Untold story of Nigeria’s civil war by Advocate Nigeria

Vol. 1 No. 17, Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

AMERICA’S SEC RET FILES ON OJUKW U

Pages 9, 10, 11, 24 & 25

Page 2

13 Christians murdered by Boko Haram Page 20

Page 13

Kwara CP Murder Nawfia Crisis: Army 'll back investigation – GOC 82 Div Page 21

Anarchy looms in Anambra Page 3

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Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

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12 Parishioners remanded in prison for attempted kidnap, murder of Priest ‘We don’t want this Priest’ – Worshippers By Uba Ani & Patrick Okolie

welve members of St Jude Catholic Parish Amechi Uwani Community in Enugu South local Government area of Enugu state have been remanded in prison custody over alleged attempt to kidnap and murder the parish priest, Rev. Fr. John Osinachi Amadi. The accused persons, according to Charge No. MES/33c/2013 brought by the police before the Magistrate' court of Enugu South Magisterial District include, Messrs Ozo Chris Nwobodo, Hon. Ikechukwu Egbo, Mrs Ngozi Nwobodo, Gabriel Agbo, John Nnaji and Egbo Lawrence. They were arraigned along with six others on a six-count charge of attempted murder, kidnap, malicious damages etc. They were said to have committed the offence on Sunday the 10th of February 2013 at the parish in Amechi Uwani, Awkunanaw, Enugu. When the matter came up on the 18 th February 2013 the trial magistrate, Mrs. Ifeoma Amadi, who was reassigned the matter after it was withdrawn from another magistrate, remanded the accused persons in prison custody pending when they will be arraigned in a high court, which has the jurisdiction to try them. Speaking to The Advocate, one of the counsels to the accused persons, Okwudili Agbo, expressed dismay at the level of injustices allegedly being meted on his clients and called for a review of the criminal justice system in Nigeria. Agbo told our correspondent that police had earlier agreed on the amendment of the charges before the first magistrate but the sudden withdrawal of the matter by Magistrate Amadi to handle it by herself even without any objection or protest from any of the parties in the matter, had marred his clients' chances of possible bail. “This action looks suspect because even after we protested and addressed the court on the sudden withdrawal, nothing came of it in favour of my clients. In fact, the whole thing seems to be an action ostensibly designed to play a script written by an unseen hand in the matter. “I think there's a lot of injustice going on in the system in respect to the administration of justice in Nigeria, a situation where twelve people; including a man and his son, a husband and the wife, could be bundled into prison and remanded on the basis of a holding charge, flimsy charge, phantom charge; not just a holding charge

Bishop Callistus Onaga of Enugu Catholic Diocese but a trump-up charge that do not relate with the facts of the issue leaves much to be desired,” Agbo said. Continuing Agbo said, “this case is particularly pathetic because the couple in this case has a baby that is barely weaned and they have been there for close to three weeks and nobody cares about the welfare of their children. Some of the detainees were merely at the police headquarters to visit their loved ones and were roped into the matter. It was a case where anybody who came to the police to see them was detained. More embarrassing and disheartening was that a widow who is still observing her widowhood rites and whose son was among the detainees, was detained because she came to visit her only son in police custody, but was later not charged with others”. “We are saying that a second look has to be taken in the way of the criminal justice system so that people do not suffer unduly, so that it will not be possible for the police to clamp anything as charge on accused persons; so that there shouldn't be any magic wand about the kind of charges that will be given e.g. murder, kidnapping etc, even when the facts only relates to mere disagreement”. Agbo further said that under the criminal procedure law of Enugu State, magistrates are allowed to do a preliminary inquiry into the facts to see if charges can be sustained under section 237 of the criminal procedure law Enugu State. “I'm saying that magistrates should be encouraged to utilize that criminal procedure law,” he said. “I think that on the part of the police they should rise to their responsibility such that in

circumstances like this where it is very clear to them that the charges cannot be sustained, they need not clamp or prefer such serious charges on people for whatever reasons; not excluding undue influence or they should resist whatever temptation of preferring very serious charges in cases where they are not clearly applicable or undeserving. This way we can reduce injustice in the system,” the counsel further said. The Advocate source who simply identified himself as Tony, revealed that the matter for which the 12 worshippers were clamped into jail, centered on the alleged struggle for who will manage the Holy Angels Comprehensive Secondary School Amechi Uwani. The school was built by the Catholic women of the community for the purpose of helping to educate their children as well as to source fund for their parish building. According to the source, when the crisis degenerated to a ridiculous level, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu diocese and the parish council became overwhelmed by the level of acrimony in the parish and in the process, Fr. Amadi approached Senator Ken Nnamani, former Senate President to intervene in the matter which they feared could drag the entire community into a major conflict. Consequently many peace meetings were convened by stakeholders with a view to nipping the crisis in the bud they turned out to be effort in futility. The peace meetings called by Senator Ken Nnamani himself following the inability of the warring factions to agree to terms and abide by the recommendations of the various peace agreements also suffered the same fate.

Rev. Fr. John Amadi A document made available to The Advocate entitled: Report of the executive committee on the reconciliation of the dispute in St. Jude Catholic Church Amechi Uwani over the ownership and control of Holy Angels Comprehensive Secondary School, states that “soon after the transfer of Rev. Fr John Amadi, as Parish Priest to the relatively peaceful St Jude's Catholic Church, the Catholic faithful in our community have found themselves engulfed in an unprecedented internal acrimony, bitter conflagration and quest for the proceeds from the novelty Holy angels comprehensive secondary school Amechi Uwani Awkunanaw Enugu.” The Advocate gathered from a member of the parish who pleaded anonymity that Fr Amadi had allegedly asked the board of the school to release about N400,000 from the school account for the purpose of embarking on pilgrimage but his demand hit a concrete wall, as the people incharge refused to yield to his demand after several appeals. “That was where the problem deepened and the parish priest went and reported the matter to the Bishop who against all odds went to the bank and asked them to release the money to the priest even when they (Fr. Amadi and Bishop Onaga) are not signatories to the account,” the source said. As the matter deepened the Amechi Uwani Community Development Union after several attempts to reconcile the warring factions in the parish, demanded the removal of Reverend Father John Amadi from not just the parish but also from Enugu South Local Government area within a period not later than October 31,

2012, as a last resort to restore normalcy and quietude in the community. However, in frustration after appeals to the factions to embrace peace failed, the Amechi Uwani Community Development Union, AUCDU, in their report on the crisis, expressed dismay on the role of His Lordship C.V.C Onaga, Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese in the matter. “It is quite evident that the fish started rotting from its head. The apparent reluctance of His Lordship Bishop C.V.C Onaga to restrain Rev. Fr John Amadi, leaves much to be desired.” On account of the position of AUCDU on the matter, His Lordship Bishop asked them to sheath their swords upon the condition that he will remove Fr. Amadi from Amechi Uwani in January 2013 and true to the Bishops promise, the Reverend Father was eventually transferred to Obinagu in Udi local government area. But the bubbles burst when on the 10th February the parishioners did not see their new Reverend Father Isaac Ogwu posted to them, rather Fr. Amadi was once more dressed in his full priestly regalia leading a procession to conduct mass that Sunday. On sighting the priest, the parishioners became agitated. The faithful who had hitherto attuned themselves to worship God that morning suddenly lost the euphoria and moved to stop the priest as they were not happy with his insistence “to pastor the church by force.” In the ensuing fracas that disrupted that Sunday, The Advocate further gathered that the police was invited to the church and some parishioners most of who were regarded as major stakeholders in the parish business were arrested and labeled culprits. It was not until the 17th of February 2013 after St Jude's Parish Amechi Uwani and her parishioners had been engulfed in an inferno of sort that Bishop Onaga through the church bulletin announced that Fr. Amadi has been swapped with his counterpart, Fr. Ogwu, who was earlier posted to the church, an act viewed by many observers as an afterthought. However, when contacted on phone over the matter, the embattled Rev. Fr. Amadi declined comments, saying “I don't want to involve the press in this matter”. Further attempts to get the response of the church at the diocesan level were unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report. Meanwhile, the faith of the 12 persons being incarcerated in the Enugu prisons are still hanging and as the situation stands, the AUCDU leaders said they might be forced to officially take the matter to Enugu State Government should the Church and her leaders failed to intervene positively and do what is expected of them in a matter like this as they would not want bloodbath in the community on account of a religious feud.

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Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

Nawfia Crisis: Anarchy looms in Anambra By Chukwu Uche The trouble in the ancient town of Nawfia in Njikoka local government area of Anambra is fast escalating with each passing day. The purported adoption of the draft constitution by the caretaker committee in Nawfia against the general wish of the people of the community is stirring hornet's nest with potentials of snowballing into anarchy in Anambra. Already, the traditional ruler of Nawfia, Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo has warned against an impending popular revolution of the people should the Caretaker Committee insists on going ahead with election of a town union executive this March ending after the people had rejected their move. Trouble started when the Anambra State government refused to monitor the free and fair election conducted to fill vacant position created at the expiration of the immediate past executive of the Nawfia Progressive Union (NPU). Instead, the state government through the Office of the then Commissioner for Local Government, Town Union and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Dubem Obaze appointed a 7-man Caretaker Committee headed by Professor Stephen Onyekwelu to run the affairs of Nawfia community for three months starting from 25th March to 24th June 2011.The other members of the committee are Victor Nwoye (Secretary), Patrick Okonkwo, Friday Okonkwo, Engr. Obi Iloanusi, Ikechukwu Moneke and Uche Aghamba as members. It was gathered that at the expiration of the tenure, the government of Anambra State renewed it. According to Onyekwelu, the existence of a parallel executive in the town necessitated the appointment of the Committee with a major term of reference “to put in place a structure that will ensure continued peaceful existence and enhance progress and unity in Nawfia community.” In the course of the committee's assignment and after several extensions of the tenure of the Caretaker Committee including the last one running from 1st December to April 2013, the members felt the need to write a new constitution and sent out memoranda and even posted same on the internet asking the community to make input. Our investigation revealed that the referendum by the caretaker committee attracted the ire of the majority of the people who unequivocally said they never wanted the caretaker and the constitution the committee intended to write. The unanimity of the people's rejection of the appointment of the Caretaker Committee was echoed through a letter written by the Nzuko Ezi n'Ifite, a general assembly of the Nawfia community to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy

Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo of Nawfia Matters, titled "Request for Termination of Nawfia Caretaker Committee” and dated 8th February, 2013 in which the assembly stated it has till date cause(d) more trouble than good. “They violated Nawfia constitution, they are all living outside Nawfia and do not understand Nawfia at all.” The letter was signed by Nwabueze Onwudionu and George Okongwu, chairman and secretary of the group on behalf of the villages of Adagbe mmimi, Enugo mmimi, Umukwa, Iridana, Umuezunu, Urukpalaeri,Urualor and Umuriam. The above letter which our source said was copied to the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Nwankwo, Osuofia II, has 9 out of 10 villages of Nawfia shying away from having the new constitution. Consequently, the traditional ruler took the matter to a court of competent jurisdiction on behalf of the subjects. A suit No. A/298/2012 was filed by Igwe Nwankwo and Chief Joseph Mbonu (Omekaodinma) as plaintiffs for themselves and on behalf other members of Igwe's Cabinet, against Professor Sunday Onyekwelu Victor Nwoye, Patrick Okonkwo, Friday Okonkwo, Engr. Obi Iloanusi, Ikechukwu Moneke and Uche Agbamba as defendants. In the motion, No. A/151/13 filed by filed Stephen Unachukwu Esq; the plaintiffs sought for an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants in the interim from taking any further step or steps on matters that relate to or are connected with the affairs of Nawfia community particularly the issue of adoption of the purported constitution of Nawfia To w n U n i o n , p e n d i n g t h e determination of the substantive suit. The motion said the defendants represented by Professor Emmanuel Nwofor do not have

any mandate of the people to make a constitution for them and did not in fact make any draft constitution as the committee has never sat at any one meeting. The motion also stated that the tenure of the committee had elapsed since 24th June 2011. According to the motion, the Caretaker Committee members have been boasting that they will go ahead and do the acts complained of and eventually remove the plaintiffs from the royal stool and cabinet of Nawfia because they are agents of the Anambra State government and have the backing of government. The motion noted that the entire Nawfia town has become restive as a result of the acts of the defendants who are hirelings of some interests in Anambra state bent on destabilizing Nawfia community. In the interim, the traditional ruler , Igwe Nwankwo wrote a letter to the State Commissioner of Police titled: "Impending Danger/Bloodshed, Conduct capable of causing Breakdown of Law and Order/Breach of Public Peace in Nawfia Community (allegedly) perpetrated by Sunday Onyekwelu and Victor Nwoye." In the said letter, the royal father stated that the said appointment of the Caretaker Committee members had expired and “they have (allegedly) been doing all sorts of things oppressive and provocative to the common man in Nawfia town. They refused to relinquish power and have forged series of documents purporting that their tenure has always been extended. The petition to the Commissioner of Police stated that Igwe Nwankwo had filed an action against the Caretaker Committee members in court and they disregarded the authority of court and have refused to wait for determination of the matter in court and has in fact resorted to self help, contrary to law.

In the letter, the traditional ruler requested the CP to use his good offices to stop the committee's meeting of Saturday 23rd February 2013, adding that it was illegal and contrary to the wish of the people."The people of Nawfia are angry and have decided to resist being enslaved by the said Caretaker Committee. Nerves are frayed, the town is restive and if the said Caretaker Committee members are allowed to execute their plot on 23rd February, 2013, there will be breach of law and order and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nawfia." Though the police chief was communicated on the impending doom in Nawfia, few days to the planned adoption of the draft constitution on 23rd February, this year, no security measure was taken to forestall breakdown or law and order, rather, the police allegedly gave cover to the caretaker committee to carry out the unpopular action contrary to the wishes of the majority of the people of the community. The result was the tyranny of the majority as early as 5.30 am of that fateful day, there was chaos as the whole community was burning in anger, youths and some elders from the community set bonfires in various village routes as an evidence of expression of their displeasure over the government's unwholesome interference in the affairs of the community. Later some protesters marched through the major streets of Nawfia while some of them cordoned off the venue at Nawfia Town Hall with some carrying placards that had such inscriptions as: "We don't want the constitution, “Hotel constitution not for Nawfia," "All we are saying, stop this nonsense," “Prof. S.C. Onyekwelu think twice,” "Draft constitution is unconstitutional," etc. The entrance to the town hall was sealed with green palm frond (Omu) warning people to steer clear of the venue. Outside the town hall, angry youths defied the presence of about 12 policemen deployed from Abagana to the venue of the said meeting chanting unpalatable songs of war. The youths insisted that they would not allow government-appointed agents to write a new constitution for their community, saying they have rejected the Caretaker Committee. They called for auditing of the Caretaker Committee to find out what they have done with millions of Naira government gave to Nawfia since their appointment. Reacting to the ugly development, a member of the Constitution Draft Committee, Ikechukwu Okongwu said since he was co-opted into the committee, he was invited to Adic Hotel Awka for them to look at already drafted documents for endorsement, saying he never made any input like most people describing the draft copy as unsatisfactory. According to him, “Everything seems to have been stage managed. Government should conduct a

credible election, it is an elected body that should write a new constitution not government appointees. Any constitution which the people did not participate in its making is null and void and of no effect like this one the Caretaker Committee is making." Corroborating him, a former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Njikoka local government area of the State, Isaac Chijioke Azikigbo from Adagbe mmimi-Nawfia stated that the previous crisis was as a result of the assassination of the traditional ruler, Igwe F.F.B.C. Nwankwo and called on government to help to restore peace in the community by listening to the voice of reason. He said the 1953 constitution and the 1987 Igweship/chieftaincy constitution are still okay stressing that it is about implementation not writing a new constitution that is the case. He said, "We don't want the new constitution, we don't want the caretaker committee. When the traditional ruler of the town came to the scene, he warned the police against the dangers of harming any youth as according to him they were on a peaceful protest and are voicing their grievances over justice and imposition of unpopular people as their leaders. He stated that he got petitions from 9 out of 10 villages that rejected the Caretaker and the new constitution the committee wants to write. Igwe Nwankwo, Osufia II said, "They (caretaker committee) can't have the meeting. We have challenged it in court of competent jurisdiction and normally nobody should do anything until the matter is resolved. If professor Nwofor is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) he should know that the best thing for him is to follow the matter legally. He reminded the policemen including one sent from the police headquarters that he had also written to the Commissioner of Police and got a receipted copy ahead of the aborted meeting. He blamed the police for not stopping the meeting when they found out that the youths were angered by the undemocratic means employed by the caretaker, stressing that if the meeting had gone ahead, it could have resulted in breach of public peace, and destruction of lives and property... “The reason why I am stating this before you is that I would say the same thing before any higher authority in Abuja.” Addressing the press, Igwe Nawfia said “Very soon, there may be a revolution in Nawfia. It is public knowledge and absolutely true that the government of Anambra State is after me…..The governor released the people convicted for the murder of my father after only two years in jail. He gave them amnesty. The government of Anambra State is after me. Today in Nawfia, I am popular but the government is instigating crisis to remove me. The Caretaker Committee came and told me to

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APGA crisis: Obi lacks power to convene national convention – INEC

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Thursday, rejected the request of the Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, to convene a national convention of the crisis ridden All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). It was gathered that Obi had written a letter to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, requesting for authority to arrange a national convention of the party. APGA at the moment is crisis ridden with three factional chairmen, all claiming to be the authentic chairman of the party. A High Court in Enugu had sacked the embattled National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, and a faction led by Obi appointed Chief Maxi Okwu, as the interim national chairman. It was in an attempt to regularise Okwu as chairman that Obi wrote INEC to seek

authority to convene a national convention. INEC in its response said only the national chairman of APGA has the powers to convene an APGA national convention. The Director of Public Affairs, Emmanuel Ummerger, said INEC in a letter signed by the Acting Secretary of the commission, Mustapha Kuta dated March 1, 2013 said that the APGA constitution vested the powers to convene a national convention on the national chairman of the party. “There is no where the APGA constitution gave you; Governor Peter Obi, the powers and authority to convene a national convention of the party", the INEC letter to Governor Obi said. Accordingly, the INEC acting secretary said to Obi, "INEC cannot accede to your request to convene a national convention of APGA.”

Shoplifter gets 2 months jail for stealing N1,000 goods

Karu Senior Magistrates' Court on Tuesday sentenced a 36-year-old applicant, Ifeanyi Okoye of Abattoir, Karu, Abuja, to two months imprisonment for stealing a tin of Peak milk. Senior Magistrate Bashir Alkali passed the sentence after the convict pleaded guilty to a two-count-charge of criminal intimidation and theft. Alkali said that the convict did not waste the time of the court and gave him an option of N3,000 fine. Police prosecutor, Cpl. Umar Mohammed, told the court that the case was reported on February 28 by one Patience Nsirim at the Karu Divisional Police Station, Abuja. Mohammed said that the accused person entered the complainant's provision shop at Karu village, Abuja, pretending to be a customer. The prosecutor said that the convict collected a tin of milk valued at

N120 and N200 MTN recharge card from the complainant. "He also collected the sum of N680 as his change from her with the pretext that he would give a thousand naira note for the things he collected from her. "The accused noticed that the complainant's attention was distracted by other customers in the shop and decided to run away without paying for what he picked. "The complainant quickly raised an alarm and he was arrested with the assistance of sympathisers around with the stolen goods in his possession and was thereafter handed over to the police," he said. Mohammed said that during police investigation it was discovered that the accused threatened to deal with the complainant should she report the case to the police or ask him for her money.

Chime signs N83.7B 2013 budget into law By Ted Peters

Name: Asogwa Maureen Onyinychi Date of Birth: Aug.28 Hobby: swimming ,Cooking, &Dancing Likes: honesty Dislike: dishonesty E mail: barbra_maureen@yahoo.com

overnor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, yesterday, signed the 2013 State appropriation Bill of N83,7 billion into

law. The colourful ceremony which took place inside the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House was witnessed by the principal officers and members of the state House of Assembly and State Executive Council Members. The State Chief Executive commended the Speaker Chief Odo for the way he and members of the house showed commitment towards the speedy passage of the bill and for the critical adjustments they made in the original bill as presented by the executive. Chime pointed out that the upward review of the budget was to fill an observed gab and described it as a clear demonstration that both the Executive and Legislative arms of government were working together for the best interest of the people. He also commended the corporation and excellent working relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government during his recent vacation adding that this and the continued stability in the House had made the state the source of envy and a model of democracy in the country. The governor expressed the hope that government would be able to realize all the monies as envisaged in the budget and promised to implement provisions in the

document to the letters. Speaking while presenting the bill to the Governor for his assent, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Engene Odo said that there was an increase of more than N853,423,40 representing 1.05 percent of the original N82,931,780,000 presented to the House last year. According to the Speaker, the increase became very necessary to accommodate some key areas that were left out in the budget when it was presented by the Acting Governor of the State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi on 21st December, 2012. The areas included N500 million for the provision of facilities at the school of Midwifery ESUT Teaching Hospital Park Lane Enugu and N200 million for the provision of internet facilities in some organizations and ministries as well as personnel cost at the State Traffic Management Authority. Odo explained that the House took time to study and scrutinize all the sections contained in the budget, adding that both the press and members of the Civil Society were involved in the exercise. He thanked the Exco members and officials of government Ministries, Agencies and Departments for their cooperation during the budget defense. The Speaker also thanked the legislators for their uniting efforts to ensure the timely passage of the Bill and requested the Executive to go all out and ensure full and judicious implementation of the budget for the progress of the state.

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x-Nigeria star Nwankwo Kanu has lost N1.4 billion (about $104m) and a top executive of his hotel has been arrested and charged to court. Managing director of Hardley Suites Hotel in Lagos, Ayoola Gam Ikon, 49, has been arrested and charged to court for the alleged fraud. Operatives of the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit arrested Ikon, the managing director of Hardley Suites Limited situated at Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, off Elsie Femi Pearse Street, Victoria Island, Lagos southwest Nigeria, for allegedly stealing the N1.4 billion belonging to the hotel owned by Kanu. Also arrested along with him over the alleged fraud is a hotel staff, Oke Samuel. They were arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate's court on a 19-count charge of felony to wit, obtaining money under false pretence. The police alleged in charge suit No. K/8/2013 that Ikon was arrested following a complaint by the management of Hardley Suites Limited, Nwankwo Kanu and Ogbonna Kanu, that Ikon

Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

Kanu defrauded N1.4bn between 2005 and 2012 allegedly defrauded them of the sum of about N1.4 billion on the pretence of using the money to expand the existing facilities of the hotel by constructing and furnishing of additional blocks of 30 suites and conference facilities. But he allegedly failed to use the money for the purpose and allegedly converted the money to his personal use. He was also alleged to have forged a special resolution purportedly made by the board of directors of Hardley Suites Limited to obtain loans of N187 million, N50 million and N493 million from Skye Bank Plc without authorization. The offences, the accused allegedly committed, according to the prosecutor A.M. Animashaun, contravenes sections 8 (a) 1 (a) of the advanced fee fraud and other fraud related offences Act 2006 as applicable in LagosState. The accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The prosecutor presented before the court an application for the remand of the accused persons in prison custody pending advice from the office of the directorate of public prosecution, DPP, because the lower court lacks the jurisdiction to try the matter. But the Chief Magistrate, O.O. Oshin overruled him with legal facts after quoting copiously

from several sections of the criminal justice administration laws of Lagos State to buttress her claim that the court has the jurisdiction to hear and admit the accused to bail. She admitted the first defendant to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be the defendant himself, the other

By Uba Ani

enator Andy Uba of Anambra State has expressed his desire to recontest the 2014 Anambra governorship election. Uba, who was sworn in as Anambra Governor after 2007 election, was removed few days later through a court order which faulted INEC for conducting election in the state when Governor Peter Obi's tenure was still running. Speaking on Thursday during a town hall meeting at the Enugu Sports Club, the Senator said he

By Ted Peters

he Conference of Nigeria Political Party (CNPP) has raised an alarm over moves by the House of Representatives to grant immunity to lawmakers saying that the bill for that purpose which scaled second reading on Thursday is a final move to legalize corruption and finally kill the country. CNPP said in a statement by its

Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu in Abuja on Friday that pushing ahead with the bill marks the height of insensitive and sheer disrespect for constituents at a time when the preponderance of opinion among Nigerians is for the immunity clause to be removed for the executive arm because of the corruption bazar in the land. The statement said it is worrisome that the legislative arm which the people recently see

government house, so by then I didn't really understand the character of our people so well”, Uba noted. Indicating his plan to try his luck for the second time, he said: “One day, I will show what I want to do for Anambra State, I know that we are starting another race in Anambra, if it is God's will, I will be there to showcase the plan I have for the people”. On his role in Obasanjo's administration, the lawmaker noted thus, “I did not disgrace the Igbo race, when we came in, some people said give this Igbo man just six months, he will do one thing or the other and he will be removed. “But I trusted in God, and did what I was supposed to do and

remained there for eight years”. He called on Ndigbo to re-unite and champion a common course for the interest of the nation, assuring that he would remain committed to defending the interest of Ndigbo wherever he found himself as he did when he served under Obasanjo government and currently at the Senate. He stressed, “We need to go back to where we started, we need to start again as one family, that's the best thing for Ndigbo”. Many members of the Enugu Sports Club who spoke at the forum praised the politician for his commitment towards the welfare of Ndigbo and promised to support his gubernatorial ambition.

Man loses 4 children to haemorragic fever in Kebbi

disease, suspected to be Haemorrhagic fever, has killed four children of Alhaji Lawal Buhari, one time chairman of Jega Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Buhari told newsmen in Jega that the four children, between the ages of seven and 15, died within three days when the fever attacked them. He said three of his children got infected from one of them who died earlier from the infection. He said he rushed the three to the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, where they died. When contacted, the Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Dr. Abdullahi Ibrahim, confirmed the deaths, saying it was suspected to be Haemorrhagic fever and not

Lassa fever as some people thought. He said the symptoms of the disease include high fever, rashes on the body and weakness. The head, clinical service at the Federal Medical Centre, Dr. Aisha Adamu, who had been attending to the affected children, said tests had been carried out and sent to the World Health Organisation, WHO, representatives. She added that health workers had also been mobilised for further tests and preventive measures, especially in Jega town. Dr. Aisha said samples of the tests had also been forwarded to a qualified medical facility in Irrua, Edo State, for more tests while the results were yet to be released.

should be a civil servant on level 16. She also admitted the second defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a level 16 civil servant while the other must be working with a reputable company. She adjourned the matter till April 4 for mention. However, the defendants were moved to Ikoyi Prison, Lagos pending when they would fulfill the bail conditions.

Immunity for Lawmakers is height of the last bastion in governance irresponsibility – CNPP isas now seeking to get the same

Anambra 2014: Andy Uba declares interest to re-contest had great transformation plans for the State just as he promised that he would defend the interest of Ndigbo at all times. “In 2007 when I ran for governor, I had a vision for Anambra state, within the few days I stayed, people got an insight into my plans, my vision was to change the face of Anambra, I was pushing for a plan to transform Anambra but unfortunately, it didn't work. “However, I see everything that happened then as the will of God; maybe I wouldn't have been alive now. Also it made me to learn the character of our people because I just came from abroad and joined Obasanjo's administration, from there I moved to the Anambra

When contacted, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sani Ka'oje said: “We will get the final result before making conclusions.” Ka'oje, advised the authorities in Jega Local Government Area to

Nawfia Crisis Continued from page 3 play along with them else the governor would remove me. But I said this is not democracy….” As the angry youths got impatient, they vented their spleen on the caretaker committee and torn three bags of sachet water and threw them at the caretaker committee members who scampered into s a f e t y. I n t h e r e s u l t a n t

improve on environmental sanitation, adding, “as soon as we are done on this issue, we will liaise with the local government council to improve on the environmental sanitation in the area.” pandemonium, the police took away the caretaker committee members and disappeared. As the youths refused to leave the scene, the caretaker committee relocated to Adic Hotel Amawbia, outside Nawfia where they addressed the press that they had adopted the constitution. B r i e f i n g t h e p r e s s l a t e r, Professor Onyekwelu stated that the draft constitution by the Caretaker Committee had been adopted at the School. In an

criminal protection that the executive gets under the constitutional immunity clause. It said “It is shameful for one to begin to have the inkling that the scandals around Lawan Farouk and Herman Hembe with many others that are yet to go public could be the impetus for this criminal legislation.” The conference noted that “instead making legislation to grant immunity to lawmakers, who already have parliamentary immunity anyway, members of the House of Representatives should have intensified efforts to use the ongoing amendment of the Constitution to do way with immunity clause for the president and governors to at least open them up for criminal prosecution for corruption. “Nigerians are already wary of the official fraud that surrounds how much each lawmaker legitimately earns, what happens to the constituency allowances voted for lawmakers and other money they allegedly corner from performing their oversight functions. This latest effort at shielding lawmakers from being held accountable as representatives of the people will only worsen the distrust in which Nigerians hold this class of politicians”. CNPP said. The group warned that the move by the House of Representatives has all the potentials to worsen an already terrible situation as it noted that it is now up to Nigerians whom the CNPP will support to mobilize in droves and occupy the National Assembly until lawmakers see reason and desist from the destructive path they have chosen. answer to a reporter's question, Professor Onyekwelu agreed that he was aware the matter was pending in a court. Counsel to the Caretaker Committee, Professor Nwofor corroborated but added that he had filed a reply through frontloading. For now, the question on every lip is: “Will this Nawfia conundrum be answered through a state of emergency in Anambra State? Only time shall tell.

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Abia govt, Police dismiss reported shooting at Kalu's home

BIA State Government has dismissed as a hoax reported shooting at the gate of the country home of former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, last weekend, saying it was part of the orchestrated mudslinging to smear the image of the state. Abia State Police Command had also dismissed it and asked the public to regard the report of the said invasion of the former governor's home “as sponsored and diversionary.” State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. Eze Chikamnayo, said the whole thing was a fabricated story. An aide to the former governor, Pastor Chukwudi Okoroafor, had last weekend claimed that he was trailed by gunmen on motorcycle to the gate of Camp Neya Estate,

home of the former governor, who opened fire on the bus he was driving, believing he was still

inside the vehicle. The incident was said to have occurred about 10 p.m while the

Orji Uzor Kalu

aide was said to be waiting for the gate to be opened for him to drive inside the compound.. But Chikamnayo dismissed the claim as “a fabrication from the pit of hell which only happened at the gate of his cerebral imagination.” The commissioner said the former governor used that as one of his ways to raise false alarm to create a false impression that there was insecurity in the state. He, therefore, advised the former governor to give respect to his former office and behave like “a statesman whose voice should rather be of modulation instead of instigating crisis or crying wolf where there was none. Chikamnayo also accused the former governor of planning to incite students of the state university, ABSU, which revoke

his degree certificate last week, to embark on protests in order to disrupt the prevailing peace in the state. The commissioner warned that government would not fold its arms and allow “disgruntled politicians” to drag the state back to the dark days of insecurity and criminality. Meanwhile, the new commissioner of police in the state, Mr. Usman Tilli Abubakar, had in a statement by his PPRO, Geoffrey Ogbonna, ASP, said the incident was not reported anywhere in the command. According to him, “when police visited the purported scene of the incident, there were no empty shells of expended ammunition or cartridges to suggest occurrence of such incident.”

Reps approve life imprisonment for rapists ...Aiding female circumcision attracts N100, 000 fine or 2 years jail term or both

h e H o u s e o f Representatives in Abuja on Tuesday approved life imprisonment for any person convicted of rape. In addition, persons convicted of gang raping a victim shall be liable jointly and severally to a minimum of 20 years imprisonment without the option of fine. The decisions followed the adoption of a report on a Bill for an Act to Eliminate Violence in Private and Public Life; Prohibit all Forms of Violence, Harmful Traditional Practices against Persons. The bill seeks to safeguard the rights of vulnerable persons, particularly the girl- child, women and girls, against private and domestic violence. The bill was sponsored by Abike Dabiri-Erewa (ACN-Lagos), the Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora. Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said it had become expedient for the bill to become law going by the rising cases of violence against persons in Nigeria. The bill also approved 25 years imprisonment for any person who attempted to use chemical, biological or any harmful liquid on another person. It also provides that any person who incites, aids, abets, or counsels another person to commit violence is guilty of the offence and liable on conviction to three years imprisonment or N200, 000 fine or both A c c o r d i n g l y, a n y p e r s o n convicted of performing female circumcision and general mutilation or engaging someone to carry it out risks four years in jail or a fine not more than N200,000 or both. Aiding female circumcision attracts N100, 000 or two years in jail or both.

Any person convicted of frustrating investigation and

prosecution of offenders is guilty of felony and liable on conviction

to imprisonment of not more than three years or a fine not exceeding

N500, 000. The bill will only become law after the Senate concurs to it and the President signs it.

Sack: Umeh asks Appeal Court to halt execution of APGA' will not relent in depriving and determination of the appeal by Enugu High Court order me of the exercise of my the appellate court.

HE embattled National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, has asked the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu to order a stay of execution of the Enugu State High court judgment which restrained him from parading himself as the party's National Chairman and sacked the entire National Working Committee, pending the determination of his appeal against the decision of the lower court. The Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike, had in his judgment delivered February 8, 2013 in the motion brought before him by an expelled member of APGA, Ichie Jude Okuli, restrained Umeh from parading himself as APGA National Chairman just as it held that the party's Convention held on February 10, 2011 to re-elect the National Chairman and other officers “was unconstitutional, null and void.” But in a 25-paragraph affidavit in support of his motion on notice for stay of execution of the lower court's decision filed before the appellate court, Umeh stated that he had on February 11, 2013 applied to the lower court for an order of stay of execution pending the determination of his appeal. “Despite my request for a date to be assigned for the hearing of my Motion on Notice dated and filed on 11 February 2013, the said Motion on Notice for Stay of Execution was not heard nor attended to by the lower court before the Record of Appeal was

transmitted to this Honourable court and the appeal entered as no. CA/E/84/2013,” Umeh told the appellate court. He noted that consequent to the judgment of the lower court, a group of persons who described themselves as the 'National Caucus' of APGA met, issued a communiqué and passed several resolutions purporting to have accepted the judgment of the lower court and appointing certain persons as officer of the party. Umeh contended that under the constitution of APGA, “none of the persons and/or a majority of the persons who issued/signed the communiqué dated 16 February 2013 are members of the National Caucus of APGA,” insisting that the persons who purportedly issued the said communiqué were not parties to the suit determined by the lower court on February 8, 2013. The embattled APGA Chairman told the appellate court that by the judgment of the lower court, “the monitoring/approval of the APGA National Convention held on 10 February 2011 by INEC, in exercise of its (INEC's) statutory function under the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), was vitiated/annulled in the absence of INEC and in total disregard of the statutory limitation prescribed by the Public Officers (Protection) Act.” He stated that unless the appellate court grants the order for the stay of execution, “the strangers to the suit acting under the false description of 'National Caucus of

Constitutional right of appeal as well as creating confusion, disharmony and chaos within our party, APGA.” “Unless by an order of this Honourable Court, the persons 'elected' as 'Acting National Officers' of our party (APGA) vide the communiqué dated 16 February 2013 will continue to usurp my functions under the Constitution of APGA and render my appeal utterly impotent,” Umeh further deposed. While notifying the court that APGA would be adversely affected if the stay of execution order was not made, Umeh said that the administration and management of the political party would be halted and irreparable damage done before the hearing

Umeh had prior to the delivery of the judgment of the lower court filed an appeal no. CA/E/14/2013, against the proceedings including the order dismissing his application seeking to disqualify the lower court from continuing with the hearing and determination of the suit for alleged manifest violation of his constitutional right to fair hearing. He sought from the court of appeal inter alia an Order “remitting this case for hearing de novo before another judge of the Enugu State High court…” He, however, told the appellate court that by the lower court's judgment delivered on February 8, 2013, “the lower court has rendered impotent and overreached my appeal already entered in the Court of Appeal.”

be a drug courier by the police. She was monitored before being caught in a hotel in Istanbul’s Laleli neighbourhood of Fatih district. An amount of 1 kg and 40 gram cocaine was found in her wig. The old woman appeared in Istanbul Courthouse before she was sent to Bakirkoy Prison for Women and Juvenile

nother drug issue has taken place in Istanbul (Turkey) when a 66-yearold Nigerian woman was caught with over 1 kg cocaine in her wig. The police operation was recorded on cameras, and the moments were released in footage. The 66-year-old Jose O., a Nigerian citizen was detected to

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Ezzu River corpses: Chime lauds constitution of committee

overnor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has commended the Federal Government for instituting a committee to investigate the i n c i d e n t o f floating corpses at the Ezu River. The Governor gave the commendation through the state Secretary to Government, Mr. Amechi Okolo when the committee paid a courtesy call at the government House, Enugu. Governor Chime affirmed the readiness of the government and the people of Enugu State to assist the committee in its investigation to expose the perpetrators of the ugly act. He noted that the corpses are Nigerians, adding that government and the people should not fold their hands for such ugly actions. In his words “whatever is our obligations will be done to ensure that the perpetrators are exposed. Governor Chime called for an exclusive interaction between the committee members and relevant agencies in the state with a view to finding out the root cause of the incident. Earlier in their separate speeches, the leader of the committee were also the chairmen Senate committee on Police Affairs and National Security and

Intelligence that made the committee , Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu and Mohammed Mogoro called on the government and people of Enugu State to assist the committee in finding out the root cause of the ugly incident.

They noted that the Senate constituted the committee to find out the root cause of the floating corpses at the river with a view to forestalling future occurrences. According to them, the corpses had homes and relations that should be traced with a view to finding out what happened to them.

They said that they had made a similar visit to Anambra as the river affected the two states and had interacted with the government and people of the state who had made useful statements. The committee called for the cooperation of the people of Enugu State to enable it get to the root

cause of the incident. In an interview, one of the committee members, Senator Christ Ngige, disclosed that the result of the autopsy conducted on the corpses would be made known in a couple of days. He expressed hope that the committee had the needed tools to actualize the target of the investigation.

ENSG debunks report claiming Chime has travelled again He disclosed that Governor Chime wife in his country home at Udi on had played host to his Bauchi State Saturday, March 2, 2013,(just a counterpart, Alhaji Isa Yuguda and day before the publication) other important persons such as whereas the report had falsely he Enugu State government has dismissed Senator Jim Nwobodo and his claimed that he travelled on as false and irresponsible, a story published in a national newspaper on Sunday, alleging that Governor Sullivan Chime has left the country for an undisclosed location abroad. A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Chukwudi Achife said that contrary to the report, the Governor is in Enugu where he has continued to attend to his official his duties since he returned from vacation a few weeks ago. Describing the story as a figment of the reporter's imagination, Achife expressed dismay at the ease with which such a false report has been published without any effort whatsoever to verify it. Gov. Chime

By Patrick Okolie

Thursday. Wondering at the real motive behind the report, Achife stressed that the government would not have bothered to react to such an obviously mischievous account if not for the need to douse the unnecessary anxiety that it may raise among the people of the state. Achife said, "It's really disheartening that such a manifestly untruth story could be published without regard to the fundamentals of ethics and professionalism. One would have thought that after all that happened when the Governor was away, our colleagues would have learnt some hard lessons about checking the veracity of their stories thoroughly before sending them out for publication. This story is another ample show of disregard for such values and I don't think it speaks well for those

IBB backs merger of political parties

ormer military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida says the intending merger of some political parties to serve as a strong opposition to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) is a welcome development in in the nation's political system. Answering questions from Journalists at his hill top mansion. Minna Niger state , the former President said as a strong advocate of two political parties for the country, the emerging scenario will surely vindicate him on his stand for two political party system which he said is the only way out for the country politically. “ I have been a very good advocate of two party system for the country since I was the president. When I said we need only two parties some years back, they said I am a soldier and I should shut up but now, many are seeing relevance in my agitation,” Gen. Babangida remarked. According to him, “I am happy with the merger talk that is going on; it is a welcome political development in our political experience and if it succeeds, it will surely vindicate me and move the country on politically.” The former military president who took a swipe on our political leadership so far said most politicians in the country are much more concerned about the votes

they garner from the electorates during elections but have failed to serve them more appropriately after wining the elections. “ It is unfortunate that the political elites have failed to enlighten the ordinary man and carry them along; nobody is talking about enlightening the ordinary man

because they are only interested in their votes and soon forget them after getting to power,” he noted. He continued, “ the only thing we are busy doing is wasting our energy in fighting on who becomes the chairman of this or that and until we carry the people along and serve them diligently,

we will have a long way to go in this country.” On whether he is comfortable with the comments of former American president, Bill Clinton, accusing the Federal government that it has mis managed the country' s resources, the former president said it is what the foreigners read

from the home based journalist that they read, rely and comment on. “You don't need a foreigner to tell you this. You write it yourself and they read it and so, what is the problem with the comment. I am comfortable with the comment,” Gen. Babangida declared.

Boy friend claims paternity of couple's children consternation, the man said I was showing him his wife and baby photograph. I left the place in utter enjamin Okeke, a confusion. businessman in his late “The next morning, my wife came 30s has asked the in with the baby and when l asked Ajegunle Ifelodun Customary Court Lagos state, to dissolve his holy matrimony with Mrs. Ijeoma Okeke for infidelity . Okeke in his submission to the court said his wife Ijeoma has been having extra-marital affairs since after their wedlock . AINSTORM destroyed at He also claimed that another man least 200 houses and is currently claiming the paternity rendered over 5,000 of his two children. homeless at Akwukwu-Igbo, He further stated that for two headquarters of Oshimili North months he did not see his family Local Government Area of Delta and every effort to reach them State. proved abortive. According to Rainstorm pulled off roofs of him, “Ijeoma's friend hinted me of houses and deposited them at her whereabout in Ajah living with diverse places in Ogbe-Iyase, another man” Ogbeani, Umuonai, Ogbeonihe, He continued; “on getting to the Umuekeke, Ogbeobi and Achala place, I gave him the photograph villages in the community. of my wife and baby but to my

her, she denied everything and maintained that there was nothing between her and any man”. Okeke however, stated that he had been a responsible father and husband but was disappointed to

discover that his wife was having an extra marital affair with somebody who is now claiming paternity of their two children. The case adjourned to March 11th 2013.

Rainstorm destroys 200 houses, renders 5,000 homeless

The traditional ruler of the community, His Royal Majesty, Obi David Azuka, described the incident as a calamity and called on the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta State Emergency Response Agency, Oshimili Local Government Council and other relevant agencies of government to come to the aid of the victims. Managing director of H a a l i m o n w o Ve n t u r e s , Akwukwu-Igbo, Mr. Jude Eziuno,

whose company was affected said “what happened in AkwukwuIgbo was a calamity. I can tell you that no fewer than 200 roofs were carried away by rainstorm.” “The rains was severe and stormy. It started at about 5.30 pm, everybody in the community was affected, if it is not your house, it is your kitchen, toilet or shops in front of your house”. “There is wailing everywhere, we have never seen this kind of hurricane before,” he added.

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V.S observers say Kenya showed maturity in balloting

he U.S.-based Carter Center election monitoring group plans to release its preliminary report on Kenya's elections soon. “It was a peaceful election and it was a vibrant election,” said John Stremlau, the vice president for peace programs at the Carter Center. He says Kenyans have so far demonstrated maturity during balloting. “We commend the Kenyan people and [especially] the

electoral management body for its outstanding work and the patience of the voters who stood in line for many hours in the blazing heat to get their vote cast,” said Stremlau. Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) says there was a massive turn out during the vote despite concerns over possible violence. The IEBC said the election was largely peaceful in spite of isolated cases of deadly violence in some parts of the country. The IEBC estimates that 14

million Kenyans were eligible to vote in the elections, the first since the 2007-2008 postelection ethnic violence. The electoral body however expressed concern that more than 300,000 ballots had been rejected so far. IEBC commission chairman, Ahmed Isaack Hassan, suggested those ballots were either marked incorrectly or dropped into the wrong box at polling stations. “Let's hope that the results when they become known will lead to

the winner showing generosity to the defeated, and the defeated accepting with magnanimity the loss. Because I think all Kenyans want to move on and have this become a prosperous stable country,” said Stremlau. Kenya is the first country in Africa to conduct an election this year. Some analysts have said a peaceful Kenya vote could be an example to other nations holding elections this year. “It's certainly a bellwether that we hope proves to be eminently successful,” said Stremlau.

He says the Carter Center poll monitoring team worked closely with other international and regional observer groups, including the African Union, the East African Community and the European Union's poll monitoring group. “They have all seen the same thing that we have seen, which is competency and determination and basically congenial and peaceful good will by the large majority of Kenyans…to pick a new leader,” Stremlau said.

member of the Felician Sisters o r d e r, s h a r e s t h a t v i e w. “Oh, absolutely, I think if Christ wanted to ordain women, he would have ordained his blessed

mother, like she is seen as the highest but that does not downgrade the dignity of women at all," she said. It's widely expected that the next

pope will be at least as conservative as his predecessor. But if he is, he risks driving away even more progressive Catholics from the body of the church.

them the rest of their life," he said. "They wouldn't have the toxicity the rest of their life and the cost the rest of their life of being on treatment.” Researchers today are talking not just about treating but curing HIV infection. It's a remarkable turn of events for veterans of the epidemic.

“Unbelievable a few years ago," said Volberding. "And we wouldn't have done it with any sense of optimism at all. And I think now, we're still pretty realistic about it. We know it's not around the corner, but there's at least a critical mass, we hope, of research now being conducted.” They hope that research will pay off with cures for adults with HIV as well as children.

s Roman Catholic cardinals from around the world gather for a conclave in Rome, and pilgrims watch for the white smoke that heralds a new pope, some Catholics are pushing for more progressive actions, such as allowing women into the priesthood. Time can appear to move slowly at the Vatican, where religious orthodoxy rests on solid pillars. But Giuseppe Visotto thinks the time has come for a little flexibility. “The church has to adapt to modern society. The world is changing rapidly and the church has to follow in each and every respect,” he said. Half a world away, one Catholic congregation meeting in a Protestant church in Baltimore, Maryland, has already cast aside the prohibition on female clergy. They are part of a movement that started in Pope Benedict's native Germany in 2002. There are now around 150 ordained Catholic women worldwide, and Gloria Carpeneto is one of them. “Women represent half the experience in the world,” Carpeneto said. She adds, the church loses out by limiting the priesthood to men. It's not that they do not understand women, she says. “But there are some unique experiences that women in the pews have and they'll never hear those or see those reflected if there's not a woman's voice," Carpento said. "Nor will the men in the pews by the way. ” Ryan Sattler agrees. “God does want women - Jesus wants women - to be full members of this beautiful traditional church we call Catholic,” he noted. Around one third of people raised as Catholics in America have left the church. Some join Protestant denominations that do ordain women. So why not do the same? “Many Roman Catholic women priests have asked that of themselves, because it would be like that [snaps fingers],” explained Carpento. But she says it would be unfair for the church to say to them: “'We raised you. We called ourselves your mother. We kept

you in the fold. We taught you. And now when you are in the fullness of your spirituality and you want to serve God, go down the street, the Episcopals will take you," said Carpeneto. "That's just the craziest thing!” So they hope things will someday change. The Vatican has decreed that any bishop who ordains a woman priest is automatically excommunicated. Despite this, Italian priest Romulo Fenu says women are revered in Roman Catholicism. “The woman, with Christ's Maria, acquires a fundamental importance in the life of the church," he said. "So it's absolutely not discrimination.” Sister Clare Marie Klein, a

hen AIDS was first identified in the 1980s, it was considered a death sentence. The advent of powerful triple-drug therapy transformed it into a c h r o n i c d i s e a s e . N o w, researchers say a child may have been cured of HIV infection Experts are cautious about making too much of a single case. But the news has them talking with unprecedented optimism that if caught early, at least some patients could be saved from a lifetime of infection. Tim Brown is one of only two people ever to be considered cured of HIV infection. But it was not easy. He also had leukemia. A bone marrow transplant from a donor with a rare mutation cured his HIV. “The first transplant went well," said Brown. "But the second one was pretty horrible. And I wouldn't wish what I went through on my worst enemy.” The latest case, at the University of Mississippi, was different. A baby born to an untreated HIVpositive mother was given a combination of anti-AIDS drugs within hours of birth. The patient has not been identified.

The therapy itself was not u n u s u a l , s a y s D r. P a u l Volberding of the University of California at San Francisco. “The treatment was really just regular antiretroviral therapy, HIV drugs," said Volberding. "So in contrast to the first reported cure, this is one that has a lot broader potential implications.” That means that the early and aggressive treatment the child received may rid the body of the virus before it can take hold. If the results hold up to scrutiny, it's significant, says Harvard School of Public Health professor Richard Marlink. “It's a big deal to show that, if we really hit the virus hard right at birth, perhaps, for those babies that might be getting infected at that early time in their life, we may be able to eliminate the virus from their system," said Marlink. The impact could be especially great in sub-Saharan Africa, where most of the roughly 300,000 children born with HIV each year reside. Marlink says it could save lives, as well as eliminate the burden of lifelong therapy. “We wouldn't have to be treating

rimate of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, has called on Nigerians especially Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion not to embrace the culture of gay marriage now rampant in Europe. Speaking during the consecration service of Very Reverend Simon Borokini, Venerable Geoffery Okoroafor and Venerable James Odedeji as Bishops of Akure, E g b u a n d L a g o s We s t respectively, at the Cathedral of St. Jude, Ebute Metta, Lagos, Okoh described homosexuality, lesbianism and gay marriage as

great evils that must neither be condoned nor allowed to exist in Nigerian society. Okoh said: “There are lots of immoralities going on in the world and we do not want our Bishops or our members to be involved in any act of immoralities. I am calling on our clergies not to allow any influence from any quarter to corrupt the church of Christ. “The basics of Jesus Christ will continue to be our teachings and we will not depart from it. Practicing homosexual would not be of any help for the nation and the Church of God at large. The basics of Christian marriage is between man and woman and not between man and man or other way round.”

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ecret American diplomatic dispatches, spread over 21,000 pages, provide previously unknown information about the Nigerian Civil War Early in the morning of 1 July 1967, Nigeria's young head of state, Colonel Yakubu Gowon, was feeling uneasy in his office at the Supreme Headquarters, Dodan Barracks in Lagos. The unease was a result of his being ceaselessly pressured to authorize a military invasion of the breakaway Republic of Biafra. Thirty officers had been recalled from courses abroad. Trains and truck convoys, bearing fuel, supplies and men, were still leaving Kano and Kaduna for the south of River Benue. Colonel Mohammed Shuwa of the First Area Command had moved his command headquarters southwards and set it up in Makurdi. The 2nd Battalion was already headquartered in Adikpo. Schools and private homes had been commandeered for the use of Major Sule Apollo and his 4th Battalion in Oturkpo. They were itching for action. The same day, Major B.M. Usman “a member of the intimate northern group around Gowon” told the American defense attaché: “I do not know what the hell he is waiting for; the boys are all ready to go. They are only waiting for his word.” Members of the Supreme Military Council, who had been meeting twice daily, were waiting for his word. The whole nation was waiting. Biafra, which was on high alert, was also waiting. On 27 June 1967, Cyprian Ekwensi, famous writer and Biafra's Director of Information Service, through the Voice of Biafra (formerly Enugu Radio), urged Biafrans to be prepared for an invasion on June 29 since “Northerners have often struck on 29th day of the month.” He was alluding to the day northern officers, led by Major T.Y. Danjuma, seized Gowon's predecessor, Major- General Aguiyi-Ironsi, and killed him in a forest outside Ibadan. Gowon, then 31, had been running the affairs of 57million Nigerians for 10 months. It had not been easy. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, his 58year old trusted deputy and adviser, was with Okoi Arikpo and Philip Asiodu, permanent secretaries of the ministries of External Affairs a n d Tr a d e a n d I n d u s t r i e s respectively. They were preparing to put the noose on the neck of the AngloDutch oil giant, Shell-BP, which had frozen royalty payments due to the Federation Account on 1 June 1967 and had offered to pay the Biafran government £250,000. Lieutenant Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, Biafran leader, had ordered all oil companies to start paying all royalties to Enugu because they were operating in a new country or risk heavy penalties.

Oju kwu: Sworn in as Head of State of Biafra Specifically, he demanded a minimum of £2million from ShellBP. The Federal Government had imposed an economic blockade on Biafra. It entailed barring all merchant vessels and sea tankers from sailing to and from Koko, Warri, Sapele, Escravos, Bonny, Port Harcourt, Calabar ports, which Ojukwu had declared part and parcel of Biafra. Biafra controlled the land on which the oil installations sat; the Nigerian government controlled the coastal entrance and exit to those lands. Shell-BP was confused as to whose order should be obeyed. Sir David Hunt, the

would accept only if Gowon did something about the dominance of North over the rest of the nation. A month before, Gowon had broken up the North into six states, but the map by the door still showed the old Nigeria, with an imposing North at the top. He ran his finger around the boundaries of Biafra and asked himself: “How can I authorize an invasion of my own people?” He knew what it meant to be resented. He was not the most senior officer in the army. He was not a Muslim Hausa or Fulani from Kano, Kaduna or Sokoto. He was a Christian from one of the small minorities that dot the North and yet, events had promoted him to the position of the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief to the chagrin of many northern officers, politicians, and emirs. He knew the Igbo were resented in the North for succeeding where indigenes had failed. His Igbo lover, Edith Ike, told him her life was threatened twice in Lagos

Earlier that week, Gowon called the West German Ambassador in Lagos. The Germans were eager to be in the good graces of the Gowon administration. A war loomed. And in wars, buildings, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure are destroyed. These would need rebuilding. The contract for the 2nd Mainland Bridge (later called Eko Bridge) was signed two years earlier by the Ambassador, CEO of Julius Berger Tiefbau AG and Shehu Shagari, Federal Commissioner for Works and Survey. That was Julius Berger's first contract in Nigeria. It was due for completion in less than two years and they wanted more bilateral cooperation. The ambassador assured Gowon over the phone that he had taken care of all the details and guaranteed the safety of Edith, the nation's “First Girlfriend”. On the evening of 30 June, just before her departure on a commercial airline, Edith told the

Ojukwu: sworn in as Biafran Head of State. British High Commissioner to Nigeria, told his American counterpart after the meeting with the Nigerian delegation: “Awolowo is very firmly in control of Ministry of Finance and he is giving Stanley Gray, Shell's General Manager and other experts from London a very difficult time for the past three days.” They persuaded Awolowo to accept a deal that would favour the Nigerian government and, at the same time, would predispose oil workers and the £150million investment to danger in the hands of Biafran military forces. Awolowo refused, arguing that anything short of the status quo was recognition of Biafra and concession to the rebels. As for security of investments and personnel, he argued that once royalties were paid, the Nigerian government would have the capacity to fund whatever action it would take on the rebels and ShellBP's investments would be safe. Gowon paced to the large outdated map of the country by the door to his office. When he asked Awolowo to come and join his government, Awolowo said he

since she returned from the North in March. According to the secret US document of 1 July 1967, Edith's parents, having lived in the North for 30 years, where she too was born, had fled back to the East in October 1966 because of that year's massacre of the Igbo. Not 30,000 but around 7,000 were killed, according to the American documents. Donald Patterson of the Political Section and Tom Smith of the Economic Section travelled from the US Embassy in Lagos to the North after the pogrom. “The Sabon-Garis were ghost towns, deserted, with the detritus of people, who had fled rapidly, left behind. Most Northerners we talked to had no apologies for what had happened to the Ibos, for the pogrom that had killed so many. There were exceptions, but in general, there was no remorse and the feeling was one of good riddance. “One day, our Hausa gardener attacked and tried to beat up our Ibo cook. We fired the gardener, but not long afterwards, the cook left for the East,” said Patterson.

American Defense Attaché Standish Brooks, and his wife, Gail, that she actually wanted to go to the UK or USA, but Jack, as she affectionately called Gowon, insisted that she could be exposed to danger in either of the two countries. Germany, he reasoned, would be safer. To Major B.M. Usman and other northern officers around Gowon, who had attributed his slow response to the secession to the fact that his girlfriend was Igbo and that her parents were resettled in the East, it was such a huge relief that at the Supreme Military Council meeting of 3 July 1967, Gowon authorized the long awaited military campaign. Edith had safely landed in West G e r m a n y. G o w o n t o l d t h e gathering: “Gentlemen, we are going to crush the rebellion, but note that we are going after the rebels, not the Ibos.” The military action, which was to become the Nigerian Civil War or the Biafran War or Operation Unicord, as it was coded in military circles, officially started on 6 July 1967 at 5 a.m.

The North was minded to use the war as a tool to reassert its dominance of national affairs. Mallam Kagu, Damboa, Regional Editor of the Morning Post, told the American consul in Kaduna: “No one should kid himself that this is a fight between the East and the rest of Nigeria. It is a fight between the North and the Ibo.” He added that the rebels would be flushed out of Enugu within six weeks. Lt. Colonel Hassan Katsina went further to say with the level of enthusiasm among the soldiers; it would be a matter of “only hours before Ojukwu and his men were rounded up”. The northern section of the Nigerian military was the best equipped in the country. To ensure the region's continued dominance, the British assigned most of the army and air force resources to the North. It was only the Navy's they could not transfer. All the elite military schools were there. The headquarters of the infantry and artillery corps were there. Kaduna alone was home to the headquarters of the 1st Division of the Nigerian A r m y, D e f e n s e I n d u s t r i e s Corporation of Nigeria (Army Depot), Air Force Training School and, Nigerian Defence Academy. Maitama Sule, Minister of Mines and Power in 1966, once told the story of how Muhammadu Ribadu, his counterpart in Defence Ministry, went to the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, and the British Commandant of the school told him many of the students could not continue because they failed woefully. When Ribadu thumbed through the list, Sule said, it was a Mohammed, an Ibrahim, a Yusuf or an Abdullahi. “You don't know what you are doing and because of this you cannot continue to head the school,” an irate Ribadu was said to have told the commandant. Shehu Musa Yar'Adua was one of the students for whom the commandant was sacked. “You can see what Yar'Adua later became in life. He became the vice president. This is the power of forward planning,” Sule declared. Unknown to the forward planners, according to the US documents, Ojukwu had been meticulously preparing for war as early as October 1966, after the second round of massacre in the North. He had stopped the Eastern share of revenues that were supposed to accrue to the Federation Account. By 30 April 1967, he had recalled all Igbos serving in Nigeria embassies and foreign missions and those that heeded his call were placed on the payroll of the government of Eastern Region. The 77,000 square kilometres of the Republic of Biafraa mere 8 per cent of the size of Nigeriawas already divided into 20 provinces, with leaders selected for each. They had their own judiciary, legislative councils, ministries and ambassadors. Alouette helicopters and a B26 bomber were procured from the French Air Force through

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Continued from page 9 a Luxemburg trading company. Hank Warton, the GermanAmerican arms dealer, had been flying in Czech and Israeli arms via Spain and Portugal since October 1966. The military hardware, they could not get, they seized. A DC3 and a Fokker F27 were seized from the Nigerian Air Force in April. NNS Ibadan, a Nigerian Navy Seaward Defence Boat (SDB) that docked in Calabar Port, was quickly made Biafran. Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu, who was supposed to be in Enugu in prison for his role in 1966 coup, joined in training recruits in Abakaliki. Foreign mercenaries were training indoctrinated old people, young men and teenagers recruited as NCOs [Noncommissioned Officers] in jungle warfare, bomb making, mortar and other artillery firing. Ojukwu, through speeches, town hall meetings, market square performances and radio broadcasts, succeeded in convincing his people that their destiny was death or a separate state. All his performances in Ghana that culminated in the Aburi Accord of January 1967, or discussions with the Awolowo-led National Conciliation Committee five months later, turned out to be ruse. The underground war preparations, the secret arms stockpiles openly manifested themselves as Ojukwu's stubborn refusal to accept offers or concessions during these peace meetings. But the Biafrans knew that their vulnerable line was along Ogoja, Ikom, Calabar, Port Harcourt, and Yenogoa. Support from the six million people making up the Eastern minorities was very much unsure. The minorities viewed their leaders in Biafra high command as traitors. And without the minorities, Biafra would be landlocked and most likely, unviable as a state. More so, their vast oil and gas resources were the reason they contemplated secession in the first place. The Biafra high command believed that if there was going to be any troop incursion from there, they are going to be transported through ship. They already had a B26 bomber to deal fire to Nigeria's only transport ship, NNS Lokoja, anytime it approached the Biafran coastline. The Biafrans also knew that Gowon wanted to respect the neutrality of Midwest and not invade through Niger Bridge, which would have driven the people of the Midwest into waiting Biafran hands. But if Gowon changed his mind and there was a general mobilization of the two battalions of the federal troops there, they had trustworthy men there that would alert Enugu. And if that failed, according to the US documents, the Niger Bridge had been mined using “explosives with metal covering across the roadbed at second pier out from the eastern side”. The Biafrans also knew that the Yoruba, who were sworn enemies of the Northern hegemony, would never join the North militarily or

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had gone to Lagos to get more reserve mortar and 106-artillery ammo. In Kano, there were no fatalities, only a slight damage to the wing of a commercial plane. Kaduna, however, was not that lucky. On 10 August 1967, the B26 dropped bombs on Kaduna airbase, damaging many buildings and the main hangar. The German consulate in Kaduna confirmed that a German citizen, a Dornier technician tasked with maintaining Nigerian military planes, was killed and two others injured. A week later, the senior traffic control officer, A.O. Amaku, was arrested for sabotage. He was accused of failing to shut off the airport's homing device, thus giving the Biafran plane navigational assistance. His British assistant, Mr. Palfrey, was similarly suspected. He resigned and immediately returned to the UK. However, Major Obada, the airbase commanding officer and an Urhobo from the Midwest, strongly defended the accused. The daring bomb raid provoked many more Northern civilians to run to the nearest army base and enlist to fight. According to a report by US Ambassador Elbert Matthews, cabled to Washington on 3 July 1967, unidentified men tried to bomb the police headquarters in Lagos on the night of 2 July. They attempted to drive an automobile into the compound, but the guards did not open the gate. They packed the car across the street near a small house opposite a petrol station. Leaving the car, the men fled and within seconds, an explosion took place. The house was demolished and all its occupants killed, but the petrol station was unaffected. Eleven people, including some of the guards at the police headquarters, were injured. Two hours later, a second explosion, from explosives in a car parked by a petrol station, rocked Yaba. This time, the station caught fire. The ambassador remarked: “It is possible this is a start of campaign of terrorism…public reactions could further jeopardize safety of Ibos in Lagos.” And sure it did. A Lagos resident, who visited the police headquarters after the attack, told the Australian ambassador “Ibos must be killed.” There was panic all over Lagos. Anti-Igbo riots broke out. Northern soldiers at the 2nd Battalion Barracks in Ikeja used the opportunity to launch a miniversion of the previous year's torture and massacre of the Igbo in the North. On 7 July 1967, Lagos State governor, Lieutenant Colonel Mobolaji Johnson, condemned the bombing in a radio broadcast. “A good number of Igbos in Lagos is innocent and loyal to the federal government. It is only fair that they be allowed to go about their business unmolested so long as they abide by the law and are not agents and evildoers,” Johnson said. He called for Lagosians to join civil defence units and for Easterners to come and register with the police. Meanwhile, the corpses of troops

politically against the Biafrans. When Gowon vouched to “crush the rebellion,” progressive Yoruba intellectuals deplored the language. Professor Hezekiah Oluwasanmi, Vice Chancellor of University of Ife, described the use of the word as unfortunate. Justice Kayode Eso of the Western Court of Appeal said: “Crushing the East was not the way to make Nigeria one.” Mr. Strong, the American consul in Ibadan, whom they had been speaking to, confidentially wrote: “As intellectuals and modernizers, they see the conflict in terms of continuing determination of

on 7 July at 1400hrs. According to the New York Times' Lloyd Garrison's dispatch of 8 July: “The Biafran Air Force a lone B-26 fighter bomberflew sorties from Enugu today, bombing and strafing enemy columns. Asked what damage it had inflicted, its European pilot replied: “Frankly, I don't know. But we made a lot of smoke. Hundreds of Enugu pedestrians waved and cheered each time the plane returned from a mission and swooped low over the city buzzing Ogui Avenue.” Tunde Akingbade of the Daily Times, who was returning from the frontlines, said the first Nigerian

Ojukwu – Asked Shell and other oil companies to pay royalty to Biafra conservative North to dominate the more advanced South and they expressed fear that once North subdues East, it will seek to assert outright dominance over the West. The centre of trouble might then swing back to the West, where it all started.” The Biafrans understood, therefore, that their strongest defence perimeter would be along Nsukka, Obudu, Gakem and Nyonya in Ogoja province, where they share border with the North. That was where they concentrated. On 8 July after three days of fighting, only four Biafran troops were dead and nine wounded in Obudu, while up to 100 Nigerian troops were dead, according to the Irish Embassy official, Eamon O'tuathail, who visited the Catholic Mission Hospital in Obudu. He said: “Forty five (45) of the dead had already been buried and the villagers were seen carrying the heads of the remaining around town.” In June before fighting started, Ojukwu charged on Biafra Radio: “Each Biafran soldier should bring back ten or twenty Hausa heads.” At Nyanya, Nigerian troops attempted to seize the bridge linking Obudu and Ogoja, but were beaten back by the Biafran troops

battalion in Ogoja area was “almost completely wiped out by a combination of mines and electrical devices (Ogbunigwe)”. In the first few weeks of the war, the Biafrans were clearly on top. “Enugu is very calm,” the confidential cable of 13 July 1967 noted. “Ojukwu is dining with Field Commanders in State House tonight.” On the federal side, confusion reigned. They had grossly underestimated Biafran capabilities. “Gowon and his immediate military advisers believe they can carry out a successful operation putting their trust in the superiority of the Hausa s o l d i e r, ” t h e B r i t i s h H i g h Commissioner, Sir David Hunt, told his American counterpart on 31 May 1967. He said further: “A northern incursion would be hastily mounted, ill-conceived and more in the nature of a foray.” Even the Nigerian infantry, which advanced as far as Obolo on Oturkpo-Nsukka Road, was easily repelled. It ran out of ammunition. At the Supreme Headquarters in Lagos, they were accusing Shuwa, the commander, of not sending enough information about what was going on. Shuwa counteraccused that he was not getting

enough and timely orders. Requests for ammunition and hardware procurement were chaotically coming to the Federal Armament Board from different units, not collectively from the central command. Major S.A. Alao, acting commander of Nigerian Air Force (after George Kurubo defected to Biafran High Command) together w i t h t h e G e r m a n a d v i s e r, Lieutenant Colonel Karl Shipp, had travelled to many European cities to buy jets. They were unsuccessful. Gowon had written to the American president for arms. The State Department declined military assistance to either side. Gowon replied that he was not requesting for assistance, but a right to buy arms from the American market. That too was rejected. The CIA had predicted a victory for Ojukwu, but American diplomatic and consular corps in Nigeria predicted victory for the Federal side and concluded that a united Nigeria served American interests better than the one without the Eastern Region. Two conflicting conclusions from an important department and a useful agency. The American government chose to be neutral. Dean Rusk, America's Secretary of State said: “America is not in a position to take action as Nigeria is an area under British influence.” The British on the other hand were foot-dragging. At the insistence of Awolowo, “the acting prime minister” as he was called in diplomatic circles, Gowon approached the Soviet Union. According to a secret cable (dated 24/08/67) sent by Dr. Martin Hillenbrand, American Ambassador in East Germany, to his counterpart in Lagos, MCK Ajuluchukwu, Ojukwu's special envoy, met Soviet Ambassador to Nigeria, Alexandr Romanov, in Moscow in June 1967. Romanov said that for USSR to recognize Biafra and supply it arms, the latter had to nationalize the oil industry. Ojukwu refused, saying that he had no money to reimburse the oil companies and that Biafrans did not have the expertise to run the oil installations. A month later, Anthony Enahoro, the Federal Commissioner for Information and Labour, went to Moscow, signed a cultural agreement with Moscow and promised to nationalize the oil industry, including its allied industries once they got arms to recapture them from the Biafrans. Within days, 15 MiGs arrived in sections in Ikeja and Kano airports, awaiting assemblage. There was no nationalization. Meanwhile, buoyed by the confidence from early success, the Biafrans went on the offensive. Their B26 (one of the six originally intended for use against the Nigerian Navy) was fitted with multiple canon and 50mm calibre machine gun mounts. It conducted bombing raids on Makurdi airfield, Kano and Kaduna. Luckily for Nigeria, the two transport DC3s

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ADVOCATE Continued from page 10 and soldiers wounded in Yahe, Wakande, Obudu and Gakem that arrived Kaduna by train on 11 July 1967 sparked enormous interest in enlistment and volunteering. Recruitment centres were established in Ibadan, Enugu, Lagos and Kano. But it was at the Kano centre, headquarters of the 4th Battalion of the Nigerian Regiment that generated the biggest number of recruits. According to the US confidential cable of 17 July 1967, 20,000 of these were veterans, who had been recruited to fight on the British side in Burma. The Burma veterans marched angrily to the recruitment offices to replace those that had been killed or injured. Around 7,000 were accepted. Of these, 5,000 were immediately sent to the frontline. They said they needed no training; only guns. As they advanced, towards the outskirts of Ikem, 4km southeast of Nsukka, when mortal fires from the Biafran artillery landed close by, inexperienced recruits ducked for cover behind their transport columns out of fear and incompetence in bush warfare. Not these Burma veterans. Damboa, the Regional Editor of the Morning Post, was embedded with some of these veterans under the command of Major Shande, formerly of the 5th Battalion, Kano, which Ojukwu commanded in 1963. One day, at about 2a.m, Biafran forces began firing from the jungle in the hope of drawing a return fire if the enemy was ahead. “But the veterans were too smart and began to creep towards the source of firing. After some time, the Biafran troops began to advance thinking that there were no federal troops ahead since there was no return of fire. They walked straight into the pointing guns of these veterans, their fingers squeezed the triggers,” said Damboa to a US Consulate officer named Arp. These veterans were shooting at innocent Igbo civilians, too. Damboa further told Arp, when he came back from the frontlines on 17 September 1967, that “federal troops were shooting most Ibo civilians on sight, including women and children except for women with babies in their arms. Initially they observed the rules laid down by Gowon on the treatment of civilians. Then, after the takeover of the Midwest, they heard stories that Ibo soldiers had killed all the northerners they found residing in the Midwest. Since that time, Federal troops have been shooting Ibo civilians at sight,” added Damboa. The Midwest Invasion Something was happening to Biafran soldiers, which the Federal troops observed but could not explain. Indeed, the fortunes of the Federal troops were improving. Colonel Benjamin Adekunle's 3rd Marine Commando had landed on 25 July 1967 at Bonny Island, establishing a heavy presence of federal forces in the creeks. Two L29 Delfins fighter jets from Czechoslovakia (NAF 401 and NAF 402) were at the Ikeja Airport and battle ready. Five more, on board Polish vessel

Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

The Untold Story of Nigeria's Civil War

Starving children: Biafran soldiers stole food meant for them

Ojukwu: “Ambitious to alter the political constellation of power in Nigeria by means of the army one day.”

Gowon and Ojukwu share a meal when the going was good Krakow, were a week away from the Apapa Ports. Major Lal, an ammunition ordnance officer seconded from the Indian Army to Nigeria, had arrived from Eastern Europe, where he had gone to acquire information necessary to utilize Czech aerial ordnance. Sections of 15 Soviet MiG bombers hidden in NAF hangars were being assembled by 40 Russian technicians lodging in Central Hotel, Kano. Bruce Brent of Mobil Oil was flying jet oil to Kano to fuel these bombers. Captain N.O.

Sandburg of Nigerian Airlines had flown in seven pilots, who had previously done mercenary work in South Africa and Congo, to fly the MiGs. Names, birthdates and passport numbers of 26 Russians, who were to serve as military advisors had been passed to Edwin Ogbu, Permanent Secretary, External Affairs Ministry. They were in Western Europe awaiting a direct flight to Lagos. But George Kurubo, the Federal Air Force Chief of Staff, who had earlier joined the Biafran high

command, had defected back to the fold and had been sent to Moscow as ambassador to facilitate the flow of more arms from the Soviets. Lt. Colonel Oluwole Rotimi, Quartermaster-General of the Nigerian Army, went to western Europe with a fat chequebook. What followed was the arrival of Norwegian ship, Hoegh Bell, bearing 2,000 cases of ammunition; and British ship, Perang, which discharged its own 2000 cases of ammunition. A German ship Suderholm also arrived. Those in

charge of it claimed she was in Apapa to offload gypsum. But the US defense attaché reported that it was carrying “300 tonnes of 60mm and 90mm ammo.” The Ghanaian vessel, Sakumo Lagoon, was already in Lome, heading to Apapa to discharge its own ammo. A cache of 1,000 automatic fabriquenationale rifles had arrived Lagos by air on 8 August 1967 from the UK. Speaking secretly to UK Defence Attaché, Lt. Colonel Ikwue said he too had gone to the German Defence Firm, Merex, to buy ammunition: 106mm US recoilless rifles at $86 per round; 84mm ammo for the Carl Gustav recoilless rifles at $72 per round; 105mm HEAT- High Explosive Anti-Tank warheads at $47 per round. Ikwue also bought three English Electra Canberra, eight Mark II Bombers at $105,000 each, 15 Sabre MK VI-T33 Jets at $100,000 each. With all of these, Awolowo, rejected Hassan Katsina's request for funding of 55, 000 more rifles for new recruits. However, he agreed once Gowon intervened and assured him it was not a request inspired by fraudulent intentions. Federal troops had captured Nsukka, 56km from Enugu. Over 200 non-Igbo Biafran policemen had fled across the Mamfe border into Cameroun. In Ogoja, the Ishibori, Mbube and other nonIgbo Biafrans welcomed the federal troops after driving out the Biafran troops in a fierce battle. The Biafrans blew up the bridge over the Ayim River at Mfume as they retreated. The momentum was with the Federal side, but they knew their victories were not only because of their military superiority. At critical stages of battle, even when the Biafrans were clearly winning, they suddenly withdrew. An instance was on 15 July 1967, to the west of Nsukka on the route to Obolo. According to a conversation Colonel J.R. Akahan, Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, had with British Defence Advisor, the Nigerian infantry companies of the 4th Battalion, totally unaware of the presence of the 8th Battalion of the Biafran army, were buried under a hail of bullets and mortar. Yet, the Biafran forces began to retreat. This enabled the remnants of the federal infantry company to regroup and successfully counterattack. Even more senior Biafran commanders that should have been aware that the area had come under federal control were driving into the arms of the federal side. Nzeogwu and Tome Bigger (Ojukwu's half-brother) were victims of the mysterious happening. Ojukwu initially put this down to breakdown of communication in the chain of command. During a special announcement over Biafran radio on 15 July 1967, Ojukwu said: “Yesterday, a special attack, which would have completely sealed the doom of enemy troops in the Nsukka sector of the northern front, was ruthlessly sabotaged by a mysterious order from the army high command…Our valiant

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Wife seeks divorce because her husband rapes her ...He sleeps with me six times a day

35-year old woman in Lagos State is seeking divorce, claiming her spouse had repeatedly raped her. Mrs. Bola Bamigbola is praying an Igando Customary Court to

dissolve her 10-year old marriage for alleged frequent demand for sex, and rape by her husband Bola said that Taiwo, her husband, beat her up anytime she refused to have sex with him, adding

that after the pounding, he would still have his way against her consent. “My husband can sleep with me up to six times in a day; he does this everyday but anytime I tell him that I

am tired, he will beat and rape me. “I have reported him to his family members who told him to reduce it to four times a week but my husband refused to comply. “Because of our constant fighting and disturbance, our landlord gave us a quit notice,” she said.

Man rapes mentally challenged girl, reminded in prison

42-year old man, Gowon Ewhe, has been arrested by the police for allegedly raping a 17-year old girl who is mentally challenged and was in chain, in their house at Egan area of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria. Sources said that Ewhe, who is their neighbour, sneaked into a room where the victim was lying

and allegedly raped her. The incident happened at 14, Akindele street, Egan, on the outskirts of Lagos. He is now facing a charge of rape before the presiding Magistrate, Mr M. B. Folami. The court denied him bail and ordered that the father of three children be remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri.

It was gathered that Ewhe, who had earlier gone to work, came back in the afternoon when the victim's parents and his own wife were not around and committed the alleged crime. The matter was exposed when the victim started bleeding profusely. When her parents returned and saw her pant soaked with blood and asked her what happened, she told them what Ewhe did to her. The victim's father went to

Igando police division and reported the incident. When Ewhe was arrested and arraigned in court, he pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor, Nicholas Atumonye objected to his bail and informed the court about the health condition of the victim and said that if the defendant was granted bail, it will send wrong signal to the society. Consequently, he was ordered to be remanded in prison.

She said that Taiwo, 39, was a jealous husband who always suspected that his wife was dating another man. “Anytime I did not come home on time, he would accuse me of being with a man,” Bola told the court last Thursday. She also accused Taiwo of lack of care, saying that he gave her N500 to feed the family for some days. Responding, Taiwo, a trader, said, “What causes the frequent fight between us is that she comes home late and I need her to be close to me.” He said that he cared for his family and regularly gave out feeding money except when he had poor sales. The respondent, however, told the court to grant his wife's wish, saying that he was no longer interested in the marriage. It was learnt that the couple has two children, aged nine years and four years. The President of the court, Mr. R.I. Adeyeri, adjourned the case until March 21 for judgment.

Man, 34, Charged with raping 3-year old girl

34-year old man, Kehinde Paul Layode, has been arraigned before a family court in Ikeja for allegedly defiling a three-year old girl (name withheld). The incident, which happened at 3/5, John Crescent, Igando, Lagos,southwest Nigeria, was

reported at the Igando Police Station. The accused, if found guilty, risks spending a minimum of five years in jail under the Criminal Laws of Lagos State. According to the girl's mother (name withheld) Kehinde was one of her neighbours and she left

her daughter in his custody to get drugs for the girl when the man allegedly took advantage of her. “I was going to make my hair in the salon when I discovered that my daughter's temperature was high and I told Kehinde's wife to help me take care of her. But she asked me to leave her

with her husband since she also wanted to make her hair and that we should go to the salon together.” “It wasn't up to ten minutes after I went to get the drugs for her that I returned to the house and asked Kehinde to open the door but he didn't.

APGA: Umeh asks Appeal Court to halt execution of Enugu High Court order By Ted Peters

court, Umeh stated that he had on February 11, 2013 applied to the lower court for an order of stay of execution pending the determination of his appeal. “Despite my request for a date to be assigned for the hearing of my Motion on Notice dated and filed on 11 February 2013, the said Motion on Notice for Stay of Execution was not heard nor attended to by the lower court before the Record of Appeal was transmitted to this Honourable court and the appeal entered as no. CA/E/84/2013,” Umeh told the appellate court. He noted that consequent to the judgment of the lower court, a group of persons who described themselves as the 'National Caucus' of APGA met, issued a communiqué and passed several resolutions purporting to have accepted the judgment of the lower court and appointing certain persons as officer of the party. Umeh contended that under the constitution of APGA, “none of the persons and/or a majority of the persons who issued/signed the communiqué dated 16 February 2013 are members of the National Caucus of APGA,” insisting that the persons who purportedly issued the

said communiqué were not parties to the suit determined by the lower court on February 8, 2013. The embattled APGA Chairman told the appellate court that by the judgment of the lower court, “the monitoring/approval of the APGA National Convention held on 10 February 2011 by INEC, in exercise of its (INEC's) statutory function under the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), was vitiated/annulled in the absence of INEC and in total disregard of the statutory limitation prescribed by the Public Officers (Protection) Act.” He stated that unless the appellate court grants the order for the stay of execution, “the strangers to the suit acting under the false description of 'National Caucus of APGA' will not relent in depriving me of the exercise of my Constitutional right of appeal as well as creating confusion, disharmony and chaos within our party, APGA.” “Unless by an order of this Honourable Court, the persons 'elected' as 'Acting National Officers' of our party (APGA) vide the communiqué dated 16 February

2013 will continue to usurp my functions under the Constitution of APGA and render my appeal utterly impotent,” Umeh further deposed. While notifying the court that APGA would be adversely affected if the stay of execution order was not made, Umeh said that the administration and management of the political party would be halted and irreparable damage done before the hearing and determination of the appeal by the appellate court. Umeh had prior to the delivery of the judgment of the lower court filed an appeal no. CA/E/14/2013, against the proceedings including the order dismissing his application seeking to disqualify the lower court from continuing with the hearing and determination of the suit for alleged manifest violation of his constitutional right to fair hearing. He sought from the court of appeal inter alia an Order “remitting this case for hearing de novo before another judge of the Enugu State High court…” He, however, told the appellate court that by the lower court's judgment delivered on February 8, 2013, “the lower court has rendered impotent and overreached my appeal already entered in the Court of Appeal.”

Instead, he told me that the girl was sleeping, that I shouldn't bother myself about her. Then I asked him to at least open the door for me to see my girl and he said that he was in the bathroom.” The girl's mother said she was shocked when the door was eventually opened and she discovered that the girl had been defiled. “I insisted that he opened the door. At this point, my daughter was lying down on the bed but was not sleeping. I asked him why he told a lie but he did not respond. I only observed that my girl was looking rather disturbed. “When I opened her pant out of suspicion to check her, I saw sperm in between her thighs. I got really mad at him and asked him what happened but he went really wild and told me that he did not do anything. 'How could I have raped her?' he asked me and when neighbours came around, they were also as surprised as I was,” she narrated. The doctor's report confirmed that the girl was defiled following the tests carried out on her. It was also alleged that the accused had pleaded with the family to settle out of court but the girl's family insisted that they wanted justice to prevail. When the matter was initially taken to the magistrate's court, he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N250, 000 with a surety and the matter was adjourned till Friday, 22 February, 2013. However, the matter was transferred to the family court. The court did not sit on 22 February and the matter was adjourned till 8 April, 2013.

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Obi wants APGA dead... We must stop him â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ndigwe CHIEF AUSTIN NDIGWE, popularly called Uzu Awka, is a founding member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and currently the Special Adviser to the National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh. The erstwhile member of APGA Board of Trustees, BoT and a major stakeholder in the party. In this interview traced the genesis of the current crisis rocking the party, the roles played by Igbo businessman, Prince Engr. Arthur Eze in its formation and the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu's contributions that made APGA to gain Igbo identity among other issues. Excerpts By Ted Peters & Patrick Okolie

You were sometime a member of APGA Board of Trustees? Yes but presently our tenure has expired.

Your tenure expired under Dr. Tim Menakaya as Acting BoT Chairman?

find out where the problem is coming from because he alone knows the owner of the gun used to commit the murder. APGA was formed by Prince Engr. Arthur Eze, Eze n'Ukpo, under the leadership of Chief Chekwas Okorie. The first name of the party proposed was United Peoples Grand Alliance, UPGA and our first logo was the Rising

this APGA was formed. Peter was in London as a trader, he came back, wanted to run for governor and joined All Peoples Party, APP, Ojukwu also was in APP. These are clear facts and other Nigerians particularly the politicians are fully aware of this. Obi left APP and joined APGA under the blessing of Prince Engr. Arthur Eze. We were in Swiss Cottage

and that's where we find ourselves today. Obi is the architect of the Enugu High Court judgment, if he is not, there is no way the court can give a judgment against your national chairman and your state radio is reading it every minute. You have not showed sympathy that your chairman is being embattled, you have not visited him, you have not called a meeting

No, Menakaya was not a BoT chairman in the first instance. Menakaya was just a member. The late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu was the leader of APGA and chairman of the board. Menakaya was just a member like myself.

At what point was Menakaya appointed to act as BoT Chairman? Nobody appointed him and he was never recognized as BoT Chairman. It's just that APGA being a one family for Ndigbo under the leadership of Ojukwu, BoT Chairman, allowed everybody to come in. Menakaya left Peoples Democratic party, PDP when he was removed as a Minister of Health and joined APGA as opposition party to fight the then President Obasanjo. He came into the party and started following Ojukwu, attending party meetings. They just called Menakaya as a member just like I have been following Ojukwu and Umeh; they called us as members to take decisions in the party and that was Menakaya's role. Nobody elected him BoT member.

APGA is currently in crisis following the court ruling that sacked Umeh and all members of the National Working Committee. Majority of Ndigbo are not happy about this ugly development in the party. What do you think is the way out? Well, you see, as our people used to say, especially Awka people, if you want to look for the cause of a murder, you go to the Blacksmith first and foremost, this means that since it is the Blacksmith that manufactured the gun, from that manufacturer of the gun you will

Governor Peter Obi Sun of Biafra to reflect the defunct Biafra's logo and they took it to Abuja but they refused to register it and said we should change of the name UPGA, which was the initiative of M.I. Power (Dr. Michael Okpara). We took a decision to change the name to APGA and our logo was also changed as advised. This decision was taken in Prince Engr. Arthur Eze's house and Arthur brought money and gave to Chekwas Okorie with a mandate to register the party. Okorie went back and registered this party before every other Igboman started coming in. So Arthur played a very vital role. Today he is not in the scene, not because he does not like APGA but because a cabal want to hijack the party without reference to the founding father. Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu came in when this party has already been registered, just to give it a facelift as our Biafrian warlord, as Ezendigbo, believing that his coming will enhance the party's fortune. We believed that if Ojukwu took it upon himself to sell APGA to the Igbos, the party would be welcomed and become truly a national party. That was the role Ojukwu was expected to play because he was not there when APGA was formed. Governor Peter Obi was also not there when

Austin Ndigwe

London when Peter came and begged Arthur Eze informing him of is ambition to be governor Anambra State and that he wanted to run under APGA and Arthur said no. Umeh got angry and left. Chekwas later on came with Peter and pleaded with Arthur to consider Peter Obi's request. Arthur later decided that they should help Peter and he was given the nomination; that was how Peter Obi joined APGA. Today, the crisis that is rocking APGA is a fundamental issue and as an insider, I can tell you that it is a problem between Umeh and Peter. Peter wants to put his successor, I am telling you categorically how the whole crisis started. Umeh told Peter that he has served four years without giving the account of his stewardship and the second tenure is also coming to an end, yet you have not conducted any local government election, how can you be running the state like a sole administrator in a democracy? Umeh told Peter to complete his tenure and leave insisting that the party must choose the right candidate that will succeed Obi. That is why the whole party till today, from ward to the national level, are solidly behind Umeh. Angered by Umeh's position, Peter started fueling this crisis,

which the embattled chairman is supposed to preside over, you went ahead within 48 hours to call a caucus meeting at Abuja and elected somebody who was not even a member of our party someday who was expelled and his expulsion was ratified by the Supreme Court of Nigeria, to lead the party. The highest court of the land had upheld the expulsion of Maxi Okwu and Chekwas Okorie and they have since left the party. So, it is so glaring and obvious that Obi is our problem in this party and he wants to destroy APGA before he leaves office.

Some had said that Obi wants to join another party and that discussions are already on. Have you heard that?

confidence? Because the people love APGA, people believe APGA is the party to beat, people believe Anambra is the think-tank of the Igbo nation, where founding father and every other chieftains of APGA came from. Obi probably might be doing well in other aspects, but the way and manner he has not been carrying his party along did not help matters. How can you run a caretaker committee in Local Governments for eight years uninterrupted without any council election? Anambra is the worst in the whole 36 states, eight years no local government election. No appropriation, all the council funds are being disbursed by his government and he awards contracts in the local government area by himself. These are the things the party is worried about. Let us have a local government election, so that the grassroots people in APGA will benefit but he refused. All the caretaker committee members were appointed by him and they are answerable to him; if you say no, tomorrow you are removed but he cannot do that to an elected chairman because we have three tiers of government. He cannot do it to an elected chairman. In the next eight or nine months he will complete his tenure and that will be eight years without local government election. Not even one election was conducted when the state is supposed to have conducted four local government elections for two- year tenure each. As it is now, not even one election has been conducted and he is not worried about it, that is the fundamental stain that APGA is carrying and we want to cleanse it without Obi.

Some party leaders said the current problem has root in the alleged strained relationship between Governor Peter Obi and his Imo b r o t h e r G o v e r n o r, Rochas Okorocha, how do you see their relationship?

Well, I don't believe so and I don't know the party he will join. The Anambrarians have seen what he has done and the whole world is watching him. If he feels he wants to dump the party because Ojukwu is no more good luck, but let him leave Umeh alone, let him leave the party alone. The party I assure you today can still win election in Anambra state without Obi.

Well, you can see that one of the things retarding the progress of this country is that some people put their selfish interest forward above the collective interest of the masses and above the interest of

What gives you the

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Obi is responsible for APGA crisis â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ndigwe Continue from page 13 the party from where they emerged. You can see that most governors, once they are elected they see themselves as God. Obi and Rochas are not rivals. Rochas has been in this system for years as a politician, as an orator, as a philanthropist, but you can now see that immediately Rochas became governor their relationship became strained. They are engaged in a cold war. I am an insider and I can tell you categorically what is happening. Obi never knew that Rochas will win that election. Obi never knew that it was possible for Rochas to beat Ikedi Ohakim, that was why Obi never supported Rochas. Obi as an APGA governor never attended rally or extend support for APGA in any South-East state, not only in Imo. We lost in Ebonyi where Ogbuewu contested, Obi didn't attend, in Enugu, Obi didn't attend all the campaign rallies. In Imo Obi didn't attend all the rallies and campaigns and he played no role until Rochas became the governor elect and he (Obi) begged me to bring Rochas to his house. Obi was in shock, he never knew it was possible for Rochas to win Imo election. I took Rochas to Obi's house. Rochas, given his benevolent attitude to life, is still nursing his presidential ambition, he wants to rule Nigeria. Obi on the other hand wants to be Vice President under any arrangement he finds himself or at least remain in the system as Minister, Ambassador or any position he can get at the centre. So, if Rochas is building the party, Obi will be scattering it; if Obi is trying to maneuver his own way, Rochas will be finding his own way. You can see that Rochas is talking with All Progressives Congress, APC, he said it is talk and there is nothing wrong in talking, that he wants to see where he can get the interest of the Igbos protected. While he is saying on the radio and television that APGA has joined APC, Obi will be talking about APGA/PDP merger. Obi went on air and said APGA has not gone into merger because he is pursuing his own interest on the left side while Rochas has his own interest to pursue on the right side and it is the party that is suffering now. Two of them have torn down the party because of their personal interests.

Can we say that what is happening in APGA now is because Ojukwu is no more and this is not what the Ikemba Nnewi desired for the party? It's not, that is why I said it is unfortunate. I can understand Rochas' feeling that we are talking and there is nothing wrong with alliance because we are not PDP

member, we are in APGA and if our governor says let us go and talk and go into a coalition between ACN, ANPP, APGA, CPC and other parties, there is hope in it, if they are going to tell us the truth that it is the turn of an Igbo man, then there is a little hope in it. But the way Obi is going about the whole thing there is no hope in it. The court just unexpectedly dissolved APGA EXCO NEC and NWC, he didn't say anything about that, he didn't condemn the judgment rather he lobbied members of NWC to accept the judgment. The next thing, within 48 hours you called a meeting in Abuja and informed the people present that Maxi Okwu is the next interim national chairman. Someone who has been expelled and it was confirmed by the Supreme Court,that shows that Obi doesn't have the APGA interest at heart and wherever Ojukwu is today he will not be

Ndigbo in Biafra. He believes that Igboman must have an identity and that identity is APGA. You can see the West brought out the AD and used it effectively, they moved all their states to one party first. That is what we Ibos are supposed to do, we should move all our states into APGA and move as one political block, and then we can come together and negotiate. Look at the Yorubas, they used AD, when they felt that Obasanjo has infiltrated AD, they dumped AD and went to ACN and still restructured. Very importantly, they restructured ACN and captured their six states. Today it is the same six states that they are using as their platform for negotiation and that is their power. So, if somebody like Arthur Eze should rally round and bring all Ibos together and use this APGA as our own major platform, let us first win all the five states in the South East, it will become a strong

presidential candidate, he did not even spend one night to talk to Igbo leaders to discuss which way forward. What then is your role as a party? And that is why till today APGA does not know what is happening and this is a government that we are supposed to be part and parcel of because we adopted Jonathan as our own candidate. We adopted him yet they couldn't give us even a ministerial slot. The Ambassadorial position we got, Peter Obi gave it out to the person he liked, the other one was given to Bianca Ojukwu in recognition of her late husband's role. So APGA is out of it and this is one of the reasons why Umeh said we cannot adopt the president again. How can we adopt a presidential candidate and gave him the biggest votes throughout the whole federation and there is nothing show for it. This is the problem.

Chief Sir Victor Umeh, APGA National Chairman platform for Ndigbo. If all the Are you saying that governors in the zone will understand even the ones in PDP J o n a t h a n h a s n o t and decamp to APGA and bring compensated APGA or the five states together and hold Ndigbo for the support meetings as brother and sisters, I swear to God, we will get a better they gave to him in negotiation at the centre than what 2011? they are doing today. Everything He has not started at all, anything they are doing today is because of he's doing; he is dealing with Obi their own selfish interest which on his own personal cognizance, will get we Ibos to nowhere. not on the platform of the party.

Prince Arthur Eze happy. It is a national calamity and it's unfortunate. That is why I said in my last interview that they should leave the founding fathers of APGA to take charge of the party. Somebody like Prince Engr. Arthur Eze should come back and restructure the party. He will use his popularity, his benevolence and every other thing to get people back into party. With or without Obi, APGA will move forward and do better.

Will that bring about a Prince Arthur Eze has b e t t e r p o l i t i c a l not been an active development in the member of APGA even South East? though you said he has I believe so because there is no been playing silent way we can have five APGA governors in South East just like roles, do you think he ACN have, if Jonathan wants to will accept to play this run he will not come and negotiate because this is the heart of role or have you talked Ndigbo. It is high time people stop with him on that? using Ndigbo as stooge. For I have not talked to him on that because Arthur, as I said is a philanthropist, he gives all parties money, and he gives money to all candidates, depending on where the candidate is coming from. But he looks at APGA as a very sentimental thing that is very dear to his heart because of the role of

example, when Mr. president was conducting his campaign he was in Lagos state in South West over 15 times negotiating with them, but Jonathan came to Anambra spent only four hours and left to another state because we don't have any platform. Even when APGA adopted him as their own

Has he ever met with Victor Umeh who is the National Chairman? They have been looking down on Umeh because of all sorts of stories they tell the president about him. Why can't the president meet with the National chairman in appreciation of the tremendous support we gave to him during his election? The last time they called him (Umeh) was because of the fuel subsidy. All the leaders of the national parties were invited and Umeh went there with about few leaders of the party. The same people who have benefitted enough in this government like ACN which produced the Minister for Agriculture and other thing, refused the removal of fuel subsidy. It is the same APGA

Chairman (Umeh) who moved the motion in support of the president saying we are solidly behind you anything that can make your government stable, we are supporting it by hundred percent, go ahead and remove the subsidy. This was against the position of Bola Tinubu and every other leader of the parties who categorically said no to subsidy removal. Still today we are getting nothing from it rather they are ganging up to remove Umeh for nothing.

Some people trace the problem in APGA to the era of Chekwas Okorie and Ojukwu. What was the issue between the two personalities even though Ojukwu is dead now? It was not an issue between the two personalities. Ojukwu was our boss. Chekwas is Ojukwu's boy to an extent because without Ojukwu coming to join us, the truth most be said, APGA might not have that stability in the first instance. That is the truth but they disagreed on the point of BoT Chairmanship . Chekwas said Ojukwu can't be BoT chairman and he (Chekwas) will be the national chairman of the party since all of them are from the same zone and of one tribe, that he should give it to West or North. But because of Ojukwu's military background, he felt that Chekwas challenged him and walked out of the meeting and from there the strife began. He said he doesn't want Chekwas again, the crisis started from there, this is the truth. Unfortunately, today everybody is talking, Dora Akunyili is talking, Tim Menakaya is talking, they are ganging saying they are members of national caucus. Where is the national caucus in our constitution? What is their role? This meeting they purportedly held in Abuja under national caucus is null and void and of no effect because there is nothing like APGA National caucus in our constitution, and how can you now say the National caucus has met, you are now mandating the interim government to go and conduct election. Which election? APGA constitution is very clear on this issue, it's only NEC who has power to convey meeting and the same NEC was sacked by Enugu high court, so nobody has power to conduct that meeting unless if they are registering a new party, it becomes a new formation, based on that new formation, you can now say you are setting up a new national executive committee with new leadership. But if it is an existing party, nobody has power or right to do anything

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Debe not our family member, Lotanna Ojukwu tells court

he disagreements over N500 million property left behind by late D im Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu has taken another turn as Lotanna Ojukwu told a Federal High Court in Lagos, that Chief Debe Ojukwu was never a grandson to Sir Lious Ojukwu. Latonna, in a 22 paragraph affidavit, countered the prayers of Chief Debe Odimegwu Ojukwu, the purported first son of late Ojukwu, who is seeking the leave of court to enforce his fundamental human rights. “That the applicant to the best of my knowledge as well as to the Ojukwu family is not and has never been a grandchild of the late Sir L.P.O Ojukwu,” Latonna said, adding that all the respondents did

know him as the son of Emeka Ojukwu. Debe had sued OTL asking the

court to enforce his fundamental human rights. Joined in the suit are: Prof. Joseph

Debe Ojukwu

O j u k w u , E n g r. E m m a n u e l Ojukwu, Lotanna, Bianca Ojukwu, Patricia Ojukwu, Mrs. Margaret Mogbo (nee Ojukwu), Inspector General of Police, former Commissioner of Police, Anambra State; Ibrahim Muktar and Mike Okoli, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Anambra State. Debe had insisted that he is a bona fide member of Ojukwu family, born to Emeka Ojukwu of Umudim Nnewi, Anambra State and his wife Margaret in August 3, 1956. He averred that he was having a flourishing career in the Nigerian Police force when his service was suddenly truncated at the instance of 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th respondents who came begging him to manage OTL on their behalf even though they did

not contribute anything to his upbringing. Among other things, Debe claimed that all the children and grand children of the founder of the first respondent had enjoyed full care, attention, nurture and qualitative education at the expense of the estate as stipulated by the said founder, late Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, but were denied him by the respondents till date. But Lotanna in response denied the allegations and described the application as misconceived and replete with falsehood, adding that the whole Ojukwu family is not aware of any Margaret who had ever been the wife of the late Emeka Ojukwu. The matter is before Justice Grace Onyeabor.

Rawlings blames conflicts in African on lack of freedom and justice By Ted Peters

ORMER Ghanaian President, Jerry Rawlings, yesterday, identified the failure of most African countries to ensure freedom, justice and economic balance for the citizens as the major causes of incessant conflicts on the continent. He also said that corruption had remained one of the main weaknesses of the African continent which must be effectively checked, to enable the continent achieves appreciable economic growth. Rawlings spoke with newsmen at the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu on his way to Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka , Anambra State, where he delivered a lecture entitled “Eradicating Corruption in Africa” as part of the Zik Annual Lecture Series endowed by Senator Ben Obi, Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Inter- Party Affairs. The former Ghanaian president, who ruled as Military and Civilian President of the Republic of Ghana for over 20 years, said he was in Nigeria again after his last visit in 2012 for the funeral of the l a t e B i a f r a n l e a d e r, D i m Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu, “to share few thoughts on how we can eradicate, contain or control corruption on the continent.” “I think we all know that it (corruption) is one of the main weaknesses in the countries in this continent. And I hope to share some thoughts from my own experiences and I can tell you that the lecture will be very interesting to all as I will speak from my own experiences in Ghana,” he said. Asked if he was satisfied with the level of economic development on the African Continent, Rawlings said: “To some extent I will say

yes we are but taking a looking at the Egypt, at Tunisia and to a lesser degree Tripoli, the countries looked highly developed but I guess the development must have taken place at the expense of the rights, freedom and justice of the people and that is what led to the backfiring. “So, I think the best form of development is where you do not do it in the absence of, but as a compliment of the rights of our people. It is important that we make sure that things are grounded in a strong sense of freedom. “The political atmosphere must

truly be owned by the people. That is the surest form of stability but everything is the collapse of the bipolar world. And globalization has created an environment where most Africa is being assimilated and most of that assimilation is being done not on our terms. “What we can do to claim our rightful place in the global trend is something we will live to see or we will work harder to achieve.” On the causes of incessant conflicts being witnessed in most African countries, the exGhanaian president said though they were part of the burdens

inherited from the colonial era, the unfortunate development should be blamed on the numerous socioeconomic imbalances which had created much stress on the society. His words: “Most of these things are related to some of the unfortunate burdens that we have carried from our colonial era. The nature of our development has also not redressed some of those socio-economic imbalances the ethnic aspect of things and it has created much stress on our societies. “Unfortunately, sometimes it explodes in form of conflicts but I can only hope that when true

justice falls into the hands of our people, not just fall, if we create an atmosphere that ensures true freedom and justice on our continent, such conflicts will be a thing of the past. “But when you have an imbalance in terms of development or impoverishment of our people, naturally it creates stress on our lives, and it creates an unhappy ending and that is not what we want. That is why I am citing the Egyptian situation as an example and that of Tunisia for instance; you don't develop at the expense of freedom and justice.”

Umuada Igbo to build modern Medical,Cultural Centre ...Begins Home-Coming Initiative for Black Americans By Chioma Jumbo

pan-Igbo organization for women of Igbo extraction, Umuada Igbo founded in 1998 is set to commence construction of a stateof-the-art modern medical and cultural centre to cater for the health needs of Nigerians and check the tendency of Nigerian patients travelling abroad especially to India for medical attention. Speaking to newsmen on the occasion to mark the United Nations Women's Day, the National President of Umuada Igbo in Nigeria and Diaspora, Lolo Kate Ezeofor stated that a l r e a d y, a w o r l d r e p u t e d architectural firm, Ekwueme Associates has started the architectural drawing for the project. The project which has acquired a 7 x 7 hectares of land at Omogho, Orumba North local government area of Anambra State, would handle treatment of such diseases as cancer, kidney problems, heart diseases, orthopaedic cases, gynecology/maternal health, prostate disease, and other

deadly/infectious diseases. Lolo Ezeofor stated further that the centre was conceptualized to solve the health needs of patients who could not afford the cost of travelling abroad for medical attention. She lamented that no fewer than 5,000 Nigerians travel overseas for medical attention with its attendant huge foreign exchange waste and medical tourism benefitted by the host country. According the Umuada Igbo leader, the modern medical cum cultural centre would boast of doctors, pharmacists, nurses, paramedical and other ancillary staff. She called on philanthropists and other well meaning Nigerians to come to the assistance aid of the organization in its efforts to make healthcare available, accessible, affordable back home, stressing that building blocks would be named after a project sponsors at the centre. Meanwhile, the Umuada Igbo plans to attract Igbos whose forefathers were sold into slavery and are now known as AfricanAmericans, Caribbean-

Americans and West Indian Americans. She said that after she had explained the details of her vision on a short visit to United States of America, some black Americans became more eager to trace their root and contribute to the bilateral and economic relationships with their country of origin. Lolo Ezeofor pointed out that through such efforts of identification of routes, there exists an Igbo Village in the Southern Virginia, USA, adding that Umuada Igbo-USA has its own special uniform. She expressed happiness with the Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi for accepting to inaugurate the Home-Coming Initiative of the black Americans from Igbo extraction, pointing out that these lost Igbos were sold through the Bight of Biafra among other routes to foreign countries. She recalled a discussion she had 10 yars ago with a Haitian who she said had told her that his forefathers told him that his original home was in the land of Ibo, adding that 70 percent of black Americans sold as slaves are

from Igboland part of Nigeria. On why the home-coming initiative was launched in Anambra State on 28th February, this year, Ezeofor explained that Anambra State was the first place in Igboland that the descendants of Jacob led by Eri, the son of Gad, and forerbear of Aguleri, in Anambra East local government area of the state who left Egypt through River Nile and crossed to Ethiopia through River Benue to River Nigeria and settled at ObuGad (Gad's palace) where Eze Chukwuemeka Eri, the Ovuofo Ndigbo has his palace. She stated that part of agenda of the organization for the revival of the culture of the Igbos include the commemoration of United Nations World Mother Tongue Day last month of February and organization of the Nwada Igbo Di Nma, Diogo Cultural Contest (a beauty contest) which highlights covered quiz competition, traditional wrestling, fashion parade, and debate. According to her, the major achievements of the group include the actulalization of unity among Igbos as well as eradication of harmful traditional practices against women as well as bad widowhood practices.

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Former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings and Senator Ben Obi shortly on arrival at the Akanu Ibiam Airport Enugu on Friday en route the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where he delivered the Zik Annual Lecture on the topic â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eradicating Corruption in Africa. The lecture series endowed by Senator Ben Obi was organized by the Faculty of Political Science. Pix 2. Jerry Rawlings, Senator Ben Obi and Professor Jibril Aminu at the VIP lounge of Akanu Ibiam airport, Enugu Friday.

Senator Gilbert Nnaji representing Enugu East Senatorial Zone signing condolence register when he visited the bereaved family of late Kwara State Police Commissioner, Mr. Chinwike Asadu at Amorji Nike, Enugu Thursday.

Right to left: Enugu State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime, Clerk of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Christopher Chukwura, Speaker of the House, Mr. Eugene Odo and the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Chime Oji, while signing the 2013 appropriation bill into law, at the Government House, Enugu.

The G.O.C 82 Div 1st from the right hand side of the Enugu cp during the visit.

Enugu CP Tonye Ebitibituwa receiving a souvenirs from the G.O.C

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo (l) with FRSC Corps Marshal, Chief Osita Chidoka during his visit to FRSC for his new drivers licence in Abuja on Friday

Commissioner of Police, Plateau, Chris Olakpe, inaugurating a Vigilante Group in Jos on Friday

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Fashion

Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

h! Peer pressure never ends and it's so true with fashion as most guys and ladies are pressured into wearing what's in vogue even when it doesn't go down well with them, some just give in, buy wears that's never out of style and save yourself from spending even more because some of these in vogue wears gets out of style in a year or two no matter how much you love them. Timeless wears defines who you are. I'll like to give some of my clothes to my d a u g h t e r, d o n ' t know about you.

o not wear heavy makeup in hot weather. The more you apply, the more likely it is to melt and streak. Little makeup applied lightly will last much longer. Never forget to apply a sunscreen. Not only will it make application easier and help makeup adhere to your skin, but it is vital to protecting your skin against the sun's harmful rays. As a staple in acne treatment, Vitamin A is often found in retinoid. Retinoid are topical acne treatments prescribed by dermatologists, according to mayoclinic.com. Vitamin A in retinoid will promote cellular turnover, helping keep pores clear. But getting plenty of Vitamin A in your diet from dairy pro ducts or fish oils is great for the skin too, say experts from the Acn e website. It's important that get enough Vitamin A. Vitamin-Nutrition reports that a deficiency in Vitamin A can actually cause acne. Vitamin-Nutrition recommends up to 10,000 IU of Vitamin A to successfully fight acne.

Love Note

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Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

‘Umeh remains APGA Chairman’ Continues from page 14 pending the determination of the appeal filed by Umeh at the Court of Appeal which may proceed up to the Supreme court, It is then Umeh will now know his fate. If Umeh fails, I bet, that is the end of that party because you cannot do anything by law without NEC. So if they wanted to call any meeting, they should have waited to hear Umeh's appeal, highest it can be accelerated hearing. For example, let's assume if the Court of Appeal says we are setting aside the lower court's judgment, which we are hoping it will do, what will be the fate of Maxi Okwu and his so-called executives. It is a wasted effort and that will tell you that somebody is fueling this crisis because he believes that his interest is not protected.

Do you think that INEC will recognize the new interim executive led by Maxi Okwu? INEC can never do that, I know Professor Attahiru Jega. Jega is a respected student of rule of law, nobody can ever recognize them. INEC will not do that. They have tried to go there but INEC said no, we have a served copy of Notice of Appeal. Umeh remains the national chairman until the Court of Appeal says otherwise. If the Court of Appeal says otherwise then Umeh goes to Supreme Court, till the last court of the land says this is the position, then that will be the end of APGA. Any member of APGA can go to court and challenge what they did in Abuja because they have no power under the provision of the constitution to call a meeting of APGA. There is nowhere in APGA constitution where it says if a court nullifies NEC or sack NEC the caucus will take over, not even BoT, so it's not possible . It is a kangaroo arrangement. Peter always claims that he has no problem with Umeh. If people ask him, he will say they are in good terms, I never had my problem with Umeh and I will not have but they same Umeh was sacked by court , he (Peter) didn't deem it necessary to visit him as the National chairman who signed your two governorship nomination forms. He didn't call a meeting to ask which way forward, he didn't make a statement as a governor of APGA condemning the ruling, rather he embraced the ruling, and he started sharing money among the other NEC member to accept the ruling so that they can move ahead and set up a kangaroo executive. Obi is the architect of the whole crisis in APGA.

What do you think of Dr. Menakaya who continues to claim that

he is a valid member of the APGA Board of Tr u s t e e s a n d h a d powers to convene the party meeting in the absence of the NEC? I have said it earlier on in an interview, the major problem we Nigerians are having is that we are short-sighted and we forget easily, we don't remember history of yesterday. How can Menakaya be claiming to be a founding father of APGA, when he was in PDP, he served as a Minister of Health under PDP, he has gone to convention many times as a delegate and voted Obasanjo in the primaries. Menakaya just joined us by accident, if Menakaya was not sacked, as a minister, I can tell you that he will still remain in PDP, the same thing with Dora Akunyili. So you people can now check when he was made the minister and when he joined PDP and when he left PDP for APGA, calculate the years. Ojukwu just brought him just like Umeh and Ojukwu brought me too. So he can't claim to be BoT acting chairman made by Peter alone. The same way Peter made himself a national leader of the party, he was not nominated by anybody. It is only national convention that has the power to elect national officers, national leaders and BOT chairman, so those things they are doing are being done by people who don't see more than 50-feet ahead. It could have been better if they say today that they are adopting CPC or CPP of Maxi Okwu, from there they can conduct a convention and elect everybody. Why do they want to destroy the party that gave them the name they have today? It is only APGA that made Obi whatever he is today. Nobody knew him before he came into APGA. He was just a trader, even in his hometown he was not very popular. APGA brought him to limelight in Nigeria and internationally and he ought to protect that ladder with which he climbed up.

They held a meeting at Abuja and nominated Maxi Okwu who until then was the national chairman of Citizens Popular Party. Is Okwu really a member of APGA? It's funny and very unfortunate, how can you elect somebody who is not a member of a party to be a national chairman of another party? How can you elect someone who is a national chairman of another party to lead APGA? Maxi Okwu left APGA when Supreme Court said he was no longer a member and was totally sacked and his sack ratified by Supreme Court. They

went and formed another party and he became the national chairman of that party, CPP. Chekwas Okorie went out and formed UPP and became the National Chairman of that party, it is as good as calling Chekwas back and making him the new national chairman without going through the process of convention. I mean it's funny, Nigerians are just laughing at them. Maxi Okwu as I am talking to you now is not a member of APGA and cannot be our chairman. By constitution, there is no vacancy to even warrant such action until the Supreme Court says there is vacancy. Look at the way Obi is trading with the rule of law - the same Obi came in through the court by the same rule of law. INEC declared Dr. Chris Ngige winner, you said you won the election, the same Umeh was Prosecution Witness (PW1) in all your cases and you waited for three and half years before you were sworn in as the governor and you went for tenure interpretation which everybody helped you including myself, and you got it for another four years, you waited up to Supreme Court to get your tenure elongation. You waited for the court of appeal verdict after the Election Tribunal in Awka said Ngige won. Nobody forced Ngige out. You went to appeal and you continued to be governor for another seven to eight months before court of appeal ratified it and you were now sworn in. So how do you want Umeh to be

swept out of office because Enugu state high court has said he is no more chairman? You want to sweep him out of office because you want to put your successor in 2014. So that is the problem, he is in a hurry to sweep Umeh out even when he is a student of the same history. In your own time, you waited for months before Supreme Court said go back to office your tenure has not finished and you came back to office but now you want Umeh to pack his load and go simply because one junior court did not recognize the convention that elected him. They have to wait.

Looking at the relationship between Obi and Victor Umeh the National Chairman, what do you think went wrong along the line because they were relating all these while? I have said it earlier, Umeh told Obi to conducted local government election and he refused. Umeh told him that if he wants to appoint caretaker it is your right but you should appoint APGA members. Obi refused but he is insisting that Umeh must accept his own governorship candidate for 2014 which Umeh declined saying 'look I can't fight you because we are members of same party but complete your tenure and go'. Umeh said we

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will make the nomination open and it will be free and fair and whoever wins should have it. This is the sin Umeh has committed and therefore he must be removed at all cost so that he will have his way.

Who is Obi really trying to put as his successor? I don't know but there are over four to five candidates. It is not in our constitution, everybody who is a member of APGA has right to vie once you are over 35 years old and you have a minimum of school certificate which is the basic qualification. So the issue of zoning does not come in but he is using it to confuse people.

Finally what is your advice for the large supporters of APGA in the current crisis? My candid advice to the party and our supporters is that they should keep calm, be prayerful at this period. Our Muslim brothers in the party should also keep calm and be prayerful and support Umeh till the last court of the land says otherwise. It is then we will now know our way forward but we must exhaust all our fundamental rights in court of law before we know the next line of action. That is my advice to anybody who is a faithful member of APGA. They should continue to pray for Victor Umeh and support his course in this fight for justice, pending the determination of the pending appeal. It is only then we will now know the next line of action but there is hope that justice will come positively.

Abia 2015: Group moves to unite Ngwa guber aspirants By Christian Chiemela

HE National Coordinator of Project2015 D o o r 2 D o o r transformation for Ngwa Leadership in Abia State, Comrade Charles Okechukwu has called on all Ngwa indigenes at home and in Diaspora to support the move by the organization to ensure the emergence of a consensus governorship candidate from Ngwa area of Abia State ahead of the 2015 general election. Okechukwu made the call while speaking to newsmen at his Umuogu Nsulu hometown in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State. According to the youth activist, every other political interest groups in Ngwaland should dissolve into project2015 Door2Door transformation to ensure that only an acceptable Ngwa aspirant emerge as Abia Governor.

The need for Ngwaland to produce the next governor of the state, he reiterated, could not be over-emphasized recalling that “the geographical entity which is today referred to as Abia State was created out of the old Imo State on August 27, 1991 by former President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. “Under the old Imo State, the present Abia State constituted two senatorial zones of Aba Zone and Umuahia Zone. These two zones were drawn in accordance with cultural delineations dating back to colonial times, namely; the Old Aba Division comprising Ngwa and Ukwa people, and Old Bende Division comprising Umuahia, Aro-Ohafia, and Afikpo people. “The people of Afikpo are presently in Ebonyi State. It is also noteworthy that out of the seventeen Local Government Areas in Abia State, the Old Bende Division has eight Local Government Areas while the Old Aba Division (Ngwa/Ukwa) has a majority of nine Local

Government Areas. “Out of two million, eight hundred and forty five thousand, three hundred and eighty (2,845,380) population credited to Abia State in the 2006 National Population Census, the people of Old Aba Division have One million four hundred and fifty eight thousand four hundred and thirty one people (1,458,431) while the Old Bende Division including Isuikwuato are One million, three hundred and eighty six thousand, nine hundred and forty five, (1,386,945) in number.” Okechukwu expressed concern that in spite of the population advantage of the Old Aba Division over the other zones, the people of Ngwaland that control the largest population and large number of intellectuals in Abia state have continued to suffer serious neglect. He promised that the project2015 Door2Door would be launched officially to set the ball rolling for full integration of all stakeholders in the march towards electing an Ngwa Governor for Abia State come 2015.

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Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

Govt must subsidize computers for students – Ekeh

HE Federal Government has been called upon, as a matter of urgent national importance, to initiate a policy of subsidy of computer ownership for students at various levels of education in the country. Chairman of Zinox Technologies, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh made this call in Lagos while receiving officials of Intel Corporation of the US who paid him a visit. Chief Ekeh said that if the aviation sector could have Aviation Development Fund, the maritime sector, the Ship Acquisition and Ship Building Fund among others, then there is no need why computer ownership and education for the nation's children should not have such a fund. And for the nation's technological development, he added that only the Federal Government could, through mandatory patronage, ensure sustainability of the digital assembly plants of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the country. Chief Ekeh said that of necessity, government should immediately commence the subsidy of computer ownership for all students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. “If government makes available just one hundred billion naira for the subsidy of computers for all Nigerian children, that would be an investment that will yield dividends in trillions of naira. This is because youths so equipped with computers today will be the engineers, lawyers, farmers, pilots, and other professionals of tomorrow, and the nation will benefit as they will be better trained than their forebears. “Empowering the young ones today with IT equipment is a surer way of ensuring a future Nigeria that can provide for its people, sustain the unity and stability of Nigeria, and lead the rest of Africa. Until this is done, democracy dividends cannot be said to have been delivered.” Chief Ekeh also used the occasion to announce that in a bid to increase its production capacity, the Zinox Group will commission a new plant in Lagos this month. He added that Zinox has also strengthened its partnership with Intel Corporation, the global leader in computer chips and hardware manufacturer. Ekeh said the long technical relationship between Zinox and Intel has been sustained through shared core values of innovation, trust, and grass roots relevance. We l c o m i n g t h e I n t e l

delegation, Chief Ekeh stated that the partnership with Intel is an endorsement of the worldclass standards in production and corporate governance that have

been put in place by the company. At the Zinox Group office in Lagos, where the partnership was strengthened, the two companies informed that the main thrust of

Chief Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman, Zinox

this relationship was to continually seek way to address the needs of consumers in different strata ranging from individuals in the education sector and ancillary sectors that bear requirements for advanced technology. Zinox okay, says Intel Global Vice President, Intel Corporation, Mr. Greg Pearson said that Intel was pleased to partner with Zinox, a regional leader with the capacities and high ethical value required to deliver on its promise to use technology to drive development nationally and internationally. Expressing enthusiasm for the Nigerian hardware industry, Pearson said that as a longstanding member of the Intel Diamond Club, Zinox would continue to enjoy information and technical exchanges to make the company more relevant to the economy. He said that Zinox shared the Intel

passion for adequately empowering the education sector. He informed that Zinox has been responsible for the computerization of over 65 per cent of the tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Of late, he said, Zinox developed and deployed the largest e-learning suite in Africa solely for the purpose of providing affordable access to content for the education sector. “The Zinox world-class hub, which went live, recently would bring relief to many educational institutions beginning from April 2013 when Zinox streams eContent to educational institutions at half the present cost”, he stated. The Zinox boss revealed that the ultra modern factory would begin production before the end of March while explaining that, the delay in bringing up the factory was due to the irregular power supply in the country.

Abia State University withdraws Orji Uzor Kalu's certificate

he Abia State University has withdrawn the degree certificate it awarded to a former governor of the state, Orji Uzor Kalu. The Registrar, O. E. Onuoha, on Saturday said the decision was taken after an emergency meeting of the university senate which considered the recommendations of a panel which investigated the allegations levelled against Kalu. Onuoha said, “On the strength of the findings and recommendations of an investigative panel into

allegations of breach of the extant academic regulations of Abia State University, in the admission process of the admission and graduation of Kalu Orji Uzor in the discipline of Government and Public Administration, of matriculation number 00/42226, the Senate of the university at its resumed 69th extra-ordinary meeting of March 1, 2013 and by a vote of 88 against three dissenting voices only, approved the cancellation and withdrawal of the degree, result and certificate awarded to him. “The decision of Senate was based on the following grounds

among others: The violation of the academic regulations of the university on Admission-byTransfer, which rendered the offer irregular, ab initio and the he noncompletion of the mandatory six semesters (i.e. three academic years of study), before he was awarded a degree of the university. He spent only two semesters in all. “The university Senate maintained that its action, aforesaid, derived from the exercise of its onerous statutory responsibility to guard and maintain , at all times, the academic regulations of the university, its hard-earned

reputation and the credibility of the certificates it awards.” After Kalu had dropped out of the University of Maiduguri, he re-enrolled at the Abia State University while he was governor of the state. As the visitor to the university at the time and there were allegations that Kalu was an absentee student. The admission and graduation of Kalu, the university stated, made mockery of its academic rules and regulations. When our correspondent called Kalu for his comments, he said, “My lawyer will reply at the appropriate time.”

We won't recall expelled students –FUTA VC

he Vice-Chancellor, of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Biyi Daramola, has said that the decision of the institution to expel some students over various offences will not be reversed. The Disciplinary Committee of the institution had recommended the expulsion of some students after they were probed for violating its regulations on examination, and conduct. Daramola spoke with our correspondent at the Summit of Academic Advisers and other Students Service Support Providers, organised by the Students Affairs office of the university, on Friday. The summit aimed at exploring specific areas of

cooperation and collaborative working relationship towards a more comprehensive coverage of students' counselling and management for academic excellence. Members of the university community have been living in fears in recent times due to destruction of the institution's property allegedly carried out by the expelled students. Our correspondent learnt that a bus and a hall being used by the University Diploma Students were destroyed recently while the perpetrators threatened to bomb the main campus if the management refused to recall them. The VC maintained that the decision of the disciplinary committee on the issue was final because the university would not compromise discipline.

He said, “We award the university's certificate in learning and character; hence, any student found wanting will be disciplined. So, we stand by the decision of the disciplinary panel, we won't compromise on the discipline of our students. “We are investigating cases of the arson, intimidation and sale of university property. We cannot close our eyes to the character of our students.” Daramola added that the summit would make the members of staff in the students support services to be more alive to their responsibilities of bringing students up to be responsible citizens. The Dean, Students Affairs office of FUTA, Dr. Boniface Alese, said the summit was organised to remind academic staff and other support service

department of their responsibilities as in-locus parentis to the students. Alese said while the students were away from their parents, the university workers should become the parents, adding that there were certain things that should be done in order to guard them so that they would achieve their objectives in school. He said, “We need to show them love. We should try to meet their yearnings in terms of their welfare and also carry them along in policy formulation, whenever major decisions are taken. “FUTA has indigent students' scholarship programme. Last year alone, we gave scholarship to 30 indigent students and each of them was given N25, 000. We identify indigent students through their departments every year.'’

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I can't declare amnesty for ghosts – Jonathan …209 schools destroyed by insurgents Geidam

resident Goodluck Jonathan declared, Thursday , that his government will not grant amnesty to members of the Islamic militant sect, Boko Haram, as demanded by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III and some Northern groups. The president, who made the declaration while speaking in Damaturu at a town hall meeting during his one-day visit to Yobe State, said he could not grant amnesty to ghosts but that he was open to negotiation if members of the sect would show themselves physically with their demands. However, Governor Ibrahim Geidam of YobeState, said his government had spent about N4.8 billion to contain the insurgency and that the state spends about N200 million monthly to maintain the operations of security personnel fighting the insurgents. Responding to calls by some professionals and stakeholders in YobeState, led by former Minister of Finance, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, for amnesty for the Boko Haram group, President Jonathan said such a gesture would not be possible for now because members of the group have remained “ghosts” with no one coming forward to admit membership of the sect. He said: “You cannot declare amnesty for ghosts. Boko Haram still operates like ghosts. So, you can't talk about amnesty for Boko Haram now until you see the people you are discussing with.” Comparing the amnesty granted to militants in the Niger Delta, Jonathan said this was possible for late President Umaru Yar'Adua to do because the militants came out of the creeks and met late President Yar'Adua in Aso Rock, Abuja when he invited them, but that in the case of Boko Haram, no leader of the group had surfaced for talks. The President said: “When you call the Niger Delta militants, they will come; but nobody has agreed that he is a Boko Haram member, no one has come forward. If amnesty can solve the situation, then no problem. But nobody has come forward to make himself visible.” Jonathan, in his speech, advised members of the sect to come out with their demands and grievances that would pave the way for negotiation and subsequent resolution for the overall development of the state. While sympathising with the people of YobeState over the wave of attacks by the sect members, the President debunked insinuations that he had no love for the people of the state and North-East geopolitical zone of the country. Yobe State has been a flashpoint with the Boko Haram insurgency and series of ethnic clashes and this is the first time the President is officially visiting the state. Acknowledging contributions of the people to the socio-economic development of the state despite the

security challenge, Jonathan assured that the Federal Government would continue to assist the state in the area of educational development. He also said the Federal Government would intensify its effort in providing power and water supply across the country. Eminent sons and daughters of the state pleaded with the President at the session to help the state get rid of the insurgency that has claimed hundreds of lives and property as they also sought the President's assistance in the development of education, roads among other infrastructural needs in the state. President Jonathan, who later visited Borno State, yesterday, assured the people of the state that his inability to visit and share in their grief was not because he did not care for them, but because he had been travelling. He said the Yobe trip had been slightly delayed by the change of National Security Adviser, NSA, stating that the trip had been planned even before the appointment of Sambo Dasuki as NSA.. Governor Geidam, speaking earlier during the President's meeting with emirs and traditional rulers from the state, lamented that the Boko

Haram insurgency had retarded development in the state. He said before the security challenges, the state was adjudged as one of the most peaceful in the country while the people were

known for their hospitality and affection towards strangers and coexisted peacefully irrespective of ethnic, religious or political differences. Governor Gaidam said 209 public

A VISIT TO BORNO: President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, during a visit of the President to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Thursday .

schools, vehicles and property worth N2.5 billion, and private buildings estimated at N629 million have been destroyed by the insurgents. He added that his government had spent about N4.8 billion to contain the terrorist insurgency, adding that the state government spends an average of N200 million monthly to maintain the operations of security personnel fighting the insurgents. Lamenting that the costs are impacting heavily on the lean resources of the state, Geidam said over 150 patrol vehicles had also been donated to the security personnel. He said: “It is in this regard that I make a special appeal to the President to come to our rescue by allocating intervention funds to the state government to enable it cope with the current security challenges.” The governor also said though there was a need to upscale the modernity of the equipment and methods of the nation's security agencies to tackle the prevailing challenge, “the ultimate strategy of addressing its remote causes through poverty alleviation, eradication of ignorance, entrenchment of social inclusion and good governance, however, appear to be the only panacea.”

…CAN blasts Sultan over Boko Haram amnesty call

HRISTIAN Association of Nigeria, CAN, Thursday, dismissed the call by the Sultan of Sokoto and PresidentGeneral of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, on the Federal Government to grant “total amnesty” to members of Boko Haram sect for the sake of peace. CAN in a statement by its General Secretary, Dr. Musa Asake, said it categorically rejected any offer of amnesty for members of Boko Haram sect. The statement said: “Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, is surprised and puzzled by the statement credited to the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji Muham-mad Sa'ad Abubakar III, that the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, should be granted “total amnesty” for the sake of peace in Nigeria and that “the bottom line of the problem facing us has been injustice meted out to people who are not supposed to. “We wonder what the Sultan meant by injustice in relation to the activities of Boko Haram sect when members of the group are a bunch of fundamentalists who have killed, maimed, deformed Christians and made orphans and widows of otherwise peaceful and lovely families. “They have also displaced people, destroyed businesses and livelihoods in their thousands. Would the Sultan sincerely attribute the perpetration of the injustice to

Christians? “If it is injustice, is it not government that should be held accountable? Why would the sect not hold their representatives at the various tiers of government responsible?” “The Sultan should be told that we

have since found out that the attacks are primarily targeted at Christians and their Churches. Who then is suffering injustice? Who needs justice? Christians or those killing and bombing Churches? “The injustice to Christians killed,

maimed and rendered helpless by the sect is underscored by the payment of the sum of N100 million to the late sect leader's family by the Borno State government without any assistance to any of the Christian victims of Boko Haram.”

13 Christians murdered by Boko Haram for children if any man was found refusing Muslim prayer shielded,” Bello recounted. “We are pained over the silence of the

HE Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN has urged the authorities to probe the gruesome killing of 13 factory workers identified as Christians at Sheka, Sharada Phase 111 in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano, by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members. Although CAN has started its own probe of the killings, it wants the police to unravel what really happened. Reports said terrorists stormed the residence of the factory workers at the weekend and killed all the men except, sparing the women and children.. “The occupants of that compound are mostly factory workers, and they are Christians. The gun men who came in taxi asked if they were not observing the evening Muslim prayers; and when they confirmed their victims were Christians, they started killing them sparing only the female and children. “After the attack, I counted at least, 13 dead bodies murdered in gruesome manner. Security agencies later came and evacuated them, while the very few of them who survived the attack fled the area and vowed never to return,” said a resident of the area. Bishop Ransom Bello, CAN chairman in Kano has been in a very bad mood,

not only because of the killings but what he described as the non-chatlant attitude of Kano state government over the incident. Bello who is also the General Overseer of Calvary Life Assembly said he has handed over the matter to CAN's national leadership, adding that with what is happening, it has become obvious that Christians are no longer safe in Kano. “Reports of the attack reaching us disclosed that on that fateful Saturday at about 7 p.m, Muslim faithful were conducting their prayer close to the affected compound occupied by Christian families, when two taxi cabs stopped in front of the compound and the occupants, who all concealed their arms dashed into the complex and demanded to know why the residents were not part of the 7 p.m. Muslim prayer. “They responded by telling the visitors they were Christians and so could not be part of the Muslim gathering. At that point, they separated the men from their wives and children and shot them dead on the spot after ordering the women and children into their homes. The 13th victim, who hid in a dark alley in the compound, surrendered himself, following threats by the gunmen to visit the same fate on the women and

relevant authorities in the state, including the government on such a high profile murder. Even though we believe it is the handiwork of extremists, who do not see the reason why the Muslim North should accommodate Christians. We are really worried that nobody from the government has deemed it right to console the family of those that were killed,” Bello lamented. He added that, “government should show more concern, like it has always done when Muslims are affected; I have not seen that in the case of Christians that 13 Christians were killed in one straight attack and nothing is heard from the government reflects selective justice because we are aware of compensation paid to Muslim families in situations of this nature.” Kano state Commissioner of Police, Musa Daura confirmed the incident, saying that a special investigative team has already been dispatched to fish out the killers of the 13 men. Daura who described the incident as unfortunate, embarrassing and barbaric, urged Kano residents to cooperate with security agencies by giving useful information on crime, terrorist activities and strange movement within their areas.

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Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

4-year old girl raped to death

he Anti Crime Squad of Imo State Police Command has arrested a 30-year old man, Onyebuchi Ejimkonye, for allegedly raping a four-year old girl, Chinasa Dickson, to death. The poor little girl was on her way to school when she was ambushed by Ejimkonye, who mercilessly subjected her to a marathon sex in a nearby bush and she died on the

spot. The police equally rescued a 15year old girl, Miss Odinaka Chukwu, who was abducted by suspected ritualist and taken to a shrine a forth-night ago. Parading Ejimkonye in Owerri, Thursday, the State Commissioner of Police, CP, Mr. Mohammed Musa Katsina, however said that although the ritualist is now on the run, his identity has been known and the

police is trailing him. On the death of little Chinasa, the CP explained that some villagers, who were passing close to the scene of the crime sensed that something fishy was going on and sought to find out what it was. “Ejimkonye, who hails from one of the communities in Oru East local council area of Imo State, was on the verge of burying the little girl in a shallow grave when he was nabbed by the villagers”,

the CP said. According to the Imo police boss, the villagers quickly alerted his men, adding that the suspect was arrested on the spot. “The lifeless body of the unfortunate child has been recovered but post mortem examination was yet to be conducted”, the CP recounted with grief. Answering questions from journalists, Ejimkonye gave a

Gunmen kill Mopol Commander in Kano

unmen Monday night shot dead a commander of Mobile Police Squadron 9 located in Hotoro area of Kano metropolis. SP Dahiru Musa Majia was trailed to his private residence at Layin Transformer in Sabuwar Gandu

by assailants driving a car and killed shortly after 7pm. Monday's killing was the first on a serving senior police officer in the state, but no group has yet claimed responsibility for it. Witnesses said the commander was trailed to his house by the assailants shortly after Magrib prayers. The officer, who lost his wife about two months ago, was

said to have married another wife only a week ago. A female resident of the area who would not want her name mentioned, said the attackers continued to shoot in the area after killing the cop. She said that gunshots rent the area for over 30 minutes after the attack. “There were policemen guarding the house, but they were

withdrawn later,” she said. Residents said the victim died on the spot, as he was fatally injured. The deceased was a DPO of Gwagwarwa Police Division in Kano metropolis, before he was posted to Kaduna State. He was, however, transferred back to Kano to head the Mopol 9 Squadron in Hotoro. The state police command confirmed the killing.

graphic account of how he committed the heinous crime but blamed the entire incident on “devil's work”. In a similar development, Mr. Katsina disclosed that a gang of dare devil kidnappers, led by one Alaribe Martin Uche, from Ngor Okpala local government area, has been smashed. “Our operative, on a credible tip off, stormed their hideout. On seeing the police, the hoodlums engaged our men in a gun duel. This led to the killing of Alaribe on the spot and the recovery of their operational vehicle”, Katsina said. Additionally, the Imo police chief said a 75-year old man from Aniocha, Delta State, who was kidnapped in Ohaji/Egbema local council area, has been rescued after exchange of fire with the hoodlums. “One of them, who fled in the process but later resurfaced, has been arrested. His confessional statement took the police to Rivers State, where his colleagues in crime were arrested”, the CP said.

Kidnappers abduct 5 Lagos-bound passengers along Benin-Sagamu road ...As Abia govt demolishes kidnap kingpin, Ofeakwu's property

ive Lagos-bound passengers were kidnapped along Lagos-Benin road near Ogbemudia farms in Edo State and their whereabouts remained unknown by press time. The passengers' abduction by gunmen on a federal highway has introduced a more dangerous dimension to the current spate of insecurity in the country. It was gathered that the passengers were among occupants of a Greener Line space wagon Siena bus travelling from Warri, Delta State to Lagos when they ran into

a barricade along the Benin-OreSagamu-Lagos road. The suspected kidnappers were

said to have blocked the highway with a truck, and the bus driver on sighting the barricade, slowed

down. Soon after, some gun-totting men were said to have emerged from the bush and took the passengers hostage after allowing the driver and one passenger to go and give information about the incident. It was further learnt that one of the victims who lives in Lagos, was said to be returning to the state after a naming ceremony of his new-born baby in Warri when he was abducted along with other passengers. The father of the victim, a retired army colonel, said that the

CP's killing: Chime expresses shock, pledges support in hunt for killers By Ted Peters

overnor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has said the State would provide all necessary assistance to security agencies in the country to ensure that the killers of Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr

Chinwike Asadu were tracked down and brought to book. The Governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Achife, described the killing of the Police Commissioner last weekend in Enugu as shocking and dastardly adding that no effort will be

spared to fish out the culprits. He expressed regret that Mr Asadu, who was an indegene of Enugu State, suffered such a cruel fate after many years of dedicated service to the nation. He added that the development was even more disheartening as Mr Asadu was close to retirement from

service when he was murdered. Governor Chime extended his condolences to the Inspector General of Police, the family of the deceased Police Commissioner and the government and people of Kwara State assuring them that the people of Enugu state shared their grief and outrage over the unfortunate incident.

Army 'll support police to fish out Kwara CP's killers soldiers of his Division prayed for command over the huge loss. He – GOC 82 Div the repose of the soul of the late assured that his command would By Ted Peters

eneral officer commanding 82 Division of the Nigeria Army, Enugu, Major General Adebayo Olaniyi has described the death of the Kwara state commissioner of police, Mr. Chinwike Asadu in Enugu as shocking and unfortunate saying God in his infinite mercy will expose his

killers. The GOC stated this during a condolence visit to State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tonye Ebitibituwa at the Police Headquarters, Enugu over the death of the Kwara State police boss. Condemning the armed attack on the CP who only returned to Enugu to see his family last weekend, Major General Olaniyi, on behalf of the officers and

police commissioner pledging that the military command would support the police in ensuring that perpetrators of the crime were fished out as quickly as possible and brought to book. Responding, the state commissioner of police thanked the GOC and his entourage for finding time out of his busy schedule to pay his command visit and to commiserate with the

stop at nothing in partnering with his division to ensure that crime and criminality were curtailed in the state. He also solicited for the cooperation of the members of the public, the media and other relevant stake holders in the state in the battle against crimes, adding that investigations into the murder of the police commissioner were ongoing.

kidnappers had made contact and demanded N3 million ransom to set his son free, even as he pleaded with them to release his son unhurt, saying that it was difficult for the family to raise the amount they demanded. When contacted, Edo State Police Command Acting Public Relations Officer, Awhara Ejiroro, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

Abia demolishes kidnapper's property Meanwhile, the Abia State Government has demolished some property belonging to a suspected kidnap and armed robbery kingpin, Olisagbo Ifedke, aliasOfeakwu. The Government demolished Akoto Bar and Resort Ltd, a relaxation centre allegedly owned by the suspect who was arrested last year in Anambra State. The demolished relaxation centre was located at No. 2, Afaraukwu Road, beside Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Umuahia. Also demolished was a twin bungalow in Agbama Housing Estate in the city which also belonged to the suspected criminal. The demolishing team was led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Task Force and Allied Matters, Capt. Awa Udonsi Agwu (rtd). According to Agwu, the demolished buildings, after investigations, were discovered to be property of the suspected kidnapper hence the decision to destroy them. It will be recalled the Anambra State Government last year, also demolished some property belonging to the suspect in the state.

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Philip Eke, Yenagoa

on. Iselema Gbaranbiri, peoples democratic p a r t y ( P D P ) chairmanship candidate in the

Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

forth coming Local government election in kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa state, has stressed his commitment of giving the needed development to the peace loving people of kolokuma/opokuma

local government area. Gbaranbiri made the assertion while fielding questions from our correspondent in yenagoa, pledged to bridge the democratic dividends when voted into power, for the one year of

By Edem Archibong, Calabar In effort to boost the tourism vision of government, the Department of Public Transportation (DOPT) has commenced in earnest, the segmentation of Calabar City into the Central Business Districts, the Semi-Urban centers and the rural areas for purpose of carrying commuters to their various destinations through the use of tricycle (Keke), Buses and Taxi operators. Speaking to the Advocate in Calabar after addressing the surging crowd of tricycle operators under tide security in the heart of Calabar south Local Government, Barrister Edem Effiom Ekong, the Special Assistant to Senator Liyel Imoke, the state Governor, on Public Transportation system revealed that plans has been concluded by the government to acquire more urban mass transit buses to complement the initiative. He explained that the current restriction placed on tricycle operators to operate in sub-bob only and non highway areas is deliberate since this type of vehicles is not of choice for carrying passengers as they have no doors like the buses and taxis to convey passengers into the Calabar Central Business district. Mr. Edem-Ekong also said that the tricycles are only permitted to operates from the Anatigha area to Cross River State University of Technology (Crutech) junction through New Airport Road, Jebs Road, Afokang Prisons Road and terminates at iman junction; the Mbukpa area route start from Iman junction, Idang, Edibe Edibe networking through Mbukpa and terminates at Eyo Ita Streets junction . For those commuters residing within Edim Otop Area, the tricycles will operates starting from University of Calabar Hotel Road and pass through to Edim Otop Street and its environs including all roads within the satellite Town; Nyak-Asang Area start from Nyak-Asang/Atimbo Road junction including all Streets in that area but excluding Atimbo Road itself; while the Ikot Eneobong axis takes care of all the streets around the zone

Senator Liyel Imoke, the state Governor excluding Mutala Mohammed Highway. The Nasarawa/Bakoko area start from the pedestrian bridge along the Highway including all the streets in the area; Ikot Ekpo area involves the both sides of the connection but certainly not including the Highway and the Tinapa Road; Ekorinim 1&2 does not include the Highway; the NPA/harbor road start from the Mutala Mohammed Highway to E s u k U t a n / N PA / E P Z b u t excluding the highway itself while Esuk utan can be approached after the Synto Oil Filling station to the NNPC depot but barred from the roundabout

By Philip Eke, Bayelsa

ayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson says the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was being repackaged for efficiency, cohesion and unity to enable it play its leading role in the affairs of the country. Governor Dickson made this remark, while fielding questions from Government House correspondents shortly on arrival from Abuja, where he was part of current efforts at repositioning the ruling PDP for maximum results.

and the Highway. On the opportunity created for not less than 4,000 buses and 4,000 cab operators, the transport boss gave the total of keke operating in Calabar metropolis before the restriction as 3,000 and appeal to the buses and cab operators to catch into this to fill the gap as government cannot allow the tricycles to dominates the Calabar City Central Business district but provide equal chance for every sector to participate. The former NBA Chairman dismissed plea of the state tricycles Chairman calling for increase of tickets fees from the

Assuring the supporters of the party in the state that all is well, he also reacted to rumours making the rounds in the state about his office; describing the rumours as baseless and attributed the development to lack of education and idleness. Governor Dickson noted that his administration's major focus was in the area of education and by the time the policies in the sector take root and jobs are created for the many jobless youths, the problem would be minimized. He restated his administration's commitment to tackle the myriad of developmental challenges facing the State and called on Bayelsans to remain steadfast in

Governor Seriake Dickson's Restoration Agenda, Hon. Iselema Gbaranbiri highlighted some developmental projects of the restoration government, stressing that nearly 300 kilometers of new roads, 10 bridges and over 400 public

reduce rate of #150 daily to #200 to enable the tricycle Union to take care of hoodlums and the wards exco members of the PDP who had been one of the beneficiaries of the astronomical collection as well as welfare package to the Union members who receives not less than #100.000.00 during their parents burial, #100,000.00 for doing wedding while they collect as much as #50,000.00 for child dedication ceremony monthly from the previous arrangement. In brief chart with Journalist, the State Chairman of the Tricycle Operators Union, Etinyin Ekpenyong Bassey Ewa-Effiom expressed their complete loyalty and respect for the state government fro reducing the ticket fees from the former #600 daily to now #150 but lament the absence of welfare package for their members which has been removed due to the slash on tickets. He said that the reduction is as a result of the long time negotiation which they have been having with the S.A to the Governor on Public Transportation and decided to be humble with the Government over the restriction of tricycles operators since they came to realization that they cannot use violent to get what you want.”We are pleading with government because the registration is N5,500. How can the operators pay this amount without having the routes to drive”?

their prayers for the administration. Governor Dickson later inspected a guard of honour m o u n t e d b y a detachment of the Nigeria Police, Bayelsa State Command at the Government House gate, Yenagoa. On hand to receive the Governor were the State Deputy Governor, Rtd Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, Secretary to State Government, Professor Edmund Allison-Oguru, some members of the State Executive Council, the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, CP Kings Omire and other top Government functionaries.

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buildings are under construction, in just one year. Moreso, the Nembe-Brass road project which had to be redesigned after the recent unprecedented flooding in the state, Hon. Gbaranbiri noted the indication of the Dickson administration's commitment to a total turn around in the development of Bayelsa state in which the provision of infrastructure is the linchpin. Hon. Gbarabiri appealed to Bayelsans to give ultimate support to the Dickson's led government to the promise land. The chairmanship candidate, in his fervent words without mincing of action emphatically pledged that education wound be his top most priority when voted into power, perhaps of the crucial nature of education in achieving any development. “Kolokuma/Opokum would have a sight of relief in every strata of development”, he therefore appealed to the electorate of olokuma/Opokuma local government, especially of eligible voters to massively vote the peoples democratic party into victory. Hon. Gbaranbiri, for word of advice to youth in kolokuma/Opokuma local government and Bayelsa state in general urged youth to make the best out of the society, tasking them that they are future leaders of tomorrow. The chairmanship candidate further noted that the society is obsessed with people who are interested in what they get out of governance than what they can put into it. Youth should demonstrate the spirit of service to humanity. While thanking youths, in kolokuma/Opokuma local government area for the great peacefulness, without peace, Gbaranbiri said no meaningful development will take place, he pledged to use his good office as chairman of kolokuma/Opokuma local government area to enhance lasting peace and aggressive development when voted into power. Hon. Gbaranbiri used the medium to thanked the executive governor of Bayelsa Hon. Seriake Dickson, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state, Rear Admiral G. John Jonah (rtd) the state chairman of PDP, Col. Sam Inokoba, Barr. Perediagha Ajoko, chairman Bayelsa state house of assembly service commission, Hon. Tonye Isenah, member Bayelsa state House of Assembly Representing kolokuma/Opokuma constituency one and all friends and party faithfuls that made possible his election victory during the party primaries, finally, tasking all eligible voters to come out en mass to vote for PDP.

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Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

Atiku backs Rotary Club polio campaign with $500,000

ormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar has donated half a million US Dollars ($.5m) donation to the Rotary Club District 9110 Nigeria to fight the polio epidemic. The donation was announced at the well-attended "Dinner and Dance Ball" of the club held at the Muson Hall, Marina, Lagos on

Saturday. Atiku, who had made an earlier donation of a quarter of a million US Dollars($250,000) to the Rotary Foundation in the previous year, thereby becoming the highest individual Nigerian donor to the causes of the philanthropic club upped his act on Saturday night when he announced a

further donation of 250,000 US Dollars. In making the donation, Atiku called on his Muslim brothers in Northern Nigeria to embrace the on-going immunisation against the deadly disease, arguing that the religion of Islam was being misrepresented by those opposing vaccination against Polio.

"I hope my brothers and sisters will receive vaccination for their children and understand that it has nothing to do with religion," Atiku said. For this huge donation, Atiku received praises and prayers from Engr. Joshua Hassan, the Rotary Regional Foundation Coordinator for Africa, former Secretary

(Minister) of Health, Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi and the District 9110 Governor, Dr. Kamoru Omotosho. In his response an elated Dr. Omotosho called on wealthy Nigerians to emulate the gesture of Atiku by contributing to causes that will benefit the less privileged in our society.

HIV Cure Finally Found? ....Two men free Cancer Treatable & Curable If Detected Early Experts from HIV after Bone Marrow Transplants

n o t h e r m a j o r breakthrough was reported in the search for a cure for AIDS. .After bone marrow transplantation, two HIV-infected men have no longer any trace of the virus that causes AIDS in their cells, researchers report. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cells and are a key part of the immune system. U.S. investigators suspect that the bone marrow transplant, together with the continuation of antiretroviral therapy as a result of the dramatic effects evident eight months after transplantation. They are scheduled to present preliminary findings Thursday at the International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC. HIV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy often get "an undetectable viral load" meaning no virus particles in their blood. But they still have latent HIV in their cells, and if antiretroviral therapy was stopped, it could reactivate latent

HIV. Because they had no traces of HIV in their white blood cells is an indication that the "pool" of latent HIV may have been eliminated, the researchers believe. At this point, researchers are far from saying these patients are cured. However, the findings are "exciting," said Dr. Savita Pahwa, director of the Center for AIDS Research at the University of Miami Miller School of

Medicine, who was not involved in the study. "Each clue that is obtained that it is possible to eliminate latent HIV must be investigated," she said. "The elimination of the reserve HIV is the key to a cure," said Pahwa. She stressed it would only be possible to say that these patients were "functionally cured" if the virus will not reactivate when the patients were off antiretroviral therapy.

Heteropaternal Superfecundation: when different men are responsible for one pregnancy

t used to be regarded as a myth, but today we have cases of superfecundation in

humans. Superfecundation is the fertilization of two or more ova

from the same cycle by sperm from separate acts of sexual intercourse. Heteropaternal

ancer is treatable and urable if detected early according to medical experts in the country who spoke at a symposium in focus of theme of the 2013 World Cancer Day: “Dispel damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer: Did You Know?”. At the event organised by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said the belief that cancer was a death sentence was not only incorrect but popularise by nasty experiences of those who present their cases late in hospitals

Idris who was represented by the State Acting Director of Disease Control, Dr. Bakare Omowumi also dismissed the misconception that cancer is a disease of the wealthy, adding that, “the disease is rampant in both middle and low income countries of the world, including Nigeria. Also speaking, Director General, NIMR, Professor Innocent Ujah, lamented that cancer had become a hydraheaded disease that needs support of every Nigerian to overcome.

superfecundation occurs when two different males father fraternal twins. The terms are practically equivalent because, though it is speculated that superfecundation by the same father is a common occurrence; it can only be proven to have occurred when there are multiple fathers. The word which came from the Greeks was probably gotten from cats and dogs, which can bear litters in which each offspring is from a different father. Stray dogs often produce litters in which every puppy has a different father; they look so dramatically different from breed to breed that a discrepancy in paternity was bound to be noticed. It wasn't however until relatively recently that superfecundation in humans was discovered. I believe the incidence of superfecundation was not noticed in humans earlier because of the values the world once embraced. People hardly had multiple sex partners, and for those who had, sex wasn't something they had with different men in a short space of time. Superfecundation most commonly happens within hours or days of the first instance of fertilization with ova released during the same cycle. There is a small time window when eggs are able to be fertilized. Sperm cells can live inside a female's body for 45 days. Once

ovulation occurs, the egg remains viable for 1248 hours before it begins to disintegrate. Thus, the fertile period can span 57 days. Now, tell me why we can't have several cases of superfecundation today when our value system has dropped so low that sex isn't just a big deal anymore. While it's proven that it occurs, scientists obviously want to k n o w h o w o f t e n superfecundation happens. The only way to test how often superfecundation occurs is performing genetic or blood tests on fraternal twins, and seeing how many have two different fathers. The data varies hugely. One test shows that while there are only about three cases of heteropaternal superfecundation in an overall test database of 39,000 records, but the rate goes way up when the parents of twins are in a paternity suit. About 2.4 percent of tested twins, in those cases, were heteropaternal. Another study suggests heteropaternity among twins in the general population to be as high as one pair in four hundred and estimates that one in twelve sets of fraternal twins are the result of superfecundation, if not superfecundation by two different fathers. A Turkish man has decided to divorce his wife after DNA tests showed he was the father of only one of their twin boys.

THE

Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

The Untold Story of Nigeria's Civil War Continued from page 11 troops were treacherously exposed to enemy flanks.” At 9.30p.m on 8 August 1967, Biafran forces invaded the Midwest. In the recollection of Major (Dr.) Albert Nwazu Okonkwo, military administrator of Midwest, made available in confidence through an American teacher living in Asaba to Clinton Olson, Deputy Chief of Mission in Lagos on 1 November 1967, it was known by 4 August 1967 in Asaba that the Midwest, West and Lagos would soon be invaded. On 5 August, Ojukwu had warned the Midwest government, headed by Colonel David Ejoor, that if northern troops were allowed to stay in the Midwest, the region would become a battleground. Many Midwestern officers knew of the plans; some of them had gone to Biafra earlier to help in the preparations. Lt Col. Nwawo, Commander of the Fourth Area Command at Benin, was probably aware. Lt Col. Okwechime, according to the document, certainly knew of it. Lt Col. Nwajei did not know and was never trusted by the anti-Lagos elements in the Midwest. “After the Biafran takeover, Nwajei was sent back to his village of Ibusa, where he was said to be engaged in repainting his home until just the arrival of Nigerian troops in the area,” disclosed the document. Major Albert Okonkwo, later appointed military administrator, did not know in advance. Lieutenant (later Major) Joseph Isichei and Lieutenant Colonel Chukwurah were not informed in advance. “Major Samuel Ogbemudia participated in the invasion, properly by prior agreement,” the document stated. That night of 8 August, Biafran army units blazed across the Onitsha Bridge and disarmed the Asaba garrison that was then stationed at St Peter's Teachers' Training College. Then they went on to the Catering Rest House, where Midwest officers were living, and disarmed the officers. The only exception was Major Asama, the local commander, who escaped and drove to Agbor at about 22.30hrs. There were no casualties except for one officer with a gunshot wound in the leg. The invading force drove to Agbor, where it split into three columns. One column drove northwards towards Auchi and Aghenebode. A second column went to Warri and Sapele. “The main force led by Victor Banjo was supposed to drive on to Benin and capture Ijebu-Ode, reach Ibadan on 9 August, reach Ikeja near Lagos by 10 August, setting up a blockade there to seal off the capital city,” the document quoted Okonkwo as saying. However, this main column stopped in Agbor for six hours, reaching Benin at dawn. There was no real resistance in Benin, where no civilian was killed. The main column left Benin for Ijebu-Ode early in the afternoon. It stopped at Ore, just at the Western Region's

Ojukwu

Gowon: Fired Adekunle for losing Owerri (his wedding present) to Biafra

Achebe: Made himself an Igbo writer rather than a writer who is Igbo border. According to US Defense Attaché report, three weeks before, Ejoor informed the Supreme Headquarters that he had information that Ojukwu was planning to send soldiers in mufti to conquer the Midwest. So, the 3rd Battalion, which was heading towards the Okene Idah route to join the 1st Division on the Nsukka frontline, was ordered to stop at Owo. The first Recce Squadron from Ibadan, which had already reached Okene, was reassigned to take care of any surprise in the Midwest. By the time Lagos heard of the invasion, this squadron was quickly upgraded from company strength to a battalion, with troops of Shuwa's 1st Division across the

river, and another battalion was stationed at Idah to hold a defensive alignment against any Biafran surprise from Auchi. Upon receiving the telephone call from Major Asama about the Biafran invasion at Asaba, Ejoor hurriedly left his wife and children at the State House, went to his friend, Dr Albert Okonkwo at Benin Hospital to borrow his car. He then sought asylum in the home of Catholic Bishop of Benin, Patrick Kelly. In his first radio address to the people of Midwest on 9 August 1967, Banjo said Ejoor was safe and “efforts were being made to enlist his continued service in Midwest and in Nigeria.” Ejoor stayed in the seminary next door to

the bishop's house for almost two weeks, receiving visitors including Banjo, Colonels Nwawo and Nwajei, Major (Dr.) Okonkwo, who were trying to persuade him to make a speech supporting the new administration. Ejoor refused. He was told that he was free to go wherever he wished without molestation. Not trusting what they might do, he went back to Isoko his native area, where he remained till federal forces captured it on 22 September 1967. Before Banjo knew the full score, he met with Mr. Bell, UK Deputy High Commissioner, the evening of Benin invasion. Bell summarized his and Banjo's words as: a. There were no fatal casualties though some were wounded. b. Ejoor and two senior officers were not in Benin when Eastern troops arrived. Bell had firm impression that they had been warned about the day's event. c. All the Midwest is now under the control of combined East/Midwest forces. d. East was asked to cooperate by certain Midwest officers because an invasion of the Midwest by the North was imminent. e. That he does not agree with Ojukwu on the separate existence of Biafra. He is convinced that a united Nigeria is essential. f. Bell said he saw only three officers at the army headquarters: one was a Midwestern medical officer (Major Okoko). All others were Easterners. Meanwhile when Banjo made the first radio address, he announced the impending appointment of a military administrator, but there was considerable difficulty among the Biafran and Midwestern leaders in selecting a suitable man. First choice was to be someone from the Ishan or Afemai areas. Someone from the Delta was next, preferably an Ika-Igbo. However, the stalemate continued until Ojukwu intervened and selected Albert Okonkwo. Ojukwu knew Okonkwo only by reputation. Okonkwo had certain things that recommended him. First, he had an American wife, which cut the family/tribe relationship problem of those times in half. Second, he was considered to be politically “sterile,” having been in the US for 13 years and was not associated with any political party or faction. Third, he was commissioned a captain in the medical corps on 2 October 1965 and just made a Major on 22 June 1967. The implication was that he was not tainted by army politics. He was also very pro-Biafra. As soon as Okonkwo became military administrator, Banjo was recalled to Enugu to explain the failure of the military campaign. During his absence, the Midwest Administration was established (an Advisory Council and an Administrative Council). Banjo succeeded in convincing Biafran leaders in Enugu that his halt at Ore had been dictated by military expediency. He then returned to the Midwest front. Banjo informed Okonkwo of the military situation through Major Isichei, Chief of

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Staff of the Midwest. Isichei later commented that he had noticed that Banjo's headquarters staff never discussed plans or operations in his presence. Through Isichei, Banjo told Okonkwo that Auchi had been lost after a fierce battle when, in fact, it was not defended at all. Suspicions began to thicken around Banjo. Okonkwo, in a confidential statement made available to the Americans, said he also noticed that Banjo obtained money by requisition from him for materials, food and officers salaries', thus drawing on the M i d w e s t t r e a s u r y. O n 1 9 September, when Okonkwo telephoned Enugu, he discovered from the Biafran Army HQ that Banjo was simultaneously drawing funds from Biafra for all these supplies. Okonkwo sent Major Isichei to arrest Banjo for embezzlement, but they found that he had already left Benin and had left orders for all Midwest and Biafran soldiers to fall back to Agbor. Okonkwo ordered his Midwest government to move from Benin to Asaba, which it did that day. The seat of the government was behind the textile factory, in homes once inhabited by expatriates. In August, Okonkwo tape-recorded five broadcasts to be used when possible. Those included the Declaration of Independence and the Proclamation of the Republic of Benin, as well as a decree setting up a Benin Central Bank, a Benin University, etc. The Republic of Benin Proclamation was delayed while the consent of the Oba of Benin was sought. Finally, just when the Oba had been convinced that the Republic was “best for his people,” the actions of Banjo were discovered and the Midwest seemed about to be lost, or at least Benin was undefended. Okonkwo went ahead with the broadcast early on 20 September 1967 in order to record for history that the Midwest was separate from Biafra. It was the last act of his government in Benin. Early afternoon on 9 August, Banjo's main force left Benin for Ijebu-Ode. It was composed of both Biafran and Midwest units. Midwest troops, who were mostly Igbo, had joined the “liberation army”. Commanding the Midwest forces with Banjo was Major Samuel Ogbemudia, who had been nursing the idea of defection. When the troops reached Ore and halted, Ogbemudia disappeared to later rejoin the Nigerian Army. Lt. Col Bisalla, acting Chief of Army Staff, confirmed that Ogbemudia, in the morning of 9 August, telephoned him precisely at 7:20am to inform him of the “trouble in Benin.” According to Standish Brooks, the US Defense Attaché, Ogbemudia was the first Nigerian officer to attend American Military School's counterinsurgency course in Fort Bragg, 1961. Brooks said after his arrival in Lagos on 9 September 1967, Ogbemudia said: “He escaped with a small group of nonIbo troops from the Benin garrison and have been waging a guerrilla

Continues on page 25

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Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

The Untold Story of Nigeria's Civil War Continued from page 24 warfare against Eastern units. Having run out of ammo, he made his way back to Lagos.” Army Headquarters believed him and Brooks' report further stated: “Ogbemudia would be sent to the headquarters of Second Division in Auchi to assist in operational planning because of his intimate knowledge of the Midwest area and his recent experience in the Midwest under Eastern control.” From 20 September onwards, the Midwest and Biafran Army began to fall apart. The 17th Battalion in Ikom mutinied and fled. So did the 12th and 16th Battalion in the Midwest. In the evening of 22 September, the Midwest paymaster, Col. Morah, from Eze near Onicha Olona, offered an American expatriate in Asaba £3, 000 if the American would arrange for Morah to get $5,000 upon his arrival in the United States. This would have been a profit of about $3, 400 to the American. The offer was refused. Later on September 25, Morah disappeared with £33, 000, the document said. This was the time six NAF planes went on reconnaissance and reported back to the Defence Headquarters that they had noticed “heavy movements of civilians over the bridge from Asaba to Onitsha,” but did not have the details. On 27 September, Okonkwo called a meeting of all Midwest civil servants, where he said if the Nigerian Army reached Agbor, he would close the Onitsha Bridge. He would not let the civil servants abandon the population of Asaba to the inevitable massacre when the Federal Army reached the town. The people of Asaba knew by this time of the killings of Igbos in Benin when the federal forces reached it on 20 September. Everyone assumed that it would happen in Asaba. From 20 September, there were no Biafran soldiers stationed west of Umunede, east of Agbor. O n 1 O c t o b e r, M i d w e s t commanders in Umunede and Igueben, south of Ubiaja on the Auchi-Agbor Road, fled from their positions. Their Biafran subordinates promptly retreated. Constant streams of retreating Biafran and Midwest troops filed through Asaba on 2 and 3 October. The Biafrans were usually mounted in vehicles, while the Midwesterners had to walk. The attitude of the Biafran soldiers and officers was that they would not fight for the Midwest if the Midwest Army did not want to fight. In Asaba on 2 October, the elders and chiefs met to consider sending a delegation to the approaching Nigerian Army to surrender the town and ask for protection in return for help in finding and capturing Biafran soldiers in the town. Cadet Uchei, who brought soldiers to stop the delegation with death threats, thwarted this effort. At this time,

Ojukwu some 35 non-Igbos were rounded up and given shelter at St. Patrick's College, Asaba. Twice, Cadet Uchei brought soldiers to kill the refugees and arrest the Americans in charge of the school. On the first occasion, Lt. Christian Ogbulo, ADC to Okonkwo, stopped the attempt. Cadet Williams from OgwashiUku brought soldiers to rescue only the Americans from Uchei's second attempt. Also on 2 October, Col. Chukwurah, who had been the commanding officer at Agbor, came to Asaba and told the Midwest Army HQ staff that he had overthrown Okonkwo and he was now military governor of the Midwest. Chukwurah fled across the bridge to Biafra before nightfall. Only two of the officers of the Midwest Army were known not to have fled from battle during the campaign: Major Joe Isichei (who was a Lieutenant on August 9) and Lt-Col. Joe Achuzia. Gathering a few soldiers, they attempted to shoot their way out. Okwechime was seen in Onitsha at this time; he had been wounded. By the evening of 2 October, the Midwest Army was completely dissolved. From 6 a.m on 4 October, machine gun-and mortar fire was heard near Asaba, but the direction was uncertain. It was later discovered that the firing came from AsabaIsele-Uku Road. At about 1p.m, as the staff members of St. Patrick's College were leaving the dining room, the first mortar shell landed on the school football field. Mortar shelling continued until dusk. Federal troops reached the northern edge of the campus, along the Asaba-Agbor Road, at about 5p.m. By noon of 5 October, there were six battalions lining up on the road in front of the college, according to Captain Johnson, who was third in command of the 71st Battalion. By the evening of 6 October, Federal forces held the

road all the way into the Catholic Mission, two miles inside Asaba. Biafran resistance west of the Niger was over. Major Alani Akinrinade commanded the 71st Battalion. (Akinrinade in a clarification, said his command was the 6th Brigade and truly he was in Asaba at this time. His second in command was a Tiv officer, older than Alani. The men of this battalion were mostly Yoruba and Tiv, with some Delta (Ijaw) men. “Most spoke English. They were disciplined, courageous and polite,” the American report stated. Captain Johnson ordered the Americans to leave Asaba by the morning of 6 October. The reason was understood to be that the 71st Battalion was unable to guarantee their safety from the “second wave” of federal soldiers, known as “the Sweepers” coming behind. “The Sweepers” were only briefly observed, but they wore long hair, had “cross-hatching tribal marks on both cheeks” and apparently willing to live up to their reputation as “exterminators.” According to secret cables sent from American embassies in Niger and Chad to the Embassy and consulates in Nigeria, thousands of Nigeriens and Chadians crossed the border to enlist for the war. Ten trucks of Nigerien soldiers were seen being transported for service in the Nigerian Army from Gusau to Kaduna and over 2,000 more waiting on Niger-Nigeria border for transportation to Kaduna. The secret document went on: “1,000 Chadian soldiers passed through Maiduguri en route Kaduna. These mercenary soldiers constituted the “Sweepers.” The captured American teachers aptly observed that there were soldiers regarded as fighting soldiers and there were other units that came behind to conduct mass exterminations.

Major Alani, it was understood, was trying to get as many civilians as possible into the bush before the sweepers could arrive. On the 5 October, when they came, a lieutenant attempted to arrest the American teachers at St. Patrick's College and their nonIgbo refugees, who had hidden from retreating but still vicious Biafran troops. Captain Johnson quickly summoned Major Alani. The lieutenant claimed to be acting for a “Major Jordane,” but a check proved this as false. Alani sent the lieutenant and his men away and posted a guard to the school until the staff and refugees left Asaba. There were too many civilians to be executed that Captain Paul Ogbebor and his men were asked to get rid of a group of several hundred Asaba citizens rounded up on 7 October. Not wanting to risk insubordination, he marched the contingent into the bush, told the people to run and had his men fire harmlessly into the ground. Eyewitness accounts confirmed that he performed the same lifesaving deception in OgwashiUku. H o w e v e r, o t h e r c i v i l i a n contingents the sweepers rounded up were shot behind the Catholic Mission and their bodies thrown into the Niger River. This incident and many others were reported to Colonel Arthur Halligan, the US military attaché in Nigeria at that time, the document concluded. At night on 19 September, Banjo was arrested in Agbor. He was court martialed in Enugu three days later. Okonkwo participated in the court-martial and Ojukwu was present too. Banjo was found guilty, together with Emmanuel Ifeajuna (“the man from Ilaah who shot Abubakar” the Prime Minister), Phillip Alale and Sam Agbam. Bob Barnard, American consul in Enugu, said Ojukwu told him that he ordered the killing of Banjo, Ifeajuna, Alale and Agbam because they had planned to oust him from office, oust Gowon as well and install Awolowo as Prime Minister. The American military attaché, Arthur Halligan and Brooks, the Defense Attaché who had some prior intimation of the coup cabled the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington 3 August 1967 that “in the long run, Njoku will unseat Ojukwu.” Ojukwu told Barnard: “The plotters intended to take Brigadier Hillary Njoku, the head of Biafran Army into custody and bring him to the State House under heavy armed guard ostensibly to demand of him that Njoku be relieved of command on the grounds of incompetence.” They had been behind the withdrawal of troops and reverses of prior Biafran victories. He continued: “Once inside the State House, Njoku's guards would be used against him. Ifeajuna would then declare himself acting Governor and offer ceasefire on Gowon's terms. Banjo would go to the West and

replace Brigadier Yinka Adebayo, the military governor of Western Region. Next, Gowon would be removed and Awolowo declared Prime Minister of Reunited F e d e r a t i o n … Vi c t o r B a n j o , Ifeajuna and others kept in touch with co-conspirators in Lagos via British Deputy High Commission's facilities in Benin.” When the American consul asked Ojukwu for evidence, Ojukwu replied: “Banjo is a very meticulous man who kept records and notes of everything he did. The mistake of the plotters was they talked too much, their moves too conspicuous and they made notes. As a result, the conspirators came under surveillance from the early stages of the plot's existence. Their plans then became known and confirmed by subsequent events.” In a separate document, Clint Olson, American Deputy Chief of Mission wrote: “Much of the information recounted came from Major (Dr.) Okonkwo. Banjo freely admitted in his testimony that a group of Yorubas on both sides of the battle were plotting together to take over Lagos and Enugu governments and unite Nigeria under Chief Awolowo. Gowon, Ojukwu, and Okonkwo were to be eliminated; Gowon was to have been killed by Yoruba officers in the Federal Army.” The document stated further: “When arrested on the night of 19 20th September, Banjo offered no resistance because he said then it was too late to stop the affair and the plot was already in motion. His role, Banjo said, was already accomplished. As far as is known, Banjo died without revealing the names of his collaborators in Lagos.” Before Banjo got to Enugu after his arrest, Okonkwo had telephoned Gowon to warn him of a threat to his life. Okonkwo said he was afraid that the assassination of Gowon would prevent the Heads of State Mission of the Organization of African Unity from coming to Nigeria. The OAU mission held the best hope of resolving the war, Okonkwo believed. Whether Ojukwu knew of or agreed with Okonkwo's warning to Gowon was not known. However according to the American Olson, roadblocks appeared in many places in Lagos and were severely enforced. They were removed after about 48 hours as mysteriously as they had appeared. Gowon, in an exclusive interview with New Nigeria after Banjo revealed himself as the head of an invading army, said he once met Banjo and Ojukwu in 1965 during the crisis that followed the 1964 parliamentary elections. They were discussing the merits of the army taking over governance. By Damola Awoyokun/London (Culled from TheNEWS) To be continued in Next Edition.

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Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

The Advocate Gospel This Week

Text John 18:15-18 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in. "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not." It was cold, and the servants and officials stood round a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. (NIV) Narration Peter was proud. He had boasted, “Even if all fall away, I will not." But Jesus said "I tell you the truth, today yes, tonight before the cock crows twice you yourself will disown me three times." But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same (Mark 14:29-31). He thought he could save Jesus. So he sat in the courtyard, still convinced that somehow he could change the course of history. All he succeeded in doing was to prove Jesus right! A simple question, asking if Peter was a disciple of Jesus, showed that his bravery was very shallow. His answer was a lie, a downright lie. It was to be the first of Peter's three denials, just as Jesus predicted. Pride and lies often go together. We may like to think that we are bigger people than we are; and in thinking that, we are lying to ourselves, and more lies are needed to keep projecting our false image. If we think that we are the answer to God's problems that is another lie. We may be called to serve God, but if we think that we can protect God we are wrong. Even as we serve the Lord, pride easily rises and we lie to ourselves about our strength and importance even thinking that God depends on us. And to prove it, we lie to others to support our own pride. Foolishness indeed! It is time to repent!

Prayer: Almighty God. Thank You for the truth that nobody is stronger than You. I am sorry for sometimes thinking that my service for You is so important and that You depend on me and my strength. Forgive me for my pride and help me to learn to work humbly with You; giving You all the glory. In Jesus' Name. Amen

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British cardinal quits after claims of sexual advances

ardinal Keith O'Brien, Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cleric, has resigned with immediate effect in the wake of allegations of inappropriate behaviour, he said in a statement on Monday. O'Brien, who as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh was leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, denies allegations that he made sexual advances towards priests in the 1980s. He had been due to be the only cardinal from Britain to vote on a replacement for Pope Benedict XVI following the pontiff's shock resignation on February 11. But O'Brien confirmed that he would not now take part in next month's conclave. “I will not join them for this conclave in person,” he said. “I do not wish media attention in Rome to be focused on me but rather on Pope Benedict XVI and on his successor.” In his resignation statement, O'Brien said: “Looking back over my years of ministry: for any good I have been able to do, I thank God. “For any failures, I apologise to all whom I have offended.” O'Brien had been due to resign on his 75th birthday next month, but he said: “The Holy Father has now decided that my resignation will take effect today, 25 February 2013.” The allegations include claims that one priest received unwanted attention from O'Brien after a late-night drinking session, Britain's Guardian newspaper reported. Another priest reportedly claims that O'Brien

used night prayers as cover for inappropriate contact. O'Brien has previously angered the gay community with his hardline public stance on homosexuality. He was named “bigot of the year” last year by the gay rights charity Stonewall. He recently said that same-sex marriages would be “harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of those involved” and has long voiced opposition to gay adoption. But in comments this week he also called for the Catholic Church to end its celibacy rule for the priesthood. A string of new scandals and allegations have emerged since Benedict became only the second pope in the Church's 2,000-year history to step down of his own free will. Four members of the conclave are associated with the paedophile priest scandals that have dominated the German pope's eight-year rule. Thousands of American Catholics have signed a petition calling for US cardinal Roger Mahony, accused of covering up for paedophile priests in Los Angeles for years, to give up his vote in the conclave. And while 85-year-old Benedict cited his age as the main factor in his resignation, media have speculated that an explosive report into last year's “Vatileaks” scandal may have played a role. The scandal saw Benedict's butler arrested, convicted and later pardoned for leaking confidential papers to the press. The Vatican said on Monday that the report on the scandal, which exposed intrigue and corruption in the Church, would be shown exclusively to the future pope.

CAN vows to move against bad politicians By Patrick Okolie

HE Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has vowed to mobilize the masses against some bad politicians in the country with a view to removing them from public offices. The South-East chapter of CAN took the stand after its meeting in Enugu yesterday. Chairman South East Chapter of CAN and the Anglican Bishop of Enugu, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, who briefed newsmen on the outcome of the meeting attended by several church leaders in the zone, said the church would no longer sit on the fence and watch politicians take the masses for granted. “All the politicians who have not performed will be re-called, before talking of second tenure and all that, they should come and give their account of stewardship to the people. Anything short of that, we shall mobilize the masses against them, the church shall act as a catalyst to chase all the non-performing politicians out," the CAN Chairman stated. He also called on the federal government to make both the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and the Onitsha Seaport functional without further delay. Chukwuma said: "We are also saying the Seaport in Onitsha should be made functional. We don't like the political way the

Seaport in Onitsha is being handled. Ever since we were told the port was commissioned, it has not been operational. "We are demanding that the dredging of the River Niger should be completed, vessels should be arriving at the port, otherwise it will be a white elephant project. "Similarly, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, should be given serious attention. It has since been designated international airport, but what we are saying is that such status should not end on the paper". While he called for the immediate resolution of all the conflicts surrounding the 2013 federal budget, the association chairman noted that the continued delay in signing the budget would not augur well for the people. "We are not happy that the 2013 budget is being delayed either because of benchmark or other conditions", CAN stated, adding that "we want to see it signed and implementation commenced immediately". The religious body, however, vowed to resist any plan by government to impose taxes on churches, insisting that "government does not give us any form of subvention, so they have no right to demand taxes from churches". CAN urged all the factions in the Ohanaeze dispute to drop their personal interest for the good of Ndigbo, saying Ohaneze leadership positions should be occupied by only men that are "selfless and of proven integrity".

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Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

Eunical VC laments NYSC marginalization against continuing education graduates By Edem Archibong, Calabar

he Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar, Professor James Epoke has expressed deep concern on the continued refusal of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Directorate in accepting the graduates from Continuing Education programs of the institution to go for national service at the end of their

academic calendar. Speaking during the Association of Directors of Schools for Continuing Education in Nigerian Universities (ADSCENU) conference held in Calabar recently, Professor Epoke noted that the meeting was very timely to address one of the major challenges confronting education growth in the country while commending the Directors wisdom in their choice of Calabar for the gathering. He called on the Directors of the Continuing Education from

various institutions to ensure that they used the conference to harmonize Universities matriculation numbers with that of the UJME and those of the Continuing Education students since there is no difference in the certificates awarded to the two categories of students. Professor Epoke wondered over such unimagined marginalization often arising from the matriculation number and the NYSC mobilization number to place the Continuing Education graduates as second class

students while they both sit under the same roof and condition of sojourn in the institution, describing it as not fair enough for the growth of the system. In his speech, the Director of Center for Educational Services (CES) University of Calabar, Professor Eze Bassey blamed the National University Commission (NUC) as being responsible for the marginalization of Continuing Education graduates due to non accreditation of the programme. He questioned the rational of the NUC as being merely sentimental since the regular and the continuing education used the

same infrastructure as well as the personnel to graduates both categories of students while promising that hope rises for the Continuing Education graduates as a bill is now before the National Assembly to give legal support for the Continuing Education Schools. Professor Bassey charged the Directors of Continuing Education in Universities to rise to give their voice on the issue as such blatant discrimination against the Continuing Education graduates also span across employment opportunities, promotions as well as NYSC mobilization.

Dickson congratulates Gov Akpabio, attributes to leadership style Philip Eke, Yenagoa

overnor Seriake Dickson has underscored the need to encourage the Nigeria Police to continuously discover and groom more sporting talents that will represent the country at various levels of International competitions. It is believed that, such efforts will go a long way assisting the Police Force maintain its legacy of churning out worldclass athletes who have won several laurels for the country in the past. Governor Dickson made the call in an interview with newsmen at the opening ceremony of the 10th Biennial Nigeria Police Games in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Reacting to a question on the deplorable state of the Police College, Governor Dickson noted that the entire Police force needed to be adequately funded and equipped to enable it perform its statutory duties.

According to him, his administration is doing its best to provide support to the Nigeria Police just like most of his counterparts, noting that security remains the collective responsibility of all. Governor Dickson also urged Nigerians to genuinely work to promote peace and unity since the country stands to benefit as one indivisible people endowed with vast natural and human resources. Speaking at the event, President Goodluck Jonathan described the Nigeria Police as a foremost institution in the development and promotion of sporting activities in the country. Declaring open the 10TH Biennial Nigeria Police Games in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, President Jonathan said this was evident in the number of Sports men and women produced over the years by the force that have made their mark at both national and international levels. Represented by the Minister of

Gov, Dickson Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi, the President cited the likes of Olympic Gold medalist, Chioma Ajunwa, Sunday Bada and former World Heavy Weight Boxing champion, Samuel Peters who have made the country proud at different times.

President Jonathan hailed the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar and his team for their efforts at organizing the event in spite of prevailing challenges. In his remarks, the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed A b u b a k a r, e n j o i n e d t h e participants to put in their best

and expressed the hope that more talents would emerge from Games to represent the nation at the international level. Recalling how the Nigeria Police has moulded sporting talents in the country, Mr. Abubakar also urged officials to be fair to all and thanked all those who made it possible for the games to hold in Port Harcourt. The opening ceremony of the games featured displays by the Mobile Police, calisthenics, Wushu Kunfu demonstrations and tug of war between the Nigeria Air Force and Nigeria Navy as well as wives of Police officers. Host Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, Deputy Governors of Rivers and Gombe states, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, Speaker of the Bayelsa state House of Assembly, Mr. Konbowei Benson, Minister of Police Affairs, Retired Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, former Inspector Generals of Police among others graced the occasion.

Dickson congratulates gov akpabio, attributes new status to leadership style Philip Eke, Yenagoa

ayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson has attributed the emergence of Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Governors Forum to his unique and purposeful leadership style. Making this known in a statement made available to newsmen, the Governor lauded the unanimous decision of the PDP Governors, adding that the election of Governor Akpabio would go a long way in repositioning the Party and as well make the Forum more viable. Describing his emergence as well

deserved, the Governor said, 'your emergence as Chairman of this all-important Forum at this period of our Party's history is a

clear manifestation of your unique leadership qualities, visionary and purposeful disposition as well as your

immeasurable contributions to the growth of our great Party. 'It is our sincere hope that you will bring these positive and result oriented qualities, which have endeared you to the generality of our party faithful over time, to

bear in the new PDP Governors' Forum. 'It is our fervent prayer that the good Lord will continue to shower you with His wisdom and Grace to steer the ship of the PDP Governors' forum effectively'.

PPN rejects suspension of its rep in Ogun Assembly By Ted Peters

eoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) has taken a swipe at the seeming madness displayed on Tuesday by the Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr. Suraj Adekumbi by purportedly suspending four

members of the House including a member of the party in the House, Mr. John Obafemi. "We reject in the strongest term the suspension of the PPN member of the Ogun State House of Assembly. This is sheer intimidation on an account of his not belonging to the ruling party in the State. The PPN will do all that the law permits to resist such undemocratic acts of the Speaker and his cohort," said Rev. John

Nwobodo, National Deputy Chairman of the party. He noted that what transpired on the floor of the house last Tuesday which resulted in fisticuffs and free for all as well as the breaking of the mace was shameful. "This is no more democracy but psychiatriocracy- leadership by the insane," Nwobodo said. "We urge the National Assembly to immediately intervene in the ensuing crises in the House,

adding that the authorities should also give effect to the removal of the Speaker and his other principal officers removed by 14 members of the House since the Speaker and his group of 12 were in minority. The PPN chieftain, however, warned that the party might commence legal action immediately should the authorities fail to quell "this unnecessary madness.â&#x20AC;?

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Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

FG kicks off National Enterprise Development Programme

he Federal Government, on Monday, kicked off the National Enterprise Development Programme and mapped out strategies to create 3.5 million jobs across the country through the development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise sector. The Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, said NEDEP had been developed with the objective of harnessing the opportunities in the MSME sector to drive inclusive economic growth through skills training and development, job creation and wealth generation. The minister, who spoke during the first stakeholders' meeting on NEDEP, also added that the Federal Government would set up an SME Council, comprising the Federal, State

Mr. Olusegun Aganga and Local Governments to streamline and harmonise all SME development activities across the country in order to achieve maximum impact.

He said, “If we are going to develop our economy and turn our quantity advantage into productive advantage, one of the most important sectors that we have to focus on is the MSME sector. Despite the little support the MSME sector has received over the years, the sector currently contributes to about 75 per cent of Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product and employs more than 45 per cent of our people. Even developed economies rely heavily on MSMEs for job creation, wealth generation and inclusive economic growth. “The National Enterprise Development Programme is an initiative spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and its three parastatals the Bank of Industry, Small and Medium

Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria and the Industrial Training Fund. This is the first time ever that these three parastatals under my ministry are coming together to develop and implement a programme that will revolutionise the growth of the MSME sector in Nigeria. The development of NEDEP was guided by similar enterprise development models in Asia, Africa and the One Local Government One Product (OLOP) pilot projects in Kano and Niger states. Our objective is that within the next two years of i m p l e m e n t i n g N E D E P, t h e programme will generate 3.5 million jobs and an estimated five million direct and indirect jobs.” In order to ensure the successful implementation of the programme,

Aganga said that the Ministry of Trade and Investment was partnering 17 state governments to provide specialised training and access to cheap funds to enable more MSMEs to increase their capacity to create jobs and generate wealth. He noted that the Ministry of Trade and Investment had already set up a monitoring and evaluation team, which would work with the National Bureau of Statistics to verify and validate all data relating to the number of jobs that would be created through NEDEP. He said, “Already, we have the support of 17 state governments that have been working with BOI, ITF and SMEDAN, in the area of MSMEs development, skills training and acquisition, as well as business services development.

NSC to fight illegal charges in shipping industry

n a bid to fight illegal charges in the shipping industry, Nigeria Shipper's Council (NSC), has said that efforts are being made to review the laws of the Council to enable it sanction defaulters. This is coming on the heels of complaints of exorbitant and illegal tariffs, charges for storage facilities, container deposit returns etc by operators and shippers in the country Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, who disclosed this, said the Council is in the process of amending the enabling laws to give it the power of prosecution. Bello explained that NSC is trying to make Nigeria more proactive in providing services to importers' and

as a result, has negotiated with shipping companies on so many occasions about exorbitant and illegal charges. On the issue of a regulator for the industry, he said the Council has solved a lot of problems for shippers, adding that they have been receiving complaints from operators too. “We are therefore the regulators of the industry. We have received complaints from operators, especially from shippers who had to abandon their cargoes at the ports or who were unwilling to clear their cargoes from the ports (as a result of high or illegal charges) and we have taken action to correct that.” He said that the Federal Government is using transportation to emphasize its seriousness for international trade, adding that the

Council is creating a conducive environment for operation of shipping and transport, so that they will be translated into economic gains for the country. Bello further stated that if the budget for the year is analyzed, it will underscore the seriousness which government attached to the maritime industry, adding that the Federal Government has made landmark economic decisions that will translate to realisable projects. In his words “The transport systems of any society reflect the seriousness of such country to the development of its economy. So transportation is very important to the development of this country.” He also noted that the Inland Container Deports (ICDs), which will soon come into operation

Enugu agog as 24th International Trade Fair begins

he 24th Enugu International Trade Fair will commence on Friday March 25 to end on Monday March 25 at the Permanent Trade Fair complex, off Enugu-Onitsha expressway Already, residents of the Coal City are enthusiastic to witness the annual event which has become a tourism event of sort. Many participants have already constructed their stands and are ready to exhibit their products during the fair which normally attracts visitors from different parts of the country. President of Enugu Chamber of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Dr Theo Okonkwo, disclosed while briefing the press on the arrangements made for the fair, said the theme of the fair is “Positioning the Nation's Economic Environment as Investment Destination of Choice in Africa and for Effective Global Competition”. The ECCIMA boss disclosed that the fair, billed to be declared open by President Goodluck Jonathan,

would be the fourth in the series to be held at the Permanent Site of Enugu International Trade Fair complex. “We are indeed very grateful of the role members of the fourth estate of the realm have been playing in supporting us towards the successful hosting of our fairs. Let me particularly appreciate those of you who have always gone an extra mile in publicizing our activities. I want to say a big thank you to you on behalf of ECCIMA council. “We have gone through and come to another full circle in the hosting of the Enugu International Trade Fair. The preparations and planning for the hosting of this 24th edition started as far back as the beginning of the 24th quarter of last year. I am therefore delighted to inform you that we have made meaningful progress towards the successful hosting of the fair,” Okonkwo said. He recalled that last year ECCIMA constructed an Exhibition Hall specially for corporate firms and international agencies/bodies that may require indoor exhibition platform and

expressed hope that the chamber would continue to receive support and understanding of the public in the effort to improve the hosting of the fairs. Okonkwo said they were happy that the access road through the Golf Course/G.R.A, leading to the fair complex has been fully tarred and completed, which would ease access to the complex through different points. He revealed that next week they would be commencing a sensitization tour and consolidating their marketing with visits to stakeholders in Lagos, Abuja and across the South East and South South to boost the fair. He said with the many enquiries and strong interest being received from both local and foreign firms, they were hopeful that there would be higher and quality participation this year, just as was recorded last year. On security, he noted that they have done well since the fair moved to the main site three years ago and while giving God the glory, they would consolidate on their efforts in this direction with the emerging security dimension in the country.

Mr. Hassan Bello are expected to solve once and for all the perennial issue of port congestions, adding that the issues in the ICDs are meant to place Nigeria strategically as not only a

partner but an important and serious member of the world economy as far as transportation is concerned. “The ICDs will start operation very soon because the Federal Ministry of Transport has been working diligently to make ICDs work. We have one or two problems of appropriate legal framework.” There are some laws or regulations to be issued. The minister of transport has been on it and very soon these laws will come out.” he stated. He further advised that Nigeria has to redirect the economy into an export oriented one because of its potentials, adding that the country has vast agricultural lands, chemicals, and processed materials for export to strive in this regard.

Power: Have you got your pre-paid meters?

Prepaid meters

equel to the sudden reversal by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, that prepaid meters are no longer free, electricity consumers across the country are still finding it difficult to get the meters. This is in spite the claim by some officials of the Power

Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, that the pre-paid meters have been distributed to end users through the Distribution Company, DISCO networks, across the country. Have you got your pre-paid meter? If yes, how much did you pay and how long did you wait before it was installed?

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aden Smith and Kylie Jenner are now officially dating, a source told US Weekly. “They're dating. It's new, but they've been friends forever,” the source told the magazine about Will Smith's famous 14-yearold son and his 15-yearold reality star friend. The duo was recently spotted at Caffe Nero in London's Piccadilly Square on Sunday on what's believed to be a a lunch date. Smith was visiting the

Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

city to celebrate his pal Justin Bieber's 19th birthday. That part of the trip reportedly turned into a fiasco when the “Karate Kid” star allegedly tried to enter a London hot spot with Bieber Friday night but was turned away for being underage. The denial of entry reportedly caused a ruckus between Bieb's entourage and club security, but the “Beauty and a Beat” singer denies the gossip report. “U think Will is letting his

14 year old in a club, I don't think so,” he wrote on Instagram. Bruce and Kris Jenner's baby girl, meanwhile, recently denied other love rumors that linked her to an older man: 16-year-old Australian singer Cody Simpson. “Cody and I are just good friends,” Jenner told Seventeen magazine. “We can say that as much as we want, and people will still listen to the gossip

Now

Then

hen Nigerian artiste Innocent Ujah Idibia popularly called 2face Idibia dumped his two other baby mamas namely Pero Adeniyi and Adesumbo Ajaba for his long time lover, Annie Macaulay the mother of his daughter, critics blast him for being partial. 2face Idibia was accused of being tribalistic because his two other baby mamas are from the Yoruba tribes. Little did they know that Annie

onalisa Chinda And Lanre Nzeribe, Her Secret Lover Finally Stepped Out After months of hide and seek game, Nollywood actress Monalisa Chinda has finally revealed the face of the man in her life. The singer mother of one is now dating owner of popular Deuces night club in Victoria Island Lagos, Mr Lanre Nzeribe. According to sources, Lanre Nzeribe, a married father of many children is a ladies' man who loves virtually everything under the skirt. The millionaire socialite has been linked with uncountable ladies in the past. The lovers were spotted in Lagos last week at Uche Jombo's movie premiere Here is what Monalisa Chinda said in regards to her new lover: “I'm happy and fulfilled that I'm in love again and i'm glad it's for real this time.”

Macaulay started dating 2face when he had practically nothing. Though, he got carried away by lust but he has made things right with the love of his life. 2face and Annie are getting married this month. Their traditional wedding will take place on Friday at Annie's hometown of Uyo while their white wedding ceremony has been scheduled for March 23rd in Dubai. Congrats to them.

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National League soccer championship kicks off- whether 2012/2013 football season Stories By Okey Anyichie

he much awaited 2012/2013 National Premier League kicks off this weekend, 9nd March, 2013. This premier soccer championship has been postponed for about three times since the beginning of the year. And the championship commencing at last after some foot-dragging exercise by the football body that organizes the league championship. This football competition involving twenty football clubs in the country in the premier league division is expected to excite football fans, if all the necessary things are put in place to make this years competition second to none. Some of the things that will help to make the league championship to produce quality and standard game to behold and enjoyed by the teeming football fans are to raise the standard of officiating the availability of standard football pitches. And off course the standard administration of the championship by the football officials at the clubs level and the overall football body, the Nigerian football federation (NFF) and the body that organizes the league soccer competition called National League Premier League-Body. With every thing put in place, it is expected that this year's championship will improve on the last seasons competition, won by Kano Pillars and Rangers football club of Enugu as the runner up of the 2012 football league championship. The premier league championship that started in 1990 sequel to the introduction of professional football in the country is now twenty three years this year. It would be recalled that the former Iwuanyanwu National football club of Owerri won the maiden edition of the premier league soccer championship in 1990, when it kicked off. This Owerri football club won the competition a record five times, followed by Enyimba football club of Aba. This Aba based club-side not only won the Nigerian premier league soccer championship many times, but became the first Nigerian and still the only Nigerian club side that won the African league soccer championship for a record two times in a row, 2003 and 2004. After this feat by the Aba based club-side, none of the Nigerian club-sides is yet to cross the line of this elusive continental soccer championship for football clubs, in Africa. And with this years edition of the league, the twenty Nigerian club-side that would trade tackles in the competition namely Kano Pillars, the

defending champion, Rangers football club of Enugu, the runner-up, 35c football club of Ibadan, Wikki Tourist football club of Bauchi, Gomber, United of Gombe, Lobi football club of Makurdi, Dolphine football club, Sharks football club both of PortHarcourt, Heart-land football club of Owerri among others. The other three clubs which among them is the El-kanemi football club of Maiduguri will join the premier league division in this 2013 season, for playing their way from National league championship, it is expected that they will put up a stiff struggle with the other premier league clubs, or face the unpleasant task of being relegated to National league division one, where they were promoted to premier league division. However, I must say a word on Rangers football club of Enugu in this 2013 football season as far as the league soccer championship is concerned. This titanic Enugu soccer outfit that stormed the Nigerian soccer scene in 1971 was the toast of

Iwuanyanwu National Football club of Owerri Nigerian football fans from the decade of 70s to 80s. After the decade of the 80s, it looked as if glory has deserted this Enugu based football club. Hence the last year they won both FA cup and National league soccer championship then played under amateur basis were in 1983 and

1984. In 1990, when the professional league soccer championship started in the country, Rangers was among the football clubs that started the competition since then, Rangers football club is yet to lift this trophy and become the champion of this premier league fiesta,

which like I have noted had been won by Iwuanyanwu National of Owerri and Enyimba football club of Aba. However, one expects the Enugu based club-side to change their course of history in this Nigerian premier league championship this year.

Nigeria at world cup soccer championship: another date with the competition in 2014

Super-Eagles of Nigeria

ith the year 2013 opening up to victorious year for Nigeria in the Africa cup of Nations, football fans in Nigeria are still savouring the continental soccer victory in South Africa. The third successful outing of the Nigerian National football team, the “Super-Eagles” in this continental soccer competition perhaps has set the compass on the great global fiesta called the world cup cocker competition next year in Brazil. This global soccer fiesta started in 1930 in the South American country of Uruguay. The host country won the maiden edition of the competition after beating Argentina 4-2 in the final. Since then many countries had lifted the trophy, of which mention must be made of Brazil, the country that will host the 2014 edition of the

competition. Brazil is the only country that had never failed to qualify for the final play-off of the competition anywhere since it was hosted since 1930. However, the climax of this country's involvement in the global soccer competition is the record of winning the competition, five times, starting from 1958 in Sweden, 1962 in Chile, 1970 in Mexico, 1994 in USA and 2002 in Japan/South Korea. The country also produced an icon of the game called Edson Arantes Do Nasciemento popularly called Pele. This soccer phenomenon started playing professional football with a Brazilian football, Santos football club of Santos at the age of 16 years. He scored incredible 1000 plus goals through out his professional career that started from 1956 and ended in 1978. Today he is the global

soccer body's ambassador. With the background of this South American country that will host 2014 edition of the competition, many countries are now warming up to qualify to play in this 2014 edition of the competition. In Africa almost all the countries are playing in the global soccer qualifiers which Nigeria is one of the countries involved. Already Nigeria is leading in the group made up of Kenya, Namibia and Malawi. It is expected that two teams will qualify to play in the final group that will produce five teams that will represent Africa next year in Brazil. Taking a look at the history of Nigeria at this global soccer championship since the second half th of the 20 century is not all that inspiring, comparing to the standard of football then in the continent. It would be recalled that Egypt was the

first African country to play in the world cup soccer competition in 1934 in Naples-Italy. Egypt qualified to play in 1934 in Italy after defeating Palestine in March 1934 and traded tackles with Yugoslavia but fell by the wayside in the competition. It was in 1970 when a spot was allocated to Africa that Morocco played and defeated Nigeria and Cameroun to clinch the only spot for the continent in 1970 in Mexico. Since then Africa had been represented by many countries as the spots have now been increased to five. Nigeria qualified for the first time in 1994 edition of the competition in USA, was again in 1998 in France and followed it up in 2002 in Japan/South Korea but failed to appear in Germany in 2006. South Africa was another spot for this global soccer fiesta in 2010, which Nigeria made an appearance but fell by the way side in the competition. Now another qualifier will be played on 23rd March this year with the East African country of Kenya and a victory in this encounter in Calabar, Cross-River state, will bring the Nigerian “Super Eagles” nearer to Brazil. The out-come of the game between Nigeria and Kenya will tell a story better about the standard of Africa cup of nations champion. Hence it will be very untidy and hollow, if after beating other African countries to win the cup and fail to bag one of the five tickets to world cup soccer championship in Brazil. We wait and hope to see the game in Calabar and its out come after 90 minutes.

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Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

he Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke is top of the list of personalities to be honoured at the firstever Night of Stars, preceding the inaugural Nigeria Pitch Awards, which hold at the Conference Onazi are recalled. However, u p s t o A c a d e m i c a d e urprises in Stephen Keshi's squad to face Coimbra's John Ogu and there's no place for Nosa H a l l o f T i n a p a the Harambee Stars B a b a t u n d e M i c h a e l o f Igiebor who failed to impress Lakeside Hotel and Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih in at the Afcon. They are joined Resort, Calabar on later this month in Calabar by Ogu who plays in Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi Ukraine. Saturday, March 23. Portugal. Keshi recalled 11 of the announced his squad of 15 Governor Imoke, Europe-based players that players that he took to the Strikers Ahmed Musa, Victor whose administration will take on Kenya in a 2014 Africa Cup of Nations in Moses and Brown Ideye World Cup qualifier on South Africa. Goalkeepers r e t u r n b u t E m m a n u e l has hugely supported M a r c h 2 3 i n C a l a b a r. Vincent Enyeama and Austin Emenike is still out injured. the re-invigoration of The coach omitted captain Ejide return to the side as well They will join up with the the Senior National Joseph Yobo from the list but as defenders Efe Ambrose, already announced squad of Football Team, Super recalled Obafemi Martins and Elderson Echiejile and players from the Nigeria Eagles and the U-17 Premier League in their Nnamdi Oduamdi to the side Kenneth Omeruo. Team, Golden Eaglets, In midfield John Obi Mikel, Abuja camp. while giving first time call will be honoured Fegor Ogude and Ogenyi alongside the H o n o u r a b l e Minister/Chairman, National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, NFF Executive Committee and Management, Super Eagles' players, and a dozen stars of the Nollywood industry on a night that aptly marries football and entertainment. The two-hour event starts at 9pm, with the red carpet on from 8pm. Matchmakers Consult International Limited, endorsed by the Nigeria Football Nigeria's forward Sunday Mba (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal against Burkina Faso during the 2013 African Cup of Nations final football match between Federation to organize the Nigeria Pitch Burkina Faso and Nigeria on February 10, 2013 at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg Awards, is putting hairman of Warri Chukwu. Wolves were yet Rangers to sell Mba to Wolves, Godwin t o r e l e a s e h i m a s European club even may not be a successful Abigor became n e g o t i a t i o n f o r a n y during the Nations Cup professional. On the furious over the claim of transfer, according to and the resolution of the s i d e o f R a n g e r s E n u g u R a n g e r s o n Abigor, had not taken league board on the Football Club, I find Nations Cup hero, Sunday place. matter were equally t h e i r c l a i m a s Mba, saying that he was “In that letter, Rangers produced. Abigor then irresponsible. The scandalised by the club referred to Mba and the said the following: documents speak for and the attitude of the other two as Warri Wolves “I pray for the career of us.” players and since transfer Sunday Mba to blossom. When Delta State midfielder. A b i g o r p r o d u c e d had not taken place why He is a good player but he Governor, Emmanuel documents to authenticate are Rangers now claiming must watch his conduct Uduaghan rewarded his claim that Mba was that Mba was theirs?” and behaviour. It is Super Eagles players still a Warri Wolves Abigor said. difficult to succeed for winning the 2013 He also produced the without discipline. Mba Nations Cup, Warri player. Among the documents player's license and has exceptional talent but Wolves players in the was a November 2, 2012 contract showing that he he must be honest and t e a m w e r e p a i d letter from Rangers was a Warri Wolves sincere in all hedoes. He a d d i t i o n a l N 2 . 5 requesting for the services player. Their petition to must learn to respect million. Mba collected of Sunday Mba, Chigozie the League Management contracts otherwise he his share. But on Agbim and Lazarus Board against the move of

Gov Liyel Imoke together this event that will annually precede the Awards, and has gone to great length to ensure it would be a roaring success. “We are putting together something that will amply reflect the huge progress that our country has made in both football and entertainment sectors in the past few years.” It is auspicious that this is coming at a time that the Super Eagles has just won the Africa Cup of Nations and Nollywood is celebrating 20 years on stream, but the truth is, this event has been in the works for some time now. “As it has turned out, and for good too, this inaugural Night of Stars will principally celebrate Nigeria's triumph at the Africa

Cup of Nations and the rapid growth of the Nollywood industry in only two decades,” Shina Phillips, CEO of Matchmakers, said on Tuesday. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Adamu Gumba and the Chairman of House Committee on Sports, Hon. Godfrey Gaiya are also expected on a night that will see players and coaches of the Super Eagles as principal guests. Expected from the Nollywood sector are top stars such as Desmond Elliot, Bimbo Akintola, Keppy Ekpeyong, Nse-Ikpe Etim, Francis Duru, Ejike Asiegbu, Bimbo Manuel, Fred Amata, Lancelot Imasuen and Chika Ike.

Sunday he was quoted in the media as saying that he belonged to Rangers. On Sunday, chairman of Enugu Rangers, Festus Onu, rewarded Rangers players who were in the Nations Cup team. Each of the players received N300,000 each. Mba and Chigozie Agbim were listed as recipients. Former Ogun State Sports Commissioner, Bukola Olopade counseled that the matter should be

handled professionally, lest the outside world would laugh at our system. However, we gathered yesterday that Mba was already in Europe on trial with a club. It was not immediately known the country he went to. One of the players from Rangers simply said “he has gone to Europe.” Rangers said last night that they would produce their own documents on the player.

Vol. 1 No. 17, Monday, March 11 - Sunday, March 17, 2013

Ahmed Musa

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Tracking victims of hard crime By Okechukwu Alaku

ncessant killings in recent times have thrown many families into mourning, distress and hardship, these killings have transverse the length and breadth of the nation, if not in Lagos, it is Ebonyi, Plateau or Port Harcourt and many other cities with such odious rifle as AK 47 becoming the most popular rifle

unhealthy experience and draw the attention of Government to the in-depth involvement in unraveling those devilish activities damaging the image of the nation. In view of the high rate of killings recorded in recent times, the Federal Government has a lot to invest in security to stem the cannibals by tracking the victims through sophisticated

MD Abubakar, IGP among robbers. communication gadgets. We are Several people have lost their aware that the cost of tracking l o v e d o n e s t h r o u g h t h i s down crime is expensive because irresponsible behavior and poor investigation could lead to judgment on trivial matters. In the traveling beyond the country process we expect the police to where the crime was committed perform some magic to unravel n e v e r t h e l e s s w i t h t h e the killers. Most times, we call on technological developments in the governments to provide vogue, most families will be security by giving full support to relieved of their grief when they the police but the support is never know the source of death of their adequate especially if one knows loved ones. The Police know too how expensive it is to trace well that most criminal activities criminals from communications can be detected when they are point of view. mobilized and on reaching out to Obviously the family of the criminals it may be advisable to deceased is faced with the shoot rather than charging them to problem of carrying the burden of court. Prisons are even facing autopsy of the deceased which s e r i o u s p r o b l e m s o f may cost not less than N60.000 accommodation and cost of regardless of the cost of buying keeping offenders behind bars. the dead. In this wise we are of the The crime rate has been on the opinion that the criminal justice in increase so Government should Nigeria deserve to look into the take full responsibility in tracking

down criminals through the use of relevant communication gadgets operational in Nigeria. Tragedy often lingers long after the courts have finished their business but this leaves a big cut in the minds of those whom crime has touched their lives. The prison system does not always quell criminal behavior rather change has to come from within the individual through updating our prison reforms for hardened criminals. Before the Nigeria/Biafra war smoking or planting Indian Hemp-together with other drugs was banned to check criminal activities in the land. Illegal sale of illicit gin was as well considered against the law and it helped to minimize irresponsible life style which the youths developed. It will be in the interest of citizens if the National Assembly can once more legislate against these evil habits to reduce killings. The principal reasons for sending criminals to jail are to reform them as to become law abiding after their release, to protect the society and possibly prevent future crimes. However, some of them seem to have inherited their misbehavior, for despite harsh punishments they have little or no regard to the embarrassment they have caused their friends and families. Human rights groups should be concerned with the increasing wave of killings because suspects, many of who are hardened criminals deserved to be tortured in order to confess their crimes. Suspects who have not suffered unjust treatment before serving their sentences are hardly candidates for rehabilitation. Criminals have multiplied with sophisticated weapons being spread in every nook and cranny, this deserves to be given adequate attention as most people feel safer when dangerous criminals are eliminated.

Ahmed Musa (born 14 October 1992 in Jos) is a Nigerian forward playing for Russian side CSKA Moscow as a winger or second striker . He is also a member of the Nigeria national football team. Early career Musa began his career in the Aminchi Football Academy. Musa previously held the record for the highest goals ever scored in one season in the history of the Nigeria Premier League until November 2011 when Jude Aneke of Kaduna United F.C. set a new goals record of 20 goals. VVV-Venlo He transferred to Dutch club VVV-Venlo in summer 2010 but the move was held up because he was only 17 years of age and therefore not eligible for an ITC in accordance with the current FIFA rules. He was officially eligible to play for VVV-Venlo on 14 October 2010 when he eventually turned 18 years of age. Less than a week after arriving at the club, Musa made his debut for VVV-Venlo against FC Groningen on the 30th of October. He started the game for VVV-Venlo, was fouled in the 50th minute and a received a penalty kick Rated by Goal.com amongst the Hot 100 young football stars in the world to watch in 2011,Lolade Adewuyi for Goal.com put him on the list of Top Ten Nigerian International Players Of 2010 and was also included in IFFHS list of the best 140 players in the world. In September VVV-Venlo chairman Hai Berden disclosed on Eredivise Live that VVV-Venlo had turned down a last minute bid of 10 million euros for Musa from the FuĂ&#x;ball-Bundesliga. The name of the FuĂ&#x;ball-Bundesliga club was not disclosed. International career In April 2010 under Coach Lars Lagerback, he was called up to join the Nigeria national football team camp prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa after helping the Nigerian team win in the 2010 WAFU Nations Cup where he scored a goal against Benin. In the same tournament against Burkina Faso, Musa's goal deep into extra-time shot Nigeria into the finals of the tournament in Abeokuta. He was however forced out of the world cup 30-man roster due to an ankle injury. In April 2011 Ahmed Musa was included in the Nigerian U-20 squad to represent Nigeria in the AYC world cup qualifiers, even though VVV Venlo had declared him unavailable for the tournament due to club commitments. After some intense negotiations with the Nigerian Federation, VVV Venlo and Musa's representatives it was agreed that Musa will shuttle between the Netherlands and South Africa to participate in the tournament with the national team.After the opening game against defending champions Ghana, Musa won the (MVP) most valuable player award hosted by samsung and boarded the next flight back to the Netherlands. In August 2011, Musa represented the Nigeria national under-20 football team in the U-20 World Cup held in Colombia, where he scored three goals in five matches. Musa was included by FIFA in shortlist of 10 candidates for the Adidas Golden Ball, which was awarded to the most outstanding player of the FIFA U-20 World Cup. On the 7th of December 2011, Ahmed Musa was one of the four nominees named for the Confederation of African Football Most Promising Talent Award, however the award went to Tottenham Hotspur's Souleymane Coulibaly. He was called up to Nigeria's 23-man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.