Pregnant at 18, best graduating student at 25

                                                     Aishat with her son, Damilola

Seven years after an unwanted pregnancy forced her to drop out of the University of Ilorin, Aishat Farooq emerges the best graduating student of the Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State, 

When Aishat Farooq gained admission into the University of Ilorin at 15, to study Zoology, little did she know that she was not going to be an alumnus of the institution. That was in 2003.

Despite the fact that she was a high flyer in her first two years in UNILORIN, the now 25-year-old indigene of Ilorin West-Local Government Area of Kwara State got distracted along the line. She played the campus love game and got a shocking result: she got pregnant.

It was in 2006 and in her third year. She was pregnant for a fellow student whom she had been dating. She was disappointed in herself and thought the whole world was crashing on her.  Yet, she vowed not to terminate the pregnancy.

Although she wanted to continue her studies in the university,  she became disillusioned and dropped out at 18. She sought consolation in trading.

But her father, Mr. Shehu Farooq, who believed that his daughter’s academic prowess should not be wasted,  was determined to get her back on the academic track.

Today, Aishat has a different story to tell. On Saturday, she stood tall among her peers at the 5th convocation ceremony of Bells University, Ota, Ogun State,  where she emerged the overall best graduating student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.93.

“The rebel in me won,” she declared while giving the valedictory address on behalf of the 208 graduating students of the university.

“I hope my story will inspire at least one person to change his or her circumstance. I was pregnant at 18 and by 19 I was already a mother. I had disappointed my father who believed so much in me. He had such big dreams for me and feared the dreams would become unfulfilled,” she added.

Breaking the news of the pregnancy to her father,  who was at the time based in the northern part of the country, was not easy. Aishat’s mother, Fatima, who stayed in Lagos with the family, did not break the “sad news” to the man until the lady was almost due. The mum feared her husband would be too angry.

Fatima narrated to our correspondent, “Looking back, we knew her to be very brilliant. But all of a sudden she got pregnant. Though her father and I were always discussing on the telephone, I hid it from him. Whenever he said he would  be coming to Lagos to visit us, I  would quickly chip it in that I would  like to be the one to visit. So, I ensured I was the one always visiting him.

“That was how I managed the situation until the pregnancy was eight months. But even when we broke the news to him, he felt really bad. Although there was nothing he could do, he couldn’t go out for three days.”

Aishat studied Business Administration with specialisation in Human Resources Management, and received the Vice-Chancellor’s Prize for the Overall Best Graduating Student with a cash reward of N50,000 and a plaque. She also won the College of Management Sciences Prize and Department of Business Administration Prize for the Best Graduating Student.

Speaking with our correspondent after she received the awards, Aishat, whose face beamed with smiles, expressed gratitude to her dad for not losing hope in her during her trying time.

She noted that the popularly-held notion that the child that goes astray belongs to the mother, while the good ones belong to the father, was not applicable in her situation as her father did not give up on her.

Asked why her dad had so much hoped in her, she stated that her history of academic excellence from childhood right to the university was a major driving force.

Aishat, who attended Nazareth Nursery and Primary School, Lagos; Penny International College, Lagos and Model Secondary School, Maitama, Abuja,  said she bagged several academic awards while growing up and noted that she secured admission to UNILORIN the same year she completed her secondary education.

She noted, “I did exceptionally well and bagged awards in the schools I attended. I had the overall best result at the Senior Secondary School Certificate level at Model Secondary School, Maitama, Abuja. In fact in UNILORIN, I was on the first class grade in my first year but in 200 Level, I dropped to second class upper division because I had already started getting distracted by the boys.

“It just happened that things turned out the way it did. But here I am, a product of God’s unending mercies, unconditional love and grace – all coupled with the faith my dad had in me and my fierce determination.

“I’m a goal getter. I push myself hard. Even here (BELLSTECH) in spite of being a mother, I was pushing for the best despite the challenges. I wanted to make my dad proud again. Once you are determined, nothing is impossible. Nothing can stop you.”

She said her decision to study Business Administration as against the sciences, which she was studying in UNILORIN, was informed by her two-year experience in the world of business after she dropped out of university.

She explained that incessant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, however, informed her decision to attend a private university. “Age was no longer on my side and I wanted to do it fast. And my dad could afford it because he was a businessman,” she added.

Asked if she was involved in any relationship at the Bells, she explained that she was a popular “snob” on campus because the majority of male students were younger than her. Besides, she did not want to get distracted or disappoint her parents and herself again.

Aishat,  who has been posted to Lagos State to observe the mandatory National Youth Service Corps scheme, said, “If you ask around you will be told that I was a snob. My favourite spot was my room. I rarely went out of the room for social events. I went to mosque. However, when I contested for the president of my departmental association, Business Administration Students Association, the Nigerian system worked against me.

“I lost to my male opponent. Although I had plans to take some giant strides if I won,  especially in the academic aspect for my fellow students, the fact that I was not the  type of person who hangs out worked against me. I didn’t have a social life.”

She said she has no plans for marriage for now. She wants to pursue a master’s degree programme in Human Resources in the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. She added that she also plans to work in a corporate environment to garner experience and afterwards go back to the university to teach “as a way of giving back.”

The second child in a family of eight children, Aishat brought her six-year-old son, Damilola, to the convocation. It was, however, learnt that the Edo State-born father of the boy has since got married to another woman.

She noted that her major challenge on campus was the randomness of classes which denied her the opportunity of spending quality time with her son while her stay in the university lasted.

“We had visiting professors who came into the campus at anytime. Although we had schedules, many of them had a bit of flexible time.  Sometimes on Sunday when I took permission to visit my child in Lagos, my classmates would call me up on the phone that there  was going to be a class. Because attendance is very important, I had to rush down. This affected me a little,” she added.

Aishat’s father advised parents to give their children and wards the best of tutelage and close monitoring. He noted that he least expected the feat achieved by his daughter as he was at a time disturbed that “she could no longer make it.”

Asked if it was  lack of adequate monitoring that made Aishat go astray at UNILORIN, he said,  “Let’s just say that is how God wants it. You see,  70 per cent of the fault is on us the parents. Parents should give their children good supervision and tutelage. With this, they cannot derail. I thank God for her because it’s is not easy to have raised her from grass to grace.

“I screamed on the phone the day I learnt she was pregnant. I started asking questions: When, where and how. I burst into tears. But today, she is a new being. And I know the mistake will not repeat itself. My expectations for her are that she should fly higher and higher.”

Some other graduands who distinguished themselves were also recognised at the convocation ceremony.

Kolawole Lawal,  who finished from the Department of Economics with a CGPA of 4.73, received the Olusegun Obasanjo’s Prize for being the best graduating student with outstanding academic performance and leadership qualities. Former President Obasanjo who is the Chief Promoter of the university, also attended the event.

Francis Sogunle,  from the Department of Computer Science, who had a CGPA of 4.74, received the Chancellor’s Prize for excelling in external competitions of academic nature.

At the ceremony, 208 students were awarded first degrees with Aishat and 13 others being conferred with first class degrees,  while 64 of them got second class upper degrees; 83 bagged second class lower; just as 43 were awarded third class degrees. Meanwhile four of the graduands finished with pass degrees.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Isaac Adeyemi, charged the graduates to be patriotic and dedicated to nation building.

“Our beloved country is currently going through a rather stressful period. All hands must be on deck to seek lasting solutions to militancy and insurgencies and disregard for the rule of law. This is the time to prove your worth as you can’t afford to fold your arms or sit on the fence,” he observed.

Jonathan in make-or-break meeting with ASUU leaders

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday engaged the leadership of the striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in a marathon meeting inside the First Lady Conference Room, Presidential Villa, Abuja. the meeting, which was still on as at the time of filing this report (12.33am), was aimed at finding a final resolution to the strike that started on July 1.

The President was joined at the meeting that started at 2.40pm  by Vice President Namadi Sambo; Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim;
Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike; and Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu among others.

ASUU President, Dr. Nasir Isa Faggae, led the union team which included past presidents such as Prof. Abdulahi Sule-Kano, Prof. Dipo Fashina and Prof. Festus Iyayi.

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress,  Abdulawahid Omar and that of the Trade. Union Congress, Bobboi Kaigama, also attended.

Other members of the delegation were Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, Prof. Victor  Osodeke, Prof. Suleiman Abdul, Dr. Victor Igbum and Mr. Michael Odunmoraye.

Indication that the logjam may be resolved at the meeting emerged when the President declared while shaking hands with members of the delegation that, “The matter must be resolved here today. Our children must go back to school.”

Before the meeting with the President, the leadership of ASUU had met with the Senate President, David Mark, who expressed government commitment to the resolution of the dispute.

The Senate had in a resolution last week, mandated Mark to mediate in the crisis occasioned by the non implementation of the 2010 agreement between ASUU and Federal Government.

The union honoured Mark’s invitation on Monday when they presented their position and expressed optimism that the intervention of the Senate might bring a lasting solution to the crisis.

I’ll keep Nigeria united, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan says his administration is committed and focused in keeping Nigeria united and peaceful. Jonathan said this in Yenagoa on Saturday during the second Bayelsa Thanksgiving Day anniversary. The event, which took place at the mainbowl of the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, had Governor Seriake Dickson; American human rights activist, Mr. Jesse Jackson; prominent cleric, Uma Ukpai; and a host of eminent personalities in attendance.

Jonathan, represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (retd.), said meaningful development could only take place in an atmosphere of peace and stability.

 The President, who commended Dickson for his leadership and initiative for instituting a thanksgiving day in the state, emphasized the need to thank God at all levels of government for His divine protection and guidance.

Jonathan said, “With what the state government is doing in terms of projects and programmes, the Bayelsa Government is keying into the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

 “On my part as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will remain committed and focused to keeping Nigeria united and peaceful under the banner of God who made it possible for me to be here as your elected President in that free and fair election.”

 He said the people must show gratitude to God for the peace being enjoyed in the country, despite what he described as “a few distractions.”

He expressed the hope that Nigerians would rally round him in his quest to make the country one of the greatest economies of the world.

  In his remarks, Dickson called for active participation in the celebration of the thanksgiving day, stating that the event was for every Bayelsa people, within and outside the country.

‘Blame Amaechi if APC leaders’ visit turns violent’

AS the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress prepares to visit Rivers State on Monday (today), the Peoples Democratic Party has warned that the state Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, should be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the state.

The Rivers State Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Felix Obuah, issued this warning on Sunday at the inauguration of the Grassroots Development Intiative in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.

Obuah accused Amaechi, of using state funds to organise a reception for the national leadership of the APC.

The state party chairman also alleged that Amaechi had doled out N500m belonging to the state to neighbouring states to mobilise people from such states to the airport to receive national leaders of the opposition parties.

He suggested that such action by the state governor could cause a breakdown of law and order in the state.

According to the state PDP chairman, “I want to say this as a sign of warning that any breakdown of law and order in this state, Governor Rotimi Amaechi should be held responsible.

“Only yesterday, he gave out N500m of our state money to neighbouring states to mobilise people to the airport to receive the leadership of APC.

“Is that what our money is meant for? When there is a breakdown of law and order, they will say it is Mbu.”

Also, the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, recalled that though Amaechi had said that nothing would make him (Amaechi) leave the PDP, the governor’s planned reception of APC leaders was contrary to such claim.

Wike explained that the mobilisation of people from neighboring states to support the APC would not prevent Rivers people from supporting President Goodluck Jonathan for a re-election in 2015.

He said, “What you must know is that before now, your governor has lied to you that nobody will make him to leave PDP.

“But today, the same governor has told the people to go  to the airport tomorrow to receive the APC leadership; Tinubu, Buhari and co. Does that not show people who are inconsistent? Does that not show that you do not have a governor who is consistent?”

Reacting, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, described Obuah’s allegation as false and a sign of fear in the PDP.

Okocha also predicted a large turnout of Amaechi supporters at the airport and the Government House, describing the expected crowd as a storm that would show the PDP that “Amaechi remains the only politician on  the ground in the state.”

He challenged Obuah and his cohorts to show proof of the disbursement of N500m to Edo and other neighbouring states by Amaechi for the APC leaders’ visit to Rivers.

Slain police officers’ relatives miss out on insurance claims

Widows and other dependants of police officer who died on duty as a result of the security challenges in the country since the beginning of this year may not get any insurance claims from underwriting firms.

Indications to this emerged on Friday as many of the insurance firms claimed that the Federal Government had not paid them any premium on the insurance cover taken for the police officers.

Some of the underwriters, who disclosed this to our correspondent, said all the policemen who had died since the beginning of this year were not covered by them because the ‘No premium, no cover’ policy forbade them from giving any policy on credit.

Although the Federal Government has budgeted money for the insurance cover of police officers, the underwriters said that the policy would only cover those on whom premium had been dully paid.

According to the insurers, the only set of police officer, receiving any form of settlement from them are those who died before 2013 and whose claims documentation had been completed.

Despite the reluctance of the police authorities, to continue with the Group Life Insurance cover, the Federal Government has gone ahead to include the cover under the insurance budget of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

The underwriters, who spoke with our correspondent, said that at a recent meeting with the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubabar, they read out the terms of the ‘No premium, no cover,’ which they said prevented them from providing cover for any party that failed to pay the premium in advance.

Section 50 of the Insurance Act, 2003 states, “The receipt of an insurance premium shall be a condition precedent to a valid contract of insurance and there shall be no cover in respect of an insurance risk, unless the premium is paid in advance.”

It added that any insurer that provided cover without having received premium in advance or premium receipt notification from the relevant insurance broker, would be liable to a penalty of N500,000 in respect of each cover granted, and in addition, the licence of the insurer might be suspended.

It is, however, not certain for now if the Federal Government is going to make any special arrangement to settle the relatives of the deceased  police officers, who died in service.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Goni Aji, said N11bn was budgeted for the payment of insurance cover for all federal workers this year.

He also told our correspondent that the government was ready to pay the insurance firms the outstanding premium of N7bn for 2011 and 2012.

Aji said, “There will be cover for the workers this year. What we have in the appropriation bill for 2013 insurance cover is N11bn. The total outstanding premium for 2011 and 2012 is about N7bn; that is, N4bn for 2012 and N3bn for N2011.”

The HOS said the government prioritised the welfare of its employees and that insurance was a form of encouragement, especially to the families of deceased workers.

Aji, however, added that the full premium payment for this year would depend on revenue generation and inflow of the Federal Government.

In 2008, the Federal Government started the Group Life Insurance scheme for its entire workforce with the first premium of N4bn.

The statutory provision is contained in Section 9(3) of the Pension Reform Act, 2004, which states that an employer shall maintain life insurance policy in favour of the employee for a minimum of three times the annual total emolument of the employee.

This compensation is to be paid to the dependants of a deceased worker, according to the law.

Apart from attacks by armed robbers on the police officers, Boko Haram insurgents have caused the death of many officers, especially in the northern part of the country.

The Managing Director, African Alliance Insurance Plc, Mr. Alphonse Okpor, explained that the Nigerian Police Force had two types of insurance policies, which are the group life assurance and personal accident insurance.

While the group life pays claims to the dependants of a dead policeman, the personal accident caters for the injured.

Due to the increase in the number of casualties and injuries suffered by police personnel, Okpor said there was a need to improve their insurance package.

National dialogue: More questions than answers after committee’s visit to Jos

Many Nigerians who attended the North Central zonal interactive session on the proposed national conference in Jos, the Plateau State capital, are of the view that the conference may not be any different from previous attempts to get ethnic nationalities to reach a consensus on the nation’s future.

 The Jos gathering was supposed to collate views from Nigerians on what should be discussed during the conference.

 However, observers are of the view that if the outcome of the Jos interactive session is anything to go by, Nigerians should as well consider the conference as another talking shop.

 Not only was the session poorly organised and poorly publicised, the level of attendance did not reflect the attitude of a nation hoping to get things right. A majority of those who wanted to present memoranda to the committee were not aware of its presence in Jos.

 To make matters worse, committee members spent over seventy per cent of their one-day session visiting government officials and traditional rulers. For a session that was supposed to collate views from states in the North central region – Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kwara and the Federal Capital Territory – only three states: Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa, were represented. Groups representing ethnic nationalities and religious bodies were not adequately represented.

 Prof. Audu Gambo of the Centre for Conflict and Management Studies is one of several Nigerians who are saddened by the turn of events.

 He said, “Truly speaking, the attendance we have at this interactive session is not a true representation of the diversity of the Middle belt as a geographical zone. There are so many states that are not represented here. Kogi, Kwara, FCT Abuja.”

 Even though he presented the position of the Tarok nation, Gambo was not satisfied with the number of those who attended. “As you can see, the hall is virtually empty. It shows clearly people do not seem to attach any importance to the national project. And so honestly, if they are going to arrange the conference on the basis of what is happening here today, we may not have exactly what we wanted for us to be able to resolve the national question once and for all.” He pointed out.

Gambo also said, “In other words, those who called this conference a sham, to a large extent, have been vindicated because the mode of organisation of the interactive session is so poor, it was poorly organised, really and truly it is a huge indictment on the organisers of this session.

“They need to do better than this if the national dialogue must have credibility, must have national acceptance, whose resolutions at the end of the day will be warmly embraced by Nigerians.”

 Gambo was not alone. Mr. Solomon Dalung, who presented a memorandum on behalf of the Northern Elders’ Forum said that the session did not live up to its billing. He said, “To be honest, the interactive session failed far beyond my expectations because the interactive session is intended to kick-start the mobilisation of Nigerians  and from those that gathered here and the turn-out, it does not represent one per cent of the entire aggregate aspirations of the purported geographical aspirations concept that is supposed to be discussed here.”

 Dalung also said that the session had justified the stand of those who were opposed to the conference. “It is a very sound justification of those who said that the conference is a sham and a mere jamboree.

“I belong to the school of thought that the conference is a diversionary tactics to engage critical political elements in a talking shop where the unfolding agenda on how they would be undone in 2015 is going to be manipulated in their absence.

“Otherwise, what we need now in Nigeria is a sovereign national conference because section 14 of the constitution vests the sovereignty of this country in Nigerians and Nigerians should now decide that after 100 years of existence as a country, they should reappraise the social, economic and political relationships and then look at how the country has moved within this period and then look at those things that require changes from within.”

 According to him, the intentions of those that conceived the idea has been exposed because the gathering has been reduced to a talking shop. He wondered if those participating in the proposed conference were going to discuss the future of Nigerians in their absence like what was done during the Berlin Conference of 1884.

 An activist, Mr. Samson Itodo, who has been monitoring the sessions on behalf of civil society organisations, said that there was need for a cautious optimism in predicting the outcome of the conference.

 He based his arguments on the fact that in the few sessions he had monitored, there appeared not to be the presence of people that were supposed to drive the dialogue.

 Itodo, while alluding to the fact that it might be too early to draw conclusions said, “As part of the rules of monitoring, it will be premature for me to start running into conclusions, but I will say that in terms of participation, it is very low because a lot of citizens were not present today to make their views known.  We must understand that the rationale behind a national dialogue must put people first and where the people do not participate, you actually question first the design and the implementation of initiatives like this.

 “Yes, we understand the fact that citizens tend to be apathetic and I think the reason why they are, is that they were not told. For those of us who are monitors, it was until we got to Jos that we even knew the venue and the time for the interactive session.  We are going to Minna on Wednesday. We don’t even know where the venue is; we don’t know when the time is.  We are going to Calabar on Friday; we don’t know where the venue and time is. So how do you expect people to participate?

He, however, justified the need for a national conference. The activist said the need for Nigerians to talk cannot be over emphasised.

 He observed that holding a national conversation was very important because of our socio-cultural and historical realities some of which have contributed to some of the problems bedevilling  the nation today.

 Itodo however noted that “It is one thing to be justified, it is another to design a programme in such a way that it encourages citizens’ participation. If they don’t participate, don’t expect commitment from them because participation is very key and commitment is very important for the success of an engagement like this that is supposed to be people-driven.”

 Plateau State Governor, Mr. Jonah Jang, who earlier set the tone for the interactive session when members of the committee visited him, objected to the idea that the outcome of the dialogue be sent to the National Assembly.

 He said the idea in itself was worrisome because the National Assembly is currently grappling with the constitutional review process.

 Itodo agreed with Jang when he said that even the way the Senate voted on the constitutional amendment clearly showed that it was actually against the people.

 He, however expressed support that the proposition that the outcome of the conference be subjected to a referendum.

 Itodo said, “There are other climes that had adopted this strategy because it is about participation, which is the essence of democracy. If citizens  don’t participate, where do you expect to get legitimacy from? And so we need to go back to the people after the conference by either subjecting it to a referendum or granting it its sovereign nature so that from the conference, whatever decisions are taken become binding.

 Itodo explained to Nigerians opposed to the conference that they actually had the capacity to make it work. He noted that if the conveners of the conference designed it to fail, Nigerians actually have the capacity to change the tone of the dialogue.

 He said, “I will say that if it is designed to fail, the citizens have the capacity to change the conversation. Whatever undertones we have presently, the citizens have the chance to change the conversation because the only way they can do that is to participate and monitor the dialogue to a logical conclusion.

“If the outcome does not represent the will and aspirations of the people, then they can rise up and turn against whatever comes out of it.” Like Itodo, many who attended the North Central zonal consultations were of the view that subjecting the outcome of the conference to the scrutiny of the National Assembly was a sure way of ensuring that it was “dead on arrival.”

What tourists enjoy in Nigeria

When I travelled to Bangkok in Thailand recently, I was accosted right from the arrival hall by people ‘selling Thailand’ to tourists. They were actively promoting the sights, sound and smell of Thailand — from the many Buddhist temples, to the crocodile farms, elephant zoos, shopping malls, river cruises and exquisite beaches and even high quality gold jewellery. Thailand is a tourist haven and millions visit yearly, fetching the country millions of dollars.

More people are also visiting Nigeria these days. Every British Airways flight is filled to the brim with Nigerians returning home and, more than ever, foreigners visiting Nigeria for the first time. The fact is that we can also offer ‘unrivalled’ attractions to tourists visiting Nigeria. It is best for them to be prepared for ‘fun’ right from the airport.

Sweaty landings

The first thing to notice on arrival in Nigeria is the heat and humidity. We will not talk about the men of Customs and Excise! Anyway, your luggage seems to take forever to materialise. Then, it comes through in a heap, haphazard, as though Tarzan had been flinging them from outer space. Further, they come round and round on the small carousel such that the passengers have to push and elbow one another to get to their luggage. Finally, you have to find N200 for a dirty, rickety, luggage trolley. You cannot change dollars to Naira in any other country outside Nigeria! The Naira is that ‘exclusive,’ nobody wants it, let alone bothers to hoard it.

Free view boxing matches

As soon as you get out of the airport, you may be lucky to see two people fighting for your viewing pleasure. This is free view boxing on the street, usually between a taxi driver and some other dude. They conveniently pummel each other till both require the emergency unit. It may interest you to know that the reason may be perceived slight or even just as low a sum as $1. Just park your car at a safe distance and enjoy. What do you care?

Traffic in Naija

The traffic in Nigeria is rather special and something to behold. Unlike many countries where the cause of the traffic jam may not be obvious, here you will know and see the cause of your delay. From bad roads, to accidents, five-lane cars in a single lane space and the numerous check points: many factors conspire to keep you on the road. This allows you to take in the smell from open gutters, in the afternoon heat, which is great for sun lovers! If you hate the sun, then please make sure your car has air-conditioner. Getting cold water or iced drinks is not a problem on our roads, as we have teeming numbers of energetic, upwardly mobile Nigerian youth doing brisk business on the streets. They are our pride and joy!

Toilets galore

It has been said, satirically, that Nigeria has the highest number of toilets in the world. Ideally, this should be a Guinness World Record award if such was recorded. With greenery everywhere, some Nigerians pee everywhere. Every blade of grass or shrub is a toilet. Both men and women pee and defecate anywhere on the streets. Some do not even bother to find shaded or secluded areas anymore. A chap once parked his car and proceeded to urinate all over the back wheel. Pray to be fortunate to see women peeing standing up or a man dousing his privates on the street. The joys of life in Naija!

Lights out

We frequently have ‘lights out’ in Nigeria. Several times a day, wherever you are, the electricity might just go: switched off. This is no reason to worry, as it will come back. We have playful children running the electricity boards and they play ‘switch.’ We are used to it and it causes ‘little’ irritation. It may mean that your shirt is not ironed but what the heck, that ‘designed’ effect is becoming.

Nasal surgery

It is no longer considered rude and socially unacceptable to pick your nose. I had the pleasure of watching a chap pick his nose, scratch his bottom, cough into his hands, which he then wiped on his clothes. I wondered who he will hand shake or pat on the back next. Or, God forbid, share bread with! You can catch ‘stuff’ in Nigeria, though mostly salmonella and subsequently Typhoid fever just by looking at some people.

Unrivalled service

You will find hard faced cashiers, receptionists and store assistants in Nigeria. Their welcome smile is like a sledge hammer. You will be sorry you asked a question!

The Bar Beach in Lagos

I cannot help but mention the delights at the beach in Lagos. This is the best in Nigeria. You can go at any time of the day, just not at night. I don’t know what people do on beaches at night anyway! Regardless, once you park your car, someone is sure to sell you a ticket for stepping on their ‘personal’ space. If you are not careful, someone might even ask you to pay to breathe. Further, you are immediately accosted by bodyguards and well-wishers who want to all but please you. To get to the actual sand and the ocean: Just hop up and down on a few rocks.

Finally, the beach is not the place for solitude or even silent contemplation of the marvels of the ocean. We have so many churches for that, stupid!

NB: What do you enjoy in Nigeria? Send me your answers typed, double spaced and justified on toilet paper, please.

Partial solar eclipse hits Nigeria, other countries

A rare solar eclipse allowing a view of the Sun blocked by the Moon has taken place in some parts of Nigeria. The partial eclipse was also reported in other parts of Africa, including  Kenya, as well as in eastern North America and southern Europe. A resident of Gwagalada, Abuja, Mr. Jones Adebayo, told our correspondent that he  caught a glimpse of the eclipse around 2pm on Sunday.

Adebayo said to prepare residents for the viewing of the eclipse, a non-governmental organisation, Sight-in –Eyes, had distributed shades to residents in the community on Saturday.

He said, “I did not even know that there would be an eclipse this year until the NGO started distributing shades on my street on Saturday. Its officials told us that it would be harmful to our health if we viewed the eclipse with our naked eyes.

“I eventually saw it on Sunday around 2pm on my way back from church service. It was very brief, may be 50 seconds but it was a different and special sight.”

 A resident of Ibadan, Oyo State, Busayo Daniel, however, expressed disappointment that despite his anticipation to witness the rare phenomenon, it didn’t take place in his community.

He said, “I was outside observing the weather but it was not significantly different from any other day’s. At around 2:30 pm I observed that the sun shone brighter but no darkness was recorded.

“You know normally, when it is sunny it should be hot and sometimes scorching, but this was not the case. That was the only thing of significance that took place. I lost hope after 4: 30pm when the eclipse refused to take place.”

The last time an eclipse occurred in Nigeria was on March 29, 2006, when darkness was reported in some parts of Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Zamfara and Katsina states.

500 students observe partial solar eclipse at NASRDA

No fewer than 500 students of public and private schools across the country on Sunday observed the partial solar eclipse at the National Space Research and Development Agency, Abuja.

A solar eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth and partially blocks the sun.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the solar eclipse started in Abuja at exactly 1. 03 p.m as predicted by NASRDA.

NASRDA provided the students and some Nigerians with instruments, including eclipse shades, to observe the eclipse.

The Supervising Minister for Science and Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, said the students were invited to motivate them to develop interest in the study of science and technology.

“We invited these students to boost their interest in studying of science and technology, which is the bedrock for industrialisation of any nation.

“That is why we are using this medium to encourage you to develop interest in studying science and technology, particularly astronomy and space science.”

Johnson, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta, said the occurrence of the partial solar eclipse revealed that space technology was working in Nigeria.

She promised that government would continue in its efforts at ensuring the development of space science.

The Director-General of NASRDA, Prof. Seidu Mohammed, described solar eclipse as a natural phenomenon with no direct impact on climate change.

He said, “All that is happening is a natural phenomenon and there is no religious sentiment attached to it.

“This should help us to discourage the mysteries attached to solar eclipse by various religious bodies.

“From the scientific perspective, it’s just a natural phenomenon.

‘The signal from geo-stationary satellites does not have effect on any of the communication gadgets like the GSM, aircraft and businesses.”

Some of the students who spoke with NAN commended government for the opportunity to observe it at the centre, adding that it would boost their interest in studying science-related courses.

A student of Baptist High School, Kubwa, FCT, Tlat Japherth, said it was his first time of observing solar eclipse with such instruments provided by NASRDA.

Miss Peculiar Daniel of Scintillate Int’l Model School, Lokoja, said the opportunity would help her to know more about the sun, the moon and the earth.

Also, Mr Luru Adewumi, a teacher at the Oak Height Schools, Lugbe, Abuja, described it as an opportunity that some of the teachers never had when they were in school.

Adewumi said the experience would not allow anybody to deceive the students about strange attachments to solar eclipse by people.

He said the it would help the students to understand the practical aspects of science.

However, Mrs. Akinwumi Arize, who brought her five-year-old son to observe the eclipse, said such a gesture would help children to know how the galaxy and the universe operate.

NASRDA had predicted that a partial solar eclipse would occur in Lagos at 12:30 p m.; Kano, 1.07 p. m., and Enugu, 1.04 p.m.

It also added that the entire African continent would be affected by the partial eclipse, while some other parts of the world would witness total eclipse.

The agency predicted that another partial eclipse would occur in April 2014, March 2015 and September 2016

Meanwhile, other online reports indicate that the eclipse  was first visible in the southern United States, before sweeping east across the Atlantic Ocean and the African continent.

The US space agency, NASA, said the greatest total eclipse occurred over the Atlantic Ocean.

One of the best views was in northern Kenya, where tour companies organised trips to view a total blackout the BBC reports.

Local myths there attribute the event to the Moon eating the Sun.

Partial views were available in eastern North America and southern Europe.

This solar eclipse was a rare occurrence in that it was “hybrid” – switching between an annular and total eclipse.

In a total eclipse, the moon completely covers the sun, while an annular eclipse occurs when the moon is at its farthest from the Earth and does not block out the Sun completely, leaving a halo of sunlight still visible around the Moon.

The eclipse event began about 1,000km east of Jacksonville, Florida with an annular eclipse visible for four seconds at sunrise.

As the moon’s shadow raced east the eclipse switched from annular to total along a narrow corridor.

The greatest total eclipse occurred in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 330km south-west of Liberia, and lasted for more than one minute.

The eclipse continued across Africa through the Congos until it passed through northern Uganda and northern Kenya, ending in southern Ethiopia and Somalia.

Either side, a partial eclipse was seen within a much broader path – including eastern North America, northern South America, southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

28 die in Anambra church stampede

No fewer than 28 people were trampled to death early Saturday in a stampede that occurred  during a vigil at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ground, Uke, in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The vigil was attended by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Mr. Willie Obiano and the National Chairman of APGA, Dr. Victor Umeh.

More than 100,000 people,  learnt, gathered at the venue, which is designed to take about 5,000 people.

The incident occurred shortly after Obi and his entourage left the venue.

About 200 victims that survived the stampede were taken to hospitals in Onitsha and Nkpor where of them were treated and discharged

Obi, who later on visited hospitals, where injured persons were taken, promised to set up a panel to investigate the cause of the stampede.

The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, confirmed the incident but said he could not give figures or state the cause of the incident because investigations were still going on to establish them.

The founder and Spiritual Director of the Holy Ghost Adoration Centre, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obinma, a Catholic priest popularly called Ebube Mmuonso (the glory of the Holy Ghost) has also been visiting and praying for the survivors.

Ngige, who is also the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the November 16 election, had also visited the place and victims to sympathise with them.

There were various versions of what caused the stampede. One of the versions said the stampede occurred when some of the worshippers shouted down Governor Obi while he was addressing the worshippers and went ahead to cause commotion.

Another version said the stampede was caused by supporters of Ngige, Obi’s opponent, who in their effort to block the way and cause confusion, shouted ‘fire, fire, fire,’ thus causing the stampede.

But a media assistant to Ngige, Mr. Igboeli Arinze, told Sunday Punch that Ngige and his supporters had no hand in the Uke incident.

Ogun okada riders clash in court, 25 arrested

Warring factional members of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association created confusion in Abeokuta when they engaged in a violent clash that left several persons injured.

Two factions of the commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as okada riders, on Wednesday, clashed at the premises of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, where they were engaged in a legal battle.

Many people and civil servants in the area ran helter skelter in apparent confusion as the feuding ACOMORAN members freely used dangerous weapons, including guns and machetes against one another.

Sporadic gunshots, allegedly fired by the rival okada riders were said to have attracted the attention of the state military anti-crime outfit, Operation MESA, the police, operatives of the State Security Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Metro gathered that the crux of the matter was a suit filed by the former Secretary of the association, Lateef Yekini, challenging his alleged detention sometime ago by the  ACOMORAN Chairman, Alhaji Shamsudeen Apelogun.

The Apelogun faction had accused the former secretary of embezzling N1m association’s funds and subsequently invited the police to investigate the matter.

Members of the two factions, however, launched a violent attack on one another in the court premises shortly after the case was adjourned by the court to December 3 2013.

In the ensuing violence, the Ogun State Treasurer of ACOMORAN, Razaq Sotayo, and an undisclosed number of persons were severely injured.

Security operatives, who stormed the court during the melee, arrested some of the warring members of the association and restored normalcy.

The state Acting Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the incident, said the command had arrested 25 suspects allegedly involved in the violence.

Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the suspects would be prosecuted at the completion of investigation.

He said, “Currently, about 25 hoodlums were arrested and they are undergoing interrogation; they are going to be screened. Those who were not part of the fracas will be definitely released, but those who perpetrated the act are going to be prosecuted in the law court.

“Few people sustained injuries but I cannot confirm their number at the moment. Our own concern is to bring the situation under control and make sure those who perpetrated the act are dealt with according to the law.”

Day I blasted Obasanjo to his face –Atiku

Former Vice-President of Nigeria,  Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has revealed that he “blasted” his then boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, over his bid to run for a  second term.

Abubakar made the disclosure during an interview with a newspaper published in Hausa.

In the interview published by an online publication on Friday, Abubakar also disclosed that he and Obasanjo argued over his failed third term bid. Atiku said during one of their arguments, Obasanjo gave him a Quran to swear loyalty to him.

He said, “At first we started arguing, and then he (Obasanjo) opened his drawer and brought out a copy of the Quran and asked me to swear that I will not be disloyal to him. There was nothing I did not tell him in that room. The first thing I told him was that I swore with the Quran to defend the Constitution of Nigeria.

Why are you now giving me the Quran to swear for you again?  What if I swear for you and you go against the constitution?

“Secondly, I looked at him and told him that if I don’t like you or don’t support you, would I have called 19 northern governors to meet for three days in my House in Kaduna only for us to turn our back on you?

“Thirdly, I asked him, what are you even doing with the Quran? Are you a Muslim that you would even administer an oath on me with the Quran? I was angry, and I really blasted him. He asked me to forgive him and he returned the Quran back to the drawer, and we came out.”

Obasanjo’s third term bid failed following public outcry over what many saw as unconstitutional.

Speaking further about the controversial bid, which could have taken Obasanjo to a record 12 years as the country’s president, Atiku said he vehemently told Obasanjo to leave after the completion of his second term in office.

He said, “In fact we had the same kind of altercation when he was gunning for third term, he informed me that “ I left power twenty years ago, I left Mubarak in office, I left Mugabe in office, I left Eyadema in office, I left Umar Bongo, and even Paul Biya and I came back and they are still in power; and I just did eight years and you are asking me to go; why?” And I responded to him by telling him that Nigeria is not Libya, not Egypt, not Cameroun, and not Togo; I said you must leave; even if it means both of us lose out, but you cannot stay.”

Obasanjo and Atiku fell out at some point during their administration, with reports that the two did not see eye to eye.

There were also unconfirmed reports that the two of them fell out because Obasanjo went back on his promise to use one term in office and support Atiku’s candidacy for the presidency after his four years. Some reports claimed that Obasanjo had to go on his knees to seek Atiku’s support for his second term.

Atiku denied that his former boss went on his knees to plead for his support. He, however, said that Obasanjo visited his residence to plead for his support.

He said, “Honestly, he did not kneel down for me. But he did come to my house and I refused to see him. And he knocked my door continuously and asked me in the name of God to come out, so I came out, and we went downstairs, and he asked me to join him in his car and I said, no, because of security reasons, but he insisted. So when we entered his car, I never knew that he had gone round states pavilions and asking for the support of governors and delegates and they refused to listen to him because they have not seen us together. So that was why he came and picked me up so that we would go round together. There is something that many people did not know before, which I will tell you now.

“We sat with party elders and discussed the issue of Presidency and there was debate as to whether the South will have eight or four years? If the South had eight years, so the north too should have eight years subsequently. After lots of debates, it was finally agreed that the South should have eight years. And when power returns to the north, they should also have it for eight years.

“However, governors objected to this arrangement. I was then in a dilemma; is the governors’ objection genuine or just a political gimmick. What if I followed them to run against the president and they later on turn their back on me and align with the president? At the end of the day, one would neither be a vice president or a president because politics is a slippery game.”

Concerning his role in the recent breakup of the Peoples Democratic Party, where Abubakar led a number of PDP governors out of the party’s convention, Abubakar said they had spent four months plotting the move.

He said, “We have been planning for some time because we have spent almost four months planning how to split the PDP.

“At first I didn’t know the arrowhead, but they eventually came and met me and I joined them because their reasons are the same with the ones I have been fighting against within the party; lack of fairness, honesty and tyranny. If I can fight the military to restore democracy, why can’t I fight fellow politicians?”

Abubakar added that the breakaway faction of the party had appealed a court judgment declaring its association illegal.

“We have appealed; and we are planning seriously, you will see what will happen,” he said.

I’ll reply Atiku in my book – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday said he would respond to the claims made by his erstwhile deputy, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, on their political relationship, in his soon-to-be published book.

Abubakar had, in an interview published in Hausa language by a newspaper, disclosed that he “blasted” Obasanjo over his bid to run for a second term and had argued vehemently with him on his (Obasanjo’s) bid to go for a third term.

He also claimed he snubbed Obasanjo, who had visited his residence to plead for his support for a second term. He disclosed that Obasanjo gave him a Quran to swear as a pledge of his loyalty to him, during one of their arguments.

When contacted for Obasanjo’s response to Abubakar’s claims, the former President’s media aide, Mr. Vitalis Ortese, simply told one of our correspondents, “Wait for our book.”

Also, Obasanjo’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Victor Durodola, said the former President did not want to respond to the things Atiku said in the interview.

“There is nothing to respond to. What was published was taken out of context, from an interview. He (Atiku) did not come to say it directly, so it is not something we can respond. My principal does not want to respond to it,” he said.

When asked if Atiku’s claims were correct, Durodola said, “There is nothing to correct.”

I’m not bothered about criticisms –Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he is not bothered about negative comments some people make about him. he said he is only concerned about how he will be remembered by present and future Nigerians after leaving office.

Jonathan, who likened holding political offices to death, described the world as a stage where everybody must play his part. he suggested that politicians should make the thoughts of how they would be remembers after leaving office their guiding principle.

Speaking at the funeral of his mother-in-law, Late Mrs. Charity Oba, in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, the President extolled the virtues of her wife’s foster mother, adding that the deceased played her part well while on earth.

“To me as a political leader and most of my friends here who are politicians, politics or holding political offices is almost like death. While you are there, you are on the stage. The day you leave, what would people remember you for? That has always been my guiding principle.

“No matter the comments; whether the comments are to the left or the comments are to the right or at the centre, what challenges me everyday is what the present and future generations of Nigerians will remember me for the day I step out of the State House.

“I believe that is what will guide most of us who are holding political offices. So, for today, I have to thank you. Sisi has done well and we are remembering her. My family is the family that will surely remember her.

“In fact when her biography was being read, my children were crying. My children appear to be the last set of children that she brought up. That should tell you how we feel about her. As a mother-in-law, she was a wonderful woman.

“If you have such a lady as a mother-in-law, you will continue to thank God. Though she stayed very shortly, but we are happy and we will continue to remember her and all the things she did to support my wife and me. I enjoined all of you to pray for her that the soul of Mama Sisi rest in the bossom of the Lord,” the President said.

He described the death of her mother-in-law as painful, adding that her wife’s mother left when the ovation was very loud.

According to him, “It is painful, but also reminds me about the word of Shakespeare that we all come to earth and the world is a stage where we will all play our part. In one way or the other, we will play our part.”

APC moves to woo Amaechi Monday

The All Progressives congress will be meeting with the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on Monday  has learnt. The APC said received warm reception when it visited two of the seven aggrieved governors of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, who formed the New PDP.

The G-7 governors are Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto State), Sule Lamido(Jigawa State), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers State),  Aliyu Babangida (Niger State), Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara State),  Murtala Nyako (Adamawa State) and Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano State).

The leadership of the APC had visited Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso of Kano State on Thursday and Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State on Friday to woo them to the opposition party.

An APC chief, who preferred anonymity, told our correspondent on the telephone on Saturday that the opposition party will be in Port Harcourt on Monday to meet Amaechi.

The source said, “They (the governors) have received us very warmly and we are encouraged by their reception and response. We are very confident and hopeful that our efforts would not be in vain. We are going to meet Amaechi in Port Harcourt on Monday.

The party will be meeting with other rebel governors soon after.

Meanwhile, a leader of the APC in Kwara State, Francis Okafor, has advised the national leadership of party to be cautious in allowing members of the New PDP into the APC.

Okafor told journalists in Ilorin on Saturday that caution was necessary to prevent the governors from hijacking the APC structures.

The Peoples Democratic Party has however said it was sure that none of its governors will answer the invitation extended to them by the All Progressives Congress.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Abdulahi Jalo, who stated this in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Saturday, added that it was wrong for the APC to have started what he called “campaign” when the Independent National Electoral Commission had yet to lift ban on political activities in the country.

He said, “This is a clear breach of the Electoral Act and we hope that the INEC and the security agencies are aware of this.

“The leaders of the APC should retrace their steps and stop this campaign. They should stop trampling on the magnanimity of the President.”

Asked whether the party would sanction the Governor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala Nyago(retd.), who has given an indication that he might ditch the ruling party in his discussion with the opposition party, Jalo said no.

He said, “This is because it is these people who went to him and started persuading him to leave our party. It was not the governor that went to them.

 “What I know is that the peace process is not over yet. Our President and the President still want him in the party. They are very important in our party. We don’t want to lose them.”

Conference won’t stop Nigeria’s break-up – Bishop

                                                  Rt. Rev. Peter Adebiyi (retd)

Retired Bishop of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Lagos-West Diocese, Rt. Rev. Peter Adebiyi, has faulted those who do not want the proposed national conference to lead to Nigeria’s break-up.

He said there are several indications that the nationalities in the country are living together under duress. He said this was evident in the high level of religious intolerance being experienced, which was reflected in politics.

Adebiyi, who spoke on the state of the nation in Lagos on Saturday, said it would be suicidal for him to walk in some places in the North in his robe without being attacked for being a Christian.

He noted that such would not occur, if he goes to the North as a foreigner. He said if he was killed as a foreigner from Yorubaland, there would be diplomatic row but if he was killed as a Nigerian, only his family would bear the loss.

He identified the born-to-rule mentality of some northerners as one of the causes of the crises in the country. “An average northerner believes that he was born to rule Nigeria and that is the essence of the conference we are talking about,” he said.

Adebiyi said, “Sometime, when I see people speak about one Nigeria, I remain silent because I know that Nigeria is not one. We have an agglomeration of nations in Nigeria. I will only go to where I’ll be tolerated.

“It is only those who are after money; those who are selfish that say we are a country. How do I call where I’m not wanted my own? Everything is a deceit; Nigeria is a country of great deceit.

“It is time for every one of us, if this conference is real, to say that ‘this is what we want.’ If we cannot live together, why can’t I go home? What is wrong, if I say I’m going home?”

The retired bishop blamed the failures of the countries anti-graft agencies on lack of political will by the government. He said they were driven politically.

He stated that it would be difficult for the head of an anti-graft agency appointed by the President to investigate the President, if indicted.

The bishop said, “I was a member of the Code of Conduct Bureau at its inception in 1988; eleven of us were members. I was there for 20 years until few years ago. I cannot say what my eyes saw. At a point, the bureau became a god that cannot bite because the setup was good but the operating value was bad.”

EFCC, ICPC scared to probe Oduah — Investigation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission are at a crossroads over the investigation into the purchase of N255m bullet-proof cars for the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah,  can authoritatively report.

Oduah on Thursday had denied that the NCAA bought the two bulletproof cars for her use, adding that they were bought for the use of the guests of her ministry.

Our correspondents gathered on Friday that the EFCC and ICPC were reluctant to invite the minister for questioning because of her close relationship to President Goodluck Jonathan. Oduah emerged one of the President’s closest aides following the significant role she played in Jonathan’s 2011 election campaign.

There have been reports that the two anti-graft agencies are investigating Oduah’s role in the controversial vehicle purchase.

However, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that none of the two anti-graft agencies had made progress in its investigation.

A senior official of the ICPC, who spoke toover the weekend, blamed the slow pace of investigation on what he described as the “body language of the President.”

The source, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said, “If the President wants us to probe her, there would be no need for him to set up a three-man panel to probe her. Why set up a panel when the nation has capable anti-graft agencies?

“Ordinarily, the President should have asked us to take over the case instead of constituting his own panel. If you watch his body language, you will know that he does not want us to step in.

“We will wait for the report of the panel and the final report of the House of Representatives. That is when we will know what to do. The truth is that we are not fully autonomous anti-graft agencies and that is a major handicap.”

Our correspondents also gathered that the EFCC was treading carefully and had no plan to invite Oduah to its Abuja office for questioning. A senior agency official who pleaded anonymity said the agency “did not want to incur the wrath of the President”.

The reliable source said, “We are doing our best in this situation but this is a peculiar situation because the President has asked his committee to investigate her. Even though we don’t need the President’s directive based on the public outcry but the formation of that three-man panel passes a subtle message. We are also waiting for the report of the House and the President’s panel even though we are questioning the aviation agencies.”

Meanwhile on Monday, Oduah is to appear before the three-man administrative panel set up by Jonathan to investigate the scandal.

Jonathan had, in the wake of public outcry over the matter penultimate Wednesday, constituted the panel headed by a former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Isa Bello.

Other members of the panel are the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), and Air Vice Marshal Dick Iruenebere (retd.).

Bello told  exclusively on Friday that the panel had contacted Oduah and that the minister would appear before members on Monday to answer questions bothering on the purchase of the cars.

The former HOS faulted media reports that the committee, which has two weeks to carry out its assignment, had not met since it was set up.

“Whoever told you that we have not met told you a blatant lie. We have been meeting and we will meet with the minister on Monday,” he said.

Bello also told one of our correspondents that the committee’s two-week deadline would expire November 11.

He said although the announcement about the committee was made penultimate Wednesday, their letters of appointment were dated October 28, hence their timeline would start from that date.

“It is not true that our deadline started running from penultimate Wednesday. Our letter of appointment was dated October 28, so it could not have been last Wednesday. You don’t just listen to (the details of) appointment on television or radio,” he explained.

In announcing the establishment of the committee penultimate Wednesday, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, had said members were expected to ascertain whether the procurement of the vehicles followed due process.

SUNDAY PUNCH also learnt that the committee had been holding its sessions behind closed doors in the office of the National Security Adviser which serves as the committee’s secretariat.

In a related development, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is to appear before the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation on Monday.

The committee is investigating the purchase of N255m BMW bulletproof cars ahead of the report of the probe.

The committee took the decision following Thursday’s clarification by Okonjo-Iweala that she did not grant any waiver for the importation of the controversial bulletproof cars.

The panel, which was given one week to conduct the investigation, had wound down its public sitting on Thursday after drilling Oduah for several hours.

However, it said on Friday that the report would have to incorporate the testimonies of Okonjo-Iweala.

A member of the panel, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, told  in Abuja that it had resolved to hear the finance minister on Monday.

He added that writing the report would come after hearing the coordinating minister of the economy.

Mohammed, who doubles as the spokesman of the House, explained that the committee could still meet the one-week deadline.

He spoke further, “It is true that we were given one week for this assignment. However, the one week is counted as sitting days.

“We have sat three times; meaning three days out of seven days. We plan to take the finance minister on Monday; that will be four days out of seven.

“We will have three days left; so, we are still within schedule.

“The minister made a statement that she did not grant waivers for the bulletproof cars.

“That is interesting. Let her come before us to clarify the statement and to explain the nature of the waiver she granted.”

Okonjo-Iweala stated on Thursday that she only granted waiver to the Lagos State Government to import 300 vehicles for the hosting of the National Sports Feastival (EKO Games) last year.

The statement, which was signed by her Special Adviser, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, noted that the waiver did not cover bulletproof cars.

The Nigerian Customs Service had informed the panel that the Federal Government lost N10.1million revenue as a result of the waiver.

It disclosed that it later discovered that the bulletproof cars were among the vehicles Coscharis imported. Coscharis had told to the panel that it got a waiver but gave no satisfactory answers on how the bulletproof cars were included on the list.

Meet The World’s shortest man just 16 inches tall! (Photo)

If you think the world shortest man will be choosen from Aki and Pawpaw or from the dwarfs, hey no, you have to think again.

The man who claims the title, is just about four inches taller than a 12-inch ruler.

He is 73 year old Nepali, that still goes by the title of ‘Master’. He is Master Nau, and his name has been etched in the Guinness World Records’ immovable category.

Here, he poses for a photo next to a ruler in Kathmandu.

Nau, who lives with his younger brother’s family in Bhairahawa, 350 kilometres (217 miles) southwest of Kathmandu, is 16 inches tall while his rival, a Taiwanese man, stands 27 inches.

Officials of Guinness World Records have said the man could qualify for the record, according to Thaneshwar Guragain, who is supporting Nau’s claim and corresponding with the organisation.

Desmond Elliot Share Photo Of Him And His Kids

Desmond recently shared the below cute picture of him and his kids. see more pic after the cut...........

Nollywood Actors, Aki & Pawpaw, Bans From Shooting Movie In Ghana

Nollywood actors aki and Pawpaw have been stooped from shooting a movie in Kumasi with other actors including Kwadjo ‘Liwin’ Nkansah.

The directive which came from the Film Producers’ Association of Ghana (FIPAG) was due to the fact that the director of the movie had breached some of the association’s regulations.

Mr. Michael Ola, PRO for the association who disclosed this in an exclusive interview with NYDJlive explained the association had no qualms with the duo but believed the right procedure had to be followed especially when the new executives of the association had laid out new strategies to make the industry a better one.


The duo have therefore been asked to officially obtain documents from the Film Industry in Nigeria, working permit as well as make payments for the continuation of the shoot.

As at the time of publication, the duo and the production house in charge of the movie, Peace and Love Productions had commenced with procedure to make things easy for the continuation of the movie.

Jonathan, Amaechi, Dickson hold secret talks

                                                              Amaechi and Jonathan

THERE were indications that President Goodluck Jonathan, the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Mr. Seriake  Dickson, on Thursday had a closed-door meeting in Rivers State.

The venue and agenda of the meeting were not clear as at the time of sending this report.

However, sources said the ongoing feud between the Peoples Democratic Party and the seven rebel governors loyal to the New PDP could be part of the discussion.

It was gathered that Amaechi and Dickson flew in the same chopper with Jonathan from the Port Harcourt
International Airport to Okrika in Rivers State, where the remains of the President’s wife’s foster mother, late Mrs. Charity Oba, would be buried today (Friday).

A Government House source said Jonathan, Amaechi and Dickson might have met in the private residence of the President’s wife, Patience.

The source explained that the President, Amaechi and the Bayelsa State governor could cash in on the opportunity provided by the burial of Jonathan’s in-law to resolve their political differences.

Also, the Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State Governor, Mr. David Iyofor, told  that only Amaechi and Dickson, who were at the airport to receive the President, flew with him (Jonathan) in the chopper to Okrika.

Iyofor, however, said he could not ascertain if the President and the two governors had gone into a closed-door meeting when they got to Okrika.

“Governor Amaechi and the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, received the President at the Port Harcourt International Airport and the two governors joined the President in a chopper to Okrika.

“I am aware that they (Jonathan, Amaechi and Dickson) flew to Okrika in a chopper, but what I cannot say for now is whether they went into a closed-door meeting,” Iyofor said.

The PDP had been embroiled in a lingering crisis, which led to the emergence of the Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led New PDP.

However, ahead of the burial of the late Oba, security was beefed up around Okrika Local Government Area with soldiers, policemen and security operatives from other agencies stationed at different points to forestall any possible breakdown of law and order.

Fellow judges, NJC did evil to me –Salami

                                   Retired President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami

Retired President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, on Thursday said fellow judges as well as the National Judicial Council betrayed him in the twilight of his career, especially after his suspension by the NJC.

Salami likened his travails to that of the Biblical Joseph, who was sold into slavery by members of his family.

He said, “The last three years of my career were dogged by travails which are not dissimilar to the fate of Joseph in the book of Genesis in the Bible.

“As his brothers conspired to destroy him by throwing him into a well and selling him into slavery, my learned brothers and friends in the legal profession planned and executed doing evil to me.”

He spoke at a valedictory session organised to mark his retirement from the Court of Appeal.

The retired PCA was suspended after a clash with the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu.

He was still serving the suspension until he left the service, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.

Justice Salami informed the gathering, which included top serving and retired judicial officers that the NJC sold out to the Executive and failed in its duties and functions.

He said, “The National Judicial Council created by the Constitution to protect me, nay any judicial officer was on the vanguard of my travails. The NJC failed in its duties and thereby surrendered its functions to the Executive arm of government thus, ingratiate itself to the Executive.

“For instance, the NJC, having cleared me of any wrongdoing, following the recommendations of Justice Aloma Mukhtar’s committee, ought to have recalled me to office without asking the President to exercise the power that he does not possess, on the flimsy excuse that it had earlier referred the matter to him.

“In truth, as a matter of courtesy, all it needed to do was to write the President that in view of its recent decision, this matter was now outside his purview.

“After so informing him, NJC would be free to take the necessary step to implement its decision.”

Continuing, Justice Salami said, “The position in which NJC has found itself is similar to that of the proverbial cock that betrayed itself to the fox that what was on his head was not fire and encouraged the fox to touch it.

“The fox, having satisfied itself that truly it was not fire, has since been hunting cocks to make menu of them.

“Also, when the report of the committee the NJC set up to make recommendation on Umaru Abdullahi’s report was submitted to it for ratification, neither the CJN nor the next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court was present at the meeting.

“Justice Moses A. Bello, who was neither the CJN nor the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, took it upon himself to preside at the meeting contrary to the express provisions of sub-paragraph (a) and (b) of paragraph 20 of the Third Schedule of the Constitution.

“No other members of the NJC, including statutory members, could be chairman.”

The retired judge noted that Justice Bello was an impostor for claiming to be the Acting Chairman of NJC in the two letters he (Justice Bello) wrote to him, dated August 9 and 18, 2011.

This, he said, was because Bello was “neither a Justice of the Supreme Court, next most senior Justice of the court nor the CJN.”

He also accused the Council of treating matters of national importance with levity.

“This is the levity with which the NJC treats matters of national importance. Clearly, Justice Bello has not only behaved irresponsibly, but also recklessly,” he said.

He pointed out that the NJC took the decision to suspend him when his application for an order restraining the Council from deliberating on his case was pending before the Federal High Court.

Arguing that the matter was sub judice, he said, “It is this illegal decision that the NJC had been relying upon to keep me out of office from August 18, 2011.”

Salami noted that the Council treated him in a most cruel manner, employing all manner of tricks to sustain his suspension.

He said, “The NJC, a body set up to protect judicial officers, has dealt so cruelly with me.”

But he insisted that he had no regrets for his actions.

“I have no regret whatsoever over all that I did, having acted according to the dictate of my conscience and in the fear of Almighty God.

“I swore to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to do justice to all manner of people without fear or favour; God has helped me so to do.”

Acting President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, praised Justice Salami for his achievements in office.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Okey Wali, SAN, who was represented by Sunday Ameh, SAN, urged the Bar and Bench to reject attempts to compromise the independence of the Judiciary.

The Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, SAN, was absent at the event and was not represented.

Adoke had advised Jonathan not to approve the NJC’s decision to reinstate Justice Salami on the grounds that the matter was sub judice.

The CJN, Justice Aloma Mukhtar; a former CJN, Justice Mohammed Uwais; Justice Mahmood Mohammed of the Supreme Court; and the President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, were among the dignitaries at the event.