Sunday, 29 January 2012
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Sunday, 15 January 2012
The Entrapment of A President: Torn between the rock and the deep blue sea - source Nigerian vanguard
*Security meeting that missed the target
*How some ministers and governors misled him
A meeting in Aso rock villa
Muhammadu Buhari turned down the invitation.
He made it clear that if President Jonathan was going to be in attendance, then he was not going to attend. And when the meeting eventually held, those at the meeting wore long faces.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had arranged it. But Sunday Vanguard could not confirm whether he himself attended the meeting.
As for former head of state, Yakubu Gowon, he simply turned down the invitation – he had been quoted as insisting that the subsidy should not be removed yet, long before its removal penultimate Sunday; but some government officials lampooned him for expressing his views last year..
President Goodluck Jonathan, National Security Adviser, NSA, Andrew Owoye Azazi, some other security chiefs and former President and Commander-in-Chief, Alhaji Usman Aliyu Shehu Shagari, were in attendance. The meeting was held penultimate Monday, the day after the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly known as petrol.
It was not a National Security Council or National Defence Council meeting.
Yet, those in attendance could fit the bill. They were there to discuss the possible implications of the intended strike action by organized labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.
The first issue that was tackled was the security implications!
Sunday Vanguard was informed by a source privy to the meeting that the prognosis, according to the security chiefs, was very terrible. President Jonathan was made to understand that everything that ought to be done to avert the strike should be done. The briefing made it very clear that should the strike go ahead and last beyond a week, “there would be serious implications for this administration”. Although the source said the language at the meeting was very weighted, “there was no mistaken the fact that the prognosis was very bad”.
Specifically, Sunday Vanguard was informed that one of those in attendance at the meeting pointedly stated that allowing the strike to go on for “up to 11 days would mean total disaster and eclipse” for the Jonathan administration.
As the briefing went on, President Jonathan reportedly stared into thin air like a ‘night creature caught in daylight’ – that was how the Time magazine described former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar in 1998, as one of its runners-up for the person of the year!
The former President in attendance was said to have made very useful contributions, assuming the role of loco perentis, even while President Jonathan sat in.
The economic implications were as far reaching as the security ones.
At the end of the meeting, President Jonathan’s body language suggested that something would be done earnestly to avoid the mass action.
How ministers misled govs
However, information made available to Sunday Vanguard suggests that one of President Jonathan’s cabinet members from the North Central Zone, who had himself been a student union leader, might it be added, and who has been forceful in his propagation of the subsidy removal tune, Information Minister, Labaran Maku, along with another minister from the South South geo-political zone, Elder Orubebe, prevailed on President Jonathan not to shift or accede to labour’s demand.
The Information Minister impressed it on President Jonathan that reverting to N65 would be seen as a sign of weakness and unseriousness. He may have been right!
Secondly, according to Sunday Vanguard’s source, President Jonathan was made “to believe that the strike action would normally kick off on the first day as threatened by labour but would quickly lose steam by the second day.
Sunday Vanguard was told that the impression conveyed to President Jonathan was that the strike action would not go beyond just two days before it loses steam.
It was this advice that President Jonathan took hook, line and sinker.
But the President did not stop there. He also made his own moves.
Intervention from the national assembly
But the presidency became jolted very late on Friday, January 6, 2012, when the leadership of the House of Representatives sent out words that it would hold an emergency session on Sunday, January 8.
President Jonathan
So, what did the presidency do? And how did the House respond? (See details in Abuja Bulletin, HOUSE SESSION ON SUBSIDY REMOVAL: The winners and losers)
In formation made available by a very strategic leader in the House to Sunday Vanguard suggests that last Sunday’s session was with a “with a view to ensuring that a middle ground was reached by both labour and the federal government”.
Sunday Vanguard also learnt that members of the House of Representatives, angry with the slide in the affairs of the country, were more peeved by the invocation of religious sentiments to defer the sitting. Presidency officials, it was learnt, had tried to persuade the house leadership to call off the sitting on the grounds that it would offend the religious sensibility of Christians.
That invocation was, however, dismissed by both Christian and Muslim members of the House who said the timing of the sitting was determined by the exigencies of the issues facing the nation.
A leadership cadre member of the House told Sunday Vanguard that “it was very wrong to begin to invoke religion in this matter. Committees sit on Fridays but religion is given its pride of place as members still go for Jumat which is respected by other committees’ members. Last Sunday’s session recorded a whopping 296 membership attendance. But beyond that, why would the Presidency that is still grappling with the menace of Boko Haram be toying with that type of thing”, Sunday Vanguard was told.
Apart from the religious angle, President Jonathan was said to have worked the phones trying through aides and some other leaders to get some state governors to talk to their Reps not to attend last Sunday’s session. That attempt, too, failed woefully.
Soldiers arrest Kaduna businessman for alleged gun-runnig : source-Nigeian Punch
A combined team of heavily armed soldiers, anti-riot policemen and other security agents on Saturday in Kaduna arrested a businessman, Mohammed Nuhu, popularly known as Babawo for alleged illegal possession of arms and ammunition.
Our correspondent learnt that the soldiers and security agents had stormed the suspect’s residence located in Trikania, a suburb of the Kaduna metropolis in six military trucks and took him away amid protests by some hoodlums in the area.
Security sources confirmed that during a search on the businessman’s residence, a cache of arms and ammunition as well as a large consignment of military uniforms and other dangerous weapons was recovered from the building.
Confirming the arrest of the suspect, the spokesman of the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Lt Col. Abubakar Edun, told our correspondent on the phone that the military authorities were already aware of the matter.
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“We are doing something about the arrest. When we are through, the press will be informed,” Edun said.
Meanwhile, the Adamawa State Police Command on Saturday confirmed the killing of two persons in a pub by unidentified gunmen in Wuro-Hausa area of Yola.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Altine Daniel, told the News Agency of Nigeria that a policeman in mufti, who was not on duty, was also injured in the attack which occurred about 9pm on Friday.
Daniel said the curfew had been relaxed to 12 hours from 6pm to 6am
In a similar development, the Gombe State Police Command has also confirmed that unidentified gunmen killed two persons and injured one in a pub in Gombe metropolis on Friday night.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Mohammed, told NAN on Saturday that the bodies of the victims had been deposited at the state Specialist Hospital, Gombe.
FG labour meeting deadlocked again -source: Nigerian Punch
The meeting between representatives of labour unions and the Federal Government over the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector on Saturday again ended in deadlock.
The two parties, like what happened during an earlier meeting on Thursday, failed to reach a compromise on the controversial issue that has led to astronomical increase in pump price of petrol from N65 to between N141 and N200.
Investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH showed that while the organised labour insisted that the price of fuel be reverted to the status quo for negotiation on the entire process of deregulation to commence, the FG team led by Senator David Mark offered to reduce the pump price to N120 per litre.
The team was said to have also demanded that the N120 suggested fuel pump price would be followed by a phased deregulation of the pump price which would be concluded in April.
A source at the meeting who confided in our correspondent said the tone of the government was suggestive of the fact that the pump price could even go higher than N141 per litre.
However, the organised labour led by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress were said to have countered that deregulation was a process involving a lot of issues which had not been sorted out.
The coalition of labour and the civil society movement pointed out that there was need to discuss the controversial template of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency which had been faulted by highly competent authorities in the oil industry, and which labour believed was questionable.
The labour/civil society delegation also called government’s attention to the need to know the true state of the refineries and the actual quantity of fuel being refined locally before taking a look at what should be imported to complement the locally refined products.
Labour was said to have insisted that the FG’s claim that the country was consuming as high as N31 to 35 million of litres of fuel every day was untrue and needed due verification.
The source said labour insisted that all the issues associated with deregulation should be sorted out before the issue of the increase of the pump price should become a factor of negotiation.
The source said it was the shared perspective of labour that it was only reasonable to talk of fuel price increase after all contentious issues had been resolved.
Meanwhile, the source alleged that the government team made implicits threats to labour and leaders of the civil society groups about the implication of current actions.
The President of the Senate, David Mark, and the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, were said to have cautioned that the country was back to the pre-1966 era and that no government would allow a slide into lawlessness.
Some of the key figures on the side of the government were also alleged to have made reference to treason and people taking on the government.
“Well, there were implied threats about the consequences of the action. There were statements like people challenging the government and a reference to treason.
“They stated that we are back to the pre 1966 era, no responsible government would allow a descent into anarchy.”
The source said the labour movement and their civil society coalition resolved to continue with the strike and street demonstrations while the government held onto its new price regime of N141 per litre.
“There is no time fixed yet for any new negotiation; in the meantime they continue with N141 and we continue with the strike, ” the source added.
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| Jonathan Goodluck |
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that lasted over four hours, the President of the NLC, Mr. Abdulawaheed Omar, said consultation would continue until a compromise was reached.
Omar said the representatives of labour would go and consult with their organs and return to the negotiation table at a later date.
As a result of the deadlock, the NLC scribe said the nationwide industrial action would continue on Monday.
He said, “We are going to continue our deliberation at our organisation level and then maybe we will see the way forward.”
When asked whether the meeting was deadlocked, Omar replied, “Not deadlocked, but we have not reached a compromise.”
When confronted with his promise after the Thursday meeting that labour was ready to shift ground, he said, “We are going to meet with our organs, then we shall inform Nigerians. Like we said the other time, it means the status quo remains.”
When asked of the kind of compromise the labour wanted, the NLC boss said, “Let’s go back to N65 then we agree on a new line of action.”
He said the labour was insisting on N65 per litre pump price.
Omar however assured Nigerians that contrary to its earlier threat, PENGASSAN would not shut down oil installations.
However, the President of the Senate, David Mark, described the meeting as fruitful.
Mark reinstated his position at the end of the last meeting that both sides shifted ground. He assured Nigerians that the issue would be resolved as soon as possible for the country to move forward.
He said, “We had a very fruitful discussion, we are veering on the right path to find amicable solutions that Nigerians will appreciate very soon. It’s a whole negotiation process, negotiation continues. We have done pretty well, we are consulting, we want to bring this to a logical conclusion at the earliest possible time.
“There is no question of FG offering a specific pump price. The essence of the negotiation and discussion is that both sides are shifting grounds and we are doing that very well.”
On whether it bothers the FG that the strike continues, Mark said, “I think it bothers everybody, if it doesn’t we won’t be here by now. We were here at 6pm and some people were here two hours before then.
“The mere fact that we have spent this amount of time means that it is an indication of the fact that we are worried about the current situation and we have to sort it out as soon as possible.”
Those who were at the meeting included Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu; Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba and Senator Abdul Ningi.
Also in attendance were Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Babangida Aliyu ( Niger), Theordre Orji (Abia), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto), Peter Obi (Anambra), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).
From the executive arm of government were Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; and National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi (retd.)
Ministers in attendance were Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Finance/Economy), Diezani Allison-Madueke (Petroleum Resources), Emeka Wogu (Labour), Bello Adoke (Justice), Labaran Maku (Information) and Bala Mohammed (FCT).
The Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Austin Oniwon, also attended.
The about 17-member labour delegation was jointly led by the NLC and TUC presidents, Omar and Peter Esele respectively.
Before the meeting started formally at 8pm, our correspondent observed that there was horse-trading among participants with some discussing in smaller groups.
The Senate President also had a brief discussion with Omar and Esele outside the hall.
It was when they returned that they asked journalists to leave in preparation for the commencement of the meeting. After about two hours of meeting, participants went on break.
Labour representatives used the opportunity of the break to again consult and solidify their position.
Several minutes after Omar addressed journalists, members of the government delegation remained inside the meeting venue apparently re-strategising on the next line of action.
Earlier in the day, the leadership of the organised labour and their civil society allies met for hours in Abuja and came to a unanimous decision to demand reversal of the price of petrol to N65 per litre.
Officials of the NLC and the TUC held their respective National Executive Council Meeting at two different locations in Abuja but came to the same conclusion that the fuel pump price be reversed in accordance with popular demand in the country.
Saturday, 14 January 2012
Three dead and around 70 missing after cruise ship sinks - source the sun
Three dead and around 70 missing after cruise ship sinks
Panic as people jump into cold night sea
Brits flee Med terror ... 4,200 on holed liner
THREE people have been confirmed dead and at least 70 are missing after a packed cruise ship began sinking off the Italian coast last night — with 25 British holidaymakers on board.
Three bodies have been pulled from the sea, Italian coastguards said. At least three more people who jumped overboard are also thought to have perished as panic spread through the Costa Concordia.
One victim was a man in his 70s who jumped into the icy waters and died of a heart attack caused by the shock to his system.
Over thirty people were injured in the horror, several with serious wounds. Divers were working to establish whether anyone was trapped in the submerged part of the ship after a rock tore a 160ft gash in the hull.
A huge rock was embedded in the side of the ship towards the stern.
Most the 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew were thought to have been rescued from the 950ft liner early this morning.
According to the reports, Costa Cruises confirmed the 37 Britons on board - including 12 crew - were safe. The dead were later said to be two French passengers and one Peruvian crew member.
Survivors were first taken to the nearby island off Giglio — off the Tuscan coast — before being transferred to the mainland.
THREE people have been confirmed dead and at least 70 are missing after a packed cruise ship began sinking off the Italian coast last night — with 25 British holidaymakers on board.
Three bodies have been pulled from the sea, Italian coastguards said. At least three more people who jumped overboard are also thought to have perished as panic spread through the Costa Concordia.
One victim was a man in his 70s who jumped into the icy waters and died of a heart attack caused by the shock to his system.
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| Disaster ... Costa Concordia partially submerged |
A huge rock was embedded in the side of the ship towards the stern.
Most the 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew were thought to have been rescued from the 950ft liner early this morning.
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| Gaping hole ... rock that tore 160ft gash into the ship's hull |
Survivors were first taken to the nearby island off Giglio — off the Tuscan coast — before being transferred to the mainland.
Friday, 13 January 2012
FG agrees to N65, Labour says strike continues -source: Nigerian Vanguard
ABUJA—A possible end to the ongoing nationwide strike action was in the offing last night after the Federal Government agreed to temporarily revert to the pre-New Year price of N65 per litre of petrol.
At a marathon meeting attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, organised labour, the leadership of the Senate and the representatives of state governors, labour was given two options for the reinstatement of the N65 per litre price of petrol. The first option is to revert to the pre-New Year price on the condition that the subsidy regime would be completely removed in April.
The second option is to allow the N65 selling price of petrol and withdraw 80% of the subsidy in March, meaning that petrol would sell for N120 if the current price regime remains in force.
No agreement yet — Labour
At the end of the meeting last night, labour said although compromise was being made, It has not reached an agreement and that strike continues today. All the parties would however meet again on Saturday when labour is expected to make up its mind on the options put before it.
Yesterday’s meeting was at the instance of the leadership of the Senate which had earlier held two meetings with organised labour and another with the Federal Government. Among those present at the meeting which commenced at 6.30 pm last night were Senate President David Mark; his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba.
The Senate President shuttled periodically yesterday between Aso Rock and his residence where he hosted labour officials as he sought to mediate the differences between both parties.
The Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF was represented by seven governors at last night meeting. Those in attendance were the Chairman of the NGF, Mr Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Mr Gabriel Suswan (Benue); Mr Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Mr Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Mr Adams Oshiomhole (Edo); Mr. Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) and Mr Peter Obi (Anambra).
The Labour delegation included the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr Abdulwaheed Omar and the President of Trade Union Congress, TUC, Mr Peter Esele, while Mr Tunde Aremu of ActionAid, represented Civil Society Organisations, CSOs.
They arrived the venue at exactly 6:30 pm, about two hours after the trio of President Jonathan, representing the Executive arm, the Senate leadership, and the governors forum had been meeting.
Labour sustains protests
Meanwhile, as the series of meetings were being held by representatives of government and labour, the labour movement and its civil society allies sustained their mass protests across the states of the federation and Abuja yesterday to mark the fourth day of the strike which has grounded commercial and social activities.
The protest which also recorded unprecedented turn-out at the Federal Capital Territory, kicked off from the Berger Roundabout at about 10:45am from where the procession marched through Wuse Market, Zone 3 and 7 before it terminated at Area One junction.
It was characterized by the usual fanfare that greeted the protest since it commenced, with protesters dancing to the tunes from some musicians.
Peter Esele, TUC President exploited the opportunity of the fourth day rally to dismiss Federal Government’s accusation that labour was threatening the peace of the country.
He said labour and the coalition of civil society groups involved in the protest had nothing against the authority of President Goodluck Jonathan, but that they fault the deregulation policy which in their evaluation does not go down well with the masses.
He also dismissed allegations that politicians were wrongly exploiting the rallies to their advantage, saying they would effectively use the peaceful rallies to achieve their demands.
His words: “They say we are creating problems for this country, let us make one thing clear here, we have nothing against the presidency. All we are fighting against is the deregulation policy”.
Economic activities in Abuja were low, with transporters conveying passengers to some locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), most of the banks remained closed for business, while most of the ministries’ staff were yet to comply with the directive to resume work.
At a marathon meeting attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, organised labour, the leadership of the Senate and the representatives of state governors, labour was given two options for the reinstatement of the N65 per litre price of petrol. The first option is to revert to the pre-New Year price on the condition that the subsidy regime would be completely removed in April.
The second option is to allow the N65 selling price of petrol and withdraw 80% of the subsidy in March, meaning that petrol would sell for N120 if the current price regime remains in force.
No agreement yet — Labour
At the end of the meeting last night, labour said although compromise was being made, It has not reached an agreement and that strike continues today. All the parties would however meet again on Saturday when labour is expected to make up its mind on the options put before it.
Yesterday’s meeting was at the instance of the leadership of the Senate which had earlier held two meetings with organised labour and another with the Federal Government. Among those present at the meeting which commenced at 6.30 pm last night were Senate President David Mark; his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba.
The Senate President shuttled periodically yesterday between Aso Rock and his residence where he hosted labour officials as he sought to mediate the differences between both parties.
The Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF was represented by seven governors at last night meeting. Those in attendance were the Chairman of the NGF, Mr Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Mr Gabriel Suswan (Benue); Mr Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Mr Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Mr Adams Oshiomhole (Edo); Mr. Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) and Mr Peter Obi (Anambra).
The Labour delegation included the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr Abdulwaheed Omar and the President of Trade Union Congress, TUC, Mr Peter Esele, while Mr Tunde Aremu of ActionAid, represented Civil Society Organisations, CSOs.
They arrived the venue at exactly 6:30 pm, about two hours after the trio of President Jonathan, representing the Executive arm, the Senate leadership, and the governors forum had been meeting.
Labour sustains protests
Meanwhile, as the series of meetings were being held by representatives of government and labour, the labour movement and its civil society allies sustained their mass protests across the states of the federation and Abuja yesterday to mark the fourth day of the strike which has grounded commercial and social activities.
The protest which also recorded unprecedented turn-out at the Federal Capital Territory, kicked off from the Berger Roundabout at about 10:45am from where the procession marched through Wuse Market, Zone 3 and 7 before it terminated at Area One junction.
It was characterized by the usual fanfare that greeted the protest since it commenced, with protesters dancing to the tunes from some musicians.
Peter Esele, TUC President exploited the opportunity of the fourth day rally to dismiss Federal Government’s accusation that labour was threatening the peace of the country.
He said labour and the coalition of civil society groups involved in the protest had nothing against the authority of President Goodluck Jonathan, but that they fault the deregulation policy which in their evaluation does not go down well with the masses.
He also dismissed allegations that politicians were wrongly exploiting the rallies to their advantage, saying they would effectively use the peaceful rallies to achieve their demands.
His words: “They say we are creating problems for this country, let us make one thing clear here, we have nothing against the presidency. All we are fighting against is the deregulation policy”.
Economic activities in Abuja were low, with transporters conveying passengers to some locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), most of the banks remained closed for business, while most of the ministries’ staff were yet to comply with the directive to resume work.
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Boko Haram: Remain where you are, FG urges Nigerians
ABUJA — AS panic stricken Nigerians continue to flee perceived trouble spots following Boko Haram directives to Christian southerners to relocate from the North and Muslim northerners from the South to the North, the Federal Government has urged Nigerians to ignore the call and remain where they choose to live.
This is the outcome of crucial security meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan with Vice President Namadi Sambo and service chiefs in attendance, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police, Mr Hafizi Ringim, has condemned the act of violence that characterised the organised labour protest against fuel subsidy removal in Kano, especially the hijack of the protest by miscreants who forced their way into Kano State Government House and burnt down over 30 vehicles.
Minister of Defence, Alhaji Haliru Mohammed, who fielded questions from State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting said there was no cause for alarm, saying every Nigerian has the right to live wherever he wants.
He said: “I will like to assure all Nigerians that they should continue to live where they are. All arrangements have been made by the security forces to protect all Nigerians to live where they are living.”
Also speaking, IGP Ringim, said: “Unfortunately, some people are feeling apprehensive and there is nothing you can do about it. They have the right to move. But we want to give them assurance that we are ready, willing and determined more than ever before to provide them with necessary security to remain wherever they want to remain in this country.”
Asked if the government was concerned about the loss of three lives in the protests, Haliru said “government is very concerned and all measures are being taken to end protest.
IGP hails Labour for peaceful protest
The police who commended Labour for their peaceful conduct during the protest said: “This meeting centred on the progress so far made by law enforcement with regard to what has been happening within the last few days and we are satisfied that the NLC on its own has been conducting itself in the best peaceful manner.”
He, however, expressed deep concern over activities of miscreants, saying: “It is also believed that there are miscreants that are trying to hijack this process and make it violent and we are not going to allow it as law enforcement officers.
“Over 30 vehicles were burnt in Kano Government House. Will you look at this and say this was the work of NLC? No, gentlemen. This was certainly not the work of NLC, this was the work of miscreants who wanted to burn, maim and loot and police have a responsibility to maintain law and order and that was what we did.
“As far as I know, as far as the records are concerned, three people have so far lost their lives. However, if you have any other dead bodies, please bring them forward.”
On a man killed in Lagos
“I have ordered for investigation and that is what am supposed to do and after the investigation, I have made a promise that the result will be made public and whoever is found culpable will be charged to court.”
This is the outcome of crucial security meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan with Vice President Namadi Sambo and service chiefs in attendance, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police, Mr Hafizi Ringim, has condemned the act of violence that characterised the organised labour protest against fuel subsidy removal in Kano, especially the hijack of the protest by miscreants who forced their way into Kano State Government House and burnt down over 30 vehicles.
Minister of Defence, Alhaji Haliru Mohammed, who fielded questions from State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting said there was no cause for alarm, saying every Nigerian has the right to live wherever he wants.
He said: “I will like to assure all Nigerians that they should continue to live where they are. All arrangements have been made by the security forces to protect all Nigerians to live where they are living.”
Also speaking, IGP Ringim, said: “Unfortunately, some people are feeling apprehensive and there is nothing you can do about it. They have the right to move. But we want to give them assurance that we are ready, willing and determined more than ever before to provide them with necessary security to remain wherever they want to remain in this country.”
Asked if the government was concerned about the loss of three lives in the protests, Haliru said “government is very concerned and all measures are being taken to end protest.
IGP hails Labour for peaceful protest
The police who commended Labour for their peaceful conduct during the protest said: “This meeting centred on the progress so far made by law enforcement with regard to what has been happening within the last few days and we are satisfied that the NLC on its own has been conducting itself in the best peaceful manner.”
He, however, expressed deep concern over activities of miscreants, saying: “It is also believed that there are miscreants that are trying to hijack this process and make it violent and we are not going to allow it as law enforcement officers.
“Over 30 vehicles were burnt in Kano Government House. Will you look at this and say this was the work of NLC? No, gentlemen. This was certainly not the work of NLC, this was the work of miscreants who wanted to burn, maim and loot and police have a responsibility to maintain law and order and that was what we did.
“As far as I know, as far as the records are concerned, three people have so far lost their lives. However, if you have any other dead bodies, please bring them forward.”
On a man killed in Lagos
“I have ordered for investigation and that is what am supposed to do and after the investigation, I have made a promise that the result will be made public and whoever is found culpable will be charged to court.”
Nigerians groan as strike persists
LAGOS- (AFP) – Grace Ojo, selling rice at a market in Nigeria’s biggest city, is fed up — both with a strike that has shut down the country and with the president whose fuel price policy sparked it.
Asked if the strike should go on to force President Goodluck Jonathan to reverse the policy, the 53-year-old mother of three has a simple message: “Don’t continue!… But let Goodluck pity us.”
It is the harsh reality of the strike — and of life in general in Africa’s most populous nation and top oil producer, long held back by deep-rooted corruption: Poor families face extremely tough choices.
If the strike goes on, the masses who work in the informal economy, and who mostly earn less than $2 per day, face being squeezed ever more tightly by their disappearing incomes.
Should the strike be called off, any hopes may fade of forcing the government to reverse its decision to end fuel subsidies on January 1, which caused petrol prices to more than double.
So far, the government has shown no sign of budging.
Government officials and economists say the fuel policy is the right one and will eventually lead to real development in the country, chiefly by redirecting public funds to infrastructure projects.
But for now, there is simply more hardship for those who already have more than their share.
The strike that began on Monday has spread throughout Nigeria, shutting businesses and bringing tens of thousands onto the streets to protest.
Oil production — Nigeria’s economic lifeblood — accounting for some two-thirds of government revenues and more than 90 percent of export earnings — has so far been unaffected.
“The only way a strike is going to affect the government, to be fair, is if it affects crude oil exports,” said Kayode Akindele, a partner with investment firm 46 Parallels.
Akindele and others say production has continued for a variety of reasons, including the fact that much of the industry is centred offshore and because many operations are automated.
Also, many oil workers are reluctant to shut down production, considering it a last resort and knowing it could take days or longer to start facilities back up again.
That means many of the poor have been left with a dilemma — they want fuel prices to come down, and the strike to be called off.
“I think the strike should end because there’s nothing going on, no way to work and get money,” said Ben Korchioga, a 26-year-old motorcycle taxi driver who was among some 150 motorists waiting outside a petrol station to see if it would open and sell them fuel.
But he also said the government should reverse its fuel subsidy policy.
“This is not the right time” to end subsidies, he said.
Some have sought to portray the protests as an opportunity for Nigeria’s own version of an Arab Spring or other kind of global protest movement, with Twitter posts using the “occupynigeria” hashtag.
But while significant numbers have turned out for protests — including around 10,000 in Lagos, the economic capital — there are questions over whether the demonstrations could evolve into something larger in the vast nation of 160 million.
Akindele, of the investment firm, points out that police have refrained from unleashing widespread violence on protesters and inflaming the situation as many had feared.
An officer has been accused of killing one person in Lagos, and at least two people were shot dead when police and protesters clashed in the northern city of Kano.
“If you started seeing 100,000, 150,000 people on the streets, that could have an impact,” said Akindele.
“The violence by Nigerian standards has been quite low.”
He said that removing the fuel subsidies “is the linchpin of the government reform policy, and I think the government is going to stand its ground”.
That is not what Nigeria’s market traders and motorcycle taxi drivers want to hear, but there seems to be little more they can do.
At the Lagos market where Ojo sells rice, there were far fewer buyers than usual. Traders said goods were not being trucked in from other states because of the strike and the higher fuel costs.
Nevertheless, life goes on — they still hawked cow legs, cut beef on top of cardboard and shredded okra, the words “Pls do not urinate here anymore” scrawled on the wall nearby.
Mary Agbor, a 23-year-old selling vegetables, was among those who said she wanted the strike to end. But she had no answers for how the government could be forced to reduce fuel prices.
“They’re the ones who have to decide it,” she said, before returning to haggle with a small crowd of customers
Asked if the strike should go on to force President Goodluck Jonathan to reverse the policy, the 53-year-old mother of three has a simple message: “Don’t continue!… But let Goodluck pity us.”
It is the harsh reality of the strike — and of life in general in Africa’s most populous nation and top oil producer, long held back by deep-rooted corruption: Poor families face extremely tough choices.
If the strike goes on, the masses who work in the informal economy, and who mostly earn less than $2 per day, face being squeezed ever more tightly by their disappearing incomes.
Should the strike be called off, any hopes may fade of forcing the government to reverse its decision to end fuel subsidies on January 1, which caused petrol prices to more than double.
So far, the government has shown no sign of budging.
Government officials and economists say the fuel policy is the right one and will eventually lead to real development in the country, chiefly by redirecting public funds to infrastructure projects.
But for now, there is simply more hardship for those who already have more than their share.
The strike that began on Monday has spread throughout Nigeria, shutting businesses and bringing tens of thousands onto the streets to protest.
Oil production — Nigeria’s economic lifeblood — accounting for some two-thirds of government revenues and more than 90 percent of export earnings — has so far been unaffected.
“The only way a strike is going to affect the government, to be fair, is if it affects crude oil exports,” said Kayode Akindele, a partner with investment firm 46 Parallels.
Akindele and others say production has continued for a variety of reasons, including the fact that much of the industry is centred offshore and because many operations are automated.
Also, many oil workers are reluctant to shut down production, considering it a last resort and knowing it could take days or longer to start facilities back up again.
That means many of the poor have been left with a dilemma — they want fuel prices to come down, and the strike to be called off.
“I think the strike should end because there’s nothing going on, no way to work and get money,” said Ben Korchioga, a 26-year-old motorcycle taxi driver who was among some 150 motorists waiting outside a petrol station to see if it would open and sell them fuel.
But he also said the government should reverse its fuel subsidy policy.
“This is not the right time” to end subsidies, he said.
Some have sought to portray the protests as an opportunity for Nigeria’s own version of an Arab Spring or other kind of global protest movement, with Twitter posts using the “occupynigeria” hashtag.
But while significant numbers have turned out for protests — including around 10,000 in Lagos, the economic capital — there are questions over whether the demonstrations could evolve into something larger in the vast nation of 160 million.
Akindele, of the investment firm, points out that police have refrained from unleashing widespread violence on protesters and inflaming the situation as many had feared.
An officer has been accused of killing one person in Lagos, and at least two people were shot dead when police and protesters clashed in the northern city of Kano.
“If you started seeing 100,000, 150,000 people on the streets, that could have an impact,” said Akindele.
“The violence by Nigerian standards has been quite low.”
He said that removing the fuel subsidies “is the linchpin of the government reform policy, and I think the government is going to stand its ground”.
That is not what Nigeria’s market traders and motorcycle taxi drivers want to hear, but there seems to be little more they can do.
 |
| lagos fuel protest |
Nevertheless, life goes on — they still hawked cow legs, cut beef on top of cardboard and shredded okra, the words “Pls do not urinate here anymore” scrawled on the wall nearby.
Mary Agbor, a 23-year-old selling vegetables, was among those who said she wanted the strike to end. But she had no answers for how the government could be forced to reduce fuel prices.
“They’re the ones who have to decide it,” she said, before returning to haggle with a small crowd of customers
Sunday, 8 January 2012
Strike looms in Nigeria - source: Nigerian Vanguard
Why strike must go on tomorrow, by NLC
Last minute moves by the Federal Governemnt to avert nationwide strike on the heels of the removal of subsidy on petrol apparently failed as Labour insisited, yesterday, that the strike commences tomorrow.The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said the government went before the wrong court to procure an injunction to stop the strike.
The National Industrial Court (NIC) had, on Friday, granted an exparte application brought on behalf of government by the Attorney- General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), praying the court to restrain the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) from embarking on masss protests/strike action beginning from tomorrow.
In his ruling , the NIC president, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, restrained the defendants from embarking on street protests. rallies or any other action that may be inimical to the nation’s economic affairs pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The court therefore adjourned till January 12 for hearing of the motion on notice…
The NLC while mobilising its affiliates, yetserday, for the strike to start tomorrow described the NIC injuction as a vain action by “some backroom boys and girls who claims they have given injunction to stop the strike.”
Boko Haram: Adamawa killings continue - Source: Nigerian Vanguard
Civil war looms – CAN
BARELY 24 hours after about 29 persons were killed in Mubi, Adamawa State, gunmen, yesterday, struck again in the state, leaving threeother persons dead.
The scene of the latest incident, according to reports, is Lamurde.
There were insinuations that yesterday’s killings were politically motivated as the candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state, slated for January 14, General Mohammed Buba Marwa, said they were designed to instil fear into the electorate ahead of the poll.
Also yesterday, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said the wanton killings in the north was “an express invitation to civil war.”
The Friday incident had been linked to the Boko Haram sect which actually claimed responsibility while the killings came at the expiration of its ultimatum to Christians to leave the north.
In a broadcast to the people of Adamawa State, yesterday, Governor Murtala Nyako described the killings as criminal, saying they were unjustifiable.
The chairman of the Marwa Campaign Organisation in Lamurde, Aiseut Amuro, said that the three persons killed, yesterday, were supporters of his principal and members of the CPC in Adamawa State.
According to Amuro, some hoodlums at about 7. 30 pm, attacked the shop of a well known CPC supporter, a vulcanizer, set the shop on fire and burnt all the machines stored therein.
The hoodlums, said to number about 10 and brandishing dangerous weapons like axes, cutlasses,bows and arrows, later made for the house of another supporter and hacked him to death.
Another supporter had his hand cut off while two persons sustained serious injuries from knife wounds by the hoodlums.
In the early hours of yesterday, at about 1. 30am, there were further reports from Lamurde that two persons were killed by unknown hoodlums who invaded the area.
Fear of civil war
Christian Association of Nigeria, yesterday, warned that the wanton killing of Christians in some parts of the north was an express invitation to civil war, saying Christians now have to define means of defending themselves.
Arising from an emergency meeting in Abuja, CAN president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor told newsmen that they would not make public their strategies. “I don’t ask them to carry arms but we have legitimate right to defend ourselves. We will do whatever it takes, we are working things out within ourselves, we are not obligated to tell you what we are working out, but let us wait and see”, Oritsajefor stated.
He went on: “Declaring state of emergency in some local governments obviously has not done any good.
Definitely we are going to do what we have to do to protect ourselves. We can not seat back and watch people being slaughtered like animals, everyday, going to the church place of worship, shooting them, this is unacceptable”.
Meanwhile, the GENERAL Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones during the bomb blasts on Christmas Day and other violent attacks in the past year.
“Nigeria’s future is very bright but the Devil is only trying to hinder and prevent our progress,” the man of God was quoted as saying, adding that “the brighter the future is, the angrier the devil becomes.”
According to the parish pastor of the headquarters church of RCCG, Pastor Goke Aniyeloye, the General Overseer has, in line with the rage of the devil, agreed to host a prayer summit to address the security situation in the country which will be tagged; “A new beginning of greatness.”
The special prayer meeting will take place at the national headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, The Throne of Grace Parish in Ebute Metta, Lagos tomorrow.
He therefore enjoined all those lovers of the country and who desire peace to join in the prayer summit.
Bayelsa to northerners: Don’t panic
In the meantime, as the fear of reprisal attack grips the Muslim community of northern extraction in southern part of the country, Bayelsa State government, yesterday, called on northerners, especially Muslims in the state and non-indigenes, not to be afraid of being attacked.
BARELY 24 hours after about 29 persons were killed in Mubi, Adamawa State, gunmen, yesterday, struck again in the state, leaving threeother persons dead.
The scene of the latest incident, according to reports, is Lamurde.
There were insinuations that yesterday’s killings were politically motivated as the candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state, slated for January 14, General Mohammed Buba Marwa, said they were designed to instil fear into the electorate ahead of the poll.
Also yesterday, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said the wanton killings in the north was “an express invitation to civil war.”
The Friday incident had been linked to the Boko Haram sect which actually claimed responsibility while the killings came at the expiration of its ultimatum to Christians to leave the north.
In a broadcast to the people of Adamawa State, yesterday, Governor Murtala Nyako described the killings as criminal, saying they were unjustifiable.
The chairman of the Marwa Campaign Organisation in Lamurde, Aiseut Amuro, said that the three persons killed, yesterday, were supporters of his principal and members of the CPC in Adamawa State.
According to Amuro, some hoodlums at about 7. 30 pm, attacked the shop of a well known CPC supporter, a vulcanizer, set the shop on fire and burnt all the machines stored therein.
The hoodlums, said to number about 10 and brandishing dangerous weapons like axes, cutlasses,bows and arrows, later made for the house of another supporter and hacked him to death.
Another supporter had his hand cut off while two persons sustained serious injuries from knife wounds by the hoodlums.
In the early hours of yesterday, at about 1. 30am, there were further reports from Lamurde that two persons were killed by unknown hoodlums who invaded the area.
Fear of civil war
Christian Association of Nigeria, yesterday, warned that the wanton killing of Christians in some parts of the north was an express invitation to civil war, saying Christians now have to define means of defending themselves.
Arising from an emergency meeting in Abuja, CAN president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor told newsmen that they would not make public their strategies. “I don’t ask them to carry arms but we have legitimate right to defend ourselves. We will do whatever it takes, we are working things out within ourselves, we are not obligated to tell you what we are working out, but let us wait and see”, Oritsajefor stated.
He went on: “Declaring state of emergency in some local governments obviously has not done any good.
Definitely we are going to do what we have to do to protect ourselves. We can not seat back and watch people being slaughtered like animals, everyday, going to the church place of worship, shooting them, this is unacceptable”.
Meanwhile, the GENERAL Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones during the bomb blasts on Christmas Day and other violent attacks in the past year.
“Nigeria’s future is very bright but the Devil is only trying to hinder and prevent our progress,” the man of God was quoted as saying, adding that “the brighter the future is, the angrier the devil becomes.”
According to the parish pastor of the headquarters church of RCCG, Pastor Goke Aniyeloye, the General Overseer has, in line with the rage of the devil, agreed to host a prayer summit to address the security situation in the country which will be tagged; “A new beginning of greatness.”
The special prayer meeting will take place at the national headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, The Throne of Grace Parish in Ebute Metta, Lagos tomorrow.
He therefore enjoined all those lovers of the country and who desire peace to join in the prayer summit.
Bayelsa to northerners: Don’t panic
In the meantime, as the fear of reprisal attack grips the Muslim community of northern extraction in southern part of the country, Bayelsa State government, yesterday, called on northerners, especially Muslims in the state and non-indigenes, not to be afraid of being attacked.
Beyonce 'gives birth to baby girl - source:the sun
Culled from the sun
MEGASTAR Beyonce has given birth to a baby girl named Ivy Blue Carter, according to US reports.
 |
| New parents ... Jay-Z and Beyonce |
Beyonce announced she was expecting her first child with Jay-Z at the MTV Video Music Awards in August. After performing her song Love On Top, she told the audience: "I want you to feel the love that's growing inside of me." In October 2011, she faced claims she was faking her pregnancy. Rumours spread that she was wearing a prosthesis after her bump appeared to fold in on itself as she sat down on an Australian TV chat show. Gossip websites seized on the footage as "evidence" that Beyonce was exaggerating the look. But the Crazy In Love singer's spokeswoman slammed the claims as "stupid, ridiculous and false
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Monday, 2 January 2012
Boko Haram spokesman issues three-day ultimatum - source: Nigerian Vanguard
MAIDUGURI (AFP) – A purported spokesman for Islamist group, Boko Haram, has issued an ultimatum to Christians in the country’s north and threatened to confront troops after the president declared a state of emergency in hard hit areas.
Abul Qaqa, who has spoken on behalf of the group blamed for scores of attacks in numerous times in the past, said he was giving southerners living in the north a three-day ultimatum to leave.
“We find it pertinent to state that soldiers will only kill innocent Muslims in the local government areas where the state of emergency was declared,” he told journalists in a phone conference late Sunday.
“We would confront them squarely to protect our brothers.”
Speaking in the Hausa language common throughout the north, Qaqa said “we also wish to call on our fellow Muslims to come back to the north because we have evidence that they would be attacked.
“We are also giving a three-day ultimatum to the southerners living in the northern part of Nigeria to move away.”
Boko Haram is believed to include different factions with varying aims, its structure remains unclear and other people have claimed to speak on its behalf.
Nigeria’s 160 million population is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south.
Muslims have been victims of Boko Haram attacks, but a wave of Christmas day bombings particularly targeting churches set off fears of retaliation from Christians.
President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency on Saturday in parts of four states hard hit by violence blamed on Boko Haram.
Abul Qaqa, who has spoken on behalf of the group blamed for scores of attacks in numerous times in the past, said he was giving southerners living in the north a three-day ultimatum to leave.
“We find it pertinent to state that soldiers will only kill innocent Muslims in the local government areas where the state of emergency was declared,” he told journalists in a phone conference late Sunday.
“We would confront them squarely to protect our brothers.”
Speaking in the Hausa language common throughout the north, Qaqa said “we also wish to call on our fellow Muslims to come back to the north because we have evidence that they would be attacked.
“We are also giving a three-day ultimatum to the southerners living in the northern part of Nigeria to move away.”
Boko Haram is believed to include different factions with varying aims, its structure remains unclear and other people have claimed to speak on its behalf.
Nigeria’s 160 million population is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south.
Muslims have been victims of Boko Haram attacks, but a wave of Christmas day bombings particularly targeting churches set off fears of retaliation from Christians.
President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency on Saturday in parts of four states hard hit by violence blamed on Boko Haram.
Three Persons Injured As Gunmen attack Southern Kaduna Village - source: sahara reporters
Gunmen in possession of highly sophisticated weapons today attacked a village in Kagoro Southern Kaduna in Kaduna State.A Kagoro chief and four persons were injured according to sources in the village.Eyewitnesses reported that about fifteen gunmen hiding in a railway track fired shots sporadically into the village.
The wounded persons are presently hospitalized in Kafanchan town and are likely to be transferred to Jos, Plateau State for further treatment.
The Afan Day Festival in Kagoro which was planned for today could not hold due to insecurity in the region.A statement earlier published by SaharaReporters at the weekend in Kagoro, Southern Kaduna signed by Sunday Gwafan National President of Kagoro Development Association had cancelled the popular annual festival. Source: Sahara reporters
The wounded persons are presently hospitalized in Kafanchan town and are likely to be transferred to Jos, Plateau State for further treatment.
The Afan Day Festival in Kagoro which was planned for today could not hold due to insecurity in the region.A statement earlier published by SaharaReporters at the weekend in Kagoro, Southern Kaduna signed by Sunday Gwafan National President of Kagoro Development Association had cancelled the popular annual festival. Source: Sahara reporters
Four people found dead at house in Horden - source: BBC news
Four people have been found dead after a shooting at a house in Horden, near Peterlee, County Durham late on Sunday.
The bodies of a 42-year-old man and three woman were discovered at the house in Greenside Avenue. A shotgun was found next to the man's body.Police said three other people in the house managed to escape. A woman, 19, was treated for gunshot wounds.It also emerged the 40-year-old man, named locally as Michael Atherton, was licensed to own six firearms. |
| The house is the subject of a detailed forensic operation |
Police said they were treating the incident as a murder inquiry and were not looking for anyone else. All four dead people were related to each other.Firearms officers attended the scene after a caller reported that a number of people had been shot inside a semi-detached house.The victims' bodies were found in different rooms in the downstairs of the house, and paramedics confirmed all four were dead at the scene.The area has been cordoned off since shortly after midnight and a forensic investigation is under way.
An incident room has been set up at police headquarters in Durham.
Assistant Chief Constable Michael Banks gives details of the shootings
Katy Perry 'invited to Barbados by best friend Rihanna following split from Russell Brand -source:daily mail
Culled from UK daily mail
Katy Perry has been invited to stay with Rihanna in Barbados following her split from Russell Brand, it has been claimed.
The 23-year-old singer, who organised Perry's hen night before her wedding to comedian Brand, is said to have reached out to the star in the wake of the news that their marriage had come to an end.
And now Perry, who is currently in Hawaii, is said to be considering jetting to the Caribbean to be with her best friend.
Katy Perry has been invited to stay with Rihanna in Barbados following her split from Russell Brand, it has been claimed.
 |
| Katy Perry and Rihanna |
And now Perry, who is currently in Hawaii, is said to be considering jetting to the Caribbean to be with her best friend.
 |
| Keeping a low profile: Brand was seen leaving The Savoy Hotel this weekend alongside a woman believed to be singer Florence Welch, although the pair were not together |
Rooney is fine 250k -source: the sun
source: thesun
WAYNE Rooney was fined a week's wages of £250,000 in a bust-up with boss Sir Alex Ferguson, it was revealed yesterday.
The angry striker, 26, was axed from the Manchester United team that lost 3-2 to Blackburn on Saturday after he had a Boxing Day night out with two team-mates.Roo and wife Coleen, 25, and United pals Darron Gibson and Jonny Evans and their partners had dinner at the Vincent Hotel In Southport, Merseyside.
 |
| Left-Sir Alex Ferguson ; Right :Wayne Rooney |
So he was furious when he noticed the three stars looked lethargic in training the next day.
They were ordered to do extra training on Wednesday, which had been scheduled as a day off.
They were also fined a week's wages — and Rooney and Gibson, 24, were dropped from United's squad for Saturday's shock defeat by Premier League strugglers Blackburn. Evans, 23, is out injured
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