Nigerian
News

Focus

Nigerian News FOREX
Bureau De Change
Convert your currency
Register a Domain

TOP NEWS

• Afenifere to Omisore, Kofo: Accept Your Govs or Resign 
  
  The Pan-Yoruba socio-political and cultural organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, rose from a meeting held to review the state of the nation vis-a-vis the assassination of its deputy leader and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, with a resolution that any deputy governor who has irreconcilable differences with his or her boss should resign. ThisDay
  
  

• Ige's Assassins Want to Destabilise Nigeria, Say AD Govs 
  
  The governors of Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, osun and Ekiti states have said that the assassination of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige (SAN) was a calculated attempt by "some evil minded persons to put the Yoruba nation on fire" and destabilise Nigeria. ThisDay
  
  

• Bola, Awo's Dependable Loyalist - HID Awolowo 
  
  In a subtle confirmation of the sobriquet of Arole Awolowo by which the late Chief Bola Ige often described himself, the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief Mrs. Honnah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo yesterday described the late Justice Minister as one of the greatest loyalists of the Awolowo family ThisDay
  
  

• INEC Needs 12 Months to Prepare Voters Register - Guobadia 
  
  Another hurdle seems to have been placed before states which are threatening to conduct council polls next year with an announcement by Indepen-dent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it would take 12 months to produce a new voters register. ThisDay

• Would you say this event, the killing of Ige has put the Yoruba race in crisis?

I don't know whether they are in crisis of a sort. I know that the leadership of the Yorubas is at one with Ige. There is nothing personal between the leader of the Yorubas. I was with them a fortnight ago. It is only in disagreement over the best approach. This can be summarized in two ways: We have our son, you have a duty to support him (that is one viewpoint). The other viewpoint is that there are principles and our son must accept these principles for us to support him. This is the basis of their debate. It is not personal antagonism among the leadership.

So it is two things: Do you put rights over and above ethnicity or do you modify what you think is right to suit ethnicity. Some of them believe that well, Afenifere is an ethnic organization and if we have one of our men as president, therefore, you must, willy-nilly right or wrong supports him. Some of the elders say no, we support but it has to be on what we think is right for the Yorubas. Culled from an Interview given by Solomon Asemota (SAN) to The Guardian

• Na'Abba, Others Rewrote Electoral Law, Says Obasanjo 
  
  The family of the slain Minister of Justice Chief Bola Ige on Friday said it had no cause or reason to suspect Osun State Deputy Governor, Otunba Iyiola Omisore or any group of people in the assassination of their father. ThisDay  
  
  

• We Have no Reason to Suspect Omisore - Ige's Family
  
  The family of the slain Minister of Justice Chief Bola Ige on Friday said it had no
   cause or reason to suspect Osun State Deputy Governor, Otunba Iyiola Omisore or any group of people in the assassination of their father ThisDay 
  
  

• Presidency Restricts Akande, Deputy To Osun

  APPARENTLY to facilitate Police investigation into the brutal killing of Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, a week ago, the Presidency has placed a restriction on the movement of Governor Adebisi Akande of Osun State and his deputy, Iyiola Omisore. Guardian

• Police confirm arrest of Ige's confessed killer

  FROM all indications yesterday the police may be making a headway in the search for the murderers of the Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Chief James Ajibola Ige (SAN). Guardian
  
  

• I have no hand in Ige's murder, says Omisore

  AMID speculations of his being quizzed by a team investigating the brutal killing on Sunday of Justice Minister Bola Ige, Osun State Deputy Governor Iyiola Omisore, said yesterday that his hands are clean. Guardian
  
  

• Ige's family denies fixing burial date, Soyinka refutes report
  
  FROM the family of the slain Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, came a denial yesterday of purported burial dates announced by it. Guardian
  
  

• Councillors suspend chairman over Osun lawmaker's murder
  
  THE political turmoil in Osun State is yet to simmer down as councillors in Ife Central Local Council yesterday suspended the chairman, Mr. Abdulrauf Adekunle Adeniyi over an alleged complicity in last week's murder of a member of the state's House of Assembly, Mr. Odunayo Omobolanle Olagbaju. Guardian
  
  

• Presidency to implement Ige's proposed justice reforms 
  
  DETERMINED to immortalise the legacies of the slain Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige (SAN), President Olusegun Obasanjo has directed that the two years national strategy for transforming the administration of Justice in the country, initiated by the minister, be actualised. Guardian
  
  

• AD chief wants N10m price tag on Ige's killers, Kaita, Mamman mourn
  
  NATIONAL Vice Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief Perry Iloegbunam, has faulted the N500, 000 reward announced by Police authorities to persons with information on the killers of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige (SAN). Guardian

• Thompson indicts Afenifere

  Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Justice Adewale Thompson has said that it will be difficult for the leadership of Afenifere to absolve themselves of complicity in the death of the former Attorney-General.

  His words: "What Omisore said in Tempo about Bola Ige, describing him as Akintola and all that, that is the trend at Afenifere meetings. Omisore did not invent it. How can the leadership now wash themselves clean on the issue. It will be difficult."

  Speaking further, Justice Thompson who served as Attorney-General of old Oyo State in the Ige administration said: "I don’t believe that the leadership of Afenifere killed Bola Ige but if they were careless about a member of their own conclave and they were calling him traitor, supposed thugs in their meeting decided to do something about it without their own knowledge, they would have been the remote cause. It will be difficult for them to wash themselves clean." 
  Culled from Vanguard - December 27, 2001

  Nigerian News Opinion: We at the Nigerian News believe that Justice Thompson is fast becoming a loose cannon at a difficult time that requires a guarded tongue. His pronouncement is capable of giving an escape route to whoever the real killers of Attorney General Ige may be. Chief Ige, a highly articulate and intellectual man, by his share resourcefulness is an envy of many an insolent and murderous minds. We are afraid Justice Thompson's hatred of the Afenifere an organization his Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), wants to replace, is trying all tricks in his bag(s) to permanently silence his foes and thereby supplant them by subterfuge.

  The interview of Chief Omisore to the Vanguard could not have come at the wrong time. We only hope Chief Omisore is mainly talking from the other side of a clean and innocent political argument. How does one however arrive at an unbiased justice for the dead and highly regarded attorney general if for example a former Justice of Adewale Thompson's calibre incites the mind that will eventually render justice. Justice Thompson who spent his early life as far as we know on the good side of issues, has turned vitriolic and acidic in tongue in his old age.

  No Yoruba person wins as a result of the death of Chief James Ajibola Ige, that is why the search for the killers must be thorough, exhaustive and unpolluted in the certainty of the outcome and eventual justice. That is why a gag rule must now be devised to prevent the honorable Justice Thompsom from destroying innocent people who may happen to be on the other sides of a healthy political argument opposite to late Chief Bola Ige of blessed memory. May Chief Bola Ige's soul rest in peace and may the good Lord shine His light on our living leaders so that darkness can take a quick and early exit. NigerianNews -December 27, 2001  (Related Issues - Nigerian News Poll, Balarabe Musa) 

• Shock, Grief, Disbelief Trail Ige's Assassination
  
  
  Shock, grief and utter disbelief remained the pervading feeling yesterday as news of the Sunday night assassination of Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige filtered to all nooks and crannies of the country and beyond. ThisDay, December 25, 2001
  
  

• Ige's Last Moments 
  
  Details emerged yesterday about the gruesome assassination of Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, SAN. ThisDay, December 25, 2001
  
  

• Questions, Questions, Questions...
  
  The brutal murder of Chief Bola Ige, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, last Sunday, in his residence in Ibadan, capital of Oyo state, has naturally spurred a litany of questions, especially considering the manner of the killing. ThisDay, December 25, 2001
  
  

• Osun: A State in Unending Crisis
  
  The crisis in Osun State which many are suggesting led to the murder of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige sunday night, by unknown gunmen had its roots in the governorship election primaries of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the state way back in 1998. As was the case in all AD controlled states the party elders choice became the winner of the primaries and eventually the candidate, having been imposed on everybody. ThisDay, Deember 25, 2001
  
  

• Nigeria Sends in Troops After Minister Shot Dead 
  
  Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo ordered troops to be deployed in southwest Nigeria on Monday to prevent a crisis spreading in the region after gunmen shot dead Justice Minister Bola Ige. Reuters, December 24, 2001
  
  

• Bola Ige Shot Dead
  
  Federal Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige was last night shot dead in his bedroom at his Bodija, Ibadan residence in an apparent assassination.ThisDay, Monday, December 24, 2001
  
  Arole Awolowo: The President We Never Had 
  
  While marking his 70th birthday last September, Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Chief Bola Ige said his best was yet to come. Were Ige to have made that statement as the main character in a Shakespearean play, literary scholars and theatre goers would have described the statement a dramatic irony. ThisDay, Monday, December 24, 2001 
  
  Wada Nas Drags Aviation Training School to Court
  
  Alhaji Wada Nas, Minister for Special Duties in the defunct Abacha administration, has taken the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre, Zaria to the Federal High Court in Kaduna. ThisDay, December 24, 2001
  
  

• TORN FROM THE LAND
  AP Documents Land Taken From Blacks Through Trickery, Violence and Murder
  
  

• N/Assembly Erred, Says Ekwueme
  
  Former Vice President, and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Alex Ekwueme at the weekend dissected the electoral Act recently signed into law by President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying that by his reading of the constitution, the tenure of council chairmen and councillors expires next year ThisDay, Saturday, December 15, 2001

• Mob kills driver in Kano for trampling on Quran

  RELIGIOUS zealotry reared its ugly head in Kano yesterday, claiming the life of a lorry driver whose vehicle's tyres allegedly trampled on a copy of the Holy Quran, while reversing.
  Guardian, Sunday December 12, 2001

   

• Governors Are Targets of Electoral Law

  SENATOR Daniel Gbenga Aluko form Ekiti State is one of the youngest in the Senate of the fourth Republic but arguably one of the controversial lawmakers in this Republic. In this interview with JOHN ABBA OGBODO, he braves all odds to state his position on the electoral bill just passed into law and concludes that there are more to it than meets the eye. He also expresses his fears for his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2003 election. - Guardian, Sunday December 9, 2001

  Nigerian News Opinion: Thank you Sen. Gbenga Aluko, it seems you have broken ranks with these bunch of unrepentant vagabonds who still can not see far to the near future and see where their selfish ambition is leading the country. Even the labor leader who should galvanize the populace for a good cause, is now a full-time Abuja government mouthpiece. Fraud and brigandage will lead Nigeria nowhere.

  • It is dishonesty and bad politics to shift the local council elections goal post in the middle of the game. The contract was for three years, and  that is where it should be if no evil is intended. The local council is the training ground for the higher offices in the land, and having the election earlier than the other elections drills the council members and prepares them for higher offices in future. That is the idea behind having a shorter life span for local councils in other countries where the interest of the countries is paramount. The Local Government is where future leaders are trained, and thus requires more frequent elections.

  • As long as these bunch of selfish people are in Abuja, they are going to be usurping the work of the State government in disloyalty to the true intent of the constitution and true federalism. Nothing is gained when you concoct a loophole to take over the duty of a state government or for that matter, a state government taking over the duty of a local government

  • If you mention the name of the Lord in all your speeches every day and fraudulently alter joint decisions, then there is no God or Allah in you or on your side, and you will meet Him one day to account for your deceptions.

  
  

• NIGERIA'S MISS WORLD 2001!

  Miss Nigeria Agbani Darego, 18, smiles before being crowned Miss World 2001 at Sun City west of Johannesburg November 16, 2001, the first black African woman to take the title. From a field of 93 contestants, Darego took first place ahead of Zerelda Lee, of Aruba, and Scotland's Juliet-Jane Horne. (Juda Ngwenya/Reuters)

• OBITUARY

Late Professor Joel Adeyinka Adedeji
1931-2001

• Bin Laden Acknowledges Support from Nigerian Muslims

• Bush Meets With Nigerian President (AP)
  President Bush sought Nigeria's support for the anti-terror fight Friday, winning a pledge from the president of Africa's most populous nation that ``we will remain steadfastly part of that coalition'' in the face of pressures from Muslims at home.
  - Nov 02 4:49 PM ET

• Eager to enlist African nations into his war against terrorism, President Bush smiles as Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo speaks to reporters at the White House in Washington, Friday, Nov. 2, 2001. Obasanjo is a key ally as leader of Africa's most populous nation which is 50 percent Muslim. Terrorists have already struck against U.S. interests in Africa twice: The 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were blamed on Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)

   

• Nigeria Violence Kills Four (AP 2:54 PM EDT) 

  France's Anthony Le Tellec, left, Jacques Faty, center, and Gael Maia celebrate their victory against Nigeria 3-0 during the final match of the FIFA Under 17 World Championship at the Hasley Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2001.(AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

• The Nigerian National Honors Full List at a glance - ThisDay

• Our beloved Chief Enahoro may have been out-manouvered into oblivion, see the beautiful damsel story in Newswatch

• Oil Giant Could Do Better In Nigeria  - Fortune

• Instructions to Hijackers Found in Organizer's Bag  The Washington Post

• Eventually Abiola's murderer will be apprehended, even sooner than later, if the cook who prepared the tea, and Ms Susan Rice who purportedly served it will be kind enough to testify. See why we think so in - Details from Oputa tribunal

• Organizations With Assets Frozen by Bush's Order The Washington Post

• Protesters Oppose Military Action (AP 6:02 PM EDT) 
  LONDON (AP) Thousands of protesters staged a series of rallies throughout Britain Saturday to voice opposition to military action against Afghanistan.

• United States haunted by a monster of its own creation - Speaker, Ekiti State Assembly

• A chance for the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) to save face Details also see our Poll

• Sudan moving quickly to cooperate Daily Mail & Guardian.

• Australian Mosque Destroyed by Fire (AP 12:19 AM EDT) 

• Fla. School: ID'd Hijacker Is Alive (REUTERS 7:44 PM EDT) 

• Taliban Deploys Troops Near Pakistan (REUTERS 6:49 PM EDT)  photo

• Taliban Will Not Hand Over bin Laden (UPI 7:42 AM EDT)  photo

• Protests spread in Muslim Asia CNN.COM  

• An Open Letter to President Bush Regarding the Current Terrorist Crisis T.V. Weber & Alida M. Weber

• In Calm of Panic, a Call from the Plane - The Los Angeles Times

• Nigeria 2, United States 0 (AP)

• Where is the joy for the religious zealots in Jos, Zamfara and Kano? - 94 Nigerians missing in New York attack The Guardian  

• This Terrorist Thing by Dr. Michael K Oladimeji

• Re: This Terrorist Thing - Michael Desilets, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

• The Nigerian News Poll - The Result

• Defending ourselves against terrorists and their disinformation by T.V. Weber & Alida M. Weber

• Who is Osama Bin Laden I  by Michel Chossudovsky

• Who is Osama Bin Laden II Details

• Re: How Obasanjo should tackle the Arewa Consultative Forum by Lemmuel Odjay.

• South Korea 2, Nigeria 1 (AP)

• A Hatred Rooted in Failings The Washington Post

• ACT FOR PEACE: TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT WAR AND VIOLENCE I

• ACT FOR PEACE: TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT WAR AND VIOLENCE II

• People Killed in World Trade Center Attacks - Details  

• Obasanjo's one step forward and another step backward: "If this honourable commission cannot give the necessary defence to a witness, then I would reconsider my decision to appear before the  commission. I  would not stand here and be insulted by anybody".  We at the Nigerian News wished the President had confined himself to answering the question. We at first applauded him for showing that nobody is above the law by answering the tribunal's call, however, this quote seems to make one feel like he thinks he is actually above the law. Details

• Renewed Fighting in Jos: Reuters news agency said that Muslim celebrations at the attacks on the US may have sparked the renewed fighting. BBC/Reuters  

• We at the Nigerian News are flabbergasted that any human being can rejoice about the fiasco in New York and Washington, an Arab or a Nigerian (and there are many of us in the US including the Editor of The Nigerian News who worked at 2 World Trade Center for 10yrs.) could have been among the casualties, not to talk of all the innocent children of God who perished., but not in Zamfara! On behalf all Nigerians including the Zamfaran everywhere, our condolences to the families who are bereaved - Details  

• Fiasco in the US

• In a land dominated by ethnic jingoism, one man's meat is indeed another man's poison - Details Nigerians
  

• The Nigerian Senate and the curse of the fraud culture: Voting with ID Card guarantees that an aggrieved candidate, who feels he/she has been rigged out of an election will have a ready tool to substantiate his/her claim, since an ID number is a unique identification which is associated with one unique voter with a traceable face, but hear the response of these so-called "representatives of the people". It seems like they prefer a skim which perpetuates them in office attained through illegalities guaranteed by lack of ID card. Read Obasanjo Seeks Legal Backing on ID Card  

• Doesn't principle matter any more? Click here and read this convoluted fraud - Awolowo will turn in his grave and wonder why!

• Egbe Omo Yoruba Strongly Supports Gani Adams

• OKIRO AND HIS OBSESSION WITH OPC 

• OPC Compendium at A Glance - Mobolaji Aluko

• BALARABE MUSA - According to the Vanguard

Afenifere		#		%
		85		40%
Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE)
		22		10%
Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC)
		53		25%
None of the above
		52		25%
		212		100%

 [back to Top News]

OKIRO AND HIS OBSESSION WITH OPC 

"Speaking with journalists in Akure yesterday, the state co-ordinator, Rev. Isaac Oladipo Igbakin, said OPC is going to fulfill its objectives whether or not the police or their agent like it when the chips are down, it may be the beginning of the end of the Nigeria Police."   a quote from Rev. Igbakin of the OPC - GUARDIAN 

Again, at the Nigerian News we believe that Okiro is on the verge of rendering the Nigerian Police useless going by his unguided obsession with the OPC. If democracy is the Government of the People by the People and for the People, what happened at the Ikeja Chief Magistrate Court yesterday clearly demonstrates that the people who Okiro is supposed to be defending, actually see the group he leads as the problem rather than the solution. Most people in Lagos, as in the rest of the South-West, highly respect the work OPC is doing to rid their society of the outlaws who kill and rob people at will under Okiro's watch. If citizen's right of arrest is fully understood by the people in Lagos, Okiro may find himself the one being arrested in place of Gani Adams. 

Sorry, Okiro, you cannot eat your cake and have it. You can not accuse OPC of violently passing jungle justice of instant execution of the robbers they arrest, and at the same time accuse them of being the robbers. If we accept your premise, we will have to conclude that Gani is a man who hates robbers and at the same time, also a robber. Your logic, we are afraid, is nauseating. We come to this conclusion based on your previous obsessive rhetoric

We predict that Okiro will lead the Nigerian Police (Force?) down the drain in Lagos (if they are not already there) and at the same time make a martyr of the group he is trying to disgrace (also if they are not already there). The arrays of lawyers volunteering their services to represent Gani Adams cut across ethnic line as Yoruba and Igbo lawyers, etc stand in for him. This in fact represents the diversity of the people of Lagos State. Okiro will find out at the end that Gani Adams trial will turn out to be the trial of his tenure as the Commissioner of Police for Lagos State rather than what he originally set out to achieve.

A cursory look at some of the allegations against Mr. Adams (GUARDIAN) do not seem to match the obsessive pronouncements of Mr. Okiro. This trial could become a trial that exposes the real mastermind of all robberies in Lagos State. Finally, we may get to know the real killer(s) of Officer Amao. The Nigerian Police may have set up its own trial, thanks to the man with the Attention Deficit Disorder, Mr. Okiro. [back to Top News]

BALARABE MUSA - According to the Vanguard

The former governor conceded that had the meeting being in the interest of peace and unity, the two groups would have been seen to be engaging in a lofty goal, the fact, he contended, remains that the ACF should look for more or relevant groups from the West to do business with and not the Afenifere alone. Another group that is more reliable, pointing out that "it is a very serious mistake, to see Afenifere as the only group which the North could do business with. - Balarabe Musa

From our observation post at the Nigerian News, the Afenifere at the beginning stood for the following:

• Sovereign National Conference

• Resource Control

• Devolution of power to the States approximating the pre-1966 set-up.

These, they hold on to as part of their unshaken creed. As far as we know from our vantage point at the Nigerian News, the Afeniferes remain constant to these ideals. It appears our so-called progressive, impeached ex-governor from Kaduna fails to understand the people of the South-West and their political sophistication. The South-Western people appreciates principled politics and consistency. Adesanya was unequivocal in his group's commitment to the above ideals at the Memorial lecture in Kaduna. It is this quality that perhaps informs the ACF that they will be better off to deal with the Afeniferes. AD became the party of last resort, to the people of the South-West because of those who Gov. Musa now thinks are the legitimate representative of the South-Western people. These people that he talks about engaged themselves in hedonistic calculus designed to fit their presidential ambition. And so, they tried, PDP first and then APP until their ambition found home in AD. When AD failed this insatiable ambition, they kicked against Afenifere. 

The only consistent group in the South-West today are the afeniferes. In the United States, the YCE will not be more than what we call WANNABE, and they (YCE) will also find this out later. We predict the so-called other groups that our "progressive governor" from Kaduna is banking his hope on in the South-West are actually spent forces and he will find this out any time an unrigged election is conducted. He can take this to the bank. Bola Ige knows this, and that is why he is trying to play it save on both sides.

You may say Adesanya followed Abubakar to Chicago, do not quarrel with Adesanya, but fight hard to change the Nigerian constitution. Most politician of the last order are also those who followed Abacha and later Abubakar. If the Afeniferes are going to be relevant under the current constitution, they must find associates among these doubtful people, for the constitution requires national spread. Our only prayer is that they find associates who will respect all those things they stand for. The survival of the West, and in fact, of Nigeria should never be personalized. the South-West or Nigeria is greater than an individual. This survival requires a structure and not a face lift. Shikena! [back to Top News]

Drop Debt... A debt cancellation campaign photo showing how the West is sucking Africa dry (Culled from ThisDay)
Courtesy: Pride

Oshiomhole the poster boy for Abdusalami's alleged wrong doings!  One would expect that a truth-seeking Labour leader would be reserved and old judgment until all information are in, but NOT Oshiomhole

---

Abiola's Murder - Officer Alleges Killer Tea Served By American
'When I Came Back I Met MKO Writhing In Pains' - ASP Zado

---

On A Lighter Note From ThisDay Nigeria!

Woman Seeks Divorce to Save Self from VVF A 20-year-old house wife, Lami Gwarma'u has prayed a Sharia court in Gusau, the Zamfara capital to dissolve her marriage to save her from developing vesico-vaginal-fistula (VVF) and untimely death. Lami, who was testifying before the court at the weekend, claimed that her husband, Gwarma'u Chiwake possessed an over-sized genital that had not been able to penetrate her organ since they were married three months ago. She further told the court that both of them had agreed to use a lubricant (vaseline) to enable him have easy penetration, but ``only the head of his genital was able to enter inside my organ''. According to her, the several unsuccessful attempts at love making with her husband has deprived her of an essential aspect of marriage. "My lord, I am not a virgin, but he could still not penetrate and I am now afraid that when he finally enters inside me, he might tear me apart'', she added. Giving evidence, Chi-wake denied possessing an over-sized genital and claimed that his wife wanted to dent his image. The presiding judge ordered the registrar of the court to take both parties to the hospital for examination, adding that in Sharia, marriages were not dissolved without concrete evidence and adjourned the case to July 26, for further hearing.

 

The problem with Igbo
by
M.C.K. Ajuluchuku

PRESIDENT OBASANJO: THE NATIONAL INTEREST AND THE IMPERATIVE OF CHANGE
by
 Daniel Irivboje Akerejah
President & CEO, Ditra International Inc., USA
Alliance for Democracy Gubernatorial Candidate, Edo State

---

The best piece yet by Reuben Abati; take a look!

Who is going to step in to police the Supreme Court?...
 - Jean Hudon

United States Presidency
NIGERIAN NEWS ANALYSIS
It appears we may be getting another Bush in the White House in the next 48 hours  as every arithmetical combination now depends on one outcome, and the name of the outcome is Florida electoral college votes. click here

Bola Ige succeeded in breaking AD as he plays proxy for The Presidency and the president who will now (you hear it from here first) unwittingly receive a quarter of what could have been a whole. The Nigerian News predicts the president has just lost the Yoruba votes for the second time - a post convention detail

Does this sound like the voice of a terrorist? read this yourself and be the judge.

The conflict in Nigeria last week is the subject: Ethnic Violence In Nigeria, Who To Blame? by Francis Nnamdi Elekwachi.

The arrogance of The Arewa Consultative Forum exposed by Prof. Omo Omoruyi - Click special issues for details! - or here

Hausa also engaged the Igbos in a Jihad!

THE timely intervention of the anti-riot mobile police force unit and regular personnel reduced the level of carnage in a clash between the Hausa and the Igbo in Alaba, a Lagos suburb, yesterday. DETAILS

If it is possible that a Nigerian Court of Law can prevent the senate from deliberating on its normal daily business, then it's indeed a twist to the so-called separation of power! Read this and be the judge

Yoruba Nation: Agenda for Reconstruction and Development: Chief Abraham Adesanya

Preamble:
This 5th Pan-Yoruba National Congress is spectacular in major respects. It is the Yoruba National Millennium Congress being the first of its kind in the year 2000. Second, it is the Congress dedicated to the consideration and appraisal of the reports of various committees of the Oodua Development Council (ODC). Thereafter, the Congress is expected to articulate appropriate strategies to meet the challenges of reconstructing and developing our dislocated and ravaged public institutions and value system
as we commence this new millennium. Third, it is a congress whereby the Yoruba Nation would thoroughly review the state of the Nigerian union with a view to enabling us consider, in all ramifications, our well considered preferred options with respect to how the national events have impacted on our corporate existence as a race.

Greetings:

While thanking God that most of us that participated in past congresses are alive to witness this 5th Pan-Yoruba National Congress, I will crave your indulgence once again to remember our fallen heroes, especially those who
paid the supreme price during the inglorious reign of Sani Abacha-Chief Moshood Abiola, Chief Alfred Rewane, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Chief Adekunle Ajasin and many others who were brutally massacred by Abacha's goons. They have given their all so that we who remain and indeed generations of Yoruba yet unborn can hold our heads high and be proud to be called Omo Oduduwa. Shall we again remember them by standing up to observe a minute of silence in their honour. May their souls rest in perfect peace. Amen.

We are delighted to have among us today some of our best who escaped the repressive antics of General Abacha's dictatorship thereby becoming political fugitives. While they were out, they fought the military dictator and his collaborators until there was divine intervention. It is a long list. We commended those who were with us last year. Some of them are now elected governors, legislators and party officials. Today, we are privileged to have some other returnees like General Alani Akinrinade, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, Dr. Akingba, Hon. Wale Osun and others. On behalf of Yoruba race, I formally welcome them back home. I fervently pray that the like of the events that made them leave the comfort of their homes to seek refuge on foreign land may never be witnessed again in our father land. Need for greater unity in Yorubaland  At the last Congress, I warned that it is not yet Uhuru. The events of the last one year has again confirmed to many that we need to be as vigilant as ever. Forces of destabilisation are prowling all over the land, creating discord where none should have existed. In Yorubaland, we must avoid actions
that can cause disunity and rancour in our midst: We must also resist the temptation to be agents of others who seek to destabilise Yorubaland. Let the quislings beware.

The Yoruba Nation is passing through another phase of programmed and rehearsed assault by external forces who have failed to defeat the Yoruba leadership and its people as they have destroyed every other including the professional groups and organised unions that are just trying to rebuild their structures. Yoruba tradition allows for plurality of views and ideas to contend. But it also insists that the most superior argument should govern our decision. Every society is made of the old and the young, each group complementing the other. No one in Yorubaland should be willing instrument of our enemies to weaken our collective resolve which is the envy of others. If you remove the recognised moral fibre and highest moral standard which have been the reference point of public conduct assessment in Yorubaland, then our place will be parceled and for grab like others. God forbid. All of us must resolve to promote Yoruba community interest over our private interest. If we are all faithful to this exhortation, then we shall all be victors and conquerors.

In this connection, I congratulate our people for not allowing the spirit of religious intolerance to creep into our midst. We must do all in our power to keep it so. We  also appeal to those who think their relevance in national affairs will be determined by their ability to parrot ideas developed elsewhere, without considering the subsisting social conditions in their "home" to have a change of heart. Yorubaland is known for tolerance and respect for all faiths. We should keep it so.

I must express our deepest regrets on the events of Ife and Modakeke in the last one-year. The killings and destruction that accompanied the conflicts were not only reprehensible, they were uneconomic and unproductive, I appeal to the leaders of both communities and all men of goodwill to join hands with the Federal and Osun State Governments to ensure that such violent conflicts do not occur again. Such conflicts do not only retard progress and
development; they also bring in their wake, pain, anguish and sorrow. Unfortunately, those who bear the brunt are the least capable of defending themselves, the weak, the aged and innocent children and women. We thank all those who in one way or the other acted to stop the carnage. Now is the time to heal the wounds and reconcile both parties.

As leaders in Yorubaland, it is time we create a permanent conflict resolution mechanism to guarantee that such events as we witnessed in Ife and Modakeke and more recently in Owo, do not reoccur in the future. I am happy to announce to you that a Boundary Dispute/Communal Clashes Committee under the distinguished Chairmanship of Chief FRA Williams (SAN) has been created under the Oodua Development Council. Yoruba people can direct complaints of such nature to the committee. A list of highly credible elders and professionals are also serving under that committee. After years of despoliation of our land and the arrest of our economic progress, we should not and indeed cannot allow ourselves to be distracted from our march into the modern age. We owe it to ourselves and future generations that we create for the black world a place of hope, prosperity and pride.

Appraising the state of the union

Restructuring of Nigeria: A Must As we forge ahead with the efforts to transform Yorubaland, we cannot but observe that Nigeria is yet to grapple with the fundamental issues
confronting it. Those who want to delude themselves that Nigeria is a perfect union or one requiring cosmetic touch-ups are not only doing a disservice to the country, they are by their short-sightedness endangering it. Let me assure all, that our conviction on the need for a fundamental restructuring of Nigeria is unshaken. The various crises and needless conflicts which continue to be inflicted on Nigeria bear testimony to the correctness of our position.

The Sharia crusade for which many Yoruba, Igbo, Minorities of the North and South were murdered and lost most of their worldly possessions had been proven to be for no Islamic religion but a calculated strategy for political expediency. The evil design has been established to be the handiwork of some wicked leaders whose profession has been government at all times and who because they have lost political power for a while are determined to regain it by exploring religion for their selfish agenda. The plan as reheated is that henceforth, Muslims in states implementing full Sharia may not vote for non-Muslims in future elections. One wonders whether or not this wicked design is not a surer bet to breaking up Nigeria. This is because Christians can equally advise their members not to vote for any aspiring Muslim. In other words, some territories are firmly out of contest for particular aspirants of particular religions.

It is now common place for all groups to cry marginalisation, whether real or imaginary. Those who for years have marginalised others and have enjoyed with relish their undeserved positions have now resorted to blackmail through the dubious propaganda that Yoruba occupy all the important positions in the Federal Government. It is an attempt to intimidate us. We refuse to be intimidated. We must confront them with facts.

Fortunately, we have at our disposal, the report of federal character committee on political appointments of the senate. The report showed that of the political appointments made since May 1999, the north west got 40
appointments, the north east 35, the north central got 33, the south west 35, the south south 32, while the south east got 31.

When the cries of marginalisation appeared not to impress anyone, they invented other issues, all in their effort to destabilise the government and the "democratic" order.

Yes, the southwest came third despite all the marginalisation suffered during the Abacha era. The Yoruba came third, after losing out as a result of the methodological cleansing of the judiciary, civil service and other
agencies and interests of government during that period of terror. No, things have not changed at all. It has been business as usual. The Northern Elders Forum should be honest enough to admit that their strategy to enthrone a "puppet" failed them. Obasanjo has to their disgust been his own man. As far as Yoruba people can see in concrete terms, there is no significant advantage secured by our people under the present situation. In accordance with our population strength of about a quarter of Nigerian population, we remain inequitably and disproportionately treated in various appointments. We do not owe them any gratitude. The very juicy and key appointments in the Maritime Authority and Port Authority, the Customs, the
Security and Minting, the Agriculture, Federal Capital Authority etc remain firmly in the grip of the Northern Elders Forum agents.

Can we truly say things have changed when in the 21st century some Nigerians still do not believe that there is the need for true data on the demography of this country? Or else, how do we explain a situation where some Nigerians
in this millennium can openly canvass against the use of identity cards for elections faking untenable and dubious excuses? They want to continue to have "cattle and goats" vote in our elections. Never again.

Frustrating the quick implementation of the ID project is an unacceptable dubious design to make it impossible to have credible and accurate national head count and election figures. A situation whereby the electoral umpire like FEDECO, NEC, NECO and now INEC will claim to have registered 65 million or more people which is much higher than those within our national voting age figure is a poignant statement that most of our public policies are erected on fraud and inaccuracy. Most times those who voted have been less than 20 per cent of supposedly registered voters. Yoruba people are hereby making a well-considered declaration that henceforth. The Yoruba will not participate in any further election in this country until the unduly and unwarrantedly delayed National Identity Card system is put in place and all eligible Nigerians have their Identity Cards issued to them. No ID Card, No Election. We repeat it loud and clear NEVER AGAIN.

The silver lining on the horizon is that more Nigerian Nationalities are now much better convinced than ever before that the way forward for a truly Federal Republic of Nigeria is through a Conference of Nationalities. The increased clamour for True Federation or the more extreme version of a Confederation is in itself an indictment on the way and manner we presently run our "Federation."

Since our last Congress in 1999, the Ohaneze Ndigbo of Igbo nation has campaigned for confederation and constitutional system for Nigeria, the Union of Niger Delta/South South Zone has variously decided that they must henceforth assume full control over their resources. They have equally expressed their determination to pay agreed tax to the Federal Government as it is done in many federations.

Again, credible leadership cadres of the Middle Belt Zone have individually, collectively and rigorously campaigned for self-identity of the zone to assert its independence from the ubiquitous, discriminatory and exploitative far north. It was not amusing to the average Middle Belters that when
President Obasanjo appointed professional and competent soldiers of Middle Belt origin as Service Chiefs the northern leaders were violently opposed to such appointments. When they were asked as to the reason for their opposition to the appointment of Middle Belters, the core northerners pointedly and undisguisedly disclosed that those appointed from Benue, Kogi, Plateau, Kaduna, etc were not core northerners.

The core northerners were equally uncomfortable that Mr. Abu Obe, Christian from Benue State, was appointed Head of the Civil Service which they have come to accept as part of their exclusive preserve territory. The Middle Belters in a much more renewed and sustained vigour have joined other nationalities clamoring for a restructured Nigeria in order to make the federating units viable, strong, cohesive and empowered in order to deliver adequate and commensurate socio-economic and political service and
governance to the various zones and regions of the country. Most Middle Belters are no more willing to be used to do the odd job in terms of military coup planning and execution while the core Northerners continue to unduly and oppressively enjoy the benefit of such several violent take over of elected or non-elected governments. Where those coup attempts failed, the Middle Belters have mostly paid with their blood. The pretentious appointment of General Yakubu Gowon and the Emir of Ilorin who are known minorities over the new Northern Leaders Forum was meant to fool the public who already know the evil design behind the appointments. For all that the Middle Belt has contributed to assisting the North gain ascendancy, it is wicked that not many (if any) middle Belters are major beneficiary of the Northern long rein in government.

Agenda for Reconstruction and Development:

The choice of the theme of the 5th Pan-Yoruba National Congress is only a logical follow-up on that of last year. Having agreed as a people that self-determination is the way forward for our country, we must begin to rebuild those structures in Yoruba land that have been systematically dismantled over the past years.

In realization of the motion unanimously adopted last year that efforts be geared towards the establishment of institutions necessary for the all round development of the Yoruba nation, I am happy to report to this Congress that
an Oodua Development Council (ODC) was formally inaugurated and established on 21st June, 2000. The quality of attendance and participation at the inauguration of the ODC further strengthened my belief that no matter on
what side of the political divide Yoruba may belong, we are all agreed that we have suffered serious setbacks in the development of Yoruba land and there is the urgent need to join hands in moving the south west forward. I want to openly congratulate and commend all distinguished Yoruba people, officers and members of the various committees for accepting their various responsibilities and for the diligence with which they have devoted to their assignments.

The Oodua Development Council now exists to direct specialized attention towards the distinctive growth of the Yoruba nation, stimulated by specific development programmes and productive marketable projects. It comprises of well-respected Yoruba men and women that have excelled in their various areas of training and calling grouped in the following committees. Education, Social Values, Health, Economy, Languages, Arts and Culture,
Safety, Boundary Disputes/Communal Clashes, Judicial Arbitration, Infrastructures, Agriculture, Media and Infotech, Sports and Tourism, Commerce and Industry, Traditional and Cultural Values and International Relations. May I respectfully request the Chairmen and Secretaries of the various committees to stand up for recognition. May I also request all other members of the various committees to stand up for recognition and commendation.

The committees have been given appropriate briefs that can assist the various committees to design programmes of action, which can be implemented within two years at the first instance. The committees have started work in earnest and will be expected to give brief update reports to this Congress.

Yoruba Nation is blessed with intellect, entrepreneurship and all it takes to build a great nation. It is not possible to have everybody serve on these committees on a permanent basis. The committees have therefore been empowered to co-opt resource persons for specific assignment. I appeal to all Yoruba sons and daughters to serve diligently and faithfully whenever they are called.

The development being sought for the Yoruba Nation is not the type that is measured in terms of statistical date like inflation rate GDP liquidity etc Development has to do with the actual improvement in the living conditions of our people. Of what use is a single digit inflation rate to a man that can not feed himself not to mention sending his children to school? Our understanding of development is one that guarantees quality education for all Yoruba from primary to the university level. It is ensuring that our
sons and daughters will be so highly skilled and in such numbers that we can actually begin to export our knowledge and skills. Development is about putting food on the table for all. It is about housing for all. It is all about progressive higher quality of life in all areas of human endeavor for our people. The United States of America has perhaps the best educational and economic advancement today globally. Yet America keeps allocating highest priority to education and the acquisition of skill by its people. The Yoruba nation has an enviable legacy about free education whose many products are today professors and professionals of all kinds. I expect the ODC to finalize its work plan and blueprint as to how we can regain our lost glory and link up with the global rapidly developing information technology in the interest of our race in particular and Nigeria in general.

Sovereign National Conference

The efforts to-date to short-circuit our call for a Sovereign National Conference are clearly marooned in the web of intrigues that have been spun by those who have deliberately distorted the objectives of such a conference. No amount of idle efforts at disparaging the conference will wish Nigeria's structural problems away. I pray that those whose temporary positions appear to offer them false castles of comfort will take a more dispassionate and global view of the issues at stake before their castles crumble. Leaders should never be afraid of seeking the truth, speaking the truth and acting in truth.

One notes with dismay the falsehood that have accompanied the public debate on the issue of the Sovereign National Conference. No serious proponent of
the Sovereign National Conference, has to date suggested that the Conference will have the power to remove the incumbent Government of Nigeria. Yet many who ought to know continue in ignorance or perhaps out of mischief, to
suggest that the conference is designed to do so. Many anxious to protect their unmerited positions, raise the bogey of disintegration. However, if the truth must be told, no one can argue that the progress made by the then three (later four) regions under the 1960 constitution which was a truly federal constitution, has been matched since the military centralized the administration of the country. The endless chaos in the Niger Delta, the restiveness of youths across Nigeria and the various cries of marginalisation are but testimonies to the havoc that a unitary system, masquerading as a federal structure, continues to wreak on the society. Neither development nor harmonious inter-ethnic relationships can be fostered in such an environment.

The resort to military force to pacify agitating communities is counter-productive. Rather, the federal government should address the legitimate aspiration of those aggrieved communities for a fairer share of the proceeds of their God given resources. This approach is relatively better undertaken effectively at a Sovereign National Conference and thereby offers everyone higher dividends than the threat of violence.

We urge our compatriots everywhere in Nigeria to join us in the demand for Sovereign National Conference. Therein lies the most effective platform for negotiating a fairer deal for everyone. Resort to violence and disruption of economic activities, while they appear dramatic, cannot and will not confer legitimacy on their cause nor provide a framework for a lasting solution to the injustice that the system inflicts on them and indeed all Nigerians.

Effective and Responsible Law and Order

The helplessness of the Federal Government in addressing the rising crime wave across the country brings again to the fore the need for restructuring. A centralized Police Force remote from the communities they police is incapable of providing effective protection to the citizens. Indeed, in many regions in Nigeria, parallel local organizations, Nigerian Police and Vigilante groups have proven far more effective in combating crime. Whilst we recognize the danger of untrained citizens, without defined structures or
commands acting outside the structures of law to enforce law and order, the Police, pending the creation of independent State Police commands must recognize the need to show greater understanding and appreciation of the
useful and positive role that the OPC, the Egbesu, the Bakassi Boys and other Vigilante groups could play in the effective maintenance of law and order. In truth, the "folk hero" status of these groups is as a result of the failing of the Police. The Police is well advised to see how the efforts of various vigilante groups can be harnessed in combating the intolerably high level of crime in the country.