Friday, July 26, 2013

Is Nigeria a Fraud?

Some Nigerian politicians and the activists claim that Nigeria is a fraud. They say this to support their cheap desire to divide Nigeria. If we go by their claim that their Nigeria is a fraud, who are the fraudsters? To my humble understanding, the fraudsters are the British. They came down and forced us to be together without our consent. This is one of the reasons some good Nigerians believe that Nigeria will not last beyond 2015.

Events are proving that the expectation of these great Nigerians will be granted. Take for instance, nobody can correctly predict what will become of Nigeria when the next general election comes in 2015. Some leaders have already made up their minds never to accept any result of the election not favourable to them. The insurgency in the North, the presence of OPC in South West, the roaring of the militants in the South South and the activities of the kidnappers in the South East pose a great danger to the survival of Nigeria come 2015. In addition to these, the war of supremacy among the political leaders is even more dangerous. This is because the feared militancy and terrorism are products of politics. Despite how guilty we Nigerians are over the state of our dear nation, we still call Luggard a fraudster because of the 1914 amalgamation.

May be somebody should help to make us to understand how to address a political leader or political activist who calls Nigeria a fraud and has refused to refund any part of Nigeria's money in his foreign account. Same person still runs to London to take permission to run for an election in the Nigeria he calls a fraud. Same politician owns houses in London while his kinsmen die of hunger.

How do we define fraud?
Who do we call the fraudsters? The British or their accusers.
Even if there were mistakes made since 1914, why haven't Nigerians seen enough reasons to forgive both the British and fellow Countrymen?
Why?

Saturday, July 20, 2013

The War in Rivers State: The Untold Story

The war in Rivers State Nigeria has really generated tensions that have touched every part of Nigeria. As a matter of fact, Nigerians have witnessed strange events going by what we usually have. Take for instance, Nigerians would not have known that an honourable member of an honourable house coould summon the courage in a dishonourable matter to make an attempt to murder a man that had always sat with him in same house. This is really strange. The honourable member was suddenly possessed by the Aluu spirit.

It is also strange that governors from the most insecure region could gather to embark on a solidarity visit in Rivers. These governors did not prevent the incessant killings of Southerners (including Rivers indigenes) in their respective states. They did not even remember that Nigerians once called for their removal when the on-going emergency rule was proclaimed in their states. It is also strange that even governors from South West embarked on same mission. However, how many governors did same when a similar case was witnessed in Abia, Anambra, Plateau, Ekiti, Oyo and other states in the federation?

It is also strange that the first Lady would embark on a press conference to comment on the lingering crises. Even Turai that once led us never did. This is really strange.

However, the matter in Rivers state today can not be solved by neither Amaechi nor the Jonathans. It is a fundamental problem that requires the contributions of the people ( not sycophants). The genesis of the problem is the Okirika water front. The area is jointly owned by the Okirikas and the Ikwerres. A greater portion of the area was given by the Okirikas under the leadership of Chief Daniel Oju Kalio who was the paramount leader of the Okirikas afetr the discovery of coal in Enugu. The area was given for the establishment of a seaport for the exportation of the coal. When the area was not enough for the purpose for which it was taken, an arrangement was made in 1913 for the extension of the area. Since the Okirikas could not give more of their land, the neighbouring Ikwerre communities were relocated and their land given for same project. As a Corp member in Rivers State in 2005, I listened to an Okirika man who was even threatening that they could go to war with the Ikwerres if the later tamper with this environment. According to him, the contribution of the Ikwerres is not as large as what the Okirikas gave. Furthermore, The Ikwerres have the advantage of being the owners of the Port Harcourt City. As a result, they also believe the own everything in the City including the water front.

Going by the peoples culture, while the Okirikas are known for living close to water, the Ikwerres are not so. This may go a long way to prove that the very part of the area in question might belong to the Okirikas and the most affected people in the demolition must be the Okirikas. From my observation as a neutral person, I am sure that the area is jointly owned by the two people. This why I say that a meeting of the Amaechis and the Jonathans is not enough to solve the problem at hand. It can only cover it for a while. The intrusion of the South Western leaders will only add salt to the wound. This is because since a Yoruba man can comfortably leave his native home to reside in Lagos and be buried in his plot of land with nobody asking questions, a typical man from either South East or South South thinks of being carried home. As a result, knowledge of common boundaries is very important.

Should this really affect government's business if the Governor wants to embark on development project in this area? The answer is NO in capital letter. However, the delicate nature of this matter requires a proper settlement of these people for peace to reign. Kalu in Abia State once embarked on the creation of new Local Governments in the State. According to him, this would bring development close to the people. Meanwhile, his intention was to compensate his region to the detriment of the Ngwas. In Aba, he intended to create Aba Municipal with the intention removing the control of the City from the hands of the marginalized owners. The people of Abia opposed it and the project met its untimely death. The intention of the political leader is important even in the case of Rivers. Indisputably, Amaechi is an achiever but whose interest is being served by the unpopular demolition of the water front? Does it favour the Okirikas who claim true ownership or the Ikwerres? To the Okirikas, the Ikwerre man is Igbo while he sees himself as Ijaw. Is this not a system to deny the Ikwerres of the little contribution they made in the area during colonialism. See where Enugu man's coal is causing generational problems.

Without doubt, this problem has become multifaceted due to the lingering crisis in the yet to be concluded NGF election and the popularity of Amaechi in the camp of the opposition. However, should this jeopardize regional interest? To the opposition, Amaechi is a hero. To the Ikwerres, he is a true son of the soil but to the Okirikas, Amaechi is an Ikwerre war lord who has been able to touch the untouchable. hence, the war may continue.

Finally, I use this opportunity to call the Youths of Rivers State to use their heads well. Don't be deceived into fighting your brothers like Llod. This problem is just for a while and the garden City will bounce back. I also call the leaders of the Niger Delta to intervene into this matter. Lest I forget, the services of sycophants are no longer needed.

God bless Nigeria! 


Why I Don't Trust Google

Why I Don't Trust Google

R-E-V-E-A=L-E=D: The List of Senators Who Voted in Favour To Legalize Underage Marriage In Nigeria By NigerianEye

We now know how senators voted on the constitution amendment bill which caused an uproar in the senate on Tuesday.

Former Zamfara State Governor and current Senator, Sani Yerima, whose marriage to a 13-year-old girl drew widespread outrage in 2009, literally pressed the Senate to reverse a vote that appeared to outlaw underage marriage

The part up for ammendment relates to persons qualifies to renounce Nigerian citizenship. The constitution in Section 29 says anyone of age can do so.
Section 29(4) (b) says that ” any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.” It means that even a child if married can be seen to be of full age and as such can renounce citizenship. The committee proposed that that provision be deleted.


When it was put to vote, 2/3 of members present voted for it which meant it was deleted. 2
Senator Yerima had kicked and mobilised his fellow Muslims in the Senate which was threatening to cause confusion. Despite the senate president, David Mark insisting that it could no longer be revisited as it had been voted upon, Yerima continued his objection.

Due to the sensitive nature, Mark had to call for another vote. At this point the Senators who were in favour of this clause could no longer muster 2/3 of the votes that will retain Section 29, Clause 4 (b). Senators still voted 60 votes to 35 votes for the clause to be deleted, but it did not satisfy the 2/3 requirement and so, according to the senate version, “any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.”

Thanks to Sen. Babafemi Ojudu (Ekiti Central, ACN), we have the full list of the senators who voted NO)
The senators who voted NO, that is those who did not want the clause deleted, include the following:


1. Sen. Abdulmumin M. Hassan (Jigawa South West, PDP)
2. Sen. Abdullahi Danladi (Jigawa North West, PDP)
3. Sen. Adamu Abdullahi (Nasarawa West, PDP)
4. Sen. Ahmed Barata (Adamawa South, PDP)
5. Sen. Akinyelure Ayo (Ondo Central, Labour Party)
6. Sen. Alkali Saidu A. (Gombe North, PDP)
7. Sen. Bagudu Abubakar A. (Kebbi Central, PDP)
8. Sen. Dahiru Umaru (Sokoto South, PDP)
9. Sen. Galaudu Isa (Kebbi North, PDP)
10. Sen. Garba Gamawa (Bauchi North, PDP)
11. Sen. Danjuma Goje Mohammed (Gombe Central, PDP)
12. Sen. Gobir Ibrahim (Sokoto East, PDP)
13. Sen. Gumba Adamu Ibrahim (Bauchi South, PDP)
14. Sen. Hadi Sirika (Katsina North, CPC)
15. Sen. Ibrahim Bukar Abba (Yobe East, ANPP)
16. Sen. Jajere Alkali (Yobe South, ANPP)
17. Sen. Jibrilla Mohammed (Adamawa North, PDP)
18. Sen. Kabiru Gaya (Kano South, ANPP)
19. Sen. Lafiagi Mohammed (Kwara North, PDP)
20. Sen. Lawan Ahmad (Yobe North, ANPP)
21. Sen. Maccido Mohammed (Sokoto North, PDP)
22. Sen. Musa Ibrahim (Niger North, CPC)
23. Sen. Ndume Mohammed Ali (Borno South, PDP)
24. Sen. Sadiq A. Yaradua (Katsina Central, CPC)
25. Sen. Saleh Mohammed (Kaduna Central, CPC)
26. Sen. Tukur Bello (Adamawa Central, PDP)
27. Sen. Ugbesia Odion (Edo Central, PDP)
28. Sen. Umar Abubakar (Taraba Central, PDP)
29. Sen. Usman Abdulaziz (Jigawa North East, PDP)
30. Sen. Ya’au Sahabi (Zamfara North, PDP)
31. Sen. Zannah Ahmed (Borno Central, PDP)
32. Sen. Ahmad Rufai Sani (Zamfara West, ANPP)
33. Sen. Ahmad Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central, PDP)
34. Sen. Bello Hayatu Gwano (Kano North, PDP)
35. Sen. Ibrahim Abu (Katsina South, CPC)

 

REVEALED: The List Of Senators Who Voted In Favour To Legalize Underage Marriage In Nigeria


We now know how senators voted on the constitution amendment bill which caused an uproar in the senate on Tuesday.

Former Zamfara State Governor and current Senator, Sani Yerima, whose marriage to a 13-year-old girl drew widespread outrage in 2009, literally pressed the Senate to reverse a vote that appeared to outlaw underage marriage

The part up for ammendment relates to persons qualifies to renounce Nigerian citizenship. The constitution in Section 29 says anyone of age can do so.
Section 29(4) (b) says that ” any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.” It means that even a child if married can be seen to be of full age and as such can renounce citizenship. The committee proposed that that provision be deleted.


When it was put to vote, 2/3 of members present voted for it which meant it was deleted. 2
Senator Yerima had kicked and mobilised his fellow Muslims in the Senate which was threatening to cause confusion. Despite the senate president, David Mark insisting that it could no longer be revisited as it had been voted upon, Yerima continued his objection.

Due to the sensitive nature, Mark had to call for another vote. At this point the Senators who were in favour of this clause could no longer muster 2/3 of the votes that will retain Section 29, Clause 4 (b). Senators still voted 60 votes to 35 votes for the clause to be deleted, but it did not satisfy the 2/3 requirement and so, according to the senate version, “any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.”

Thanks to Sen. Babafemi Ojudu (Ekiti Central, ACN), we have the full list of the senators who voted NO)
The senators who voted NO, that is those who did not want the clause deleted, include the following:


1. Sen. Abdulmumin M. Hassan (Jigawa South West, PDP)
2. Sen. Abdullahi Danladi (Jigawa North West, PDP)
3. Sen. Adamu Abdullahi (Nasarawa West, PDP)
4. Sen. Ahmed Barata (Adamawa South, PDP)
5. Sen. Akinyelure Ayo (Ondo Central, Labour Party)
6. Sen. Alkali Saidu A. (Gombe North, PDP)
7. Sen. Bagudu Abubakar A. (Kebbi Central, PDP)
8. Sen. Dahiru Umaru (Sokoto South, PDP)
9. Sen. Galaudu Isa (Kebbi North, PDP)
10. Sen. Garba Gamawa (Bauchi North, PDP)
11. Sen. Danjuma Goje Mohammed (Gombe Central, PDP)
12. Sen. Gobir Ibrahim (Sokoto East, PDP)
13. Sen. Gumba Adamu Ibrahim (Bauchi South, PDP)
14. Sen. Hadi Sirika (Katsina North, CPC)
15. Sen. Ibrahim Bukar Abba (Yobe East, ANPP)
16. Sen. Jajere Alkali (Yobe South, ANPP)
17. Sen. Jibrilla Mohammed (Adamawa North, PDP)
18. Sen. Kabiru Gaya (Kano South, ANPP)
19. Sen. Lafiagi Mohammed (Kwara North, PDP)
20. Sen. Lawan Ahmad (Yobe North, ANPP)
21. Sen. Maccido Mohammed (Sokoto North, PDP)
22. Sen. Musa Ibrahim (Niger North, CPC)
23. Sen. Ndume Mohammed Ali (Borno South, PDP)
24. Sen. Sadiq A. Yaradua (Katsina Central, CPC)
25. Sen. Saleh Mohammed (Kaduna Central, CPC)
26. Sen. Tukur Bello (Adamawa Central, PDP)
27. Sen. Ugbesia Odion (Edo Central, PDP)
28. Sen. Umar Abubakar (Taraba Central, PDP)
29. Sen. Usman Abdulaziz (Jigawa North East, PDP)
30. Sen. Ya’au Sahabi (Zamfara North, PDP)
31. Sen. Zannah Ahmed (Borno Central, PDP)
32. Sen. Ahmad Rufai Sani (Zamfara West, ANPP)
33. Sen. Ahmad Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central, PDP)
34. Sen. Bello Hayatu Gwano (Kano North, PDP)
35. Sen. Ibrahim Abu (Katsina South, CPC)









Some senators did not register to vote, while some abstained.

After the second voting, Yerima tried to get up to thank the Senate Present and his colleagues in an attempt to claim victory, he was shouted down and booed.