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VOL. 7, NO. 2049 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2012
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EMEKA ODUMEGWU- OJUKWU (1933-2011)
•Soldiers bearing Ojukwu’s remains at the ceremony ... yesterday.
SEE ALSO PAGES 4,5&83.
Fayemi floors Oni
PHOTO: AFP
Ojukwu gets hero’s farewell in Abuja
S
OME 430 days after he was flown to London for treatment, Igbo leader Dim Emeka Odumegbwu-Ojukwu returned yesterday to Nigeria – in a casket. He got a hero’s welcome, with Army officers in ceremonial uniform marching in slow steps bearing the glittering casket. Atop the casket draped in greenwhite-green national colours were a pair of service shoes, a sword and a cap.
By Our Reporters
The ceremony was sober. Not so the tributes; they were effusive and generous. President Goodluck Jonathan led the way. The arrival of his remains at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja opened the final lap of his funeral programme, which will climax in his burial on Thursday in his home town, Nnewi, Anambra State. President Jonathan was represented by Vice-President Namadi
Sambo. Other personalities at the ceremony include: Senate President David Mark, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Pius Anyim, Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako, former Governors of Enugu and Anambra States, Continued on page 5
•Court lashes PDP candidate
T
Jonathan on how to redress the “lapses” in the capital budget, it was learnt yesterday. The caucus has submitted a 252-page “Regional Analysis of Capital Allocation in 2012 Draft Budget” to the Speaker and leaders of the North in and outside the government. Copies of the document have been sent to the Presidency and the Minister of Fi-
HE dream of a former illegal occupant of the Ekiti State Government House to return to power collapsed yesterday at the Court of Appeal. An application brought before the court sitting in Ado-Ekiti by Mr Segun Oni seeking a review of the judgment that ousted him from office was dismissed. The Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin on October 15, 2010, sacked Oni and returned Dr Kayode Fayemi as the validly elected governor. The fivemember panel that presided on the case was led by Justice Isa Ayo Salami. Justice Tijani Abdullahi chaired the panel on the new case. Other members are: Justices Musa AbbaAji, M.O. Kekere-Ekun, Ismaya Mohammed and R.C. Agbo. At the resumed hearing yesterday, Mr Ladi Williams (SAN) represented Oni and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr John Baiyeshea (SAN) appeared for Fayemi and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Oni, in his application filed on March 14, last year, sought an order setting aside the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal
Continued on page 2
Continued on page 2
•The widow, Bianca ... yesterday
Budget: North rejects Southsouth’s vote Reps plan to summon Okonjo-Iweala
I •Tambuwal
T was meant to fast track development, rebuild infrastructure and create jobs. But this year’s budget has, even before it takes off, become a document of acrimony. The Northern Caucus of the House of Representatives is protesting against the capital allocation to the Southsouth as against the share of the three zones in the North. The lawmakers are threatening to frus-
ZONAL CAPITAL ALLOCATION IN DISPUTE ZONE North-Central North-East North-West
AMOUNT N63,921,737,482 N40,869,910,990 N56,964,082, 820
% 16.27 10.40 14.50
From Yusuf Alli, Abuja
trate the budget’s passage, if the “imbalance” is not addressed. Besides, some members of the caucus are insisting on the invitation of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, to explain why the Southsouth has 29.65 per cent of capital votes for the six zones. House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal may meet with President Goodluck
ZONE South-East South-South South-West TOTAL
AMOUNT N49,203,497,064 N116,501,037,384 N65,502,067,694 N392,962,333,434
% 12.52 29.65 16.67 100