircraft, the deputy spokesperson of the airline, Mrs. Nkiru Olumide Ojo, answered that “none of our aircraft is on charter.” “They may have bought our tickets on the counter like any other intending commercial passengers,” she added.
The CBN’s action has generated a lot of public interest in view of the government’s much publicised policy of transparency and accountability in utilising public funds.
The apex bank’s decision to sponsor people to attend the wake-keeping and thanksgiving services in honour of the late First Lady comes barely two weeks after it sacked over 600 of its employees.
The mass sack, according to the bank, was intended to prune down its workforce and retain only those that are relevant to the bank’s operations in order to save funds for other activities.
Meanwhile, the body of the late First Lady, Chief Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, was yesterday taken to Ogun state in preparation for intenment on Friday at Ita Iyalode in Abeokuta.
The body arrived at the presidential wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos at exactly 11.20 a.m. on Thursday aboard a Nigerian Air Force aircraft with registration number NAF 031.
A contingent of military officers had descended on the presidential wing as early as five o’clock in the morning to await the body. An hour later at 6 a.m. men and officers of the Nigeria Police arrived. Their impact was immediately felt as they stood in a line that stretched from a nearby roundabout to the domestic terminal.
The emotion of the dignitaries and sympathizers who besieged the presidential wing to catch a last glimpse of the late First Lady rose as the casket bearing her remains was brought out of the aircraft. An endless stream of dignitaries also came to pay her their last respects.
The late Mrs. Obasanjo’s relatives and friends, as well as members of numerous interest groups were also counted among those assembled at the airport to pay their last respects.
Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State, Dr. James Ibori of Delta State, the Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Bello Masari, the Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, the chairperson of Oceanic Bank, Mrs. Cecelia Ibru, and husband, Chief Felix Ibru, the chairman of Globacom Communication, Otunba Micheal Adenuga, Chief Bode George, and a former governorship aspirant in Lagos state, Engineer Funsho Williams, were among the numerous dignitaries assembled to received the late Mrs. Obasanjo’s body.
Members of the immediate family of the deceased were attired in black.
The casket bearing her bodily remains, which was wrapped with the national flag, was taken into the waiting ambulance of an undertaker which left the presidential wing at exactly 11.30 am.
President Olusegun Obasanjo and his entourage arrived at 12.10 p.m. aboard the presidential jet.
Clad in blue and black “adire” attire, the President later boarded a waiting helicopter to Lisa in Ogun state, where the Bellview aircraft crashed last Saturday killing all 117 passengers on board.

Posted by Publisher at 03:11 PM | Comments (0)

Tragedies: Obasanjo acknowledges empathy of Nigerians

President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abuja yesterday, urged all Nigerians to extend the same love, concern and care shown to him and the families of the victims of the Bellview air crash to one another for the unity and development of the country.

By Joe Oroye

He said while receiving two delegations of traditional rulers from the northern states and the people of Kano State who paid him condolence visits at the Presidential Villa over the death of his wife, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo and the 117 Nigerians who died in the Belleview plane crash that “we have received a lot of encouragement from people all over the country and abroad. The outpouring of shared grief and sorrow has been tremendous and I believe that we can be united in the service of our nation, just as we have been united in this tragedy.”
“The overwhelming response of Nigerians over the tragedies of the past week has shown clearly that Nigerians can share the pains of one another, support and encourage one another in time of need.”
The events, President Obasanjo stated, should teach us that “we human beings are nothing, except, what God makes us to be. We are as good, as able or as strong as He makes us to be. We must not forget that God is great and He shows this in all things.”
The President then thanked the two delegations for the. Earlier, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris who addressed the President on behalf of other Emirs led by the Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero, said the whole nation was mourning with the President on his personal loss and the death of air crash victims.
The Kano State deputy governor, Engineer Magaji Abdullahi who led the delegation from Kano said, “the First Lady distinguished herself in the care of women and children and she will be missed in the whole of Africa.”

Posted by Publisher at 03:11 PM | Comments (0)

China donates $3m military equipment to Nigeria

The Minister of Defence, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso yesterday received military equipment worth $3milion which was donated by the Peoples Republic of China to the Nigerian Armed Forces.

By Ruby Rabiu
The defence minister who was represented by the permanent secretary, Dr. Haruna Sanusi made this known at the formal handing over of equipment at the Mogadishu barracks Abuja where he said that the event ends an earlier agreement signed by both countries.Dr. Haruna Sanusi said that he hoped that the gesture would strengthen the already existing relationship between the two countries, while emphasizing that Nigeria’s interaction with China has started to yield dividends as they have already purchased a 12 F -7N, multi- role aircraft and 2 (No.) F-7 Training aircraft from China.
Sanusi said ‘China North Industries (NORINCO) has shown interest in joint venture partnership with DICON and we look forward to its fruition’.
Earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Alexander Ogomudia said the occasion was delayed due to the process of clearing, sorting and distribution of the goods at the ports.
Ogomudia said that a team of 21 members from the Chinese training team was expected in the country to train Nigerian personnel in the use of the sophisticated equipment.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Wang Yongqio said the gesture by his country was mainly to facilitate Nigeria’s effort in its various responsibilities which include peace keeping operations in West Africa.
According to him, the items being distributed include, computers, air field sweepers’ vehicles, emergency navigational and light vehicles, uniforms, deep sea diving equipment, parachutes, helmets, caps, rain coats and bullet proof.

Posted by Publisher at 03:10 PM | Comments (0)

US team arrives to investigate Bellview air crash

A team of American aviation experts arrived Lagos yesterday at the request of the federal government to investigate the cause of the ill-fated Flight 210 Bellview plane crash which killed 117 people.

According to a statement from the United States embassy in Abuja, the team is led by Dennis Jones from the US National Transportation Safety Board and includes two members from the Boeing Aircraft Corporation and a representative of Pratt & Whitney, makers of the aircraft engines.
The team is expected to start work today with a Nigerian investigation team which is already at the crash site at Ifo, Ogun State.
The Nigerian investigators have stalled their investigation and the search for the aircraft’s black box for the fear of tampering with evidence before the American experts arrived.
The Inspector General of Police had announced that his men found the black box, but the investigation team maintained that the black box was still missing.
The fuselage of the plane is still buried underground with some of the 117 passengers.

Posted by Publisher at 03:10 PM | Comments (0)

OPC leaders in court for murder, arson

The two fractional leaders of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Fredrick Fasheun and Chief Gani Adams along with nine other suspects were yesterday dragged before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos on eight count criminal charges of conspiracy to murder, rioting, arson, malicious damage and managing an illegal group.

From Adelanwa Bamgboye

Apart from the two OPC leaders others standing trial are Alhaji Saula Seke, Chief Muraina A. Konolefe, Oluwatoyin Osoba, and Samsideen Opeloyeru.
The rest are Arewmu Niyi Oba, Edward Ajayi Olsula, Alhaji Mudashiru Adeniyi, Chief Wahab Isiaka and Oyinlola Awe.
The prosecution team was led by a deputy commissioner of police, Columbus Okaro, and three other police prosecutors-Dauda Umoreun, Uka Obasi Eluwa and Effiong Asuquo while Fred Agbeyegbe and Wahab Shittu led seven other lawyers for the defence.
The prosecutors told the court that they had filed an application before the magistrate court pursuant to section 326 (2) of the criminal procedure Act.
According to the prosecution, the accused persons were arraigned the court to remand them in prison custody for investigation and legal advice from the office of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) pursent to their arraignment in the High Court.
In his reaction, Fred Agbeyegbe said that the procedure before the magistrate court is unknown to law, adding that “there are certain conditions to be fulfilled before the application could be granted.
It would be recalled that the OPC leaders were nabbed last weekend following a bloody clash between the factions and drivers of Iyana-Ejlpaje in which at least six people were feared dead, while about 17 vehicles were burnt

Posted by Publisher at 03:09 PM | Comments (0)

Primary heath clinics get kitchen utensils

Kitchen utensils worth thousands of naira were donated Tuesday to primary health clinics in Doma local government area by the National Special Programme for Food Security in Nasarawa State.

By Aboky Suleiman

At the presentation of the items at Doma, Mr. Maxwell Idoko, the state’s co-ordinator of the programme, who represented the permanent secretary of the state’s agricultural development programme, said the distribution of the items was part of the efforts of the food security programme to improve the nutrition of the people.
The representative of the permanent secretary explained that the programme was primarily aimed at addressing the nutritional problems usually associated with pregnant women in their ante-natal period, as well as with children, especially during admissions in hospitals.
He was optimistic that the items would, no doubt, go a long way in assisting women and children who are the beneficiaries, especially in meeting their nutritional requirements, and added that the idea was to raise the nutritional status of the targeted beneficiaries.
He therefore enjoined the management of the benefiting clinics to ensure the safety of the items and their sustainability to ensure longevity in their lifespan.
The coordinator also disclosed that plans were underway to erect pit latrines around the clinics in order to ease the problem of convenience and to promote hygiene, adding that the project was going to cost his organisation the sum of N150,000.
He therefore called on the management of the clinics and the people of the areas involved to take the issue of environmental sanitation very seriously to reduce disease manifestations and promote healthy living among the communities.
Mrs. Alhassan, who is the facilitator of the programme, had earlier on informed the benefiting clinics that officials from the state’s health management would always visit them to ensure a proper monitoring and upkeep of the items.

Posted by Publisher at 03:07 PM | Comments (0)

Special prayers for Sangarin Deddere

Thousands of mourners and sympathisers thronged the palace of the late Sangarin Deddere, Alhaji Umaru Mohammed Alhassan, who died along with 117 others in the ill-fated Bellview plane crash weekend at Lisa in Ifo local government area of Ogun State.

The Nasarawa State government, along with the family members of the late Sangarin Deddere, organised prayer sessions held first at the palace of the Sangari in the morning, and later at the Conference Hall of the State Government House along Shendam road, Lafia.
Before his demise, Alhaji Umaru, popularly called Marafa (his earlier title as Marafan Deddere), was once the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP (1999-2003), and until his death, a third class traditional ruler and chairman, National Programme on Immunisation, NPI.
Governor Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa State cut short his leave; and along with his deputy, Mr. John Labaran Maku, with virtually all senior government officials in the state as well as officials of the NPI, led by Dr (Mrs) Awosika, participated fully at the two prayer sessions.
The governor, in a mourning mood, prayed for the repose of the late Alhaji Umaru Mohammed and urged the family to bear the loss with the fortitude.
Governor Adamu equally shared in the grief with President Olusegun Obasanjo over the death of his wife, Stella and the passengers and crew of the Bellview plane crash. He also used the occasion to announce the death of the suspended chairman of Agidi Development Area in Nasarawa-Eggon local government area, Mr. Bala Gabi, who also died in the crash.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Halilu Bala Usman, had conveyed the news of the death of the Sangari to the family, through the Osun of Olosolo, Alhaji Musa Oga, who said the death was a tragedy that could hardly be forgotten by communities in Obi local government area.
Condolence registers have been opened for the late Mrs. Obasanjo and Alhaji Umaru Mohammed at various centres in the state.

Posted by Publisher at 03:07 PM | Comments (0)

FRIDAY COLUMN: Iran, US and the future of nuclear power

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is on the prowl. She has just met the British, French, German and Russian foreign ministers, and has been talking tough about nuclear power.

By Adamu Adamu
kawumodibbo@yahoo.com

Is it time for another round of regime change in some unfortunate country in the Middle East? If it is, it will not be the first time. But this was not the first time the US would talk tough.
Back in August US President George Bush said he would give diplomacy a chance in the matter of Iran’s nuclear programme, but he pointedly added that all options, including a military strike were on the table. His vice, Dick Cheney, even gave US military generals the orders to draw up a contingency plan to strike Iran with what he called ‘tactical nuclear weapons.’ In the same month, the US and the leading Western nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, in chorus had talked tough, whipping up hysteria to frighten the electorate in Iran into installing a reformer, a euphemism for some Western-educated moderate who would undo the Islamic Revolution for them.
But if that was the point, it failed really woefully, because, on the second ballot, Iranians overwhelmingly voted Dr. Mahmud Ahmadinejad. He is in many ways a political reincarnation of Mohammed Ali Raja’i, who didn’t talk the language the West understood. Ahmadinejad is the veritable student, who, as they say, stands firmly and unblinking, on the Line of the Imam—that very line that the US had always wanted to avoid. But for a nation that believed it had some global mission, some things could hardly be avoided.
The new civilizing mission to spread the gospel of democracy is once again unmistakably colonial. With unilateral gunboat democracy in Iraq, search-and-destroy tactics in Afghanistan and Taliban-hunting in Pakistan, the noose around Iran is being tightened by the new emperors. In typical colonial fashion, everything is in order; what remains is to create and whip up hysteria around the victim and present him as the villain. That was exactly what they did to Iran.
From the Manhattan Project to the French tests on Mororoua Atoll, the knowledge and know-how of nuclear weapons technology had spread from the United States to the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, USSR, Britain, France and China—the Big Five.
But after witnessing the devastation and horrors that accompanied the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki there has been a sustained effort to control the spread of nuclear weapons.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, was established by the United Nations in 1957. It operates a safeguards system specified under the NPT with seeming contradictory objectives. While it is mandated by its charter to contribute to the expansion of nuclear programmes and promote cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy; it is also required to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology. And the one, unfortunately, has often led to the other, making it difficult if not impossible to achieve its other goal of nuclear and general and complete disarmament.
With the hope that nuclear swords could be turned into nuclear plowshares, IAEA’s nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was opened for signature in 1968 and it came into force in 1970. The promise then was that the non-nuclear countries had agreed to renounce the right to develop nuclear weapons, while the nuclear powers had accepted to get rid of their own stockpiles.
Within the next 30 years or so the treaty would be ratified by 188 countries, including the Big Five. The small countries stayed away from nuclear weapons while the big powers made half-hearted attempts to limit what they had and even cut back on them. Throughout the 1970’s the US and USSR were engaged in wide-ranging negotiations that led to the signing of two limitation treaties to stop the development of Anti-Ballistic Missiles and two reduction treaties to cut back on intermediate nuclear force. But it was not just limited to the two super powers.
In 1996, some 44 countries that had nuclear research facilities and power reactors convened a conference on general nuclear disarmament that proposed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, CTBT. The treaty opened for signature in the September of the year. So far, it has been signed by 175 countries and ratified by 123. Ironically all the eleven that haven’t ratified the treaty are from the original 44 countries that convened the conference; and they included the United States. The US government had signed it but the Senate had refused to ratify it. Egypt, Iran, Israel and North Korea didn’t sign because they wanted the treaty to be tied to wider regional security issues. The others were Pakistan, India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Colombia.
And suddenly, Pakistan and India exploded the atom bomb, thereby effectively entering into the nuclear club. The United States behaved as if it was just waiting for them. The following year it refused to ratify the test ban treaty; and in 2001, it announced its withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. It abandoned the result of two decades of talks and treaties on disarmament; and it deployed a missile defense system, in the works since the Reagan Administration. Russia, the successor to the USSR, announced its own intention to deploy new generation nuclear weapons. Ronald Reagan’s Star Wars is in the making. Nuclear is available to everyone, except Iran.
And in contrast to the hysteria created over Iran, the United States is quiet over the case of Israel. First, it is known to everyone that Israel has so far refused to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, unlike Iran which has. Since 1987 the UN General Assembly and the IAEA have adopted 13 resolutions calling on Israel to join the NPT. Israel, confident of US diplomatic protection, simply ignored all the resolutions, as it did all calls to make the Middle East a nuclear-free zone. Second, even according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, Israel is the fifth largest nuclear power in the world, with an estimated stockpile of 200-400 bombs. According to the Federation of American Scientists, Israel, indeed, has 300-400 bombs. This arsenal, according to the CIA, enables it to “obliterate all imaginable targets in most Arab countries” in the Middle East; and, therefore, including Iran.
But even before the CIA expose, Israel’s nuclear status has long been widely suspected. To begin with, most of US nuclear research has been in the hands of scientists with dual citizenship. And blood is thicker than nation. It is also known that it constructed its Dinoma-Negev Nuclear Research Centre with French assistance in 1958, even before France itself became a nuclear power.
These and other confidential details were later to be divulged in 1986 by renegade, pro-peace Israeli nuclear technician, Mordechai Vanunu, who was abducted from the UK by Israeli agents. Vanunu’s expose supported the CIA claim about Israel’s arsenal. In addition, a 1993 official report to Congress stated that Israel has “undeclared offensive chemical weapons capabilities,” as well as an “undeclared offensive biological program.”
Perhaps this is a stockpile that Israel doesn’t need. As a western colony in the heart of the Muslim World, with an economy propped up by German Holocaust reparations and untouchable special US aid, Israel also enjoys US guarantees for military protection under its nuclear umbrella.
And it was this knowledge of America’s unconditional protection that has emboldened Israel to act with impunity with regard to Palestine and even with regard to the introduction of nuclear weapons into the Middle East. With America’s nod, for, it was quite unthinkable without it, Israel had attempted to take out Iraq’s nuclear facilities. On June 7, 1981 Israeli fighter jets bombed Iraq’s Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Centre, totally destroying its Tammuz-1 reactor and damaging other parts of the facility at Osirak. And despite protests by the international community and the IAEA Israel hadn’t so much as apologised.
Saddam Hussein, the new strongman of the Persian Gulf—ever the coward—just kept mute. And instead of turning his guns against Israel, the country that had just attacked him, Saddam turned his full ferocity on Islamic Iran and, with the help of the Gulf States, slaughtered some one million people.
On the other hand, Iran has all the reasons it needs to develop nuclear power, not for peaceful purposes as it, paradoxically, seems intent on doing now, but for defensive-military purposes. Most importantly, right now, Iran is surrounded by hostile US forces on all sides—in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Pakistan, in Kuwait-Qatar and to some extent in Turkey.
Secondly, and even more ominously for US hegemony, Iran is the home of Imam Khomeini, the teacher who gave the world Islamic Revolution, the phenomenon that taught the United States its nastiest geopolitical lesson and gave it the most traumatic strategic upset in all its history.
For the US, therefore, Iran forever remains a target to be hit. Uncle Sam must take his revenge. And in the current climate of unrestrained US unilateralism, such a revenge, which can only come in the form of an invasion, is no longer improbable. But, presumably, because the US is wise enough not to launch an Iraqi-style invasion, it decided to take Iran on over nuclear technology, needlessly adding to the many pressures tearing the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty apart.
Today, the biggest threat to the treaty lies in the preferential treatment given to some of the states that seek to develop nuclear capability while others even less culpable are made pariahs by the United States. The double standards can best be illustrated by considering US attitudes to Israel and Islamic Republic of Iran.
Iran, which had signed the nuclear NPT, and the additional protocols initiated by the IAEA in 1993 and had declared that its programme was no peaceful ends, had been put on the defensive by the United States. From being the leading member of Zbiegniew Bryzinzski’s Arc of Crisis of to a principal partner in the Axis of Evil of US President George Bush, Iran had been portrayed as a threat to world peace.
Throughout the stand-off with Western powers, Iran’s argument had been that the IAEA was established to promote and encourage the peaceful uses of nuclear energy; and that was just what it was trying to do. Uranium enrichment is allowed by the NPT, which has indeed set the standard beyond which a country should not go in enriching the unstable element. Compliance with this standard is what the IAEA is supposed to monitor.
In a November 4, 2005 meeting with the UK, France and Germany, Iran voluntarily accepted to suspend all uranium enrichment-related activities as a confidence building measure. Hujjatul Islam Hassan Rohani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, which oversees Iran’s nuclear programme, said Iran can never be frightened into giving up its right to do something that is not illegal; but it can of its own accord do so if doing so helps the situation. He also made it clear that suspension of enrichment is not the same as cessation of enrichment.
After whipping up emotions to hysteria proportions, the US and the European Union tried to force the board of the IAEA to refer Iran to the UN Security council for non-compliance. But they were forced to backpedal September 22 in the face of stiff opposition from Russia, China and the members of the Non-Aligned Movement.
The US-Iran debacle is symptomatic of a deeper malaise and unease in the international control and management of nuclear power and technology. How this is handled will determine the future of the IAEA and its treaty, which has so far failed to either promote cooperation in the use of nuclear energy or arrest the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Instead of cooperation, there is now, thanks to the United States and its allies, only animosity and discrimination. Some favoured states can have it; others may not, depending largely on the whims of the United States.
In his address to the UN General Assembly recently the new Iranian president has outlined what may prove a way out that can save the treaty. He has called for a probe into how Israel obtained its nuclear arsenal, a process that is sure to expose the abuse of the treaty by the same powers that now seek to coerce others into compliance. The president has also called for a comprehensive nuclear disarmament involving all known stockpiles by whoever held.
And as a first step for his own sub-region, Ahmadinejad has called for a nuclear-free Middle East; and on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, he has called for non-discriminatory access for all countries that need it. But his suggestions will mostly likely fall on deaf ears because the US is clearly determined to create a climate of fear about the status of Iran’s nuclear programme, just as it once did about Iraq’s so-called Weapons of Mass Destruction in order to justify its invasion. If that happens, Ahmadinejad should redraw the Line of the Imam—this time, thick, clear and inerasable—and take his stand at its edge. That, even if it is not immediately clear to those away from the scene, is the only way to guarantee victory; and, of course, the edge of that line is the place the rest of the Muslim World will eventually join him.
Even though Ahmadinejad had said that Iran had reached the conclusion that the very idea of the possessing nuclear weapons is antithetical to the spirit of Islam as a religion of peace, I urge the brave nation of Iran that has proved it can stand up to globaloney to reconsider this decision. It is a divine duty to develop armaments to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of God and the enemies of mankind—until they accept to allow peace a chance.
And if there is to be peace in the world, as Islam had stipulated and had, by its very name, urged its adherents to strive for individual and universal peace, then let there should be peace for everyone. But if their peace is planned only for some, and war reserved for others, then, in the final analysis, there will only be a blazing hell for everybody.
Clearly, the treaty to stem nuclear proliferation has failed; and by the nature of its contradictory mandate—‘spread nuclear knowledge; stop nuclear weapons’—it couldn’t have done otherwise. And the United States has charged the environment. Today, if any nation is looking for a very good reason to develop nuclear weapons, there could be no better justification than the overbearing attitude of a government like George Bush’s.
But we are confident that the unilateralism and nuclear terrorism of the US will fail even more woefully and sooner than the Non-Proliferation Treaty, so long as there is at least one state in the world, with the banner of Islam hoisted, challenging the modern confederates. World peace should not be on anybody’s term. It must be established on its own terms, in which every nation and every individual is equal to the other.
But, meanwhile, there are a series of questions that those standing on the Line of the Imam need to ask and insist on getting answers. First, who gave the United States the right and power to decide who should have nuclear power and who shouldn’t?
Second, if the US could itself refuse to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; if it could unilaterally withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty that it had signed; if it could develop a new and deadlier missile defence system in violation of the word, the letter and the spirit of the NPT; if, in the past, the US could violate articles I and II of the Non-Proliferation Treaty by transferring 180 tactical nuclear bombs to Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey for their use; and illegally put in place a NATO nuclear weapons sharing agreement, why should it expect anybody to have to respect the treaty?
Third, why should they stockpile nuclear weapons and deny others the same right? And, for God’s sake, don’t they know that the world will be an infinitely safer place for everyone if the nuclear button is in the hands of a true mujtahid than when matters are in the hands of a once-upon-a-time pot-smoking Texan redneck?

Posted by Publisher at 03:00 PM | Comments (0)

Tears rain down at crash site * Imasuen's wife collapses

LISA—THE inter-faith service was billed to start at 8 a.m. yesterday. But it never got underway until several hours later. But all through, wives wept, husbands sobbed and children wailed. Tears flowed freely.

By Okey Ndiribe with agency reports
Posted to the Web: Friday, October 28, 2005

One of the bereaved – Victoria Imasuen, widow of the pilot of the ill-fated plane – collapsed, shouting “my husband, my husband.” Relatives pulled her up, consoling her.

Scores of others who had lost hope of ever retrieving the remains of their beloved ones helped themselves to sand from the site to take back home. Several women who lost their husbands in the disaster were assisted to the venue by friends and relatives. Mrs Sambulu, wife of the late Comrade Sambulu, President of National Association of Nurses and Midwives (NANM), could barely talk. Mrs Grace Yetunde Omotade who also lost her husband in the crash told Vanguard it was the belief she and her children had in Jesus Christ that had sustained them during this trying period.

The sleepy village was thronged by thousands of people from different walks of life for the service.
As early as 7 a.m., many Christian and Muslim clerics had arrived the village to begin preparations for the inter-religious service. The choir of Winners Chapel was on hand to render various renditions for the day.

President Olusegun Obasanjo who arrived Lisa at about 1 p.m, urged relatives of the victims of the crashed aircraft to refrain from grieving and take solace in the injunctions of the Holy Quran and Bible that there is life after death.
He said the bereaved must not weep like people who have no hope.

President Obasanjo who attended the occasion along with several members of his Federal Executive Council and the governors of Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Osun States and the Deputy Governor of Lagos State expressed condolences to the Nigerian and foreign families of the victims over the air crash on behalf of himself and the Federal Government.

In an emotion-laden voice, he regretted that victims of the air crash who had all hoped to reach their various destinations safely now ended up buried underground with the aircraft after the crash. Said he: “As the helicopter which brought me to this place was circling the scene of the crash, what went through my mind was that most of the 117 victims of the crash must have phoned their loved ones to say they were returning home.

“Is where they ended up now their home?” he asked. He said the accident was a lesson for everybody, adding that there would be a day when every human being would not get to his destination just like the victims of the crash.

He thanked the Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, for his efforts in arranging the inter-religious service at the scene of the crash.
He further said the national tragedy had revealed to him that Nigerians could be united in sharing grief and sorrow, adding that there was no household in the country that has not been affected in one way or the other by the event of last Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

He called on Nigerians whom he said have been united by sorrow to also be united in a determination to make Nigeria better place.
Speaking to reporters earlier, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Frank Nweke, described the incident as tragic. “It is not the type of death you wish even for your enemy. People are grieving for them not because they are dead but for the manner in which they died,” he said.
The minister, who could not hold back his tears after inspecting the crater created by the crash, said he was totally devastated.

The Rev. Wilson Badejo, General Overseer of the Four Square Gospel Church and one of the priests, who officiated at the event, prayed that Almighty God would grant the families of the victims the courage to bear the loss. “We pray that the comfort of the Holy Spirit will be your portion,’’ he told the relations of the victims.
Among the dignitaries who attended the service were Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; Governor of Oyo State, Chief Rasheed Ladoja; Governor of Ekiti State, Prince Ayo Fayose and the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Prince Femi Pedro.

Also present were the the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Aviation, Professor Babalola Borisade; Minister of Information, Mr Frank Nweke; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Masari and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Sunday Ehindero.

Posted by Publisher at 02:59 PM | Comments (0)

Stella Obasanjo for burial today

ABEOKUTA—FIVE days after the death of Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, her body makes its final journey on earth today as she is scheduled to be buried in Abeokuta home of her husband, President Olusegun Obasanjo.

By Dayo Benson, Kolade Larewaju, Kenneth Ehigiator, Nduka Uzuakpundu & Olasunkanmi Akoni
Posted to the Web: Friday, October 28, 2005

The body which arrived Lagos yesterday morning from Abuja where it had earlier laid in state Wednesday, was received by a large crowd made up of PDP topshots and supporters at the Presidential wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, before it proceeded in a convoy to Abeokuta.

Yesterday’s arrival of the corpse in Lagos was a triumphant entry of sort as the casket was draped with the national flag. Despite different banners screaming encomiums on the departed Mrs. Obasanjo, the event, however, turned out to be a solemn one.

Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode Bode George, who led the party chieftains to the airport to receive the body was in full control of situation.
The personalities who came in large numbers, included Senator Kofo Bucknor-Akerele, former deputy governor of Lagos State; Chief Benjamin Elue, deputy governor of Delta State; Mrs. Cecilia Ibru; Engr Funso Williams; Engr. Funso Kupolokun, Group Managing Dircetors of the NNPC and the deputy Senate president, Senator Ibrahim Mantu. Others were Governors Peter Odili of Rivers State and his wife, Mary; James Ibori of Delta State; Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; and Chief Tony Anenih, Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees.

The combined team of soldiers and armed mobile policemen who controlled the movement of people into the presidential wing had a hectic time. But for the intervention of Chief George, most of the personalities would have had a brush with the security men.
At about 9:24am, the undertakers, Ebony, brought in the Lincoln Hearse that conveyed the body to Abeokuta.

Service for Stella

The arrival of the undertakers set the stage for a commendation service presided over Bishop Peter Adebiyi, the Vicar of Lagos West, Anglican Communion.
At exactly 11:15a.m, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Donnier 228 conveying the body touched down at the airport, shortly after the Fresh Air’s Boeing 737-200, which flew in Obasanjo and Abebe family members from Abuja landed.

The body was accompanied from Abuja by Director-General of NAFDAC, Mrs. Dora Akunyili and Defence Minister, Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso, while Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State, supported by his colleagues from Delta and Rivers States received it.

Just as the body was being driven out of the airport en route Abeokuta, the Gulfstream presidential jet conveying President Obasanjo; Senate President, Ken Nnamani and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari, landed.

Dignitaries paid glowing tributes to the late First Lady, describing her as an amazon and a woman who was committed to the cause of improving the lots of less privileged children.

The body which left Lagos in a white Cadillac Lincoln Town Car Hearse belonging to the undertaker of Ebony Casket, at about 9.24 am, arrived the Agbeleobla, Abeokuta, venue of the lying-in-state at 2.41 p.m. in a procession led by the undertakers.

A large crowd of sympathiers outside the venue gave the undertakers and security operatives a hectic time in bringing down the casket.
The Ebony casket was, however, carried in a few moments later amid additional dirge rendered by Gateway Dancing Company even as the surging crowd outside battled security operatives at the entrance.

The chief mourner, President Obasanjo arrived the venue at 3.15 p.m. in company of Prof. Wole Soyinka and Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. Prof. Soyinka who said the opening prayer called on all those present to bow their heads and pray for the soul of the deceased in their different faiths. He rounded it up with “may the memory of Stella remain refreshing in our hearts,” to which all chorused, Amen, after which the president and his entourage left the venue.

The Abeokuta lying-in-state had all the trapping of a carnival as primary and secondary school students, security agents and some para-military groups lined the Kuto-Abeokuta expressway while the major roads leading to Agbeloba were cordoned off ahead of the corpse’s arrival.

While the ceremony lasted, there was a traffic snarl in the area as human and vehicular movements became very hectic even as dignitaries headed for the Valley View Government House of the Christian wake keep which followed later in the evening.

Among dignitaries that attended the wake-keep were former Finance Minister, Jubril Martin Kuye; Mr. Femi Otedola; Alhaji Aliki Dangote; wife of the late head of state, Mrs. Ajoke Murtala Mohammed; EFCC boss, Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu; Mr. Pascal Dozien; Governor Rashidi Ladoja; Bishop David Oyedepo, and Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).

Meanwhile, the immediate family of Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, the Abebe family at the Christian wake keep expressed its gratitude to all Nigerians for condoning and mourning with it over the death of the first lady.

Posted by Publisher at 02:58 PM | Comments (0)

OPC: Fasehun, Gani charged, remanded in prison

LAGOS—TWO factional leaders of the Odua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Fredrick Fasehun and Ganiyu Adams and eight other OPC top members were yesterday ordered to be remanded in prison custody by an Igbosere Magistrate Court, sitting in Lagos.

By Innocent Anaba, Wahab Abdullah & Emmanuel Oji
Posted to the Web: Friday, October 28, 2005

The others are: Chief Murania Komolafe, Oluwatoyin Osoba, Samusideen Opeloyeru, Aremu Niyi-Oba, Edward Olushola, Alhaji Mudashiru Adeniji, Chief Wahab Isiaka and Oyinlola Awe.

The presiding magistrate, Mr Olufemi Isaac, overruled the contention of the defence counsel that the police application for the remand of the suspects for the offence of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, malicious damages to property, rioting, causing fear to members of the public by bearing firearms, arson and managing unlawful society, amounted to holden charge.

The court upheld the argument of the police that the request for remand was brought pursuant to section 263 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) of Lagos State, which gives the court the power to remand an accused person, who is going to be charged with an offence or when the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) is still being awaited for the formal arraignment of the accused person before a court. The court, consequently, ordered the remand of the accused persons.

After the order for remand was made, the accused persons where marched into a waiting Ducato Fiat bus, with number plate AJ388MKD at about 1.50pm.
While the proceeding lasted, all access roads to the magistrate court were cordoned-off by a team of heavily armed policemen numbering about 50 stationed in and around the court premises.

The policemen used a truck to block one section of the road while the other section was blocked with an armoured personnel carrier. Vehicles and people were not allowed to pass though the front of the court while the policemen searched people that approached or entered the court premises.
Earlier, Police prosecutor, DCP Columbus Okaro, at the hearing in the matter and after the accused persons were marched into the dock, told the court that the accused persons were brought to order their remand in custody. He said the application was brought pursuant to section 336(3) of the CPL, Cap C18, Vol II, laws of Lagos State, 2003.

According to him, “the offences for which the accused persons are held include conspiracy to commit murder, murder, malicious damages to property, rioting, causing fear to members of the public by bearing firearms, arson and managing unlawful society. We have brought the accused persons to court, for the court to take cognisance of their arrest and for the court to order their remand in custody, so that police can conclude its investigation and send the case file to the DPP for advise and subsequently, arraign them before a high court. That is our humble application and we ask the court to grant us our application.”

Fred Agbeyegbe, lead counsel for the accused persons, opposed the application but called on Wahab Shittu to argue the objection. According to Shittu, “the procedure adopted by the police is unknown to law of this country as the police is yet to fulfil the conditions needed before this kind of application is brought. First, the application for remand is purportedly brought under section 263(3) of CPL. The said provision cannot be read in isolation without considering the imports of section 263(1)(2) all of which are necessary in this matter. What they relied on can only apply where there is a proceeding before this court.

“The section envisage the existence of a proceeding. It also envisages a situation where the court will have the power to hear the charge, the accused persons may be charged with. Clearly, this court cannot ask the accused persons to come back to this court because clearly, the offence attached, being murder, cannot be tried by this court. The law does not recognise the mechanism of a holden charge. The Court of Appeal has made it clear that holden charge is unknown to our law,” he said.
He further asked the court to refuse the application to remand the accused persons in custody.

Replying on point of law, Osaro said “the procedure under which the accused persons were brought to court is known to law. We did not come to the court with a charge. We came specifically for a remand and in the instant case, it is what is envisaged by the makers of section 263(3) of CPL. The police can ask for the remand of an accused when the police have not concluded investigation.”

Ruling on the matter, the presiding magistrate disagreed with the defence counsel, saying what was before the court was not a case of holden charge but one for remand of an accused person, who the police have every reason to believe will be charge for an offence as provided under section 263(3) of CPL.

The said the police had satisfied him that a case for the remand of the accused persons had been made. Mr Isaac, however, disagreed with the police that the accused should be remanded until it (police) concluded its investigation. According to the court, “the accused persons are to be remanded pending the advice of the DPP and I hereby order the police to forward the case file to the DPP for advice and I want to adjourn this matter so that I can monitor the matter.”
The court adjourned the case till November 11, 2005.

Posted by Publisher at 02:55 PM | Comments (0)

Another tragedy: 20 die, others in critical state

ENUGU—AS Nigerians continue to mourn the death of the First Lady, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo and victims of the Bellview plane crash earlier in the week, another tragedy struck in Enugu yesterday where a ghastly auto accident claimed the lives of over twenty people and left several others in critical conditions.

By Tony Edike
Posted to the Web: Friday, October 28, 2005

The accident, occurred along the Enugu-Nsukka expressway in the early hours of the day and it involved a luxury bus heading for the northern part of the country and a Mercedes 911 truck carrying heavy logs of wood.

It was a pathetic sight when Vanguard visited the scene yesterday as mangled bodies of the deceased pasengers littered the area while the injured and other survivors were moaning in agony. Volunteers made frantic efforts to pull more bodies from the wreckage in which both vehicles were damaged beyond recognition.

A police patrol team that arrived the scene later join hands with sympathisers who volunteered their vehicles began to remove the dead bodies and the injured to nearby hospitals and mortuaries while many other passersby stayed back to bemoan the disaster.

Among those who died in the mishap were two female youth corpers identified by their uniforms, the drivers of both vehicles and many young men believed to be traders as well as some middle aged women.

Most of the survivors were reeling in pains and could not speak on the incident but one of them who gave her name as Mrs. Nnamdi said she boarded the bus at Onitsha while it was in transit adding that she did not know where it originated from.

She said the accident occurred around 6.30 am when the luxury bus driver attempted to overtake a lorry at a bend but ran into the on-coming truck loaded with timber adding that the passengers had continued warning driver over his reckless driving until the incident happened.

“We kept warning the man but he refused to listen, then I saw him swerve suddenly and the next thing I heard was gboa! And you can now see what happened”, she narrated.

Posted by Publisher at 02:52 PM | Comments (0)

Stella's death stalls hearing of Al-Mustapha's trial

LAGOS—THE absence of the Special Assistant to Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Political Matters, Dr Umar Ardo, who is the second prosecution witness, yesterday stalled further hearing in the trial of former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to late Head of State, Gen Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Lt Col Mohammed Umar Adeka and Onwuchekwe Okorie, over their alleged involvement in the alleged coup plot to topple the President Obasanjo’s administration.

By Innocent Anaba & Emmanuel Oji
Posted to the Web: Friday, October 28, 2005

According to prosecuting counsel, Mr Oke, he received a call from Ardo that he will not be able to attend today (yesterday) hearing, because of what happened in the presidency (death of First Lady, Mrs Stella Obasanjo). He told the court that he persuaded him (Ardo) to come, but he (Ardo) said because of administrative reasons, he will not be able to make it to court.

He consequently asked for the adjournment of the matter.
Defence counsel did not oppose the application, as they said they would have been surprised if he had come to court. But Al-Mustapha’s counsel, Ojo told the court that he had filed an application, which has been served on parties, and that the court should take notice of it. The presiding judge in the matter, Justice Daniel Abutu, however, adjourned further hearing in the matter till November 11, 2005.

Before adjournment, counsel to Okorie, Allens Agbaka, urged the court to hear the application he brought on behalf of his client, in which he is asking the court to restrain the State Security Service (SSS) from further removing him (Okorie) from the custody of the Director of Military Intelligence (DMI) where he is presently being detained.

Posted by Publisher at 02:42 PM | Comments (0)

CitiServe spreads over 36 states of Nigeria

CitiServe Recharge, the telephone airtime distribution platform set up by Vigeo Holdings, now has a geographic spread that covers all 36 states of the federation. The coverage was influenced by the new partnership between CitiServe and three banks.

Posted to the Web: Friday, October 28, 2005

In a statement issued over the weekend by Mr. Akin Osuntoki, Executive Director, Vigeo Holdings, confirmed that the ‘Orange Box’, which is the CitiServe Recharge retail equipment, can now be loaded in the banks as well as other loading centres across the country.

“CitiServe Network Partners (who own and operate Orange Boxes that print out airtime vouchers with PIN codes) now have easy access to loading points in all the 36 states of the federation, especially in the branches of our partner banks; namely Guaranty Trust, Wema and Chartered Banks as well as our loading centres around the country,” he said.

Osuntoki further explained that with its national business spread, CitiServe is presently perfecting the deployment of its network facilities to cover all local government areas within the country.

He added that since the use of recharge cards is already being trailed by complaints of manufacturing faults, spurious pricing and artificial scarcity, the Orange Box is designed to remove such problems.

“Right now we are in 36 states and have about 64 loading centres. But by the end of next year, we would have established offices and loading centres in the 720 local government areas across the country in cooperation with our partner-banks.

Posted by Publisher at 02:38 PM | Comments (0)

A NATION IN GRIEF : The politics of death and condolences

At a time when the mood of the nation is still one of despair and grief, politicians are living true to type as they continue to pay their last respects to Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, breaking down partisan barriers, and perhaps signaling that the death of the First Lady could indeed become a uniting factor in a polity of clashing interests.

By Jide Ajani, Political Editor
Posted to the Web: Friday, October 28, 2005

However, typically of mortals of this hue, it might just become business as usual when the state congress of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, takes place soon.

It was in 1992 at the funeral rites for the amiable Aliyu Dasuki, cousin to the former Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki. For the mourners at the burial ceremony, it was a roll call of the who is who in Nigeria. It had virtually all of Nigeria’s men and women of the moment. - ministers, business moguls top military officers and the like. There were also wives of army generals. In fact, because of the relationship between the first family of that time and the deceased Dasuki who died in Europe, the first family was also visibly grieved. Sympathisers wept at the grave side of Aliyu Dasuki. As the body was being lowered into the earth, another round of uncontrollable wailing rented the air.

It was at this point that an army colonel who had served as military governor and administrator of a government parastatal whispered into the ear of another military officer: “You would think all the wailing is borne out of the fact that the man died. There is more to it than that.” That may have been uncharitable; but it is true.
That was in 1992.

This week, even as the nation mourns both the tragic loss of 117 lives which went down with Bellview Flight 210 on the night of last Saturday October 22, and as the body of Nigeria’s former First Lady, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo is lowered into the earth at a private funeral, the outpouring of grief should be expected.
There could be two ways to look at the development.

To be positive, in death, Stella Omotola Obasanjo may have saved Nigeria and Nigerians the possibility of high combustion. What with the overheated polity and the threats and rumours of threats of a possible implosion or disintegration of the ruling political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The PDP had just concluded its registration and re-validation exercise but it had left a very sour taste in the mouths of those who were caught on the wrong side of the divide. Even the ward congress that was conducted throughout the nation by affirmation was soon to be dumped into the trash bin of illegality as an Abuja High Court declared that it was an exercise in futility. It ordered fresh ward congress through election. The party claimed to have complied by introducing voice voting system in its rescheduled ward congress and local government congress. The dust kicked up by those congresses was yet to settle when Stella Obasanjo passed on.
The confrontation between President Olusegun Obasanjo and his deputy, Vice President Atiku Abubakar, was almost at the point of inflicting bigger damage on the polity when the news of the sudden death of Mrs. Obasanjo was broken.

But the turn of events today is such that every opponent of the first family has found it expedient to commiserate with the first family.
The roll call would have been unimaginable until the death of Stella Obasanjo.

Orji Uzor Kalu, who all but labeled President Obasanjo a crooked leader. He went as far as insinuating that a wing of the Obasanjo sympathisers was angling for his assassination sometime ago. Since Stella Obasanjo’s death, Kalu has been very sensitive, in fact, unbelievably so. The height of it was his admonition that Obasanjo not only needs but deserves the support and sympathy of all Nigerians at this hour of great loss.

A photograph of General Muhammadu Buhari, in a discussion with General Ibrahim Babangida in the company of Governor James Onanefe Ibori, the latter who had once been at the receiving end of Obasanjo’s caustic tongue for the opulence displayed at the burial of the governor’s mother, is all that would remind any individual that death could have its own purposes in life.

Yet in that same villa could be found Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Segun Osoba, immediate past governor of Ogun State, Niyi Adebayo, immediate past governor of Ekiti State commiserating with Obasanjo.

If politicians would not soon recoil into their shell, the unity in grief which the death of Mrs. Obasanjo engendered during the week is enough to forge a new and necessary sense of camaraderie in the leadership of this country.

Victor Malu, former Chief of Army staff and an individual who is being perceived as a thorn in the flesh of this administration, was also on hand to sign the condolence register.

Another sight of Obasanjo and his deputy was good to behold, barring any other re-invigoration of hostilities pursuant to the 2007 contest.
Yet, there is every need to express concern that politicians may soon recoil into their shell of self-seving mentality once this era of grief passes.
Whereas it would be convenient for some individuals to merely say that the office of the wife of the president is what is being honoured, the way politicians and some leaders of this country were at each other’s throat created the impression that heavens was about to fall.

But it would be quite fitting to see where all these show of sympathy would lead once the dust over Stella’s death settles.
For now, politicians are falling head over heels to commiserate with President Obasanjo. It is hoped that all these display of emotion would be sustained after the burial.

If it is not sustained, it would not be new.
But then, by any stroke of fate, should it be sustained, then Nigeria may be on that great march to greatness, where personal animosities and grievances would be abandoned for a new and refreshing spirit of togetherness. That way, even if there is an individual whispering at this minute that all these would fade away, it would be to the eternal glory and memory of Stella Obasanjo if her death could cause a new spirit of togetherness, devoid of treachery and such other negative elements of politics in Nigeria.
For Stella Omotola ‘Mama’ Obasanjo, RIP.

Posted by Publisher at 02:33 PM | Comments (0)

THE PASSING AWAY OF STELLA OBASANJO : Nigeria without a First Lady

Even when the syndrome of First Lady first crept into the lexicon of governance at the federal level with the person of Lady Victoria Gowon, nobody ever imagined a day that a sitting President would lose his wife. But that is exactly what has happened in Nigeria now.

By Jide Ajani, & Emmanuel Aziken, Abuja
Posted to the Web: Friday, October 28, 2005

In this season of grief for the first family, made worse by the crash of Bellview Flight 210 last Saturday, October 22, the business of state continues. And whereas there had been declared three days of mourning, the vacuum created by the sudden death of Chief (Mrs.) Obasanjo. Stella Obasanjo (nee Abebe) who died in the early hours of Sunday as a result of complications arising from a surgery she had undergone in a hospital in Spain, would be remembered for her conquering spirit. Her vivacious spirit was especially potent against Army Generals.

The hospital is located on the outskirts of the town of Malaga.
The news of her death was broken to her husband, President Olusegun Obasanjo at about 3 a.m.
Although the nature of the complications leading to her death could not be immediately ascertained, Vanguard learnt that there were initial hopes of her possible recovery immediately after the surgery.

It was gathered that soon after the surgery, Mrs. Obasanjo was said to have gone into a coma.
Efforts were also said to have been made to ensure recovery but this proved unsuccessful
Her body has since been flown into the country.

On Monday, 17th of October Mrs Obasanjo left Nigeria and was said to have been invited for an aspect of the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO.

Mrs. Obasanjo, very loyal to her husband, was separated from President Obasanjo in 1990 but came back during his turbulent years in prison.
In the valley of depression a decade ago when her husband was incarcerated by the Generals that ran Nigeria at that time, she mobilised an inner spirit that tormented her husband’s captors. Tried as that regime made to distance Obasanjo from public view by sending him to Yola, Stella proved a faithful wife becoming a channel of communication between her husband and the outside world. A determined spirit to see off the harrows of that time no doubt helped enliven the depressed spirit of her husband.

She was the tiny strand of hope that a captive Obasanjo held on to in prison, aside from God Almighty, that is.
Following his dramatic ascension to power for the second time in 1999, President Obasanjo had made an open confession that his administration would eliminate the office of First Lady.

He, perhaps under-estimated Stella, who conquered that command.
Little was known of Stella during Obasanjo’s first advent between 1976 and 1979. Most memories of Stella Obasanjo would revolve around her days as Nigeria’s first lady between 1999 and 2005.

She would first be remembered for breaching her husband’s order banning the office of First Lady. That ban obviously flowed from the near nuisance that her predecessors in that constitutionally undefined office made of it.

But without the lawless inclination of the military, Stella tried in her own way to make a positive impact on the nation. Her pet project, the Child Care Trust was conceived to bring focus to the plight of mostly children with birth disadvantages.

Her inclination to children with birth defects could well reflect a spirit that sought to dominate stubborn challenges. A facility for physically challenged children near Bwari, a few kilometres from the Abuja city centre will ever remain a legacy of Stella’s passion for physically disadvantaged children.
That project was of course criticised by some opinion writers as an elitist if not remote effort on the afflictions that have smeared Nigeria.

But in staying in that course, she expressed an inner conviction towards bringing succour to a section of the country whose pains had never before been addressed.
Stella’s effort was sometimes enclosed in public view by television images of a vivacious First Lady at weddings, birthdays, and funeral ceremonies. She was the social arm of the first family bringing the Obasanjo name to social occasions that an otherwise socially reserved Obasanjo would disclaim.

Perhaps her coming 60th birthday may have brought day light into that otherwise conservative social life. A woman of virtue in her own right, Stella struggled to ensure that the name of the First family did not stray into the murky waters of heavy scandals.
For a prominent public figure, Stella was not too distant from controversies some of which would only remain the subject of side talks.
The best ever recollection of her early life was presented by the Murray-Bruce’s.

The relationship between the Murray-Bruce and the Abebe family dates beck to 1929 because their fathers worked together at UAC.
In the words of Michael Murray-Bruce, “we grew up as children together. Stella, I recalled was a very nice person and very kind indeed. She went to the same college, the St Theresa in Ibadan with sister Philomena and she took care of her since she was very small.

“We partied together as family and Stella never hesitated to identify with family even when she became the first lady.”
The last public function attended by the late Obasanjo before her death early hours of Sunday was her decoration as Patroness of the Gateway Games 2006 by the Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel on Thursday 6th October 2005 at the State House banquet hall Abuja. Her decoration and investiture was ahead of the 15th biennial sports fiesta scheduled to hold in Ogun State next year. And she pledged her total commitment to the success of the sports festival. The Ogun Governor along with his wife, Funke and the wives of the governors of Kwara and Oyo states, decorated Mrs. Obasanjo with a medal and certificate of investiture as well as the special jacket made for the games. While thanking the governor and his team of organisers for considering her worthy of being the patroness of the Games she regretted her inability to contribute financially to the Games.

“As you are all aware, my office is not publicly funded. That means that I am in no position to contribute financially towards the Games. However, I pledge to give my strong moral support to make

‘Gateway Games 2006’ a great success”, she said.
On Monday 17th of October Mrs Obasanjo left for Spain where she underwent a surgery but never returned to be part of the Gateway games she vowed to support.
Stella as First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was born in Warri, Delta State, on 14th November, 1945. She is the first of seven children born to the distinguished industrialist and administrator, Dr. Christopher Abebe and Mrs. Theresa Abebe. Dr. Abebe is the first indigenous chairman of UAC Plc. Chief (Mrs.) Stella OBASANJO attended Our Lady of Apostles Primary School, Yaba, Lagos, from 1955 to 1959. In 1960, she enrolled into St. Theresa’s College, Ibadan, and passed the West African School Certificate in 1964. She completed her Higher School Certificate (HSC) in 1966, also at St. Theresa’s College. With her Higher School Certificate in the bag, she proceeded to the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University, where she read English from 1967 to 1969. She could not complete her course at the University of Ife, due to a new and irresistible love for Insurance Studies. Consequently, she went to the United Kingdom to study and discover the challenging world of Insurance from 1970 to 1974.

Never one to pass on an opportunity to acquire knowledge, Chief (Mrs.) Stella OBASANJO also trained as a Confidential Secretary at Pitman’s College, London, in 1976.

In 1976, the young Stella married General Olusegun OBASANJO, as he was then. As a caring, loving and supportive wife, she was able to seize the moment and quickly provided the pivot for her husband’s widely--acclaimed success as military Head of State.

By the time she became First Lady in May 1999, during Chief Olusegun OBASANJO’s triumphant return as civilian President, Chief (Mrs.) OBASANJO had already proven herself as an amazon and a trusted and loyal supporter of her husband. There is a sense in which it could be said, therefore, that her marriage has, somehow, defined and circumscribed for her, a career of mothering for the whole nation.

Chief (Mrs.) Stella OBASANJO has received various service and honours awards, both at home and abroad, in recognition of her inspirational and motivational leadership. She has also been the humble and grateful recipient of several chieftaincy tides and community honours on account of her contributions to the improvement of the living conditions of many communities in Nigeria.

Some of her chieftaincy titles are as follows: Yeye Oge of Oke--Ona Egba, Abeokuta, 1992. Iya Meso of Egbaland, Abeokuta, 1992. Yeye ‘Luwa (Iya Oba) of Orile--Owu, Ogun State 1993. Yeye Tuluse of Owu--Isin, Kwara, State 1995. Oga Nla Obirin Owu, Abeokuta, 1996. Enyi of Asaba, 2000. Yeye Oranmiyan of Ile Ife, 2001. Obong An wan of Ke Efik Eburutu, 2001 Nne Diora Mma of Asaba, 2002 Ada Abia, 2002. Nne'Oghai of [sial Nwga South Local Government Area of Abia State, 2002. Maigirma Langtang, 2003. Mama Bezhe of Bwari, 2003. Ibinoze 1 of Afenesanland, 2002.

Some of her service awards include the following: Africa Achievement Award” Los Angeles, USA, 2000. Global Safe Motherhood A ward White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, 2001. I Honourary Fellowship of the West African college of Nursing’ The West African college of Nursing Liberia, 2001. International Recognition Award on women and AIDS. The Rainbow/PUSH coalition and citizens Education Foundation, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A, 2000. United Arab Emirates Foundation Prize for 2004". Executive Board of World Health Organisation/UAE Ministry of Health, 2004.

In addition to her numerous titles and Awards, the First Lady is also matron and chair to a host of civic and professional organisations, including: Grand Patron of Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria. Grand Matron of the National Grassroots Associations of Nigeria. Nigeria Tourism Ambassador. Grand Matron of the Better Life Programme for African Women. Chair of Council of Women Peace Envoys (CWPE). National Grand Patron of the Girls Brigade, Nigeria. Grand Patron, National council of Women's Societies, Nigeria. VISION FOR THE FUTURE:

The former First Lady believes that there is a great deal of work yet to be done to secure a permanent place for children and women on the public policy agenda in Nigeria. In the particular area of child health, her preoccupation at the moment is to enlarge the scope of activities of her pet project, the Child Care Trust (CCT). Her vision is to make the services of the CCT available to the vast “number of underprivileged and challenged children spread across the length and breadth of Nigeria". In the meantime, she hopes to continue to provide focused and motivational leadership to women, as well as continue in her role as lead advocate for children and women rights.

Chief (Mrs.) Stella OBASANJO had as hobbies music, arts, and sports.
Even in this moment of national grief, it is difficult to imagine that Nigeria has no First Lady. But the business of state must go on.

Posted by Publisher at 02:28 PM | Comments (0)

Aso Rock mourns Stella Obasanjo, as she's laid to rest in Abeokuta

For three days running the State House Abuja, the nation’s seat of power, has been in mournful mood, losing its usual vibrancy and flamboyant aura. The tragic death of the wife of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Mrs Stella Obasanjo, in far away Spain early hours of Sunday was received with a lot of shock in the seat of power.

Charles Ozoemena
Posted to the Web: Friday, October 28, 2005

Although officials of the State House have shield away from disclosing the nature of surgery she went for in Spain, International media report monitored and from sources in Spain confirmed that the First Lady died from complications arising from cosmetic surgery.

There were strong indications that the First Lady who would have been 60 in November had gone to polish her good looks ahead of the birthday celebration, which Vanguard learnt was in the days before her untimely demise was upper most in her mind. A flamboyant woman, it is not a surprise she wanted to impress her husband, guests and the nation with her brand new arresting looks on her 60th birthday. State House correspondents who were previously looking forward to seeing Mrs Obasanjo again on her return from Spain, were in shock as soon as the Senior Special Assistant to President Obasanjo on media, Mrs Oluremi Oyo, broke the news to State House Correspondents. The subsequent broadcast and its repeat on Television and Radio Stations, across the nation informed the world that the worst had happened to the first family, and the nation at large.

It was therefore no surprise that the usually tranquil ambience of State House was literally besieged by sympathisers, which included family friends and well wishers of President Obasanjo, and other concerned Nigerians, who trooped in to commiserate with him.

Sadly, the death of Mrs Obasanjo, coincided with the tragedy air mishap of the Bellview that killed 177 passengers including crew members on board of the ill-fated Boeing 737, further added to the dark mood of the Villa. Among the victims of the flight that crashed at the hitherto unknown and remote village of Lisa in Ogun village was the presidential aide and chairman of the presidential committee on trade malpractice, Alhaji Waziri Mohammed among several notable government functionaries and influential Nigerians.

With the presidency declaring a three day mourning, the banquet hall of the State House had four registers opened for people to register their condolences for the first family, and crashed victims. By 9am on Sunday shortly with the National Security Adviser to President Obasanjo General Mohammed Gusau opening the register with a simple message of condolence and his wishing the first Lady to “Rest in peace”. As he stepped aside, the National Chairman of PDP, Chief Ahmadu Ali, arrived and went straight to write his condolence message. From then on the traffic of people grew long and longer with intermittent burst of tears and wailing from close friends, and relatives of the first lady.

An enlarged photos of the late first lady was hung at the hall, and on sighting it a number of people who had come to write their condolences broke down and wept. Generally, the whole exercise drew tears from her friends and relatives. Both serving and former Government officials, Ambassadors, politicians, retired military personnel, took their queue that would seem to elongate as more visitors kept trooping in droves, making it difficult for journalists who wanted to jot down the messages left behind by prominent Nigerians to do so without hassles.

The road into the President’s residence where he had remained since the Sunday Service was closed except for prominent visitors, who in any case must cleared their entrance through the President’s Aide-de-camp before gaining entry. Among Monday callers were General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) who had kept his distance from the Villa after the 2003 general election, which he said was rigged. And over which he took the President to court, though he lost, but had maintained that despite his loss at the court, he would not recognise the administration as a legitimate one.

Thus, until Monday, Buhari, who was presidential flag bearer of ANPP, had shunned every event that had any linked to the State House, even on official invitation. His visit was widely viewed as a demonstration that although politics is a game, the bitterness of electoral dispute can be put aside when death occurs.

Moreover, observers feel that African culture forbade and abhors carrying bitterness of politics against the bereaved, and this explains Buhari’s visit to condole President Obasanjo. Relieving Obasanjo’s meeting with Buhari who came in company of four other former Nigerian leaders that include General Yakubu Gowon, President Shehu Shagari, General Ibrahim Babanigda, and Chief Ernest Shonekan to condole Obasanjo, Mrs Oluremi Oyo, who for two days had cried her eyes out over the death of the First Lady, said both men (Obasanjo and Buhari) exchanged jokes as if there was no animosity.

Also another significant visitor was the visit of Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, who hitherto had become a fiery critic of the President. Prior to his coming, speculations were rife that Kalu may not visit the President in view of his recent criticisms. State House Correspondents were surprised to see him at about 5pm at the banquet hall. In an interview with them he described as shocking the demise of the First lady whom he fondly called “Mama Nigeria”.

Sympathising with the President he said that this is not time for politics, but time to console the President, who is currently in heavy grief. Apart from pondering over her sudden death, many mourners were seen speaking in hush voices the operation she went for in Spain, the air disaster and the names of those that had been published as being on it. Around the Villa, the talk was all about death. At no time had been such talking about people dying and the cause of it in the seat of power than in the last few days.

With the announcement by the presidency late Monday of the arrival of Mrs Obasanjo’s corpse, attention shifted to Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport where her remains arrived at about 10.30pm late that day. The entire administration were at the airport that also had a sprinkling of foreign dignitaries to receive the corpse. Those who accompanied President Obasanjo to the international airport were Vice President Atiku Abubakar, President Mahammud Tanja of Niger Republic, Governors, members of the Legislature, members of the judiciary, ministers, presidential aides, business moguls, relations and friends of the first family, kept vigil at the Presidential wing of the Airport, until the final touch down of the plane that brought her back from Spain.

The tumultuous crowd at the airport struggled to catch a glimpse of the casket containing her remains, which was brought out of the aircraft by the men of Brigade of Guards. As soon as the casket was removed from the plane the tranquillity of the airport gave way to wailing. It is quite possible that even though the President had all along not betrayed any emotion, his inner feeling must have been stirred at the sight of the casket of his wife.

The much he did to show his true feeling was to tap the casket, controlling his tears. Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who had kept company with the President after cancelling his journey to Mecca on holy pilgrimage, also took his queue to tap the casket, and must have been remembering in many ways how Mrs Obasanjo touched his life positively in the course of work at the seat of power. He too did not show any emotion.

It is expected that as Mrs Obasanjo lies in state, the presidential villa would explode with increased flow of people from across the world, who would come to to see her final remains and bade her good bye. From her many charity work, Mrs Obasanjo demise, it is believed would be missed by her child Care Trust children. Beyond that her death has achieved so much as all the disputants in the fight for political supremacy in Nigeria, may have sheath their swords to unite for a common purpose of giving her a befitting burial. There is very little more she could have asked.

Posted by Publisher at 02:24 PM | Comments (0)

ENUGU: A Witness to history

In a recent newspaper publication, a group boldly claimed, in reference to the giant strides in Enugu State that “government’s oft-touted achievements exist for the most part only on the pages of newspapers and television networks.” That is politics.

Pini Jason
Posted to the Web: Friday, October 28, 2005

Bad politics! And it may sound good to the opposition in Enugu State. I have made the point to, as much as possible, stay away from the politics within the South East states, for it is essentially rooted in elite conflict and elite greed. But my people say if you encourage the woman who brought you a meal of beans, she would probably be so pleased to do more next time. Nigeria has a peculiar problem as a developing country racked by corruption. But we cannot make much progress if we do not acknowledge our modest efforts. Neither Gov Donald Duke of Cross River nor Gov Mu’azu of Bauchi would be happy if their efforts are dismissed as non-existent. Senator Ogunlewe may say Gov Tinubu has done nothing, but we who live in Lagos may think differently. The opposition may run Obong Attah down, but those who go to Uyo know what they see. And these are not the governors that receive jumbo allocations. The politics of the South East, in particular, suffers from the crises of confidence and selfishness among the elite and the dichotomy between the intellectual class and the partisan political class. And these are fuelled by arrogance.

What are being derided as “newspaper” and “television” achievements, are the same achievements to which no less a person than President Obasanjo bore witness. Not long ago, the President narrated how some people came to tell him that nothing was happening in Enugu State and how he reminded them of the projects he saw. They are the same projects that 13 European Ambassadors toured from September 22-24. They are the same projects I saw on October 13. They are the same projects waiting for any doubting Thomas to go and see.

About four years ago, we were on a nationwide dissemination workshop under the auspices of the Sweden-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, I-IDEA, which took us to Enugu. If I remember, it was during the time Governor Chimaroke Nnamani lost his father. So his Deputy, Ezenwata Okechukwu Itanyi, received us. As was the practice, the I-IDEA team paid courtesy visits to selected individuals and institutions a day before the workshop. In Enugu, we visited a monsignor at a Catholic institute, the Anglican Bishop of Enugu, Dr Chukwuma and some traditional rulers. The traditional rulers, unprompted, told us of the revolutions that were going on in the rural arears of the state with the provision of roads, electricity, schools and healthcare centres. In the evening, we received a message that the governor would like to see us. When Nomboniso Gaasa, the South African-born country manager of I-IDEA, Mrs Joy Ezeilo and myself arrived the Government House, we did not know what to expect. But I was struck that the governor had read and dog-eared the 379-page report, Democracy In Nigeria: The Continuing Dialogue(s) for Nation Building. He is about the only Nigerian government official I know that read it with keen interest. As we discussed the report, which he found quite exciting, he gave what I considered a rare insight into the concept of poverty, and it seems that insight has continued to propel his development strides in Enugu State.

The current cynosures of all eyes in Enugu, the ESUT Medical School, the ESUT permanent site with customized faculty buildings, the three-auditoria International Conference Centre overlooking Okpara Square, the Judiciary complex, the Tunnel and the Loma Linda Housing Estate are superstructures in the true sense of it in that they are the icing on a deliberate development programme that started with rural development. Before Loma Linda, for example, there have been the Ebeano and Golf housing estates, all strategically positioned for all eyes to see. And what is unique about Enugu is that it is not just about projects but programmes and I am not surprised that the Slovak Ambassador, Isor Haidusek, captured that difference when he spoke of “the vision for the programme that you have presented to us.”

What I saw, and what is going on in Akwa Ibom and Cross River, is a bold and defiant statement that the people of the East can salvage themselves and lift themselves above the general decadent and mediocre standards. And I believe that the transformation of Nigeria may begin with the efforts of one or two creative and visionary governors setting a pace others may emulate. Therefore I agree with the Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland, Liam Canniffee, who said, “And the future of Nigeria, in fact, starts here in Enugu, and your development is Nigeria’s……”

It is common with the Nigerian cynicism to read motives into accounts of modest achievements in a clime where resources are devoted to tummy tuck and other irrelevances. And so it was believed that Governor Nnamani, at the expense of the state’s resources, invited the 13 EU ambassadors for a public relations stunt. That would be taking cynicism to a ridiculous end! Of course the visit was a great public relations plus for the state government. No one should deny or denigrate that. But the visit was not at the instance of the governor. The ambassadors chose Enugu. Hear Richard Gozney, the British High Commissioner: “From the UK, we have worked with His Excellency, the governor and others here through DFID. The UK happens to be the chair of the European Union for this six-month period, from July to December 2005, so we wish for the UK to work with a state government for a visit of this sort. So I suggested to my colleagues, and they readily agreed. The reason I suggested Enugu was because I knew a little bit of what it was like here because I come because of DFID’s programmes, and I wanted to show them how exceptional and dynamic Enugu was……”

And for me this is significant. Some of us are acutely aware that to many Nigerians, including the authorities in Abuja and the media, the East is another country. The East is under-reported or completely ignored most of the time, except there is negative news. This was why, Chief Edwin Igbokwe and myself, at personal cost and as our own little contribution to national development, hosted the Eastern governors-elect at the Sheraton, Ikeja in 1999 before they were sworn in. We wanted to expose them to the media before security and protocol fenced them in. Gov Nnamani was one of them. For me, therefore, the important thing about the tour of the EU Ambassadors is that it opened up the Igbo country to the outside world. As Stent Engdahl, Deputy Head of Mission of Embassy of Sweden, said: “We have also seen some fantastic parts of the cultural side of this state and I think this has given me a much better understanding of the state and this part of the country, which obviously is very useful……” This is very important for investment.

I think Mr. Richard Gozney captured the essence of what is happening in Enugu when he said: “But my own impression and the one we can use to enlighten the outside world is of the dynamism, the optimism and ambition of Enugu to be different and to introduce programmes, infrastructure and other elements for the future and to make this state a driving force, a motivating force in this part of Nigeria and perhaps, for Nigeria as a whole.” As I said earlier, Enugu could be the linchpin in programmes and projects delivery in Nigeria.

Are the projects white elephant projects?

They are not. You can see the dynamism the EU Ambassadors saw and spoke about when you visit the construction sites. You can see it in the faces of the rural women who sell their wares at the construction sites. You can see it in the brawny physique of the Igbo construction workers. You can see it in the proud carriage of the Igbo architect and engineers. You can see it in the admiration that the Italian contractors have for the people of the state. I also saw it in the faces of the ESUT Medical Students who are very proud of their learning environment. The 16,000 Nigerian students who will occupy the four hostels at the ESUT permanent site will not probably agree that those hostels do not exist. The professors and the vice-chancellor who will occupy those mansions will think differently about the way critics see things in Enugu. The Enugu people who will occupy the 360 2-bedroom flats in 19 twin buildings at the Loma Linda estate are not likely to forget that they have roofs over their heads. And these projects are billed for commissioning in November 2005 and in March 2006.

And things are already beginning to happen as a result of what the ambassadors saw. The Slovak Ambassador pledged that, “we will like to open a consulate in Igboland.” The EU Ambassadors have seen an example of Igbo dynamism in Enugu and this cannot be lost to investors. The quality of Nnamani’s projects has restored pride in a people that were once known for giant strides and a feeling that all hope is not lost. Even Michael Okpara will be proud of the changing face of Enugu.

Posted by Publisher at 02:20 PM | Comments (0)

Right of Reply: I’ll beat Agagu hands down....Agbesua’s fool’s paradise

IT is no longer news that Mr Olusola Agbesua has turned himself into a professional critic of the administration of Governor Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State.

By Ola Mafo
Posted to the Web: Friday, October 28, 2005

While we are not surprised at his resolve to gain relevance on pages of newspapers especially by making baseless statements about the government of Ondo state, we shall not allow any of his falsehoods to pass uncorrected.

For the purpose of clarity, our response to the latest outburst of the self acclaimed leading gubernatorial aspirant of the Alliance for Democracy, AD in Ondo State, shall be summarized on the following issues as raised in his interview:

That Agagu Government has failed the masses:
This is a spurious claim from a highly biased mind. Ondo State has a population of about four million people. Given the nature of politics and public administration, the two most acceptable ways of gauging public opinion are through periodic elections and public opinion polls. All other methods are either objective or subjective. Beyond the two methods mentioned above, it is possible for government to assess itself through adequate feedback mechanism where applicable and for the citizens as groups or individuals to assess and comment on performance level of government. However, no single individual in a state or country can arrogate to himself the power to read the minds of the general public without any practical field assessment. It is gradually becoming characteristic for Mr. Agbesua to make wild and spurious claims about governance in Ondo State. Nobody has appointed him as the conscience or spokesman for the masses of the state.

That the Government failed to design programmes that will alleviate the suffering of the down trodden people:
This particular claim exposes Agbesua as either being so uniformed or mischievous. Even the worst critics and the most unrepentant detractors of the Olusegun Agagu administration had conceded all along that we have excellent programmes.

What they could not contemplate was the possibility of government matching such programmes with action. Today, most of the critics are being confounded as beautiful programmes translate into practical development.

That Agbesua could talk of lack of programmes to alleviate suffering in Ondo State, in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, shows to what extent the man is blinded by his ambition and the distance he could go to misinform the general public for his own private agenda. Somebody should tell Mr. Agbesua that it is generally acknowledged even to the level of the United Nations that Ondo State has the best poverty alleviation programme in Nigeria. It is amazing that the man is not aware that the UNDP is so impressed with what we are doing to the extent that the respected international agency is now partnering with the state government in poverty reduction programmes. Haba Agbesua!

Moreover, Mr. Agbesua should be told that between 1976, when the state was created and May, 2003, when the present administration came on board, Ondo state for the 27 years, had committed only N56m to poverty alleviation programmes. On the other hand, within two years, the Agagu-led administration under various programmes and different credit windows had packaged over two billion naira for poverty reduction ventures by the good people of the state. Suffice to say at this juncture that the revolution to alleviate poverty in Ondo State has succeeded beyond the imagination of anybody, including His Excellency, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, the initiator and commander-in-chief of the revolution.

That he will beat Agagu hands down and that Agagu cannot record 10,000 votes if he contests for second term:
The first point to note here is that Agbesua should first learn how to crawl before thinking of walking. For whatever it may be worth in the Ondo State of today, Mr. Agbesua should at least hold the AD ticket in his hand before imagining a contest with Agagu or anybody for that matter. Besides, Agbesua has just one vote, which he can predict and determine. It is becoming clearer by the days that he is a tackless politician. He cannot even be a good soothsayer nor a successful crystal ball gazer, else he would not be fool hardy enough to say that Governor Agagu cannot poll 10,000 votes in Ondo State if he decides to run again. What a ridiculous prediction! There are 203 electoral wards in Ondo State.

With Dr. Agagu as candidate, I do not see the PDP scoring less than 10,000 votes in each of the wards come 2007, which goes to practicalise the extent of the huge joke by Agbesua, who is fast acquiring the toga of a political comedian.

We are aware that the likes of Agbesua are becoming more and more jittery about the popularity of the PDP government in Ondo State, hence their renewed efforts at destructive criticism of the administration. For the general public in Ondo State, the story is different. As good vision translates to practical programmes and visible development, the governor is busy commissioning projects on weekly basis and the applause is becoming louder and louder by the days.

It should also be noted that the PDP, Governor Agagu’s party, had won all bye-elections in Ondo State from 2003 to date and for the purpose of consolidation, continuity, consistency and sustainable development, the general opinion in the state is that Dr. Olusegun Agagu should do another term. If this is the will of God and the wish of the people of Ondo State, no forces no matter how orchestrated can stop the man of destiny from fulfilling his mission.

•Prince Ola Mafo is the Ondo Commissioner for Information and Sports.

Posted by Publisher at 02:17 PM | Comments (0)

Day Oba Sijuwade brought Oyinlola and Aregbesola together

For the political destiny of Osun State, Saturday, October 15, 2005, was a defining moment. It was this year’s Olojo festival. A day set aside by the people of Ile-Ife to remember Oduduwa, the progenitor of all Yoruba people at home and in the Diaspora.

By Gbenga Olarinoye
Posted to the Web: Friday, October 28, 2005

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the chief celebrant, was at his best. Fresh, trimmed, well-focused, cheerful and urbane, the monarch came out of his one-week seclusion to acknowledge cheers from thousands of Ife people and those who came from different parts of the country to celebrate the occasion.
Members of Oodua Peoples Congress OPC led by the founder, Dr. Frederick Fasheun came in their hundreds wearing vests and specially designed Ankara imprinted with the OPC emblem.

As early as 10 am, the fore-court of Ooni’s palace had been besieged by hundreds of people from different quarters of Ife including gaily dressed women, traditional dancers and drummers. Their mission was to congratulate Oba Sijuwade on the occasion of Olojo festival and they shouted “Gbajure” (long may you reign over us).
The political dimension of the festival became noticeable from the morning of the day. Three brand new sports cars (One BMW and Two Lexus Jeeps) were stationed in front of the office of Chief Funmilola Olorunnisola, Press Secretary to the Ooni located inside the palace were telling series of political stories.

Four Local Government Chairmen of Ife Central, Ife East, Ife South and Ife North had made a presentation of an expensive car to Oba Sijuwade as gift for the Olojo festival. They wanted the monarch to ride in the new car on his way to Oke Mogun near the palace to offer sacrifices to Yoruba ancestors. They were elected into office on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but under the influence of the Ooni of Ife whose name was used largely to garner votes during the 2003 and 2004 general and local government elections respectively.

They met a shocker in the Oba, who stunned everybody present with his refusal to accept the car gift. Though he did not make any public statement on why he rejected the car gift, informed palace sources stated that Oba Sijuwade was unhappy with the council chairmen’s alleged poor performance.

As the cars were menacingly parked waiting for their first assignment, people started discussing the development and pointing at the three automobile masterpiece as icons of royal honour and dignity. The cars arrived on Friday night and were reportedly ordered by Oba Sijuwade for the festival so as to prove that he was more concerned with social development of Ife territory than personal car gift.

The high point of the celebration was the arrival of two political gladiators in Osun State for the epoch-making occasion. First to come was Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engineer Rauf Aregbesola who is also the national leader of Oranmiyan, a socio-cultural group within the alliance for Democracy (AD) in Osun State. He is a top contender for the governorship race of the state in 2007. His entrance was heralded by loud shouts of “Oranmiyan De!” amidst pomp and pageantry from thousands of his supporters who all donned the Oranmiyan green Ankara uniform.

For the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Oranmiyan is symbolic. This is because Ife historical and anthropological sources credited the Yoruba hero as the sixth Ooni of Ife. The coming of Aregbesola into the politics of Osun State was therefore historic and impacting. The name was seen as recreating the history of Ile-Ife in a contemporary format while using the memento as tool for his campaign. The scene at Ooni’s palace that day depicted acceptance and popularity of Oranmiyan as the people cheered Aregbesola with near ecstasy.

The Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola arrived at about 4.15 pm and headed straight to pay homage to the Ooni who was waiting for him. His arrival at the palace was greeted with a loud ovation as his supporters and admirers led by Mr. Obafemi Fagbola and Professor Muibi Opeloye were recently appointed commissioners rented the air with “Oyin Ni O!” Oyinlola, apart from being the governor, has instituted series of welfare packages for traditional rulers in the state. This has made him popular among traditional rulers. He is himself a prince from Okuku in Odo Otin Local Government of the state. Royal fathers have always considered him as one of their own.

Thus began the political drama that the Olojo festival provided. As Oyinlola arrived to pay homage to the Ooni who was busy speaking to journalists on the significance of the festival, Aregbesola was returning to his seat after exchanging pleasantries and throwing banters with dignitaries from all walks of life that were present. The Ooni used the occasion to serve as a matchmaker for the two leading contenders for the Osun State Government House in 2007. Their politics had hitherto set tempers boiling with series of altercations.

Oba Sijuwade called on Aregbesola to meet Oyinlola. It was interesting for the audience to discover that the two political gladiators had never met each other personally until that eventful Saturday.

As the duo shook hands the story of Osun 2007 was being told. The governor told Aregbesola “I have never met you in my life. I only read and heard about you”. Aregbesola replied “I am also meeting you for the first time. We have not met physically but we have met on several occasions.”

As the Ooni was ready to move to the Oke Mogun shrine, he told Oyinlola and Aregbesola “Eyin Governors mejeeji, inu moto kan naa ni kee wo o” (meaning the two governors should go with me to the shrine in the same car). Like a military officer entertaining his colleagues at the Officers’ Mess Oyinlola held Aregbesola’s hand and beckoned on him to move with him into the car in accordance with the Ooni’s directive. This took place with an expensive political joke coming from Oyinlola who said “Rauf, jea lo, die die ni maa fa o wonu PDP” (meaning Rauf, let us go, bit by bit, I will draw you into the PDP fold). And the crowd cheered and cheered.

Upon emerging from the inner temple of the palace, Oba Sijuwade rode in open roof car while Oyinlola and Aregbesola rode in a black-coloured Lexus jeep numbered “IFE 2”. While Oyinlola sat on the right back seat, Aregbesola sat beside him on the left back seat. Along the way the two politicians acknowledged cheers from their supporters differently. Aregbesola responded to cheers from supporters who shouted deafening Oranmiyan De with two victory fingers raised just as Oyinlola responded with clenched fist to his admirers.

On the way to the groove, the incumbent and aspiring governors discussed heartily and were seen gesticulating to each other’s comments. The details of what transpired between the two of them has not been made public. When journalists cornered Aregbesola later to give an insight into what he discussed with Oyinlola in the car, he declined saying “The rule of etiquette states that I must keep whatever I discussed with the governor confidential. Unless the governor speaks on it, I must not breach that rule of strict confidentiality”.

However, he spoke on the meeting with Oyinlola as was facilitated by the Ooni. Aregbesola said that the meeting had further strengthened him to move ahead in his quest to occupy the exalted seat of the governor:

“I am further imbued with the courage, zeal and determination to pursue the goal of succeeding him. It is clear that the state needs a redeemer and Oyinlola needs a successor. I saw a clear picture of a heir apparent to the governorship of Osun State. Somebody will leave and somebody will take over from him. It was symbolic and a providential change of baton. Today is Oduduwa Day and the principalities of Yorubaland must have chosen today as a day for the exchange of the instrument of power”.

On his assessment of Oyinlola’s personality, the symbol of Oranmiyan said “Oyinlola is a man full of mart. He is adept in officer’s mess jokes. He is quite witty. He was full of rib-cracks. We spoke heartily”.

He played glowing tribute to the Ooni who he described as the facilitator of the sterling meeting. “I must commend His Royal Majesty, Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II for facilitating the kind of meeting. I had the opportunity of knowing who the governor is and he mist have drawn a lot of lessons from it.”
Though the Olojo festival has come and gone, the memory will continue to linger in the minds of the people as a day that set the pace for the political future of Osun State.

Posted by Publisher at 02:16 PM | Comments (0)

……and the Senate saluted Stella

While alive, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo was understandably far removed from the rofo-rofo dealings her husband had with the National Assembly in the last six years. But her death arising from complications following a medical procedure in Spain was an opportunity for federal lawmakers to demonstrate their hitherto unreported admiration for the First Lady.

By Emmanuel Aziken, Abuja
Posted to the Web: Friday, October 28, 2005

Senators who only penultimate Thursday had been dispatched for a two week holiday couched as an opportunity for oversight duties ahead of the submission of the budget were last Tuesday, summoned for a valedictory session for the departed First Lady and victims of the ill-fated Bellview Flight 210 that crashed into Ifo in Ogun State.

Attendance was indeed remarkable and their eulogies were touching. A number of the lawmakers turned out in black, some perhaps as a routine, but for some in memory of the departed First Lady.

Among those who obviously came out in mourning attire were Senator Daisy Danjuma (PDP, Edo South), one of the Senators said to be closest to the first lady. Mrs. Danjuma who came in a flowing black gown with a black veil over her face is married to Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, President Olusegun Obasanjo’s military and political ally. Besides, she and Stella are indigenes of Edo State and share the same track as marrying military officers from outside their state of origin.
Senator Adolphus Wabara, Senators Effiong Bob, Iyabo Anisulowo, Tunde Ogbeha, Ugochukwu Uba and Tawar Wada were the other Senators who wore different designs of black apparel for the Tuesday valedictory session.

The only item listed on the order paper for the day was titled, Valedictory session for late Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obasanjo (1945 –– 2005), First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Victims of the crash of Bellview Airlines, Boeing 737 on Saturday, 22nd October 2005.

Senate leader, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida introduced the motion for the session seeking among others a letter of condolence to the President for the death of Stella and another letter to the President expressing the Senate’s condolence on the death of passengers of Bellview Flight 210 and an order on the Senate Committees of Aviation and Special Duties to investigate the causes of the crash and the late response of the emergency response system. The motion also solicited a two minute silence in memory of the First Lady and the air crash victims.

The motion according to sources was commonly agreed with the leadership of the House of Representatives who presented the same motion before the House entailing a joint investigation by the Senate and House Committees into the crash of Bellview Flight 210.
Before the motion itself, the Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani read out a speech informing the Senators the reason for the urgent summons and the need for the Senate to empathise with the President and all Nigerians over the two tragedies of the last weekend.

“The Senate stands with the President and Commander-in-Chief in this hour of grave and irremediable personal and national losses. The Senate also stands with bereaved families and the people of Nigeria at this hour of grief and sorrow. This is the time that tries our hearts as a people of courage and hope,” Senator Nnamani said as he thanked his colleagues for responding to his summons.

Enumerating the virtues of the First Lady, Senator Nnamani continued: “While she lived, she embodied gracefulness and compassion. She touched the lives of ordinary Nigerians with Child Care Trust and other humanitarian projects which she inspired wives of State Governors to establish. She passionately loved this country. She cared deeply for the children and youths of this nation. She was a beacon and support to the President,” Senator Nnamani remarked.

Following his two page address, Senate leader Dr. Tafida proceeded to table his motion. His introductory remarks were indeed remarkable, saying that Chief (Mrs) Stella Obasanjo otherwise known as Mama, would be missed by all and sundry. While Senator Tafida hailed Stella as Mama, the deputy Senate leader, Dr. Jonathan Zwingina hailed the departed first lady as the mother of the nation and the former Senate President, Chief Adolphus Wabara beat them all praising Stella as the Mother of Africa and nay the Mother of Ishan!
Senator Daniel Saror, the Senate Deputy Minority Leader standing in for the Minority Leader seconded Tafida’s motion.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Ibrahim Mantu the Deputy Senate President while eulogising the efforts of the deceased First Lady among handicapped children said the best legacy the nation could erect to her memory was to ensure that her programmes for children were sustained.

“Nigerians should remember (Stella) for her pet project, the Child Care Trust. If we do that, then she has not died in vain”, he insisted,” Senator Mantu said.
Following the Deputy Senate President, Senators from Edo and Ogun States, respectively her state of origin and where she married into, were called upon to pay her tributes.

Senator Anisulowo (Ogun West) attired in black looked dazed but found words to mutter a few words of tribute to the departed First Lady.
“The former First Lady cared for all who came in contact with her. We are grieved. Evil came to this country and enveloped it last weekend. Ha! This is a time of tragedy. My prayer is that the Senate will take this issue of this country more seriously”.

Senator Tokubo Ogunbanjo in paying his tributes to Stella and the victims of Bellview Flight 210 noted the multidimensional pains the two tragedies brought on Ogun State. Ogun State he noted is the state of origin of the first lady’s husband. Besides, he noted that the Bellview Flight 210 crashed into Ifo in Ogun State and that the owner of Bellview was a native of Ogun State.

The third Ogun Senator, Senator Ibikunle Amosun who had gone for pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia had aborted his mission and proceeded home. Even though he returned to Abuja that Tuesday, he was not quick enough to make the Senate valedictory session.

Senator Danjuma apparently in shock did not speak while Senator Kassim Isa Oyofo (PDP, Edo North), leader of the Grail Message brought some spiritual intone to his eulogy of the First Lady by beseeching “God to show her the path to eternal life”.

Though some Senators struggled to make their contributions, the effusive eulogy from Senator Wabara the immediate past Senate President was seemingly effortless. He bettered all others proclaiming the late First Lady as the mother of Africa. “Members of my family received the news of the mother of Africa, mother of Ishan people with great shock,” Senator Wabara said.

Demonstrating Stella’s international reputation, Wabara narrated how in those his beloved days when he represented the President at a ceremony in Spain how the King and Queen of Spain took almost all of the ten minutes he had audience with them asking about the First Lady.

“As we look forward, I want to say that our mother and sister lived a very humble life in spite of her relative privileged background, her humility was unprecedented,”Wabara added as he noted that Stella was not apolitical as assumed.

“This lady lived for her husband like the Rock of Gibraltar, for her husband’s sake she became civil rights activist and even a politician,” he said of the First Lady’s efforts during Obasanjo’’s incarceration under the Sani Abacha regime.

Eulogies for the first lady also flowed from Senators Patrick Osakwe (PDP, Delta North), Tunde Ogbeha (PDP, Kogi West), Abubakar Sodangi (PDP, Nasarawa West), Udoma Udo Udoma (PDP, Akwa Ibom South), Sule Yari Gandi (ANPP, Sokoto), Mohammed Ibrahim (ANPP, Jigawa), Ibiapuye Martins-Yellowe (PDP, Rivers) and Ifeanyi Ararume (PDP, Imo).

Ararume in his tribute said:
“Our first lady provided focus, leadership and colour to the office of the First Lady. She carried the problems of the Nigerian child severally across the globe. She inspired the other first ladies. She provided unparalleled leadership to this nation. Our first lady lived a very good and inspiring life. She provided support for the President and there is no way our President could have done all he did without her support. May the good Lord be the President’’s support and for all the Abebes”, Ararume said.

The day’s session was also devoted to paying tributes to victims of Flight 210. Senators in general affirmed that the great loss occasioned by the death of the passengers should inspire the nation into ensuring that an effective disaster response mechanism is put in place in the country.

Posted by Publisher at 02:15 PM | Comments (0)

LASCO, UK PDP mourn with Nigerians

The leadership of Labour-Civil Society Coalition LASCO, made up of Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti (JAF), Comrade Adams Oshiomole (NLC), Dr. Mrs. Peace Obiajulu (TUC), Mr. Princewill Ojeh (CFTU), Mr. S.O.Z Ejiofor (LP), has joined millions of Nigerians in mourning the death of First Lady, Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obasanjo and the victims of the Bellview plane crash.

By Titilayo Odeyemi
Posted to the Web: Friday, October 28, 2005

Also the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, UK chapter, has joined millions of Nigerians in mourning the death of Nigeria’s First Lady, Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obasanjo.

OSHIOMHOLE, BEKO AND OTHERS COMMISERATE WITH NIGERIANS ON BEHALF OF LASCO
LASCO specifically commiserates with families of its members involved in the plane crash.
A statement signed for and on behalf of LASCO leadership by Wale Okunniyi reads:
“The leadership of Labour-Civil Society Coalition LASCO, made up of Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti (JAF), Comrade Adams Oshiomole (NLC), Dr. Mrs. Peace Obiajulu (TUC), Mr. Princewill Ojeh (CFTU), Mr. S.O.Z Ejiofor (LP), and others wish to commiserate with Nigerians on the recent sorrowful occurrences in the nation i.e. the death of the wife of President Obasanjo, Stella and the Bellview plane crash.

“The leadership of LASCO expresses heart-felt condolences to the families of Obasanjo and Abebe for the sudden demise of Mrs. Stella Obasanjo who died in Spain on Sunday during a surgical operation.

“Similarly, the leadership also mourns LASCO members involved in the Bellview Plane Crash namely Mr. Linus Sabulu - President of Association of Nurses and Midwives, Engr. Stephen H. Sani - National Treasurer, Congress For Free Trade Union, CFTU (the flight Engineer onboard), Mr. John Moru - Secretary, Nigeria Social Forum and an official of Action Aid International, Nigeria, Mr. Justice Egware of the Citizen Forum for Constitution Reform (CFCR), while also commiserating with the families of all others who lost their lives in the plane crash on Saturday.
“The leadership of LASCO hereby calls on aviation authorities in Nigeria to quickly put their acts together and arrest frequent avoidable plane mishaps in Nigeria.”

PDP UK MOURNS WITH NIGERIANS
A statement signed by Barrister Gbenga Akinmoyo, Party Chairman, Sir Jude Ibe, General Secretary and Inno Ochieze, Director of Publicity, PDP, UK reads:
“It’s with deep sorrow that (we) join with President Olusegun Obasanjo to mourn the sudden death of his beloved wife, and Nigeria’s First Lady, Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obasanjo. On behalf of the entire membership of PDP UK, (we) register our deepest sympathy on this great loss. Her Excellency, Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obasanjo, passed away on the 23rd of October, 2005 following post-surgery complications in a hospital in Malaga, Spain.

“This morning, (Monday) (we) sent two delegates to Malaga, Spain with instructions that they fully assist with preparations to fly the remains of the First Lady to Nigeria. Early indications are that the internment of the First Lady will take place in Nigeria on Friday, 28 October 2005. I am assembling another delegation for the funeral.

“I hereby call upon all party members, prospective party members, friends of Nigeria, and all well wishers to visit the PDP UK National Secretariat to sign the condolence register.

“I have also authorised the party Organising Secretary to find a venue in London for this coming Friday so that those who are not able to travel to Nigeria for the funeral can gather to celebrate the worthy life lived by the First Lady.
“Further information about the venue will be communicated to you as soon arrangements are completed.”

Posted by Publisher at 02:14 PM | Comments (0)

'Death, where is thy sting?'

Obasanjo, at crash site, says there is life after death

Cleric scorns death

By Tunji Oketunbi, Wole Shadare, Seye Olumide, Bertram Nwannekanma and Odita Sunday (Lagos) and Charles-Coffie Gyamfi, (Abeokuta)

IF it had hoped to break Nigerians' will by the callous strike last weekend, death must have been thoroughly disappointed at the outcome yesterday.

Drawing from an inner strength, thousands of the citizens led by President Olusegun Obasanjo, who thronged an inter-faith service to honour the victims of last Saturday's air crash in Lisa, Ogun State, and millions of their compatriots all over the country left with a resolve to shame the adversary.

They took inspiration from I Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verse 55, of the Holy Bible, from which the day's sermon was taken. In defiance of the pains accompanied by death, the verse as cited by the preacher, the Revd. Wilson Badejo, queries: "Death, where is thy sting?"

A day of tears and anguish thus became one for hope in after life. But it was a grim task.

Relations, friends and sympathisers who converged at the crash site for the service could not hold back tears. President Olusegun Obasanjo, who fought hard to contain his tears, laid a wreath at the site without saying a word. His wife, Stella, also died at the weekend after a surgical operation in Spain.

The crater created by the plane when it crashed, was a tearful sight and left mouths agape. Smoke was still coming out in a little corner of the crater. Also still littering the area were pieces of human flesh, bones and clothes.

A woman picked a towel and immediately shouted: "This is my husband's face towel."

Another man lifted up a boxer's short and said: "This is what he wore that Saturday."

A woman on approaching the scene said: "See where my dear came to sleep, in the bush. My dear saw the beauty of his home he didn't sleep there. O my God!"

The President, who had his mouth and nose covered, was accompanied by the governors of Ogun and Osun states, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Senate President Ken Nnamani and Speaker of House of Representatives Alhaji Masari. Daniel laid the second wreath.

The service was well attended by the bereaved families many of whom wept profusely. The memorial service was done under a huge canopy mounted at the village very close to the scene of the crash.

International and local media were also around with some of them transmitting the service live.

Sources told The Guardian that the Nigerian Airforce, Police and Army personnel detailed to ensure security at the venue would still remain there until the bodies are examined by experts who are expected to arrive in the country soon.

President Obasanjo, in his speech at the solemn ceremony, stated that the best honour that could be bestowed on the victims was to work in unity for a better Nigeria, which would be the pride of the victims' children and their relations.

The President said he was particularly happy and touched by the way all Nigerians had mourned the dead since the incident. "While we are sorrowing we should be committed to working towards making Nigeria a better place for those of us left behind," he said.

Obasanjo added: "As we are united in sorrow, so also must we be united in making Nigeria what it should be." He stressed that Nigeria is a country of great opportunities, and "a land flowing with milk and honey."

He continued: "There is nothing we can do for the dead, so we must think of how we can make the country better for those left behind. Most of the victims might have phoned their homes to say that they were coming home but they did not reach home. That is a lesson to each and everyone of us because whether you like it or not, our lives will end one day."

Obasanjo then queried: "Should we continue in sorrow and grief?" to which he provided the answer: "No."

He said: "This is because both the Christian and Islamic religions teach us that there is hope beyond our life here so we should not continue to sorrow like those who have no hope." He added: "God has a lesson for everyone. Whether we like it or not, there will be a day where our destination will be cut short."

Spotting a black Adire traditional dress, the President was welcomed to the venue at 12.58 p.m. with a Christian song: "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, because He lives, all fear is gone because I know, He holds my future."

The brief sermon was conducted by the General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Pastor Wilson Badejo, who prophesied that Nigeria would not experience such a disaster again.

Badejo said he brought words of consolation to the president at a time like this and commiserated with the families of the departed.

He said that death is an enigma, which also shapes human beings, adding: "Death is not the end, but a gateway to heaven"

Information Minister Frank Nweke had earlier called at the site while his counterparts in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Finance and Solid Minerals, Nasir el Rufai, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Obi Ezekwesili arrived about one hour before the president.

The three ministers came together in a Sports Utility Van (SUV) belonging to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Chief executives of the various aeronautical agencies were also at the site, where a temporary airfield of five helipads had been created by Julius Berger Plc.

As early as 7am yesterday, the otherwise sleepy village of Lisa began to host the gathering of people it probably had never witnessed.

The crowd, which included distinguished personalities in the society such as the President, governors, ministers, industry captains and relations and friends of the victims soon overwhelmed the hitherto serene community.

To their advantage, the road leading to the village had been graded by Julius Berger making it motorable. Some areas were cleared to create temporary car parks, which were not enough. Cars were also parked on the road side.

Local and foreign electronic media had set up their equipment including Outside Broadcasting (OB) vans, satellites dishes even as generators were humming.

Hawkers had a good day as a sachet of water sold for N10.

Mike Ozekhome, Lagos lawyer and activist, who lost a relation, while granting a press interview said that the ill-fated aircraft was manufactured in 1964. He was however interrupted by the director-general of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Fidelis Onyeyiri, who said: "That is not true." The lawyer thereafter threatened he would sue the Director General.

Frank Nweke could not hold back tears.

The minister, who arrived at the scene at about 9.00 a.m. looked horrified as he saw pieces of aircraft parts and some decomposing human parts.

He described the accident as tragic, noting that it was not the type of death to be wished for even one's worst enemy.

"People are grieving not because they died, but the manner they died. I am totally devastated, that is why I came to the site to see things for myself," Nweke said.

He noted that the president had charged everyone to move on and allow the tragedy to build the whole nation and strengthen the unity "we have now and extend it to other spheres".

Nweke said he was personally pained with the death of Alhaji Mohammed Waziri, Chairman Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) whom he described as a fine gentleman who would call the minister up to know how he was doing.

Emotions continued to flow at the crash site as more people wept profusely on getting to the area.

Even some military men who lost their relatives in the crash could not hold back tears. Aged relations of the deceased wept profusely.

The dignitaries who came for the memorial services included the governors of Ogun, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, Nasarawa States.

Others were the deputy governor of Lagos, Mr. Femi Pedro and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of Aviation, Prof. Babalola Borishade and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Finance). The list also included the House of Representatives Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Masari, Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Funsho Kupolokun, Special Assistant to the president on Aviation, Capt. Shehu Iyal and Mrs. Remi Oyo, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media) and Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero.

Posted by Publisher at 02:10 PM | Comments (0)

Stella's body arrives in Abeokuta, burial rites begin

THE body of the late Mrs. Stella Obasanjo arrived at Ago-Oba, Abeokuta, at 2.45 p.m. yesterday.

From Charles Coffie-Gyamfi and Mayowa Ojo (Abeokuta), Wole Shadare, Chika Ezeokoli and Mercy Owadia (Lagos)

Fifteen minutes later, President Olusegun Obasanjo arrived at the venue from Lisa village where he had gone to participate in the inter-denominational service organised for the repose of the souls of the 117 persons that perished in last Saturday Bellview plane crash.

The body arrived in a white candilac Cryster ambulance accompanied by the workers of the undertakers, Ebony. The casket was drapped in the Nigerian flag.

Hundreds of people including governors, lawmakers and top politicians filed round it.

The President and the deceased's son, Olumuyiwa, were the first to file round the casket.

They were accompanied by Governor Gbenga Daniel and his wife, Olufunke. Prof. Wole Soyinka was also at the event.

Some of the dignitaries at the brief ceremony were former President Shehu Shagari, Senate President Ken Nnamani; his counterpart in the House of Representative, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari; Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero; former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Joseph Sanusi.

The Presiding Bishop of the Winners Chapel, David Oyedepo, was also there.

Some of the governors who attended the ceremony were James Ibori (Delta), Achike Udenwa (Imo), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Olusegun Agagu (Ondo) and Daniel, the host Governor.

Other eminent personalities were Arthur Nzeribe, Nuhu Ribadu and Prof. Dora Akunyili.

The service continued at the Ogun State Government House.

Mrs. Obasanjo, who passed on last Sunday, will be laid to rest today at her husband's private residence at Ita-Eko, Abeokuta.

The remains had earlier arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, at about 11.15 a.m. in a Dornier Aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) with registration number 031.

The casket bearing her remains was lifted out of the aircraft at 11.20 a.m. by six officers of the Nigerian Army.

The body was there after driven out of the airport for Abeokuta in a motorcade belonging to Ebony Undertakers, decorated with three sets of wreath atop it.

As a long convoy of cars followed behind, the Nigerian Army Band played military songs to accompany her body out of the airport, accompanied by Olumuyiwa and scores of relatives.

Before the arrival at the airport, the atmosphere was electric and crowded with sympathisers who had come to pay their last respects to the deceased First Lady.

Emotions ran high as onlookers and workers at the Presidential Lounge lamented the double tragedy that befell the nation.

Activities for the arrival of the remains of Mrs. Obasanjo had started as early as 7.00 a.m. with a combined team of police and the military officers surrounded the area.

Among those who came to the airport were the governors of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his Rivers State counterpart, Dr. Peter Odili and his wife, Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu and Senator Udo Udoma.

Others were former deputy governor of Lagos, Mrs. Akerele-Bucknor, National Vice Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George; Director-General of National Agency of Food, Drug and Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Akunyili, Chairman, Board of Trustees of PDP, Chief Tony Anenih and the Managing Director of Oceanic Bank, Dr. Cecilia Ibru.

Speaking on the death of the First Lady, Tinubu described her as a courageous and humble woman.

He said: "We will miss her greatly. Stella was the one who stood behind her husband during his days of detention. She believed in the struggle. We were together in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (U.S.) for the struggle. She was a nation-builder and a caring mother who derive joy in taking care of children".

Tinubu, noting the two tragedies of last weekend, said: "It is a period of grief for the nation".

He decried alleged ineptitude of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in responding to the air crash quickly.

He added: "We must ensure that our aircraft are well maintained and supervised. We must maintain a good maintenance culture".

George also extolled the virtues of the First Lady.

According to him, the late Mrs. Obasanjo performed her roles as First Lady extremely well, and dedicated her life to the service of the country.

Concerning the Bellview plane crash, George also noted that it was a great disaster.

He called for a thorough investigation of the accident with a view to forestalling future occurrence.

He also called for a scientific investigation so as to unravel the mystery behind the crash.

Posted by Publisher at 02:09 PM | Comments (0)

Commission okays N630 million for border demarcation

TO ensure that the re-demarcation of Nigeria - Cameroun border becomes a reality, the European Commission (EC) has approved about N630 million (£4m) for the project.

The demarcation covers the entire 1,700 kilometres land boundary between the two countries. It includes the vast aquatic Bakassi Peninsula over which isolated skirmishes between security forces of both countries have continued before and after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling in 2002.

A statement yesterday by the EC in Abuja stated that the contribution is a vital part of the efforts "to advance the implementation of the 2002 ICJ ruling on the land and maritime boundaries of the two countries. The decision of the EC is, therefore, a clear demonstration of its commitment to assist Cameroun and Nigeria in their efforts to settle their differences peacefully".

The exercise will entail emplacement of boundary pillars in a visible, stable and permanent manner.

A survey is expected to be conducted on the boundary pillars once they are in place, and the demarcated border will be recorded in new maps and other official records for use locally and internationally herein after.

Of the £4 million, EC contribution of £950,000 is to be deposited in a United Nations (UN) Trust Fund for the demarcation, while £50,000 is for evaluation and verification.

The EC had earlier in 2003 contributed £400,000 to the implementation of the first phase of the demarcation, which consisted of a successful pilot exercise to test the viability of the mapping and field assessment procedures.

The governments of Cameroun and Nigeria, the two beneficiary countries, had already made an additional contribution of $3 million each.

Joint technical teams, comprised surveyors of Cameroun, Nigeria and the UN, will return to the boundary on November 5, 2005, to verify the boundary line and determine the position of pillar sites. This is a prerequisite for the definitive emplacement of boundary pillars.

Posted by Publisher at 02:08 PM | Comments (0)

Joint NLNG literary winner, Ohaeto, dies at 47

THE dark hands of death has again visited the writers' house. Barely two weeks after emerging joint winner of the NLNG literary prize, Ezenwa Ohaeto, poet, short story writer, and literary scholar is dead.

By Uduma Kalu

He died on Tuesday evening in Adddenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom. An e-mail sent to several literary groups by the poet, Dr. Remi Raji, said the late poet checked into the hospital about a fortnight ago.

A mail from Biodun Jeyifo, Professor of English, Department of English Goldwin Smith Hall, Cornell University, said Ohaeto died in the UK from terminal liver cancer. He was at the time a writer-in-residence at Cambridge University.

Describing the late poet as a fine scholar, a poet and a terrific ranconteur, Jeyifo said Ohaeto did lasting service to the study of African literatures with his monumental biography of Chinua Achebe.

"We have lost a big voice and distinctive presence in Ezenwa-Ohaeto's transition," he went on, adding, "I might add that, again without clearance from members of his family, that it might become necessary to create a fund-raising effort to help defray the huge costs of flying his body home and giving him a befitting funeral."

He called on Ohaeto's friends and associates in the scholarly and journalism communities to do something in that direction soon.

Ohaeto last July was at the Delta State University where he delivered a paper on Tanure Ojaide's prose fiction, on how the poet borrows from his Niger Delta background for his fiction. When Professor Ada Ugah died a few months ago, Ohaeto wrote a mournful tribute to his fellow poet and friend, remembering past moments they shared as writers and friends.

But his last public outing was at the recently held NLNG Literature Prize ceremony held at the MUSON Centre, Lagos, where he was a joint winner of the $20,000 cash prize with Gabriel Okara. The late 47-year-old Nnamdi Azikiwe University professor won with his entry, Chants of a minstrel, which also won an ANA prize last year.

In the final announcement, Ohaeto shared the prize with Okara, whose poetry work, Ohaeto told the gathering in his acceptance speech he wrote for his MA thesis and has taught him all these years in the university.

At that presentation, Ohaeto was in adire shirt, trousers and cap to match, and took pictures with writers in the hall. He was lively, and wanted very much to talk with writers.

A lecturer in the Department of English, Anambra State University, the versatile writer was a multiple award winner, both national and international. His entry, The Chants of a Minstrel, won the ANA/ NDDC for Poetry. He also wrote a biography on the renowned novelist, Chinua Achebe.

In choosing an initial NLNG 11 longlist from the over 130 entries, Banjo explained that the judges focussed on the poet's length of message, rhythm, emotion, thoughts and content. They also looked at the language use and how the works were presented, elegantly.

The strength of Ohaeto's The Chants of a Minstrel lies in the author's predilection for African orature and cerebral poetic engagement. Ohaeto, on receiving the award, expressed delight at being a joint winner with Okara, on whom, incidentally, he wrote his master's thesis. But he would have loved to stand, also, on the same podium with Okekwe, whose works, he said he appreciates.

Notable female writer, Zainab Alkali, described Ohaeto and Okara thus: "Certainly, the best winners emerged. These are two dynamic writers," she said. Veteran novelist, Elechi Amadi, on his own part remarked: "We have an eminent panel of judges, and I trust their judgment absolutely. So, I am happy at the result".

Ohaeto had written numerous articles and books, and is the recipient of several prestigious awards. His books have been translated into Russian, French and Italian. His works have also been performed in English and Igbo.

Posted by Publisher at 02:08 PM | Comments (0)

Crash victims families get N429m insurance compensation

THERE were indications yesterday that the consortium of insurance companies that insured the crashed Bellview Aircraft Boeing B737-200A may pay families of those who died in the accident about N429 million ($3 million).

By Joshua Nse

Industry sources told The Guardian that the amount is the general international convention recommendation for aircraft of that range usually called Combined Single Limit.

Also, the Lloyds Scale of Crew Benefits 1-7 recommended $100,000 (N14.3 million) for the pilots, Flight Engineers and others, while Hostess are to receive compensation of $50,000 (N7.15 million) following the airline crash.

According to the source, "all the liability arising from the accident that the insurance companies would suffer is the maximum of N429 million ($3 million) that is the general international convention. It will also depend on the contractual insurance agreement based on the print out in the tickets issued the insurance company."

He said: "The problem is that most passengers are ignorant and they are not prepared to examine these things before flying any aircraft. Some are not ready to look closely at some of the aircraft they board. In this country all these things are necessary for our safety."

According to him: "The aviation regulatory agencies have an important role to play in his regard. It is only when something happened in this country before we begin to find answers. They should be able to monitor the airlines whether they follow the minimum standard international requirements as regards maintenance of the aircraft, overhauling among others."

The source added: "As a result of the economic difficulties, skilled labour are very cheap in this country. For instance, all over the world, pilots are only allowed to undertake one flight a day, but the reverse is the case in this country. All these loopholes require the attention of the Ministry of Aviation and regulatory agencies to correct."

Meanwhile, Lloyd's team of investigators who arrived in the country yesterday visited the crash site and met representatives of local insurers on the account.

However, the managing director and chief executive officer, Leadway Assurance Limited, Mr. Oye Hassan-Odukale, told The Guardian that Bellview Airlines is a reliable account and has paid all the premiums in the insurance contract policy.

He said: "We sympathise with families of the victims of the air crash. We are ready to fulfil our obligations to our clients. Bellview is a good account. We insure some proportion of the risks particularly Hull, while Lloyds of London underwrote the huge liabilities. As you are aware, aviation policy is an international business, which involves various parties including brokers and reinsurers.

"They are all aware of the crash, there is no problem with us here, as soon as all the documentation are ready, we would honour all our obligations," he added.

It was also gathered that the lead broker to the account has already notified all the parties to the contract about the crash as a preliminary step in the claims process.

Posted by Publisher at 02:07 PM | Comments (0)

Nigerian student burnt in U.S. varsity

A NIGERIAN family in the United States (U.S.) has been thrown into deep anguish -- its undergraduate daughter, Olamide Adeyooye, has been found dead in controversial circumstances in Mississippi.

Her mother had migrated to the U.S. to give Olamide quality education. But death, cruel death, aborted the dream at the point of its realisation. And now Oluwayinka, the mother is left to mourn her beloved daughter, 21. Until her sudden disappearance on October 15, lamide was a student of Illinois State University (ISU).

After two weeks of fruitless search, her mother got a shocker on Wednesday with police identifying a body found in Mississippi as that of her daughter.

Dental records identified the undergraduate from west suburban Berkeley who was majoring in laboratory science and was due to graduate in December.

Her body was badly burnt and found in the remains of a chicken coop east of Jackson, Mississippi, in the vicinity of Interstate Highway 55, which runs through Normal and the university.

Newton County, Mississippi, authorities said they believed the Nigerian student was killed in Illinois. The puzzle over her death is that it takes about 12 hours to travel from her university to where her body was found in Mississippi.

"We believe that she was already deceased," said Newton Sheriff Jackie Knight. "I believe that the day they found her missing was around the time of her death."

Olamide was reported missing on October 15, a day after she failed to report for work at a Ruby Tuesday restaurant in Normal. The fire on the farm occurred on October 17, but her body was not discovered until workers were cleaning up after the blaze.

Normal police chief, Lt. Mark Kotte, said investigators have interviewed "persons of interest," but are not calling any of them suspects. Still, "finding Olamide's body leads our investigation in a specific direction," he said.

He earlier said investigators do not believe that Olamide was murdered by someone "preying on college student."

Police continue to seek her car, a 1996 green Toyota Corolla with Illinois registration LBG 927. The Adeyooye family had feared the news.

The victim's mother, Oluwayinka, had prayed the body discovered on Friday was not her daughter's. But it was her daughter's. The fact that the body was burnt only compounded Oluwayinka's agony.

She said her daughter was a gifted student who wanted to pursue a career in genetic research, working in a laboratory. She recalls Olamide always taking school seriously, sometimes staying up until 3.00 a.m. or 4.00 a.m. to complete a class project as a student at Proviso West High School.

Oluwayinka said she immigrated to America from Nigeria because she wanted to provide her children with good education and better life. Olamide was eight when the family moved to Berkeley.

"She worked hard, hard to be successful in her life and when it comes to the time to enjoy the fruits of your labour and somebody does that (to her)," Oluwayinka wept, staring blankly at a muted television.

Just a little over five feet tall and weighing about 100 pounds, Olamide probably stood little chance of defending herself, her mother said.

The deceased moved to an off-campus apartment the second semester of her junior year, despite her mother urging her to remain on campus in a dormitory where it was safer.

"But you know children," her mother said, "they will do what they want to do."

The late student had just moved to the small apartment on the second floor of a two-story building in September, her friends said.

She was strong in her Catholic faith. Two years ago, while other students partied on Florida beaches, Olamide spent her spring break volunteering at a homeless shelter in Miami, recalled her close friend, Samantha Troha, 21, of Hillside.

"She just loved it," Troha said. "She had a wonderful time just helping people."

Illinois President Al Bowman said a memorial service is planned on campus next week. "During this troubling time for our campus community, it is more important than ever that we come together as a family," Bowman said.

Olamide touched many lives on the ISU campus. Many of her friends had participated in the search to locate her over the last weeks, with several posting concerned messages about her on online blogs that circulated around the country.

She jumps off the page of her personal blog as a vibrant young woman with a passion for science, learning, music and a good party.

"A woman of high calibre," she says in the opening of a profile of herself. "I love school," she continued. "It's extremely marvellous to be educated," calling herself a proud "science geek."

Childhood friends described her as a lively personality who lit up a room with her spirit and good humour.

"We liked to laugh and have a good time. We just would have a good time no matter what we were doing - if we were going out to dinner or to class," said Julie Chaudhary, a friend of Olamide since elementary school.

Chaudhary and the deceased worked together on the Key Club, a community volunteer organisation at Proviso West High School. The Nigerian girl was the club's president for a time, and the two helped set up for a breast cancer walk, sold peanuts on street corners for community fundraisers and gathered food for food drives, among other efforts.

"She just wanted to help with service groups and to help people," said Charles Jalove, a guidance counsellor at Proviso West and the Key Club moderator.

Proviso West Principal Alexis Wallace said Olamide was a National Honour Society member and a standout student.

"She was going to find a way to help people whether it was going to be through discoveries in science or eventually something in medicine," Wallace said. "She had a purpose, and she was fulfilling her purpose."

Posted by Publisher at 02:06 PM | Comments (0)

CBN approves Diamond Bank's acquisition of Lion Bank

WITH the approval granted yesterday by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Diamond Bank Plc has finally acquired Lion Bank of Nigeria.

By Enitar Ugwu

With the development, both banks are now fused into one and will operate under the trade name, Diamond Bank.

The development has also marked the consummation of the first ever take over in the banking industry under the ongoing consolidation programme.

The apex bank's final approval was conveyed to Diamond Bank via its letter of October 27, 2005.

It reads inter alia: We refer to your letter of October 17, 2007, in respect of the above subject matter and hereby convey final approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the proposed takeover of Lion Bank Plc by Diamond Bank Plc.

This has also shored up the Diamond Bank's shareholders' funds well above the N25 billion minimum capitalisation requirement set for banks.

It would be recalled that the two banks had on June 14 this year signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), on the basis of which they both agreed their operations under the Diamond Bank brand name.

Even then, officials of the two banks had hinted that the acquisition could be fully consummated in October.

The signing of the MOU in Jos, the Plateau State capital was followed by a due diligence examination of the operations of Lion Bank.

Also, the two banks have since adopted a common business strategy as well as a programme of business alignment for their prospective combined entity.

It would also be recalled that on August 27, 2005, the acquisition process was boosted when the apex bank gave its approval-in-principle for Diamond Bank to proceed.

This was followed shortly by approval-in-principle granted to the bank by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 9, 2005.

Diamond Bank since the beginning of the ongoing banks' consolidation has not hidden its desire to retain its franchise.

To achieve this, the bank had in late 2004 executed a private placement share offer scheme, which was 125 per cent subscribed.

This raised the bank's shareholders' funds from N6.7 billion to about N19 billion. A further consolidation of year 2005 net earnings took the shareholders' funds to about N21 billion.

The bank also approached the capital market in September to raise an additional 6.8 billion in equity through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of 1 billion shares of 50 kobo each at N6.80 per shares.

At the end of the scheme, and with the acquisition of Lion Bank, the banks' shareholders' funds will be in the region of N33 billion.

Posted by Publisher at 02:04 PM | Comments (0)

Court remands Fasheun, Adams in prison for alleged murder

AN Igbosere Chief Magistrate's Court in Lagos yesterday remanded in prison custody two factional leaders of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) Dr. Frederick Fasehun and Chief Gani Adams over alleged criminal offences.

By Emmanuel Badejo, Lagos

Also remanded along with the OPC leaders was the Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Saula Saka and eight others.

Saula is the branch chairman of the Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos of the union.

They were charged with conspiracy to commit murder malicious damage to property and with causing fear to members of the public by bearing firearms.

Their charges also included arson, rioting and the management of an unlawful society.

Others brought before Chief Magistrate Akintunde Isaac were Chief Murania Komolafe, Oluwatoyin Osoba, Samusindeen Opeloyeru and Aremu Niyi-Oba.

Also on the list were Edward Ajayi Olushola, Alhaji Mudashiru Adeniji, Chief Wahab Isiaka and Oyinlola Awe.

According to the charges which were however not read to the accused persons the men had been arrested by the police following a clash last week Friday, between members of the OPC and NURTW at the Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos, during which no fewer than six person had died, while many others wounded.

The eleven accused persons, were brought to court yesterday by the police under an application to remand them in prison custody pending the conclusion of their investigation into the matter.

Arguing the application, the leading prosecutor, Mr. Columbus Okaro, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, attached to Force Crime Investigation Department (FCID) Alagbon, Lagos, urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending the outcome of their investigation and the advise of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The defence counsel however opposed the application, pointing out that the manner in which the accused had been brought to court was not known to any.

Leading the defence team were Fred Agbeyegbe and Wahab Shittu. They submitted further that there was no provision in the criminal procedure law which permitted the court to entertain the application without the existence of a formal procedure.

"More importantly, the law does not recognise the mechanism of a holden charge. In this case, there is no charge, no pleading. In fact, a holden charge has no place in our judicial system," they argued.

After extensive argument between the parties, the court stood the matter down for ruling, which was delivered about two hours later.

In his ruling after the matter had been stood down for two hours, Chief Magistrate Isaac noted that the offences for which the accused were to be charged were indictable.

He therefore ordered that the 11 accused persons should be remanded in prison custody, while awaiting the advice of the DPP.

All the accused were thereafter whisked to the Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Lagos while the matter was adjourned to November 21, for further hearing.

Posted by Publisher at 02:01 PM | Comments (0)

Amsterdam Airport fire kills 11

ELEVEN illegal immigrants awaiting deportation were killed as fire broke out at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport yesterday. Fifteen other people were injured

The nationalities of the dead were not immediately known. "They were illegal aliens waiting to be extradited to their countries of origin," said Immigration Service spokesman, Martin Bruinsma. "We are still busy trying to confirm their identities."

The prison block on the east side of Europe's fourth largest airport is surrounded by a 10-foot fence and barbed wire. Set up in 2002, it is used to detain people who arrive by plane and have been refused entry to the Netherlands, including drug smugglers and failed asylum seekers.

An unknown number of detainees escaped during the fire.

The fire broke out shortly after midnight and raged until 3 a.m. Firefighters and airport police were among the injured, according to the news reports. Four people were hospitalised for treatment.

A prisoner told the Dutch television station NOS that guards initially did not take prisoners' warnings of a fire seriously and told them nothing was wrong.

"They didn't open the door. They kept us locked up. Our throats started hurting. We were kicking and screaming," said the detainee, who was not identified.

About 350 prisoners were being held in the complex when the fire broke out. Some 43 were in the wing that caught fire. Prisoners were taken to other facilities in nearby cities or moved elsewhere within the complex, Dutch media reported.

The Netherlands, which has adopted one of the toughest immigration policies in Europe, is in the process of deporting some 26,000 asylum seekers who have been refused Dutch residency. Rights groups have criticised the policy, saying people have been deported to countries where they could face persecution or abuse.

Hundreds of cocaine smugglers, mostly from the Caribbean and Curacao, are detained at the airport every year, as immigrants caught trying to enter the country illegally. Prison cell capacity was greatly expanded in 2002.

Posted by Publisher at 01:55 PM | Comments (0)

Saddam gets $1.8b kickbacks in oil deals

FORMER President Saddam Hussein's government has been indicted for receiving $1.8 billion from more than 2,000 companies as illicit kickbacks and surcharges.

The money was said to have been received through manipulating of the United Nations (UN) oil-for-food programme in Iraq.

The indictment is contained in a report of UN-backed investigators of the oil deals.

The report-meant to be released in full yesterday by the committee probing claims of wrongdoing in the $64 billion programme - indicates that about half the 4,500 companies doing business with Iraq paid illegal surcharges on oil purchases or kickbacks on contracts to supply humanitarian goods.

The investigators reported that companies and individuals from 66 countries paid illegal kickbacks through a variety of devices while those paying illegal oil surcharges came from, or were registered in 40 countries. The names were expected to be included in yesterday's report but were not in the key findings obtained on Wednesday.

Yesterday's final report of the investigation led by former United States Federal Reserve chairman, Paul Volcker, strongly criticises the UN Secretariat and Security Council for failing to monitor the programme and allowing the emergence of front companies and international trading concerns prepared to make illegal payments.

According to the findings, the Banque Nationale de Paris S.A., known as BNP, which held the UN oil-for-food escrow account, had a dual role and did not disclose fully to the United Nations the firsthand knowledge it acquired about the financial relationships that fostered the payment of illegal surcharges.

The oil-for-food programme was one of the world's largest humanitarian aid operations, running from 1996 to 2003.

Under the programme, Iraq was allowed to sell limited and then unlimited quantities of oil provided most of the money went to buy humanitarian goods. It was launched to help ordinary Iraqis cope with UN sanctions imposed after Saddam's 1990 invasion of Kuwait and became a lifeline for 90 per cent of the country's population of 26 million.

But Saddam, who could choose the buyers of Iraqi oil and the sellers of humanitarian goods, corrupted the programme by awarding contracts to - and getting kickbacks from - favoured buyers, mostly parties who supported his regime or opposed the sanctions. He allegedly gave former government officials, journalists and UN officials' vouchers for Iraqi oil that could then be resold at a profit.

Tracing the politicisation of oil contracts, the new report said Iraqi leaders in the late 1990s decided to deny American, British and Japanese companies allocations to purchase oil because of their countries' opposition to lifting sanctions on Iraq. At the same time, it said, Iraq gave preferential treatment to France, Russia and China which were perceived to be more favourable to lifting sanctions and were also permanent members of the Security Council.

Volcker's previous report, released in September, said lax UN oversight allowed Saddam's regime to pocket $1.8 billion in kickbacks and surcharges in the awarding of contracts during the programme's operation from 1997 to 2003.

According to the new findings, Iraq's largest source of illicit income from the oil-for-food programme was the more than $1.5 billion from kickbacks on humanitarian contracts.

Posted by Publisher at 01:50 PM | Comments (0)

Obasanjo: Nigerians United in Sharing This Sorrow as Govt Hosts Prayer Sessions for Plane Crash Victims...

President Olusegun Oba-sanjo yesterday urged Nigerians to be united in sharing hope, sorrow and grief in- spite of their differences as a way of bringing development to the country.

From Toba Suleiman in Abeokuta, 10.28.2005

He spoke in an emotion laden voice at the inter religious re-dedication service in honour of 117 passengers and crew members who died in a Bellview aircraft crash last Saturday night at Lisa Igbore, Ifo Local Government area of Ogun State.
Obasanjo said the way the nation had reacted to the calamity that the Bellview aircraft represented showed a nation united in sharing its sorrow and capable of transforming its diversity to strength.
Besides, Obasanjo also laid a wreath at the site of the crash in honour of the 117 victims of the air crash.
Dressed in agbada made of Kampala stuff, the president whose helicopter touched down at about 1pm said whatever "our differences, we can be united in sharing grief."
He said Nigerians need to counter any tendency against making the country great. "And that is to me, our determination, our commitment."
"Now that we are united in sorrowing and grieving, let us be united with a determination to make Nigeria a country that God has created it to be, " he said.
While acknowledging that hardly can one find a particular family, a particular house in Nigeria that was not in one way or the other affected by the effect of last Saturday, Obasanjo urged Nigerians to think of how to take care of what the deceased left behind."
“Let us realize that there is nothing much we can do for the dead, other than to take care of what they left behind."
He urged Nigerians to stop mourning, sorrowing and grieving like people who have no belief.
“I belief that Islamic religion and Christianity, both of them gave a hope beyond this world and therefore, we must not live like those who have no hope.
“We must not sorrow like those who have no hope. We must not sorrow like those who have no expectation of a life after death.
“We must, while we are sorrowing, remember that those who have gone, our prayers are for them. And we must be united to make Nigeria a better place for their children, their families and those that they have left behind."
Describing the Saturday air crash as a multiple calamity of monumental proportion, Obasanjo expressed deep sorrow and sympathy for the families of the victims of the ill-fated Bellview air craft.
“We, once again express on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, our condolences, our concern with the families of those 117 people, both Nigerians and non-Nigerians who left Ikeja Airport on that fateful day,” he said.
He recalled bitterly that on that fateful day, most of the victims must have phoned their families that they were coming home.
According to him, "the incident should be a lesson to each and every one of us," saying whether you like it or not there would be a day where our destination in this world will be cut short.
"While I was in the helicopter and I looked down and saw the sight of the crash and I remembered those of them, who phoned their families and said `am coming home': Is this the home?'' he asked.
The President, who is also mourning the death of his wife, Stella, who died in Spain on Oct. 23 after surgery, called for unity and determination to make Nigeria a country of great opportunities.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) there was a loud one-minute silence to show that we care, share and have great hope for this great country,'' he said.
Obasanjo thanked Nigerians for their show of solidarity and concern and lauded the Ogun State government and the clergy for their efforts in organising the inter-faith service.
Speaking to reporters earlier, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Frank Nweke, described the incident as tragic.
“It is not the type of death you wish even for your enemy.
People are grieving for them not because they are dead but for the manner in which they died,'' he said.
The Minister, who could not hold back his tears after inspecting the crater created by the crash, said he was totally devastated.
The Rev. Wilson Badejo, one of the priests who officiated at the event, prayed that Almighy God would grant the families of the victims the courage to bear the loss.
“We pray that the comfort of the Holy Spirit will be your portion,'' he told the relations of the victims.
Governors of Ogun, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun and the Deputy Governor of Lagos, also attended the inter-faith service.
Earlier, Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel read the only lesson taken from the book of Job 14:1-14.
The Christian service was conducted by Primate Bolaji Alamu of UMCA, Pastor Willson Badejo of the Four Square Gospel Church and Charles Oderinde of Methodist Church, ,Yewa zone.
Representing the Muslim cleric were the Secretary General , Leaque of Imam and Alfa, Yoruba , Edo and Delta, and Chief Imam of Ilaro, Alhaji Tajudeen Adewunmi.
Dignitaries at the site included Mallam El- Rufai, Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Ibikunle Amosun representing Ogun Central, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Finance Minister.
Earlier on at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos Obasanjo thanked Nigerians for their show of sympathy and solidarity over the death of his wife, Stella and the victims of the Bellview air mishap.
Moved by the display of solidarity by Nigerians who had thronged the presidential wing to receive the remains of his late wife, the President who had arrived the airport at about 12.13pm, shortly after the hearse bearing the corpse had departed the airport in a motorcade for Abeokuta, Ogun State, moved towards the crowd and thanked them.
Shortly on arrival in a Presidential jet marked 5N-FGS, Obasanjo who had for a long time now been used to leaving through the airside each time he is in Lagos, however, breached his tradition and moved towards the crowd and waved at them.
Accompanied by Senate President, Ken Nnamani and Aminu Bello Masari, he left the airside where he was expected to board one of the helicopters stationed to fly him to Lisa Village and headed straight to the crowd, acknowledged greetings and said: "Thank you all. I am grateful to all of you. God will strengthen all of you".
Immediately after this, he moved towards the airside where he boarded one of the two helicopters and left for Lisa.
Before his arrival, the remains of his late wife had been flown into the Presidential wing of the airport at 11:15am in an Air Force Dornier aircraft marked NAF 081.
On hand to receive the corpse were Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih; the party's National Vice Chairman (South), Chief Olabode George, ministers, governors, top government functionaries at both state and Federal levels, high ranking police and military personnel, women groups, party faithfuls, relations, students, journalists and sympathisers, among others, who had besieged the presidential wing in their hundreds, some of them to have the last glimpse of the deceased.
Before the arrival of the aircraft, an ambulance from the stable of the undertakers, Ebony and several exotic cars, buses and vehicles had been positioned.
About five minutes later (11.20am), the casket draped in full national colours was brought down by a detachment of military personnel in their ceremonial uniform and moved towards the direction of the hearse in slow, calculated and steady steps.
As instrumentalists from the undertakers provided solemn music, the casket bearers moved towards the casket where it was lowered into.
After the brief airport ceremonies, the motorcade made its way out of the presidential wing on the journey to Abeokuta. Seated in front of the hearse was the son of the late First Lady, Olumuyiwa and his maternal uncle, Dr. John Abebe.
The hearse finally made its exit from the gate of the Presdential wing at exactly 11.45pm.
Several dignitaries who spoke about Stella's demise described it as a great tragedy.
In his reaction, George said she played her part well as First Lady, admonishing that people should play what ever role entrusted in their care well.
Former deputy governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Kofo Bucknor-Akerele said Stella was " a fine person not only in the body but in the spirit", adding that she was a warm and cheerful person.
On the air mishap, she said it was a terrible tragedy while praying for the families and relations of those who lost their loved ones.
Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu said Stella gave a good life to those who didn't have life by setting up the Childcare Trust.
Mantu harped on the necessity of ensuring the airworthiness of aircraft and strict adherence to regulations by airlines.
Delta State Governor James Ibori said Stella will be greatly missed, describing her as a loving mother whose death is a loss to the nation.
Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Lagos State said Stella was a close family friend, adding that he had the privilege of working closely with her during the struggle to entrench democracy, particularly her dogged fight to have her jailed husband freed during the regime of the late General Sani Abacha.
According to Tinubu, even when faced with adverse situations during those moments, Stella's spirit was never dampened.
Abia StateGovernor Uzor Orji Kalu said Stella's death was a big blow to him, describing her as "a bridge builder between us and the husband".
Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Umar Yar'adua also described the death of the First Lady as sad even as he prayed for the repose of her soul.

Posted by Publisher at 01:49 PM | Comments (0)

The Political Stabilising Force

The Stella Obasanjo Funeral...

The First Lady, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, who died on Sunday morning in Spain after undergoing cosmetic surgery was like a Rock of Gibralta behind President Olusegun Obasanjo.

By Tunde Rahman, 10.28.2005

She stood by the Balogun of Owu during his incaceration and his political struggles.
Had she not died, Stella would have been 60 years old next month. With her demise, Obasanjo has indeed lost a pillar of support. For most of the President's political life, Stella was with him, sharing in his pains and sorrow. And when the political limelight came again for Obasanjo in 1999, the First Lady shared in the kleiglight, something she could not enjoy when Obasanjo was military Head of State (1976 to 1979).
Before Obasanjo's entry into politics and his subsequent election as President in1999, he saw hell and perhaps Stella also saw part of that hell with him. Obasanjo had been spending his retirement as an international figure, as he was always on one United Nation's assignment or the other.
Once, he was a candidate for the UN Secretary Generalship. But suddenly like a man falling from the mountain top to the deep valley, he was arrested for ploting a coup against the Abacha administration.
From Kirikiri to Jos and later Yola Prisons where the late Abacha military junta clamped Obasanjo having been convicted for complicity in the 1995 botched coup, Stella stood by the President visiting him day in, day out.
There were unconfirmed reports of how some of the President's relations abandoned him at that time. Some even wished him dead taking over some of his properties.
But the late Stella did not forsake her husband. She was busy making contact with some military top brass seeking the possible release of her husband. Together with a few others, she insisted on Obasanjo's innocence, externalised the campaigns for her husband's release and became a human rights activist of sort.
In his condolence message, embattled Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, said this much when he recalled the role the First Lady played in the President's life when he was imprisoned in Jos and Yola.
But Stella did even more than that when President Obasanjo regained his freedom and in 1998 joined politics to contest the 1999 presidential race. She traversed the length and breadth of the country with her husband canvassing for votes. She was at the Jos convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that produced Obasanjo as the party's presidential candidate in February 1999.
Speaking about her role during that convention, a founding member of the PDP in Plateau, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, told a national newspaper in an interview that the First Lady was taller than her physical feature. "During the 1999 PDP convention, she worked throughout the night. She brought delegates to my house to feed. She maintained the dignity of her family by her unparalled humility," Kwande said. When Obasanjo was elected President and sworn-in, when the food they cooked together was ready, so to say, Stella was not one to be sent to the background. She hopped on to the office of First Lady perhaps to the discomfiture of the President who had told the nation that for him there was no such office.
The First Lady inaugurated the Child Care Trust Fund, her pet project, to take care of the less privileged. She visited orphanages and hospitals to donate gifts and render other support for those in need. She was also involved in other humanitarian and philantrophic gestures. In the discharge of her duties as First Lady and her work at the Villa, she used to refer to Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as her immediate boss.
During the build-up to Obasanjo's re-election in 2003, which the President got through the skin of his teeth, Stella was also on hand, pleading profusely for support for the President from most of the PDP governors who stood like a wedge between her husband and the party's ticket. At the eve of the PDP Convention at the Eagles Square in Abuja, Stella went from the Abuja Liason office of one state to another asking the governors to support Obasanjo.
The First Lady was a kind of stabilizing force for the President. With her friendly disposition, Stella tried to make friends with Obasanjo 's political enemies and to win over back former friends that fell out with her husband. Former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, said this much in his tribute stating that the late First Lady remained friendly with those not in good terms with her husband.
It was perhaps because of these attributes and many others that the late First Lady remained very close to the President till her death. She was the toast of 'Baba' as the President is fondly called at Aso Rock. Even Baba referred to his late wife in one of his speeches since her demise last Sunday as a gem. President Obasanjo was reputed to have said that only Stella could tolerate his excesses. Now, she is no more.

Posted by Publisher at 01:48 PM | Comments (0)

Stella: Final Journey After Sun Set

The Stella Obasanjo Funeral...

There are two sides in every person's life, when the sun rises and when it sets for each individual. A person's sun rises the moment he or she is born.

By Max Amuchie, 10.28.2005

A child's first cry immediately after birth amply signifies that the sun has risen for the new individual and that the struggle of life has just begun. And the sun sets when that person breaths his or her last and is given a small strip of earth measuring six feet deep no matter the material possession of that person or his or her accomplishment while still alive. The time between the sun rise and the sun set is the space available for the individual to make his or her footprints delible or indelible (depending on choice, opportunity or ability)on the sands of time.
This space may range from as little as a few seconds to over a century. No one knows exactly the space he has been allocated by God, therefore no one has the power or the right to question the Almighty when He decides that the appointed time has come.
Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, whose remains are being committed to Mother Earth today had space that was just one month shy of 60 years. Her sun rose in November 1945 and set in October 2005.
The outpouring of emotion since Sunday when her transition was announced is evidence of a life lived to the fullest, one that was made to touch the lives of not a few other people. And a life that perhaps stamps footprints indelibly on the Nigerian sand.
It was William Shakespeare, who told us what we ordinarily know, that "When beggars die there no comets seen but the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes." Women liberation activists should not begrudge Shakespeare. He used 'princes' to represent humanity.
That the woman the entire nation is burying today was a princess, there can be no doubt. It was just her luck that she became First Lady of Africa's most populous country. It should not be out of place therefore if 'Heavens' are blazing forth her death. But it was not when she got married to then Brigadier Olusegun Obasanjo in 1975 that she became somebody. She was born to very respectable, Catholic, middle class parents in Iruekpen in the Ishan area of Edo State. Her father, Dr. Christopher Abebe, started working for UAC, that multinational company that is now a conglomerate at a time when Nigerians in that company were begging to be servants of the white overlords. He eventually became the chairman of the company, a feat that was a rarity in those days for a black man.
Philosophers have classified human beings into three categories, cynics, stoics and Epicureans. Stella belonged to the Epicurean school of thought. She loved life and she went for whatever would make her happy. In Stella's world view, one has to make use of the opportunities life throws up in order to be prepared adequately to face the challenges, which life equally throws at someone.
But she was no Imelda Marcos of Philippines, whose love for the mundane things of live became legendary. Stella was no Eva Peron, who became a phenomenon in Argentina, such that nobody knew between her and her husband who indeed was the president of Argentina.
Stella was a simple woman, who used her position to impact positively on her surroundings. Arising out of her guiding principle of loving life, she radiated happiness and she wanted everyone around her to be happy. This much has been testified to by those who were privileged to work or associate with her. It was what motivated her to initiate the Child Care Trust to cater for children who are not as privileged as her only son.
It was also that quest for happiness that made her to be very much sought after by several organisations in Nigeria like the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Super Falcons, the nation's female national football team and many others.
Lately, she turned her attention to the havoc HIV/AIDS is causing in Nigeria. She has been quietly but firmly involved in the campaign for responsible sexual behaviour, chastity as a way of stemming the tide of the pandemic.
The late First Lady recognised hard work and would do everything within her power to support anyone that she felt was working hard in whatever they are doing. In this regard, she was a pillar of support to Dora Akunyili, the lady that has made Nigeria uncomfortable for those who engage in the business of fake and adulterated drugs. That is why the professor of pharmacology cannot seem to cry enough over the death of the First Lady.
Also from the testimonies of those who knew her from childhood, she was not one to forget those who grew up with her. Tears seem not to dry from the eyes of NTA's Grace Egbagbe. In Stella, she has lost a sister and a true friend.
Nigerians are mourning because Stella was a great woman. When her husband was in prison, despite her privileged family background, she lived an ordinary life to fight for his release. She retired to Abeokuta and started selling kerosene to make ends meet. She stood by him even when she was not the first or only wife of her husband and even when she had only one son for him. An appreciative husband, President Olusegun Obasanjo, has described her as the best wife ever.
Her alma mater, St. Teresa's School, Ibadan, in its tribute said: "She was a woman of substance whose life touched many lives. A very hard working, honest, courageous, loving first lady, who devoted her life to the entire family of St. Teresaâ??s College, Ibadan.â??
And to Benue State Governor, Mr. George Akume: â??Stella Obasanjo signified the true virtue of the African woman. She was kind, loving and caring. She devoted all her life in the service of humanity, and her commitment to the development of the Nigerian child will remain indelible in the annals of Nigeria.â??
Her son, Olumuyiwa, captured it quite well when he declared: â??My mom wanted her life to be a celebration. Indeed, as we mourn her passing away, please remember to celebrate her life. That is how she would have loved to be remembered." There is no better way to remember Stella Obasanjo.

Posted by Publisher at 01:46 PM | Comments (0)

Loyal Wife, True Friend

The Stella Obasanjo Funeral...

The late First Lady Mr. Stella Obasanjo was one of the very few women who touched her husband, President Olusegun Obasanjo's core. Indeed, her admirers have described her as God's gift to Obasanjo, particularly in the time of adversity.

By Adeyeye Joseph, 10.28.2005

The picture of the normally composed and, sometimes aloof, President Obasanjo weeping and grieving so deeply for the passage of his wife is a sight that many Nigerians are not used to seeing. The sight touched many and evoked great empathy for Obasanjo among Nigerians.
This is not the first time that Obasanjo would be losing or grieving for a spouse. But the loss, this time, is a much more deeper one. And nothing says this louder, than the sight of a normally unruffled Obasanjo giving in to grief, so openly.
That a great bonding existed between Obasanjo and Stella, was a fact that was mostly hidden from public view. It is a bonding that is about three decades old. A bonding that was birthed in hot, intensely jealous love; that blossomed in the glory of Obasanjo's tenure as military head of state; that endured the separation that the relationship experienced during Obasanjo's first retirement; that endured Obasanjo's incarceration and one that held till death 'did them part'. This bonding was born in the '70s when the two met in London. Obasanjo, then a senior army officer, was in the UK for a course while Stella was studying Insurance. Before making for the UK she had spent a brief period at the Law Faculty of the University of Ife. She never completed the course. Nevertheless, the atmospherics around her and her beauty captivated Obasanjo. The attraction was however not mutual initially. Obasanjo whose first marriage was then teetering on the brink of collapse wanted a second attempt. Stella, a scion of one of Nigeria's most accomplished family, the Abebes, whose patriarch, Stella's father was the first indigenous chairman of UAC, saw nothing attractive about the senior army officer whom everyone seem to be fond of. But the walls soon collapsed and the two became lovers.
Obasanjo grew up among women. Specifically among his mother, one of the few females he genuinely loved and his only sister, the sibling he dotes on. One of his greatest pains was the fact that his mother, who toiled and suffered considerably to see him educated, never lived long enough to enjoy the fruit of her labour. His first wife, Remi, once told an interviewer that this pain was responsible for the off-handed and aloof manner Obasanjo later handled the women in his life. In the main, Stella escaped that treatment. Why? Obasanjo genuinely liked her. Two, loyalty is one attribute that Obasanjo values, (although, those who are not his fans are quick to point out that Obasanjo takes so much but gives little in return). It was also one attribute that Stella had going for her. In the days after her death, so many things have been written about Stella and a trait that is a trend in all these, is her loyalty. Especially, the selfless, almost fanatical, way in which she pursued her husband's release during the long dark days of his incarceration. While such devotion may be commonplace in monogamous relationships, it is mostly rare in polygamous ones.
As Vice President Abubakar acknowledged in his condolence speech Stella stood by her husband through thick and thin. "She had the strength of character to cope with the challenges of the period and to rally support for a good cause. She brought the trait to bear on politics during the electioneering campaign," Atiku said.
The time of incarceration was a particularly tough one for Obasanjo. Besides, the dehumanization and degradation that were his daily fare in prison, he also had to cope with worries induced by reports of the desertion and betrayal of some of his family members and closest friends. His farm was vandalized and some family members were reported to have made efforts to cart some of his property away. The few men and women who opted to stand by him, such as former minister of finance, Dr. Onalapo Soleye and his long time personal assistant and present Executive Director of the Africa Leadership Forum, Ayodele Aderinwale, who had to flee to Ghana at a point, were hounded. It was a most trying moment. If not for Stella and a few close aides that stood by him, prison would have exerted a greater toll on the General. They kept the home front and joined others in campaigning for his release. Stella worked hard, took several trips abroad and to Obasanjo in prison, ensured he got his drugs and campaigned vigorously for his release. She also received several awards on his behalf. They included the Frederich Ebert Foundation Award for Human Rights in Bonn, Germany, the Indira Gandhi Award and the Award for Peace given by Liberal International, Oxford, England.
These were perhaps the factors behind Obasanjo's refusal to deny her the klieglight when he came to power, although he had promised earlier that his wife would have no official role to play in government. Nevertheless, during Obasanjo's first term, Stella was largely behind the scene. The second term was the period that Nigerians got to know the Stella that was hidden from the public. Still, the first term provided a glimpse to a side of Stella that many Nigerians also remember her for. To those who knew her well, the first lady had an abiding love for children and for charity works. It was thus not surprising that she launched an NGO, the Child Care Trust Foundation shortly after her husband came into power in 1999. With Ben Murray Bruce, a family friend, (the two grew up knowing each other as their fathers were contemporaries at UAC) the First Lady seized the opportunity of the visit of Miss World 1999, Miss Yukta Mookhey to raise N20 million for children with holes in the heart. Few months later, N17 million

Posted by Publisher at 01:43 PM | Comments (0)

Stella, Our Stella

The Stella Obasanjo Funeral...

A lot has been written and said about her before and after she died. But the best way to know more about the late First Lady, Mrs Stella Obasanjo, is through people she met and lives she touched.

By Josephine Lohor, 10.28.2005

Stella surely did touch a lot of people going by the continuous gush of tributes from people from all walks of life.
Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in a tribute at a special session of the Federal Executive Council said, â??Stella was non-discriminatory in her relationship with people of diverse political persuasions and tendencies. In an environment where social status means a lot to many people and where people easily inherited the prejudices and preferences of others, she was a totally free woman in a deeply philosophical sense of the word. She related very freely with the high and the low as well as with people of diverse convictions. That is why it was so easy for her to play the role of a goodwill ambassador for her husband and the nation. I believe that this, coupled with her legendary love for children, is what earned her the well-deserved description of the â??mother of the nationâ??â??.
Atikuâ??s wife, Titi with swollen eyes the Sunday, the First Lady died, came shortly after her husband had signed the condolence register placed in the Banquet Hall of the State House to do the same.
In it she wrote: â??May the soul of our mother, Her Excellency, Chief Mrs. Stella Ajike Obasanjo rest in perfect peace. May the Good Lord give our father the President and all the members of her family the fortitude to bear the great loss. Mummy, may your gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amenâ??.
On his part, Chairman of Albarka Airlines Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) wrote, â??May her soul rest in peace. Amen. The mother of the nation is gone, but God knows best. She was caring, concerned about the plight of the common man and kids, supportive of her husband. We will all miss her. God knows best.â??
Rev. Father Matthew Hassan Kukah who was present when the First Lady had earlier reconciled with the Lord, noted in the register, â??Stella, I praise God for your life and happier that I witnessed your reconciliation with God. Rest in peaceâ??.
Governor Orji Kalu of Abia State : â??She is just like mama of Nigeria. A woman who told me that she plays no politics, she believes in no politics, she is just a mother. When she sees me and Baba, she says â??Look at your son, look at your Baba. You people should talk your problems. I am not a politician. If you want food, I bring it.â?? We are going to miss her because she was so nice and so dear to my family and to my wife and she was calling my wife on daily basis in the United Statesâ??.
For the Chairman of the National Political Reform Conference, Honorable Justice Niki Tobi, Stella was â??a woman who stood firmly by her husband in bad and good times. You are a good example of womanhoodâ??.
Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris wrote, â?? All her contributions will forever be remembered by the whole nationâ??.
Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Mrs. Mary Lar, stated, â??What a sad loss! Our dear mother, you have left a legacy. We appreciate your role for the advancement of Nigerian children, women, the sick and your advisory role. You hosted my non-governmental organisation, you encouraged me in many ways. Thank God for your life. Nigeria will miss you. We in Auntie Mary Literacy Project miss you. Rest in the Lord. Till we meet to part no more. On behalf of the Embassy and Nigerians in The Hague, we miss you very muchâ??.
The National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, stated: â??Her Excellency, you did your best for the country and humanity. You supported children, the underprivileged, you battled tyranny, yet you were humble and mixed with all, irrespective of class and political affiliation. May your gentle soul rest in peace. Amenâ??.
For Senator Jubril Aminu, â??this is one of the saddest days in the history of this country. We cuddle His Excellency the President and the entire family. All of us have lost a great and noble soul in Stella. She was public spirited and loving to all. Rest in peace. You led a wonderful lifeâ??.
Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Professor Dora Akunyili, who kept referring to the late Stella as mama, said that â??she was very close to me. Her death is a great loss to the country. Nigeria has lost a rare gem and my family has lost a lot. We mourn for her, but I want to see beyond the mourning, I want to see beyond the grief, the outpour of emotions and the love, solidarity expressed by Nigerians. As she is watching us I believe that she would be happy. Because nobody has been so mourned in the history of this country. Mama, in her death has created a bond of unity and loveâ??.
The late First Ladyâ??s Press Secretary who worked with her for over two years, Mr. Ayodeji Amusu, noted, â??I thank God for the opportunity to work with her. It is a plus for me and I always look back when the young ones among us want to crack jokes, she used to say that apart from Mr. President, the only person that gives her orders and she obeys is me being her Chief Press Secretary. And because most times I am the Master of Ceremony at most of her programmes, often times I have to give her, I will not call it instruction, because I am too small to give such instruction. But when I feel certain things have to be done, she would gladly take my adviceâ??.
Principal Secretary to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Steve Orosanye, who worked very closely with Stella, wrote, â??Our President has lost a bosom friend and sister, the Obasanjo and Abebe families have lost a most dear part, Nigeria has lost a mother. Indeed, Africa and our entire generation have lost a cherished daughter, a precious gem of inestimable value. However, our solace and succour lie in the fact that her great works would endure forever and continue to inspire and impact generations unborn, within our shores and beyond. Such is the path of the great. Our prayers are that she will find perfect rest in the presence of the Lord, whom she served with great devotion and zealâ??.
Transport Minister Abiye Sekibo, who said that he became very close to the First Lady when he was the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, wrote that Stella â??took particular interest in how I was doing in my present job as Minister, and was deeply and genuinely concerned about the state of our railway system. In fact, on her way out of the country, she had met the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Austin Opara, and asked after me and told him that she would like to see my wife and me on her return. Again, sadly, this is not to be. Though we must all humbly submit ourselves to the will of Almighty God, the anguish of her departure will always be with me; and when it dawned on me and Alali that she had gone forever, we shed countless tears and railed against the injustice that plucked her from us in her prime. We pray, that you will somehow find the strength to get over this terrible lossâ??.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Frank Nweke, waxed poetic thus, â??Who could fail to know Chief (Mrs) Stella Obasanjo in the grim dark years that punctuated the life of her husband, our President, when death was lurking around the corner, whispering in the darkness of prison? The nation remembers a steady, rock solid woman, a woman of women. What a tale for our young wives to emulate. In Stella we learnt the true meaning of a "life long partner", a dependable ally who did not abandon when many would have abandoned. Yet, in all that loyalty, we also saw a fierce fighter. A bold woman full of conviction on the rightness of justice. It is a tale that was told in the bedrooms of our hearts; it was a tale we whispered where two or three were gathered in our chambers and living rooms. It is a tale we now boldly proclaim from the rooftops, for Stella has become a tale, a parable of all that is good: dependable, resilient and rock solid. May her tale forever be told.

Posted by Publisher at 01:42 PM | Comments (0)

A Whiff of Controversies

The Stella Obasanjo Funeral...

Today, the remains of the First Lady, late Mrs. Stella Obasanjo would be interred in her husband's home in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Since her death last Sunday many people have eulogized her life on earth.

By Malachy Agbo, 10.28.2005

Numerous sympathisers across the nation took stock of gestures, how she impacted on several lives, especially her Child Care Trust programme. She was lively and flamboyant many would say.
Nevertheless, she was not without some foibles. She was enmeshed in some controversies which in some cases, she generated herself. It would be recalled that even though President Olusegun Obasanjo promised to abolish the office of the First Lady when he assumed office in 1999, the office was later created with full paraphernalia and influence. Stella also once appeared on national television to inform the wives of state governors, who hitherto had been addressed as first ladies in their respective states, that they would no longer bear the title. Only the president's wife would be addressed in that manner. The rest would simply be known as "wife of the governor," she declared.
Her comments drew widespread scorn. Nobel prize-winning author Wole Soyinka denounced her as arrogant and condemned the existence of the office of the first lady as a carry-over from military rule. Soyinka later urged the president to curb his wife's excesses.
In an interview with then Tempo magazine (June 14, 2001), Soyinka urged Nigerians to rise against what he described as "this duplication at the top, a duplication which takes place in subtle, overt, vulgar and ostentatious manner".
Stella, sometime ago instructed her lawyers in Abuja to file a one-billion naira libel suit against one of the country's leading magazines, The News, for claiming that she was awarded a six -billion naira contract for furnishing the Games Village at the recent All Africa Games in Abuja.
The First Lady claimed to be "shocked, scandalised and horrified" by the publication because, as she put it, since becoming first lady, she had lived an exemplary life based on the principles of "moral uprightness, integrity, abhorrence of corruption and corrupt people".
Also in December 2002, the first lady became embroiled in the post Miss World controversy and in a bitter row with a businesswoman, Angela Onyeador, who put up £200 000 for a pageant fund-raiser at a London hotel. The "Miss World Royal Charity Gala" was to have been attended by Prince Philip and other dignitaries but, in the wake of the Miss World riots in Nigeria, most dignitaries stayed away and the event flopped. In the fall-out that followed, Onyeador and Stella fought about the latter's pledged payments towards the event.
Stella also had a brush with the President of BEARS Foundation Ms. Modupe Ozolua.
It was alleged that the First Lady at a time patronized Ozolua's Plastic Reconstructive Surgery clinic, an allegation Stella denied. But it was widely believed that the story of her patronage emanated from Ozolua who used it as a marketing gimmick.
In the botched sale of the Federal Government houses in Ikoyi earlier this year then Housing Minister Mrs Mobolaji Osomo, to members of the First Lady's family without following due process. President Obasanjo not only sacked Osomo, he cancelled the sales.
In canceling the deal, Obasanjo in a strongly worded letter to Osomo noted that "I must express my great displeasure, in very clear terms, about the way you seem to be handling the sale of Federal Government property in Lagos. I have documents sent to me anonymously where 207 people had been allocated or offered land/property for sale surreptitiously; some with full payment, some with deposit and some without payment at all. I also feel personally embarrassed that almost all members of my wife's family are on that list. As it is, the entire list will now be cancelled without fail, the money collected should be refunded and all the property will be advertised for sale except those allocated to Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari and Chief Emeka Anyaoku which had been approved before this exercise on special condition of encouraging their relocation to Nigeria and on the basis of current value plus 10 per cent. Report faithful compliance with this instruction".
Not too long, Stella's only son, Olumuyiwa was said to have bought a house in New York, USA. The house was bought March this year. But the first lady's younger brother, Dr. John Abebe, explained that the house was bought with a mortgage loan which the youngman was capable obtaining as a qualified barrister in New York.
Despite these controversies, Stella carried on unperturbed till the very last.

Posted by Publisher at 01:41 PM | Comments (0)

At Lisa, Nigeria Prays for Crash Victims

The Bellview Plane Crash...

Residents of Lisa, a sleepy and dusty village in Ifo Local Government area of Ogun State where the Bellview flight 210 crashed, killing 117 passengers and crew have not played host to such a massive crowd since it came into existence and may never have such crowd for a long time to come.

By Roland Ogbonnaya, 10.28.2005

A farming village lacking in modern amenities and development has suddenly become a reference point as a result of the plane crash on October 22. Since the crash, the site has become a tourist attraction of some sort, playing host to thousands of people everyday. Even those who were not related to the victims of the crash wanted to see for themselves the magnitude of destruction the aircraft caused on human lives and economic trees.
Suddenly economic activities picked up. Cost of soft drinks, water and transport went up and visitors had no choice but to patronize such services, even when the Ogun State Government suddenly graded the unmotorable access road leading to the village.
Yesterday marked the high point of visitors to the site of the plane crash as Ogun State government organised a national prayer session for those who lost their lives in the ill-fated Bellview aircraft. Though the programme was scheduled to start at 10.00am visitors, including the bereaved, started arriving the site as early as 8.00am. Most of them who were coming to the place for the first time wept uncontrollably on seeing the gory scene of the accident site. Some continued to search if they could find any item or document that belonged to their dead relations. Some were lucky and others were not. A young lady, Tola was lucky to find her father's white handkerchief which had his name Tunji inscribed on it.
The first government official at the site was the Minister of Information, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr., who came in with the Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Niran Malaolu. Nweke was physically shaken by the destruction he met on the ground, especially the grater made by the aircraft at the site.
Speaking to journalists after he went round the site of the accident, he expressed the Federal Government condolence to the relations of those who lost their lives. Nweke who noted that almost everybody had somebody or knows somebody who had somebody in the aircraft, prayed that Nigeria will never see such calamity again. He commended security agencies working on the site for job well done.
Other government officials and dignitaries who were present at the prayer session include Governors Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo State, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State and Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State as well as a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Bola Ajibola amongst others.
The Secretary of the League of Yoruba Imams, Alhaji Surajudeen Biobaku led the `Moslems in the interdenominational prayer anchored by Pastor Ituah Ighodalo of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). He prayed for the soul of the departed and asked God to give those left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Like every other speaker, he asked God not to allow such disaster to occur again.
Primate Bolaji Alamu of the UACM also offered prayer for the repose of the soul of the victims. He asked God to grant the relations of the deceased the courage to bear the loss. Other ministers who offered prayers included Rev. Oyedayo, Dr. Alfred Adenle who prayed for the families of the deceased, Ogun State and the nation respectively, while Rev. Osunibi prayed for the management and staff of Bellview Airlines for God to avert such accident in future.
Governor Daniel read the only Bible lesson from Job 14:1-14. There was also the roll call of the crash victims by the chief captain of Bellview Airlines, Captain Willy Ehimen. Some of the relations of the victims were also given the opportunity to speak at the service.
Alhaji Adamu Sanni, the elder brother of Steve Sanni, the flight engineer, said prior to the accident he called Steve to discuss some family problems but said he was on assignment to Abuja and that was the last time they spoke. He described his brother as responsible family man and the bedrock of the Sanni family. Adamu said if he had the premonition of his brother's death he would have persuaded him not to travel.
"Steve lived a life of emulation and was a role model to many young men in my community. The God who brought him to us will console us and his immediate family ". He expressed joy that Steve died serving humanity and the country and asked God to grant him eternal rest.
Mr. Charles Adede said he lived with Sunny Orudo, his cousin in Abuja two years ago. He said the family will take solace in God and also put the whole trust in him.
Ms Lilian Umokson's testimony about her brother Greg, an engineer drew sighs of agony and sympathy. She said her brother left behind an aged parent, a nursing wife of four month baby and three other children. She also expressed appreciation to President Olusegun Obasanjo and the management and staff of Bellview Airline.
In his message at the service, the General Overseer of the Four Square Church, Pastor Wilson Badejo, described death as a passage for greater tomorrow. He prayed that the country will not suffer such calamity again.
Obasanjo who is also mourning the demise of his wife, Stella flew into the site at about 1.00pm. In his message at the service, the President said that the country and the people have experienced multiple calamities of monumental proportion. He conveyed his personal and the Federal Government condolence to the relations of the crash victims.
"Most of those who died that Saturday night might have called their families that they were coming home, but as the Helicopter conveying me to this place circled the grater created by the crash, my mind went to those who said they were coming home, home indeed.
"Whether we like it or not there will come a day our destination will be cut short and we might not know how it shall happen," the President said.
He expressed appreciation to "those who came to collect parts of the property of those who ended up here and the search and rescue team. I thank Gbenga Daniel for his commitment to the assignment I gave to him and that's why we are here today.
"All these have shown one thing: that whatever may be our differences, we are united in sharing grief and sorrow. There is no Nigerian that is not affected by the accident. But we should not continue to behave like people who have no hope. The two prominent religions, (Christianity and Islam), give us hope and therefore, we should not groan like there is no hope.
"We should remember that those who have gone, our prayer and wish is to make Nigeria a better place for those they left behind. This should be our commitment as my condolence goes to the families of those who lost their loved ones in the accident," he added.
He said that there is nothing "we can do for the dead than to take care of those they left behind. It shows that we can share and have great hope for the country despite our handicaps."
The President later laid a wreath at the freshly made cenotaph amidst wailing from those who lost their loved ones.

Posted by Publisher at 01:41 PM | Comments (0)

The Substance, The Style

The Stella Obasanjo Funeral...

Not so much was heard of or known of a Stella Omotola Obasanjo before the travails of (now) President Olusegun Obasanjo, in the hands of the maximum ruler called Gen Sani Abacha.

By Eddy Odivwri, 10.28.2005

Like a dutiful African woman, she was in the background, giving all moral, domestic and matrimonial support to the global forays of then Gen Obasanjo, who occasionally shot from the hips, at home governmentâ??s unpopular policies.
Then the queer plot of implicating Obasanjo in a phantom coup was hatched. It led to his arrest and subsequent conviction and incarceration, first in Kirikiri prison, then Jos and finally Yola. The fierceness of Abachaâ??s anti human rights determination had almost dissolved any hope that Obasanjo would survive the crass crotchet of â??The Animal Called Manâ??. That was the book Obasanjo wrote in prison to chronicle his experience in the hands of Sani Abacha.
That arrest and incarceration was what drew out Stella from the kitchen-side into the public arena. Her sense of and crave for justice fired the cylinders of her activism. Almost like the late Kudirat Abiola, who took up the fight for the release of her husband by the same Abacha gulag, Stella stepped into the village square with a kitted waist and chest, ready for the rings. Conscious of the deadly hold the Abacha military gang had on the nation, Stella explored the possibility of mobilizing external pressure against the Abacha regime with the aim of getting her husband released.
In no time, she externalized the struggle for her husbandâ??s release. The tempo of the international pressure began a steady rise. Several international organizations began to not only demand for the release of Obasanjo, they were indeed awarding prizes and honour to Obasanjo as a victim of human rights crusade.
In those fora, Stella represented Obasanjo, where she made speeches that helped to rekindle the ire and fire of the struggle.
On one of such cases, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FEF) in Germany, in 1996, honoured Obasanjo. At the ceremony, former German Federal Chancellor, Helmut Schmitt, while saluting the personality of Obasanjo, he paid glowing tribute to the courage and candour of Stella for helping to keep aglow the flame of the struggle. He assured that the international community will intensify the pressure on the Nigerian government to release Obasanjo. Before he concluded his speech, he remarked that â??For a Nigerian lady to do what she (Stella) did, was enough to credit her genuineness as a good wife. She demonstrated a true loving and caring wife. No wonder they call her Obasanjoâ??s beloved wifeâ??.
It was a befitting tribute aforetime.
A year later, 1997, Obasanjo, once gain won the Liberal International prize for Freedom in the US. Again, Stella was there. But despite all the international pressure piled on Abacha, like Pharaoh, his heart was hard and refused to bulge. Neither will Stella yield. The struggle continued, while Obasanjo languished in jail. With the death, in jail of Obasanjoâ??s second in-command, Musa Yarâ??Adua, it appeared then that Obasanoâ??s days were numbered, especially as a certain â??Dr Deathâ?? had been commissioned to conclude the matter on certain persons. But God had a different and better verdict.
While the darkness hovered around Obasanjo, Stella radiated sunlight and hope. Often she visited him in prison, encouraging him and raising his fast fading morale. It worked. But while Stella busied herself with a better tomorrow for her husband, some members of the Obasanjo family had fastforwarded their despair and given up on Obasanjoâ??s survival and eventual return. What did they do? They were engaged in a different struggle: the struggle of who gets the most of Obasanjoâ??s heritage and wealth. It was subtle but fierce. Yet Stella stayed out of that crowd, believing that the sun will shine on the farmer again. God heard her prayer. The sun shone. But not until Abacha disappeared from the sky and the political firmament. Abacha died. And that meant a new chapter for the grossly dehumanized and emaciated Obasanjo. A benevolent and just General Abdusalami Abubakar took Abachaâ??s place, and eventually released Obasanjo and many others who had been corralled into the throes of death.
It was a new dawn for Stella and indeed Nigeria and all lovers of justice. Hopes of a brighter tomorrow burst forth with the freshness, colour and allure of a young hibiscus flower. Fate took over and in a jiffy redressed Obasanjo with Stella literally providing the costume.
Obasanjo thus transformed from a death row dignitary to redeemer of a punished people. A released Obasanjo suddenly became the one the nation appeared to be waiting for in a journey to the promised land. In the days that followed, Obasanjo was dragged into politics.
But he had rivers to cross. Wide and deep rivers. One of them was his fellow party men in the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party), where 11 others wanted to be the President, believing and rightly so, that Obasanjo was coming to reap where he neither sowed nor strove. Then Jos was supposed to be the field of Philippi. Buoyed by the hope of an epic story of prison to presidency, once again, Stella was there sticking to Obasanjo like a second nature.
In Jos, she was dressed in flowing party regalia, like her husband. She made frantic appeal to female delegates and using her feminine genie, warmth and attention drawing candour to get delegates to support her husband. She danced, she sang, stayed the long cold night, she hosted the dust and more. At the end, fate passed them on to the next stage after winning the partyâ??s ticket.
Once more, there was another river. The river of a better-footed kinsman, called Olu Falae, who at the time, had more homely appeal to the Yoruba, Obasanjoâ??s folksmen. Falae was contesting with Obasanjo on a different and double platform of the AD (Alliance for Democracy) and then APP (All Peoples Party), combined.
Padded with the heavy groundwork of the campaigns where Stella never stayed back, Obasanjo won the contest with 62.8% landslide, what with the charming and re-assuring presence of Stella, who served as a guardian angel.
The battle was won. Obasanjo thumping the chest of an ascetic leader came with what was considered conservative policy by declaring that there would be no office of First Lady, as in the fanfare gait of our past experiences. Stella must have chuckled inside her.
On the inauguration day, May 29, 1999, Stella shone like a meteor, radiating her beauty and shadow-lighting the dark-skinned Obasanjo, whom she had used her intense culinary scheme to transform his looks and health within such a short time.
By the following year, Stella had thought out what she wanted to do in the presidential Villa. She walked stealthily into the public gallery with her pet project, the Child Care Trust for the physically challenged and deprived children.. It became the valve through which she activated her roles and presence in government. The force of her charm ladled with the fact of her role and feminine id, Obasanjoâ??s earlier stance on office of the First Lady had to be moderated unannounced.
Last Wednesday, Vice President Atiku Abubakar revealed that he â??conspiredâ?? with Stella to ensure that several women got appointed into federal boards as a way of raising the ante of women in government and politics.
Indeed, the Obasanjo government has been the most women-friendly government in Nigeria even though the Beijing conference that pushed for more women participation in government was anchored while Obasanjoâ??s predecessors were in office.
She created her own constituency in style, by encouraging most of the wives of the Governors, (with whom she did not like to share the title of First Lady) to initiate their own peculiar pet projects to get them busy and visible. It worked. Somehow, she managed to establish a warm and personal relationship with many of them irrespective of age difference, religion, political party or even ethnic affiliation. In a way, it made the wives work on their husbands to take it easy with Obasanjo. Again, it worked. The ululation that followed this in some states had seemed to eclipse the elected Deputy Governors, what with their Governorsâ?? wives having their own retinue of aides, press attaches, and all that.
Once she was in office, she flew unhindered. She established new fashion trends, re-inventing a blazing Afro hairstyle that appealed even to young undergraduates. She carried her gait with élan and panache, raising the stakes of fashion some notches upward. She loved life and lived it fully and consummately. Her face was a regular spectacle in most high-profile events. No doubt, she achieved much political capital for her husband from such showy appearances.
As a loving and dutiful mother, Stella had a select group of the Presidentâ??s men whom she always attended to with her personal touch. The story is told of how she insisted that a lot of the Presidentâ??s boys (read men) did not live their house whenever they visited without eating. She was said to have personally ensured that they ate and were satisfied. Waziri Mohammed, the late Nigerian Railway Corporation (who died the same day with her but in the plane crash) was one of such beneficiaries. It was a routine.
She was a bridge and unseen intercessor between the President and his aggrieved boys. Gov Orji Kalu had confessed that she it was that had often intervened in his regular face-offs with Mr President. In good measures, she was always a reliable representative of the President, whenever the President asked her to do.
A case in point was when Stella had to represent the President at the burial of the late Mrs Comfort Alaibe , the mother of Timi Alaibe, the ED Finance and Administration of the NDDC (Niger Delth Development Commission) last February in Opokuma Bayelsa state. Stella showed her warmth and humility by participating in all the ceremonies, to the point where she even pulled her slippers and walked into the rain with Alaere, Timiâ??s wife. â??It was a refreshing show of humility and loveâ??, Alaere had said.
Her full role as a political lubricant was further shown in 2003, when Obasanjoâ??s second term chance hanging in the balance, as majority of the PDP governors were said to have risen against her husband. The story was told of how Stella, once again activating her charm and ladyship, cockroached the Governorsâ?? Lodges in Abuja to solicit for support for her husband. Along with other understandings reached, Stella had her way, and Obasanjo got the ticket. She also joined the ensuing campaigns which led to Obasanjoâ??s second term victory.
Indeed, Stella remained the soul mate of Obasanjo in the last six years, offering him the soothing balm of a woman who was said to have often tickled Obasanjo pink with the oodles of humour and fun even in public functions including church services, thus enriching the humanity of Mr President. Stella had style and panache, and she combined them gracefully even while she played the strings of politics.

Posted by Publisher at 01:40 PM | Comments (0)

Soyinka Prays for Obasanjo

Stella Obasanjo/Bellview Plane Crash...

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, yesterday offered prayer for the repose of late Mrs. Stella Obasanjo and the 117 people who died in the ill-fated Bellview airline. He also prayed for the success of Obasanjo’s administration. Soyinka, who condoled President Obasanjo at Stella’s lying-in-state ceremony in Abeokuta, offered the opening prayer at the event.

From Toba Suleiman in Abeokuta, 10.28.2005

He prayed for the President, his family, the government and the nation in general.
The city of Abeokuta hosted scores of eminent personalities who stormed the ancient town to pay their last respect to the late wife of the nation’s number one citizen.
Dignitaries at the lying-in-state included state governors, ministers, captains of industry, political leaders and top civil servants both from within and outside Ogun State.
And to honor the former first lady, Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo and Iyaloja of Egbaland, Alhaja Ayisatu Iyaniwura, ordered market men and women to close markets in Abeokuta.
In ordering the closure of the markets, Gbadebo and Iyaniwura said the move was to show respect and honour to the late Stella.
Members of the Abebe and Obasanjo families were seen wailing profusely as the remains of Stella arrived Agbeloba House for the commencement of her final journey home.
The body arrived the complex, along Quarry Road at 2.45pm in a Cardillac crystal car belonging to Ebony Casket, an undertaker.
Late Stella will be laid to rest at Ita-Eko, Abeokuta residence of Obasanjo today shortly after an inter-denominational service at MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta.

Posted by Publisher at 01:39 PM | Comments (0)

‘Probe Should Be Thorough’

Stella Obasanjo/Bellview Plane Crash...

The ad-hoc committees set up by the National Assembly to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the October 22, aircrash, where 117 persons died in the ill-fated Bellview aircraft at Lisa village, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, have been charged to ensure that nothing but a thorough investigation is conducted to unearth the circumstances that led to the tragic incident.

By Ndubuisi Ugah, 10.28.2005

Speaking with THISDAY in a telephone chat yesterday, the National Co-ordinator, Lagos State Liberation Congress (LASLIC), Comrade 'Wole Badmus, said it was regretable that such a tragedy could befall the nation at a time when efforts were being made by the Federal Government to improve the living standard of the masses.
He added that the pschological trauma, which Nigerians faced, following the news of the aircrash was unquantifiable, stating that the "crash has exposed the nation's inefficiency in disaster management".
He also expressed optimism over the involvement of the manufacturers of the Flight 210 aircraft in the investigation of the circumstances leading to the crash, saying the move was a welcome development, which should be appreciated by Nigerians.
"I must say that the involvement of the manufacturers of the ill-fated aircraft is a right step in the right direction. However, we must not fail to understand that until this probe panels are given all the necessary support and encouragement which they deserve, getting to the root cause of these tragic event, will remain a tall dream", Badmus said.
He said the Bellview aircrash was unfortunate, adding that it was high time the Federal Government's looked into the reccuring nature of aircrashes, which was becoming a national embarrassment to the nation, but however, expressed sadness that the non-detection of the aircraft minutes after take-off spoke volume of the extent of decadence, which the nation's aviation sector has been reduced to.
According to him, "We pray that God will give them the fortitude to bear the loss just as we urge the Federal Government to look into the issue of incessant aircrashes and to find a way of putting a stop to it. Again, this is why it is painful that the control tower lost touch with the aircraft. In fact, our aviation sector needs an overahaul and that is the basic truth".
approach the historic year 2007.
He said "the Alliance for Democracy therefore calls on private media houses and those of States not controlled by the PDP not be intimidated by the repressive actions of the NBC".
"But to discharge their duties professionally in line with the code and conduct of their profession", he added.
According to him AD in condemning the NBC, salutes the professional courage of AIT/Ray Power and expressed sympathy to the families, relations and friends of the victims of all fated Bellview air crash.
He added that the party prays Almighty God to grant the souls of the deceased victims sweet repose and condole the nation in hour of deep grief.

Posted by Publisher at 01:37 PM | Comments (0)

Service for Nigeria leader's wife

A service of remembrance is being held on Friday in Nigeria for President Olusegun Obasanjo's wife who died in a southern Spanish resort at the weekend.

Nigerian officials have kept silent about how Stella Obasanjo died. The president said she passed away while on holiday and without noticeable illness.

But Spanish media reported she died after cosmetic surgery at the exclusive Molding clinic in Marbella.

The cause of her death is still being investigated.

On Wednesday mourners filed past her body lying in an open coffin in the capital, Abuja.

Mrs Obasanjo will be buried on Saturday.

She was known for her charitable work with children and HIV/Aids sufferers but was also implicated in a corruption scandal earlier this year.

Posted by Publisher at 01:36 PM | Comments (0)

Nigeria arrests Biafra separatist

Nigeria has arrested the leader of a separatist organisation that has campaigned for the creation of a Republic of Biafra.

The leader, Ralph Uwazuruike, was flown to the capital, Abuja.

Mr Uwazuruike leads the Movement for the Actualisation of a Sovereign State of Biafra, which wants a separate state for the Igbo people in the south-east.

The Igbo fought to break away from the rest of Nigeria during a three-year civil war that ended in 1970.

News of the arrest is reported to have provoked demonstrations by supporters of the separatist movement.

The Movement for the Actualisation of a Sovereign State of Biafra (Massob) was banned three years ago. It says it is pursuing its objectives peacefully.

Several Massob members have died in the last three years in clashes with the police in south-eastern Nigeria, where it draws the bulk of its support.

The government is intolerant of its existence because it revives memories of the horrors of the Biafran war, in which one million people died.

Posted by Publisher at 01:33 PM | Comments (0)

October 27, 2005

FIRST LADY’S LYING-IN-STATE: Stella Obasanjo’s son moves father, ministers to tears

Everyone in the oval council chamber of the Federal Executive Council was misty eyed, with intermittent deep sighs and suppressed wails as council members listened to Olumuyiwa, the only son of late Stella gave a testimonial on his mother at a special session held in her honour yesterday.

By REGINALD FACAH, Abuja and KUNLE IDOWU, Abeokuta

Even the steely military resolve of the president gave way to a show of grief at the special session of tributes. Speaking on behalf of everyone at the session, Vice President Atiku Abubakar spoke of the late Mrs.

Obasanjo as a “first lady of distinction” and referring to the Bellview air disaster as well, said the widespread grief showed that “these tragedies have united us.” President Obasanjo who had all along maintained a quiet grief stricken mien since the news of his wife’s death reached him, broke down letting out a free flow of tears as various members of the council took their turn to pay glowing tributes to his wife of about 30 years.

The high point came as he watched with rapt attention his son Olumuyiwa give way to emotion while giving his remarks in which he pleaded with Nigerians to remember to celebrate her late mother’s life as they mourn her.

The young Obasanjo who put aside a prepared speech, preferring to speak from his heart moved all present on the occasion when he recalled her late mother’s preparation towards the celebration next month of her 60th birthday.

Said Olu: “She was on the verge of celebrating her 60th birthday and she was in that celebration mood before the event of her death.” He pleaded that her legacy be protected and her birthday celebration mood not forgotten.

“Indeed, as you mourn her passing away, please also remember to celebrate her life. That is how she would like to be remembered. Please pray for all of us; pray that her soul will rest in peace,” he said as he sobbed.

The president who wiped his tears intermittently with a white handkerchief and maintained his cool, could not but join his son in this open show of grief. He was to betray similar emotion later as he filed past his wife’s body as it lay in state at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.

Speaking during the very solem FEC meeting, Vice President Atiku Abubakar at the special session of tributes eulogized the qualities of the late First Lady whom he said, performed her role as First Lady with distinction, describing her demise as “painful” adding, these are indeed are very difficult time for Mr. President, the Abebe family and the families of all those who lost their lives in the Saturday night Bellview Flight crash. “Nigeria mourns with you.”

Recalling her struggles during the imprisonment of President Obasanji, Atiku said that she was a woman who stood by the side of her husband in his most trying times, adding “couple of times she was in United States campaigning for your freedom. She was evidently a woman with a keen sense of justice. She was a kind-hearted woman who catered for disadvantaged children. She was a totally free woman who related freely with the high and the low”.

The Minister of Information who opened the floor in his tribute titled The Circle of Life observed that the late First Lady “was a dutiful, devoted wife, an aunt, a great friend to many but above all, a woman. And so we are in shock and our pain is surreal.

“We are in shock because Stella was not supposed to die, just like all those we love are not supposed to die”

For if they die, hope is lost. If they die our hearts are forlorn. If they die, there is a big hole in our lives. Loved ones don’t die. They are part of us, they live with us, they respond to our calls. They are us, “When they die, we die. And because she never gave up, we have our president; because she fought on, she becomes an enviable factor in our democratic dispensation. Because of her courage, she indirectly gave us the present achievements of her husband. How can we ever forget?”

Taking his turn, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekatte regretted her untimely death, noting that she was a role model, an outstanding mother, an image maker and a caring and loving wife to the president. He recalled how she stood beside the president throughout the presidential campaigns and the election process in 1999 and in 2003 declaring that “She was a monument in the hearts of many. She demonstrated that she was indeed Mr. president’s wife.”

Meanwhile, the remains of the late Stella Obasanjo will arrive Abeokuta today. On arrival, she would be moved to Agbeloba complex where another lying-in-state would be held. Thereafter, her body will be taken to the MKO Abiola stadium for an interdenominational service.

Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has urged the people of the state to come out en masse to honour “a golden heart who throughout her life was dedicated to the cause of humanity, especially the children.”

Posted by Publisher at 04:12 PM | Comments (0)

NEMA helicopters not equipped to find crashed Bellview plane–Senate

The Senate, yesterday, came down hard on the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, naming it the chief culprit in the confusion which trailed the crash. This is coming on the heels of various committees and investigative panels launched by the Federal Government, National Assembly and other interested parties to probe last weekend’s Bellview aircraft crash.

By UBONG UMOH, FEMI AFOLABI, Akure and MAS’UD ADEBIMPE, Ilorin

Speaking while appearing as a guest on Africa Independent Television’s (AIT), Kakaaki yesterday, Senator Mohammed Ibrahim, chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, disputed claims by aviation industry operators and government officials in the immediate aftermath of the plane’s “disappearance” that NEMA and other search and rescue agencies had launched a search for the plane minutes after it disappeared from the airport tower’s radar screen.

“We (Senators) are aware of the capabilities of NEMA’s helicopters. For instance, we know they don’t have night-vision capabilities. So it is not feasible to say NEMA was out searching in the dark when those who bought and operate the aircraft know they were not bought for night operations,” he said.

Senator Mohammed, however, added that these and other lapses in the aviation sector, particularly regarding emergency and rescue operations had been noted by his committee and “as I speak now the National Assembly is working on new guidelines to regulate operations in the aviation industry.”

In a related development, Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara state, reflected on the last weekend plane crash and called for strengthening of aviation Industry as well as adequate funding of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Fielding questions from journalists at Ilorin International Airport yesterday on arrival from Abuja, where he had gone to commensurate with President Olusegun Obasanjo and pay last respect to the First Lady, Stella Obasanjo, on his return from lesser hajj, Governor Saraki emphasised the need to strengthen the aviation industry through review of safety standards, licenses, capitalisation and possible formation of conglomeration by the airlines.

The governor who equally lost a friend in the Bellview crash along with his wife’s cousin, contended that, there was the need to review the age of most of the planes that operate in the country as part of measures to increase and ensure safety standard.

While urging the legislative arms of government to approve sufficient funds to procure all necessary tools required that would enable it respond promptly to emergencies, he commended the state’s Search and Rescue team led by the Deputy Governor, Chief Joel Ogundeji, the medical team, Red Cross society, security and aviation officials as well as member of the media for the way they responded promptly to search for the victims of the plane crash at Kishi-Kiama border area of the state.

Meanwhile, Ondo state chapter of Action Alliance has recommended that all those whose carelessness contributed directly or indirectly to the crash of Bellview aircraft should be punished just as it gave a correct account of how its leader Rochas Okorocha cheated death on the fateful day State chairman of the party, Mr. Babatunde Obazee, told newsmen that Rochas Okorohca was already at the airport to board the plane when he received an important call inviting him to attend a very urgent meeting.

Specifically, Obazee, disclosed that no passenger was asked to disembark for Okorocha as widely speculated, saying that he decided to cancel the journey to attend the meeting and set out for Abuja the following morning. Meanwhile, stories of lucky escapes continue to be told. For instance, a dinner invitation extended to the information and National Orientation Minister, Mr. Frank Nweke Jr. by a friend in Lagos which he accepted made him decide to spend one more night in the city. His earlier intention was to fly back to Abuja that evening on board the ill-fated Bellview flight.

A close source to the minister who pleaded anonymity and who was in his entourage to Lagos last week, told NewAge yesterday that Nweke had already ordered his aide to buy tickets for the Bellview Airline's last flight to Abuja before he recieved a dinner invitation from his friend (name withheld), who insisted that the minister must postpone his trip till the next morning The FCT Minister, Mallam Nasir El-rufai has called for urgent solution to the problems of air transportation in the country.

He was speaking when he recieved FCT traditional rulers and chairmen of the area councils, on a condolence visit yesterday. He urged Nigerians to use the tragedy as a lesson in man’s mortality. "I don't think this tragedy happened without a reason. Almighty God used it to teach us lessons about our mortality. What matters in this life is what good work you do and not the property you accumulate,” adding, "all we need to do as a country now is to learn from this tragedy and immediately solve the problems with airport security system, aircraft safety and emergency response to tragedy.

Mallam el-Rufai who lamented that 17 hours after the disappearance of the aircraft, government at all levels in a country with enormous resources, large population and clever people, were still confused as to where the aircraft was and the condition of the people aboard it, called for urgent attention to the militating problems of air transportation, stressing that such ugly incident is not acceptable in a country like Nigeria. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Press Council has confirmed that one of its directors, Mr. Ojang Omang was inside the crashed aircraft.

“He was on his way back to Abuja after a workshop organized by the council on “Reporting Politics and the Economy,” held at the Peninsula Resort Ltd, Ajah, Lagos,” the council said.

Posted by Publisher at 04:10 PM | Comments (0)

BELLVIEW: Security agencies fault terrorism claim; Asari Dokubo has nothing to do with it – NDPVF

The Police High Command and the Department of State Security Service (SSS) yesterday reacted to the claims of responsibility for the Bellview aircrash in which 117 passengers on board lost their lives, saying that the claims by an unknown group were far-fetched.

By IFEANYI IZEZE, Port Harcourt and ALEX OTUDOR

Indications also emerged that militant Asari Dokubo presently standing trial for treason in an Abuja high court may be quizzed on the claims made by those claiming to be fighting for his release. although, his group, Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) were swift in denying any association with the group.

Speaking to NewAge last night on the claims by a group calling itself Coalition for Militant Action in the Niger-Delta claiming to represent the interests of the Niger Delta, Force Public Relations Officer, and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Haz Iwendi said that if the group claimed responsibility, the Police High Command would look in that direction, stressing that already, investigation had commenced to get to the bottom of the incident.

It could not be immediately ascertained whether such a group does indeed exist or whether the statement was the product of a prankster On its part the SSS hinted that while the group’s claim cannot be true, it would follow any lead.

A top official of the service who spoke to NewAge on condition of anonymity said investigations would be conducted using the claims as their lead in the first instance.

However, the federal government and security agencies have ruled out any terrorist attack on the ill-fated Bellview Flight 210, a Boeing 737, which crashed last Saturday at Lisa village.

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero told NewAge on phone that “terrorist attack on the ill-fated aircraft should be ruled out. I do not have any intelligence report or information that terrorists have taken over our air space. As to the claims of some organisations that they are behind the crash, I have also ruled it out and we are investigating. We did promise to assist the investigators. We are looking , studying the claims.”

The Nigerian Army spokesman, Col. Alade Dabiri said, “the military was unaware of any terrorist group in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) says those claiming responsibility for the plane crash are part of the grand plot to kill the detained Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo saying “it was wicked and very wrong for any group to take credit for what the Almighty God by himself is doing”.

Speaking to New Age, yesterday in an interview, the spokesperson for NDPVS, Mr Onengiya Erekosima said the people at the forefront of COMA should make public their identities, saying “that would give credence to their claim”.

Mr Erekosima described as “wicked,” the people that claimed they bombed the plane saying “they are not from us and not part of us. Asari as an Izon man would not kill an innocent man. Alhaji Asari hates injustice against the people that is why he left all his royalties and inheritance to advocate for a restructuring of the system to benefit the peoples of the Niger Delta”

It would be recalled that the group issued a statement in Port-Harcourt Tuesday to the effect that the ill-fated air-crash was its responsibility and that it would continue to target those who oppress the Niger-Delta region.

Posted by Publisher at 04:08 PM | Comments (0)

Did the First Lady die from negligence?

A medical perspective by Prof. Stephen Odaibo, Nigerian Surgeon in Saudi Arabia To learn that the first lady, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo died following liposuction surgery is not only disturbing and distressing but agonizing as well.

Liposuction is generally an outpatient procedure aimed essentially to aspirate excess fat from the anterior abdominal wall and sometimes the upper thigh. Liposuction is not recommended in women with abdominal fat apron; rather a formal surgical excision of fat and excess skin with abdominoplasty should be carried out.

Liposuction is reserved for those with taut abdomen and because both procedures are attended by much bleeding it is imperative that any blood loss in excess one litre must be replaced and the patient transfused with blood, failing which the resultant hypovoleamia leads to shock and possible death.

To give you a rough idea, for every two litres of fat aspirated, the patient loses one litre of blood. Liposuction is thus suitable for those with humps and pumps just below the umblicus as diet and exercise with discipline are best for some.

For most women and men above 50years of age who wish to maintain stable body weight, one meal a day will suffice. For those who can not stand one meal a day, that same meal can be split and taken twice. The omitted meals are replaced by non-sugary fluids like tea or coffee. A fast once a week with prayers is also recommended. Men store fat inside the abdomen and such visceral fat are very dangerous and lead to myocardial ischaemia and endocrine pancreatic insuficiency and in expressed circumstances, sudden death.

In effect, liposuction and abdominolipoplasty have attended postoperative complications. Following the procedure bleeding is stemmed by the application of abdominal binder or skin strapping. The greatest danger I find is from pulmonary fat embolism especially at night and if it occurs unrecognized leads to death before dawn. Patients can also die from adrenaline toxicity which is incorporated in the local anaethetic agent used to infiltrate the skin prior to fat aspiration. Those patients admitted to hospital who remain immobile and are not given pneumatic compression of their lower exremities, may develop deep vein thrombosis and if this propergates leads to pulmonary embolism and death at night if it passes unrecognized.

It is important that a thorough preoperative evaluation of the patient is carried out to correct any premorbid conditions. This cannot be done in a hurry. Preoperative physiotherapy and breathing exercises are essential, followed by early postoperative ambulation.

For an important personality like the first lady, an advanced party of Nigerian surgeon to the hospital where the surgery took place would discuss the implications of the surgical procedure they plan to use and be present at the operating theatre at the time of surgery and to make sure that she is not included in any new surgical research trial. Some overseas hospitals are not as meticulous as you may think especially when they address her as that black lady and not as the first lady at least for her monetary worth. What I am trying to say is that all that glitters is not sarcoidosis. Nigeria must have faith in their surgeons.

Taking a roll of surgeons in West Africa some years ago, I found that there were more surgeons at the University of Ibadan alone than the entire country of Ghana.

Negligence must not be ruled out as a cause of death and I recommend a post mortem examination on her remains and a coroner's inquest when she arrives the country. An investigative panel must be set up to look into her death which touches not only the President and her family but every Nigerian.

Posted by Publisher at 04:07 PM | Comments (0)

‘Failure to punish corrupt officials may lead to anarchy’

The Vice President, South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA) and a Kaduna- based legal practitioner, Chief MIKE EDEGWARE says all corrupt officials nabbed should be punished without sentiment, just as he argues that Delta State government has not justified the huge revenue allocations at its disposal since May 1999, in this interview with GRACE EKANEM in Kaduna.

The nation has just celebrated her 45th years of independence. What is your view on the state of the nation?

We have gone a very long way. It has been a very tedious journey. The truth is that at 45 Nigeria is still grappling with issues of cohesion, of national direction. At 45 we are still talking about sectional interest, like I am talking about South-South, somebody else is talking about Arewa, while another person is talking about Afenifere. That is the problem we have in this country.

We don't have national direction. Everybody is looking at the country from the perspective of his own small enclave. This is a sad story. If you look at the direction the government is going, in terms of reforms and crusade against corruption, I will tell you that Nigeria, for a very long time, had been on a wrong track. That is why we have many social problems, lawlessness, armed robbery, assassination, joblessness and corruption.

We don’t have anything to show. But if we want to deceive ourselves we will say there is peace, unity or progress yet we don’t have a national airline. The railway is not there. There is problem of fuel and our refineries have broken down. This shouldn’t be in a country that is 45 years old. At 45, we should be able to overcome the problem of light, problem of water, road etc. If you look at it this government appears to be doing everything then you ask yourself what the previous governments had done. We have been sharing money and deceiving ourselves, moving in circus and have not been moving forward.

The National Political Reforms Conference headed by retired Justice Niki Tobi ended almost three months ago. Yet nothing is being said about what should be done with its recommendations?
As for the recommendations of the national conference whether they should be passed into law by the National Assembly or not, my answer will be yes and no. There are certain areas which I feel were manipulated, areas like rotation of power. I strongly believe that this should be between the North and the South. Also it should be rotated at the zonal level otherwise a zone can continue to produce the president when it comes to the turn of the north. If is not done, if power rotates to the South because we don’t have the population in the South-South unless there is a constitutional arrangement that protects us, then we will be at the mercy of the majority ethnic groups in the South and I don't think that is fair. So there should be a constitutional protection of the minorities and the only way to do that is to have a zonal arrangement that accommodates them.

How concerned are you that Bayelsa State Governor, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha is being tried in London over allegation of money laundering?
People are arraigned in court everyday. So how concerned should I be? You know what the law is. The symbol of justice is a blind woman. Justice doesn't know your colour, your position or your wealth. There is an infraction of the law, in ideal setting and that is where the president is trying to take this country to, the law does not differentiate between the poor and the rich. It is immaterial that Alamieyeseigha here is a governor. This is where I take exception to the agitation in certain quarters that if somebody has committed an offense shouldn't be tried. I am a lawyer I cannot subscribe to that. That is anarchy.

If you relegate the rule of law to the background and people impose their will and do what they like then there is total breakdown of law and order. We should look at the allegations against the man, if there is merit in them he should be subjected to proper judicial process, which they are doing in London. I can say because I come from the South-South and somebody has stolen money, which he ought to use to develop his people and we say he should be released, that can’t be.

Is it true that Alamieyeseigha and some people are being victimized because they are very close to the Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar?
Who is victimizing President Olusegun Obasanjo when Abia State Governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu sent a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) him accusing him of corruption? The summary of their argument is that because Alamieyeseigha is close to the vice president, if he has committed an offense he should go; he should not be touched. I disagree with that view. The president appointed all his ministers. Who appointed Professor Fabian Osuji? Who appointed Mrs Mobolaji Osomo, who appointed the late man of internal affairs, who appointed the former Inspector General of Police, Mr Tafa Balogun? Was it the vice president?

The president and Atiku are not fighting. That is the truth. They have a misunderstanding. People, husband, wife and children do have misunderstanding. If they have misunderstanding, it is their duty to make sure it does not go out of control.

Don’t you see the arrest and trial of Bayelsa State Governor, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha as a disgrace to the people of the South-South?
What disgrace to the people of South-South? The people of South- South have not mandated their governor to steal money or to commit other crimes.

The people of South-South are looking unto their governors for provision of amenities the actualization of their electoral mandate. If he was caught with money, he didn’t do it on the platform of the South-South. If the anti-corruption crusade has caught with people from the North, South, West, East and all round, the upshot is that we should be ashamed as a nation that this sort of thing is happening. We should be ashamed that this type of people are getting to critical positions where they are able to divert the wealth of the masses to their private accounts.

Very importantly, this kind of thing has implications for the struggle for resource control. It puts a question mark on the agitation for resource control itself. A lot of people are saying if you have so much money already and you are not doing anything with it and you are stealing so much from it, what will happen if they give you more money? However, resource control struggle should not be assessed with this parameter. But that is a very valuable question. You can't ask for more money in order to have more money to steal.

Stealing is not one of the things you promise to do in government. South-South governors have a duty than the other governors maybe from the North or from the West to justify the huge allocations they receive so as to have good projects to show.

How would you assess the performance of Chief James Onanefe Ibori-led administration in Delta State?
He has done many projects. But if you see the huge amount of money or resources that are pumped there he should have done much more. I am not too happy with his government. I am from Isoko and we don’t have any meaningful project to show. To the best of my knowledge, no serious project has been commissioned in the area by the state government that you can equate with the level of wealth generated from my place.

For instance, Ughele community has 39 oil wells. Isoko is the second largest oil producing area in Delta State. In terms of amenities, there is nothing there. So Ibori is capable of doing much more than what he has done and I know he has the capacity to do it if he is willing.

Posted by Publisher at 04:01 PM | Comments (0)

Editorial: A foggy affair

Two weeks after the mystery fog that covered some parts of Lagos on October 12, the fog still remains what it was – a mystery. Like the voices of Babel, the authorities that should tell Nigerians what exactly happened have been speaking in different tongues.

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) said it suspected a rupture of some Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines between Mosimi in Ogun State and Atlas Cove in Lagos State. But the NNPC management countered that it had inspected its facilities in those locations and found no evidence of rupture. Tunji Bello, the Lagos State commissioner for the environment, also guessed the fog might have resulted from indiscriminate burning of wastes by households and emission from vehicles and industrial chimneys.

The Lagos State refuse dump and treatment site at Ojota also came under suspicion, as workers of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) reportedly moved to the dumpsite to clear off some offensive wastes, the burning of which could have led to the smog. To boot, Prof. Shamsideen Elegba, director-general of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), insisted the smog evolved from the Ikeja Industrial Estate! To compound the confusion, Prof. Elegba, four days after the smog, suggested that the gas analyses done by LASEPA, at the heat of the crisis, were suspect. He told a media workshop on science, health and energy in Abuja that whatever LASEPA came up with was at best guesswork. This, he claimed, was because LASEPA neither took samples of the smog around the Ikeja industrial area nor the air around the NNPC facilities at the Mosimi-Atlas Cove axis. He said LASEPA only analysed samples of the air at the Ojota, Lagos dumpsite, the result of which could not be generalised to explain exactly what was amiss.

It has all been guess work and guess work and guess work. How is the citizen to have any confidence that his government can protect him in an emergency when everyone remains confounded by the rather simple matter of the source of a serious environmental pollution?

So what really happened? Nobody knows for sure. Meanwhile, the Lagos government and residents – except those who suffered health difficulties from the smog – have moved on to other things. But if the government does not get to the root of the matter, how does it prevent or solve any future pollution in the state? If it does not feed the citizen back, based on an authoritative report of what happened, how does it enlighten and equip Lagosians for the pollution next time? If the government is privately asking itself these questions, it is not demonstrating such concern in its post-smog action. Yet, the government should not rest until all these questions are satisfactorily answered.

Still, the Lagos State government’s efforts to defuse tension and stem panic on October 12 deserve acknowledgment. It was commendable how it released information on what had happened and how it advised schools and industrial concerns to close down for the day, so that people could return to their homes. All that was meant to reduce, to the barest minimum, any casualties. That just showed the government had learnt some lessons from the 2001 Ikeja Military Cantonment bomb blast, in which the bulk of deaths and injuries resulted, not directly from the blast, but from the ensuing panic.

The government also did well to provide free medical care for any visual, breathing and other complications, resulting from the smog. Just as the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment used the incident as a wake-up call for industries, to give the state government their environmental audit reports (EAR), latest by December. That is quite commendable. Still, the government has, for now, left undone the most important task of getting to the root of the mystery. It should get on with that fast and give the people, who have a right to know, the full details. It should also quickly acquire the capability, if it does not already have one, to detect such dangers and protect people in cases of such emergencies.

Posted by Publisher at 03:59 PM | Comments (0)

We remain unshaken despite tragedy -- Obasanjo

BARELY 76 hours, after losing his wife, President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday vowed that he will remain fully focused and committed to the attainment of the goals of his administration despite the tragic events that befell the nation.

Stories from KABIRU YUSUF, Abuja

“We will remain focused and not to allow these events to cause despondency especially at the higher levels of government because if we do so, it could permeate our entire national life,” he said.
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who stated this when he received a delegation from Adamawa state led by Governor Boni Haruna over the death of his wife, Stella and the crash victims of Bellview however, said despondency would never be allowed to distract his administration from its goal of national rejuvenation.
According to the president who said that he was deeply touched by the great mourning of sympathy and compassion he has received since the death, however, observed that the unfortunate events of last weekend affected all Nigerians in one way or the other, adding that it was important that the nation should learn important lessons about humanity and God’s competence from the losses.
The president while commending the delegates for their visit also in return, condoled with the government and the people of Adamawa state on the death of two citizens of their state who were aboard the ill-fated Bellview plane.
Similarly, Chief Obasanjo who jointly with Vice President Atiku Abubakar received another delegation from Oba of Benin N’Oba Eridiuwa of Benin, explained that his family had enjoyed the good caring attitude of late Stella Obasanjo.
While thanking the Oba’s delegation for the condolences, he pointed out that he (Obasanjo) is aware that his late wife was almost like a daughter to the Oba and very dear to him and the people of Benin.
The representatives of the Oba of Benin led by Chief S.O.U Igbe, the Iyase of Benin, told Obasanjo that the Oba wanted him to remain strong and unbowed by the death of his wife.

Posted by Publisher at 03:54 PM | Comments (0)

Joint patrol choppers to flush out robbers ...At Falgore Games Reserve, confirms acting gov

AT last, President Olusegun Obasanjo has agreed to deploy a combined team of military and police personnel aboard helicopters to detect and flush out the armed robbers at Falgore Games Reserve in Kano state.

By UMAR DANLADI ADO

The state acting governor, Engr. Magaji Abdullahi dropped the hint, saying he had convinced the president over the issue.
Said he: “I discussed the issue at the State Security Council meeting and wrote a letter to Mr. President which I took personally and he instantly took action on the matter.”
Engr. Abdullahi explained that the state government had requested the federal government to return the soldiers who used to man the checkpoints at the forest, confirming President Obasanjo’s acceptance to send the troops back to the area very soon.
The acting governor who expressed concern over the resurfacing of robbery activities at Falgore Games Reserve added: “We are still waiting for the response of the president over the matter”.
He also disclosed that the president had agreed to allocate to the state a lion share of the black oil (PPFO) being used by industries to enable them function.
Engr. Abdullahi said he had received a comprehensive report from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) that more than 70 per cent of their members were seriously affected by the shortage of the fuel.

Posted by Publisher at 03:51 PM | Comments (0)

We aren’t rife for e-voting yet ---Magaji Dambatta insists

ALHAJI (Dr.) Magaji Dambatta (OFR) an elder statesman and chieftain of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has questioned the logic behind the proposed use of electronic voting machines by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in future elections, saying e-voting is subject to manipulations by the powers that be.

By ABDULLAHI BABA ALAWUSA

“I, along with most of my colleagues from the North have opposed the proposed use of Election Voting Machine (EVM) at this critical stage of Nigeria’s development because the process is alien to us and could therefore be subject to manipulation because it is not full-proof”, he insisted.
Alhaji Dambatta, who led the Kano state delegation to the National Political Reform Conference told Daily Triumph that contrary to claims by INEC that the e-voting has the potential to discourage elections rigging, said “the election process itself is not infallible or immune from being tampered with”.
It would be recalled that the EVM was demonstrated before the national conference, 2005, because the government had already taken a decision to introduce the device to the Nigerian electoral process with the view to eliminating multiple voting, stuffing of ballot papers and facilitating quick counting of votes and declaration of results.
In the wake of government’s decision to introduce the system to the country’s electoral process, not few people from across the nation expressed their cynism over the method for the fact that conducting a free and fair election in the country has been the major problem of our democratic experience.
Dr. Dambatta, also the chairman Board of Trustees of the ACF in appreciating the feverish excitement of INEC and the government over the EVM, stated that it is important that the touted advantages be weighed against other modes of voting practiced in Nigeria in order to come up with a viable solution.
“These machines were demonstrated to the confab delegates by Electronic Corporation of India Ltd. (FCIL), makers of the device at the instance of the federal government to show you the zeal with which government is over excited to use, them, which equally makes us suspicious of the real motive behind the introduction of the electronic voting machines”, he quipped.
According to Alhaji Dambatta, it is evident that government had perfected plans to introduce the EVM regardless of whatever resentment or criticism the Nigerian electorate could express.
His words: “Since last year, the electoral commission (INEC) has sent a delegation along with some members of the National Assembly to India where they brought the idea of this EVM. So all along we know that INEC had been receiving advanced preparation to adopt the process long before it was brought before us at the confab and that compounds our suspicion of the whole exercise”.
He explained that the machines (EVMs) had been in use in India for the past 20 years, “but it was only during the last national elections in that country that the process was applied nationally because before then, it was only operative at local and regional levels”.
Alhaji Dambatta however, cautioned the government to exercise restraint in the wholesome usage of the electronic devise because “even in India they did not trust the veracity of the machine in using it nationally until they were satisfied that the electorate in the country had become thoroughly educated on its use, not only in punching the machine but also in the overall conduct of the elections through the electronic system by trained electoral officers”.
According to him,” in a country like ours where justice, fair play and honesty do not prevail in our political undertakings and you bring in electric machine to be installed in a room for a few people to declare what they say is the outcome is untenable and unacceptable at this stage of our nascent democracy.
Asked to comment on the recommendation of the confab delegates pertaining to the issue of electronic voting, Alhaji Dambatta stressed that “we recommended that the use of these machines should be tested at the local level over a given period until we become educated and familiar with the techniques before the EVM becomes applicable nationwide,” adding that even the Indians themselves whom we are fervently trying to copy had gone through this recommended process.
The EVM is a product of Electronic Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL), a government owned research-based enterprise established in 1967 as an electronic unit of the Department of Atomic Energy of India.

Posted by Publisher at 03:50 PM | Comments (0)

Over 2,000 devotees perform Itikaf at National Mosque

More than 2,000 devotees have enlisted to perform itikaf (special prayers) at the main hall of the National Mosque in Abuja.

Itikaf is a voluntary act recommended in Islam during the last 10 days of Ramadan.
The Chairman of the Mosque 11-member Ramadan Organising Committee, Malam Jafar Umoru, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja, that registration of participants for the act would close by yesterday.
Umoru said that the registration, which kicked off on Monday had witnessed large turn out of people, recorded some 1,500 males and 500 females.
He said the committee designed a registration pattern to regulate the number of participants due to limited facilities.
To control the activities of worshippers, the chairman said the committee had set up a 31-point code of conduct, which everybody must comply with or face sanction.
Some of the rules include non-usage of GSM phones, cassette players, taking of photographs, cooking and fighting or aggressive behaviours, while nursing mothers and women observing their monthly periods are disallowed from participating.
To cater for participants’ basic needs, Umoru said that some independent marketers had been registered to sell food to the devotees during the period.
He explained that the purpose of accreditation was to get the personal details of participants for record purposes.
The devotees are expected to shun sexual intercourse or discussion of mundane matters and are expected to engage themselves in the recitation of the Glorious Qur’an and supplication to Almighty Allah.
The programme is done in Mosques where the Friday prayers (Juma’at) are observed and participants are not expected to leave the Mosque until the morning of Eid-fitr prayers.
NAN reports that devotees have started moving to the Mosques since the 19th night of Ramadan for the act of Ibadah (worship) in all the available Central Mosques in Abuja.
Speaking on the significance of Itikaf, a devotee, Malam Ibrahim Muhammad, said he had to come to the National Mosque for seclusion since he could not afford to go on Umrah to Saudi Arabia to perform the act.

Posted by Publisher at 03:49 PM | Comments (0)

As Obasanjo weeps… Atiku extols Stella’s virtues

PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday publically shed tears as individuals and groups mourned the departure of his late wife Stella at a special Federal Executive Council tribute held in her honour.

In his tribute, Vice President Atiku Abubakar said Nigerians especially those who worked with the late first lady do understand that her life was brief, but very bright as she performed her role of the first lady with distinction.
“For those of us whose knowledge of Stella began prior to our recent political history, her life was brief but brighter. There is no doubt that she performed her role as the first lady with distinction”, Atiku said.
Atiku who said that she brought those traits to bear on politics during the electioneering campaign in 1999, further said, she was not only a permanent feature in the campaign but quickly built accord around her a formidable female constituency.
In her words: “She was evidently a woman with a keen sense of justice, she demonstrated intense concern to the numerous women that toiled with her, day and night during the electioneering campaign.”
According to him, late Stella was non-dictatorship in her relationship with people of diverse political persuasions and tendencies, in an environment where social status means a lot to many people and where people easily inherited the prejudices and preferences of others.
“ She related very freely with the high and the law as well as with people of diverse convictions. That is why it was so easy for her to play the role of a goodwill ambassador for her husband and the nation.
I believe that this, coupled with her legendary love of children is what earned her the well-deserved description of the mother of the nation,” he said.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar urged his boss and the rest of Nigerians to take solace in the fact that, Stella led a fulfilled life and made enormous contributions to the discharge of Mr. President’s duties which he himself once described as the most difficult job in Africa.
Also in his tribute, the minister of information, Frank Nweke Jr, described late first lady, as a hardworking lady, caring mother and best friend to many Nigerians, adding that she would be remembered for her caring and concern for all Nigerians.
“The nation remembers a steady, solid woman, a woman who learnt the true meaning of life’s large partner, a dependable allay who did not abandon him when many would have done so”, he added.
Her son Muyiwa in a sorrowful voice of grief solicited Nigerians’ support for prayers for the family and to live to the wish of his mother who lived a life of supporting the less-previledged.
“Please also remember to celebrate her life, the way she liked to be remembered,” he concluded in tears.

Posted by Publisher at 03:48 PM | Comments (0)

My mother’s greatest wish - Stella’s son

A cloud of grief hung over the chambers of the Federal Executive Council, Abuja, on Wednesday as Olumuyiwa, the only child of the late wife of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Stella, recalled a time his mother told him that she wanted her life to be celebrated.

Our correspondents

Olumuyiwa said his mother shared this wish with him after the death of his maternal great grandmother in 2004.

Speaking at the memorial FEC meeting, which was also attended by members of the Abebe family, he said his mother called him on phone after the burial and said if she died, she would like her life to be celebrated the way her grandmother’s was.

Holding back tears as he spoke, the law graduate said his mother was full of life while preparing for her 60th birthday.

He said, “As you know, only last year she lost her grandmother, who is my great grand mother, who died at the age of over 90. And while she was telling me about it, on the phone, she said it was a celebration.

“My mom wanted her life to be a celebration. Indeed, as we mourn her passing away, please remember to celebrate her life. That is how she would have liked to be remembered. Please, pray for all of us. Pray that her soul will rest in peace.”

At this point, Olumuyiwa broke down in tears but received assistance from his father (Obasanjo) who gave him a handkerchief.

Mrs. Obasanjo died in Spain on Sunday after cosmetic surgery.

Also speaking at the FEC meeting during which a minute of silence was held in honour of the late Mrs. Obasanjo and the 117 victims of the Bellview plane crash, the Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said the two tragedies had united Nigerians.

In a tribute he read at the meeting, Abubakar said that the tragedies cast a gloom over the country and had thrown Nigerians into a state of national mourning.

He said, “This is indeed a very difficult time for Mr. President and his family, the Abebe family and indeed all Nigerians, especially those who lost loved ones in the plane crash.

“Our hearts go out to them. Mr. President, Nigerians mourn with you and your family and they mourn with the families of the victims of the air disaster.

“These tragedies have strengthened our resolve to assist one another as citizens of one united country. I know that Nigerians pray for Mr. President and his family and for the families of the victims of the plane crash.

“And we all pray for the repose of the souls of all the departed.”

The vice president also read a poem by P.B Shelley, which indicated that though Stella’s life was brief, it was bright.

He said that there was no doubt that Stella performed her role as First Lady with distinction.

“Perhaps, what prepared her for this challenge was when she willy-nilly became a human rights activist with the arrest, ‘trial’ and imprisonment of her husband over an alleged coup plot against the Abacha government,” the Vice President added.

He also said that the Bellview plane crash “has justified the concern that Mr. President has often expressed that we are ill-equipped to cope with national disasters.”

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaette, said that death of Mrs. Obasanjo and the 117 Bellview passengers as well as crew members were devastating and too painful to fathom.

Ekaette noted that the late Mrs. Obasanjo registered her presence on the nation’s social and political landscape as a mother, patriot, friend of the poor, caring and loving wife of the President.

“She will be remembered for her pet project, the Child Care Trust, a private, non-profit, non-governmental organization, which she established and developed entirely on voluntary donations to address the needs of the under privileged and physically challenged children in Nigeria,” the SGF said.

In most public offices and some corporate organisations in Abuja and other parts of the country, activities stood still as other Nigerians observed one minute of silence directed on Tuesday by Obasanjo.

From Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos to Sokoto, Port Harcourt to Maiduguri and other state capital, the situation was the same: Governors led their state executive members and other top public functionaries to observe the moment.

Workers in ministries, parastatals, agencies and some corporate organisations were also not left.

At Alausa, Ikeja, Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and top officials of his government were in mournful mood while observing the minute silence.

As the second hand ticked 60 at exactly noon, the pin drop silence was punctured by the voice of the state’s Solicitor-General, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey, who prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased.

Many Lagosians however went about their businesses during the period.

The Oyo State Governor, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja, led political office holders, civil servants and other Nigerians to observe a prayer session in honour of the deceased.

Two permanent secretaries in the state, Cannon Tinwo Fatoki and Alhaji A. M. A. Alimi, led the prayers.

In a short speech at the end of the prayers, Ladoja described the death of Mrs. Obasanjo and the plane crash victims as a national calamity.

They later observed a minute silence in honour of the deceased.

In Asaba, Delta State, the silence was observed mostly by civil servants and workers in other formal sectors.

Like their counterparts in Ibadan and Lagos, traders in Asaba and residents of Warri and Effurum, did not observe the silence.

Although many people had planned to observe it, they claimed that they forgot.

While government workers in Ekiti State also observed the silence, most private business concerns did not.

Governor Olusegun Agagu led members of the Ondo State Executive Council to mark the silence.

Addressing the gathering in his office, Agagu eulogised Stella as someone who lived her entire life in a manner that showed warmth, love and care.

“She was a pillar support for her husband. This encouraged the President to perform much better than he would ordinarily have performed.”

The governor commiserated with he families of the victims of the air crash, saying the two incidents were terrible and agonising to recall.

The governor said the air crash was a cruel reminder for the country to be more stringent on issues affecting the aviation industry.

Also in Akure, the Country Women Association of Nigeria, began a three-day inter-religious prayer and fasting to avert a recurrence of the Bellview Flight 210 mishap.

The Kwara State Chief Judge, Justice Timothy Oyeyipo, inmates and officials of the Federal Prisons Ilorin observed one-minute silence in Ilorin.

After the brief moment, Oyeyipo, who was in the prison to review cases of some inmates, prayed for those who lost their lives in the aircraft and the late wife of the president.

Some officials of both federal and state ministries also observed the brief moment.

However, commercial drivers and private vehicle owners went about their normal businesses during the period.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command and the Airport Command will deploy about 10,000 of their men to provide security along the routes that the remains of Mrs. Obasanjo would take.

Her remains will be buried in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday.

THE PUNCH, Thursday, October 27, 2005

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Pilot crashed on third flight in one day

The family of the pilot of crashed Bellview Flight 210, Captain Lambert Imasuen, on Wednesday threatened to sue the airline for alleged negligence. They alleged that Imasuen made three trips on the ill-fated day, suggesting that fatique in part induced the crash.

The family’s threat coincided with the police’s launch of an investigation by the police into claims of responsibility for the crash that killed the 117 persons on board by a faceless group, the Coalition for Militant Action in the Niger Delta.

According to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, the Force has not been able to identify the source of the claim. But he said it believed that “it’s some people connected to the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force” whose leader, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, is currently facing prosecution for treasonable felony.

The COMA had claimed in a statement on Tuesday that until Dokubo-Asari is unconditionally released, its members would continue to attack the infrastructure of the Nigerian state.

Imasuen’s sister, Mrs. Ester Eryo, who spoke in an interview with journalists at the crash site in Lissa, Ifo local government in Ogun State, accused Bellview of negligence.

She alleged, in company with other members of the family, that before the Boeing 737 aircraft finally crashed on Saturday, there had been several complaints about its condition by the late pilot.

According to her, the plane was not only old, it was out of use in other parts of the world.

Eryo said she learnt that her late brother had flown twice last Saturday, hinting that this could have caused him fatigue on the ill-fated flight.

Amid tears, she called on the Federal Government to outlaw outdated and old planes used for commercial purposes, adding that the late captain left four children and a wife.

She said, “I learnt that some people had complained about the particular aircraft before the crash. My brother was very good and very obedient. The bringing of old aircrafts to Nigeria should be banned.”

A blank cheque in the name of the captain was seen at the scene of the incident.

The cheque was taken away by his family members.

Eryo added, “I will sue the company. I will sue them. Why should they go and buy an aircraft that had been rejected in other parts of the world.?”

Efforts to get the response of Bellview Airline to the allegations were unfruitful as the corporate spokesman, Mr. Habib Mohammed, was not picking his phone.

According to the International Civil Aviation Organisation standard on flying hours, if a pilot is on duty for 12 hours, he must also rest for 12 hours before taking up any other flight.

Flying hours, according to industry sources on Wednesday in Lagos, depend on the number of landings.

If a pilot, for instance, is to make two landings, he can be on duty for 12 hours.

If a pilot is to make six landings of an hour flight, he cannot be on duty more than nine hours.

The maximum hours in 28 days are 100 hours. Maximum flying hours for a year is 900 hours.

Imasuen was said to have exceeded the normal flying hours when he allegedly made 180 hours two months ago.

His airline like some others in the industry, sources said, often violate the normal rest hours. The airline, they alleged, pay N3,000 to its pilot for every extra hour of flight made.

Sources said the pilots, sources said, do not write such extra hours in their log book.

Ehindero on Wednesday said he had ordered immediate investigation into the claim of responsibility by COMA for the crash.

Represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonnaya Onovo, he told journalists at the Force Headquarters, "Some of you might have heard that some people are claiming they are responsible for the Bellview aircraft crash.

"Some people also have claimed responsibility for some of the explosions in the past few weeks or so as a result of the arrest of Asari- Dokubo. So we cannot afford to take things for granted."

Ehindero said that the war against terrorism was a global one.

The police chief said there was no official confirmation of the authenticity of the claim. “We have not seen the said press release. We are trying to find out its authenticity, we're investigating it."

Four days after the ill-fated flight, the wreckage of the plane buried 50-feet deep in muddy soil is still smoking, prompting criticisms of the Federal Government by families of the victims over the delay in execaution.

With the scene stinking to high heavens, members of the Nigerian Red Cross Society warned visitors to the scene against eating the produce of the farmland or picking items littering the arena.

Our correspondents observed that the wreckage of the plane, which was 30-feet deep on Sunday, had sunk about 20-metres further due to the continuous smoldering of the wreckage, creating more cracks in the muddy ground.

An aviation official who pleaded anonymity said the wreckage of the plane was still smouldering four days after the crash because it was probably carrying a full tank of fuel before it went down.

Breaking down in tears at the scene of the disaster, the sister to the Mr. George Enenmoh, chief executive of Ascon Oil Company, who died in the crash, Mrs Aido Oise, said the Federal Government was insensitive to the plight of the victims’ families.

According to her, the response of the Federal Government to the disaster was slow. She added that it was agonising for bereaved family members to watch helplessly as their beloved ones were buried in the earth.

Notable lawyer and social critic, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, deplored the claim of responsibility by COMA as senseless. He said such violence did not serve the interest of Niger Delta people. ” In a statement in Lagos, the lawyer said, I, Fawehinmi, am disheartened by the claim of a Niger Delta coalition’s responsibility for the Bellview crash.

“People who died in the crash were innocent victims who knew nothing about the Federal Government’s misguided policies against the Niger Delta people.

“It is true that the Federal Government is repressing the Niger Delta, but that is no justification for this coalition to visit their anger on innocent Nigerians.”

The nation's disaster-monitoring satellite christened NigeriaSat-1 failed to pick images of the ill-fated Bellview aircraft on Saturday because it arrived the country on Sunday morning, several hours after the incident occurred, and it had not been programmed in advance to capture the scene of the accident.

However, the United Kingdom disaster monitoring satellite, a member of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation to which Nigeria belongs, was able to capture images of the accident the following Monday, October 24.

The Director, Space Application at the National Space Research Development Agency, Dr. Joseph Akinyede, who spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at a press briefing, explained that NigeriaSat-1 passes over any part of the country once in three to five days.

Akinyede said whenever it was passing through the country, it had been programmed on the locations to capture during the daytime, while it downloads the images to the ground monitoring station in Asokoro, Abuja in the night.

According to him, even if the satellite had been programmed to arrive at the scene of the crash at the time of its occurrence, it would still have been difficult for it to capture the image because it was night, whereas the satellite works with sunlight.

Akinyede explained, "The first pass of NigeriaSat-1 over the accident area was on Sunday morning after the crash; we could not image the scene of the accident due to lack of information on its location.

"NigeriaSat-1 is a passive system and sun-synchronous. This means that it depends on the sun energy for imaging. The crash happened in the night; even if Nigeria Sat-1 were passing over the scene of accident, it would not have imaged the scene of accident at that time of the night.”

The Chief Executive Oficer of Bellview, Mr. Kayode Odukoya, had told a newspaper on Monday in Abuja that the airline would learn from this experience and move on.

He condoled with the families of the crash victims, adding, “We will work out some compensation. We share in the grief of the families. No amount can atone for a lost life. No amount can redeem a soul that is gone. It is only a token that we share in the grief of the families.”

THE PUNCH, Thursday, October 27, 2005

Posted by Publisher at 03:43 PM | Comments (0)

PDP postpones state congresses

The Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday postponed its state congresses earlier scheduled for Saturday.

Our Correspondents

This is to serve as a mark of respect for the late wife of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Stella, and the 117 victims of the Bellview air disaster.

The congress will now hold on November 5.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. John Odey, made available to our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday, said the decision to postpone the congress was taken at a meeting of the National Working Committee of the party on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Wednesday approved the renaming of the headquarters of the state's employment generation agency after its late Chief Executive, Mrs. Maria Sokenu, who died in the ill-fated Bellview Flight 210 on Saturday.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Ogun State Governor, Mr. Dare Folarin, said the decision to honour Sokenu, who was also the Special Adviser to Daniel on Employment Generation, was based on her meritorious service to the country.

Also, a former Chief of General Staff, Mr. Oladipo Diya, and former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on Wednesday extolled the virtues of Stella.

Both Diya and Anyaoku in seperate statements made available to our correspondents on Wednesday also commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in Saturday's plane crash.

An Islamic organisation, the Nasrul-Lahi-Il-Fathi Society of Nigeria, however, admonished relevant authorities to be more pro-active on issues relating to aviation safety in the country.

The statement from NASFAT by its National President, Mr. Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, said, "We call on the Federal Government to ensure that its regulatory bodies in this crucial sector are made to do their work. This will spare us the agonies of needless human and material losses."

The Economic Community of West African States expressed its sorrow over the death of three of its staff who were among the 117 people that died in the plane crash.

The victims of the crash were the ECOWAS Deputy Executive Secretary for Defence and Security, Gen. Cheick Oumar Diarra; the Director of Finance, Mr. Emmanuel Quaye; and Mr. Andreas Petermann, a German consultant working for the organisation.

The ECOWAS has declared four days of mourning, starting from Tuesday, for the deceased.

The European Union also condoled with the government and people of Nigeria on the twin-tragedy.

A statement from the Head, Press and Public Affairs, British High Commission, Abuja, Mr. Graeme Bannatyne, on behalf of Prime Minister Tony Blair, who recently assumed the presidency of the EU, said the EU was grieved by the tragedy.

Also on Wednesday, the presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party in the 2003 elections, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, described the plane crash as a national tragedy.

A statement by the Public Affairs Secretary of the The Buhari Organisation, Mr. Ya'u Darazo, quoted the former head of state as saying that it was a national embarrassment that the incident caught the country unawares.

Dunlop Nigeria Plc lost two members of its staff-Messrs Sunday Meseko and Lukman Jimoh-in the ill- fated Bellview flight210.

Meseko and Jimoh were returning to their base via Abuja after attending a training programme in Lagos.

The virtues of the late Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Alhaji Waziri Mohammed, who died in the plane crash was extolled in Ibadan on Wednesday as the Western District Manager, Mr. Sola Ogunsegun, said “the messiah of the Railway Corporation is gone.”

“Our messiah is gone. With the death of Alhaji Waziri, the lifewire of the Nigerian Railway Corporation is gone. Only God Almighty can give us another Waziri Mohammed,” he said shortly after a prayer session held at the corporation’s office Ibadan in memory of the departed soul.

THE PUNCH, Thursday, October 27, 2005

Posted by Publisher at 03:42 PM | Comments (0)

Sympathisers seek speedy excavation of crashed plane

Families and friends of the victims of the Bellview plane crash have continued to register their disappointment over the inability of authorities to excavate the crashed Bellview Airlines’ plane so as to recover the bodies of the passengers.

Dayo Ayeyemi

A clergyman in the Synagogues Church for All Nations, Pastor Steve Blessing, said he was at the site for the likely recovery of the remains of one of the members of his church, Mr. Uche Okolo.

He said, “My pain is that, for four days after the incident, no one has come to commence excavation on the site. Government owes it a duty to let us know as soon as possible if there is anything or anybody still buried in the ditch.”

Blessing said security officials at the site told him that the excavation would begin next week.

Mrs. Bimbo Babalola, who said she came for the body of a friend’s daughter, Mrs. Bade Ojora, stated that excavation ought to have commenced, stressing that bodies of the passengers and survivors could still be found.

Students from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, who visited the site, said they came to sympathise with President Olusegun Obasanjo and the families of the 117 victims that died in the crash.

The Vice-President of the institution’s students’ union, Mr. Oludayo Ajayi, called on Nigerians to rally round the President at this trying moment.

He advised Nigerian leaders to fashion out appropriate means of developing information technology-based facilities to prevent such occurrence in the future.

The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunji Alapini, denied allegations that ritualists in search of human parts had invaded the site.

He added that since the police took over the scene, there had been no such incident.

He said, “People are speculating because newspapers reported that human bodies were scattered at the scene of the accident. People became wary that ritualists might have invaded the site and I want to tell you that there is nothing like that.”

THE PUNCH, Thursday, October 27, 2005

Posted by Publisher at 03:42 PM | Comments (0)

NBC’s arbitrary closure of AIT

At a time when the nation was waiting for an official acknowledgment and commendation of Daar Communications’ excellent coverage of the ill-fated Bellview plane, the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, did the exact opposite of what was expected of it.

In a military fashion, the NBC shut down African Independent Television and its sister radio station, Raypower, over a comprehensive broadcast that mitigated the national embarrassment caused by gross ineptitude in the nation’s aviation emergency management. The two privately owned broadcast stations were ordered off the airwaves for about fifteen hours between Sunday night and Monday afternoon, over what NBC described as “unprofessional coverage” of the Saturday evening crash. The regulatory body’s director in Lagos, Mrs. Bunmi Cole, classified AIT’s airing of the dismembered body parts of victims discovered by AIT as “indecent, obscene and horrifying”. As if the nation was still under the draconian era of Decree 4, the NBC also said it was offensive for AIT to have ruled out survivors “when competent authorities had not fully ascertained the situation and when the families of the victims had not been informed”.

The curious clampdown came at a time when relevant government agencies that should know and feed the public with genuine information were groping in the dark. The Aviation Minister, Prof. Babalola Borishade had led, for many hours, a wild goose search to Kisi, near Kwara State, when the actual crash site, as discovered by conscientious AIT reporters, was at Lisa, Igbore in Ogun State, few kilometres from the Lagos airport. In tow to Kisi were officials of the Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA), National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

The failure, for more than 15 hours, of these agencies and the supervising minister to give a coherent statement on the fate of the 117 passengers and crew on board prompted radio and television stations to request for phone-in information from the public. Anxious children, wives and relations had besieged the Lagos airport, from where the ill-fated plane took off around 8.30pm on Saturday, eagerly waiting for clues. The confusion got worse with some broadcast media reporting that some survivors had been taken to hospitals. Frantic but fruitless phone calls worsened psychological traumas, until the no-survivor AIT/Raypower confirmation. In addition, AIT’s scoop helped security agencies to cordon off the area and minimise looting and tampering with clues as well as assisting rescue workers, in case of survivors.

Yet, in conformity with broadcast codes, the AIT footage had forewarned viewers that the footage might be offensive. So, the viewer was availed the option to switch off. In any case, where was the NBC when the horrendous pictures of tsunami and Hurricane Katrina were beamed live around the world?

It is soothing, however, that the obnoxious order did not come from above. President Obasanjo has rightly expressed shock that Daar Communications was unjustly punished when it ought to have been commended for its gallantry. It has also been reported that NBC did not obtain clearance from the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr., before the unfortunate closure. What was the NBC trying to hide about the crash? Whose interest was the NBC protecting when it took the highhanded decision? Were the NBC officials simply incompetent or overzealous?

Mr. Nweke must quickly determine the suitability of all key NBC officials for the sensitive offices they hold. They must not be allowed to further tarnish the image of this government. The nation’s Constitution protects everyone’s right to hold, receive and disseminate information, ideas and opinions without interference. As the NBC remains unrepentant, DAAR Communications Limited should explore legal redress for the unwarranted violation of its constitutional rights.

THE PUNCH, Thursday, October 27, 2005

Posted by Publisher at 03:41 PM | Comments (0)

Bellview plane crash: Presidency, Aviation officials under probe; Julius Berger barred from crash site

Security operatives probing the crash of Bellview Flight 210 arrested 15 officials of the Presidency and the Ministry of Aviation on Wednesday.

By Kingsley Ighomwenghian
(Lagos) and
Sanya Adejokun (Abuja),
Segun Adeleye, (Abeokuta)

More arrests are planned for today.

Investigators are said to be working on the theory that the flight may have been sabotaged.

The aircraft, in which 117 persons died, nose-dived barely three minutes after take-off from Lagos going to Abuja.

Sources said the interrogation of those picked up is expected to begin today.

It was learnt that a top security meeting was held in Abuja from Tuesday evening until Wednesday to consider the initial report of the crash that has thrown the country into mourning – alongside the death of First Lady, Stella Obasanjo.

Those who attended the meeting reportedly suspected sabotage as it unearthed behind-the-scenes moves that would aid investigators.

The interrogation will determine the level of culpability of the suspects. Those who have no case to answer, the source explained, would be released later today and Friday.

It was learnt that government functionaries booked on the flight included Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Charles Soludo; Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu and a director in the Ministry of Defence who was saved by stopping to take a call from an unknown source.

Julius Berger confirmed on Wednesday that it is ready to retrieve the crashed aircraft for free but that the government has not given the go ahead.

However, Clement Iloba, Julius Berger spokesman, said in Abuja that because no other organisation has the ability to remove the buried Boeing 737 plane, it has moved equipment to the site in preparation.

Security men guarding the site disallowed men from the company from gaining entry, according to him, “probably because there is yet to be any official communication requesting the service”.

He said the job would be executed free as Julius Berger’s contribution to lifting the gloomy mood into which the country has been plunged since Saturday last week.

Iloba could not confirm when the excavation would start, saying, “it depends on when we receive the go ahead from the government”.

Meanwhile two United States investigators and Boeing experts were on Wednesday sighted at the scene of the crashed Bellview aircraft at Lisa Igbore village in Ifo local government area of Ogun state.

They were sighted picking items that may help in their investigation exercise. They declined comments when Daily Independent approached them for one.

Scores of relatives of the deceased still lay siege to the place just as the anticipated excavation did not start as at 4:00pm on Wednesday.

But a staff of Julius Berger who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the excavation may begin after the interdenominational service scheduled for 8:00am today.

The road leading to the scene was being graded by the combined efforts of the Ogun state government road management agency (OGROMA) and Julius Berger to pave way for the movement of the latter’s equipmen.

Meanwhile, Ogun state Governor, Gbenga Daniel has named the Employment generation house along Kobape-Sagamu road in Abeokuta, the state capital, after his Special Adviser on Employment generation, Chief (Mrs.) Maria Sokenu who also lost her life in the ill-fated plane.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ogun state branch has equally gone on air calling on people of the state to join in the commendation service scheduled for the crash site.

Earlier, wife of the Governor and Coordinator of Gateway Front Foundation (GFF), Olufunke Daniel led the Baptist Convention in Abeokuta to offer prayers for the deceased, including Mrs. Stella Obasanjo at the Ita-Eko home of the Obasanjos. Secretary of the Baptist convention, Rev. Akin Osinnubi led the prayer session.

Posted by Publisher at 03:39 PM | Comments (0)

Celebrate my mother, Muyiwa urges Nigerians; Obasanjo weeps as Stella lies in state • Encomiums pour in

It took the words of Olumuyiwa, son of the late Stella Obasanjo, to break the stoic spirit of an equally grieving President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday as both wept for a woman so dear to their hearts.

By Lekan Sanni, Chesa Chesa,
Gbenga Faturoti, and
Tunke-Aye Bisina (Asaba)

Olumuyiwa, speaking publicly for the first time since the death his mother last Saturday, appealed to Nigerians not just to mourn her but to celebrate her life as she requested before her death.

He spoke at a special session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting convened to sympathise with the President.

Olumuyiwa, a lawyer based in the United States, casting aside a prepared speech and thanked everyone for the sympathy extended to him and the rest of the family and for “personal heartfelt comment about my mum”.

He recalled that Stella’s mother died at 90 last year and following the celebration that characterised the burial, his mother told him that she would want to be treated the same way when her time was up on earth.

“She wanted her death to be a celebration. Indeed, as you mourn her passing, please also remember to celebrate her life. That is how she would like to be remembered. Please pray for all of us, please pray that her soul will rest in peace”, said Olumuyiwa as battled in vain to stop the tears welled up in his eyes.

Obasanjo, who has contained his grief these past days, gave up the battle as he reached for his handkerchief to wipe tears. He made no speech.

Many members of the FEC wept as Olumuyiwa returned to his seat, consoled by his uncle, John Abebe.

Others who paid tribute included Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who eulogised Stella for being a goodwill ambassador for her husband and remaining steadfast during the President’s most trying times in prison in the days of Sani Abacha.

Atiku recalled: “From Kirikiri to Jos to Yola prisons, I do not know of any one who stood by you more than the late First Lady. She related very freely with the high and the low as well as with people of diverse convictions. That is why it was so easy for her to play the role of goodwill ambassador for her husband and the nation. I believe that this, coupled with her legendary love of children, is what earned her the well deserved description of the ‘mother of the nation’”.

As Atiku spoke, the wall clock in the FEC chambers struck noon, and as requested by the President two days earlier, every one stood up and observed a minute’s silence in honour of Stella and the victims of the Bellview crash.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ufot Ekaette; Head of Service of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed; Transport Minister, Abiye Sekibo; Women Affairs Minister, Maryam Ciroma and her Information and National Orientation counterpart, Frank Nweke, also paid tributes.

Nweke, quoting six poets, summed up: “I have quoted on life, goodness, character, service, compassion and motherhood. Six words, six men and women, six qualities. As Stella goes six feet into the way of all mortal, who can ever deny that she was an embodiment of all six. Six is the number of man. Six is the number of Stella. Even her name is made up of six letters.

“And, so, on this twenty and sixth day of our Lord, in the month of our Independence as a nation, we realise that she has gained her freedom from the troubles and travails of this age. From fear, from anxiety, from worry, from wordly exertions. Stella is free from the fear of death!”

The funeral activities continued on Wednesday as Obasanjo led thousands of Nigerians to file past Stella whose casket lay in state at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja for over three hours.

At 12:30 p.m., a shaken and mournful Obasanjo, adorned in dark blue adire agbada, stood for ten seconds as he stared at the peaceful face and laid a wreath at the foot of the half-opened brown wooden casket draped in the national colours of green and white.

Following behind the President were Olumuyiwa; Atiku and his wife, Titi; Senate President, Ken Nnamani; his Deputy, Ibrahim Mantu; Obasanjo’s first daughter, Iyabo, her siblings and the President’s in-laws from the Abebe family.

Members of the FEC, governors, former and serving government officials, diplomats, friends, associates of Stella and the President as well as other Nigerians took their turns to catch a glimpse of the lifeless yet radiant face of Nigeria’s First Lady for six years.

Her Aide-de-Camp, Amaechi Elumelu, was almost inconsolable as he poured out his grief. So did many of those who came for the lying in state.

The corpse leaves Abuja this morning for Abeokuta, Ogun State for interment tomorrow at her husband’s home.

Most residents and offices in Asaba observed the one-minute silence at 12 noon in honour of Stella and victims of the Bellview tragedy.

Some government offices asked their staff to come out to the open to observe the silence while others the workers went ahead to pray for the departed souls.

Wife of Delta State Governor, Nkoyo Ibori, has also sent a condolence message to the President.

More than 70 persons have signed a condolence register opened at Government House, Asaba.

The government and people of Osun State also stood still at noon for one minute in honour of the dead.

Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and his Deputy, Olusola Obada, led other government officials to observed the silence in front of the new governor's office named "Bola Ige House".

A similar exercise took place at the state Assembly, led by Speaker Adejare Bello.

Doctors, nurses, medical workers, artisans, owners of private establishments, journalists, students and other professionals were not left out.

The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), in a statement declared a seven-day mourning period to sympathise with the President and the families of those who died in the air disaster.

Workers in the Lagos State public service joined in the observance.

But while some observed the silence, others went about their normal businesses, with claim that they were not aware of the directive. Some argued that collective mourning at a specific time is a strange phenomenon in this part of the world.

Nonetheless, Head of Service (HOS), Akinsanya Sunny Ajose, led permanent secretaries and general managers of government and agencies to the State House, Marina to sign the condolence register for the First Lady.

He described Stella as a kind-hearted woman and a pillar of support not only for her immediate family, but also the less privileged.

The controversy surrounding the burial site of Stella has been resolved as her family has acceded to the request of Obasanjo that her remains be interred in his home in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Reports had credited Stella’s kith and kin as insisting that she be buried in her own home town in Iruekpen, Edo State in line with the tradition of the Isan.

However, at a service of songs in her honour inAbuja on Wednesday night, Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees Chairman, Tony Anenih, speaking for the Obasanjo family, said the tradition was waived owing to appeals from the President and his family.

Obasanjo “wants to stay beside his beloved wife, in life and in the hereafter”, he explained.

Children at the Child Care Trust Home, founded by the First Lady, sang songs which evoked tears from the audience.

Also at the event were the wife of the Vice President, Titi Abubakar; Senate President, Ken Nnamani; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara; service chiefs, ECOWAS Secretary General, Mohammed Ibn Chambas; ministers; governors and federal lawmakers.

Obasanjo continued to receive sympathisers on Wednesday during which he described Stella as a woman who lived a fulfilled life.

“She liked people around her and I thank you the way you were around her during her lifetime”, he stated at a session with friends of the First lady who paid him a condolence visit.

Leader of the delegation, Yemisi Coker, said they came to share in the grief as Stella touched their lives positively in several ways.

Atiku was with the President all through even as he later received representatives of the Oba of Benin, led by S.O.U Igbe.

Receiving members of the State House Press Corps, Obasanjo harped on the need for all Nigerians to unite so as to build a prosperous country.

Posted by Publisher at 03:38 PM | Comments (0)

Fasehun, Gani Adams moved out of Abuja; May be arraigned today • Adams heads for court

Police sources in Abuja on Wednesday disclosed that factional leaders of the O’dua Peoples Congress (OPC). Gani Adams and Frederick Fasehun, will be moved back to Lagos Thursday (today).

By Our Reporters

They were implicated in last Friday’s mayhem in Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos where six persons were murdered and properties destroyed.

According to sources, they are expected to be relocated together with the other three members of the OPC and the five leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

Fasehun and Adams have claimed innocence of the allegations.

However, the source insisted all those detained will be charged with conspiracy, arson and illegal possession of firearms as well as murder when the autopsy reports are out.

The formal charges and arraignment would enable the courts order their remand in prison custody, he added.

By Wednesday, death toll from the activities of the group, as a follow-up to last week’s bloody incident in Lagos, had risen by three.

A driver with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LSWMA) was killed on Tuesday and six of its other staff were allegedly injured by the militia.

The attack took place at the Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota, Lagos as the criminals went on a reprisal mission.

Several kilometers across the huge commercial capital, socio-economic activities in the Ajah area were brought to a halt on Wednesday as another set of OPC members allegedly shot at random and killed two persons who were passing by.

LSWMA General Manager, Ola Oresanya, said they shot at his officials on duty at Ojota and that they are now afraid to work on the site for fear of the unknown.

The six survivors received various degrees of injury, including broken heads, wounds and fractured limbs.

The body of the dead man has been deposited at the mortuary.

Oresanya described as “shocking and disgusting” the invasion of the site in a commando manner by members of the ethnic militia who fired shots everywhere.

He regretted that an OPC originally set up to protect lives and the interest of the people has been turned into a killer squad.

“LSWMA staff may be pulled out of the area, and if this is done, they would not be allowed back until there is sufficient security by the police. The withdrawal would also allow for a proper investigation into the matter by the government”, he added.

Their withdrawal is likely to have a serious impact on waste disposal as the site is patronised mainly by private sector refuse collectors in the metropolis.

Oresanya said a formal report has been made to the police and other security agencies.

A witness of the incident in Ajah said the hoodlums emerged about 7.00 a.m. and barricaded the major road in the town, which leads from Victoria Island to Epe.

They chanted war songs. One of them was “Free Gani Adams and Fasehun now”.

It took the intervention of mobile policemen to bring peace back to the suburb.

A senior officer in Ajah police station said the men came from Epe and that earlier in the week the station had received an advice from them that the police should not obstruct them.

State Police Spokesperson, Bode Ojajuni, confirmed the incident but said the situation has been brought under control.

According to him, six persons have been arrested over the case and may be transferred to Abuja.

Another group of 60 OPC members has been nabbed around the metropolis for onward transfer to Abuja.

Ojajuni recalled that Inspector General of Police (IG), Sunday Ehindero, had warned residents of Lagos not to be used by trouble makers as the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on every criminal.

Meanwhile, OPC factional leader, Gani Adams and two other members of the group have taken litigation at a Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge their detention by the police.

They asked for a declaration that the action infringes on their fundamental rights.

Also in court to contest their own detention by the police are Oyinlola Awe and Wahab Isiaka, who were arrested in Abuja last Saturday.

They are asking the court for an order for leave to apply for the enforcement of their fundamental rights.

A motion ex-parte (urgent application) filed by Oluwole Kehinde on behalf of Adams and his lieutenants on Wednesday stressed that their detention violates Sections 35, 37 and 41 of the Constitution and is therefore illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

They asked the court to order their release unconditionally – or that, alternatively, it should grant them bail pending when formal charges would be preferred against them.

The inspector general of police and the federal attorney general are the defendants.

The motion was supported by an affidavit deposed to by Akanni Segun, Personal Assistant to Adams.

He argued that the detained men have not committed any offence and that they were arrested at the office of the Lagos State commissioner of police while attending a meeting on the alleged activities of another faction of the OPC.

No date was fixed for the hearing.

Meanwhile, the Fasehun faction of the OPC on Wednesday said their members are innocent of allegation of mayhem at Iyana Ipaja last week, which led to the loss of lives and destruction of several houses and property.

In a press statement jointly signed by one Alhaji Ahmed Lawal Onigbagbo and Comrade Ola Olajide, the faction insisted that the whole crisis was caused by the disruption of a procession organized by the Fasehun group on the night in question by the Gani Adams led faction.

Posted by Publisher at 03:35 PM | Comments (0)

CBN deadline: Panic withdrawals in weak banks

• First Atlantic shareholders approve merger
• ACB, Citizens, Guradian Express merge

By Emele Onu
and Lanre Oyetade (Lagos)

Panic withdrawal dominated some of the weak banks on Wednesday as the deadline expired for them to notify the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of their decision on voluntary liquidation.

There was an air of uncertainty with many of them left with the possibility of huge deposit runs in the days ahead.

Though the deadline for consolidation is nine weeks away, the CBN expects weak banks to have decided by Wednesday whether they will voluntarily wind up or tarry till December 31.

The fear of the unknown produced apprehension. Depositors sought to withdraw the last of their money to avert losses.

Those anxious to close their accounts thronged the Oba Akran, Ikeja branch of a medium sized bank with headquarters on Victoria Island.

As the bank’s staff battled to process the unusually large requests, a dissatisfied depositor said he was moving his deposit to one of the first generation banks as he is uncertain of the genuineness of its consolidation arrangement.

“With the benefit of hindsight, I am not prepared to take chances”, he added.

Banks mostly affected by the flight-to-safety of deposits are the small and medium sized ones that are yet to be identified with serious merger groups.

Some, out of anxiety, have announced their consolidation programmes in advance in order to forestall any information gap that can be devastating.

However, some public statements by the banks have turned out to be false.

Recently, one issued a statement of merger with a group that quickly denied the highly publicised report the next day.

At the last count, 23 groups involving 69 banks have emerged. Three mega banks have so far consolidated, 20 have received the pre-merger consent of the CBN, six have got approval-in-principle to finalise the processes.

About 28 of the total 89 banks, mainly technically unsound small and medium players, are yet to hook up with serious partners.

Attempt by the CBN to lure the big banks to acquire them is hitting a brick wall due to its inability devise agreeable terms with them.

The CBN asked the directors of highly indebted banks to recover all insider related non-performing credits not later that November or face prosecution. The objective is to enhance the outlook of the banks for possible acquisition and to safeguard deposits.

Forecasts by the CBN showed that about 5.5 per cent of total bank deposits may be trapped in distressed institutions by the end of the exercise.

Beyond anxiety among the management and customers of banks, the workforce is also caught in apprehension.

About 15 management staff of small banks have joined the large financial institutions in the last one month over fears of job insecurity.

Meanwhile, shareholders of First Atlantic Bank have unanimously approved its merger with Inland Bank. The new outfit will be called First Inland Bank.

The bank had called the shareholders for an extra ordinary general meeting as directed by an Order of the Federal High Court, dated September 29.

There was no dissenting vote at the meeting held in Lagos on Wednesday.

Spokesperson for Independent Shareholders Association, Ayodele Kudaisi, applauded the management of the bank for getting to the final stages of the consolidation.

He said under the present arrangement, investors are well protected as the merger portends greater returns on investment.

First Atlantic Chairman, O’tega Emerhor, who is also Vice Chairman of the proposed outfit, said the merger would create a world class bank with a strong franchise offering first class financial products that cut across retail, commercial and corporate markets.

First Inland Bank would have considerable market advantages to enable it play a leading role in post consolidation banking as well as render high sustainable returns to shareholders, he said.

The combination will have a network of 100 branches, total assets in excess of N100 billion, deposit liabilities of about N45 billion and shareholders’ funds in excess of 25 billion.

First Atlantic Managing Director, Okey Nwosu, said the new bank will be well positioned to meet the challenges of the post consolidation landscape and strive to be the market leader.

Officials the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), witnessed the event.

The bank will now apply for final approval from CBN and the SEC for the take off of First Inland Bank.

Meanwhile, ACB International Bank formally joined Citizens International Bank and Guardian Express Bank on Wednesday to float a new mega bank to be known as Citizens Guardian Bank.

The three have signed the merger agreement and have officially applied for the approval-in-principle from the CBN and the SEC.

The new bank which will have combined shareholders’ funds of N27.5billion, a network of over 200 branches, total assets of N97 billion and total deposits in excess of N60 billion.

They are “irrevocably committed” to operating as one entity by January 2, 2006.

Their representatives are working in several committees to fast track the integration.

The proposed bank promises to be a formidable financial institution founded on professionalism, ethics, innovation and exceptional customer service delivery with presence in all major cities and towns in Nigeria and the world.

It is poised to harness the distinct but complimentary core competencies of the constituent banks to develop products and services in all sectors of the economy.

Chief Executive Officer of Citizens International Bank, Maxi Okechukwu Unegbu, confirmed the plan.

Posted by Publisher at 03:34 PM | Comments (0)

Lagos lags behind in MDGs ­­–Don

The overall performance of Lagos State in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has been described as not encouraging.

By Lekan Sanni
Assistant News Editor, Metro

While marking this year’s World Habitat Day in Lagos, Professor Tunde Agbola of the Faculty of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Ibadan (UI) said with over 100 blighted areas in Lagos, the state government, just like the Federal Government, may not be doing enough in meeting the MDGs.

Delivering a lecture entitled: “The opportunities and challenges of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for Lagos mega city,” Agbola regretted that Lagos, despite contributing 60 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), consuming 20 per cent of the power supply and growing at seven per cent, still has majority of her people living in abject poverty.

“There are over 100 identified blighted areas in the city with a population density of 790 to 1,240 persons per hectare. Seventy per cent of households in this mega city live below poverty line and 72.5 per cent of all households occupy one room apartment with a density of eight to 10 persons per room.

“Sixty five per cent of households are tenants. As if to compound the problems, 57 per cent of households do not have durable housing since they experience flooding in their houses annually and about 25 per cent actually live in hazardous locations.

“With regard to housing facilities, only 36 per cent of households have access to potable water, while 65 per cent of households depend on water vendor. Eighty-two percent of households share bathroom facilities, only seven per cent of households have access to water closet (WC), septic tanks and 68 per cent of households depend on truck pushers for waste disposal,” he said.

Agbola noted that slums are not the result of urbanisation, but “the products of failed policies, bad governance, corruption, inappropriate regulation, dysfunctional land markets, unresolved financial systems and a fundamental lack of political will”.

The professor noted that Lagos as a city needs to develop its own strategy for development, while the contribution of its poor is also vital.

His words: “Perhaps more critical for achieving this MDG is to value the contributions of the poor. The urban poor have demonstrated enormous resilience and ingenuity in mobilising and organising themselves when formal institutions have failed to serve them.

“Lagos State Government should capitalise on the enormous potential of the urban poor as development agents by supporting their participation in decision-making process that affect their livelihood.”

Tinubu, represented by Dele Alake, Information and Strategy Commissioner, expressed the determination of his government to pursue the MDG through the 10-point agenda.

The governor said the Lagos Road Infrastructure Project (LIP), which includes the Fourth Mainland Bridge, the Coastal roads, Ajao – Ejigbo link road among others, are of priority to the growth of Lagos, warning owners of structures along the road alignment to remove them immediately.

He noted that through the LIP, the state hopes to assure the growth of Lagos with the Fourth Mainland Bridge, Coastal Road, Opebi - Mende, Isolo- - Isheri Osun/Ijegun road, Igbo Elerin - Badagry link road, Ajao Estate - Ejigbo link road and the expansion of the Lekki - Epe Expressway.

Posted by Publisher at 03:32 PM | Comments (0)

Obasanjo orders closure of Hajj mission

The 2005 Hajj exercise set to commence in 40 days, may suffer a major set-back with the closure of the Nigerian Hajj Mission in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on the orders of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

By Nasir Imam, Jibrin Abubakar and Isa Umar Gusau

The Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Senator Ibrahim M. Kazaure, had on October 15, 2005 written a letter, which was obtained by Daily Trust, to the head of the Nigerian Hajj Mission in Jeddah, informing him of the directive of Mr. President to close the embassy “with immediate effect and the staff to wind up their affairs and return to headquarters (Abuja) by the end of November, 2005.”
The Ambassador consequently directed the head of Nigerian Hajj Mission to arrange to handover to Mr. A.D. Manzo, Head of Chancery, Riyadh, who is expected to arrive Jeddah for the purpose.
Investigations by Daily Trust also revealed that a telegram was sent by Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Olu Adeniji, dated 12th October, 2005, to Ambassador Kazaure directing him to commence the process of the winding up of the embassy in Riyadh, and the Consulate in Jeddah, both in Saudi Arabia.
The Nigerian Hajj Mission in Saudi Arabia has been in existence since the 1960s, and exclusively handles Hajj mat-ters, while the consulate and embassy handles all other diplomatic issues.
With the closure of the Hajj Mission, securing of accommodation for pilgrims and other sundry activities usually done by the mission have been paralysed.
Incidentally, the November 25 deadline given for the winding up of the mission is the same deadline given to Nige-rians for the payment of Hajj fares.
Daily Trust correspondent in Saudi Arabia said that the return of the over 40 members of staff may worsen the already sliding capability of the Department of Pilgrims Affairs in the foreign ministry.
The yet-to-be passed Bill on the proposed National Hajj Commission is before the Natio-nal Assembly.
The closing down of the Nigerian Hajj Mission is raising doubt at the Foreign Affairs Mi-nistry as officials at the Depart-ment of Pilgrims Affairs in the ministry are saying that the President may have been misinformed about the matter.
A source at the department, who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the Nigerian Hajj Mission was constructed from funds pooled from pilgrims, and not govern-ment funds, therefore it would be illegal for government to close it down.
The source said officials of the department are set to lock horns with the federal govern-ment over the matter.
His words: “The closure may be borne out of the fact that pruning the number of its mission abroad, but it is never done anywhere, every country in the world have a Hajj Mission, it will be odd for Nigeria to close its own.”
When contacted, Chief Press Secretary to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Benard Udet, said he was not the right person to confirm the closure of the mission, and referred Daily Trust to the minister.
Efforts to speak to the minister, however, proved abortive.
It will be recalled that thousands of intending pilgrims for this year’s Umrah (less Hajj) are stranded in several parts of the country, as a result of shoddy arrangements by both the government and private airline operators.

Posted by Publisher at 03:29 PM | Comments (0)

Stella’s son, Olumuyiwa, wants mother’s life celebrated

Late First Lady, Stella Obasanjo’s only son, Olumuyiwa Obasanjo, has pleaded for the immortalization of his mother.

By Austine Odo

He said the good she did while alive will keep her memory ever-green in the consciousness of Nigerians.
Olumuyiwa who spoke between sobs yesterday in Abuja at a special session held by the Federal Executive Council as a tribute to the first lady and the 117 Bellview plane crash victims, could not read the spe-cial text prepared for him but said in a vote of thanks that he only wished to plead for prayers for the bereaved families.
After the session, members of the Federal Executive Coun-cil, led by President Olusegun Obasanjo, moved to the State House banquet where the first lady’s body was laid to pay their last respects.
At the session which was attended by all the ministers, the Secretary to the Govern-ment of the Federation, the Head of Civil Service of the federation and Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the vice president said the plane crash and the first lady’s death had unified the nation more than ever before, adding that Stella was a fighter for human and women’s rights and had fought for the placement of women in good positions in the present administration.
According to him, there was hardly anybody that stood by the president in moments of travail more than the late first lady, noting that Stella had gone from Kirikiri to Jos and Yola during Obasanjo’s imprison-ment following allegations of a coup plot.
The vice president said the painful deaths recorded at the weekend had cast a gloom over the country and thrown Nige-rians into a state of national mourning.
“This is indeed a very difficult time for Mr President and his family, the Abebe family and indeed all Nigerians, especially those who lost loved ones in the plane crash. Our hearts go to them. Mr President, Nigerians mourn with you and your family and they mourn with the families of the victims of the air disaster, these tragedies have united us and strengthened our resolve to assist one another as citizens of one united country. I know that Nigerians pray for Mr President and his family and for the families of the victims of the plane crash,and we all pray for the repose of the souls of all the departed”, he said.
According to the vice president, there is no doubt that Stella performed her role well as First Lady with distinction and was non-discriminatory in her relationship with people of diverse political persuasions and tendencies.
“In an environment where social status means a lot to many people and where people easily inherit the prejudices and preferences of others, she was a totally free woman in a deeply philosophical sense of the word”, he said.
He said the Bellview crash had justified the concern by the president that Nigeria was ill-equipped to cope with national disasters, and though the administration had invested more than any other in the equipment for disaster prevention and management, the president’s concern was still dramatized in the recent disaster.
“For us as a government”, he said, “it is the lessons that matter and these include not just the availability of all relevant agencies, more importantly, we have seen the absolute necessity to improve our disaster prevention mechanisms and agencies but also to sensitize Nigerians on what roles they can play at a time like this. That is perhaps the best tribute that we pay to these victims of the plane crash. These tragedies, once more, remind us of the transient nature of life. We can plan for tomorrow but only God knows which plan would come to fruition, all our efforts, plans, and prognosis come to nought unless they are sanctioned by God. The best we can do, therefore, is to do good today and factor God in as we plan for and hope that we can have a tomorrow, God willing,” he said.
Information Minister, Frank Nweke Jnr. in his tribute, said Stella was a dependable ally of the president, noting that she remained with the president even when many had deserted him.

Posted by Publisher at 03:27 PM | Comments (0)

Bellview: Senate orders probe over delay in finding crash site

The Senate and the House of Representatives sit- ting in separate emergen-cy sessions yesterday ordered their committees to find out the causes of the Bellview air mishap and the delay in locating the crashed plane.

By Hammeed M Bello, Isa Sanusi

The two legislative chambers also paid tribute to both the late First Lady, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, and the crash victims.
The ill-fated Abuja-bound flight came down in Ogun state a few minutes after taking off from Lagos last Saturday eve-ning, killing all 111 passengers and six crew on board.
The lawmakers’ decision to beam their searchlight on the accident came as the British government warned its citizens against air travel in Nigeria, saying that it was concerned about the reliability of the do-mestic airlines.
The probe is to be jointly conducted by a House ad hoc committee and the Senate com-mittees on aviation and special duties.
The two chambers regretted the nation’s non-readiness to tackle emergencies and chided the National Emergency Mana-gement Agency (NEMA) for tardiness in handling the air crash search-and-rescue ope-ration.
Adopting an eight-point resolution after the lawmakers had spoken glowingly about Mrs. Obasanjo and the depar-ted air accident victims, the Senate “directed its committees on aviation and special duties to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the crashed Bellview airline flight 210 and make recommendations to the Senate; that the committees should also ascertain the cause of the delay in locating the site of the plane crash.”
The upper chamber likewise resolved to send separate con-dolence messages to President Olusegun Obasanjo on the death of his wife and those who lost their lives in the air crash. It will publish similar messages to the families of the air crash victims.
Addressing the special session which had about 60 senators in attendance, the President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani, said that the death of the air mishap victims should inspire the legislators to “work harder to make air travel in Nigeria safer and more pleasurable.”
He eulogised Stella Obasanjo, describing her as “a beacon and support to President Obasanjo and an embodiment of grace and compassion.” He lamented her death as a “terrible blow to Mr. President and the nation.”
As senators took turns to pay tribute to the departed, an air of grief and deep emotions gripped the chamber. Senator Daisy Danjuma, obviously weeping, could not speak when asked to. She just waved her hand to turn down an offer to contribute.
Senators Mohammad Abba Aji, Jonathan Zwingina, Sule Yari Gandi, Adolphus Wabara, Abubakar Sodangi, Ibrahim Mantu, Iyabo Anisulowo, Victor Oyofo, Udoma Udoma, and Daniel Saror were among those who spoke about the deceased.
They described the air crash and Stella’s death as twin tragedies for the nation, as most of them called to question the nation’s readiness for emergencies.
Gandi flayed the closure of AIT and Ray Power broadcast stations for being the first locating the plane crash site, saying that it shamed and ridiculed our aviation and emergency authorities that the news crew beat them at their game.
He also suggested that the government should shoulder the blame for the crash because of its failure to buy state-of-the-art radar equipment despite the appropriation of funds for this from the National Assembly. According to him, only 10 million Euros out of the 59 million Euros budgeted for this have been released.
Following the eulogies and lamentations, the Senate observed a two-minute silence and offered prayers for the departed.
In the House, lawmakers resolved to condemn “the unprofessional manner the search and rescue operation was handled by the aviation authorities (NAMA, NCAA, FAAN and NEMA) and the poor management and dissemination of information to the public on the disaster” and direct an ad hoc committee to liaise with the Senate to probe “the remote and immediate causes of the disaster” and report back in two weeks.
Members of the ad hoc panel were Hons. Hadi Sirika, Wale Ogunbanjo, K. G. B. Ogbuawo, Igwo Inyana, Mike Kalango, Halims Agoda, Enoh John, and Babangida Nguroje.
Proposing the motion that led to the resolution to probe the matter, the Leader of the House, Abdul Ningi, lamented the poor handling of the crash by the authorities concerned and expressed worry about the danger in air travel in the country.
The House also adopted a resolution to pay a condolence visit to President Obasanjo and commiserate with both the federal and the Edo state governments on the twin losses.
As the legislators opened a probe into the air crash, the British government in its official Foreign and Commonwealth web site warned its citizens against air travel in Nigeria, saying that the advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Air Safety section.
“A Boeing 737 operated by Bellview Airlines crashed en route from Lagos to Abuja on 22 October 2005 killing all 117 passengers and crew. The cause of the crash is not yet known”, the web site said.
It said that prior to the recent crash, British nationals in Nigeria used to travel with Virgin Nigeria, Bellview, and Albarka, which are accredited by IATA, as well as by Aero-contractors.
“Following the crash, guidance to British government staff has been revised to recommend use of Virgin Nigeria and Aero-Contractors wherever possible, though other domestic airlines could be used as and when necessary,” the warning reads.
On road travels the British government urged its nationals to be particularly vigilant when sitting in traffic jams or at traffic lights at night. “You should keep your car windows and doors locked and valuables out of sight. There are authorised as well as unauthorised vehicle checkpoints throughout Nigeria. Some are for security checks, others to extort small payments of money,” the notice said.
In a related development, the British government has also warned its citizens againt a growing menace of crime in the country.
“Violent street crimes, including armed robberies, muggings, and car-jacks are prevalent in the south of the country, including Lagos. There are myriads of schemes in operation by West African criminal networks designed to make the victims part with money, known as advance fee or 419 frauds. Nigerian scam artists are also known to target internet dating/personal sites with the intention of soliciting for money from victims,” it said.
It said that “Taxis and long distance buses are poorly maintained and are often driven by fraudulent drivers. Most major hotels offer cars for hire with drivers.”
Commenting on the political situation, the statement said that an outbreak of civil unrest and violence could occur with little notice throughout Nigeria.
“Following the arrest of the governor of Bayelsa state in the Niger Delta in London on 15 September 2005 some members of his Ijaw ethnic group have threatened retaliation against British interests and citizens,” it added.
The travel advisory also said that Nigeria has the largest Muslim population in Africa and that British citizens should exercise discretion in behaviour and dress, particularly in the north and especially when visiting religious sites.
The statement further warned British nationals on threat of terrorism in Nigeria.
“A statement issued by Osama bin Laden in February 2003 called for an uprising by Muslims in a number of countries, including Nigeria. He suggested that ‘faithful Muslims’ rise up against the Nigerian government. He also referred to ‘support for brothers’ in Nigeria in December 2004,” the British statement said.
On the Islamic legal system, the advisory warning said that the “Shari’a penal code has been introduced in 12 northern states (Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kano, Yobe, Borno, Katsina, Jigawa, Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger and Gombe). Homosexuality in those states by Muslims could attract a sentence of 100 lashes if the defendant is unmarried, or stoning if married or divorced. Alcohol consumption, infidelity, and theft could attract harsh sentences including stoning, amputation, lashes, or long prison terms. Non-Muslims are not bound by the Shari’a law.
Homosexuality is illegal under federal law, which covers the whole of Nigeria. But individuals are rarely prosecuted.
Possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs is a serious offence and could result in lengthy prison sentences and heavy fines.
It is illegal to import beer, mineral water, soft drinks, sparkling wine, fruits, vegetables, cereals, eggs, textile fabrics, jewellery, and precious metals.”
When contacted, the communication officer of the British High Commission in Abuja, Mrs. Victoria, said that she would not speak on the issue and referred our reporter to a superior officer who was in a meeting at the time this report was filed.

Posted by Publisher at 03:20 PM | Comments (0)

...We forgot to observe one-minute silence - Nigerians

Many Nigerians yester- day failed to observe the one-minute silence at 12.00 noon in honour of the 117 victims of the Bell-view plane crash and the late first lady, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo.

By Abdullahi M. Gulloma

A large number of respon-dents in a vox populi conducted by Daily Trust, said they forgot to observe the one-minute silence. Some of the respondents said however, that they were not aware of the one-mi-nute silence order.
Mohammed Abba of Wuse market Abuja, told Daily Trust that he had intended to observe the one-minute silence but “my car had problem and I was trying to put it in order. So, the whole thing escaped my mind.”
Mr. Obinna, a bus driver said, “12.00 noon passed when I was busy looking for something to eat,” hence his inability to observe the one-minute silence.
Also explaining why she did not observe the one-minute silence, Mrs. Rebecca Audu told Daily Trust that she was “trapped in a bank trying to settle some financial obligations.”
Responding on why he did not observe the one-minute silence, Mr. Gabriel Moses said, “I did not observe but since the news came to me, I have been praying for the repose of the souls of the departed Nigerians.”
Shehu Balera, a trader in Wuse market, said he did not observe the one-minute silence because he was not aware of it.
“I really don’t know anything about it, I would have observed more than one minute silence, because the victims deserve more than one-minute silence from us,” he said.

Posted by Publisher at 03:13 PM | Comments (0)

First Inland Bank to acquire 2 banks

Managing Director, of Inland Bank Nigeria Plc, Alhaji Zannah Lamba revealed yesterday that First Inland Bank, the new banking group which it is to form with First Atlantic Bank, is currently holding talks with about three other banks with the hope of acquiring two of them as a way of strengthening the new bank to properly position it for greater challenges in the post consolidation era.

By Anas A. Galadima

Also, shareholders of Inland Bank Nigeria Plc yesterday endorsed the bank’s merger plan with First Atlantic Bank Plc to form First Inland Bank Plc, at a Court Ordered Meeting held in Abuja
Speaking at the meeting yesterday, Alhaji Zannah said the new bank’s bid acquire about two other banks will pro-perly position it to face greater challenger in the post consolidation era. He however did not mention names of the banks that would be acquired, even as he pointed out that the talks have not been concluded on the matter.
He said the unanimous endorsement of the bank’s merger plan by its share holders will enable it move to the next stage of the consolidation process which involves filling all the necessary documents to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the court that ordered the meeting.
The MD noted that, already, the First Inland Bank group has raised a total of about N21billion in a bid to meet the N25billion minimum recapi-talization as required by the CBN, adding that some existing shareholders of the bank have indicated willingness to pro-vide more funds so that the N25billion can be met before December.
In his address, the Chairman of the bank, Alhaji Muhammad Danmadami said the merger will offer both banks “with challen-ges as well as excellent oppor-tunity to take advantage of sy-nergies of operations in the emerging competitive banking industry”, adding that the it would also lead to increased shareholders returns and better employee welfare.
For the merger to be effec-tive, all shareholders of First Atlantic bank would surrender their shares at a transfer rate of 2 ordinary shares of the bank of 50k each for 3 ordinary shares of 50k each in inland bank. The name would then be changed to First Atlantic bank
Speaking on behalf of shareholders of the bank, National Coordinator of Independent shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), chief S. N. Nwosu charged the board and management of the new bank to work hard and be proactive in order for them to be able to meet challenges in the post consolidation era, even as he commended some current directors of the bank for accepting to relinquish their positions in order for the new group to take off.
He urged the CBN to consider creating a two tier banking industry so that banks that do not raise N25billion by December this year will not be thrown out of business but still have other kinds of banking activities to perform, a situation which he said would save jobs and secure shareholders funds in those banks.
Another shareholder and executive of ISAN, A. A. Adeleke, commended the bank for choosing First Atlantic bank as its merging partner as he said “this merger is actually the first true merger in terms of amalgamating the north and the south”

Posted by Publisher at 03:12 PM | Comments (0)

‘Ojang Omang was a committed, dedicated servant’

As the nation is yet to come to terms with the air disaster and the passing on of the wife of the President, Mrs Stella Obas-anjo at the weekend, Speaker of the Bauchi state House of Assembly, Alhaji Tanko Ibrahim Jalam has called for an overhaul of the aviation industry.

By Ahmed Dauda Gulu

Alhaji Jalam, while symp-athising with the President over the death of his wife and families of those killed in the ill-fated Bellview 210 flight from Lagos to Abuja, expla-ined that the history of aviation industry has suffered tragedies, hence the need for the country’s policy makers to overhaul it.
According to him, “for the country to witness two air disaster within the space of three years, I think we need to act, and discover what is wrong with the industry”, adding that the National Assembly should direct its committee on aviation to “look thoroughly on the industry and address the problem”.
The Speaker stated that “in 2002 over one hundred and forty people were killed in Kano, and I think the Federal Government came up with a policy banning some category of aircraft in Nigeria but the citizens are yet to be told whether such policy has been implemented or not before this last Saturday disaster.
“Also, just in July this year, an Air France plane was badly damaged after running into a herd of cows while trying to land in Port Harcourt.
Although, we may say there was no life lost in the mishap, but what does it speak for our image as a country? I think in my own opinion, we need re-organisation of the industry.
“It is when this is done that we can now talk about other things. I believe with these two accidents within short period, most people would be afraid of travelling by air, and these will jeopardise the effort of the Federal government in promoting tourism, and trade investment in country”.
Alhaji Jalam, while eulogising those that perished in the air disaster, declared that “we have lost those that could have made Nigeria great, those that could have been governors, ministers or even president of the country, who knows. Some have excelled in the various fields, we are going to miss them, but while we pray for the repose of their souls.

Posted by Publisher at 03:09 PM | Comments (0)

Obasanjo weeps for Stella * As Atiku, ministers pay tributes at FEC meeting

ABUJA— PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo broke down in tears yesterday at a special session of the Federal Executive Council meeting held in honour of the late First Lady, Stella Obasanjo.

By Charles Ozoemena
Posted to the Web: Thursday, October 27, 2005

As speaker