We'll Realize Biafra in Yar'Adua's Absence

Forty years ago today, the Nigerian civil war (also known as the Biafran War) came to an end with the formal acceptance of the Republic of Biafra's surrender documents by Olusegun Obasanjo, then a colonel, on behalf of the Nigerian government. (Picture show Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ex-Biafran Warlord)

On the afternoon of the previous day (12 January), Philip Effiong, a general, who took over the leadership of the Biafran Government after Odimegwu Ojukwu, also a general, went into exile in Cote d'Ivoire, had announced that he was pulling his troops out of the war. "I am convinced that the suffering of our people must be brought to an immediate end. Our people are now disillusioned, and those elements of the old government regime who have made negotiations and reconciliation impossible have voluntarily removed themselves from our midst. I have, therefore, instructed an orderly disengagement of troops," Mr. Effiong said.

The war started in July 1967, when the Nigerian government invaded the Republic of Biafra, in a bid to prevent it from carrying out its vow to secede. Mr. Ojukwu, military administrator of Nigeria's Eastern region (which transformed into Biafra) had declared secession on May 30, 1967, in response to the mass killings of Igbos which started in Northern Nigeria in July 1966. By the end of the war, about one million persons, mostly Igbos, were estimated dead.

The war was also characterised by widespread starvation; with the photos of kwashiorkor-stricken children that found their way out of Biafra eliciting a significant humanitarian reaction from around the world. The founding of the humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) in 1971 by a group of French doctors who had worked in Biafra is believed to have been inspired by the war.

A story of loss

For many persons of Eastern Nigerian origin who lost family and loved ones to the war, the wounds of the war are fresh as ever, forty years on. The novelist Chimamanda Adichie, whose award-winning second novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, is set during the war, lost both grandfathers to the war. "It is a personal issue - my father has tears in his eyes when he speaks of losing his father, my mother still cannot speak at length about losing her father in a refugee camp," she recalled in an interview shortly after the novel was published.

Paris-based filmmaker Newton Aduaka recalls that the war made him "a very insecure child." Relocating to Lagos from Eastern Nigeria after the war was like "starting all over again". He also believes that the war is "a very misunderstood story... it [wasn't] about Nigerians against Nigerians, this was a very divisive war from outside of Nigeria, an extension of colonialism; we were pawns within a bigger game that we didn't understand."

The ‘small' against the ‘big'

Finnish political scientist Mai Palmberg saw the war from the outside. She was a young student then, in a region of the world (Scandinavia) with a strong awareness of the conflict, as well as a lot of sympathy for the Biafrans. "[Biafra] was seen as the Christian part (not entirely correctly, but still) of Nigeria; it was the small nation against the big and ruthless one, and those pictures of children with Kwashiorkor moved people deeply. Perhaps it also mattered that both the Soviet Union and UK supported the federal government," she wrote in an email to NEXT.

France was Biafra's biggest Western supporter, providing weaponry and relief supplies. Carl Gustaf von Rosen, the mercenary fighter pilot who gained worldwide fame flying relief supplies into Biafra, as well as leading bombing missions into Nigerian territory, was Swedish. Ms. Palmberg says von Rosen was "treated as a hero" in Scandinavia. And in 1969, a protesting Finnish priest sprayed the word ‘BIAFRA' on the wall of Helsinki's iconic Temppeliaukio Church, during its construction.

A new Biafra?

Forty years on, resentments still exist amongst many Igbos. In a 2008 interview, Ms. Adichie lamented Nigeria's attitude to the war. "You're told that a war happened and nothing else. Igbo people have a sense that we're supposed to pretend nothing happened," she complained.

In recent years the agitation for Biafra has resurfaced, amidst a wave of ethnic nationalist movements that emerged with the dawning of a new democratic dispensation in 1999. Only months after the government of Olusegun Obasanjo came into office, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) was founded by Igbo lawyer Ralph Uwazuruike.

Mr. Uwazuruike said his sister died in his arms during the war. According to him, his founding of MASSOB was "for the general interest of my people and for the emancipation of Ndi'Igbo from the slavery status in Nigeria." He has also said that President Obasanjo's failure to appoint Igbos into prominent positions in his cabinet in 1999 further inspired the formation of the movement.

On May 22, 2000, in Aba, Abia State, he announced the creation of "new Biafra" and hoisted the Biafran flag. "MASSOB shall commence the establishment of necessary structures that may sustain the sovereignty of the new Biafra State, if after 30 days from today the Federal Government of Nigeria fails to initiate the expected negotiations," he said.

A resilient cause

This position has been echoed over the years, despite a series of government clampdowns. "Biafrans have chosen to stay on our own as an independent sovereign state to ascertain the yearnings and aspirations of over forty million Biafrans," said Uchenna Madu, the MASSOB director of information, in July 2004.

The organization marked its tenth anniversary last year with a series of civic and religious events. It has often said that its campaign is a non-violent one. During the tenth year anniversary, a senior official was quoted as saying that "kidnappers carry guns while we don't."

MASSOB's sentiments are not peculiar to the movement. Kazeem Badmus, national vice president of the Frederick Fasheun faction of the Oodua People's Congress (easily the Yoruba equivalent of MASSOB) is in full support of the decision of the Igbos to go to war. "They were fighting for their rights," he told NEXT in a telephone chat. "You cannot go to the market to buy power or independence; you have to fight for it."

The rising sun

On January 15 1970, Nigerian Head of State Yakubu Gowon, in his victory speech to the country, declared that, "the so-called Rising Sun of Biafra is set for ever. It will be a great disservice for anyone to continue to use the word Biafra to refer to any part of the East Central State of Nigeria. The tragic chapter of violence is just ended. We are at the dawn of national reconciliation. Once again, we have an opportunity to build a new nation."

Forty years on, there is no consensus on whether that new nation has seen the light of day.

Culled from: Next Newspapers

Political Tsunami in Abia State Begins

The decamp, from the ruling Progressives People’s Alliance (PPA) in Abia state, to the opposition Action Congress (AC), by Prince Paul Ikonne, former commissioner for Works in the state on Saturday, January 9, is a foretaste of the political upheaval that is about to rock the state. (Pictures left, Governor Theodore Orji; Right, former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu and his Mother Excellency, Eunice Uzor Kalu)

Prince Ikonne who had, also, served as the state’s Commissioner in Charge of Lands and Urban Development, and, lately, Director, Abia State Transport Corporation (ASTC), took his supporters to the commercial town of Aba where he dumped PPA for the AC.

Prince Ikonne’s action was, ostensibly, informed by the goings-on in PPA, a party which former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu and his Mother Excellency, evidently, runs like their private estate in Igbere, their hitherto sleepy Abia home.

KlinReports is informed that no government policy or program of any sort is executed in Abia state without the express approval of Mother Excellency and Orji Uzor Kalu. And this situation has, of course, reduced both Governor Theodore Orji and his officials to robots at the corridors of power.

It would be recalled that it was this same scenario which compelled Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo state to dump the party for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), an action that still generates controversies till date.

Abia state Chapter of AC, chaired by Chief Obi Aham, however, welcomed Prince Ikonne and his over 50 supporters to the party. Chief Aham presented Ikonne and his co-‘decampees’ his party (AC)’s symbolic broom with which to sweep Abia state clean, in case of future political aspiration.

Political analysts in the state and beyond, as it were, view Prince Ikonne’s ditching of AC as a political stratagem being orchestrated by supporters of Governor T.A Orji, with the implicit nod of T.A himself.

It was learnt that the mass decamp of Governor Theodore‘s supporters is an exercise meant to continue, culminating in the Governor himself eventually joining decamping party (AC).

This situation is understandable because PPA, following existing cold-war between the Orji Uzor Kalu Dynasty in Abia state and the government of T.A. Orji, has vowed not to deny him (T.A) second term governorship ticket.

And from the look of things, The PDP has no space for Governor T.A Orji, hence his AC preference. More importantly, T.A has worked so harmoniously with the AC under the leadership of Chief Aham and Hon. Obioma Iheanacho (Chomen) that he would feel at home flying the party‘s guber ticket.

It must be emphasized that Abia state, under the Kalus, has been a state in bondage. For eight whole years, from 1999 to 2007, Orji Uzor Kalu held Abia state and its people under his armpit.

It is unarguable that Kalu has nothing to show for his eight years of administration of Abia state. In fact, development at the Capital Territory of Umuahia remained at the point where the first military administrator, Frank Ajobena, and first executive governor of the state, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, left it.

Under the administration of Orji Uzor Kalu as governor, Aba, one of the commercial nerve centers, East of the Niger, not only became a national disaster, but a nightmare and death traps to motorists and pedestrians alike.

The foregoing are, indeed, in addition to the unprecedented looting of the resources of Abia state by Orji Uzor Kalu Dynasty for the dynasty’s aggrandizements and perpetuation in power in Abia. It is common knowledge that by the time Orji Kalu left office, Abia state had been hauled into serious indebtedness all over the country and beyond.

The SUN newspapers, which he set up with the funds of the Abia state, was, of course, aimed at covering his tracks. But can evil tracks, actually, be covered?

KlinReports learnt that it is after reviewing all these past atrocities of his predecessor in office that Governor T.A Orji is considering being his own man. To do this, T.A must have to take tough decisions, and this involves dumping PPA for a party where, if he wins a second term, he can serve Abians with his might, and right all the wrongs inflicted on them by the Kalus.

But the Kalus cannot go down without a bitter fight with T.A and his teeming edgy supporters. With Mascot Uzor Kalu, positioned as Chief of Staff, the Kalus will not leave any stone unturned in scuttling all the moves of Governor T.A.’s political moves.

This fight promises to be a political Armageddon, as time will reveal, but Abians must be freed from the shackles of Orji Uzor Kalu Dynasty.

Written by: Uba Aham (klinreports.blogspot.com)

Who Wants Soludo Dead?

It is highly inconceivable that any sane person(s) should constitute themselves into a mob as to want to attack the person of Professor Chukwuma Soludo, candidate of the PDP in the February 15 governorship poll in Anambra state, as reported by Daily Independent Newspapers. (Pic shows Professor Soludo)

According to the report, Soludo, erstwhile Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), narrowly escaped being lynched on Saturday night (January 3) in Agulu where he allegedly castigated Governor Peter Obi before his [Obi’s] own people. Part of the report claim that some non-indigenes of the state, including Chairman of the PDP’s Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, had been meddling in the electoral campaigns in favor of Soludo.

Soludo who arrived at St. Peter’s field, Agulu, at about 7pm was said to have told his audience that the incumbent Governor Peter Obi did not do enough to warrant giving him a second term in office, asking them to vote for him so that “light will shine on them”, and they would see the difference.

But the crowd reportedly went berserk at Soludo, hauling stones and other missiles at the erudite Professor. The youths even blocked the exit to the field, and if not for the timely intervention of police orderlies, would have possibly pelted the unsuspecting guber candidate with the stones and missiles.

But whatever it is worth, it runs contrary to all known political norms to have attempted to harm a politician who campaigns for a political office alongside others over his utterances. The violent attitude of the youths as, of course, supported by their elders, is bare-faced shameful and highly uncivilized.

The truth is that if Professor Soludo had defamed anybody in the course of his political campaigns, would it not have been more reasonable to report him to authorities charges with the responsibility of handling such issues rather then taking laws into one‘s hands? What, then, is the sense in deploying self-help and harming a man of Soludo’s pedigree simply because he has come to participate in fixing the intractable problems of his state of origin?

What a big shame? KlinReports hereby calls for an immediate stop to this hooliganism, not only against Professor Soludo, but against all other party candidates.

In case, the hoodlums (youths) and their sponsors don’t know, Soludo, as a Nigerian citizen, has an inalienable right to freedom of speech and association, among others, as enshrined in the Chapter 4 of Nigerian Constitution.

ENOUGH OF THIS MADNESS, PLEASE!

Written by: UBA AHAM

Publisher (KlinReports.blogspot.com)

Continued Massacre of Journalists

Reports indicate that the Philippines, Mexico, Somalia and Russia were the most dangerous countries for journalists in 2009. (Photo left shows murdered Bayo Ohu, a senior journalist who who murdered in cold-blood in his own house in Lagos last year) The only defect of this report is that it failed to mention that many Nigerian journalists were heartlessly killed in the year under review.

A global media group recently reported that, altogether, 132 journalists and support staff were killed or died while working last year.

The group called International News Safety Institute (INSI) said just three international reporters were among those deliberately targeted, the dead being overwhelmingly local journalists covering dangerous stories like high-level crime and corruption for national news media.

According to INSI which monitors statistics from around the world, 98 of the dead were killed because of their reporting activities.

“Journalists continue to die because they dare to shine a light on the darkest corners of societies. This is the shocking price we pay for our news,” INSI Director, Rodney Pinder, stated in a statement released in Geneva with the body’s annual figures.

“This unacceptable situation will persist as long as the killers of journalists walk free,” he added, adding, however, that few of them had been brought to justice.

The 2009 death total, swollen by the 31 reporters INSI said were killed in a politically motivated massacre of 57 people in southern Philippines in November, was 22 up on the group’s figure for 2008.

But it was well below the worst recent years. In 2007, a record 172 journalists died and 168 were killed in 2006, when media deaths in Iraq were high following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and amid sectarian fighting.
The Philippines, already well up on the death list in 2008, had a total of 37 last year.

Mexico was next with 11 killed, followed by Somalia and Russia with nine each. INSI said Iraq provided the one encouraging statistic for 2009 with total deaths at five to two targeted and three in crossfire, by far the lowest since the invasion.

“For five years after 2003, it was the most dangerous country in the world for media, but journalists are now benefiting from a general reduction in violence there,” said Pinder.

The INSI, which runs safety courses for journalists around the globe and is supported by many major news organizations, including Reuters and professional unions, includes accidents while reporting as well as killings in its annual totals.

Pinder said that since 2006 when the UN Security Council passed a landmark resolution demanding greater safety for journalists in conflict and calling for an end to impunity for their killers, some 400 had died while covering stories.

Religious Crisis, Terrorism, and Our Security

This must be a very difficult time for Nigerians and Nigeria itself, especially with recent events such as; Bauchi crisis (Kala Kato), the attempt to blow up flight 253 by Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab, the second Nigerian who caused a security concern on the same flight no 253 to Detroit (though he was truly sick), the bomb blast at the Superscreen Television Station, our sick president, fuel scarcity, fire at African Independent Television (AIT) station and farmers/herdsmen crisis in Nasarawa State (a lot of people died while many were displaced).

These are not very good image projectors of our country. It’s simply a public relations disaster for all. Please make no mistake about it, Nigeria and Nigerians will surely pay the penalty for all these image problems. To me, image is every thing. The re-brand Nigeria Project championed by Madam Dora Akinyili (Information Minister) should now be allowed to finally rest in peace, because recent events have rubbished it.

When I wrote about Boko Haram crisis, published on national newspapers, international media and my blog (http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/2009/08/ignorance-is-disease.html), I prayed to God that, let this be the last time I will write about religious crisis. I don’t know if I should repeat that prayer here. However, I wish to express my sympathies to all the innocent Nigerians who were displaced, or who lost people or properties due to this crisis. I condemn all kinds of crisis be it religious or otherwise. I also condemn all acts of terrorism. I will ask all Nigerians to unite and condemn all acts of terrorism and all kinds of crisis (religious etc). In crisis, just like in terrorism, many innocent people die. Am sure Nigerians will agree with me that these twin evils (religious crisis and terrorism) are amongst the biggest threat to us (Nigerians) and all human races.

We have a duty to fight these menace and other societal evils. Alhaji Mutallab (father of the flight 253 bomber; Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab) has given us a clue on what all of us should be doing. Alhaji Mutallab reported his son to the American Embassy and the Nigerian Security Services when he suspected the strange behaviors of his son. This singular act should be emulated by all Nigerians. Its worthy of commendation. This approach should be used to fight other crimes in Nigeria. Please report any one you’re not sure of his or her motives. This should be applicable to all top officials in both the public and private sector. I was glad when a friend told me, that he went to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) office personally to hand in a petition about a certain government official.

I remember the tenure of ex Governor Buba Marwa of Lagos State. He launched Operation Sweep (an outfit of the Lagos Police Command tasked with fighting crimes in Lagos State) he asked people living in Lagos (Lagosians) to volunteer information anonymously if they are afraid to mentioned their names. Thus people started volunteering information without their names and it helped the crime fighters (Operation Sweep). In the same manner, Nigerians should volunteer information if possible without their names. This will surely help to fight crimes. If we fail to act, we might end up being the victims. I urge Nigerians in Diaspora to volunteer information on where the wanted bank chiefs are staying in abroad. It might be helpful for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

If the other passengers traveling with Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab (flight 253 bomber) had failed to act, all of them would have died. That is the more reasons why, we Nigerians have to volunteer information that will prevent crime(s), corruption, bad governance etc. A better way to know what people are doing might be through surveillance and spying. We can borrow the techniques used by the former East German Secret Police (Stasi). In the former East Germany, people were spying each for the good of the state. Cuba used similar method at the early days of Fidel Castro’s revolution. This method has the potentials of reducing crimes drastically. No sacrifice will be too much for the security of Nigerians. “Security for few is insecurity for all” Nelson Mandela.

On this note, may I inform our people that I have concluded research and now have details of a company here that, deals on specially made security and surveillance cameras. These cameras are ideal for the following purposes; election monitoring, investigative journalism, individual/community protection, home protection, private investigators etc. I recommend these cameras for all those hoping to monitor elections in Nigeria especially the Anambra State governorship election coming up in February 2010. Also these cameras are a must for all Nigeria’s investigative journalist(s).

In August 2009, I did highlight how we can monitor elections using our cameras. Details are on my blog (http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/2009/08/digital-cameras-and-mobile-phones-with.html). Please feel free to pass this information to other Nigerians who might need the facilities mentioned above, but might not have read this piece. These devices (security and surveillance cameras) could be used to enforce accountability on the part of our rulers.

Talking about accountability and as a starting point, Dr Rilwanu Lukman (Petroleum Minister) should tell Nigerians the reasons why he should not be sacked for leaving Nigeria at the heat of the fuel scarcity. This is despite the warning given by the Vice President (Goodluck Jonathan), that the Petroleum Ministers (Dr. Rilwanu Lukman and his junior counterpart Mr. Odein Ajumogobia) should not travel for the Christmas holiday due to the fuel crisis. He (Rilwanu Lukman) violated the order given by the Vice President. By so doing, he disrespected the office of the Vice President. I suggest his removal as a minister. Fuel scarcity creates insecurity for people.

Rilwanu Lukman has truly shown his insensitivity to the plight of the suffering Nigerian masses. He and his likes should understand that Nigeria and Nigerians have changed. Insensitivity of this kind might make people take laws into their hands. Not too long ago, there was a failed attempt to kidnap the education minister (Dr Sam Egwu). One of culprits claimed that they wanted to kidnap Sam Egwu because of his inability to resolve Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. Thank God, the strike has been called off. Remember some Nigerians hijacked a plane when June 12 1993 election was annulled. This was in protest to the annulment. Our “rulers” have to be very careful now. Times have changed. No more taking Nigerians for granted.

Finally, I wish to appeal to Nigerians to participate and join the fight against global warming. Turn off your electrical appliances/lights when not in use. Plant a tree or sponsor one to plant on your behalf. Government and companies should send less paper work and do more email, telephone, and sms. May God bless Nigeria.

Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/

I Will Sanitize Enugu Varsity

Chidi I. Ugwu, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, was, recently, appointed Acting Vice Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) by Governor Sullivan Chime amidst chaos occasioned by endless strike actions by the workforce of the institution. In this interview with KlinReports, Professor Ugwu draws his blue print for the university and its workers.

You were recently appointed Acting Vice Chancellor of the troubled Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). How do you go about your task of restoring sanity in the citadel-of-learning?

I thank God for the appointment. What I have done was consultations with the stake-holders in the university. I have had rapport with the professors in the university. I have had rapport with leaders of the unions. I have, also, had a rapport with all the workers of ESUT. These consultations and the attendant rapport is to pave way for them to know the agenda which I have.

What are the agenda?

The major problem in ESUT is rumor mongering. There are so many rumors here and there. And there are lot of other things going on which we need to correct. But the major agenda is to have peace restored the institution between management and labor. That is the first major agenda I am going to tackle.

Your predecessor, the former Vice Chancellor had fractured relationship with most segments of the university community. How do you hope to improve on his failures?

That’s what I just stated. I want management, labor good relationship.
One of the reasons for the strike action by the workers was months of indebtedness to them. How do you hope to clear the backlog of debts owed the workforce?
In ESUT, there are external problems, and there are internal ones. The external problems had to do with government because government is the owner of the university. Government has appointed me, and has given me some mandate on what I should do. And I am putting them in place, to submit the problems to the government, and I am hoping that when I submit it, they will be able to meet some of them. They cannot do everything once, but, at least, the workers will smile.
There had, also, been complaints of insecurity on campus. How do you intend to tackle this issue of adequate security in the institution?

There can never be adequate security. Everyone of us knows that, but all of us should be preventive in whatever we are doing. For now, if all of us come to work at the proper time, the tendency is that insecurity will reduce because everybody is there. But if it is just very few persons that do come to work, the tendency is that those persons could be harassed and robbed. So, my appeal is that all workers should come to work as at when due. By so doing, security will be beefed up.

One of the allegations against your predecessor bordered on admission racketeering. How would your administration handle the issue of admissions in ESUT?

It is not only admissions. Everything I will do in ESUT would be transparent enough. I will carry everybody along.

Did you envisage your appointment as Vice Chancellor?

Not at all. It came to me as a surprise because the time my predecessor was appointed, both of us applied for it. And he was nominated. So, I thank God for the appointment.

Pray for Nigeria!

Enugu State Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime urges Nigerians to spend more time in prayer for the progress, growth and unity of the nation.

Governor Chime pointed out that Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate, extolled the power of prayer and relied heavily on its efficacy in very difficult times during his life on earth.

In a Christmas message in Enugu, signed by his Special Adviser on Media, VinMartin Obiora Ilo, Chime who recalled our journey as a nation since independence, said that Nigeria needs God’s guidance more than ever in confronting many of the challenges facing our country today.

While assuring indigenes and visitors coming home for Christmas that they were returning to an Enugu State , where security of life and property was guaranteed and most of the infrastructure are working, he restated his preparedness to sustain the development efforts of the present administration and thanked them for their continued support and cooperation.

Enugu Governor, also, solicited for more prayers by all Nigerians for the quick recovery of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who he described as a God fearing leader, who has worked assiduously in his determination to move Nigeria forward and has also created the enabling environment for state Governments to function optimally.

While wishing all Nigerians a merry Christmas and God’s divine blessings in the New Year, Chime congratulated Nigeria on the golden celebrations of 50 years of her Independence as a nation state in 2010.

Seasonal Greetings To Nigerians!

Let me start by wishing Nigerians who are Moslems a belated Barkar De Salah. To those Nigerians who are pagans, may the almighty God bless you people this Christmas Season. To Nigerians of other faith(s) and religion, may God bless you people as well. To the Nigerian Christians, of which am one of them, I wish you all a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year (2010).  Please permit me to also pray for all Nigerians using Psalm 91 verse 11, “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways”. May the good God continue to give his angels charge over our great country. (Pic shows our 'sickest' President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua) 
 
A lot of activities take place every Christmas period, especially the fact that people at home and abroad visit loved ones. This involves a lot of traveling either by road, sea or air. For those people that will be driving this period, please kindly drive with care and more importantly, avoid drink driving. The state of our road network should be a recipe for careful driving. I expect the Federal Road Safety Commission to do more work in enforcing road safety measures this Christmas period. There is need for the enforcement of road safety measures; this is in order to ensure compliance with the rules or deterrence from committing traffic offences.
 
For those traveling by the water ways, I urge total compliance with all safety measures. For our airline pilots, please be kind enough to observe all safety rules including observing the alcohol limit. Many airline pilots have violated the alcohol limits. In October 2008, a pilot working for United Airlines was arrested on a flight heading from Heathrow airport ( United Kingdom ) to San Francisco ( America ) for having over the limit alcohol level in his system. In May 2009, an American Airlines pilot bound from Heathrow to Chicago was arrested for failing a breathalyzer test. Alcohol can impair pilots’ abilities to operate an aircraft effectively. In the United Kingdom , the alcohol limit for pilots is the equivalent of a glass of beer. It is stricter in the United States of America .
 
Many airline operators in the developed countries maintain strict alcohol policies. United Airlines claims its alcohol policy is among the strictest in the airline industry. These and many more other safety measures should be replicated by the Nigerian airline operators and pilots. Safety should be the watch word especially now that a lot of people are traveling. Pilots should avoid being under pressure.
 
This season (Christmas) usually call for reflections on the year (2009) that is almost ended and resolution(s) for New Year (2010). For the New Year (2010) resolution(s), I will urge Nigerians to love one another. Let us love each other and above all, let us love our neighbor like our self. There is so much animosity and hatred in the land. We need to love one another, because love begets love, and love brings peace. Lets preach peace wherever there is misunderstanding. The nation and the people can only prosper in an atmosphere of peace and harmony. Same should apply to various communities/villages that are at war with each other.
 
I will also advocate togetherness among Nigerians. There are more to gain by being one big country. Nigeria is in no way near the population or the complexity of China and India , yet these countries have not broken up. United States of America is also a multi cultural country but still remains one country. I also know the case of former Yugoslavia and the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Ironically, most former countries of Eastern Europe/USSR ( Poland , Czechs, Hungary , Romania , etc) and Yugoslavia have joined the European Union. The European Union is a typical example of what togetherness can bring. European Union is made up of twenty seven (27) countries, with headquarters in Brussels . Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is also an example of togetherness in the making. Late Kwame Nkrumah (former President of Ghana) propagated one Africa, whereas late Nnamdi Azikiwe (first Nigerian President) preached one Nigeria .
 
There are free movement of goods, services and personnel within the European Union. There is a common monetary union and the use of common currency (the euro). Many more countries like Turkey , Ukraine , Georgia , etc have applied to join the European Union, but politics and other strategic considerations are hindering the admissions of these aspiring nations. The European Union remains the main trading partner of all African countries including Nigeria . While advocating togetherness, I will not fail to point out that our togetherness should not be at the detriment of one group/tribe/region or the other. I will want to see justice, fair play, and equity in our togetherness. I had earlier called for the abolition of quota system and federal character. We cannot make a head way as a nation with those systems in place.
 
I want to see more synergy among Nigerians in business, researches, community services, etc. I believe two heads are better than one, and three should be better than two. I want to see more Nigerians cooperating to build massive business conglomerates so as to create employment opportunities for our brothers and sisters who are unemployed. It will be a good idea to have business mergers that will survive, than having a sole proprietor that will close business. Let us work together to offer community services to our people. There are a lot we can do for our people without the government. Synergy should also apply to our political parties. Let like minded and “true” political groups merge together to form a formidable opposition party. As it is, the opposition parties have not truly taken its position in Nigeria .
 
I will also propose the United Kingdom form of shadow cabinet for all third tier system of government in Nigeria , that is the local, state, and federal government. I will suggest that all opposition parties should form shadow cabinets in all the 774 local governments, 36 states and also at federal level. The idea will be to provide constructive criticism and provide alternative and better policy framework. Opposition parties/groups are an essential part of every democracy. Lets challenge and change those things that are hindering our development and progress as a people. Let us stop complaining and put efforts together to change our society. Every little effort counts. Let us also remember that its better for us to try and fail than fail to try.
 
Finally, I wish to appeal to Nigerians to participate and join the fight against global warming. Turn off your electrical appliances/lights when not in use. Plant a tree or sponsor one to plant on your behalf. Government and companies should send less paper work and do more email, telephone, and sms. Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year (2010) to all Nigerians. May God bless Nigeria .
 
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/
 
 

Nnamani' s Legacy of Fraud

Architect Nnaemeka Nnamani, outgoing Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, is accused of corrupt practices.

Less than a month to the expiration of his tenure, Architect Nnaermeka Nnamani, Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu state, is enmeshed in financial scandals. Nnamani is one of the five council chairmen who lost their second term bids in the forthcoming council polls in the state on the platform of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). (Picture shows Architect Nnaemeka Nnamani, outgoing Chairman of Nkanu West Council)

Nkanu West is the council area of origin of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, former governor of the state, Chief Ken Nnamani, former Senate President, Chief Jim Nwobodo, former governor of old Anambra state, and Chief Onyemauche Nnamani, former Secretary to State Government (SSG) among others.

Architect Nnamani’s troubles began when he recently embarked on a controversial reallocation of stalls at the famous Agbani market (Eke Agbani), located in the headquarters of the council.

Apart from alleged ejection of the original traders in the market, and re-allocating same to, mostly, his favorites, Nnamani stands accused of embezzling the council’s funds to the tune of N77 million. The Architect-turned politician, it was alleged, collected the sum of N133, 000.00 per stall from each of the allottees, but issued a receipt of only N3, 300.00 to them.

Incidentally, the alleged fraud is a subject of a suit pending before an Agbani High Court. The suit, numbered: AGB/HAGB/13m/2009, has as plaintiffs, Chika Chukwu, Chukwuma Ani, Okpogu Nnaji, Emmanuel Mebuge, Nwanosike Okenwa, Comfort Onu, Oko Ogbodo, Roseline
Nkanu West Council and Chief Ude Okoh, Chairman, Agbani Power of Attorneys

The suit, brought in form of Motion on Notice, listed conditions which the council authority outlined for the stalls reallocation to include: N130, 000.00 for decked stores in respect of which only N3,000.00 receipt would be issued; N80,000.00 for undecked ones with similar conditions. The council, the suit pointed out, insisted on cash payment for the re-allocated stores.
While the decked stores are said to be 260 in number, the undecked ones are 140.

It is, therefore, the contention of the suit that the decked stores would, at the rate of N130, 000.00 per stall, fetch Architect Nnamani’s administration N33.8million. It is, also, estimated that the council would wreck in N11.2million from the undecked stores of N140 at the rate of N80, 000.00. The suit sums up receipts from both the decked and the undecked stores to be N45million, adding that, out this amount, Nnamani’s regime would declare only N1.2million for the local government treasury.

This is not all! The suit maintained that the 700 open stores in the market would attract for reallocation the sum of N50, 000.00 per store, and that N35million is the expected yield from the open stores. Nnamani’s administration, the suit adds, would, out of this sum, declare only N2.1million for the council.

Thus the traders’ suit summarizes: “The full financial implication is that the first defendant would have extracted from the community on full allocation, the sum of N80million out of which N3.3million would be declared for the government, thus leaving for the incumbent politicians of the first defendant N76,700,000.00”.

The suit, filed on behalf of the traders by their counsel, J.O. Emodi (Esq) of Dr. Z. Chukwuemeka Anyogu & Associates, Enugu, sought an interlocutory injunction restraining Nnamani’s council and others involved from re-allocating stores at the market pending its determination.
The suit, also, prays the court for a declaration that consistent with their stalls allocation letters and payments of their stallage fees, the defendants lack the capacity/vires, unilaterally or in concert with one another to void or reallocate their stores at the market. The reliefs include a declaration that consistent with the allocation letters, the plaintiffs are the bonafide allottees to their respective stores in the market.

It would be recalled that the suit was preceded by a pre-action notice which, the traders alleged, was snubbed by the council chairman who, alongside his political thugs, soldiers and policemen, invaded the market and broke into their shops. The traders lament that even when the incumbent Chairman, Architect Nnamani, did not, within his two years in office, improve the market in anyway, he still wanted to eject the traders and reallocate their stores to himself and his cronies.

Chukwu Chika, Coordinator, Eke Agbani Traders Association (alias Integrity Group), told THEWEEK that it was the administration of Barrister Jerry Ene in the council that started the transformation of Eke Agbani into a modern market. Ene’s tenure spanned from 1999 to 2001. Chukwu maintained that development in the market had stopped where Ene left it in 2001 when he left office.

“The market’s development was left where Hon. Barrister Jerry Ene left it over eight years ago. Till now, no succeeding council chairman, including Architect Nnaemeka Nnamani, was able to even put a block on top of another in the market”, Chukwu quipped.

Speaking in the same vein, a prominent indigene of the area, Chief David Onyeabo, said the sudden reallocation of stalls in the market seems politically motivated, warning that the exercise, if allowed to go on, would have plunged the traders into untold hardship.

Also speaking, Hon. Augustine Nnaji, a community leader, condemned Nnamani’s meddlesomeness in the market. Hon. Nnaji lamented that the market does not even have conveniences while most traders do their business under the scorching sun and rain, yet Architect Nnamani cared a hoot.

Said Nnaji, “Our position in Agbani is that stalls should not be reallocated until development of the the market is completed. For now, the market has not even reached 50 percent completion”.
It has to be noted that the allegations against Nnamani did not stop at stalls allocation fraud only. A petition earlier addressed to the local government’s councilors by Eke Agbani Market Women Association, accused the Nnamani’s administration of complicity in unduly levying the traders. These alleged illegal levies range from N1, 000.00 development levy, N600.00 annual rate for 2008, N500.00 burial levy, as well as N1, 200.00 and N600.00 for 2009 rent among others.
The petition, signed by Mrs. Okochi Sussan and Amushi Rose, Coordinator and Secretary respectively, urged the legislators to investigate the stalls allocation and the rampant cases of illegal levies in the market by Architect Nnamani’s leadership.

In response to the appeal by the women group, the council’s legislative council, on July 2 this year, passed a resolution urging the executive to suspend every action as regards the sale of stalls at the market pending outcome of investigation by the committee set up by the council’s legislature. The legislative council’s resolution was signed by Hon. Godwin Nwatu (Leader) and Mrs. Ani M.N, Clerk of the House.

THEWEEK was told that Nnamani’s administration snubbed both the traders’ appeals/litigation, as well as the resolution passed by his councilors, and went ahead with the ejection of the traders and reallocation of their stalls.

Thus on November 18, Nnamani, reportedly accompanied by Mike Onuh, Agbani Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and Sunday Nnamani, the council’s Supervisor for Finance, stormed the market with a retinue of political thugs, soldiers and police to break into the traders’ stalls. The traders claimed that the invaders, who welded all sorts of cutting instruments, went into the market, cut keys to the stalls, and destroyed and, in some cases, carted away goods belonging in the traders. Over 1000 stalls were reported to have been so looted!
As a result of the foregoing, the traders went on strike, and shut down the market. After their three days strike which ended on November 21, the restive traders poured out into the streets in protests against the reallocation of their stores by Nnamani’s council.
It was the intervention of Governor Sullivan Chime that, eventually, brought the situation to normalcy.

Following a petition sent to the Governor on behalf of the traders by Dr. Z. Chukwuemeka Anyogu, their counsel, dated November 19, 2009, the Governor sent a delegation, led by Chief Onyemuche Nnamani, former SSG, to intervene and quell the crisis. Chime’s government, also, announced the cancellation of all the allocations already made by Architect Nnamani’s administration. It was learnt that part of the instruction was that all the allottees should be reimbursed their monies.

Efforts to get Nnamani to react to the allegations were fruitless.

For now, it is peace of the grave yard until the exit of Architect Nnamani from the council.
END.

Professor of Controversies

Is Edwin Onyeneje, Rector of Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), an academic professor or is he an impostor assuming what he is not?

Is Edwin Onyeneje, Rector of Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, an academic Professor? Does Rector Onyeneje, also, hold a Doctoral degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka?

These posers have continued to punctuate the administration of Onyeneje since he got appointed Rector of the Institute by the government of Barrister Sullivan Chime last year, November. (Picture left shows Onyeneje)

Onyeneje has, particularly, since his assumption of office, taken up the designation of ‘Professor’. He claims to have secured his Professorship from Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). His claimed core area of study is Social Psychology. Onyeneje, equally, claimed to have earned his Doctoral degree from the famous University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). In fact, he said he was the best Ph.D student of the university in the 2001/2002 academic year.
But Onyeneje’s traducers tag him a fake professor, saying he just assumed the designation, and began to prefix it to his name without duly earning it from any institution.

Onyeneje’s accusers, also, insist that he never taught in Enugu State University of Science and Technology, arguing that it is, therefore, incongruous for an academic to earn the title of a Professor in an institution he never taught.

Another point of controversy is Onyeneje’s suitability for the rectory of IMT. His critics keep on remonstrating that he is ill-qualified to have been appointed Rector of IMT. Apart from his being a mere administrative staff of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies, Emene near Enugu, the Rector is said not to be an academic lecturer in the first instance. What this means is that Onyeneje was not, in the main, a lecturer even in the Ecumenical Studies Institute from where he was appointed Rector.

Part of Onyeneje’s accusers’ contention regarding his lack of qualification for the position is that his academic discipline, Psychology, is not offered as a separate course of study in IMT. That is, there is no ‘Department of Psychology’ in the school. This situation, it is argued, runs foul of the rules guiding appointment of rectors and heads of similar institutions. Not a few of Onyeneje’s critics maintain that this situation disqualified him from holding the rectory position.

But the embattled Rector insists on his qualification for the rectory of IMT.

“You can go to Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). You can go to Institute of Ecumenical Education, Thinkers Corner, Emene, and make your inquiries. Meet the authority; they can give you their assessment report. That’s how those things are done. It is a document. They can give you their assessment report. In the university, you have to give your papers to external people. That’s just it.”

Interestingly, Onyeneje admitted that he really never lectured at ESUT, as to qualify him for a professorial appointment by the citadel-of-learning. He explained that he, as a matter of fact, was planning to transfer his service from UNN where, he hitherto lectured, to ESUT. He, therefore, sent his papers to the institution for assessment. It was at the end of the assessment that, according to him, ESUT made him a professor.

But Onyeneje quips that he is still qualified to head IMT whether he is a professor or not, contending that not all the past Rectors of the institution were Professors.

Onyeneje, also, battled to carpet the argument that his appointment is faulty because there is no Department for his course of study, Psychology, in the school, maintaining that some elements of Psychology is involved in every activity in the school, including management.

Onyeneje, equally, debunked the notion that he was a mere administrative worker in his former place of work, saying that, all his life, he had been teaching.

Retorted the Rector: “All my life, it has been teaching. From auxiliary in the secondary school, I went through the university, came out, taught at Institute of Ecumenical Studies, taught at Federal Polytechnic, Okoh, Anambra state when they were having their study center here in Enugu.” He added that he did not only teach at UNN, but headed its Psychology Department.

However, findings by THEWEEK showed that Onyeneje, prior to his appointment as Rector, did submit his papers to ESUT for assessment, but the university’s senate, then under the headship of .., threw out the papers on the grounds of non-qualification. The senate unanimously resolved that he would not be a candidate for assessment in the first place since he was never a lecturer in the institution.

While the controversy trailing Onyeneje’s professorship rages, the onus is on appropriate authorities launch an inquiry into the issue, with a view to deciphering the veracity of his academic claims or otherwise.

Culled from: THEWEEK