tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12415379609475239862024-02-08T09:36:44.925-08:00My WorldAgbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-53230826149755144352014-05-31T04:07:00.001-07:002014-05-31T04:07:30.566-07:00STILL NO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN OYO STATEThe next general elections in Nigeria is less than one years from now
and till date local government elections are still pending in Oyo
state. Elected local government officials; chairman and councilors are
statutorily allowed three years in office and as is in Oyo state they
may end up spending less than one years in office that is, if governor
Ajimobi deems it fit that local government elections should hold at all.
<br />
<br />
The continuing delay in the conduct of local
government elections is a clog in the wheel of progress in Oyo state.
Local governments are grassroots government and for federal and state
developmental programmes to trickle down to the rural areas the local
governments have to be manned by democratically elected representatives
of the people such that, they are accountable to the people,independent
and free from the overbearing control and influence of the state
government who appointed them in the case of caretaker local government
appointees.<br />
<br />
<span>We have all expected that a
supposedly progressive ACN government will deviate from the usual
anti-democratic antics of its predecessors by ensuring that local
government elections were held a few months after, but now three years
afterwards it’s the same old story. Caretaker local government chairmen
and councilors still continue to control the affairs of the 33 local
governments in the state. Far more disturbing is the fact that there is
no visible sign that the elections will hold anytime soon. </span><br />
<br />
Concerned
indigenes of the state have continued to voice their concerns at this
disturbing development. Rather than start the process that would lead to
the conduct of elections in the state, the state government has
continued to argue that it would amount to contempt of court for it to
urge the State House of Assembly to proceed with the screening and
clearance of the chairman and members of OYSIEC already forwarded to the
House of Assembly by the state governor. In view of the judgment of a
High Court sitting in Ibadan stating that the dissolution of the Oyo
State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) by the Oyo State
government on June 2, 2011 was unconstitutional, null and void. The
court was also reported to have declared that the dissolved members are
entitled to continue functioning as officers in their various capacities
until their tenure of office lapse on September 5, 2012.<br />
<br />
From
the above it is obvious that the Ajimobi led Oyo State government is
only being mischievous since there has been a precedent of such a
situation when the Otunba Alao Akala led Oyo state government dissolved
the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) before the
expiration of the tenure of the officers appointed by the Ladoja
government. An Oyo State High Court Presided over by Justice P.O. Ige,
now of the Court of Appeal, in its judgement on the case held that the
OYOSIEC officials were illegally sacked and declared their sack null and
void. It ordered that their entitlements up to the expiration of their
tenure of office in 2008 be paid.With such a precedent, no one would
expect the Ajimobi government to have made the same mistake, let alone
taking the case to the appeal court. One would have expected the
government to settle the entitlements of these officers and let sleeping
dogs rest just as it claimed to have settled those of 2003-2008 based
on a similar judgement.<br />
<br />
Critics from certain quarters
have argued that the ACN is only bidding for time as the party is
currently in disarray in Oyo state due to leadership tussle between the
governor and other gladiators on the one hand and inter-party squabbles
on the other. The welfare of the state and its people is far greater
than any other consideration and the continuing perpetuation of
illegality under the guise ofa court order is a mere ruse, while not
encouraging the disregard of the ruleof law. The state government was
reported to have still gone ahead to demolish certain structures in its
ongoing dualisation of roads exercise in Ibadan even though there was a
court order to the contrary.<br />
<br />
As is, appointments to
local government positions are being done on compensatory and
appeasement bases without regard to the capacity of those these
positions are been dole out to. Local governments in Oyo state are being
short changed and a shadow of their usually boisterous selves and the
average man is at the losing end. For any meaningful development and
transformation to take place in the state, local governments officials
must be democratically elected people who are responsible and committed
to the people. The government should ensure that local government
elections are held in the next few months in the interest of the people
of Oyo state. The court order has in no way stopped local government
elections from holding; it had only declared the dissolution of Oyo
State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) by the Oyo State
government before the expiration of their tenure in office
unconstitutional, null and void. The court was also reported to have
declared that the dissolved members are entitled to the emoluments from
the day of their sack to the end of their tenure on September 5, 2012.<br />
<br />
It
is just about twelve months to the end of the current 2011-2015 tenure
Instead of continuing to play to the gallery and complete the current
tenure without democratically elected officials at the local government
level in Oyo state. The state government can elect to withdraw it appeal
from the court of appeal and settle all contending issues and the
entitlement of the former OYSIEC officials as prescribed by the High
Court, go ahead to constitute a new OYSIEC, and conduct local government
elections in the next few months in the interest of the people.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uQ5BelSG-9s/U4m2dGQPgII/AAAAAAAAB2w/kZBM5pxJuI8/s1600/Ajimobi_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uQ5BelSG-9s/U4m2dGQPgII/AAAAAAAAB2w/kZBM5pxJuI8/s1600/Ajimobi_4.jpg" height="200" title="" width="138" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Governor Ajimobi </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-49137280862171865162013-04-03T03:32:00.001-07:002013-04-03T03:32:54.458-07:00FG approves scrapping of UTME, NECO, NAPEP, others<a href="http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/component/content/article?id=8825#.UVwFKR0T-u8.blogger">FG approves scrapping of UTME, NECO, NAPEP, others</a>Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-66308268604755408412012-11-05T08:47:00.001-08:002012-11-05T08:47:33.111-08:00NOVEMBER 2012 PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS TIME-TABLE
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">NOVEMBER 2012
PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS TIME-TABLE</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Candidate’s
Number………………………</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The time-table and
the centers for the Institute’s NOVEMBER 2012 Professional Examination are as
indicated below:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 25.15pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border-top: solid black 1.0pt; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 25.15pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DAY</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: solid black 1.0pt; height: 25.15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: windowtext; mso-border-right-alt: black; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-width-alt: .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.35pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">TIME</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid black 1.0pt; height: 25.15pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.65pt;" valign="top" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOUNDATION</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid black 1.0pt; height: 25.15pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.85pt;" valign="top" width="109">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">INTERMEDIATE</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid black 1.0pt; height: 25.15pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.5pt;" valign="top" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">P.E.
I</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid black 1.0pt; height: 25.15pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.55pt;" valign="top" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">P.
E. II</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-bottom: none; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">TUESDAY</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">20 NOVEMBER 2012</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: windowtext; mso-border-right-alt: black; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: windowtext; mso-border-width-alt: .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.35pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9.00 a.m. -</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">12 noon</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.65pt;" valign="top" width="106">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Fundamental of Financial Accounting<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.85pt;" valign="top" width="109">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Costing and Quantitative Techniques</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.5pt;" valign="top" width="106">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Financial Accounting<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.55pt;" valign="top" width="106">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Financial Reporting and Ethics</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 55.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 55.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 55.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: windowtext; mso-border-right-alt: black; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: black; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-width-alt: .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.35pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2.00 p.m. –</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5.00 p.m.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 55.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.65pt;" valign="top" width="106">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Economics and Business Environment<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 55.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.85pt;" valign="top" width="109">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Audit and Assurance<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 55.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.5pt;" valign="top" width="106">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Information Technology</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 55.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.55pt;" valign="top" width="106">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Strategic Financial Management</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 1.2in; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-bottom: none; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 1.2in; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 0in 4.0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">WEDNESDAY</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">21 NOVEMBER</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2012</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 0in 4.0pt;">
</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 1.2in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.35pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9.00 a.m. -</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">12 noon</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 1.2in; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.65pt;" valign="top" width="106">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Corporate and Business Law<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 1.2in; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.85pt;" valign="top" width="109">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Taxation</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 1.2in; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.5pt;" valign="top" width="106">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Advanced Audit and Assurance</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 1.2in; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.55pt;" valign="top" width="106">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Advanced Taxation</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 1.2in; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 4; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 1.2in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 1.2in; mso-border-bottom-alt: black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: windowtext; mso-border-right-alt: windowtext; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: black; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-width-alt: .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.35pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2.00 p.m. –</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5.00 p.m.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 1.2in; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.65pt;" valign="top" width="106">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">-</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 1.2in; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.85pt;" valign="top" width="109">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Business Communication and Research
Methodology<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 1.2in; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.5pt;" valign="top" width="106">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Management Accounting</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 1.2in; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.55pt;" valign="top" width="106">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Public Sector Accounting and Finance</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
NOTE:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1. Kindly take note
that the transition period of the new syllabus has ended. Hence candidates can
no longer combine papers at two levels of the examination. Candidates are now
required to write and passed the paper(s) at the lower level before proceeding
to the higher level of the examinations.. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2. The Council had
approved Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA) as replacement for
Multidisciplinary Case Study (MDCS). Where candidates have other papers
outstanding at the PE II level, they shall no longer be allowed to combine.
They shall write and pass AAA before proceeding to write such other papers in
PE II.</div>
<br />Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-8694405068419457562012-08-10T02:23:00.001-07:002012-08-10T02:23:37.093-07:00Bakassi declares independence, hoists flag<a href="http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp%3Bview=article&amp%3Bid=95129%3Abakassi-declares-independence-hoists-flag&amp%3Bcatid=1%3Anational&amp%3BItemid=559#.UCTS6qUaYVI.blogger">Bakassi declares independence, hoists flag</a>Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-19589922098606564752012-07-15T00:58:00.001-07:002012-07-15T00:58:37.918-07:00The Nigerian Connection - People & Power - Al Jazeera English<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/08/201189141348631784.html#.UAJ3eLRa3rw.blogger">The Nigerian Connection - People & Power - Al Jazeera English</a>Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-40846262892138479162012-06-07T07:45:00.001-07:002012-06-07T07:45:54.886-07:00late M.K.O. Abiola-Epetedo " Enough is Enough" Speech - Saturday, June 11, 1994,<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;">Text of the
proclamation speech by the late M.K.O. Abiola on Saturday, June 11, 1994,
announcing the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) at Epetedo,
Lagos.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
PEOPLE of Nigeria, exactly one
year ago, you turned out in your millions to vote for me, Chief M.K.O. Abiola,
as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But politicians in
uniform, who call themselves soldiers but are more devious than any civilian
would want to be, deprived you of your God-given right to be ruled by the
President you had yourselves elected. These soldier-politicians introduced into
our body politic, a concept hitherto unknown to our political lexicography,
something strangely called the “annulment” of an election perceived by all to
have been the fairest, cleanest and most peaceful ever held in our nation.
Since that abominable act of naked political armed robbery occurred, I have
been constantly urged by people of goodwill, both in Nigeria and abroad, to put
the matter back into the people’s hands and get them to actualise the mandate
they gave me at the polls. But mindful of the need to ensure that peace
continues to reign in our fragile federation, I have so far tried to pursue sweet
reason and negotiation. My hope has always been to arouse whatever remnants of
patriotism are left in the hearts of these thieves of your mandate, and to
persuade them that they should not allow their personal desire to rule to usher
our beloved country into an era of political instability and economic ruin. All
I have sought to do, in seeking dialogue with them, has been to try and get
them to realise that only real democracy can move our nation forward towards
progress, and earn her the respect she deserves from the international
community.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
However, although this peaceful
approach has exposed me to severe censure by some who have mistaken it for
weakness on my part, those with whom I have sought to dialogue have remained
like stones, neither stirred to show loyalty to the collective decision of the
people of their own country, nor to observe Allah’s injunction that they should
exhibit justice and fair-play in all their dealings with their fellowmen.
Appeals to their honour as officers and gentlemen of the gallant Nigerian Armed
Forces, have fallen on deaf ears. Instead, they have resorted to the tactics of
divide and rule, bribery and political perfidy, misinformation and (vile)
propaganda. They arrest everyone who disagrees with them. Even the 71-year old
hero of our nation, Chief Anthony Enahoro, was not spared. How much longer can
we tolerate all this? People of Nigeria, you are all witnesses that I have
tried to climb the highest mountain, cross the deepest river and walk the
longest mile, in order to get these men to obey the will of our people. There
is no humiliation I have not endured, no snare that has not been put in my
path, no “set-up” that has not been designed for me in my endeavour to use the
path of peace to enforce the mandate that you bestowed on me one year ago. It
has been a long night. But the dawn is here. Today, people of Nigeria, I join
you all in saying, “Enough is Enough!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We have endured 24 years of
military rule in our 34 years of independence. Military rule has led to our
nation fighting a civil war with itself. Military rule has destabilised our
nation today as not before in its history. Military rule has impoverished our
people and introduced a dreadful trade in drugs which has made our country’s
name an anathema in many parts of the world. Even soccer fans going to watch
the Green Eagles display in America are being made to suffer there needlessly
because Nigeria’s name is linked with credit card and fraud and “419.”
Politically, military rule has torn to shreds the prestige due to our country
because of its size and population. The permanent seat at the United Nations
Security Council that should be rightfully ours is all but lost. For who will
vote for Nigeria to get the seat if Nigerian military rulers do not respect the
votes of their own people? Enough of military rule.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We are sickened to see people who
have shown little or no personal achievement, either in building up private
businesses, or making success of any tangible thing, being placed in charge of
the management of our nation’s economy, by rulers who are not accountable to
anyone. Enough of square pegs in round holes. We are tired of the military
repetitive tendency to experiment with our economy: Today, they say “no
controls.” Tomorrow; they say “Full controls”. The day after, they say “Fine
tuning”. The next day, they say “Devaluation.” a few days later, they say
“Revalue the same naira upwards again Abi?” All we can see are the consequences
of this permanent game of military “about turns;” high inflation, a huge budget
deficit and an enormous foreign debt repayment burden, dying industries, high
unemployment and a demoralised populace. Our youths, in particular, can see no
hope on the horizon, and many can only dream of escaping from our shores to
join the brain drain. Is this the Nigeria we want?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We are plagued also by periodic
balance of payments crises, which have led to a perennial shortage of essential
drugs that has turned our hospitals and clinics into mortuaries. A scarcity of
books and equipment has rendered our schools into desolate deserts of
ignorance. Our factories are crying for machinery, spare parts and raw
materials. But each day that passes, instead of these economic diseases being
cured, they are rather strengthened as an irrational allocation of foreign
exchange based on favouritism and corruption becomes the order of the day.
Enough is enough of economic mismanagement! People of Nigeria, during the
election campaign last year, I presented you with a programme entitled “HOPE
’93?. This programme was aimed precisely at solving these economic (problems)
that have demoralized us all. I toured every part of Nigeria to present this
programme to you the electorate. I was questioned on it at public rallies and
press conferences and I had the privilege of incorporating into it much of the
feedback that I obtained from the people. Because you knew I would not only
listen to you but deliver superb results from the programme, you voted for me
in your millions and gave me an overwhelming majority over my opponent. To be
precise, you gave me 58.4 per cent of the popular vote and a majority in 20 out
of 30 states plus the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Not only that, you also
enabled me to fulfill the constitutional requirement that the winner should
obtain one-third of the votes in two-thirds of the states. I am sure that when
you cast an eye on the moribund state of Nigeria today, you ask yourselves:
“What have we done to deserve this, when we have a president-elect who can lead
a government that can change things for the better?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Our patience has come to an end.
As of now, from this moment, a new Government of National Unity is in power
throughout the length and breadth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, led by
me, Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, as President and Commander-in-Chief. The National
Assembly is hereby reconvened. All dismissed governors are reinstated. The
State Assemblies are reconstituted, as are all local government councils. I
urge them to adopt a bi-partisan approach to all the issues that come before
them. At the national level, a bi-partisan approach will be our guiding
principle. I call upon the usurper, General Sani Abacha, to announce his
resignation forthwith, together with the rest of his illegal ruling council. We
are prepared to enter into negotiations with them to work out the mechanics for
a smooth transfer of power. I pledge that if they hand over quietly, they will
be retired with all their entitlements, and their positions will be accorded
all the respect due to them. For our objective is neither recrimination nor
witch-hunting, but an enforcement of the will of the Nigerian people, as
expressed in free elections conducted by the duly constituted authority of the
time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I hereby invoke the mandate
bestowed upon me by my victory in the said election, to call on all members of
the Armed Forces and the Police, the Civil and Public Services throughout the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, to obey only the Government of National Unity that
is headed by me, your only elected President. My Government of National Unity
is the only legitimate, constituted authority in the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, as of now.” People of Nigeria, these are challenging times in the
history of our continent, Africa, and we in Nigeria must not allow ourselves to
be left behind. Our struggle is the same as that waged by the people of South
Africa, which has been successfully concluded, with the inauguration of Mr.
Nelson Mandela as the first African President of that country. Nelson Mandela
fought to replace MINORITY rule with MAJORITY rule. We in Nigeria are also
fighting to replace MINORITY rule, for we are ruled by only a tiny section of
our armed forces. Like the South Africans, we want MAJORITY rule today, that is
rule only by those chosen by all the people of Nigeria as a whole in free and
fair elections. The only difference between South Africa and Nigeria is that
those who imposed minority rule on the majority rule whether it is by black or
white, remains minority rule, and must be booted out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I call on you, heroic people of
Nigeria, to emulate the actions of your brothers and sisters in South Africa
and stand up as one person to throw away the yoke of minority rule for ever.
The antics of every minority that oppresses the majority are always the same.
They will try to intimidate you with threats of police action. But do not let
us fear arrest. In South Africa, so many people were arrested, during the
campaign against the Pass Laws, for instance, that the jails could not hold all
of them. Today, apartheid is gone forever. So, let it be with Nigeria. Let us
say goodbye forever to minority rule by the military. They talk of treason. But
haven’t they heard of the Rivonia treason trial in South Africa? Did those
treason trials halt the march of history? People of Nigeria, our time is now.
You are the repository of power in the land. No one can give you power. It is
yours. Take it! From this day, show to the world that anyone who takes the
people of Nigeria for fools is deceiving himself and will have the people to
answer to. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
God bless you all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Long live the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Long live the Government of
National Unity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-86113125144911051332012-02-07T08:51:00.000-08:002012-02-07T09:29:31.797-08:00‘Right to protest is inalienable’<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 18pt;">THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 18pt;"><a href="http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76303:right-to-protest-is-inalienable&catid=42:law&Itemid=600"><span style="color: #145077;">‘Right to protest is inalienable’</span></a></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-transform: uppercase;">TUESDAY, 07 FEBRUARY 2012 00:00 <b>BY ABIODUN FANORO </b><a href="http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=9&layout=blog&Itemid=414"><span style="color: #145077;">FEATURES</span><span style="color: #145077; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span></a>-<a href="http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=42:law&layout=blog&Itemid=600"><span style="color: #145077;">LAW</span></a></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;">Top of Form<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 0in 0in 0in;"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="display: none; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;">Bottom of Form<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
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o:title="Tayo-Oyetibo-7-2-12"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Nigeria has just witnessed a nationwide civil disobedience in the form of strikes called by civil society groups, in collaboration with the organised Labour, to protest the removal of subsidy on petrol by President Goodluck Jonathan. The protests, which totally shut down the economy and the country, have continued to generate diverse comments and reactions from both local and foreign analysts. In addition to these comments, analysts are of the view that the incident has raised a number of legal matters that must be addressed to forestall future occurrence. Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), a civil rights campaigner who specialises in Labour law, examines some of these legal matters that arose in the course of the nationwide protests in this interview with ABIODUN FANORO Excerpts:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">CAN you explain some legal issues that were brought to the fore in the recent protests against the removal of subsidy on petrol?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">There is something that we have to get right. There is a difference between a strike embarked on by the organised Labour and the protest by ordinary citizens in the country. Only a recognised union can call its members out on a strike. Strike is recognised and regulated by laws, as a weapon used by workers to express their opinion on a point of dispute between them and their employers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">However, the right to protest unjust government policies is reserved for every citizen of the country, to express his or her opinion. Every citizen of Nigeria has the right to freedom of speech, freedom of expression. Protest is a form of freedom of expression. So, the right of the people of Nigeria to protest unjust government policies is separate and distinct from the right of the organised Labour to go on strike. For instance, market women found all over the country, are not members of the organised Labour. Also, lawyers do not belong to any trade union. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is not a member of any trade union. Taxi and bus drivers who thronged to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota, Lagos, tomato and onion sellers in Kano, who trooped to the city’s square, were not on strike, they were protesting. So members of the organised Labour and the ordinary citizens are two different groups of people, but they are working for a common purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The focal point is that workers have two rights. The right to go on strike and the right to protest. Workers have their right as members of a recognised trade union, to protests. They also have their rights as citizens of Nigeria to protest, so you could ask which right was being exercised when they all stormed the various rallies across the country. Majority of those who went to Ojota were exercising their general right of protest. The government has right to recognise that fact. Calling civil servants to return to work was not a solution, threatening the organised Labour also not a solution.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">What is the significance of this?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The spontaneous reaction by Nigerians and their eagerness to join the protest, in mind is the beginning of a new and positive thing in Nigeria. It is a healthy development for the country, that Nigerians who had been labeled docile, on their own without being promoted, suddenly realised that they have the inalienable right to protest unjust government’s policies. It is even more remarkable that while government was saying it could not and must not go on strike, the workers recognised their seemed rights as citizens to go on a protest. Certainly, this is the beginning of a new thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Could you again identify some other legal matters during this protest that deserved attention?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">It must be boldly noted that when the Federal Government went to court and the court restrained the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), the suit at the National Industrial Court (NIC) was against the two organisations. So, where do you situate the people of Nigeria? It is settled in law that only parties to an action can be bound by an order made in the action. The court, as I understand, did not restrain and could not have restrained the people of Nigeria, from going on protest. I do not see how any court would make an order against the people of Nigeria restraining them from protesting an unjust government policy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">So, can you say that the right of the people of Nigeria to protest cannot be outlawed?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Exactly, that is what I am saying. If anyone wants to do that, then who is the defendant in such an action? Of course, in public interest litigation, the Attorney-General of the Federation could take an action on behalf of the public. But in this suit, it was the Attorney-General that was in the swing, and he cannot sue himself. The Attorney-General cannot go to court as plaintiff and also sue himself on behalf of the Nigerian people as the defendant.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Should the judiciary have brought itself into this matter, knowing full well that it is difficult to outlaw protest by the people of Nigeria?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">No! You cannot say the judiciary cannot intervene in any matter. Courts exist to adjudicate on disputes. If a party believes that there is a genuine dispute between him and another person, or a group of persons, it is legitimate for such a person to approach the court. It is also legitimate for the court to make relevant order that justice demands. But again, the suit you are referring to, has nothing to do with the right of Nigerians to protest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">What the court sought to achieve by its order was defeated when the protest and the strike broke out. In these, where is the integrity of the court?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The integrity of the court cannot be called into question. The court retains its integrity at all times. What is important is for the case that is before the court to fall within the jurisdiction of the court.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">What I am saying is this: it would appear the court gave a ruling that could not be executed?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">No, that is not true. Remember that there had been an occasion in the past when the government approached the court and got injunction to stop an industrial strike action. It has happened in the past. I think that was what the government intended to do in this case. Who says the court cannot intervene? The court can intervene in appropriate cases.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">But in this case, why did the intention of the court fail?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Well, let’s leave that to the court to determine. I don’t want to comment on the merit or otherwise of the case for now. One other thing that I found very interesting is government’s argument that one of the reasons that necessitated the removal of subsidy was because all other countries around Nigeria sell petrol at higher prices. Therefore if Nigeria sells at a lower price, it would heighten smuggling of the product across our borders. Certainly, this is an untenable argument. Venezuela, an OPEC member-country, sells its oil locally at a price much more lower than N65 per litre while its neighbours who have no petrol, sell at much higher prices. Yet, this does not prompt Venezuela to remove subsidy on petrol. Venezuela has not adopted the Nigerian argument. What this means is the failure of law and order, as well as failure of governmental structures and institutions. The question is, who are the people smuggling? Fuel is transported in trucks and these trucks pass through the highways. Are there no security agents manning these highways? How do these trucks cross the Nigerian borders? Has the government now surrender completely security on the highways? That is an argument the government must not promote, because it is an admission of failure of institutions. If it is established that some officials were posted to ensure security at the borders and while on duty fuel was smuggled across the border, why are such officials not made to face the law?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">One other issue of law that the government has refused to explain why it breached is the 2011 Appropriation Act, which provides for fuel subsidy and whose life the National Assembly has extended to March 2012?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">There is no doubt that the 2011 Appropriation Act is still in force, since it has been extended till the end of March 2012. It is also a fact that there is provision for fuel subsidy in that Act. Since it is still running, subsidy must also be fully implemented until the Appropriation Act runs its full course. When I listen to government officials who have come to promote its position on subsidy, they said from January 2012, government did not release fund for subsidy. What this means is that it is either money had been appropriated but is not being disbursed. That certainly violates the Appropriation Act. Or the money that was appropriated for subsidy has been exhausted. Again, that means there has been disbursement outside the purview of the provisions of the Act, because no money ought to be spent without being duly appropriated. If the government is supposed to spend say one billion naira in June and it went ahead to spend say two billion naira, who authorised the excess one billion naira? This is a question the government needs to address and answer. The second thing we need to hoot into is government’s argument is not getting to the generality of Nigerians because a cabal has been benefiting and profiting from subsidy by submitting invoices that are not backed by fuel importation. What actually infuriates me is for a government to admit that there exists a cabal that is profiting on Nigerians and the economy of Nigeria. That shows that cabal or whoever they may be have been identified because the money goes to a particular purse and it is released by a particular person and goes to a particular person. The question now is, is the government afraid to deal with these individuals using the relevant laws? Until the government is able to answer these questions that are begging for answers and until the government is ready to expose all those involved in these shady deals and prosecute them, it would be difficult for it to convince Nigerians that there is justification for the removal of subsidy, if there is any.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Is it possible to make payments to people supplying goods to the government, which the so-called cabals were doing, without approval and authorisation by elements in the Presidency?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">It may be difficult to answer that question until the government tells Nigerians how the cabal operates, could it be that members of the cabal simply submit invoices for fuel purportedly supplied without any such supply. But logically speaking, that is not how payment would be authorised, approval made without the knowledge and involvement of relevant government’s officers in the Presidency. Certainly, a can of worm is about to be opened and it would be strange how the Presidency could be exonerated.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Where the Executive breached the Appropriation Act as it is with the 2011 fuel subsidy fund, what should members of the National Assembly do?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">You see, there is the doctrine of separation of powers under our Constitution. Once the National Assembly has passed the Appropriation Bill into law, disbursement is the statutory duty of the Executive. However, the National Assembly can under its oversight function, which is permitted by the Constitution, look into how the money approved under existing Appropriation Act was spent before approving another Appropriation Act. This is where the investigative function of the National Assembly comes in. It could seek to investigate how the money approved for subsidy under the 2011 Appropriation Act was spent before passing the 2012 budget.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">How would you place the Sunday emergency session held by the House of Representatives on the subsidy crisis?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The session was perfectly in order, regardless of the intolerant reaction of the Presidency, which described the House’s resolution as inciting the people of Nigeria against the Presidency. The House has the constitutional responsibility to legislate for peace and order in the country. So if in its wisdom, the House felt removing subsidy will not promote peace and order, it has the constitutional responsibility to advise and urge the Executive to reconsider its decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">No doubt, it is the duty of the Police to maintain peace and order. But looking at the over 20 posters of people reportedly killed by the Police, how justifiable are the killings?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">None of the killings by the Police is justifiable in anyway. If a man is embarking on a peaceful protest, there is no justification under Nigerian law for the Police to use life bullet to shoot such a person. It is most unjustified even in the face of a riot, there is a way the Police could quell a riot without killing any of the rioters. And in any event, what took place in Nigeria in response to the insensitive removal of alleged fuel subsidy was not a riot. There is a difference between a riot and a protest, protest is legitimate, while a riot is criminal. What took place in Lagos in particular, and in other parts of Nigeria, was a protest, it was not a riot. I repeat, there was no riot in Lagos. It was a civil protest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">In the light of these senseless killings, have men of the Police been educated to know the difference between a riot and a protest?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">I don’t know the extent of the training that men of the Nigeria Police have been exposed to. But the way and manner they handled the protest, which in my view stemmed from the earlier threat by the Inspector General of Police not to allow any protest and his further threat to crush any protest, it was obvious that the police has not been educated on the difference between a riot and a protest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The Police is said to be relying on a law called Police Order 237 in committing these extra-judicial killings…</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">I have just said that there is a difference between a riot and a protest. If Order 237 empowers the Police to shoot at rioters, that would not apply to protesters. If a group of citizens gathered together, carried play-card to condemn unjust government’s policies, that is not a riot, that is a civil protest. You could say it was a large crowd. Yet, it was a large crowd of protesters, which we have not witnessed in this country since June 12, 1993, crisis when the presidential election won by late Chief M.K.O. Abiola was annulled by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Amnesty International and some other rights group have called for immediate abrogation of the Act. What is your view on this?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Even in the criminal code, there is a way the Police should deal with rioters. The Police are not allowed to just shoot at rioters. Even the Constitution does not empower the Police to kill rioters; it only allows them to arrest rioters. The highest level the law allows the police are to shoot a rioter on the leg and that is if he is about to endanger the lives of many other people. In an attempt to prevent this, the Police can shoot at the leg of rioter to demobilise him. The Police has no power to kill a rioter, how much more a protester. Under the Nigerian Constitution, when a person is arrested, be he a rioter or even an armed robber, he is entitled to be heard and be given fair trial. He is not to be summarily executed as it is with the killing of a rioter. So, if the Police have no constitutional power to kill a rioter, then how is it going to nationalise or justify the killing of a lawful protester? If a man is alleged to have caused riot, how would the Police prove that if he has been summarily executed? How would he be able to defend himself if he has been killed? That is why the Constitution opposes the killing of a rioter or any suspect whatsoever. By now, Nigeria should have gone beyond the use of life bullets to deal with rioters, not to talk of protesters. It is not only primitive, it is callous, it shows again that in this part of the world, we are crude and that we have no simple regard for life, human sanctity and dignity. It also goes to show that the government in this part of the world does not see the citizens as fellow human beings, but as foes who have no right to complain or express their views, they are best seen as foes to be hunted down.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-18403266900227774632012-01-25T23:47:00.000-08:002012-01-25T23:47:40.971-08:00<br />
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Ringim falls at the feet of history</h1>
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By <span class="story_author" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/author/Rilwan/" style="color: #008040; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;">Kunle Fagbemi</a></span> <span id="t1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #74a702; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">Jan 26, 2012 at 8:46 AM</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #74a702; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"> </span><span id="t1a" style="background-color: transparent; color: #74a702; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;">WAT</span></div>
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<img alt="Ringim " height="208" src="http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/thumbnail.php?file=Ringim_109280669.jpg&size=article_medium" width="320" /><span class="image_caption" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; color: #777777; display: block; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Ringim</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: x-small;">It was said of a one-time King of France, Louis XVI (1774-1793), that “he arrived in the wrong historical place at the wrong time.” No fate can be more implacable, and no destiny more cruel, than that a man should be held hostage by history. Nineteen years after he inauspiciously donned the crown, Louis XVI and his wife went to the guillotine, even though the crises France experienced under him began during the dissolute reigns of his predecessors, Louis XIV and Louis XV, at such a pace no man twice as gifted as he could control, let alone reverse. Mr Hafiz Ringim, the Inspector-General of Police (IG) who was made to retire yesterday morning, may not have studied the role fate played in the rise and fall of Louis XVI, but he found himself a prisoner of destiny at that famously cruel juncture familiar to many great men forced to cede power – where history meets inescapable fate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: x-small;">It is safe to say that Boko Haram, the Salafist Jihadist sect dedicated to violence and anarchy in Nigeria, ended the career of Ringim. He did not show himself an incomparable police officer, but he was passably articulate, even had middle class manners, and fitted in with the thin crowd of IGs (many of whom were indistinguishably average) who preceded him. Had Boko Haram not upended his plans to cruise along as an average IG, there is little doubt that he would have retired in March with his head held high. But whether out of naivety or overconfidence, he was deemed by the terrorist sect to have challenged their prowess when he boomed after the Eagle Square bombing that the days of Boko Haram were numbered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: x-small;">In methodical succession, and with an abandon that at once shames and enrages every security man on the public payroll, Boko Haram detonated powerful bombs one after the other, starting with the Force Headquarters bombing on a day Ringim was in office, and according to reports, barely escaped being the direct target of the bombers. As if taunting the police, the bombers detonated another powerful explosive at the United Nations building in Abuja, took out 43 worshippers at a church in Madalla, near Abuja, and finally unveiled misery, horror and death in Kano last Friday. In between, there were sundry explosions of improvised bombs (IEDs) and scattered shootings that ran rings round the police.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: x-small;">The Kano mayhem probably finally undid Ringim, in spite of President Goodluck Jonathan’s puzzling commitment to helping his career to a memorable and honourable end. But there was no way Kano would have achieved such a deadly impact on Ringim’s career had a top Boko Haram suspect, Mallam Kabiru Sokoto, not escaped from police custody days before in humiliating and benumbing circumstances. It seemed Ringim was fated to receive one indignity after another from Boko Haram, and to stumble from one unresolved crisis to another unmanageable security nightmare. In case Ringim brought all these upon himself by careless speechmaking, his successor, Mohammed Abubakar, will almost certainly watch what he says and where he throws down the gauntlet before a sect that takes up gauntlets with alacrity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: x-small;">It would, however, be an oversimplification of the crises that put an ignoble end to Ringim’s career to suggest that his troubles were caused by an unbridled tongue or that most of the security challenges he encountered during his tenure were self-made. If he showed little initiative in handling the escape of Kabiru Sokoto, and demonstrated overzealousness in attempting to muzzle the press, of which this newspaper was a victim, they were insufficient to end his career had he demonstrated in other areas the sterling quality needed to reposition the police and respond with aplomb to the increasing sophistication of the enemies of the state.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: x-small;">Notwithstanding, it is also probably true that President Jonathan was reluctant to sack Ringim when the indignities concocted by Boko Haram began to rain on the police, the presidency and the nation like a torrent because he knew sensibly that the security challenges facing the nation transcended the police’s lack of initiative and incompetence. Even if he had a revolutionary mind, there was not much Ringim could do to stem the effusive daring of high-profile criminals and terrorists. Kidnapping, the nemesis of Ringim’s predecessor, has continued apace, if now little reported with the flourish that accompanied its dramatic beginnings. The country has not found a solution, and will not, for as long as the conditions that engender it persist. Boko Haram is an inherited social and political disease. No police force on its own, no matter how brilliant, can solve it. It will require concerted efforts by the police and the political establishment led by the presidency to fight it. But the presidency has been strangely remiss in leading the fight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: x-small;">More importantly, whether we admit it or not, Boko Haram and other crimes threatening the state are products of a dysfunctional society in which the elite stupidly frolics with the incendiary tool of religion at a time scrupulous adherence to secularism would have considerably obviated the crises that inundate the country. In addition, these high-profile crimes are also products of an inefficient and unworkable federal structure resting on an incompetent constitution operated by uninspiring and effete political elite. If not kidnapping today, if not Boko Haram tomorrow, and if not another terrible crime on the day after, Nigeria would always stand the risk of being undone by one crime or the other over its refusal to reform and remould its political system when it still has the initiative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: x-small;">Boko Haram leaders may smirk heartily over the fall of Ringim, but they are not stupid to imagine that he as a person represented the institution they fought so bitterly. The federal government would be naïve to also think that once a new man occupies the IG seat, and he shows some imagination, then all will be well. Boko Haram is just an aspect of the disease ravaging the body politic. The country’s problems are so fundamental and structural that no palliative, either in weapons or rotation of officers or better technology, can prove a useful anodyne.</span></div>
</div>Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-1134637620685773062011-03-04T06:53:00.001-08:002011-03-04T06:53:52.899-08:00A COUNTRY WITH SUPPOSEDLY IRRELEVANT YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN… (PART I)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<div class="submitted" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Submitted by rawmaterial on Wed, 02/23/2011 - 13:44</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let me open my write-up with the following quote credited to Ethiopian Statesman and Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974-Haile Selassie I “Education develops the intellect; and the intellect distinguishes man from other creatures. It is education that enables man to harness nature and utilize her resources for the well-being and improvement of his life. The key for the betterment and completeness of modern living is education. But, ' Man cannot live by bread alone '. Man, after all, is also composed of intellect and soul. Therefore, education in general, and higher education in particular, must aim to provide, beyond the physical, food for the intellect and soul. That education which ignores man's intrinsic nature, and neglects his intellect and reasoning power cannot be considered true education."</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I have deliberately set-out the above statement to set the tone for my write-up and belief it would serve as a yard stick for assessment and proper comparison of some of the things I would talk about below. I know many a person would wonder at the above caption and some would go as far as castigating me for such a theme, but really do our elders and leaders genuinely think that young people have something to offer in the scheme of things in Nigeria, do they truly belief that we have something upstairs? Over the years and till present they have answered this begging question in the no. At every opportunity they have told us we are ill-educated, unenlightened, unperceptive, otiose, and unserious and some of their reasons being that we have contributed little by way of discuss and leadership to national development, young Nigerians are giving the country a bad image all over the world etc. What an Irony, it seems they have never given it a thought; they’ve never had the time, and or luxury to realize that their persistent and unrelenting follies have brought on our generation its present misadventures.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is sardonic for our leaders and elders to make pronouncements that sound as if they are better than us their children, it is unafrican and unparently. I bet they are disappointed that some of us have refused to be beaten by our environment, have refused to be encumbered by our environment .This reminds me of a Yoruba saying which translates in a question and answer that can be adapted thus “my friend with knock-knees the luggage on your head is rickety and angulated? And he answered “you are looking at the top and not the bottom.” Is it our fault that some our parents bite more than they can chew by begotten more children than they can qualitatively cater for, is it our fault that primary and secondary teachers are poorly remunerated and as such these pivotal level of education cannot attract adequately qualified and highly motivated teacher and as a result many of us cannot be said to be able to read and write well even after secondary school, is it our fault that we were born into an environment which glorifies mediocrity and does not give room for meritocracy or is it our fault that we were born into a system where everything is comatose?</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I once attended a programme on the theme “youth are leaders of tomorrow” and funny enough all the nine speakers at the event were above fifty years of age, I then wondered what the mindset of the organizers of the programme was. Is it that the young men and women who were supposedly being talked about don’t have anything to say or what? Nigerian young men and women are making their mark all over the world the only place where they still remain on the back seat is in Nigeria. Nobel Laurel Professor Wole Soyinka was once reported to have made a comment saying that his generation was a failed one and one cannot but agree with him .To drive his point home lets beam our search light on some of the current problems of the Nigerian society and let see if it is the youth and young persons who caused them.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In 2009 a total of 1,182,381 candidates registered for the University Matriculation Examination (UME), and it was reported that the nation’s universities both public and private can only accommodate about 98,000 of these candidates that same year. The plain statistic is that it is only one out of every 12 candidate who wrote the examination that would be admitted and again it translates into the fact that only about 8.3 % of these candidates would get a place in the universities, so it means that passing the examination does not guarantee you would get admitted. This is obviously a case of continuous lack of foresight, planning and or deliberate attempt to frustrate an ordinary citizens’ from getting educated. Our consecutive leaders have caused us this problem and our elders have condoned it.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Every action of our leaders and elders in the past and till present has proven beyond reasonable doubt that their thoughts and actions are always in the present, personal and geared toward self aggrandizement. They’ve planned for themselves and their families and forgotten that if your son or daughter schooled abroad he would definitely come back to lead or rule people who have lived and schooled in Nigeria, and mind you there is nothing like “ceteris paribus “in Nigerian Economics. Our leaders and parents have refused to realize and understand that partial and general equilibrium should be modify to include the human factor because rationality is a mirage in Nigeria. Some people still gullibly thought that Babangida never prayed that SAP should succeed but what they fail to realize is that the economic variables are different in Nigeria.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In conclusion I will say that our leaders and elders have done us a great disservice by not creating the same conducive environment where they grew up, schooled and live in for us .All they do is talk about the good old days, they do forget that some people struggled for the good old days. So it is incumbent on them to start planning and struggling for a better future for themselves ,their children and children which is only possible in a politically stable and progressive Nigeria.<a href="http://community.234next.com/content/country-supposedly-irrelevant-young-men-and-women%E2%80%A6-part-i">http://community.234next.com/content/country-supposedly-irrelevant-young-men-and-women%E2%80%A6-part-i</a></div>Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-67573696512836162282010-12-13T00:54:00.000-08:002010-12-13T00:56:10.238-08:00<h2 class="contentheading clearfix" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria, Times, serif; line-height: 28px;"><a class="contentpagetitle" href="http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71326:who-is-a-traditional-ruler-&catid=36:news&Itemid=702" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #145077; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Who is a traditional ruler?</a></span></h2><div><h2 class="contentheading clearfix" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-family: Cambria, Times, serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, verdana; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: uppercase;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="createdate" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">SUNDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2010 </span><span class="createby" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">NIGERIAN COMPASS</span></span></span></h2></div><div><br />
</div><div class="article-tools clearfix" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f7f7f7; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: both; display: block; font-family: Arial, verdana; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;"><div class="article-meta" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #999999; float: left; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 519px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: x-small; line-height: 12px; text-transform: none;"><b>Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi</b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; text-transform: uppercase;"><br />
</span></div><div class="article-content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">By a resolution of the Council of Obas and Chiefs of Oyo State meeting at Ibadan on Thursday, 9th August, 1984, I, Oba Olayiwola Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo, was mandated to present before this august assembly, a paper on the Role of Traditional Rulers in the Governance of Nigeria.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Accordingly, I feel highly honoured and delighted to accomplish the wishes of the members of the Council in presenting the paper before you all today.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You will pardon me for my inability to treat everything in details by time constraint. The purpose of this exercise, of course, is not to exhaust everything about traditional rulers in Nigeria, but most importantly create the awareness for scholars of history to conduct more researches in that direction.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Perhaps, it may be germane even from the out set to pose the above question. The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Erediauwa II, C. F. R., in a memorandum titled,</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Traditional Ruler in the Scheme of things, which he presented at a Conference of Traditional Rulers in 1982, attempted to examine the definition of a traditional ruler. He noted, embarrassingly, that even the suspended Nigerian Constitution degraded the traditional ruler by merely referring to him as a “Chief”.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Oba observed further that the (defunct) Bendel State Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law, 1979, defines a “Chief” as”a person whose chieftaincy title is associated with a community in the state and that includes a traditional chief and honorary Chief.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The same law was quoted as defining a “traditional ruler as the traditional head of an ethnic unit and or clan and whose title is recognised as a traditional ruler by the Government of the State”.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Since Nigeria, for the time being, comprises nineteen autonomous states (now thirty-six), there is a problem of having to do with perhaps nineteen different definitions as may be provided by their respective Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Laws. This cannot be ascertained due to time constraint stated earlier.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">However, Oba Erediauwa, the Oba of Benin came out with his own definition thus: “Traditional Ruler means the traditional head of an ethnic community whose Stool conferred the highest traditional authority on the incumbent since the time before the beginning of British rule.”</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Oba supported his contention with the definition of “antiquity” as contained in the National Commission for Museums and Monuments Act, 1979, which states that, “an antiquity is any work of art or craft work, if such work of art or craft work is of indigenous origin and was fashioned before the year 1918 or has been at any time in the performance and for the purposes of any traditional ceremony.”</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">One will then ask: What is tradition? A standard dictionary defines the word ‘tradition’ as the handing down of stories, beliefs, custom from one generation to another, adding that such stories, beliefs, custom that are so handed down are regarded as traditional. Therefore, the Oba of Benin has actually made the point.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It is only very essential to base our discussion on a well defined institution, or more importantly, to get interested scholars really concerned with the efforts to establish proper definition of traditional rulers in Nigeria with a view to streamlining the affairs of this important heritage.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Traditional title holders can be categorised into</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">viz:-</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Those holding purely honorific titles - namely titles bestowed on them by superior traditional rulers in recognition and appreciation of service the recipients had rendered to the community.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The title holders in this category have no executive functions whatsoever, but are important and good for channel of communication with and mobilization of people whenever necessary.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The second category are holders of titles or positions created and recognized by law with specific functions.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The third category are those full time executive traditional title holders who were exercising the executive roles before Nigeria was born: these were referred to as Traditional Rulers.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The State</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Considering the context of this topic, one should have consigned oneself with the role of traditional rulers as from the time Nigeria came into existence following the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria and the Colony of Lagos on the 1st January, 1914.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">However, for purposes of clear analysis of the role of traditional rulers in the governance of Nigeria up till the present day, one needs to go beyond the Colonial period since the latter period the Colonial administrators adopted the system of government based on traditional rulership.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It has been stated that the desire of man to live in the company of others necessitates the creation or provides the need for the existence of a state.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Alhaji Sheu Mallami, Sarkin Sudan of Wurno, delivering a lecture at the Army and Staff College, Jaji, on the 2nd August, 1978, made reference to various authors on this aspect. He quoted Plato (428BC -348BC) in his work, Republic, as follows: “A state, I said, arises, as I conceived, one of the needs of mankind. No one is self sufficient, but all of us have many wants.” This is the principle that belied the formation of human communities, ranging from small independent Kingdoms to great Empires which fuse into a great nation of Nigeria of today.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Alhaji Sheu Mallami referred to the Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammed Bello, in his book, Al Gaith al wable, published in AD 1816 was quoted that the real motive of the state is the rule of justice and truth; and secondly, it is the machinery of the state which sifts the good from the bad, virtue from vice, the sanctioned from the prohibited.”</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He went further to quote Ibn Khaldoun (AD 1332-1408), that the basic concept recognised by political scientists is that the sovereignty in the state or of the state is the connecting force which binds the forces existing in the state.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">This sovereignty may lie in one person or a number of persons and may be visible or invisible but it must exist somewhere, otherwise the state would disintegrate.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Thomas Hobbes, (1588 - 1679AD) in his book, Leviathan, was quoted thus: “Man has no pleasure (but on the contrary a great deal of grief) in keeping company where there is no power able to over awe them all.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It is manifested that during the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war, and such a war as is of everyman against every man.”</span></span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Quoting Ghazzali’s contribution in his book, Fatihalul mlum, Mallami stated that it is impossible to have a permanent organisation of worldly affairs without a ruler, adding that without ruler to whom the people should habitually be obedient, there would be, “continuous turmoil, a never ending clanging of the swords, a recurring state of femine, diseases, and an end to all industries and handcrafts.”</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Quite frankly, Alhaji Sheu Mallami’s lecture has raised fundamental issues regarding the need for man to live together; the existence and sustenance of the state; and justification for existence of a ruler.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Having spent inevitably this much time on a preamble which is very fundamental for clear presentation, I will now proceed to treat the relevant topic of the lecture titled, Role of Traditional Ruler in the Governance of Nigeria.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">We really cannot understand the present without knowing a little of the past. Therefore we need to look into a bit of history. The reason for this is that well organised communities which either by cohesion or persuation developed into autonomous states must have passed through the historical process already explained above.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">They operated their own system of Government, had their separate social structures and evolved particular traditions and customs.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Significant among them were the Oyo Empire, Benin Empire, Bornu Empire and what could be rightly called Fulani Empire. Also existing simultaneously were small kingdoms operating alone or as a Federation.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The British came, took over, and grouped the various Empires and Kingdoms into Northern and Southern protectorates and Colony of Lagos.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In January, 1914, the two protectorates known as group of Provinces and the Colony of Lagos were amalgamated into one country known today as Nigeria.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">When the British assumed the control of Administration, they simply adopted the existing system of government and this they styled as “Indirect Rule.”</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">This step became necessary because they met an excellent system of Administration. Further more, they had no knowledge of the country; had no personnel and resources to establish an alternative system. Therefore, they decided to use the available local resources in manpower to govern.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The system of Indirect Rule was just like the utilization of the traditional rulers – their age-long and well-tested apparatus of Administration to govern the country – in a system which had been tried in India.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The system remained in operation until we took over progressively the control of the administration in the country from early 1950s and finally in 1960, when we achieved our Independence.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">We can now see the need to examine the subject matter a bit beyond its scope.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I will treat the subject briefly on regional basis taking first, with your indulgence, the Yoruba States.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Oyo Empire:</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">This paper is not concerned with the establishment of the Empire, its growth, dwindling, and reconstruction. Suffice to state that Oyo Empire was founded by Oranmiyam, the direct descendant of Oduduwa.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He assumed the title of Alaafin. The first capital of the Empire was sited at Old Oyo. The Empire was threatened by internal strifes and external aggression. Subsequently, the capital moved to the present Oyo, the seat of my reign today by Alaafin Atiba, the first ruler in the new capital.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The roles of governing were performed by the traditional title holders in the capital and yet others in the provincial towns and villages within the Empire.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The structural opposition, central to Oyo politics, lay in a division of roles. On the one side, the Alaafin was head of the administrative and the executive arms of government, entrusted with the implementation of external policy by diplomacy or war, the management of markets, trade, the investigation and punishment of crimes, and the celebration of the principal annual rites in the State Cults of the Yoruba gods and ancestors.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">On the other side, the Oyomesi, on the order of the Alaafin, raised the citizens army of Oyo, and the Bashorun commanded it. The Cults were in the hands of free Oyo, and their titled priests ranked among subordinate officials of the Oyomesi who were themselves civil lords of the non-royal wards and who severally had some judicial control in them, adjudicating disputes between the component lineages and generally in matter where arbitration rather than punishment was the aim. The Oyomesi could dissuade the Alaafin from embarking upon rash adventures.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">These title holders and palace officials are divided into two major groups, each group consisting of various classes and order of importance.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">They are the Royal Title holders and the Nobility. The most important in the Royal group are the “Fathers of the King” - Onashokun, Ona-Aka, and Omo-Nla. These are heads of the three Principal Branches of the royal lineages barred from putting forward successors to the throne. They are heads of town wards and have the responsibility to nominate the candidates to fill vacancy of Alaafin when it becomes necessary.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Next to them, in that group are those referred to as the “brothers of the King”; namely: the Baba Iyaji, Olusami, Arole Oba, Atingisi, Agunpopo and Arole Iya-Oba.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Others are the palace officials consisting of (a) titled officers, (b) the Eunuchs and (c) the Ilaris. Significant among this group are the Eunuchs also called Iwefa. The three leading members - Ona-Efa (eunuch of the middle), Otunefa (eunuch of the right), Osiefa (eunuch of the left), head the judicial, religion and executive divisions of the royal government respectively.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Oyomesi are the most important among the nobility. They are Bashorun, Agbaakin, Shamu, Alapinni, Lagunna, Akinniku, Ashipa and the Onamodeke. They are followed by the Eso (Military Officers) whose superior was the Aare-Ona-Kakanfo, the generallisimo of Yoruba Armed Forces. He resided outside the capital. There were seventy (70) captains - ten each under a member of the Oyomesi - superintending a unit of guards. However, none was attached to the Onamodeke.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Other notable class in the Nobility are the Ogbonis -Cult of the earth - whose members are drawn from the titled priests of other lineages. All members of Oyomesi are ex-officio members of the Cult though they cannot be Ogboni priests. The head of Ogboni Cult and Chief diviner had access to the Alaafin through a woman official and the Osiefa. In particular, their unanimous sanction was necessary in the case of Oyomesi rejecting the rule of the Alaafin who would be consequently be expected to go to sleep. This was the process of checks and balances which made the rule of Alaafin a pure democracy, at the time before the British occupation between 1894-1898.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Like in the capital, the Provincial administration followed the same in pattern with the Provincial Kings or Baale at the head of affairs and held themselves responsible to the Alaafin of Oyo and carrying out his orders. They had advisers as well.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 0.13in; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div>Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-87211682122576427272010-11-23T08:13:00.000-08:002010-11-23T08:21:37.439-08:00PDP’s House of Crises<img alt="Newswatch Magazine" src="http://www.newswatchngr.com//images/mylogo.png" /><br />
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<tr><td align="left" colspan="2" valign="top" width="70%"><span class="small" style="color: #999999; font-size: 0.9em; padding-bottom: 0.6em;">Written by Demola Abimboye </span> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="createdate" colspan="2" style="color: #999999; font-size: 0.9em; padding-bottom: 0.6em;" valign="top">Monday, 22 November 2010</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.35em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Over-ambition and greed are tearing apart Nigeria’s ruling political party, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in virtually all states of the federation</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.35em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">It was like daring the proverbial lion in its den. On Friday, November 5, Rashidi Ladoja, a member of the board of trustees, BoT, of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and thousands of his supporters stormed Ogbomoso, the hometown of Adebayo Alao-Akala, his successor as governor of Oyo State. But the lion had scurried out of its abode, leaving its cubs to ward off the invaders. The cubs proved unequal to the task. After setting bonfires on major roads and disrupting business activities in the town in the morning, they had become weary by the time Ladoja and his supporters stormed Ogbomoso after Jumat prayers that day. The tumultuous crowd that attended the meeting of this faction of the party was proof of the deepening crisis rocking PDP in the state.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Two weeks earlier, the former governor had stormed Oyo town with his faction of the party. As in the latest episode, Ladoja was accompanied by top politicians in the state including Yunus Akintunde, chairman of the Implementation Committee set up by the national headquarters of PDP, to reunite the warring lords, Teslim Folarin, Senate leader; Lekan Balogun, a former senator; Wole Oyelese, former minister;<span> </span>Ayo Adeseun, chairman; House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, and many others. Rather than restricting himself to the local crisis, the former governor noted the impending disaster in the party that prides itself as Africa’s largest. The assertion brought to the front burner the internal crisis threatening PDP’s survival in some of the 26 states it controls.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><em><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Newswatch</span></em><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"> investigations across the six geopolitical zones of the country showed that the PDP is fighting the battle of its life in many states. The party in such states has been polarised, some for as long as five years. Each state has parallel office and executives to run them. And all efforts, including litigations, to reconcile the warring factions have proved abortive.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Three states – Oyo, Osun and Ogun – are badly affected by the bug in the South-West.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Trouble began in Oyo during the party’s congress in 2005 with a sharp division among loyalists of the late Lamidi Adedibu and then<span> </span>Ladoja. Contrary to the party’s constitution which vested the control of the party at the state level on the sitting governor, the national secretariat of the party surrendered the reins of power to Adedibu. The congress was inconclusive and the party broke into two. While a faction claimed the exercise produced an executive committee, EXCO, others said there was none to date, a position supported by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">The factionalisation of the party led to the governor’s impeachment by lawmakers loyal to Adedibu and Alao-Akala on January 12, 2006. Alao-Akala, then deputy governor took over and ruled for 11-months. On his return, Ladoja set up an administrative panel to probe his 11-month interim administration. He was found guilty and banned from contesting the April 14, 2007 governorship polls. But Ladoja was denied the opportunity to renew his mandate. With the backing of Adedibu and President Olusegun Obasanjo, his deputy got the party’s flag at a rally in Akure, capital of Ondo State. They also got the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to clear him. He won. Since then, the party has known no peace in the state.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Several steps have been taken by the national leadership of the party to resolve the crisis. First, the PDP at the national level raised a committee headed by Alex Ekwueme, former vice-president, to reconcile all the aggrieved members of the party. The body recommended that all aggrieved leaders who were frustrated out of the party in the wake of the 2007 polls should be re-registered and return to the party. The party accepted the recommendation but with the party machinery still in Alao-Akala’s firm grip, it refused to make the necessary re-registration materials available.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Next, the zonal working committee of the party led by Tajudeen Oladipo set up another reconciliation committee to resolve the crisis and bring back the founding leaders of the party. The new body was headed by Shuaibu Oyedokun, deputy national chairman of the party. The committee submitted its report a year later and asked that a 15-man elders committee should be set up to harmonise the various agitations and demand for an all inclusive exco.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">But the aggrieved men passed a vote of no confidence on Oladipo’s ability to manage the crisis and insisted that the national panel headed by Ike Nwachukwu, a senator, should take over and resolve the lingering feud. The national secretariat of the party agreed. The third body met the warring factions on November 5, 2009.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Ladoja told <em>Newswatch</em> that the committee turned in a good report which could have solved the problem. According to him, it raised a 19-member Implementation Committee to harmonise the demands of the various groups and fashion out an acceptable sharing formula for party offices. Alao-Akala’s faction and Ladoja’s group had five seats each. Adeojo’s camp had three seats while members of the National Assembly were given two. Balogun and Oyelese’s camps had one slot each. Dejo Raimi who had remained neutral in the crisis was also given a seat on the committee.<strong> </strong>Akintunde was appointed the chairman of the party’s Implementation Committee. Since then, the power brokers in the National Working Committee, NWC, and BoT have not allowed full implementation of the Nwachukwu report.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">While the dust of the 2005 congress was yet to settle, the governor ordered another congress on February 28. Deji Afolabi emerged chairman of the party. But his victory further deepened the crisis. Today, there are two secretariats of the PDP in Oyo State. The governor’s faction retained the Mokola state secretariat of the party under the leadership of Afolabi. The other faction led by Balogun runs a parallel state secretariat behind the new Gbagi Market on the Old Ife Road. This is manned by Yunus Akintunde<strong>.</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Ladoja said peace-loving members of the party are waiting for the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan and Okwesilieze Nwodo, national chairman of the party, on the issues. He blamed Obasanjo for the crisis in PDP across the states of the federation. He told <em>Newswatch </em>that his meddlesomeness would negatively affect the party’s fortune if he was not removed as BOT chairman. Specifically, he accused the former president of thwarting all the efforts of the NWC to implement the various reports which could have ended protracted crisis within the party in Oyo State. He alleged that Obasanjo and Alao-Akala, the governor, connived and prevented Vincent Ogbulafor, former national chairman of the party, from doing “what is right” on the Oyo crisis “for whatever reasons.” But he praised Nwodo for rebuffing all efforts “to bribe him.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Peeved by the turn of events, Balogun, leader of Ladoja’s faction went to the Abuja High Court to void the congress of the PDP held in that state on February 28. He said the congress was held in defiance of a court order, and that the party’s NWC refused to obey a directive from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, ordering the party via two separate letters, to organise a fresh congress in Oyo State.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">He asked the court to remove incumbent state chairman of the PDP in Oyo State, Afolabi, who was declared the party’s chairman and Ashiru Akanbi, secretary, from office, and that all the decisions they have taken so far in that state are a nullity because their continued stay in office is unconstitutional and illegal. The trial judge has fixed ruling in the matter for November 29, 2010.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">But Dotun Oyelade, special adviser on public communications to Alao-Akala, told<em>Newswatch</em> that the crisis in Oyo was largely a simulated affair because the preponderance of agitators of the so-called crisis in Oyo State, is localised. “The dust is being raked up by few Ibadan elite who feel that the only way they can get back to power is by making use of the media and orchestrating a rancour that does not exist,” he said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">He denied the existence of a parallel office of the party, saying it was a symbolic gesture of the faction’s rally. The state, according to him, has continued to tell INEC that there is an exco of the party and has supplied the electoral body with the information hitherto not available to it. “We expect a new turn in the next few days.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Oyelade said there was never any fuss before the appellate court judgement in the legitimacy of the Akala government. It was only when the few elite saw that he would spend four years that they started trouble. “It was then that it became a consistent furore but I can assure you that Akala’s government is performing. Based on his achievements, he will defeat them in the next election,” he said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">In the neighbouring Osun State, the PDP is in turmoil. The bone of contention is who succeeds Olagunsoye Oyinlola as governor next year.<span> </span>About 19 men have shown interest in the job.<span> </span>The incumbent governor has openly offered support to<span> </span>Iyiola Omisore, chairman, Appropriation Committee of the Senate, against the others among whom are two of his former principal officers - Fatai Akinbade and Peter Babalola, former secretary to the state government, SSG, and chief of staff, respectively and Wale Oladipo, a professor at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. Oyinlola explained at the meeting that Omisore was the only politician who supported him financially during the ongoing defence of Aregbesola’s petition against his governorship.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Also, Ademola Rasaq, chairman of PDP in Osun and members of the party’s state executive, are backing Omisore. At a meeting held in Ibadan, with all the aspirants, Rasaq said it was Oyinlola and a prominent traditional ruler in the state who told them to support Omisore. He said he, thereafter, declared the federal lawmaker as the party’s candidate.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">The group of 18 aspirants led by Lateef Bakare has shunned all entreaties from the governor and Oladipo, vice-chairman, South-West, of PDP. The festering crisis has polarised the party. Eight of the governorship aspirants have set up a parallel office of the PDP along Osogbo-Gbongan Road, a stone throw from Omisore’s campaign office. One of them who preferred anonymity, told <em>Newswatch </em>that the group has picked Oladipo, a professor, as its consensus candidate.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Young party members in the state accused Obasanjo and the traditional ruler of meddling in the affairs of Osun PDP. But the former president said he had every right to wade into the crisis and find a solution to it as a result of his position as the party‘s BOT chairman. Also, he said since the Owu community in Egbaland, Ogun State, has its roots in Orile-Owu, Osun State, he was by extension, an indigene of Osun State.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Other PDP leaders in the South-West such as Shuaib Oyedokun, former deputy national chairman, Ebenezer Babatope, former transport minister and Yemi Farounbi, a communication guru, have called for a credible primary as the lasting solution to the crisis or else the party would lose the state to the rival Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">However, Adeolu Adeyemo, director of publicity, Osun PDP, denied that there was an irreconcilable crisis in the state chapter of the party, saying the parallel exco and their office were dormant.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">But sources said that the only solution was for Rauf Aregbesola, ACN governorship candidate in the April 2007 election to emerge victorious in his petition being heard by an Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan. “If this happens, the state as a whole would be spared the catastrophe of Omisore emerging as the PDP candidate,” one source said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Some of the governorship aspirants are believed to be working closely with the Osun ACN with a view to wresting the state from the Oyinlola-Omisore grip.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Gbenga Daniel, Oyinlola’s counterpart in Ogun State, has been battling<span> </span>notable members of the party in the state who do not agree with him on how the state should be run. Consequently, in the last one year, the Ogun State branch of the PDP has been polarised into two. One faction is led by the governor while the other is headed by Martins-Kuye, minister of commerce. Joju Fadairo is chairman of Daniel’s faction.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Before now, an intractable crisis had engulfed the State House of Assembly with the impeachment of Titi Oseni, as the speaker and the election of Tunji Egbetokun, as her successor, in May 2008. But the crisis has not subsided since then. It worsened on September 6, when nine members of the House impeached Egbetokun and suspended 14 of their colleagues. The nine members subsequently appointed Soyemi Coker as the speaker. Egbetokun’s group which has the Mace and thus the authority to conduct legislative businesses in the Assembly has not been able to do so since.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">An attempt by the NWC to harmonise the positions proved futile as the warring factions refused to sheath their swords. Nwodo dissolved the state EXCO and asked Daniel to produce 12 of the 23 members while others including Obasanjo, Dimeji Bankole, speaker of the House of Representatives, Martins-Kuye and Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello should produce 11. The minister’s camp would also produce the party chairman. The arrangement failed. When President Jonathan visited the state two weeks ago, he refused to comment on the matter. But a source said this was in deference to the governor who by the party’s constitution is the leader in the state.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Olusola Saraki, acclaimed godfather of Kwara politics, has ignited a crisis in the otherwise peaceful PDP in the state. On September 18, at a rally, he declared Gbemisola, his senator daughter, representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, as the next governor. Bukola, his son, has been governor since 2003 while Gbemisola has been in the National Assembly for three terms, first as member of the House and twice as senator. Some of the members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party including members of the National Assembly, 18 of 24 lawmakers in the State House of Assembly and local government chairmen attended the rally.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">The same day, Isiaka Danmairomo, PDP publicity secretary, in a statement, said “the leadership of the party was not aware that any candidate had been endorsed.” He added: that “the guideline for<span> </span>the emergence of party’s flag bearer either as president, governor and other political offices released and sent to all states would be religiously adhered to.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">This surprising declaration has thrown off balance all permutations in “The State of Harmony,” as Kwara is often referred to. But Yussuf Ayedun, state chairman of PDP, told<em>Newswatch</em> that he would ensure a level playing field for all candidates. “Everybody will go to the primary to test his or her popularity. Anybody that emerges is our governorship candidate,” he said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">But Bukola Saraki, the governor, is believed to be opposed to this plot to install his sister as governor. Indeed, some PDP members under the aegis of Aggrieved Delegates of Kwara PDP, loyal to the patriarch of the Saraki family, accused the governor of hijacking the party machinery in the state to subvert his father’s plan. Bayero Ahmed, the group’s leader said the governor was persecuting his group for its support for Gbemisola in the 2011 elections. However, insiders said this might be a façade to deceive the public and that the family would resolve its differences at the last minute.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span> </span>In the South-East geopolitical zone, the battle for the soul of the PDP is tearing the party apart in Imo, Enugu, and Anambra states. In Imo State, the crisis led to the split of the party into two major factions. One of the factions known as the New Face Organisation, NFO, is being sponsored by Ikedi Ohakim, governor of Imo State as part of his strategy to actualise his second term ambition in 2011. The other faction known as Alliance for Good Governance, has Ifeanyi Ararume, governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2007 general election as its leader. The driving force behind this group is to truncate Ohakim’s second term ambition and by so doing ensure that Ararume emerges as the next governor of Imo State.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Ironically, Achike Udenwa, immediate past governor of Imo State, who had worked against the victory of Ararume in the 2007 governorship polls, has now teamed up with him to stop Ohakim in 2011. The Alliance for Good Governance is, therefore, a fusion of Ararume’s Destiny Organisation and Redemption Group a.k.a <em>Onongono</em> led by Udenwa.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">The factionalisation of the party deepened in July 2009, when Ohakim decamped from the Progressive People’s Alliance, PPA, on whose platform he rode to power in 2007 and returned to the PDP which he had dumped in 2007. This was shortly after he won the legal battle for the Imo governorship seat against Ararume.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">On his return, he immediately intensified efforts to control the PDP machinery in Imo State. Acting as the new leader of the party, Ohakim took firm control of the Imo State PDP executive led by Marcellinus Nlemigbo. The attempt by Ohakim to hijack the party machinery was resisted by Ararume and other stalwarts of the PDP who took the matter up with Vincent Ogbulafor, who was then the national chairman of the party.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">However, following the recent directive by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that fresh congresses be conducted to elect the PDP executives in eight states, including Imo, the tussle over who controls the party’s structure was heightened. When the Ararume faction suspected that the governor had concluded arrangement to impose his loyalists as members of the new executive, they went to court and got an injunction restraining the PDP from going ahead with the congress. But Ohakim ignored the court injunction and went ahead with the congress in Owerri, amidst tight security on November 1. Although members of the Alliance for Good Governance boycotted the congress, it was observed by Olisa Metu, vice-chairman of the PDP in the South-East and Celina Oko, INEC resident electoral commissioner in Imo State. At the end of the exercise, Eze Duruiheoma, emerged as the new state chairman of the party while<span> </span>Nlemigbo, his predecessor, became the deputy chairman.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Although the members of the new executive have been sworn in, the crisis in the party has not abated as the Ararume faction has faulted the process through which they emerged. He described the congress as illegal and urged the national leadership of the party to annul it. He claimed that since some notable politicians in the state, including Udenwa and himself did not participate in the congress, and there were subsisting litigations against the party over the issue, it would be wrong to recognise the Duruiheoma – led executive as authentic.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Duruiheoma is aware that the crisis has still not been resolved. He told <em>Newswatch</em>that his priority would be to ensure that whatever divisions existing within the party are resolved in-house. He explained that the party recognises the relevance of politicians like Udenwa, Ararume, Rochas Okorocha who feel aggrieved and would make efforts to reach out to them. “On my own, I will try to reach them. In the next few weeks, we will come up with programmes to reach those people to let them hear us and we hear them and may be find a common ground for resolution,” Duruiheoma said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">However, despite the fact that the new chairman has announced his intention to reach out to aggrieved members, <em>Newswatch</em> learnt that the Ararume faction was already considering the option of decamping to the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. Although Ararume has denied the speculation, investigation in Owerri, showed that there is a political romance between the Alliance Group and the ACN. Paddy Obinna, a PDP stalwart and political associate of Ararume, said the group would likely join the ACN since Ohakim has hijacked the PDP political machinery in the state. “We are not at war. Politics is supposed to be a game. Instead of fighting for the soul of the PDP, Alliance for Good Governance, I believe, is thinking of a new direction but we have not finally made a declaration. But I know there is a marriage proposal going on between Alliance Group and the ACN,” Obinna said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Apart from the Alliance Group, there is a third force that has emerged in the Imo State PDP crisis. It is known as the Agenda and spearheaded by Rochas Okorocha, another PDP stalwart, who is also an aspirant for the 2011 governorship race. Like Ararume, Okorocha is not comfortable with the new executive of the party in the state. He is said to be considering the option of decamping to the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, with his loyalists.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">The crisis in the Enugu State chapter of the PDP is even worse than that of Imo State. In Enugu, the home state of Okwesilieze Nwodo, national chairman of the PDP, the crisis has deepened the rift between the Nwodo political dynasty and Sullivan Chime, governor of the state. Nwodo incurred the wrath of Chime recently when the National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP under his leadership ordered the dissolution of the state executive of the party under the leadership of Vita Abba which is loyal to the governor. Although Nwodo claimed the dissolution of the executive was based on the directive of INEC, the Chime camp suspects that the national chairman’s call for a fresh congress was his grand design to hijack the state PDP structure by installing a new executive that would be opposed to the governor’s second term ambition. Consequently, both Chime and Abba have vowed that there would not be a fresh congress in the state.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Abba insists that the 2008 congress through which he emerged as state chairman of the party was properly conducted, supervised by INEC, and authenticated by Ogbulafor, then national chairman of the PDP. He claimed that it was because he is the authentic<span> </span>state chairman of the party that made Nwodo to seek a waiver from him a few months ago when he was finding it difficult to be re – admitted into the PDP. According to him, if Nwodo insists that the state executive under his leadership is illegal, the implication is that the waiver he secured from the same executive which enabled him to secure his current position as national chairman of the party is illegal.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Nwodo is opposed to Chime’s<span> </span>alleged plan to grant automatic ticket to all lawmakers in both the state House of Assembly and National Assembly to vie for the 2011 polls. On his part, the Chime faction alleged that Nwodo wants to pave way for Nnia Nwodo, former minister of information, who is his younger brother, to contest the senatorial race. Nwodo has, however, denied this and insisted that no relation of his would vie for elective position in 2011.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">The factionalisation of the party began in 2008, following the frosty relationship between Chime and Chimaroke Nnamani, his predecessor and erstwhile political godfather. Therefore, on February 28, 2008, when Ahmadu Ali, former national chairman of the party, ordered that there should be a congress in the state, the Chime faction held the congress that produced Abba as chairman at the Presidential Hotel, Enugu. On the other hand, the Nnamani faction known as the Ebeano political family held its congress at Mac Davos Hotels Limited, Enugu, and Ray Nnaji emerged as chairman. Although Ogbulafor recognised the Abba faction as the authentic executive of the party in the state, Nnaji went to the Federal High Court, Enugu, to challenge the decision of the national leadership of the party.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">However, when Nnaji later jettisoned the legal battle and pledged loyalty to the Abba – led executive, he applied to the court to be discharged from the case as the first plaintiff.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Nnaji’s decision to align with the Abba – led executive did not bring the crisis to an end as Reuben Ochi, deputy chairman of the Ebeano faction, who is the second plaintiff, took over the matter as its new factional chairman. The legal battle has since then been raging before the latest twist in the saga that has pitted Nwodo against Chime.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><em><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Newswatch </span></em><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">learnt that on assumption of office, Nwodo had, in an effort to resolve the lingering crisis, summoned a meeting of all the leading politicians in the state at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, and set up a reconciliatory committee. However, the effort of the committee did not yield the desired result before the recent letter from INEC asking the national leadership of the party to revisit the composition of the state executive failing which PDP executive in Enugu State, will not be recognised by the commission. This compelled Nwodo to dissolve the Abba – led executive. Since the dissolution of the executive, and the order for a fresh congress, there have been litigations in both camps.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Abba – led executive first filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Enugu, restraining PDP from conducting a fresh congress to elect new party officials in the state on October 30, this year. Initially, the court presided over by Justice Ramat Mohammed granted the interim order. However, the Ochi – led faction filed a motion to be joined in the suit and a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to handle the case. He equally filed another motion in the same court asking for the discharge of the interim order contending that the suit was an abuse of court process. On November 10, Justice Mohammed discharged the interim order and transferred the matter to the Court of Appeal for determination.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">While Nwodo and the Ochi faction felt relieved that the discharge of the interim order meant that it could go ahead with a fresh congress, the Abba - led faction again went to the Court of Appeal, Enugu, and secured an interim order restraining the PDP from conducting fresh congresses in the state.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">This has further compounded the confusion in the PDP in Enugu State. The efforts of the South-East governors to resolve the crisis had not yielded positive results. The governors had met both Chime and Nwodo in Enugu, a few weeks ago to resolve the conflict but both leaders refused to shift ground. Nwodo had earlier declined to attend the peace meeting summoned by the governors at Government House because he claimed that he could not “attend a meeting in a place where they put me in a casket while I am alive.” Even when the governors later met him in his Enugu residence, the matter could not be amicably resolved as he insisted that a fresh congress must be conducted in the state but Chime is vehemently opposed to it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Nnamdi Abigo, a stalwart of the PDP in Enugu State, told <em>Newswatch </em>that the crisis deepened because both Nwodo and Chime were embroiled in the problem of ego. “I think there is this ego factor behind the problem. But I believe that the way out is for the two leaders to exhibit the spirit of give and take,” he said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Okey Ezea, PDP governorship aspirant, believes that in order to resolve the crisis, the governor must be ready for reconciliation on the terms dictated by equity, fairness and justice devoid of politics of exclusion.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">While the crisis is lingering, the Ebeano political family is trying to align with Nwodo to get back into the mainstream of the PDP in the state. However, investigation showed that Nnamani and his group are already considering the option of decamping to the Party for Democratic Change, PDC, in preparation for the 2011 polls.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">In Anambra State, a fresh congress was recently held in Awka, the state capital. At the end of the exercise, Emma Nweze emerged as the chairman of the new executive through consensus affirmation of delegates. The congress was supervised by Metu, vice- chairman of the party in the South-East who inaugurated the new executive.<span> </span>Although Nweze has promised to run an all – inclusive administration where every member would be carried along, the PDP faction sponsored by Chris Uba, self – acclaimed godfather of Anambra politics, described the congress as illegal. Uba insists that his faction led by Benji Udeozor is the authentic executive of the party in the state.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">For the past three years, the Plateau State chapter of the PDP has been enmeshed in crisis.<span> </span>The crisis is due to the inability of the state to organise a congress to fill party offices. This has led to the emergence of factions of the party in the state, and a court case is currently at the appeal level.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Jonah Jang leads a faction with Dakum Shown as chairman while Michael Botmang, Musa Garba Izam, Alhassan Shuiabu, Simon Lalong and Ndam Gambo are leading another faction.<span> </span>In between these two factions<span> </span>is another one made up of top politicians and some governorship aspirants.<span> </span>They are<span> </span>Ibrahim Mantu, former deputy senate president; Pauline Tallen, deputy governor; Fidelis Tapgum, former minister of state for commerce and industry, Damishi Sango, former sport minister and Jimmy Cheto.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">The factionalisation of the party coupled with the declaration by INEC recognising no congresses in Plateau State led to the clamp down order by the national secretariat of the party on all the factions.<span> </span>In their stead, a care-taker committee headed by Abu King Shuluwa was put in place to oversee the affairs of the party in the state.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">This action by the national leadership of the party did not go down well with Jang’s faction as Shown, the chairman of the faction, took the party to court. The national body of the party is currently at the Appeal Court challenging the verdict of the High Court which gave judgement in favour of the Shown faction.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Determined to resolve the crisis in the state, the national leadership of the party recently invited both sides of the factions to Abuja, where a proposal was presented for the harmonisation of party positions on a 50-50 sharing formula. The Governor’s faction was allowed to produce the chairman. <em>Newswatch</em> learnt Haruna Dabin has been chosen as the chairman.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rather than bring peace, the proposal has deepened the crisis further. The Botmang group has rejected the proposal.<span> </span>He told <em>Newswatch</em> that his group rejected the proposal because among several other reasons the group controls the majority of party faithful in the state, especially when measured with the fact that 16 of the 21 PDP House of Assembly members belong to his group while Jang has only five PDP members in the House.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Recently, the group wrote to the national leadership of the party requesting that the sharing formula be based on a ratio of 70/30 in favour of their group. In case this is impossible, the group called on the national leadership to revert to the original decision to organise a full scale congress as earlier directed by INEC.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Chris Gyang, personal assistant to<span> </span>Jang, described the call for a full scale congress as the handiwork of mischief makers to hoodwink the electoral body into conducting a fresh congress in the state. “They have realised that the current leadership of the party in the state is 100 percent loyal to Jang and President Goodluck Jonathan. Their intention is to have the executive dissolved and willy-nilly, install their own loyalists through crooked means with the ultimate aim of using them to prosecute the agenda of the President’s opponents,” he said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">In Adamawa State, the failure to organise fresh congresses since 2006, has thrown the state chapter of PDP into deep crisis which is tearing the party apart with the emergence of several factions. Already, some members of the party under the aegis of ‘Concerned A’ have instituted a legal action at the Federal High Court, Yola, asking the court to compel the party to conduct a fresh congress in the state. Umar Ardo, a member of the group and a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the party in the state, told<em>Newswatch</em> that there was the need to change the present leadership of the party in the state. He said the present leadership of the party under Mijinyawa Kugama came into being in November 2002, and that its tenure expired in 2006.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Despite the expiry of the tenure, all attempts since 2006, to constitute a new executive has always been defied with impunity by a group he described as ‘enemies of democracy’ who would rather stick to the old order. He accused INEC of complicity in the matter.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Ardo expressed surprise that Adamawa which was earlier listed among PDP states whose state congresses were not recognised by INEC due to its illegal and unconstitutional manner of emergence, suddenly got de-listed after some underhand dealings by some INEC staff and national officers of the party. Medan Teneke, chairman of one of the factions, told<em> Newswatch</em> that the crisis in the party has been intractable and said that but for their loyalty to PDP they would have decamped to other political parties.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Since it lost power in 2003 to the ANPP, the PDP in Kano has been grappling with internal wranglings and power tussle among two factions led by Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the late Abubakar Rimi, both former governors of the state. Rimi, who was governor of the old Kano State from 1979 to 1983, died after an encounter with armed robbers early this year. His death paved way for Kwankwaso who ruled Kano from 1999-2003, to assume a larger than life image in the party. At present, Kwankwaso’s name is synonymous with PDP in Kano, and he is in the 2011 race to reclaim the governorship seat in the state for his party.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Kwankwaso’s dominance showed eight months ago when he led his loyalists to clinch all the 51 seats contested<span> </span>by PDP members at the congress organised to elect a new EXCO, to run the affairs of the party and prepare it for the 2011 general elections in the state. Farouk Iya, lawyer and former speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, who emerged as chairman of the party, told <em>Newswatch </em>that<em> </em>all factions and their leaders took part in the election. “It was meant to end all complaints about dominance of the party by one group. At the end Kwankwaso cleared all the 51 seats, and confirmed that he is in control here.” He extended an olive branch to those he defeated and urged them to embrace the new leadership. Iya said the process of reconciliation was in progress and many people were returning to the party on a daily basis and that the era of intra-party crisis and formation of factions is now a thing of the past.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">But, he is wrong. Investigations revealed that a new faction which is angry with the new state of affairs still exists in the party. The faction known as <em>Garkuwa</em> alleged that internal democracy was not followed, particularly during the congress, which produced Iya, a member of the Kwankwaso group. The group, led by Alhaji Usman Alhaji, former co-ordinator of the presidential campaign of Orji Uzor Kalu, complained that what transpired at the state congress left much to be desired. “In as much as we are committed to the struggle for the repositioning of the party, decorum should be allowed to prevail. A situation whereby one man would unilaterally call the tunes is unacceptable. This unwholesome trend of events within the party’s hierarchy is what the <em>Garkuwa</em> group is vehemently opposed to,” he said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Alhaji, who said he had earlier contested and lost the Kano South Senatorial seat in 2003 and 2007, stated that his bitter experience during the attempt at winning a senatorial seat was the reason behind the formation of the <em>Garkuwa </em>group. He explained that most of the founding members of his group contested elections on the platform of the PDP in one capacity or the other, pointing out that the failure of some of the contestants experienced in 2003 and 2007, as well as during the 2004 local government elections spurred the contestants to come together to checkmate the failure and losses the party suffered over the years.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">In an effort to actualise their agenda, Alhaji stated that the <em>Garkuwa</em> group decided to come up with three objectives, prominent of which is to ensure the victory of the PDP in 2011 elections, as well as to promote free and fair primaries within the parties, to ensure the emergence of good candidates and to ensure that only credible candidates get elected.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">On the relationship between his group and Kwankwaso, Alhaji said an attempt was being made to mend fences. “We, the <em>Garkuwa</em> group, are striving to enthrone and ensure a free and fair primary elections within the party, if this is obtained, I am sure we have no problem with the other group,” he said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Katsina State chapter of the PDP is also not left out of the crisis rocking the party in many states. The crisis which has been in abeyance since the administration of Ibrahim Shema came into office in 2007 became a matter of public concern when the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who had been pillar of unity in the party, proceeded on a prolonged medical trip abroad. The trip offered opportunity for Shema who had all along been living in the shadows of Yar’Adua, to assert some degree of authority and position himself for possible re-election in 2011.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><em><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Newswatch</span></em><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"> learnt that the governor carried out a minor coup in the party by first dissolving the EXCO of the party which had been in office for 10 years and was dominated by loyalists of the late president. A new EXCO dominated by Shema’s men is now in place. It is led by Rabiu Gambo Bakori as chairman. Soon after the new EXCO was formed, five factions, all struggling to take vantage positions ahead of the 2011 general elections emerged. They are the Shema camp, Abuja group led by Abba Sayyadi Ruma, former minister of agriculture and water resources, and Aminu Bello Masari group, also known as PDP Change, led by Masari, former Speaker of the House of Representatives. The other two are led by Magaji Mohammed, a diplomat and Lawal Kaita, a second republic politician.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">By press time last week, the factions have thinned down to two. These are the Shema group which appears to be the most visible and dominant group in the state, and the Abuja group.<span> </span><em>Newswatch </em>learnt that the need to realign forces to produce a formidable group that can confront Shema at the party primaries became necessary on account of the leadership vacuum that was created by the death of Yar’Adua. There was also the problem of depletion of credible men in opposition following the sudden exit of Masari who left last month with Ahmed Yar’Adua, former SSG in the state and a number of other PDP stalwarts to join the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, a new party led by Muhammadu Buhari, former military head of state, who contested the 2007 presidential election on the ticket of the All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Abuja group is believed to be in a desperate position now to abort Shema’s second term bid. The group, which has enlarged to include the likes of Tanimu Kurfi, former economic adviser to the late President Yar’Adua, and Mustapha Darma, executive secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, is believed to be behind the anti-Shema campaigns currently going on in the state. The group is wooing Mahe Rashid, an official of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to join the governorship race against Shema.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Abuja faction accused the governor of sidelining a number of core loyalists of the late President Yar’Adua who helped him to become governor of the state. They cited the dissolution of the EXCO and the sacking of Ahmed Yar’Adua as SSG, as examples of ingratitude on the part of the governor. He was also accused of not spending the resources of the state judiciously.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><em><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Newswatch</span></em><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"> was unable to speak to the governor or any of his officials last week in Katsina. The governor was said to have gone on pilgrimage. The Government House was largely deserted by spokesmen of the governor last Monday.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Efforts to speak with Gambo, the party chairman, was also not successful. Salisu Ali, public relations officer of the party in the state, declined to speak but promised to arrange an interview with the chairman. He never did.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.7pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">But Farida Barau, a House of Assembly aspirant for Katsina Constituency, who claimed to be a loyalist of Shema, said all the allegations against the governor were false. She explained that Shema was being criticised unjustly because he failed to bend government policies to favour a few. “Rather than cause division in the party and vilify the governor on account of selfish reasons, Shema’s critics should accept the obvious. The governor excelled in education, infrastructural development, women and youth empowerment. He deserves a second term in office,” Barau said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.2pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">There has been serious infighting over the leadership of the party in Rivers State. This led to the formation of a parallel secretariat, and climaxed in the arrest of some big wigs in the party, including the factional leader, Lolo Ibieneye. The faction led by Ibieneye has joined the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.2pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Jerry Needam, publicity secretary of the faction, said PDP allowed its governors to become tin<span> </span>gods in the party, a development that is tearing the party apart. “In PDP, you cannot air your views. We have no option than to join the party that believes in the rule of law,” he said.<span> </span>Needam is not happy that those who helped the PDP win election in the state in 2007, have now been sidelined.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.2pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">The twelve<span> </span>PDP factional members caught in the web of running a parallel party secretariat in the state are still facing prosecution. They include Ibieneye, and Nancy Chidi Nwankwo, a former commissioner in the state during the administration of Peter Odili. According to him, Ibieneye was the campaign chairman of PDP in 2006/2007, and won all the positions from the ward elections to the senate. “This is the person that is being prosecuted today. Those who claim they are in PDP are actually not working for the PDP. Those pretending to belong to the PDP are fake, who have not won any election in their area,” he remarked.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.2pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">In Bayelsa, the party is sharply divided into two camps-one for the governor and one for other gubernatorial aspirants in the state. The party office at Yenizue-Gene Epie in the state capital, is busy going on with registration of members, prior to a date for the state congress of the party. Rufus Abadi, former chairman of the party in Bayelsa State, has since resigned. He is contesting for a senatorial seat. Before this time, he had fallen out with Timipri Sylva. Their battle raged till he ran away at a point, claiming that his life was under serious threat.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.2pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.2pt; margin-bottom: 0.05pt; margin-left: 0.05pt; margin-right: 0.05pt; margin-top: 0.05pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22pt;"><em><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Reported by</span></em><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <strong>Chris Ajaero</strong>, <strong>Tobs Agbaegbu,</strong> <strong>Anza Phillip</strong> <em>and </em><strong>Godfrey Azubike</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.35em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>PDP’s House of CrisesAgbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-71559272887631894222010-08-31T06:39:00.000-07:002010-08-31T06:39:39.425-07:00I'm too Smart<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-transform: capitalize;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><ul id="featured_topics" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li class="midtitle" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; background-image: url(http://www.skoola.com/pics/titlebg.jpg); background-position: 50% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 25px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px; text-transform: capitalize;">I'm Too Smart</li>
<li class="benefits" id="printable" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #4f4f4f; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 14px; padding-top: 14px;"><div>A first grade teacher was having trouble with one of her students. The teacher asked, "Johnny what is your problem?"</div><div><br />
</div><div>Johnny answered, "I'm too smart for the first grade. My sister is in the third grade and I'm smarter than she is! I think I should be in the third grade too!"</div><div><br />
</div><div>The teacher had had enough. She took Johnny to the principal's office.</div><div><br />
</div><div>While Johnny waited in the outer office, the teacher explained to the principal what the situation was.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The principal told the teacher he would give the boy a test and if he failed to answer any of his questions he was to go back to the first grade and behave. The teacher agreed.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Johnny was brought in and the conditions are explained to him and he agrees to take the test. Principal: "What is 3 x 3?" Johnny: "9".</div><div><br />
</div><div>Principal: "What is 6 x 6?" Johnny: "36". And so it went with every question the principal thought a third grader should know.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The principal looks at the teacher and tells her, "I think Johnny can go to the third grade."</div><div><br />
</div><div>The teacher says to the principal, "Let me ask him some questions" The principal and Johnny both agree.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The teacher asks, "What does a cow have four of that I have only two of?" Johnny, after a moment, "Legs."</div><div><br />
</div><div>Teacher: "What is in your pants that you have but I do not have?" The principal's eyes open really wide and before he could stop the answer, Johnny replied, "Pockets."</div><div><br />
</div><div>Teacher: "What does a dog do that a man steps into?" Johnny: "Pants"</div><div><br />
</div><div>Teacher: "What word starts with an 'F' and ends in 'K' that means a lot of excitement?" Johnny: "Firetruck"</div><div><br />
</div><div>The principal breathed a sigh of relief and told the teacher, "Put Johnny in the fifth grade, I missed the last four questions myself."</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: normal; text-transform: capitalize;"><a href="http://www.skoola.com/read_gist.php?id=+56">Http://Www.Skoola.Com/Read_gist.Php?Id=+56</a></span></div></li>
<li class="ash" style="color: #555555; margin-right: 10px; padding-left: 7px; text-align: right;"><span class="sender-date">Posted by JP Williams on 2010-08-21</span></li>
</ul>Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-60047581500237590342010-08-27T08:03:00.000-07:002010-08-31T09:38:36.093-07:00The Temperature of Hell<ul id="featured_topics" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li class="midtitle" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; background-image: url(http://www.skoola.com/pics/titlebg.jpg); background-position: 50% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 25px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px; text-transform: capitalize;"><br />
The Temperature Of Hell</li>
<li class="benefits" id="printable" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #4f4f4f; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 14px; padding-top: 14px;"><div>A thermodynamics professor had written a take home exam for his graduate students. It had one question:</div><div><br />
</div><div>"Is hell exothermic or endothermic? Support your answer with a proof."</div><div><br />
</div><div>Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law or some variant. One student, however wrote the following:</div><div><br />
</div><div>First, we postulate that if souls exist, then they must have some mass. If they do, then a mole of souls can also have a mass. So, at what rate are souls moving into hell and at what rate are souls leaving? I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving.</div><div><br />
</div><div>As for souls entering hell, lets look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Some of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to hell. Since, there are more than one of these religions and people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all people and all souls go to hell.</div><div><br />
</div><div>With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in hell to increase exponentially.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Now, we look at the rate of change in volume in hell. Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in hell to stay the same, the ratio of the mass of souls and volume needs to stay constant.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So, if hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter hell, then the temperature and pressure in hell will increase until all hell breaks loose.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Of course, if hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in hell, than the temperature and pressure will drop until hell freezes over.</div><div><br />
</div><div>It was not revealed what grade the student got.</div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://www.skoola.com/read_gist.php?id=+65">http://www.skoola.com/read_gist.php?id=+65</a></div></li>
<li class="ash" style="color: #555555; margin-right: 10px; padding-left: 7px; text-align: right;"><span class="sender-date">Posted by andy chuks on 2010-08-26</span></li>
</ul>Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-31189554883364709562010-08-26T04:51:00.001-07:002010-08-30T03:14:42.417-07:00The Avoidable Trap of Cultural Relativism<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_312749557"><span style="color: orange;">Speech by Wole Soyinka “The Avoidable Trap of Cultural Relativism”</span></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_312749557"><u1:p></u1:p><span style="color: orange;">on the occasion of the second edition of the Geneva lecture series</span></a><u1:p></u1:p> </span><u><span style="color: orange;">Geneva, <o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: orange;">10 December 2008</span></u><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p> It is easy enough to recognize what is meant by the expression 'cultural diversity’. That phrasing opens up culture, acknowledges the richness of man's creative existence and palpable manifestations of his inner sensibilities, his aesthetic impulses and sometimes even his spiritual intuitions. It conjures up a panoply of creativity, limitless, an expansion of the human horizon in ways that amplify even the most mundane aspects of the various activities involved in the reproducing of human existence. So far, so good. Unfortunately, another expression has crept into global usage, one that has done its best to substitute for an uncomplicated, thought multi-textured activity of human existence. That phrase of usurpation parades itself as –cultural relativism. And in what context does this substitute intrude itself? Naturally, in the much abused domain of Human Rights. So what exactly is Cultural Relativism?</o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">A trap of course, a cunning device meant to lure the unwary into the counterfeit face of mutual tolerance of, and respect between cultures, that is, breed an attitude that legitimizes any form of conduct, as long as it can be attributed to cultural usage. It is a cynical design disguised as a mechanism for the promotion of the virtues of Diversity, deployed mostly by men in a position of power and their apologists. We encountered it, for instance, among the justifications for the creation of Bantustans in the apartheid era of South Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Humanity is of course diverse. So, logically, are the products of his hand and mind, and sensibilities – culture above all else. Is it however possible to conceive of the relativity of one member of the human species to another? That would be to endorse the Nazi doctrine of racial selectivity and thus, of disposable humanity. The innate properties of each human unit, what collectively defines us as social beings in contrast to the rest of the animal world, cannot be relative – not if we accept that all sentient beings, despite their diversity, meet at a common destination known as humanity, and that all its members are indeed born with such innate properties.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">What circumstances of birth, upbringing, opportunities and environment make of each is a different matter, but cannot be considered fundamental to the worth and validity of each individual, and thus to his or her entitlements from, and responsibility to the rest of society, in the pursuit of self-development and social relationships. The issue comes down, as always, to a contest between power and freedom, or human volition, and the desire of the former to encroach upon, and dominate the latter. Thus is laid that red herring, cultural relativism, evoked to make a hierarchical distinction between spaces of power and spaces of freedom. Part of our social responsibility is to come to the defence of the latter. Freedom, above all else, is guaranteed by a plurality of choices.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">The trap of cultural relativism is well baited. On the surface, it parades itself as an expression of solidarity among cultures, an affirmation of the right to differing expressions of cultural production, social mores and values. It is hinged on the quite unassailable need for recognition of differences in historical formations, traditions and even strategies of development, the reality of which no one would reasonably argue against. Human society is shaped as much by climatic conditions– whose diversity also cannot be denied - as by history – including the origins of such societies, and the experience of external encounters. Cultural relativism claims to imbue us with a respect for these differences. In practice however – to cite extreme instances right away – it asks us to accept such barbarisms as 'honour killing' as justified by tradition, or dictatorship, even of the most brutal kind, as sanctified by a people's antecedent or ongoing experience, largely under duress, conveniently labelled political culture. It endorses the rights to discriminate between sexes, between races, and to accept the stratification of citizens on grounds of religious beliefs, colour of skin or gender.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Freedom, to which I have already briefly referred, is bound up in dignity. When you want to dehumanize an individual, you first rob your target of his or her dignity. In seeking to define dignity itself, all we need do is look for certain attributes, the lack of which – in contrast to the animal world is easily recognized as a denial of dignity. One immediate component of dignity quickly suggests itself, perhaps because it is so constantly contested. Indeed, its negative face is upheld as a necessity of governance, that component being -volition. The right to choose, the right to social and political choices. The most current, materially and humanly wasteful pursuit of this denial is what we are witnessing in Zimbabwe today, or was endured in Nigeria this past year. It is this denial that provokes perennial contestations. It unleashed a brutal detonation in Kenya only last year, continues to unravel the nation of Zimbabwe, and most recently brutalised the Plateau State – again in Nigeria -where nearly five hundred people perished within a matter of twenty-four hours. These are consequences of that denial of the fundamental right of volition –the right to choose. Volition is integral to the social dignity of man, and its denial often attains these abysmal depths where, in a vicious cycle, humanity reverts to worse than animal conduct in the struggle to retrieve its stolen dignity.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">In addition to volition, there are also those other active rights that are couched in negative terms, the “Don'ts” - – the right not to be subjected to cruel and degrading treatments such as torture, the right not to be discriminated against for whatever reasons-race, religion , ideology or politics, physical attributes or circumstances of birth. We can debate ad infinitum the extent and limitations of these rights, being duty bound, realistically, to take into our recognition such parameters as where the rights of the individual conflict with those of the larger entity – the community, society or nation, or indeed conflict with the rights of other individuals. But such indeed, constitutes the logical basis of these fundamental human rights – the negotiation of social arrangements that serve to arbitrate between those individual rights on the one hand, and the rights of the rest on the other.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Like natural justice, those rights are innate and, at some point in the development of society, become recognized and codified as such –and this includes pre-literate communities. Oral traditions have served as a vehicle for the transmission of these rights, either directly, or as narratives whose deductions are affirmations of the fundamental rights of the individual within the community. All these references serve to remind us that culture itself is not static, that it transforms itself with increased mastery of the material of environment. This is what makes culture a constantly engrossing feature of the human adventure, enjoins us reach out for guiding concepts such as cultural connectivity, rather than cultural relativism which only promotes a hermetic, separatist tendency. Culture in the horse-and-carriage, camel and caravan, or timber raft and sailing boat era is not exactly the same as the culture in an era of space travel.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">We have to address those societies and states which either fail to recognize this, or elect to evoke entitlement to cultural relativism in order to undermine or dismiss the universalist entitlement of human rights. I take it that it is the frustrating awareness of such conduct that makes it necessary for gatherings such as this, time after time, to remind such time-trapped, pristine pools of atavism that resistance to such anti-human notions is a human constant – if not now, then tomorrow. These rights are not conceded by other mortals, but lie at the very basis of the separation of the human species from its brutish, predatory cousins that inhabit the primordial jungles of the world. It lies behind the declaration of the Chief Scribe of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, of his expectations of a twenty-first century world. I quote:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">"I believe that the twenty-first century will be defined by the commitment it devotes to the dignity and sanctity of every human life"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Kofi Annan, like his predecessors, dealt with governments. He was only too keenly aware of members of that governing club, who, among other ploys, constantly invoke responsibility for the collective security of all, in unusual times, in order to nibble away, at first imperceptibly, then ravenously, at structures of rights that have long been established, even in their founding constitutions. When, as operates today in the United States, you pass a Patriot Act that includes the right to intrude, unnecessarily into the private lives of citizens, to detain without due recourse to the law courts, you are not many light years behind those who legislate torture, ransom taking etc. all in the name of national security.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">It all boils down to this: a reluctance, or outright refusal, to create an environment for the diversity of views in society, and on any subject under the sun. Thus has arisen the specious doctrine of cultural relativism in response to the outer world —our culture does not permit the exercise of dissent, or plurality of views. End of<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">discourse. Cultural relativism has been at the base of the conduct of those societies that openly adopt and implement policies of discrimination as a fundamental condition of state, manifested in the state's regarding of, and conduct towards sectors of its own community. Our culture, they tell the world, is different, and our traditions remain sacrosanct. Examine such traditions carefully, and you discover that all it means is that one sector of society is privileged, in both trivial and profound ways, at the expense of another, a state policy that appropriates an infallible status onto itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">In the more authoritarian instances, this 'immunity clause' is said to derive from the very scriptures that preach human equality in the sight of God – not for nothing is In the more authoritarian instances, this 'immunity clause' is said to derive from the very scriptures that preach human equality in the sight of God – not for nothing is it said that the devil is adept at quoting the scriptures in his own cause. George Orwell captured this egregious ploy in that memorable formulation of his Animal Farm placed in the mouth of the four-legged ideologue, in defence of the contradictions between precept and practice: all animals are equal, but some are<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">more equal than others.<o:p></o:p></span></div><u1:p></u1:p> <div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Let history be our teacher. The legacies of humanity's mottled past still inform and indeed dominate the present with murderous zeal. The refusal of divergence in human thought lay at the brutal career of the Holy Roman Empire with its diabolical agency of the Inquisition, also of its rival Muslim world, not forgetting the secular complement of both - the atheistic empire of communism. This refusal continues to take its toll till today, especially within the Muslim world where irreconcilable disputes over dogma exact a dealier price, internally, than even against declared infidels and other nominated enemies of God. Forgotten, or more likely simply ignored, is the calm wisdom of the Muslim sage from Mali, Tierno Bokar, known as the Sage of Bandiagara, who preached that Truth is threefold: there is my truth, there is your truth, and there is The Truth. There is of course also the possibility of a fourth, which is that there is No truth, an anarchic condition that leaves the world floundering in a moral void, where even Human Rights become a casualty, yet may be considered preferable to the conduct of the fanatical, absolutist truth enforcers of our times. Despite such mutations, nonetheless, the quest for an Ultimate, Inviolable truth, undertaken peacefully, tolerantly and with the consciousness of human fallibility guarantees, at the very least, an enrichment of the world intellectually, creatively, culturally, and materially. The alternative route is responsible for what we witness today - mind-closure, material and human destructiveness, the impoverishment of discourse, and a retreat from true enlightenment. That right to seek enlightenment is the foundation of every universal human right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-57488571878144827702010-08-25T01:22:00.000-07:002010-08-30T03:09:57.291-07:00Prospects for Economic Growth in Nigeria – A Demographic Perspective<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Please find below the report of </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The Next Generation Nigeria Task Force</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> commissioned by the </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">British Council Nigeria </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">the task force has looked at the country's development prospects through a demographic lens.I felt it was something we all should see,so we can start working on persuading the powers that be to actualize the recommendations the report since it is in our best interest as Nigerians and for our country. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: 24px;">Nigeria – The Next Generation</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Next Generation Nigeria Task Force is commissioned by the British Council Nigeria. The Task Force is an independent body and the British Council does not necessarily agree with or endorse the views expressed within its reports.</b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>All Task Force members serve in an independent capacity and not as representatives of any organisation.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>THE TASK FORCE</b></div>The Task Force is chaired by:<br />
<br />
<b>Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala</b><br />
Managing Director of the World Bank<br />
<br />
<b>David Bloom*</b><br />
<br />
<b>Clarence James Gamble</b> Professor of Economics and<br />
Demography at the Harvard School of Public Health<br />
<br />
<b>Task Force members are:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Alhaji Lamido Ado Bayero</b><br />
The Chiroman Kano<br />
<br />
<b>Donald Duke</b><br />
Governor of Cross River State, 1999-2007<br />
<br />
<b>Frank Nweke</b><br />
Director General, Nigeria Economic Summit Group<br />
<br />
<b>Lord Triesman</b><br />
Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for Africa<br />
<br />
<b>Pat Utomi</b><br />
Director of The Centre For Applied Economics at Lagos Business<br />
School<br />
<br />
<b>Maryam Uwais</b><br />
Principal Partner, Wali Uwais & Co<br />
<br />
<b>Overview/Key Findings</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
Nigeria stands on the threshold of what could be the greatest transformation in its history. By 2030, it will be one of the few countries in the world that has young workers in plentiful supply. <b>Youth, not oil, will be the country’s most precious resource in the twenty-first century.</b><br />
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Nigeria has been struggling against the demographic tide since independence. Rapid population growth has created a huge strain on the country’s economic, social and political systems. Today, just 1.2 adults care for each of the country’s children and old people.<br />
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During the past 30 years, the Nigerian economy has stagnated, in sharp contrast to the fortunes of such natural comparators as Indonesia. The 1990s was a lost decade for Nigeria with per capita GDP falling to below 1980 levels.<br />
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Today, Nigeria’s demographic tide is finally turning, as population growth slows and its ‘baby boom generation’ enters the workforce. By midcentury, depending on how fast family size falls, there could be as much as a whole additional adult to support each child and old person.<br />
<br />
Nigeria stands ready to collect a substantial demographic dividend. If it continues with recent positive economic growth, improves health standards, and harnesses a growing workforce, <b>the average Nigerian will be as much as three times richer by 2030 and over 30 million people will be lifted out of poverty.</b><br />
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If Nigeria fails to collect its demographic dividend, the seriousness of the country’s predicament should not be underestimated. Its prospects will be bleak and could be catastrophic.<br />
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In the worst case, Nigeria will see: growing numbers of young people, frustrated by a lack of opportunities; increased competition for jobs, land, natural resources, and political patronage; cities that are increasingly unable to cope with the pressures placed on them; ethnic and religious conflict and radicalisation; and a political system that is discredited by its failure to improve lives.<br />
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Demography is pushing Nigerian states and regions onto widely different trajectories, and could further increase inequality if measures are not taken to promote social cohesion.<br />
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<b>Demographic factors are steadily increasing Nigeria’s risk of conflict. If it fails to respond appropriately over the next decade, it couldwell face a demographic disaster.</b><br />
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Nigeria is currently poorly positioned to maximise its demographic opportunities, despite marked improvements in the policy environment over the past decade.<br />
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At present, health and education standards are low, especially in disadvantaged regions and among the poor. Many young Nigerians are illequipped for life in a modern economy. Young women are especially likely to be excluded from opportunities.<br />
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A shortage of jobs is a serious challenge, with young Nigerians taking many years to become productive contributors to society. <b>A Nigerian only produces more than he or she consumes for an average of 30 years of their life, compared to 34 years in Indonesia, 35 years in India, and 37 years in China.</b><br />
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Nigeria urgently needs to develop a thorough action plan for its next generation. At present, policymakers have too little robust data on the country’s future challenges. In effect, they are running the country blind. Better evidence is needed to inform more far-sighted policies.<br />
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Investment in people must be substantially boosted. The government should set targets for increasing expenditure on education and health, using oil revenues to fund both infrastructure and recurrent spending, while ensuring that existing funds are spent more efficiently.<br />
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For education, the priorities are to develop skills that lead to employment, through expansion of vocational training, and to tackle the gross inequalities in educational provision that threaten Nigeria’s integrity as a cohesive society.<br />
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In the health sector, rapid improvements are possible, especially by tackling very high levels of child mortality. Regions with low health standards need emergency funding to build effective primary health systems, with a focus on maternal and child health care.<br />
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The needs of young families must also be put at the heart of the Nigerian policy agenda. With better health and education, parents will choose to invest more in fewer children, giving them a much better chance of living a prosperous, secure and fulfilled life. Creating pro-family policies must be a priority for the Nigerian government.<br />
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Without remedial action, the crisis in the job market will worsen rapidly as growing numbers of young Nigerians enter the workforce. <b>Nigeria needs to create almost 25 million jobs over the next ten years </b>if it is to offer work to new entrants, and halve current unemployment.<br />
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Nigeria needs to develop the infrastructure that will underpin a world class economy, spending up to an additional 4% of GDP on this task. It should diversify away from oil, with an emphasis on sectors that will improve employment prospects for young people, while removing obstacles to economic growth and private enterprise.<br />
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The oil industry contributes 40% to national GDP, but employs less than 0.15% of the population. Other industries still in their infancy offer greater potential to Nigeria and Nigerians: communications; manufacturing (textiles, clothing and footwear; automobiles); and the mining of resources other than oil.<br />
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Nigeria must tap into the energies of the next generation itself, releasing its innovative and entrepreneurial potential, and ensuring that young people have increasing opportunities for political expression. It should also harness the potential of the diaspora, both to provide opportunities for the young; and for new ideas, investments, and contacts of the global Nigerian network.<br />
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<b> With the right policies for the next generation, Nigeria’s aspiration to become one of the world’s largest 20 economies is in reach.</b> If Nigeria’s leaders make the wrong choices today, the country will suffer the consequences for many decades to come – and Nigeria’s development breakthrough could be forever lost.Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-34506265242004114932010-08-19T07:17:00.000-07:002010-08-30T03:19:05.562-07:00How Governor Akala And His Cohorts Milked Oyo State DryCulled From : The Street Journal -http://thestreetjournal.org<br />
Article-<a href="http://thestreetjournal.org/pages/content/view/68/58/">http://thestreetjournal.org/pages/content/view/68/58/</a><br />
<br />
How Governor Akala And His Cohorts Milked Oyo State Dry<br />
Written by Administrator <br />
Thursday, 29 July 2010<br />
<br />
The Otunba Alao-Akala administration in Oyo State has been at the receiving end of criticisms most of which bother on financial issues. While pro Akala elements hail the Oyo State chief executive as the O yato Governor (The Governor with a difference), those not favourably disposed to his ways often say the only different thing about him is his way of embezzling public funds.<br />
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The average Oyo State indigene believes that large scale corruption is being perpetrated by the Akala government. It is often said that his government ranks among the most corrupt in Nigeria and that he has little or nothing to offer the average citizen. What is more paramount as a source put it is his “looting program.” Today, the Governor who was said to have misappropriated N 1 billion in his fist eleven months in office is believed to be among the richest men in Oyo State. Though sometime ago, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo was quoted as saying that Governor Akala told him that at the time Senator Ladoja was to be impeached, he (Akala) could not boast of N 100,000 (one hundred thousand Naira) in his account.<br />
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The government is said to have a characteristic way of squandering money, especially with the Governor allegedly hosting not less than two parties in a week. ‘That is the extent of His Excellency’s idleness’, a source observed.<br />
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Apart from his many parties, the Oyo State Governor is a frequent traveler. He is about the most traveled Governor in this dispensation with not less than 100 trips behind him. Most of those trips are to the United States and England. It was observed in some quarters that in spite of those trips, not a single investment has been facilitated in the state by any foreign investor. Those who know Otunba Alao Akala at very close quarters have revealed that “as a man with a great power of enjoyment, whenever he chooses to enjoy himself, he spares no cost. At times, he goes to functions in the U.S.A and U.K with traditional Yoruba drummers and jesters.”<br />
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One of his birthdays was reportedly celebrated lavishly in three different countries; England, Ireland and Canada.<br />
To some others, the Governor’s frivolous spending defies competent description. Not only does he throw lavish parties to celebrate his children’s marriages, his wife and mistresses’ birthdays, the former police officer has embarked on a slapdash purchase of chieftaincy titles. There seems to be no end to the titles- Otun of The Source, Bobagunwa of Owu Kingdom, The Atunluse of Ibarapa and so many more.<br />
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Not a few indigenes wonder at the basis of the many unmerited traditional titles the Governor has in his kitty. Or to what does one adduce the magnanimity of the monarchs who confer the titles? If the Governor’s contribution to the town or region is the reason for the conferment, what of the titles from outside Oyo State? Some people even wonder whether some Obas put the feelings of their subjects into consideration before conferring titles on people like the Governor.<br />
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Till date, the state cannot satisfactorily account for about N 27 billion that accrued to it from the excess crude oil fund account.It has been alleged that not long after the money was released to the 33 local government areas in the state, Governor Akala formulated a rather cunning way of denying the local governments of their statutory dues by introducing a fraudulent and compulsory 5 kilometer road construction project to all the local government areas in the state. Incidentally, the consultant for the project was no other than Engineer Femi Babalola, the CEO of Pentagon Engineering Limited who said to be one of the Governor’s fronts. Each local government chairman was made to sign a sum of N 250 million towards the job; that of course brings the total figure involved in the scam to N 8.2 billion. The Governor was also said to have ensured that the consultant got 60 % upfront payment as against the normal 15 % mobilization fee required by law.<br />
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The contract was said to have been extended to some phony companies, one of which was Banik Engineering Services Limited, a company not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.<br />
Street Journal’s findings revealed that the looting spree did not just start today; it dates back to the illegal eleven month reign of Otunba Akala as Governor of the Pacesetter state. Way back then, a number of brand new vehicles belonging to the state were sold as scrap for amounts as ridiculously low as N 10,000 (Ten thousand Naira). The beneficiaries of course were top government functionaries. At another time, about 32 brand new cars were reportedly bought in one day and given out to the Governor’s cronies. <br />
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In spite of the enormous amount accruing to the state from the federal government, all the state can boast of is are its moribund Water Corporation, a corrupt Ministry of Lands and Housing and a dead Ministry of Works. <br />
A glaring testimony of His Excellency the Governor’s wealth on the other hand lies in the amount of properties he has acquired between the time he served as pro tem Governor and now. He has more than enough to become a realtor after the expiration of his term of office. For instance, a few months after his boss, Senator Ladoja was impeached; Governor Akala allegedly bought a house in Dover, a waterfront highbrow area of London.<br />
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Apart from his many properties in Europe, the Governor has properties in choice areas of Ibadan. He reportedly bought over General David Medaiyese Jemibewon’s house in Bodija for the sum of N 200 million. Other properties acquired by the Governor include the Itesiwaju House around the Dugbe –Ogunpa axis which is Ibadan’s main commercial centre. Close sources revealed that Barrister Kunle Isola, son of former Governor Kolapo Olawuyi Isola was one of those who helped the Governor to facilitate the purrchase of the sprawling shopping complex. It is also on good authority that all the occupants of the complex have been issued quit notices. And in Ikoyi, the Governor is alleged to be the proud owner of a house three buildings away from the NDLEA Chairman’s residence.<br />
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Ask the average Ibadan indigene what the Government has done so far, you are likely to be told that there is nothing much on ground to show for the existence of this government. Even the much celebrated road projects have come under severe criticism. An example is the Challenge-Molete road which was pothole infested. Particularly notorious was the Idi-Odo roundabout, it had an embarrassing pothole that caused perpetual traffic jams in that area. But on the eve of President Jonathan’s visit to Ibadan, workmen were conspicuously seen around there filling all potholes. It was later discovered that the road received attention just because Mr. President was one of those expected to grace the service marking the Governor’s 60th birthday at the Molete Baptist Church. Residents of the area could not help praying that the President would become a regular visitor to Ibadan so that other things too would receive attention.<br />
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Public attention was first drawn to the large scale fraud being perpetrated by Governor Akala and his team when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) released a report on the activities of the Governor. It surprised many to discover that even books could be used to siphon money from the accounts of a state.According to the EFCC report, a contract for the supply of text books to Oyo State Government was awarded to Macmillan Publishers Limited for the sum of N630,614,750 and that the company had already been paid N586,470, 647.50 while a balance of N61,000,000 was still outstanding.<br />
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It was also revealed that the contract was highly inflated as investigation revealed that Macmillan Publishers Limited spent only the sum of N98,356,574.76 to execute the contract.<br />
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Macmillan inflated the contract to the tune of N488,114,073.50 and had already refunded the sum of N10,000,000 to the Oyo State Government.<br />
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It was also revealed that a contract for the supply of text books to Oyo State was awarded to Evans Brothers Publishers for the sum of N630,000,000 and that N504,292,602 had already been paid.<br />
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Evans Brothers Publishers expended the sum of N108,141,026 to execute the entire contract.<br />
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Evans Brothers Publishers inflated the contract by the sum of N396,151,185 and had already refunded the sum of N12,000,000<br />
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A contract to supply the Oyo State Government with text books was also awarded to Longman Nigeria Plc for the sum of N39,724,300 and the sum of N29,000,000 was paid. <br />
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Governor Alao-Akala also released the total sum of N190,000,000 to 19 lawmakers of the State House of Assembly for Constituency Projects though the Government checks were issued in their individual names.<br />
<br />
To those who know the way things run in the Akala government, it is not surprising that contractors inflate contract sums. It has been alleged that His Excellency, the Governor is said to be an apostle of giving unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar. It has been alleged that no booty passes him by as his share in every contract is 20%. A source also pointed it out that ‘the reason for the looting cannot be divorced from the 2011 elections’. Speaking further, the source explained that “the calculation is that Baba Adedibu who used to do most of the politicking for the Governor is no more. But with the economic power at his disposal, he feels he can buy his way through to his reelection.”Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-40325479809545126332010-08-18T01:53:00.000-07:002010-08-30T03:09:57.292-07:00Is Nigeria Broke Or Is She Iminently in Danger of Being Broke?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div id="header-wrapper" style="color: black !important; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 16px;"><h2 id="header" style="color: black !important; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 9px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img alt="BBC News" height="40" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/img/1_0_0/cream/hi/news/news-blocks.gif" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: blue !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 12px; text-decoration: underline;" width="255" /><span class="section-title" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; color: white; display: block; font-family: 'Gill Sans MT', 'Gill Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 24px; padding-bottom: 16px; padding-top: 6px; text-indent: -2px !important; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0664063) 0px 0px 1px; text-transform: uppercase;">AFRICA</span></h2><div id="blq-local-nav" style="color: black !important; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 16px;"></div></div><div class="international" id="content-wrapper" style="color: black !important; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 16px;"><div class="advert" style="color: black !important; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 2px;"></div><div class="story blq-clearfix" id="main-content" style="color: black !important; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 47px;"><div id="print-advert" style="color: black !important; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 16px; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px;"><img alt="" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/bbccom.live.site.news/_default;slot=printableversionsponsorship;sz=120x60,215x60;sectn=news;ctype=content;referrer=news;referrer_domain=www.bbc.co.uk;rsi=J08781_10139;headline=africaviewpoint;asset_type=story;tile=1;ord=09457897866408?" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: black !important; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div class="layout-block-a" style="color: black !important; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 16px;"><div class="story-body" style="color: black !important; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 16px;"><span class="story-date" style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 31px;"><span class="date" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;">10 August 2010</span> </span><br />
<h1 class="story-header" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 2.461em; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 34px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 52px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Africa viewpoint: Spendthrift nation</span></h1><div class="introduction" style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">In our series of viewpoints from African journalists, Sola Odunfa considers money matters.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">It appears Nigeria is entering would could be called a period of insolvencies.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">That may surprise you, coming so soon after all the talk of multi-billion dollar budgets and junkets "to cheer up the boys" for the now-ended football World Cup in South Africa.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">Many Nigerians cannot understand this new vocabulary of insolvency because they still swear by the gospel, preached in the 1970s by the then military head of state General Yakubu Gowon, that Nigeria's problem was not money but how to spend it.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">The first government entity to be hit by this financial crisis was the national petroleum corporation, which manages the country's 2m barrels a day crude oil production.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">Even at a depressed $50 a barrel in very bad times, the corporation would net a handsome $50m (about £31.7m) every day of the year.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">You may then understand the shock when a junior minister said last month that the corporation was flat broke.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">My friend, it was no joking matter.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">Within hours of his comments, Nigerians were asking, where has all the money gone?</div><span class="cross-head" style="display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 1.231em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Blue or red ink?</span></span><br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">The nation may be ranked among the most corrupt by its detractors - and they are many - but siphoning all that money would be beyond even Satan.</div><div id="story_continues_1" style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">The Federal Executive Council wasted no time giving the answer everybody wanted to hear: The petroleum corporation was far from being broke - its accounts were entered in indigo blue!</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">Then, billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote petitioned the government over alleged mismanagement at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, suggesting that it was heavily in the red and investors' funds were being meddled with.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">The exchange promptly issued a statement giving a picture of robust health</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">But Mr Dangote was not just another member of the exchange - he was president of its council and his word therefore could not be dismissed lightly.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">The Securities and Exchange Commission responded by launching an investigation into the affairs of the stock exchange but it also sacked Mr Dangote, his council, and the chief executive of the exchange last week.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">Yet the biggest worry is that the government itself could become broke because of the uncontrollable greed of the legislature.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">This concern has been raised by none other than former President Olusegun Obasanjo.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">Mr Obasanjo says the legislators have become a financial burden on the nation's lean purse.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">He is worried about something many of us have been bothered about for many years, that is, how much it costs to maintain each member of Nigeria's Senate and House of Representative.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">Like most Nigerians, the ex-president can only guess.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">He says he believes it is about $1.7m a year per senator. A representative takes slightly less.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">There are 109 senators and 360 representatives in the National Assembly.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">The bulk of the money they take is described as "constituency allowance", a payment received by each legislator to maintain a constituency office and to launch an economic or infrastructure development programme.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">The outrage is that this and other allowances are determined by the legislators themselves and paid in bulk by the government into the coffers of the legislature for disbursement to individuals.</div><span class="cross-head" style="display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 1.231em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">'Vampires'</span></span><br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">There is no independent audit of this expenditure.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">Law professor Itse Sagay says Nigerian politicians are among the highest-paid in the world.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">A columnist in the Lagos newspaper <a href="http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008040443620" style="color: blue !important; font-family: Helvetica; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: underline;">The Punch</a> calculates that, "more than 70% of national income now goes into paying salaries and allowances of political office holders".</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">The legislators, irrespective of parties, seem to have become vampires on the nation's democracy, and there is little or nothing Nigerians can do about it.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">The constitution allows legislators to do what they are doing and only they can amend the document, unless, of course, as the frustrated lawyer, Ben Nwabueze, pointed out last month, some revolutionaries emerge to clean up the system forcefully.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">Now, you may need to think twice before condemning impoverished illiterate voters who demand money for their ballot when electioneering campaigns begin later this year.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">Their votes may be irrelevant to the results.</div><div class="comment-introduction" style="color: black !important; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 16px;"><div class="introduction" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">If you would like to comment on Sola's latest column, please use the postform. A selection of views will be published below.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-19591091780838531092010-04-07T08:16:00.000-07:002010-08-30T03:10:38.549-07:00What We Become<div class="MsoNormal">We are each endowed with immense potentials.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Events, occurrences and achievements</div><div class="MsoNormal">through history have continued </div><div class="MsoNormal">to amplify and corroborate this assertion. </div><div class="MsoNormal">For each and every one of us </div><div class="MsoNormal">our possibilities are limitless.</div><div class="MsoNormal">All through history men who lived their passion,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Have left their make on the sand of time </div><div class="MsoNormal">But in all men who excelled,</div><div class="MsoNormal">have acted on their natural inclination,</div><div class="MsoNormal">had acted on their natural propensity.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Whether we become victims of our circumstances</div><div class="MsoNormal">Or masters of circumstances is entirely our doing</div><div class="MsoNormal">We are each born into an environment,</div><div class="MsoNormal">It shapes us; it creates direction for us,</div><div class="MsoNormal">But whether we succeed or fail in life,</div><div class="MsoNormal">depends on whether we have left,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Our destiny in the hands of our circumstance,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Or whether we took our destiny in our hands,</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cause our perception, our beliefs, our thoughts,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Beyond any other factors determine</div><div class="MsoNormal">Whether we would do anything at all</div><div class="MsoNormal">What we would try to do</div><div class="MsoNormal">How we would try to do it</div><div class="MsoNormal">And the spirit with which we would put to do it</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ultimately, the difference between </div><div class="MsoNormal">Success and failure is mind set</div><div class="MsoNormal">The difference between great men and ordinary men</div><div class="MsoNormal">Is depended on the spirit with which we have lived our lives,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 255.0pt;">At the end what we become is our doing,<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-31237342830684377432010-02-05T01:22:00.000-08:002010-08-30T03:10:38.549-07:00A Return to Love.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=myw05-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1905490437&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cape-Refuge-Terri-Blackstock/dp/031026443X?ie=UTF8&tag=myw05-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Cape Refuge</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=myw05-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=031026443X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=myw05-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=031026443X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">We ask ourselves,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?'</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> Actually, who are you not to be? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">You are a child of God. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Your playing small does not serve the world. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> We are all meant to shine, as children do. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">And as we let our own light shine, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
— <a class="authorNameRegular" href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17297.Marianne_Williamson" style="color: #663300; text-decoration: none;" title="view all quotes by Marianne Williamson">Marianne Williamson</a> (<a class="bookTitleRegular" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/quotes/39845" style="color: #663300; text-decoration: none;">A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles</a>)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The poem is on one of the pages in the Book Return to Love.</span>Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-46649398697606299202010-02-05T01:12:00.000-08:002010-08-30T03:10:38.549-07:00Invictus<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 27px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Out of the night that covers me,<br />
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,<br />
I thank whatever gods may be<br />
For my unconquerable soul.<br />
<br />
In the fell clutch of circumstance<br />
I have not winced nor cried aloud.<br />
Under the bludgeonings of chance<br />
My head is bloody, but unbowed.<br />
<br />
Beyond this place of wrath and tears<br />
Looms but the Horror of the shade,<br />
And yet the menace of the years<br />
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.<br />
<br />
It matters not how strait the gate,<br />
How charged with punishments the scroll.<br />
I am the master of my fate:<br />
I am the captain of my soul.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">William Ernest Henley</span></div>Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241537960947523986.post-74040057354105630392010-02-03T10:12:00.000-08:002010-08-30T02:31:02.677-07:00The March of Liberty<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">He thought, they thought</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">that the situation was not right.<br />
Basic amenities were lacking,<br />
There was poverty all about,<br />
There was nepotism in the land,<br />
Corruption was endemic,<br />
Abuse of power was the order of the day<br />
Kleptomaniacs were on the prowl<br />
Everything was in disarray<br />
Life had become brutish and short.<br />
He asked himself, they asked themselves<br />
Must things continue this way?<br />
Not wishing to cause instability<br />
Afraid of what might result from challenging the status quo<br />
They watched year after year<br />
Administration after administration<br />
as things got from bad to worse<br />
existence reduced to a mere struggle for survival.<br />
Now was the time to act.<br />
He must act, they must act,<br />
they must act against their current situation<br />
Cause change does not come<br />
from doing nothing,<br />
from doing the same thing again and again.<br />
Thus the struggle began<br />
Against all that was bad<br />
Against everything that was bad<br />
Against anything that was unjust<br />
Thus began pain, persecution and prosecution<br />
He was unrelenting<br />
they were resolute in their pursuit<br />
then came the light at the end of the tunnel<br />
the light was already casting it beam on their part<br />
looking ahead it was clearer and getting brighter<br />
with hardship, with pain<br />
he moved ahead ,they moved ahead<br />
it was getting better ,worthier and rewarding<br />
so now they cannot stop<br />
cause they know that it could only get better<br />
if they keep of the struggle.</span>Agbeloba - Bauer Ist Konighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11083056967433596489noreply@blogger.com0