Nigeria and Niger Delta

Islamist Group Claims Responsibility for Nigeria Bombing

2011-07-14T01:50:00.003+01:00

Militant Islamist group Boko Haram is claiming responsibility for a suicide bombing outside a police headquarters in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, Thursday. At least two people were killed and several others wounded in the blast.

Nigerian police spokesman Olusola Amore says the explosion struck the parking lot of a police headquarters Thursday morning, killing the suspected suicide bomber and a police traffic warden, and destroying at least 30 cars.

Amore said the explosion occurred when the traffic warden climbed into the bomber's vehicle to direct it to the parking lot to be searched.

"The criminal elements behind this dastardly act will be fished out as the government, the police and other security agencies will not succumb to the demands of any criminal group or individuals," said Amore.

The police spokesman said an investigation is underway, adding that police suspect the radical Nigerian group Boko Haram was behind the attack.

A spokesman for Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the explosion in an interview Thursday with VOA.

Spokesman Usman Alzawahiri says yes, the blast is their handiwork. We are behind it, he says, and we are going to attack the entire north and other parts of the country, including the capital, Abuja. He says Boko Haram personnel just returned from Somalia five days ago and have been scattered around northern parts of the country. He says they are advising everyone to be wary.

Earlier this week, the group had laid out its conditions for a ceasefire and government-proposed peace talks.

However, Alzawahiri told VOA that for the moment, those efforts at reconciliation had collapsed and security agencies should prepare for intensified attacks.

Boko Haram claimed responsibility earlier this month for a series of bombings that killed 16 people after President Goodluck Jonathan's inauguration.

The group is also blamed for the killings of Muslim and Christian religious leaders and at least three bomb attacks this month in Borno State.

The group's name in the Hausa language means "Western education in a sin." It seeks to undermine state authority and calls for the stricter application of sharia, or Islamic law, in Nigeria.

Ashoka Fellow & Young Global Leader Spends the Night mentoring Youths

2011-05-26T00:11:00.002+01:00

In the days were a lot of people are so occupied enjoying their “success” and busy granting interviews all over. Kingsley N.T Bangwell stands out as one Nigerian youth leader who is passionate about raising other young people like himself, who can stand the test of time in the development world and who share the dream of a better Nigeria.
KNTB or Pastor K as he is popularly known in the DESPLAY community is the Executive Director of one the strongly emerging youth lead NGO’s on the African continent Youngstars Foundation, Jos, Nigeria (www.youngstars-foundation.org).. In 2007, he was elected as the first Nigerian youth to attend the prestigious Stanford Fellowship on Democracy and Development, and in 2008 he was selected into the prestigious ASHOKA Fellowship. Also, he was the only youth from Nigeria to be invited as a resource person and speaker during the 13th International Anti Corruption Conference in Greece organized by Transparency International. Recently, he was selected as the only Nigerian into the prestigious Young Global Leaders forum ‘09. The Young Global Leader award (YGL) is an honour bestowed by the World Economic Forum each year to recognize the 200 most distinguished young leaders below the age of 40 from around the world.

With such achievement he should be spending his night “studying” or preparing for his next trip or project, but not so, in the recent DESPLAY program Season 6 here at Grace Court Hotel, Abakaliki when he saw the need of young people and their desire in knowing how to build strong organizations for effective and sustainable work, he asked us to write questions regarding our various organizations and spent time after sessions in the night sharing with us his experiences ( mistakes & success ) when he started Youngstars Foundation I the early days.

We stayed deep into the night desiring to learn more as he shared with us the secret of his success. Some of the tips he shared with us were simple but profound:

The need to start small and not be ashamed.

Even if we are turned back let us not get discouraged.

Try to get registered even if it is with the state, make sure you have a legal backing

Develop a system, so when you are not around someone can get the job done.

Amongst other things, Youths from over 20 states in Nigeria and 2 Africa countries were represented. It was a night with the King. ( King Kingsley Nigeria most loved Youth development leader in my opinion). This goes once again to fulfill his heart desire to strengthen youth organizations.

Thank you Kingsley for a wonderful mentorship session.

Ogaga E. Maxwell
DESPLAY Africa President 09
URI Youth Ambassador for Africa 2011

FD Participant and URI Youth Ambassador attends Global Youth Summit in Nairobi, Kenya

2011-04-29T21:01:00.004+01:00

Ogaga E. Maxwell the URI Youth Ambassador for 2011 African region and FD participant was one of the two Nigerian delegates to The 2nd Voices Against Corruption Forum, A global Youth Anti- Corruption event in Nairobi, Kenya that held at the Sakarasi Dome from April 27th – 29, 2011.

This forum was organized by The World Bank Institute and brought together close to one hundred young leaders from around the world, including civil society, musicians, journalist and ICT specialist to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and develop action plans to counter corruption and promote good governance in our individual countries.
The forum was highly productive as we had speakers from The UNDP, UNICEF, Transparency International and other resources person.

We were able to learn innovative ways to combat corruption and also I shared on the group that handled ‘Network strengthening and Structure” where one of our numerous task was to develop a Vision, mission and objectives for the GYAC Network, the hallmark was the successful installation of the GCB (Global Council Board) and the adoption of the GYAC objectives.

The forum also allowed us to learn from our peers as there were case studies presented by the team from the Asia Pacific region, Bulgaria and Sierra Leone not to talk of the various group sessions and brainstorming task that inspired us to new levels of intellectual engagements.

The forum was focused on us engaging with current ICT tools to improve the performance of our Anti-Corruption activities locally and also towards building a global synergy for young leaders fighting corruption and promoting good governance in their various nations.

The artistes treated us to Anti- Corruption songs and I am not in a hurry to forget the Kenya experience.

D2DYI Executtive Director Participates as Key Volunteer in National Election Project.

2011-03-25T22:42:00.002Z

Ogaga E. Maxwell Dare 2 Dream Executive Director ,FD participant and URI Youth Ambassador Africa for 2011 was selected as part of the core volunteer team member of Youngstars Foundation, Jos in the national democratic project currently making waves in the nation “U Cant Swag My Vote” Naija Youth Power Concerts is a citizens and non partisan youth led initiative by Youngstars Foundation and funded by the International Republican Institute with support from USAID. It is primarily a get the vote out campaign towards a credible 2011 general elections in Nigeria, using Nigeria best music artist as the point of engagement with the Nigerian youth. The concert features Tuface Idibia, M.I, Banky W, Waje, J Martins, 2shots and Julius Agwu who are music stars who have not endorsed any candidate or political party.

The objective is to use music in mobilizing and building the confidence of youths and first time voters in the 2011 general elections so as to increase young people’s participation in the voting exercise, and to use the concert to share useful information and circulation of voters’ education materials as well as sensitize youth on the use of technology/social media to monitor and report election experiences, as well as campaign against election violence, thuggery and malpractices being perpetuated by youths during elections.

Begining from Sunday the 27th of March 2011, “U Cant Swag My Vote” Naija Youth Power Concerts will hold in 3 major cities with one message, which is get out and vote and vote well! The 3 cities are Lagos 27th, Benue 29th and Portharcourt 31st March 2011. Each concert is free of charge, starting at about 4pm to 8pm. Even though entrance is free, participants must sign I Pledge to Vote card to enter and those with voters card shall get free gift items among others.

Beyond just organizing the 3 concerts, we hope to send out bulk sms on each of the election day to those who attended the concerts to remind them of their pledge and to also ask them to report their experiences during the election through 2 phone lines using sms and pictures which we hope to stream live on each election days.

FD participant attends Reception of Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs

2011-03-12T21:52:00.002Z

Ogaga E. Maxwell FD participant and United Religious Initiative 2011 Youth Ambassador representing Africa in was part of the youth leaders invited by the The United States Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Terence. P. McCulley to a Reception with The Honorable Ms. Maria Otero Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs On Thursday March 3, 2011 at the residence of The U.S Ambassador.

The event which was aimed at creating a forum for young leaders to interact with the Under Secretary and also for her to meet with young youth leaders in Nigeria, as Nigeria prepares for her elections in April.

The Ambassador in his opening remarks stated what honour we had to host the Under Secretary and also that she was on a visit to strengthen democratic activities in nations such as Nigeria
She hinted the fact that it was time for young people to embrace positive change in terms of voting for the right candidate during the elections and also maintained that she was encouraged by the number of young people she saw doing positive things in the nation.
There was time for question and answer and it was a fulfilling time having such a wonderful interaction with both guests. The key issue raised during the interactive forum was the preparedness of Nigeria for the upcoming elections and also the active role youths have to play in making sure we make the needed change in the nation.
The issues of voter’s education, protection of our votes after elections and also citing the case of Egypt, Tunisia and other nations the role and power of Social Media in birthing change. The Under Secretary stressed that technology and social media has changed the face of politics and young people can take advantage of it for good, especially in the areas of election monitoring etc.

We also had some fun viewing the video “My Vote fit change Niaja” a video produced by Youngstars Foundation and Julius Agwu Foundation for Youths, which is aimed at educating voters on the need to vote for change. The Under Secretary was really pleased with youth activities in Nigeria
It was also time for social networking and also sharing with some few young people the values and principles of URI on a personal one on one level.

Youth Governance & Democratic Workshop in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria

2011-02-18T22:58:00.004Z

Ogaga E. Maxwell an FD participant and a two – time FD grant recipient recently participated and served as the lead facilitator in a good governance and democracy training workshop in Aba, State, Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

The project Democracy Series: Participation-Learning and Active Youths (DESPLAY).DESPLAY is knowledge based and an activity oriented youth program that brings together youths from different African countries to deepen their democracy knowledge and foster active youth participation in good governance processes, since date their have been participant from Liberia, Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa and Nigeria. Since its inception in 2005, DESPLAY has directly trained over 300 youths across Africa. Uniquely, DESPLAY has a peer education transfer component that allows participants to train over 25 youths in their communities who did not have the opportunity to be part of DESPLAY training. This project is called pass it on (Pio)

The Aba state pass-it-on (PIO) was a 1-day workshop on “Engaging youths in the democratic process and understanding the role of Nigerian youths in sustained democracy and good governance” organized by Promise Ozuzu.

Ogaga E. Maxwell the lead resource person took on the subject “When governance works”, the workshop was held at the NMA Hall of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital and in attendance were 40 Medical students, nurses and clinical students of the institution,

The aim was to encourage young people in the filed of medicine to participate in the areas of good governance and contribute their quote to democratization, good governance in Nigeria.

After the presentations, their was a break out session, where they were asked to suggest practical and pragmatic ways in which young people can be involved in governance and contribute positively, it was an interesting time as they brain stormed and came out with practical ways in which young people can contribute to good governance.

There was experience sharing and an interactive session for questions and answer.

Participants were also referred to several websites that could help them in their course for further growth in the areas of youth participation this includes: Youth Action for Change, Youngstars Foundation, World Movement for Democracy, United Religions Initiative and Voices against corruption.

The project had the support of AFRIGROWTH Foundation, Youths for Good Governance, All Nigerian United Nations, Student, and Youth Association (ANUNSA-ABSUTH) and the URI Youth Ambassador project of Ogaga E. Maxwell as URI Youth Ambassador for 2011 representing Africa, where he briefly talked about United Religions Initiative, upcoming projects, and the goal of URI as it affects good governance.

Earlier on in the year precisely in January, Ogaga E. Maxwell has also served as one of the co-facilitator of the main DESPLAY programme in Minna , Niger State that saw 35 participant present from every state of Nigeria and from Ghana, Cameroon and South Africa as international delegate. This was a step down of the main programme in Minna, by one of the attending participant Promise Ozuzu.

Students doing their dance

2010-11-08T00:32:00.004Z

Students participating in the projects doing their dance and cultural thing.
It was fun

Watch out for more details and pictures on this blog

Ogaga Maxwell

Nigeria

ARTS knows no culture, gender or religion

2010-10-18T02:07:00.003+01:00

The project has been going on and the students are passionate about their ARTs work, we spent this week teaching students how to work with creative Arts materials and produce what is in their mind

And we have opened them up to the dimension of creative arts and how to communicate their minds through arts.

The students are excited and many of them are beginning to value their arts gift, a student of one of the polytechnic who saw the project banner came into the hall and volunteered to also assist us in teaching the students about the art project and how to work with paper.

Pictures we have attached are those of one of the arts class we were teaching and they were asked to do a practical work of the map of Africa and also to write about peace.

We have a little set back on the cultural dance because we now observed that most schools have not been very particular about cultural dances, so we have also as part of the project started carrying out enlighten campaign on the role of culture in peace building.

The beauty of what we are doing now is that, in the schools we also have Muslims and Christian students working together in their various arts project groups, this is aimed at passing a message that we can work together regardless of our differences and that ART truly can bring us together, because paints knows no gender, race or colour that is what we are projecting.

P.E.A.C.E. Project progresses to the next stage

2010-10-07T23:10:00.001+01:00

Project Update

The students after going through their rounds of practicals from our peer instructors on Creative Arts, been able to express their thoughts and feelings through simple Arts and also going through the basics of Essay writing, they would this Saturday compete amongst themselves in the area of Creative Arts and also essay writing to know which of them would be able to express the best of what PEACE means to them.
Through the project funding we are making all materials free to them and the students are eager to show case what they have learnt.
The objective of teaching them this is that they can make the best of their emotions through the arts and use them as a tool for peace building and solving inter religious fights. Instead of drawing what will offend people (The case of the cartoon of Mohammed that drew wide spread criticism and almost a global case of violence) we can use arts for peace and also instead of writing stories against people in their classes or schools and other religion that can stir up strife and violence as young people we can turn that tool already.

Through the skills I learnt from the YAC course on Creative writing, I was able to also inform them on basic keys and shared with them the experience we had with the blog and also the importance of headlines and we encourage as many as have access to the internet to start blogging and they were greatly excited about the project.
A lot of school principal that their student could not participate were so angry that they have asked us if we can make it an annual event, increase the number of participating schools and also make room for more participants.

Jonathan using intimidation over Nigeria bombings: rivals

2010-10-05T22:33:00.000+01:00

ABUJA (AFP) – Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan's political rivals on Tuesday accused him of intimidation and witchhunting as an aide of a former military ruler was questioned over last week's bomb blasts.

Ibrahim Babangida's campaign chief for the next year's presidential elections, Raymond Dokpesi, was questioned by the state intelligence agents, as Jonathan met with former militants who assured that they had no role in Friday's attacks that killed 12 people.

More than 60 former rebel commanders and fighters from the oil rich Niger Delta went to tell Jonathan they were not involved in twin car bomb attacks in the capital as the west African country hosted 50th independence anniversary celebrations.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), in a statement claimed responsibility for the attacks.

MEND's former leader, Henry Okah was quickly arrested after the attacks in South Africa where he lives.

Four powerful politicians who are vying along with Jonathan for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party's ticket in next year's elections, said authorities' attempts to implicate Babangida's aide is a sign of intimidation.

"This latest attempt to demonise Dr Dokpesi and cast him in the mould of a terrorist is but a small part of an escalating culture of impunity, recklessness, intolerance and arbitrariness," said the politicians.

The statement was signed by Babangida and three other presidential hopefuls.

"We consider this as political witch-hunt," said Kassim Afegbua, Babangida's spokesman told AFP.

Jonathan is facing pressure from the four politicians amidst a row in the ruling party over whether to support him or a candidate from the mainly Muslim north.

The four are all Muslims while Jonathan is a southern Christian.

An unwritten PDP policy has long dictated that the party rotate its candidates between the Muslim north and predominantly Christian south every second term as a way of smoothing over ethnic, religious and social divides in the vast west African country.

Since president Umaru Yar'Adua, a Muslim, died before his first term was up, some argue another northern candidate should be chosen.

Meantime, Okah told the Qatar-based television station Al-Jazeera that he was arrested because he refused to play a part in implicating northern politicians in the bomb blast.

He said one of Jonathan's aide had called him and asked him to persuade MEND to retract its claim of responsibility for the Abuja attacks.

"They wanted to blame the attacks on northerners who are trying to fight against him (Jonathan) to come back as president. I declined to do this and a few hours later I was arrested," he said.

But Jonathan's office refuted Okah's claims as an "outright lie".

"He should face the charges and stop making frivolous claims," said Jonathan's spokesman Ima Niboro.

Jonathan has blamed the attacks on "a small terrorist group that resides outside Nigeria that was paid by some people."

On Tuesday dozens of former rebels visited Jonathan to tell him they played no role in the attacks.

"We are not part of the incident on the 1st of October," Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as 'Tompolo', told Jonathan at a meeting that was open to journalists.

"MEND is not involved," said Tompolo, claiming to be a leader of MEND, the most prominent of several groups in Nigeria's southern oil-rich swamps.

"I'm happy that you are here as the actors and leaders of MEND, to tell Nigerians and the rest of the world that it is not MEND that did it," he told the former fighters.

P.E.A.C.E. Project commences with excitement

2010-10-03T20:14:00.003+01:00

P.E.A.C.E PROJECT
(Peace Education, Arts and Cultural Empowerment).

The project kicked of with four schools participating and it was an awesome time as we had over 40 students in attendance.
One of the highlight of the project was the excitement in the face of the students as they came into the hall for the commencement of the project. One of the objective is to use culture and arts to foster peace and teach the message of peace.
This week the students were taught the basics of creative arts and essay writing. They were taught by Lemuel David-Ogaga a fine art student of University of Benin, Lucky Ogumah the project director of Dare 2 Dream Youth Initiative a creative gifted artist and Ese Erakpotobor a student of College of Education Warri, who taught them the basics of Essay writing. All the teachers are volunteer workers with Dare 2 Dream Youth Initiative and are fully part of the project.
The students next week would have a competition amongst themselves on how they can promote peace through their arts and the best essay writer would also be given an award.

The Cultural troupes of the school would also participate in the competition; this is to encourage the use of culture in our schools and amongst our students
FEEDBACK:
The students were excited about the project as for a long time as opposed to inter school fights they are now seeing positive competition amongst themselves and at the same time, working on their creative arts skills.
Principals of the students that attended were so happy with the project and they want us to make it an annual event, as more schools are interested in participating in the project.
Ogaga E. Maxwell
E.D Dare 2 Dream Youth Initiative
Warri, Delta State, Nigeria

P.E.A.C.E. (Peace Education, Arts and Culture Empowerment)

2010-09-18T13:05:00.001+01:00

P.E.A.C.E. (Peace Education, Arts and Culture Empowerment)

Project description:

The project is aimed at reaching at least 200 secondary school students in the Niger delta region of Nigeria, Warri, Delta State specifically. The project seeks to use the tool of arts and culture to create awareness and the need for peaceful interreligious co-existence in the region amongst students who are emerging leaders. The project participants will be selected from seven different schools. They will have classes in Basic easy writing and also Creative arts skills. After classes a competition will be announced among the participants for a prize in the categories of the best peace essay writer and best creative art student. The project will be summarized with a one day summit where the winners will be awarded the prizes in two categories, with a cultural dance troupe competition amongst the seven schools and with three key lectures on Peace building & tolerance skills, Academics & Life building skills, Good governance and basic leadership lectures, including the importance of culture in peace building.

Week One:

The project have commenced and what we did this week was to buy the Arts materials and also contact the schools that will participant.

The schools just resumes, so activities are coming on gradually, but the students are excited about the project.

By next week we would have full details of the project.

FD Participant uses knowledge gained from FD Course to impact peers.

2010-09-01T01:44:00.003+01:00

When I got in contact with the Youth Action for Change I knew it was going to be a lifetime experience that will positively impact my life. The introduction of courses during the FD project was of immense benefit, one of the courses we did then was on communications and writing especially on blogging.

Since the course I have been a blogger and an author of three books, August 14th specifically, I passed on the knowledge by organizing a creative writing workshop for young people and over 21 of them came from different locations around my region.
We had three guest lecturers the prominent been a USA best selling fiction author DR Sherri Lewis who was the main resource person and other includes Mr. Alexander Ighoro and Chima Ochemba.

The participants were happy about the course and requested for more of those forum to be created and were willing to sign up for an online course.
Ogaga E. Maxwell

Dare 2 Dream Youth Initiative
Warri, Delta State, Nigeria

FD participant attends The World Bank Global Youth Summit on Anti-Corruption in Brussels.

2010-07-28T22:24:00.002+01:00

Background of GYAC engagement’s with Anti Corruption

On May 26th 2010 50 young people from across the globe convened in Brussels for an Anti corruption Convention. The three day convention saw the birth of Global Youth Against Corruption network.(GYAC). The group which comprised of civil society leaders, musicians and journalist sought to launch a fascinating anti corruption campaign initiative.
Throughout the convention the 50 young people without hesitation and doubts agreed on a number of things: ……..
Corruption is a complex social, political and economical phenomenon that affects all countries. How to define corruption is a bedeviling question since essentially there is no single comprehensive and universal accepted definition and secondly it’s difficult to get a definition that is devoid of the moral or normative judgment of the observer.
Corruption imposes substantial and widespread societal costs, impending economic development, limiting the Efficiency of public services and weakening political institutions by undermining trust in the government. Corruption has further ramifications, when corrupts leaders waste aid money, siphon national resources and build up foreign debt development is hindered and common people are deprived of basic services and any economic strategy geared to lifting them from the yokes of poverty lives them in an even worse state.
Far from being a Victimless crime corruption infringes the fundamental human right to fair treatment. All persons are entitled to be treated equally and when one person bribes a public official he acquires a privileges status in relation to others that person denies the others the right to equal treatment. Furthermore Corruption leads to infringement of civil and political Rights this happens when electoral process is interfered with and when leaders are perceived as being corrupt become afraid to involve the people in decision making process thus denying them space to participate in governance.
They also agreed that cannot be tackled in isolation from other issues and this lead to the formation of five thematic scopes:

Thematic Scope and FOCUS of GYAC
Fighting Corruption in Resource-Rich Countries
Promoting Youth Participation in Governance
Monitoring Elections and Protecting Human Rights
Building Ethics and Integrity of the Next Generation
Fighting Corruption in Service Deliveries

And since corruption is a joint problem for the developed and developing counties the Geographical focus of GYAC covers 6 regions:
The Geographical Scope and Focus of GYAC
• Africa
• East Asia
• Asia Pacific
• Middle East
• Latin America
• Europe

Output and outcomes expected from GYAC
• Increased networking and collaboration with other youth groups championing a similar cause
• Extensive use of ICT in anti Corruption campaign
• Coordination of Anti corruption initiative in the 6 geographical areas
• Employment of culture in ant Corruption campaigns

COMMUNIQUÉ YOUTH SUMMIT ON THE 2011 GENERAL ELECTIONS

2010-04-30T00:57:00.000+01:00

COMMUNIQUÉ

YOUTH SUMMIT ON THE 2011 GENERAL ELECTIONS

Preamble:

On April 28, 2010; youth organizations from the 36 states of the federation held a one-day summit on the 2011 elections with support from the International Republican Institute (IRI). The summit took place at the Asaa Pyramid Hotel, Kaduna. The event provided an opportunity for us, the Nigerian youth, to acquire knowledge on the rights and privileges we have to responsibly participate in the 2011 elections. The presentations and discussions at the workshop enriched our understanding of the responsibility we have as the future leaders of our country to positively contribute our quota towards achieving peaceful and credible elections in 2011. In addition to this were able to identify a number of things we can do, like civic education, to improve the participation of our peers in the up general elections.

The summit facilitated group discussions which focused on why and how Nigerian youth can get involved with political parties, what we can do about civic education, how we can contribute to peaceful elections in 2011 and how to monitor the entire 2011 electoral process and ensure its credibility. Our discussions were guided by some local, regional and international legal instruments, like the 1999 constitution, the African Youth Charter, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976), the United Nations World Program of Action Youth to the Year 2000 and beyond.

Observations

Youth at the summit made the following observations:

1. Participants noted, discussed and identified the participatory right of youths in the general elections in Nigeria as provided by enabling laws.

2. Participants also identified, discussed and established the responsibilities of the youths to the state.

3. The participants noted that the leaders of Nigeria have failed to pass on to the youth good legacies, standards, and morals that will serve as a foundations for them to build better leadership; whereas youths are meant to be a vanguard of trust for elections not just in Nigeria but in all the countries of the world.

4. Participants admitted that there has been a great reluctance by the youth to take actions to ensure that they make concrete inputs in the electoral and leadership processes of the country.

5. The summit observed that there is a low appreciation of the need to embrace networking as a means of engineering lasting change in the Nigeria’s political processes.

6. Participants observed that a high percentage of Nigerian youth did not have valid voters cards, and stood the risk of not being able to vote in the 2011 general elections

7. Participating youth at the summit also observed that quite a number youth were not registered members of political parties and could not exploit the platform of any Nigeria’s 57 political parties to contest elections.

8. Summit participants noted that Nigerian youth have so far failed to utilize the knowledge and skills gained at workshops in the development and implementation strategy-based interventions in the electoral process.

9. During the discussions, it was clearly highlighted that there exist an absence of local structures of political relevance in Nigeria.

10. Participants lamented the low publicity and visibility of youth programmes and called on youth organizations to seek the assistance of development agencies like IRI to correct the anomalies

11. The participants observed that contrary to the request of the youth that the age benchmark for qualification to run for elective positions be reduced, the National Assembly passed the opposite by increasing the age benchmark. The youth’s request on this matter was contained in a memorandum they presented at the National Assembly public hearings on constitutional reform.

Recommendations

Having considered our discussions at the summit and stating necessary observations, we the Nigerian youth from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory resolve as follows:

1. There is an immediate need to further sensitize the youths on their rights in the 2011 general elections as provided by the enabling laws.

2. The Nigerian youth must answer the clarion call of dutifully exercising the responsibilities of a citizen to the state.

3. The youth must assume a leading role and serve as the vanguard of trust for every phase of elections in Nigeria

4. The youth should make emphatic inputs into the electoral and leadership processes of the country.

5. Measures should be put in place to ensure that the youth embrace participatory networking

6. That all youths should get registered to vote during elections to be directly involved in the election of their leaders.

7. We resolve also that youths should join political parties i.e. become card-carrying members of the parties to have a stronger influence on the political process.

8. That youth; especially youth leaders should make maximum use of workshops and seminars deploying strategy-based interventions to promote active youth participation in the electoral process.

9. That local structure of political relevance should be put in place in Nigeria by the government and the development agencies.

10. That youth organizations should engage more time and energy to liaise with development agencies and bodies like IRI, NED and NDI e.t.c to promote their activities

11. The youth should mobilize themselves to lobby their representatives in the state Houses of Assembly as well as trying other available options permissible under our law to ensure that the age limit for contestants into elective offices is reduced

Motion for Adoption of Communiqué

Moved by Nentawe Gomiyar of the Youth Advancement Initiative, Nassarawa road, Kaduna

Seconded by Ogaga Maxwell of the Dare 2 Dream Youth Initiative, Warri, Delta state.

Communiqué put to vote and unanimously adopted by 4:30 pm on April 28, 2010.

YOUTH SUMMIT ON THE 2011 ELECTIONS

2010-04-29T01:35:00.000+01:00

YOUTH SUMMIT ON THE 2011 ELECTIONS
@ Asaa Pyramid Hotel, Kaduna

Had a great time in Kaduna, connected with some old great friends and the DESPLAY family guys and also made new friends and expanded my network.
The Ancient city of Kaduna is a great city and I really enjoyed my stay.
The summit focused on 2011 elections, had an awesome opening speech by Bola Abimbola- Youngstars Jos. And Dr Mourtada Deme-IRI Country Director
The issue surrounding Youth and Elections was the high point of the one day summit, Dr Sadeeque Abba of the University of Abuja, set fire in our bones.
He said “the Nigerian youth have come to a point of frustration and compromise” but we have the opportunity to take 2011 in our hands. Gowon at 29 became a leader; Murtala Mohammed at 35 became a leader.
There are no elections without youths he said. Societies, nations and organizations are transformed by youths.
The way forward we need to Educate ad Enlighten ourselves as young people and then collaborate to set up platforms for youth engagement, because you would always need a platform.
The last quote was food for thought “There wise will suffer the rules of the fools if they cannot stand” Aristotle.
It is time for Nigerian youths to stand u, we cannot suffer the rules of any one who is not passionate about youth development and sustainable development.
The rights and responsibilities of the youths in 2011 elections was the focal point of discussion, and strategies were developed by various groups.
Nigeria Youths! Arise O Compatriot.

Ogaga E. Maxwell
Delta State Delegate
IRI Youth Summit on 2011 Elections,

FD Pproject chosen for National Exhibition

2009-11-07T15:10:00.001Z

Hi All,
My Sports Peace for Peace project have been chosen as one of the 70 projects for a National exhibition in Abuja
YOUTH WORK AWARD EXHIBITION ABUJA:

On behalf of the board and management of Youngstars Development Initiative (Youngstars Foundation) Jos, and Federal Ministry of Youth Development Abuja. I write with great delight to notify you that after a careful review of your responses to the “Youth Works Exhibition and Top 12 Award” application exercise, you have been offered a final Invitation to participate in the above mention events schedule to take place at the Conference Hall of Sheraton Hotel Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja from Thursday 12th and Friday 13th November 2009.

As you are aware, the Youth Works Exhibition is designed to showcase young and emerging Nigeria change makers that are very passionate about the development of Nigeria demonstrated through their community impact projects between January 2008 to June During the exhibition, about 70 young people would exhibit their projects from 10am to 1:30pm for a break after which the Top 12 Awards commence in earnest by 2:30pm to be led by the Hon. Minister of Youth Development and other dignitaries.

As one of the selected youths, this is a rare and life time opportunity to showcase your project and demonstrate your ability as a key contributor to the Nigeria nation. A Youth Works Photo Book 2009 is also being published to be distributed locally and internationally. Your selection has also given you a full page in the publication where your picture would be displayed and a short profile of your program and your email contact for those who may desire to reach you. We are as excited about this project as you are also.

Hey I am so glad and kudos to Forgotten Diaries

DLTW CSOG 2009!

2009-10-21T13:08:00.002+01:00

The Africa Leadership Forum (ALF) Ota, Nigeria hosted a Democratic Leadership Training Workshop for CSOs, CBOs, and FBOs on October 5th-9th 2009.The Workshop which brought together youth activists working on various areas of ICTs, Peace and Conflict resolution, Education, HIV/AIDS and Governance. The training featured sessions on the following concepts, understanding leadership, liberal democracy, Ethics and Values as well as Leadership tools.

Esther Eshiet represented the FD project at the workshop, she spoke about the project and its activities and encouraged other participants to follow the project on its website and other project tools.

LIP Debriefing Workshop-Ota, Nigeria

2009-10-21T12:18:00.001+01:00

From September 28th -29th 2009,the African Leadership Forum (ALF) held the Debriefing workshop for participants of the Legislative Internship Programme(LIP).After the successful completion of their 21-day internship at the various Houses of Assemblies, participants converged at Ota, to share experiences and lessons learnt, review plans for the future and work out ways of sustainability of the network created.

The training session featured topics on Planning a Political career, Understanding Party politics, Volunteerism, Mobilization Strategies and Skills as a politician, Strategies for becoming a Parliamentary support Staff and Understanding Party Politics.
The various state teams presented their reports, Esther Eshiet presented for Cross River State, the event was wrapped up by presentations of certificates and a farewell party.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8291229.stm

2009-10-06T10:18:00.001+01:00

NDPVF's Mujahid Dokubo-Asari was jailed for treason and freed in 2007
Hours after an amnesty for Nigeria's oil militants expired, the original group that began the unrest has gone to court, arguing the move is illegal.

The 60-day amnesty offered cash and training for fighters who disarmed.

A lawyer for the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force told the BBC he feared government forces would now "unleash terror" in the poverty-stricken Delta.

A BBC reporter says the group has been inactive for a few years, but its case may be intended as a rallying call.

Most prominent militant leaders have accepted the amnesty - part of government efforts to end years of attacks on the Nigerian oil industry.

But the BBC's Ahmed Idris in the capital, Abuja, says some militants in the oil-rich creeks are unwilling to give up their arms and lucrative oil-stealing business.

There is nothing to forgive here if you are fighting for the self-determination of your people

NDPVF lawyer Festus Keyamo

Will amnesty bring peace?
Profile: Mujahid Dokubo-Asari
The reverend Stephen Davis, a former adviser to two Nigerian presidents on the Niger Delta, also has doubts about the amnesty, saying that the underlying political and economic landscape has not changed.

He says there are still no jobs for disaffected youths, powerful people in Nigeria continue to make money form oil theft and political godfathers will still need young men with guns in order to secure their positions.

The officials behind the amnesty have branded Reverend Davis "a mischievous nay-sayer".

But a government spokeswoman argued that jobs and economic development would come now there is peace and security.

'Silence'

NDPVF lawyer Festus Keyamo told the BBC the amnesty deal was a calculated plot to divert attention from the region's under-development and right to self determination.

"They [NDPVF] are saying: 'Give us our resources to control, you have no right to control our resources on our behalf and no amount of intimidation or amnesty can make us lose focus of that fact,'" he said.

In the papers filed at the Abuja High Court, the group says President Umaru Yar'Adua does not have the power to grant pardons when nothing has been done wrong.

"Amnesty means 'We forgive you', but there is nothing to forgive here if you are fighting for the self-determination of your people," Mr Keyamo said.

He also said the group saw the amnesty "as a means to cow everybody in the Niger Delta into submission and silence".

NDPVF leader Mujahid Dokubo-Asari was an ethnic Ijaw leader who began fighting the government in 2003.

He took up arms after accusing Niger Delta politicians of failing to pay him and his group for helping to rig elections in that year.

He was jailed for treason in 2005 and during his two years in prison most of his fighters joined other groups in the oil-rich swamps.

Since his release he has lived in the capital.

Although Nigeria is the world's eighth-largest oil exporter, the unrest has prevented it from pumping much more than two-thirds of its production capacity.

Source:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8291229.stm

Niger Delta Amnesty Continues

2009-10-05T15:19:00.001+01:00

Tompolo surrenders arms amid tears
From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE Warri
Monday, October 5, 2009
Tompolo
Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on This Section

Ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemukpolor, a.k.a Tompolo broke down in tears on Sunday in Oporoza, Delta State, as he surrendered a large cache of arms and ammunition to the Federal Government.

Tompolo who had earlier in Abuja on Saturday embraced government’s amnesty deal for militants betrayed emotions at the arms while speaking at the surrendering ceremony witnessed by Defence Minister, Maj-General Godwin Abbe (retd), Delta State Governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Presidential Adviser ion Niger Delta, Chief Timi Alaibe and the Amnesty package coordinator, Air Vice Marshal O. Olarire.

“I was compelled to drop weapons, this is my time and I will not abandon my people and this noble cause which I believe in. No doubt I have done my bit and I plead with all of you to continue with this struggle,” said that militant leader.
“It is a pity that some Ijaw youths betrayed and wanted to kill me. I am shocked that some of these people tried all within their power to thwart my effort, but I want to warn that they should not joke with the word and power of God,” the ex-warlord said amid tears.

While pleading for patience Chief Ekpemukpolo urged his people to give the Federal Government a chance to fulfill its promises to develop the region, assuring that all the buildings destroyed during the crisis would be re-built.

“I am not rich as people may tend to believe because I am yet to complete even my house in Warri, but I will continue to work for the good of my people,” said Tompolo, amid sobs which drew wailing from the crowd.
Tompolo told his boys to abhor sea piracy, pipeline vandalism and all forms of violence that will rather disrupt the peace process.

Among the items surrendered were GMG - six, AK47 – 14, FN – 71, G3 – 24, RPG – six, GMPG – five, RPGB – six.

Others are large boxes of arms ammunition, cartridges, heaps of dynamites, tear gas canisters, thunder flag and other items, which were as high as a mountain.
Speaking on the occasion, the defence minister restated Federal Government’s desire to develop the Niger – Delta, but warned that militancy would no longer be tolerated.

Abbe, who unveiled President Umar Yar’ Adua’s package for the battered region, stressed that government would not extend the presidential amnesty programme beyond 12 midnight on Sunday as effort was made to integrate their displaced war victims and the militants.

The minister, who was impressed by the huge turnout of people and a large cache of arms and ammunitions commended Tompolo for ensuring that the event was a success.
“This is no doubt a dream come through and I do know that this was done with a lot of courage, enthusiasm, patriotism and selflessness for peace to reign,” said Gen. Abbe.

“Government is ready now to develop the Niger-Delta but I want to plead to make this harmony to reign to make this heart warming peace process to be a reality,” the defence minister said amid thunderous ovation from hundreds of people that witnessed the historic event.

He said that all the militant leaders would soon meet with the presidential committee on amnesty to chart a way forward and integrate those of them who were ready to work or learn one trade or another or even going back to school.

“Time has come for us to sit and proffer solution on how permanent peace could be restored in the area. There is no other option to peace, hence we should all work and sustain the peace process,” stressed the minister.
Abbe commended Governor. Uduaghan and other members of the committee for ensuring that the amnesty was a success.

NIGERIA AT 49

2009-10-02T21:03:00.000+01:00

NIGERIA AT 49
By Louis Brown Ogbeifun | October 1, 2009
Nigeria is today 49. On this day last year, I wrote in www.louisbrownogbeifun.com on “Nigeria: A paradox at 48”. In that article, I observed the seeming lapses of a great nation brought to her knees by corruption and bad leadership. In addition, I made suggestions on how to move Nigeria forward. One year down the lane, our situation has grown from bad to worse in several areas identified in that article. Many Nigerians have given up on the project “Nigeria” to the extent that America is already training her troops on how to protect their economic interests come 2013; a year that Nigeria has been pencilled down for disintegration.
When I was growing up, the Nigerian flag was given to us at school a day before the Independence Day celebrations. We held on to it jealously and revered it. We looked forward with excitement to the activities of October 1st. In every regional capital those days, lavish and colourful decorations of the streets, schools and public places took place. The bells tolled at midnight. Fireworks sparkled and engulfed the sky in the jubilation and celebration of the Union Jack; the day we were decolonized. Then we had very many reasons to celebrate.
Though I am from a poor home, the free education programme of Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo enabled me to acquire primary and secondary schools’ education, without which I could not have been whom I am today. The educational systems ran uninterruptedly for decades after independence. Books were distributed free to students. Civil servants and our teachers were proud to work for humanity. Health centres worked to cater for the health of the masses. power supply was stable. There were public taps for water supply. The train system functioned. It ferried goods and humans from the south coast to the northern part of the country. Though the roads were narrow, they were motorable and regularly maintained. Doors could be mistakenly opened overnight without any fear of marauders. Neighbours stood in the gaps for each other during difficult times. The regions were self sufficient. They funded their programmes with proceeds from agriculture. Life to an extent was sweet.
Gradually, the fanfare of Independence Day celebrations began to decline. As at today, Independent Day celebration is very uninteresting and near absent. There is apathy in the land. Hunger, poverty and disease feast on my beloved country to the extent that majority do not see any reason to celebrate. Those that celebrate now, are those in the drivers’ seat of governance; who make money through contract awards; which will further enrich them but bleed the treasury dry to further pauperize the citizenry.
The fear of Nigeria’s disintegration by America is justified because the indices of failure in our polity are high and growing worse. It is sad commentaries that as we mark our 49th Independent day, public schools all over the country are on strike. The doctors have also threatened to embark on strike soon. Nigeria runs a generator powered energy sector, which cannot support any economic development. The manufacturing sector is functioning at below 40% capacity utilization. Our refineries are underperforming courtesy of sabotage of the major crude trunk lines. This has turned us to net importer of petroleum products instead of the other way round. The recent elections in Ekiti and Ondo state have proved that if care is not taken, 2011 elections will be worse than that of 2007. The rot has even crept into our sporting system. Nigeria that used to be a toast of the international community and a football playing nation is now taking the back seat. We have lost all major tournaments in recent times.
To make matters worse, majority of our leaders are carrying on business as usual, and as if Nigeria is effectively working. The revelation of economic banditry of the nation’s treasury by those in government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is mind bogging. I am sure our leaders are also fortifying their vaults overseas, so that when the worse happens they will zoom off with their families to safe havens. For those of us who believe that Nigeria has not totally failed but incapacitated by massive failures, this is time to wake our sleeping majority to shake off their slumber.
Many corporate organizations are divesting from oil businesses here and the Asians are taking them over. From this scenario, it is safe to posit that “if” indeed Nigeria disintegrates, the fight will be among the advanced nations over economic assets and which of the region to re-colonize. The fight will not be to protect us as a people.
Should this dream and drumming of disintegration succeed; the world will witness the worst catastrophe of the century. Nigeria will turn a battle ground for the testing of new guns and war equipment that are manufactured somewhere but tested in foreign lands. Of course, such equipment is never tested by the manufacturers using their own people.
If the international community has been unable to finish whatever businesses with the human catastrophe there are, in Afghanistan, Somalia, Gaza, Pakistan; which if lumped together are not up to two geo-political zones in Nigeria, then the world should know that any disintegration of Nigeria will in perpetuity drain the blood off the economic vessels of the world. Though the advanced nations will sell their military hardware and thus generate income to run their own economies, let them know that any agreement in exchange for oil as they did during the Biafra war will fail this time around. The Ogoni resistance against the oil giant Shell will suffice as an example. Therefore, it is indeed, in the best interest of the international community that Nigeria should continue to run as an undivided entity.
First, Nigeria is so large that the wars that will happen will be multifaceted and may never end. Take for instance the South as an entity. The East will battle to regain the lost Biafra. The Niger delta will fight to actualize the Boro vision. The ethnic nationalities will strive in that chaos to fight to regain lost identities. Recently, in trying to take charge of the nerve of oil between the militants that operated in the Niger Delta, several fractions emerged. We have countless generals and commanders leading the splinter groups. So shall it be with any disintegration. In the oil producing communities of the lower Niger, the war will be fiercer in the Urobo, Ijaw and Itsekiri areas. They will rise to ensure that they carve out distinct identities to manage their own separate oil resources.
Secondly, in the ensuing melee, I am not too sure the entire North will remain intact because the middle belt has been crying over economic, social and political marginalization for a long time. This region boasts of the best hands the military has ever produced in Nigeria. Just like there is a professor in every house in Ekiti state, so there is a general in every house in the middle belt region. So, they are equipped to strive and bring about their own identity. Time would have come for them to take their destinies in their own hands. More so, that they remain the food basket of this nation, and can survive by reinventing their agricultural might
Thirdly, the refugee crisis that will emerge will swallow the entire west coast. The Sahara desert will have more guests heading for the outside world than it had over the last two decades.
Fourthly, the world’s level of insecurity would have heightened that no foreigner can freely come into Nigeria. Somalia pirates’ situation will be a child’s play. Let every reasonable being check out the last few years of restiveness in the Niger Delta and will find out that should there be any full scaled war, no oil tanker or commercial vessel can safely enter the region without paying the right price.
In this therefore, let the West not rejoice because they will never be able to control the emerging holocaust, talk less of being in a position to re-colonize the region’s oil wealth. It should remember that one of its critical challenges today is the money being used in fighting some wars outside its domain. Rather than investing heavily on armament to defend its interest in a disintegrating Nigeria, let the international community begin an aggressive drive on how to make Nigeria work again as a nation. The world should not wait to fight a reactive battle as they did in Liberia, Sierra-Leone, Somalia, and Rwanda. Some of the things the international community can help Nigerians do at this moment include:
1. Imposing subtle social and medical travel restrictions on all politicians and top government functionaries from Nigeria. When they have nowhere to run to, our politicians will sit down and make our health and social institutions work.
2. Foreign banks should ensure that their vaults are no longer made warehouses for stolen funds. They should collaborate with the EFCC to intensify the war against money laundering.
3. Ensure that all known looters and those convicted for economic crimes are ostracized and not welcomed into any part of the West and European countries.
4. The money being used for building armament that will rain bullets on our people later, should be used now for developing human capacity that will enable more Nigerians protest against misrule, corruption and bad leadership.
5. The West through its cohorts destroyed our federalism immediately after the civil war. It was at the vanguard of guiding the Federal Government to remove the powers of self sufficiency from the regions. The essence was to make the regions crawl to the Federal Government, begging for funds. It also served as a diversionary tactics to divert the regions attention from seeking secession. This they actualized through the destruction of the regional Development Authourities. From then on, Nigeria began a gradual balkanization of the country in the name of states’ creation. Our rent economy guarantees Federal Government to be the sole distributor of manna to the States. This was the beginning of our woes. Experience has now shown that even if the states do not rise to confront the government, militia groups will do it in a more destructive manner. So, let the West also go through the same process to reinstate the ideal fiscal federalism it took away through the back door.
Ten years of uninterrupted democracy is enough to start harvesting some dividends of democracy. So, time has come to work for the actualization of the Nigeria of our dreams and everybody has a role to play to ensure that this house “Nigeria” does not fall.
President Yar’Adua.
There is no time in our history than now, that we need a principled, truthful and open leader to turn things around for Nigeria. President Yar’Adua represents this. When he was elected, he told us the process of that election was flawed. Fact number one! To rectify this, he set up a committee to advise him on how to ensure that our electoral system is flawless. He also diagnosed that Nigerian past leaders did not rule the country based on the rule of law. Facts number two! To address this he began the rule of law mantra and has not unnecessarily meddled in the affairs of the National assembly as did his predecessor. In his speech to mark this year’s Independent Day celebration, he said our dreams since independence and the promise of independence have been largely unfulfilled. Another sacred fact! Our past leaders will not do this and would not have been point blank. All that is now required, aside telling the truth, is to take the bold and radical steps needed; to give vent to the processes to right these wrongs. It is in these, Nigeria of our dreams can be born. Some of the radical reforms will include:
1. Constitution reform: This is inevitable. He has to take the hard decision of returning Nigeria to true federalism. The power at the centre is too concentrated and juicy hence the battle by every politician to come to the seat of power at Abuja. As at today, many former governors live their lives in cosy hotel rooms in Europe, their luxury homes at Abuja or in Lagos. Never are these privileged Nigerians found in their Local government areas or even their state capitals except during party primaries. They are even afraid to live in midst of those they governed for eight years because they underdeveloped the states and milked them dry. This is an irony of fate. If Nigeria must develop and make progress, we must start building from the foundation, which is the local government. If there are infrastructures at the local level comparable to those found in the cities, no one will like to migrate to the cities.
2. Political party reform/internal democracy: As the leader of the largest political party in Africa; the president must ensure that between now and 2011, Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) should enthrone internal democracy as a way of laying a foundation for credible elections in the country. Members of the party from the ward level must be allowed to freely elect those that will occupy political offices and those that will represent them in the larger contest; instead of the selection process of 2007 that saw the likes of Rotimi Amechi, Olusegun Mimiko, some of the founding fathers of PDP and others thrown out of the party. It is when this is done, that a PDP led government can also give unto Nigerians free hands to elect their leaders. After all, nobody can give what he or she does not have.
3. Electoral reform: The electoral reform started by the President should be implemented in a way that every vote of the electorates counts. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be truly independent in all ramifications to enable it save Nigeria from the embarrassment of flawed elections. 2011 is a year of reckoning. Nigerians are visibly angry at what is happening all over the country. The springing up of ethnic militias in various parts of the country is a sign of discontent. So, it is in our best interest to allow free and credible elections.
4. Seven points’ agenda: While the President may want to address as many lapses as possible before his first tenure expires, the seven point agenda of Mr. President should be redefined to make it realisable. The one point agenda that is sacrosanct is the provision of uninterrupted power to the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. This will be the springboard for development. The President should go further to ban importation of generators into this country. When we have no new generators and we cannot afford to maintain the old ones; I am sure those in high places will climb down from their high horses to proffer solutions to our energy problems. If power generation and distribution is effectively delivered to Nigerians, the huge cost of manufacturing will reduce, and some of the collapsed industries may gradually come back to life.
5. Niger Delta Peace process: The President has started a good job in the Niger Delta region. He should continue to sustain the peace process he has started there. Again, this is an area he should be given credit for not being egocentric in addressing the issue of militancy.
6. War on corruption: The President should sustain the war on corruption no matter what it takes. The discordant tunes emanating from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation are discomforting. It would seem that the Attorney General is doing more damage to the image of this country with the way he is quick to defend the interests of those facing various economic crimes in the country. No country fights corruption by allowing the critical agencies involved in the process to be at daggers drawn with each other. They are supposed to be two sides of the same coin. Those that will reap from these seemingly uncooperative attitudes are the looters of our treasury thereby denying the people social justice. While the President may not wish to interfere in this imbroglio because of his belief in the rule of law, he should remember that no rule of law can be effective without social justice.
The National Assembly:
The cardinal duty of the National Assembly is to make good laws for the governance of this nation. The present crop of Senators and House members will write their names in gold in the annals of legislative service in Nigeria; if they pass the following bills into laws before their tenure expires.
1. Freedom of Information Bill: This will assist people to freely attack corruption without molestation.
2. Electoral Reform Bill: This holds the key to our survival as a nation beyond 2011. Except we get this right, the fierce battle to win elections at all cost will be unprecedented. The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) should be strengthened through the process of law to be truly independent.
3. Petroleum Industry Bill. Our petroleum sector is parlous and in a pitiable state. The laws governing it are obsolete. The community restiveness and the Niger Delta crisis emanated from the inadequacies of the laws.
4. Constitutional amendment: This should be done to ensure that states are encouraged to tap the resources at their disposal. If every State knows that it will have 50% derivation from whatever it produces, it will motivate the Governors to find ways of tapping their resources rather than depend on begging for funds from the Federal Government. The Independence of INEC should be clearly redefined in line with the Justice Uwais Committee report.
These are the instruments that will promote accountability and transparency in governance by the executive. If they can do these for Nigeria, they will be remembered for good.
The Politicians
Our politicians owe us a duty to ensure that our votes count. They should not see elections as a do-or-die affair. They may lose today but win tomorrow. They should change their traditional paradigms of old (Amala politics) of using coercion to agrandize the people’s votes. They should stop using political thugs to harass Nigerians and snatch ballot boxes. They should introspect and see if their ten years in the rulership of this nation, has benefitted the masses of Nigeria. They know it that nothing could been said to have worked for the benefit of the greater society. Dividends of democracy include the right of the citizens to freely elect their leaders without molestation, access to sound education, good health, food, housing, and good environment. If they agree to this assertion, then they have failed the masses of this nation and the only way they can atone for these sins is to do it right in 2011. They should note that the king that ruled and the people prospered with a united kingdom have a name. The one that also ruled but tore, and destroyed the kingdom through war and maladministration also has a name. So the politicians should choose the name they want to be remembered for.
The people
Fellow Nigerians, having dealt with the issue of the selfish agenda of foreign interests in Nigeria, we have about one and half years to determine our own future. That is, between now and 2011 when general elections will take place. We have to do it ourselves. We cannot fold our arms and wish someone else reinvent this country for us. We have blamed the military for so long. Let us also agree as a people that we have failed Nigeria; by not standing for her at critical moments and by watching people of low character destroy our commonwealth.
I align myself with the President’s speech of today that government should renew its commitment to confronting the challenges of critical infrastructure, the Niger Delta, food security, security of lives and property, human capital development, land tenure and wealth creation.
We as citizens also have a great role to play. We should also wake up from our slumber. We have made life too comfortable for our political leaders. If Nigeria disintegrates, all the politicians will run away leaving us to die in the ensuing war and recriminations. So, why are we going to allow them wreck us and leave us to bury our dead? We should stand up to fight now. Not by carrying guns but by civil disobedience to protest the maladministration of our rulers. We should sing the praises of the governors that are performing excellently well, and make governance difficult for the treasury looters.
The Labour movement should start sharpening their arsenals to confront those who will want to rig 2011 elections because workers bear the brunt of empty treasuries, political truancy and economic sabotage. The market women should get ready to reinvent the great womanhood in them to salvage Nigeria from ruins. The Student activists should be ready to re-enact the Ali-must-go fire works without destruction to lives and properties. The youths should also say no to being used as political thugs.
Wherever we are, let us as Nigerians rededicate ourselves to the Nigerian project. Let us think of what we can do to make Nigeria greater than what she is now. Let us be honest and loyal to the service of our country at all times. This House (NIGERIA) must not fall. May we live to see the Nigeria of our dream, and may Nigeria never die in our time.
Written by Dr Brown Ogbeifun www. http://louisbrownogbeifun.com
One of my mentors

2009-09-10T09:12:00.002+01:00

MEND Says Amnesty Program Is A “Charade”
Tue Aug, 11 2009
By Tobi Smith

Nigeria’s main militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has described the ongoing amnesty program as a “charade.”
MEND’s reaction came while dismissing claims by one Prince Joseph Etella Harry as being a factional leader of the group.
“For the second time, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) wishes to dissociate itself from an impostor and fraudster, a self acclaimed Prince Joseph Etella Harry who first claimed to speak for MEND but is now claiming to speak for a faction of MEND controlled by Tompolo over the amnesty issue.
“MEND has no faction and has never interacted with this individual over the amnesty issue.
“Our integrity and reputation is something we will guard jealously at a time when criminals have tainted the amnesty program with bribery and corruption.
“By compromising certain individuals to put up a show aimed at deceiving the public that the amnesty program is on course, MEND is watching the charade from a distance and can predict the outcome.” The statement was signed by Jomo Gbomo.

Northern reps against N400 billion bailout of banks

2009-08-31T12:18:00.004+01:00

By Festus Owete
August 31, 2009 08:54AMT

The furore generated by the recent earthquake in the banking sector is far from over, as members of the House of Representatives from the 19 states of the North, on Sunday, declared as illegal, the recent N400 billion disbursed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to bail out five of the ailing banks, whose managing directors were sacked a forthnight ago.

The lawmakers also condemned the recent Federal Government policy on the tenure of federal permanent secretaries, saying it was a contravention of the provisions of the Pension Reform Act of 2004.

There are 190 members of the House from the 19 states in the North.

At a news conference in Abuja, the lawmakers, under the aegis of Northern Caucus, in the House of Representatives, said giving N400 billion to the five banks was unconstitutional.

The banks are: Oceanic Bank, Intercontinental Bank,Finland Bank, Union Bank and AfriBank.

Minority Leader of the House, Mohammed Ali Ndume, who spoke on behalf of the chairman of the Caucus, Terngu Tsegba (PDP, Benue), said due process was not followed in disbursing the money because it was not appropriated by the parliament.

“The Forum notes the issue of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) bail-out of the failed banks and the injection of N400 billion into the system. While supporting the CBN’s effort in sanitizing the banking sector and indeed the larger economy, we feel that the initiative is timely, however, the injection of the N400 billion without appropriation by the National Assembly is unconstitutional.

“We therefore, urge the bank to immediately seek the ratification of the National Assembly. We indeed urge the apex bank to pursue the on-going reform to the logical conclusion,” Mr Ndume, who was flanked by about 10 other members of the caucus, said.

Gone too soon

On the civil service reforms introduced by the Federal Government, the Caucus said if implemented, some of the permanent secretaries and directors affected may be retired from service before they reach pensionable age.

The new Head of Service of the Federation, Steve Oronsaye had, last month, issued a circular introducing tenure for permanent secretaries in the federal ministries. The policy has been reportedly rejected by the permanent secretaries.

Mr Ndume said: “The Act provides for the minimum age of 55 years before any person will qualify to draw down from pension contribution.

We envisage a situation where some of those to be affected may not be up to the pensionable age and will be made to suffer for no fault of theirs simply because they chose to join the service at an early age or immediately after their graduation.

“Since the Supreme Court has already decided on the issue of retroactive laws, we call on the government not to do anything that will affect the current directors, but to implement the circular on subsequent directors in the federal civil service.” The Caucus also frowned at the 900 per cent increase of premium rates and other charges in the Federal Capital Territory, insisting that the National Assembly should have been consulted before they were introduced.

“The National Assembly, being the constitutional legislature of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), should have been legally resorted to before the application of the charges. We view this as serious legal breach and implementation of the new rates, until due consideration is made by the National Assembly as the constitutional and democratic representatives of the people,” Mr Ndume, a member from Borno State, said.

The Caucus also regretted what it said was the poor and selective implementation of national budgets in the country. It insisted that “the 2009 budget as passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President must be implemented fully to the letter.”

Source:http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5451063-146/Northern_reps_against_N400_billion_bailout.csp

srudents PEACE sign

2009-08-27T09:03:00.001+01:00

Table Tennis session

2009-08-27T08:52:00.002+01:00

Table Tennis session

Intl Youth Day Interaction

2009-08-27T08:51:00.000+01:00

August 12th was the international youth day worldwide, the leader of the Earth Charter Youth Group Warri Ogaga Maxwell was on a democratic learning visit to Ghana under the DESLAY programme a democracy programme initiated by Youngstars Foundation Jos and sponsored by National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Washington D.C, USA.
The Earth Youth group leader used the opportunity of the learning visit to Ghana to hold an interactive meeting on the international youth day with the Nigerian and Ghana Youths, Four Nigerian youths and three Ghanaian youths were present in the meeting.
Bola Abimbola the project director of Youngstars Foundation, Jos shared on the relationship between Governance and Environment, and key factors towards the sustainability of our various youth initiatives, he discussed extensively on the concepts of emerging leaders and the difference between governance and good governance. Whilst a Nigerian Youth John O. John shared on his work in Zamfara state a sharia state in Northern Nigeria. John O. John has been involved in HIV/AIDS awareness work in Zamfara state working with rural children in the state.
Aminu Bonniface and Samuel the president and co founder of YEA Ghana which is the Earth Charter group in Accra Ghana shared on their works in Ghana.
We looked at the challenges young people are facing in both countries, there were various form of interactions and exchange of contacts. Ogaga Maxwell introduced the Earth Charter to those who were not already away of what the Earth Charter was and it was a great time of national interaction on the Earth Charter platform on the international youth day. Visit the link below for pictures

DESPLAYer HOLDS DEMOCRACY AND PARTICIPATION WORKSHOP FOR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGE.

2009-08-27T08:48:00.000+01:00

Ogaga Maxwell held a special democracy and participation workshop for physically challenged people in Warri on the 25th July 2009. The workshop was part of the Pass -it- on component of the Democracy Series: Participation - Learning and Active Youths (DESPLAY). DESPLAY is an initiative of Youngstars Development Initiative (Youngstars Foundation) Jos, funded by NED Washington DC – USA .(DESPLAY) is knowledge based and an activity oriented youth program that brings together youths from different places to deepen their democracy knowledge and foster active youth participation in good governance processes. Since 2005, DESPLAY has directly trained over 250 youths from Nigeria and Ghana, and over 2000 youths indirectly through her peer education component called Passing it On. A DESPLAY session comprises (3) semesters of training, scheduled to take place every 3 or 4 months. That is, three (3) semesters in a year. Each semester last four (4) days and has two (2) phases. DESPLAY semester 1 focuses on “Understanding Democracy and Good Governance”. Where concepts of democracy, regime types, issues of democratization in Nigeria and other Africa countries are meticulously engaged. While semester 2 focuses on “Participation”. Exploring what participation means to young people, what are our best strategic points of entry or getting involved, what are available tools of engagement among others. And semester 3 focuses on “Leadership and Aspiration” with special emphasis on how leadership impacts modern governance, vis-à-vis values hinged on character, ethics, vision, stewardship, followership, and model examples among others. The purpose is to conduct a step-in mini training within 8 weeks of attending a DESPLAY Semester for members of the State PiO Team, with the aim of passing the lessons learnt from DESPLAY semesters to other youths who were not opportune to attend.
The Physically challenged people were very happy to attend the democracy workshop and were alarmed at their indirect exclusion from being voted for in the current electoral reform. In meet the leader segment of the workshop, they met with Mr Nelson Radio present in Warri who inspired them that despite their physically challenges their mind is not challenged.
The participant reviewed the electoral; reform document given by the IRI during the Illorin workshop and shared their thoughts and concern, they were inspired to engage more in the democratic process of the state at their various level and most of them were inspired to attend DESPLAY programme in the upcoming year.
It was a great experience sharing conducting a meeting for physically challenged, we had two ladies who had to be carried into the venue as they could not walk ,cripples and those on crutches were present. But most importantly they are people who need to be touched in our society. Most of them are used to people using them to get money but here they were presented with a bigger picture of capacity building and that made all the difference.
Ogaga Maxwell
www.ogagamaxwell.org

Sports Day Project pics

2009-08-27T08:41:00.001+01:00

During the Sports Day during the Project
Ogaga Maxwell
www.ogagamaxwell.org

Nigerian/Ghana Youths Interact

2009-08-25T10:33:00.001+01:00

Ghana/Nigeria youths interact on Earth Charter Platform on International Youth Day,facilitated by Ogaga E. Maxwell.

Ghana/Nigeria Youth Network on Intl Youth Day

2009-08-25T08:30:00.003+01:00

EARTH CHARTER NIGERIA/GHANA NETWORK ON INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY
August 12th was the international youth day worldwide, the leader of the Earth Charter Youth Group Warri Ogaga Maxwell was on a democratic learning visit to Ghana under the DESLAY programme a democracy programme initiated by Youngstars Foundation Jos and sponsored by National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Washington D.C, USA.
The Earth Youth group leader used the opportunity of the learning visit to Ghana to hold an interactive meeting on the international youth day with the Nigerian and Ghana Youths, Four Nigerian youths and three Ghanaian youths were present in the meeting.
Bola Abimbola the project director of Youngstars Foundation, Jos shared on the relationship between Governance and Environment, and key factors towards the sustainability of our various youth initiatives, he discussed extensively on the concepts of emerging leaders and the difference between governance and good governance. Whilst a Nigerian Youth John O. John shared on his work in Zamfara state a sharia state in Northern Nigeria. John O. John has been involved in HIV/AIDS awareness work in Zamfara state working with rural children in the state.
Aminu Bonniface and Samuel the president and co founder of YEA Ghana which is the Earth Charter group in Accra Ghana shared on their works in Ghana.
We looked at the challenges young people are facing in both countries, there were various form of interactions and exchange of contacts. Ogaga Maxwell introduced the Earth Charter to those who were not already away of what the Earth Charter was and it was a great time of national interaction on the Earth Charter platform on the international youth day.
I am wearing the Nigeria Colours in the middle (Green, whit
e, green)
Ogaga Maxwell
Nigeria
www.ogagamaxwell.org

Interaction with African Sage on the Ghanaian Story

2009-08-18T19:56:00.001+01:00

The learning visit to Ghana has been great, today I the last day at the lodge and we would be heading to Nigeria tomorrow, but today was a great ay we had great interactions with Leslie Baofo and then most importantly we had a good history session with Mr. Kotei Dsane AKA Jordan the 70 year old father of Naa the Country Director of Youngstars Ghana in our lodge.
The man was full of wisdom and history with a very sharp memory. He shared with us the history of Ghana from the time of Kwame Nkrumah from 1948 when Nkrumah declared positive action that was intensified under the CPP platform in 1956 that led to their independence in 1957.
He said something that can be a clue to why Ghana is enjoying constant power supply and by the way guys we have had constant power supply since we arrived, he said through the foresight of Nkrumah he liaised with foreign partners to develop the akosob dam that generates power. And he said if not for that dam the power issue in Ghana would have been worse, but this was not accomplished without stiff internal opposition. Is possible that such internal opposition is the reason behind Nigeria’s power issue that poses insurmountable?
He shared with us several attempt to kill Kwame Nkrumah including when a grenade was planted in the flowers of a 7 year old girl that was to be presented to Nkrumah on his return from Burkina Faso.
He shared also with us the emergence of former president Rawlings his emergence from military to democracy including several stiff opposition he faced including when his fingers were pulled off, the sage lamented that military takeover is largely responsible for the lack of sustainable development in African countries.
The interaction ended when he said Africans are toying with our destiny.
Hi all lets hear the words of this wise African man, its time for us to take our destiny in our hands and be the change we want to see
Ogaga E. Maxwell
Live from Hilltop Hotel
Accra, Ghana

Conversations with H.E Jerry Rawlings 1

2009-08-17T18:45:00.000+01:00

Hi Young Democrat and Emerging Leaders
Conversations are great, but what makes a great conversation is who you are talking with. no doubt talking with Former President Jerry Rawlings can be termed one of those few conversations that comes once in a lifetime.
I would be doing a brief series on that and highlights of lessons learnt, I would quote His Excellency and then proceed with my own thoughts
"In the Last 10 years there has been a global decline in Morals" J Rawlings
When you discuss with people in their office there is an air of 'officialness" that goes with it, but when you talk with a man in his private residence then you have his heart. That was the opportunity we got to talk with this great man at his home and he was sharing like a father would talk with a son, he has a passion for the continent of Africa.
I would be writing as a son who has sat under a traditional African Father, hearing wisdom tales in moonlight.
Without a shadow of doubt there has been a general decline in the moral fabric of several nations around the globe, what people use to value has been turned away, most people are carried away by materialism, fame and fortune. Right from the onset the issue of moral decay was the heartbeat of President Jerry, he said that is the foundation for the growth of any nation and people group.
As young democrats, what is our MORAL QUOTIENT, in the Bible, Law books and Koran Morals are preached and virtues are taught, when we begin to realize that the development of our great nation lies on the moral platforms of individuals then we have started the race but until then no nation can be built on a faulty foundation. When people through Morals to the wind then hey have thrown away the opportunity for sustainable development" Ogaga Maxwell
Lets build our live on strong Moral foundations and watch our nation grow..more on these later .....more conversations later,

Ogaga E. Maxwell
www.ogagamaxwell.org

UN chief says young people hit by global economic recession

2009-08-15T11:16:00.002+01:00

UN chief says young people hit by global economic recession
August 14, 2009 10:38AMT

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, said on Wednesday that young people around the world were among those hardest hit by the global economic downturn.

The UN correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr. Ki-moon made the statement in a message to mark this year's International Youth Day.

"In 2007 for example, youth comprised 25 percent of the world's working age population and yet accounted for 40 percent of the unemployed," the secretary-general said.

He said that the global economic downturn meant that in the near term, youth unemployment would continue to climb.

"Unemployment rates tell only part of the story, especially for the vast majority of youths who live in developing countries.

"For the young, informal, insecure and low-wage employment is the norm, not the exception.

"On International Youth Day, let us renew our pledge to support young people in their development, sustainability is the most promising path forward, and youths can lead the way," he said.

The UN General Assembly had on December 17, 1999 adopted a resolution, which designated August 12 as the International Youth Day in an effort to draw attention to youth issues worldwide.

The theme of this year's International Youth Day is "Sustainability: Our Challenge. Our Future."

Source:http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5444453-146/UN_chief_says_young_people_hit.csp

Sex in the Office

2009-08-07T13:48:00.006+01:00

By Ugo Chime
August 5, 2009 06:22PMT

Recently, I came across some racy photos of a - purportedly - Zain Uganda director doing the nasty with his subordinate. As the story went, the director was fired after the photos were released on the internet. This is pretty understandable, judging from his position in the company. But what kind of got me was that the lady was said to have kept her job! Seriously, why? Evidently, she was much a willing and happy participant in the act as the man. So, why does he get punished and she is not?

Thus, I asked an associate of Zain Nigeria, whether Zain as an organisation didn't have clearly stipulated sexual harassment policies. Surprise surprise, those with me then, couldn't understand what a corporate sexual harassment policy had anything to do with the matter at hand. What they were all focused on was that people should stop taking potentially demanding photos of themselves!

Since we were all acting like sinful adults there, and I am not quite one to act sanctimonious, I decided not to argue along the path that those two staff shouldn't have been ‘getting down' in the first place. Instead, I pointed out the injustice of the company punishing only one of the guilty parties. Had there been a sexual harassment policy, the ‘Oga' as well as the ‘Sissy' would be held by them, hence punishable by them.

With evidence that it was the subordinate who indeed went after her boss, as it is well known to happen, she goes. If it can be proved that it was the director was ‘forced' the young lady into an affair, her reputation wouldn't be as tarnished as it must be now. And if it turns out that they were both very consenting adults, the two of them go! That is justice! Everybody is protected! Everybody is accountable! And isn't that what every company should strive to achieve?

But, what do we have on ground? I have worked in four organizations till date, and interned in three others, and not one of them has a sexual harassment policy! Doesn't that show how corporate organizations have conveniently chosen to ignore that sex occurs in the office, and possibly every single day. Before working hours, during working hours (I had a story of a guy stumbling upon his boss and an NYSC attaché furiously going about their business in the office bathroom - imagine the slews of customers being kept waiting while those two relieved themselves), and after working hours.

These things happen, so why won't companies acknowledge it in a written form. Let's say, for the heck of it, that it is the subordinate that teamed up with the IT guy who released the photos to kick the director out.

By the time the case is investigated it, the victim (the director) wouldn't have been kicked out so fast. Let's again say, again for the heck of it, that the company requires of every IT staff to report any evidence of sexual activity, this matter would have been taken care in-house without the embarrassment of the whole world knowing about it.

And had the IT staff violated the company policy by releasing the photos, he would probably be the first to be let go; not just on the account of blackmail - which is a criminal or it is civil offence (I'm not sure if HR can sack a staff for blackmailing another staff).

There is a lot sexual harassment policies can do for company personnel. For one thing, it would keep people on their toes. There would be none of those dirty jokes that get told in offices.

Ambitious young ladies or men will be discouraged from looking out for a boss to sleep with, knowing that it really wouldn't help their course (as the boss is trying his best possible best not to appear to have a personal interest in pushing for your hiring or promotion). As well, the gold-digging babe looking for a rich husband at her place of employment will also think twice about it, as she may not find so many men willing to lose their job for a piece of the action.

And it takes the power off lecherous bosses who are on the prowl for naïve staff to take advantage of, because they can't guarantee that that subordinate isn't hiding a tape, recording their ‘rapping' to be presented before a board on a later date (I heard this actually happened in a university, my alma mater precisely!).

Seriously, the office is a place for business. And anything that would keep it that way should be enforced.

Source:http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Opinion/Blogs/5441726-184/Sex_in_the_Office__.csp

Niger Delta coalition calls for oil minister’s sack

2009-08-07T12:48:00.001+01:00

By Chinedum Philip
August 6, 2009

The Niger Delta Coalition Against Violence has called on President Umaru Yar’Adua to sack the minister of Petroleum Resources, Rilwanu Lukman.

The coalition said that sacking the minister will demonstrate the president’s commitment to the current peace process in the region.

The South-South Governors Forum started the campaign to get the minister sacked for his alleged insensitivity to the problems of the Niger Delta.

The coalition, in a communiqué issued at the end of its extra- ordinary meeting held in Port Harcourt on Tuesday and signed by Lekia Christian, president and James Febebebo, secretary said that there cannot be a peaceful resolution in the delta area with an enemy of the region presiding over the ministry that controls the natural wealth of the people.

The group pointed out that its problem with Mr. Lukman is not because he hails from the northern part of the country, but because his portfolio in the past and present has only impacted negatively on the lives of the people of the Niger Delta.

Source:http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5441668-146/Niger_Delta_coalition_calls_for_oil.csp

A taste of the Taliban

2009-07-31T17:52:00.002+01:00

Jul 30th 2009
From The Economist print edition

An Islamist insurgency in the north comes on top of another in the Delta

VIOLENCE has often disfigured religion in Nigeria. Usually, it has been a matter of bloody confrontation between Muslims and Christians in the middle of the country, where the largely Muslim north rubs up against the mainly Christian south. This week, however, Nigeria experienced its most serious outbreak of another kind of religious violence, provoked by Islamic fundamentalists who take their inspiration from the Taliban of Afghanistan. At least 180 people were killed in five days of clashes between militants and the police.

The fighting started on July 26th in Bauchi state after the police arrested several suspected leaders of an Islamist sect called Boko Haram, a local Hausa term that means “education is prohibited”. In particular, the group is against Western education and influence. It wants to impose a pure Muslim caliphate on Nigeria. In retaliation for the arrest of their leaders, militants went on the rampage in several northern states, attacking the police with anything that came to hand, from machetes to bows and poison arrows.

The police fought back, killing, so they claimed, 39 militants in Bauchi. Fierce fighting took place in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, where the sect has its headquarters. On July 28th the army was called in to shell the compound where the sect’s leader, Muhammad Yusuf, has been based. As well as killing scores of Boko Haram fighters, the police arrested hundreds of suspected members of the group.

The “Black Taliban”, as such groups are dubbed in Nigeria’s northern states, have carried out isolated attacks for several years. This time the violence has been more widespread and prolonged. Muslim sharia law was introduced in 12 northern states after general elections in 1999, but the states’ Muslim rulers have usually been cautious in applying it. This has prompted the militants to demand a more extreme form of Islamist rule and for sharia to be extended to the whole of Nigeria.

Nigeria’s federal government, along with Western intelligence agencies, has long worried that extremist groups in the north may link up with Islamist terrorist groups elsewhere in Africa, in particular with al-Qaeda in the Maghreb. This outfit grew out of the blood-soaked struggle by Islamists to overthrow Algeria’s government in the 1990s. Such connections raise the spectre of a concerted Islamist threat against Nigeria, a close ally of America and a large oil exporter. But the links have not been proved and little is known about groups such as Boko Haram.

On this occasion Nigeria’s president, Umaru Yar’Adua, acted swiftly. But it was the exception to his presidential rule. Now halfway through his four-year term, the former governor of the northern state of Katsina has achieved little. His administration is beset by indecision and drift.

This week’s violence in the north comes on top of unceasing violence in the southern Niger Delta region, where an insurgency by militants demanding a bigger share of the country’s oil wealth continues to disrupt oil exports. By some estimates, Nigeria now exports only half of what it should: Angola has taken over as sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest producer.

Despite floating various well-meaning plans to pacify the Delta, the government has failed to stop the region’s unrest. The fall in tax revenues, as a result of illegal bunkering and the sabotage of pipelines, means that Mr Yar’Adua has even less chance of tackling his country’s other problems, such as a chronic lack of electricity. The insurgency in the Delta has thrived on the back of dire poverty and high unemployment in what should be a relatively wealthy region, were it not so poorly governed. Some fear the Islamist militants in the north may profit from the same lack of opportunities, which saps the morale of young Nigerians and makes so many of them prey to extremists.

Source:http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14140810

A taste of the Taliban

2009-07-31T17:52:00.001+01:00

Bayelsa to lobby against Petroleum Industry Bill

2009-07-31T16:29:00.001+01:00

NAN
July 29, 2009 11:31PMT

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly on Wednesday said it would embark on a campaign to lobby the five State Houses of Assembly in the Niger Delta region to reject the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill.

It will be recalled that Petroleum Minister Rilwanu Lukman had while speaking at the Senate public hearing on the bill in Abuja, said that the bill would ensure transparency in the oil and gas sector.

“The bill is in the best interest of Nigerians and the people living in the oil producing areas contrary to speculation in some quarters,” he said.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) Lee Maeba, said that the bill was coming at a time when obsolete laws in the sector should be repealed.

He noted that all memoranda received during the hearing would be treated equally and urged members of the public and other stakeholders who still had memoranda to present to the committee to do so.

But the Deputy Speaker, Nestor Binabo, who led other lawmakers in a debate after the House resumed from a two weeks recess, warned that the Bill was capable of “thwarting” the peace efforts in the region.

Most of the members agreed that the supporting roles of the various assemblies in the region would reduce the noticeable lukewarm attitude of Ministers and Senators from the region.

Contributing, Jonathan Obuebite, representing Nembe I Constituency, alleged that the Bill was a deliberate move to further marginalise the people of the Niger Delta. “It will be against the principles of fair play, equity and natural justice,” he said.

Other members called on elected and political office holders from the region to show signs of concern and support for issues affecting the people of the region rather than adopting a lukewarm attitude due to selfish political considerations.

Back
Dear reader.
While we value your feedback we have to moderate them, so your comments would appear in a maximum of thirty minutes. Please feel free to return and read through again after another user may have replied to what you have said.
Reader Comments (3)

Posted by asita asuei (onisokasuein@aol.com) on Jul 30 2009

pls i want you to pls make the copy of the bill to be available on this page thanks

Posted by SB Adamu on Jul 30 2009

I am of the same opinion with the first comment. We do not know the content of the bill, so we are blind to the raging arguments. Please avail us with the copy of the bill on line. Thanks.

Posted by ibrahim Dikko, Scotland. on Jul 30 2009

I need to say that the Americans could not continue with the debate on the Law on extractive and explorative industries (Of which the Oil and Gas industries are just a part) because of the lobby groups that became so powerful which each one protecting its interest. In the UK, the IAS, IFRS 6 (Accounting Standards for explorative and extrative industries), were amoung the most debated accounting reporting standards that by all standards of the formation of all IFRSs and IASs received the highest number of lobbyist. By this, i will not be surprise if the Petroluem Bill become a reason for the house various interest groups, the various community that are blessed by petroluem and those without, the explorative industry and extrative industry in this area form powerful lobby group to derail the passing of this bill. The government should form its own lobby group so that the bill can be passed as they want in a manner that they can defend. The bottomline should be if the general interest of its citizens are well cartered for. As for the call that Alhaji Lukman should vacate the Position of Minister of Petroluem, this call is long overdue. Time has pass and his generation should be in retirement. Please Lukman, do the honourable thing. Resign.

Source:http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5440270-147/Bayelsa_to_lobby_against_Petroleum_Industry.csp

Bayelsa to lobby against Petroleum Industry Bill

2009-07-31T16:29:00.000+01:00

MEND condemns crisis in the North

2009-07-31T16:23:00.004+01:00

July 30, 2009

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has condemned the ongoing violence in parts of Northern Nigeria.

MEND said this on Wednesday in a press release signed by the group's spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo.

In the release, MEND described the attacks as senseless and criticized the efforts made by the federal government to bring the violence to an end.

Fighting had broken out on Sunday in Bauchi State of northern Nigeria when members of Boko Haram, which means "Western education is a sin" in Hausa language, torched a police station killing the policemen on duty to protest the arrest of their leader, a reprisal hit latter left about 39 dead.

The violence which originated from the state has since spread to Kano, Yobe and Maiduguri states where heavy fracas between government security force and the Islamic insurgence had resulted in hundreds of death as well as wanton destruction of government institutions.

MEND, in the release, said it was not a threat to Nigeria and denied claims that it had set up a team to negotiate with the government.

"We use this opportunity to deny the statements from certain groups who we have no affiliation with that claim a team has been chosen to negotiate with the government," Mr. Gbomo was referring to the recent amnesty offer by the federal government.

According to the release, MEND leader, Henry Okah, who was recently granted amnesty by the federal government, was holding consultations with ‘various camps' in order to set up a team to convey their demands to the government.

Source:http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5440336-146/MEND_condemns_crisis_in_the_North.csp

SOME PICTURES OF PARTICIPATING SCHHOLS

2009-07-30T08:48:00.006+01:00

Some group pictures of participating schools taken during the Third week of the Project

Lagos eases its environmental burden by planting trees

2009-07-28T17:33:00.005+01:00

By Ben Ezeamalu
July 25, 2009 03:40PMT

Some Lagos residents, like James Elemamba are fast appreciating the value of a green environment. Mr. Elemamba, who resides at Obalende, along with his mother operates a flower and tree shop in Ikoyi.

On this day, as he tend the flowers, a look of contentment spreads across his face. Over the years, he has come to treat the plants as part and parcel of his family.

To ensure that the plants receive the best, he wakes up at 5am every day, except on Sundays to water them.

In the face of accelerating climate change, the Lagos state government is hoping that other Lagosians will become as passionate about tree planting as Mr. Elemamba is. Indeed, in the last couple of years, Lagos has been wearing a new look as government's green revolution takes shape.

It started with the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when loops and open spaces along major routes were cleared and beautified, along with tree planting.

A substantial reduction in the planet's forest cover over the centuries has been a major contributor to climate change, according to Carbon Positive, a UK-based firm that develops sustainable agro-forestry and bio-energy ventures in non-industrialized countries.

The firm also stated that tree planting helps in bolstering carbon dioxide absorption and storage, which helps to offset the loss of native forests and fights global warming.

Trees are important

"Trees have been scientifically proven to be very useful as the first line of defence in the fight against global warming as they absorb the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and replenish the air with oxygen," said Muiz Banire, the Lagos State commissioner for the Environment, during the launch of the second edition of the state's tree planting campaign at Ajegunle, in the Ajeromi-Ifelodun local government area of the state.

On the occasion, the commissioner encouraged Lagos residents to join the crusade and complement the efforts of the state government in creating a healthy environment by planting trees at every given opportunity.

He listed the species of trees to be planted to include Terminalia montalis (Teak), Polyalthia iongifolia (Eucalyptus), and Pinus caribaea, Casuarina, Lagerstroemia species, Neem, Terbeboa, Yellow Phycus, Lypia, Flame of the forest, and Palm.

Economic trees

"Some of the trees listed are not indigenous African trees and may not adapt favourably in the tropics," said Olusola Adekanmbi, a lecturer at the Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Lagos.

"They should have picked trees that are already established in the tropics."

She said the Terminalia catappa (Tropical Almond or Umbrella Tree), a more tropical tree, would have been a better option than the ones chosen by the government. She also named other favourable species as Blighia sapida (Ackee) and Cassia spectabilis.

"It is not planting for beautification alone," the botany lecturer said. "Depending on the location, the trees should also be of economic value. Why can't we even plant mangoes or cashews? We should plant for food. Once there is enough food, you can then talk of beautification."

She also said that the government should involve, in the programme, researchers from educational institutions who could prescribe trees that would survive in the tropics and also be of economic value.

Replace cut down trees

The state government, in April, commissioned the reconstruction of Bourdillon, Alexander and Gerald roads, all in Ikoyi, Eti-Osa local government area. However, hundreds of trees flanking these roads had to give way for the project to come to fruition.

The state governor, Babatunde Fashola, said at times when it becomes unavoidable for trees to be felled, permission must be sought from the appropriate authorities while steps must be taken to replace the plants.

"Since it takes years for trees to mature, we insist that when a tree must, of necessity, be felled, ten trees should be planted in its place," Mr. Fashola said.

Reacting to the destruction, Mr. Elemamba said, "I don't really blame the government. If you want to expand a road, you will definitely have to remove any impediment."

But Mrs. Adekanmbi put the blame on poor urban planning. "If a road needs to be expanded in the future, then there may not be any need to plant trees near it," she said.

The state government has appealed to individuals, non-governmental organizations, and corporate bodies to make the culture of tree planting a daily affair.

Source:http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5438214-147/Lagos_eases_its_environmental_burden_by.csp

39 dead, Bauchi declares curfew

2009-07-28T17:13:00.002+01:00

Ayo Okulaja with Agency reports
July 27, 2009 09:58AMT

The Bauchi State government has imposed a 9pm to 6am curfew in the state capital. Addressing the press on Sunday in Bauchi, Isa Yuguda, the state's governor said that "the imposition of the curfew became necessary to avoid further havoc on innocent persons."

He said that the activities of the group known as Boko Haram, were a threat to the nation. "This is a threat. The emergence of a group that is trying to threaten the survival of our people," Mr. Yuguda said.

The group says it wants "to clean the Nigerian system which, they claim is polluted by western education and uphold Sharia all over the country." The curfew follows violence in the city, early on Sunday, in which an armed gang attacked a police station because of the arrest of their leaders.

About 32 people are reported by Reuters, to have lost their lives during the clash between security forces and the gang. According to Reuters news agency the spokesperson of the police in Bauchi state, Mohammed Barau, said "the situation is now under control as more members of the organization are being arrested". Witnesses say hundreds of people have been arrested since violence erupted.

Mr Yuguda added that "the arrest of the people is something that we should celebrate and it should be replicated in all the cities." "Bauchi in northeast Nigeria, is one of 12 states in the predominately Muslim north that started a stricter enforcement of Sharia in 2000 which has sparked bouts of sectarian violence that killed lots of people."

Source: http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5438913-146/Bauchi_State_government%20imposes_curfew_in_state.csp

SPORTS PROJECT ENTERS WEEK THREE

2009-07-28T14:53:00.000+01:00

WORKSHOP TOPICS:
This week I (Ogaga Maxwell) facilitated Peace building skills and understanding conflict. The students were made to understand the necessary skills needed to be a peace builder in their schools and in the society and also there were made to understand that conflict will always be part of life. The manual used was the one provided by Generations for Peace (www.generationsforpeace.com), I attended their Peace training camp in Amman Jordan in 2008 November.
LOCAL CONFLICT ASSIGNMENT:
The students were asked to write out any conflict they have experienced in their schools and we now have a whole lot of practical school conflict situation that we hope to type out as the students do not have access to computers, so I would type out to constitute a local conflict diaries of the secondary school students..
PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED IN ATTENDANCE:
A physically challenged student is in attendance in the project, he helps us to give a rare perspective of what physically challenge people experience in terms of school conflicts. The participant is very active and glad about the project
SPORTS:
Gradually sports is been introduced into the capacity building session and this is aimed at using sports to teach peace building skills. This has been a great source of motivation for the students and they are eager to see how to implement the theoretical class of peace building using sports as a tool in the field of play, using that as practical.
OUTPUT /PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

A participant was very excited as he told the other participant of how he used last week workshop topic on mediation and conflict resolution to resolve a problem in his home between both parents. This led to other students sharing with us how they were putting to use the lessons learnt. It has been a very insightful project.
RIPPLE EFFECT OF OUTPUT
Due to the impact of the project in the local community, I was attending a workshop in Sapele when I talked about the project and the training I had gone through via Youth Action for Change e-course ‘communications and media” I was asked to present a paper on that. And I presented a paper on that using the lectures I got from the Youth Action for Change e-course to about 50 youths drawn from different regions of Sapele community, in the course of my paper presentation I also highlighted that fact that Youth Action for change e-course is the baseline where I drew my media experience from and talked a lot about blogging and its benefit, many resolved to start blogging from then.
Ogaga Maxwell
Sports skills 4 Peace Project
Warri-Nigeria
D2dyi@yahoo.com

ALF Hosts LIP Orientation Workshop

2009-07-24T16:27:00.003+01:00

From July 20th -21st 2009, the African Leadership Forum with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nigeria organized an orientation workshop in Ota(Ogun State)for the participants selected for its Legislative Internship Programmes(LIP).

The LIP’s objectives is to provide opportunity for young leaders to sharpen their skills in participatory democratic governance; expose young Nigerians to the working of the parliament and encourage them to consider a parliamentary career either as future parliamentarians or parliamentary support staff. It’s a 3 phase programme with an Orientation/Briefing workshop, 21- day attachment with the legislative Assemblies and a de-briefing workshop.

The Orientation workshop featured training session on Building a Political Career, Active Citizenship, Public Policy Analysis and Advocacy, Legislative Processes and the role of Caucuses.

The resource persons that facilitated sessions were: Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR , Dr Abubakar Momoh, Hon. Farouk Aliyu (Former Member House of Reps.), Hon. Ade Adegbenjo (Former Member House of Reps.), Abiola Sanusi and Mr Kunle Somorin.

Esther Eshiet
LIP participant
Cross River State

S.A.A.C Workshop in Pixs

2009-07-24T16:06:00.005+01:00

S.A.A.C WORKSHOP HOLDS IN CALABAR

2009-07-24T13:28:00.003+01:00

The Student Arise Against Conflict(S.A.A.C) project held its capacity building workshop on the 23rd of July 2009 at the Conference hall of the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN). The Workshop which had in attendance 34 participants from 6 schools featured training sessions on Peace Building, Conflict Management, Communication and Human Relationship Skills as well as Decision making skills which was facilitated by Esther Eshiet of the FD project as well as an interactive Session on Debate as Tool for conflict resolution and management by Franklin Ubi.

The workshop also featured the presentation of prizes to the winners of the S.A.A.C Essay competition in secondary Schools with the topic” How conflict affects our lives”.
The winners of the competition are Joseph Albert Effiong –Government Technical College, Mayne Avenue (1st Prize), Esther Acheri Ogbaji- West African people’s Institute ( 2nd Prize) and Achong Emmanuel Abuo- Army Day Secondary School, Ikot Ansa( 3rd Prize).

Participants were also treated to a film show on the movie “Bringing Down the Dictator” a documentary series on OTPOR-the student Resistance movement in Serbia, whose non-violent actions brought down the government of Slobadan Milosevic.

Esther Eshiet
Nigeria

Lagos to curb traffic congestion

2009-07-24T12:50:00.005+01:00

By Emmanuel Geoff-Iheanacho
July 23, 2009 12:29AMT

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) is conducting a survey that will help in curbing traffic congestion on Lagos roads.

When completed, the survey will ensure timely rehabilitation of roads in the metropolis and reduce the number of work hours wasted daily on Lagos roads due to traffic congestion.

The survey, which is on the traffic situation in the city and the income range of Lagosians is being handled by Advanced Engineering Consultants.

A top official in the authority who pleaded anonymity, said the survey will help the economy to grow and foster understanding among family members.

He said it will also position Lagos for megacity transportation.

"Yes what they (the firm) are doing is part of the efforts to position Lagos for the challenges ahead. A mega city deserves a mega transportation system," he said. "But I cannot discuss the survey with you until they submit the report and the authorities approve of it. You already know the impact of the man hours lost on traffic to the economy and the family relationship in Lagos."

According to the firm, the survey which is now conducted on weekends will help government in planning and designating the vehicles that will ply the various routes, and help in timely maintenance of roads.

"We have finished the weekday's survey and you will now see our agents during the weekends. The survey is not just for traffic control but for road maintenance," Peter Agunbiade, the CEO of the firm said. "You know that when you construct a road, you know the number of vehicles that you expect to pass through before rehabilitation, you will plan ahead if you expect 5,000 (vehicles), in five years, you will start rehabilitation process from the third year."

He said that most roads are dilapidated because authorities have failed to consider their life span.

One of the agents conducting the survey, Anthony Ugboadaga said the response from the public has been poor.

"Most people don't want to answer questions, especially the one concerning their income range. They are always in a hurry and will not spare just one minute for us to get the information," Mr. Ugboadaga said. "How can we get the survey right if we don't know where people are coming from, their means of transportation, the cost of transportation, and how they wish to get back to their homes or wherever they may be coming from?"

He said the public should know that it is in their best interest, as the data will help the government in providing adequate transportation for the people and maintain the road.

Source: http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5438263-146/story.csp

Lagos to curb traffic congestion

2009-07-24T12:50:00.004+01:00

Spend more on education or strike continues, ASUU tells FG

2009-07-24T12:40:00.003+01:00

By Gbenro Adeoye
July 23, 2009 12:29AMT

University lecturers have again called on the Federal Government to honour the agreement it reached with them. The call was made at a rally organised by the University of Lagos chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), at the main gate of the institution on Wednesday.

The Union insists the indefinite strike will continue until the government decides to sign and implement the agreement on funding education in the country.

Spend more on Education

The lecturers displaying placards said they rejected the 40 percent salary increment recently announced by the Federal Government.

According to them, the purpose of the rally was to inform the public that the Union's demands went beyond remuneration, and that the agreement included an increase in the funding of education and university autonomy. Samuel Jegede, a lecturer at the Department of Philosophy asked: "Will 40 percent increment to my own salary bring electricity and facility to the classrooms?"

He said that the classroom where he graduated 14 years ago with 34 other students is where he lectures about 500 students now.

Ayo Olowe, the chairman of ASUU, University of Lagos chapter, while speaking with journalists said, the fund allocated to education is too small for the country to make meaningful progress in the sector.

"In a situation whereby they (FG) are spending less than two percent of the national budget on education, as opposed to UNESCO's standard of 26 percent; the government is just not serious," said Mr. Olowe.

The Union chairman also condemned the Minister of Education, Sam Egwu, saying he had been insensitive to the issues currently surrounding education in the country.

He said: "While Nigerian universities are in crisis, the man (Sam Egwu) is spending so much money, lavishly on birthday parties. It makes him highly irresponsible as the Minister of Education."

On Industrial Arbitration Panel

On the directive by the Industrial Arbitration Panel that the Union should call off the ongoing strike after the dispute was taken to the panel by the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Olowe said the Union would disregard the directive.

"They (IAP) did not follow due process," he said. "We are in a democratic society. If somebody brings a case to you, you should hear from all parties. They did not; rather they just asked us to go back to work."

In his parting words, Mr. Olowe said, "Unless the government is ready to sign the agreement, the struggle continues."

A student's view

Ibukun Salami, a 200 level Systems Engineering student of the institution blames the Federal Government for the crisis.

She said: "Government should just listen to these people (lecturers) and answer them. What ASUU is saying is true; a lot of things have to be improved on in our universities. In my faculty, we need a lot of equipment and computers."

Source: http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5438249-147/story.csp

Reps ask Yar’Adua to quit

2009-07-24T11:27:00.005+01:00

By Festus Owete
July 23, 2009 09:12AMT

Still battling threats of impeachment over the poor implementation of the budget by the House of Representatives, President Umaru Yar’Adua was yesterday asked to resign by the House, if he can no longer provide security to Nigerians.

The House made the call while considering the motion of urgent national importance brought by Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi (PDP Enugu) on the worsening security situation in the South East, a development that he claimed has grown into a frightened dimension.

Minority Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume who cited Sections 14, 33, and 34 of the 1999 Constitution, said it is the duty of the government to provide security for the people.

He therefore urged President Umaru Yar’Adua to resign from office if he can no longer provide security for Nigerians. “If the President cannot provide solution to security problem of Nigerians, he should quit,” he said.

The call follows on the heels of a resolution by the House of Representatives to summon the Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro, to brief it on the measures being taken to arrest the deteriorating security situation in the zone.

Mr. Okiro is to appear before the Joint Committee on Police and National Security of the lower legislative chamber.

The House also urged the governors of the states in the zone to design and implement a common security strategy in tackling the security situation in the zone.

Mr. Ozomgbachi, while leading the debate on the motion, said the security situation in Anambra State has become a subject matter of national and international concern.

He said that recently, there have been increasing cases of robbery, kidnapping and killings, some of which he said took place in broad daylight.

The lawmaker recalled that last week, there were robbery incidents in the state capital, Awka and some other towns during which many people were killed.

According to him, the robbers who raided banks operated for about four hours without any confrontation by the police. He said that after they operated in Anambra, they moved to a town in Enugu where they robbed other banks and burnt down a police station.

Mr. Ozomgbachi said that during one of the operations, a member of the House, Paulinus Igwe (PDP, Ebonyi) was shot and is now lying critically ill in the hospital. Four of his aides were killed.

He stated that banks are closing because the situation is dangerous.

Describing the situation as unacceptable, he noted that the House can no longer watch it without taking action, stressing: “It is our responsibility to provide security for the people. We should take a decisive action now.”

The lawmaker, therefore, prayed the House to mandate the Joint Committees on Police and National Security to invite Mr. Okiro to brief them on the measures being taken to tackle the situation.

Seconding the motion, Darlington Okeke (PDP, Ebonyi) said the poor security situation, cases of kidnapping, and killings are not limited to Anambra State pointing out that the entire South East zone is not safe. He recalled that a serving senator from Abia State was recently attacked.

He added that reports shows that there have been 512 cases of kidnapping in the country with Abia State accounting for 110, Imo 88, Delta 44, and Akwa Ibom 40.

Mr. Okeke said that because of the situation in the zone, lawmakers cannot go home but stay back in Abuja.

Uche Ekwunife (PDP, Anambra) said the situation in Anambra State is politically-motivated and that the governor, Peter Obi should look for “politically-motivated solution”.

She added: “Nobody is sleeping in Awka. We are living in bondage and the situation is beyond the police.” According to her, banks customers are attended to through the back door.

Nnenna Ukeje (PDP, Abia) said that the situation in Abia State has assumed “endemic proportions” adding that by 7pm the state is shut down.

Overah Joyce (PDP, Delta), Mayor Eze (PDP, Imo), and another member from Akwa Ibom gave a graphic account of the situations in their states.

Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi), who is also the House chairman of the Committee on Police Affairs said that Nigeria is under-policed because it has only about 368,000 policemen to police 150 million Nigerians while the police budget is low compared to those of other armed forces in the country.

Proliferation of arms

Mr. Ningi also said that the situation in the South East zone is worsening because of the proliferation of arms in the nearby Niger Delta region.

Tergu Tsegba, however, said that the security situation in Anambra State has become worse because the state has the highest number of motor parks in the country.

When it was put to vote by the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, the motion was unanimously adopted.

Source:http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5438379-146/Reps_ask_Yar’Adua_to_quit_.csp

African Petroleum is bankrupt-Access Bank

2009-07-21T17:10:00.002+01:00

By Esohe Iyamu
July 21, 2009 08:07AMT

"The company is insolvent and unable to pay its debts. In the circumstances, it is just and equitable that the company should be would up." Such is the conclusion Access Bank Plc. has reached about African Petroleum Plc. (AP) following AP's failure to repay the bank $35.1 million.

In a two-page statement carried in two national newspapers yesterday, Access Bank, through it's legal counsel, Olisa Agbakoba and Associates, published details about a case currently at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The statement read, "The company (AP) is indebted to your petitioner (Access) in the sum of US $35,153,822.15 (approximately ₦5.2 billion), being the outstanding obligation on the Letter of Credit (LC) opened by the petitioner (Access) on 18th July 2008, on behalf of the respondent (AP) to facilitate the importation of petroleum products."

According to the statement, "the LC was established and booked on 18th of July 2008 and matured on December 1, 2008," but "upon maturity of the LC, the Company was unable to settle the LC obligation of $US35.1 which is still outstanding as at the presentation of this petition."

In the statement, Access Bank stated that it wrote several times to AP to settle its debt; on January 02, 2009, March 2, 2009, March 26, 2009 and May 25, 2009, but "despite the various correspondences above, calling on the company to settle its LC obligation, the company failed to act accordingly, by settling the amount due." The court case has been adjourned till Wednesday July 22, the same day as AP's annual general meeting.

Legal permission

The statement by Access Bank's lawyers, was preceded by two pages of court documents. On one page was a Federal High Court Lagos order giving Access Bank "leave to advertise the petition." On the second page was an "Affidavit verifying Access Bank Plc Petition," signed by Louis Enahoro, the company secretary of Access Bank and a legal practitioner.

The case is described as "In the Matter of Africa Petroleum Plc and in the matter of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap C.20 and in the Matter of an Application for winding up pursuant to sections 408, 409 and 410 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap. C.20" between Access Bank Plc (the Petitioner) and African Petroleum Plc (Respondent)."

According to section 408 of the Act, "a company may be wound up by the court" for several reasons, including "if the company is unable to pay its debts" and "if the court is of opinion that it is just and equitable that the company should be wound up."

Section 409 of the Act states that "a company shall be deemed to be unable to pay its debts if - a creditor, by assignment or otherwise, to whom the company is indebted in a sum exceeding 2,000 then due has served on the company, by leaving it at its registered office or head office, a demand under his hand requiring the company to pay the sum so due, and the company has for three weeks thereafter neglected to pay the sum or to secure or compound for it to the reasonable satisfaction of the creditor."

According to Section 410 of the Act, "an application to the court for the winding up of a company shall be by petition presented subject to the provisions of this section," by several parties including the company itself and "a creditor, including a contingent or prospective creditor of the company."

Central Bank pressure

On June 19, 2009, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sent a circular to all banks, demanding that they "submit to the Ag. Director of Banking Supervision, details of their total exposures to the companies in the Energy Sector, namely Up-Stream, Down-Stream and Oil Service companies, as at May 31, 2009."

Lamido Sanusi, the governor of the Central Bank, in his first official speech as governor on July 07, 2009 said, "the CBN surveillance activities will receive new impetus to ensure efficient management and good corporate governance"

In stating the central bank's view that the Nigerian banking sector does not face a systemic risk, he said, "our view is that there are stress points in banks' balance sheets (margin loans, proprietary positions, oil marketing names, unsecured large exposures) and these are being dimensioned."

The Access-AP court case has thrown up one such "stress point." Banking and industry observers await Wednesday July 22 - when the court will give its judgement and the same day as AP's Annual General Meeting.

Access Bank Plc is amongst the top 10 Nigerian banks by assets. It's headquarters is in Victoria Island, Lagos . Access Bank's group managing director/chief operating officer is Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.

African Petroleum (AP) is a Nigerian major marketer of refined petroleum products, with it's head office in Marina, Lagos. AP's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is Femi Otedola. Mr Otedola is also the CEO of Zenon Petroleum & Gas Limited, a petroleum marketing and distribution company.

Source:http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Money/Finance/5437955-146/story.csp

Nigerian government denies reports of British prison in Nigeria

2009-07-21T16:59:00.002+01:00

By Ruona Agbroko
July 18, 2009 03:24PMT

The Federal Government and an official of the British Home Office have denied media reports that the UK government is to "build a £1 million jail" in Nigeria. Nigeria's former Minister of Interior, Godwin Abbe, and a spokesperson of the British Home Office, in telephone interviews with NEXT, said the reports were purely speculative.

"There is nothing like that! The British government is not building any special prison for Nigerians who are being transferred to this place," Mr. Abbe, who was moved to the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday, said. "When they come here, whatever conditions they find, they will take it. That is the standard of our country. Why are you going to give special privileges?

"They have offered to build and improve on the structures. But what they are doing is not anything like building a prison. And if the prisoners are brought to Nigeria, they will not dictate to us where the prisoners should be kept. As far as we are concerned, we want to make sure bilateral relations remain cordial, that's all. We, as a nation, will do our best and not play to the gallery."

Also speaking on telephone, a spokesperson for the Home Office, who identified himself as Mr. Polo, said, "It's not about building a prison; it's about helping and assisting. The U.K. government is working to help Nigeria with prison reforms. This will include work to equip and upgrade existing prison facilities and help with prison officer training."

Mr. Polo said the negotiations with Nigeria were in line with a 2006 U.K. policy.

"There are currently around 400 Nigerian nationals held in prisons in the U.K. who may be eligible for transfer, under a no-consent prison transfer agreement policy. The U.K. and Nigerian officials are still in the process of discussing the details. The U.K. position is to work towards freeing up spaces and saving taxpayers' money on enforced removals," he said.

The U.K. reportedly spends £30,000 per year to keep a prisoner in jail and has battled with chronic prisoner overcrowding crisis since 2005, when the number of foreign criminals soared past 11,000, the equivalent of more than one in every eight inmates.

James Slack, Home Affairs Editor of the Daily Mail told NEXT via email that the news emerged because Lin Homer, the U.K. Border Agency chief, was being questioned by members of the British parliament. "The scheme seems to be at an early stage; a similar proposal relating to Jamaica was scrapped," he said.

Rights of prisoners

Ms. Homer had told the Home Affairs Committee that the U.K. intends to help Nigeria in the area of prison reform. "We are in negotiations with Nigeria to help them establish better prison conditions in Nigeria. It's about helping them generate a structure that can cope with (the prisoners). We are prepared to invest if that would enable us to send people home," she said. "We haven't yet, we are in talks with Nigeria and it would be well worth the money to do so."

However, all sources interviewed have confirmed that a prisoner-transfer agreement is being discussed between both nations.

"Yes, there are talks going on between the U.K. and Nigeria on transfer of Nigerian prisoners from U.K. to Nigeria," Mr. Abbe said. "Nigeria is willing to accept Nigerians, whether they are free or in bondage. Nigeria is willing to accept all Nigerians back home.

"The only difference is that the Nigerians in British prisons have a right. Their consent must be sought by the British and Nigerian governments before these prisoners can be transferred. Anything short of that would be contravening the laws of Nigeria.

"We are in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to ensure that aspect of the law is revisited by the Ministry of Justice in Nigeria and the National assembly."

He added that the National Assembly has yet to visit that aspect of the law, "which provides that the consent of the prisoner should be sought."

"It is pending before them," he said.

Source:http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5435582-147/story.csp

EFCC boss chides Rivers Governor for ‘childish' criticism

2009-07-21T16:55:00.002+01:00

By Elizabeth Archibong

July 21, 2009 12:43PMT

The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Farida Waziri, on Monday in Abuja described last week's criticism of her agency by the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as childish.

Mrs Waziri told journalists during a question and answer session at the Commission's head office that the statement credited to Mr. Amaechi last Friday was unbecoming of a state chief executive.

The Rivers State governor had, during a visit by the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association, criticised the anti-graft boss for allowing the investigation of officials of his state government by the Commission's operatives.

"We will not allow them (EFCC) into Rivers anytime, because there is a judgment and before they can come here, they have to vacate the judgment," Mr. Amaechi was quoted as saying.

No stepping back on cases

The anti-graft chairperson, however, said the threat will not work with her officers.

"No amount of attack from the governor or any of his officials will stop us from carrying out our statutory responsibilities anywhere, including Rivers," she said. "I believe the governor should talk more like a matured person occupying an exalted office. If he has nothing to hide, I don't see any reason why he is shielding his officials from investigation. We can understand his own case, that he currently enjoys immunity, but then he shouldn't jubilate too soon."

Mrs Waziri also said the commission was not going to hands off in the N5 billion fraud case against Nyesom Wike, the chief of staff to Mr. Ameachi, which was recently quashed by a high court.

Mrs Waziri said the anti-graft agency had not only taken steps to remove all intolerable orders hindering the effective discharge of its responsibilities, but will also take Mr. Wike's case to the appellate court.

Source:http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5437653-146/story.csp

Human Rights Watch alleges killings by Nigerian Security Forces

2009-07-21T16:51:00.002+01:00

By Ayo okulaja

July 21, 2009 03:22AMT

A United States based Human Rights organisation, Human right Watch has accused the Nigerian security forces of killing civilians in the aftermath of the last violence in Plateau State.

In a statement titled: "Address Discrimination and Other Root Causes of November 2008 Violence in Jos" sent to the Plateau State Judicial Commission of Inquiry, the human rights body urged the Nigerian government to investigate and prosecute members of the security forces responsible for the alleged killing of more than 130 people in November 2008.

In a testimony before the commission set up to address the sectarian violence between Muslim and Christian mobs that left scores of people dead, a witness and HRW Nigerian researcher, Eric Guttschuss recounted scenes of policemen and soldiers killing civilians in their homes, and lining victims up on the ground for execution.

According to the statement released on Monday, the organisation conducted on-the-ground research in Jos after the violence and in February 2009.

"At least 130 men were killed by members of the very institutions charged with protecting them," said Corinne Dufka, senior West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.

The organisation found that while most of the deadly inter-communal clashes took place on November 28, 2008, majority of the killings by the police and the military occurred on November 29, the day that the state governor, Jonah Jang, issued a "shoot-on-sight" directive to the security forces.

The body said it documented about 118 cases of arbitrary killings by security forces that took place between 7am and 1pm on November 29 alone.

According to the release, majority of the killings as documented were allegedly committed by the Nigerian police.

In 15 separate incidents of arbitrary killings by the police, at least 74 men and boys, all but two of them Muslims, were killed.

Majority of the police killings were perpetrated by the anti-riot Police Mobile Force, commonly referred to as the mobile police or MOPOL.

The Human Rights agency also documented eight incidents, involving the alleged arbitrary killing of 59 men by the military.

According to witnesses, all of the victims were Muslim men, most were young, and nearly all were unarmed at the time they were killed.

Human Rights Watch believes the actual number of arbitrary killings by security forces may be substantially higher than these figures.

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry was set up by the Plateau State government to look into the causes of the Jos violence and to identify the individuals or groups responsible.

Nigeria's Federal Government has also established a Presidential Panel of Investigation, which is yet to hold hearings after repeated delays.

The body urged the Federal Government to address the causes of the violence. "The government should consider the sectarian killings in Jos as a wake-up call to address the long standing problems of discrimination and inequality that, in large part, underpin and contribute to this kind of violence," Mr. Dufka said.

The Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives have also convened ad hoc committees to determine the causes of the violence in Jos and the Human Rights Watch has submitted the report of their findings to the committees.

To view Human Rights Watch's submission to the Plateau State Judicial Commission of Inquiry and the other three investigative bodies on the November 2008 violence in Jos, please visit: http://www.hrw.org/node/84015.

To view a slideshow of the aftermath of the November 2008 violence in Jos, please visit: http://www.hrw.org/en/features/nigeria-arbitrary-killings-security-forces.

Source:http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5437836-147/story.csp

Should MEND become a Political Party

2009-07-21T16:47:00.002+01:00

By Max Siollun

July 21, 2009 08:06AMT

Almost exactly a year ago (July 8, 2008) I wrote an article predicting that if a solution to the Niger Delta crisis was not quickly found, the militants would extend "their operations to non-riverine areas and major population centres like Lagos and Abuja."

Atlas Cove - The Turning Point

Sadly, last week my prediction came true as MEND attacked the Atlas Cove jetty in Lagos, killing up to ten people. MEND had previously restricted its activities to the Niger Delta. However the Lagos attack - in Nigeria's most populous and cosmopolitan city has brought the reality of the Niger Delta crisis home to Nigerians of many shades. With its multi-ethnic character and residents with origins from every far flung corner of Nigeria, Lagos is a microcosm of Nigeria. Since most Nigerians have a friend or relative in Lagos, it has shaken Nigerians out of their complacency.

While sympathising with the grievances of the militants, most non-Delta Nigerians have been ambivalent about the situation, and regarded it as something "going on down there" in the Delta. Many Nigerians regard the Delta as someone else's problem. Nigerians may now finally realise that wherever they live, the Niger Delta is their problem too.

Where Did Your City Come From?

A few statistics illustrate the inequity of the Nigerian oil industry: only 9 of Nigeria's 36 states produce oil, and that 75% of Nigeria's oil, and 50% of its earnings, come from only 3 of the 36 states (Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers).

Whether you live in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Kaduna, Abuja, Ibadan, Jos or Kano, the oil and money from the Delta was, and continues to be used to build your city, the roads you walk and drive on, the schools and universities you and your family attend, and your hospital. It might even pay your salary too if you work for the government.

Modern Nigeria has been built on the blood, suffering and tears of the Delta. Nigeria moved its capital city several hundred miles from Lagos to Abuja and constructed a new modern capital city out of the bush, because it could finance it using Delta oil money. While you might live in a modern city, the people who live in the places where the oil comes from, live with polluted water supplies, dead crops, oil spills that will take centuries to clear, and poisonous gas in their lungs.

The Evolution of the Struggle

MEND's tactics have evolved and become increasingly violent. They started with kidnapping oil workers, then graduated to attacking oil installations in the Delta, and now to a spectacular attack in a far away city. What is the next escalation?

This is a critical juncture for both MEND and Nigerians. MEND has succeeded in bringing the Delta's grievances to the world's attention and has made it a major political issue within Nigeria. However, MEND has not succeeded at educating the Nigerian public about their demands.

A Turning Point

Although MEND succeeded in demonstrating its prowess and ability to attack targets far outside the Delta, the Atlas Cove attack may have been a political miscalculation. Public reaction to the attack has been unusually harsh and combative. Continued attacks in major cities may turn the public against MEND and make it difficult for the government to make concessions. Whether they realise it or not, the Nigerian public are their best friends. Only by winning the public's sympathy can the militants form a groundswell of public opinion sufficient to pressurise the government into finding a drastic solution.

Which Way Next?

The Niger Delta militants are not one organisation operating under a common leadership with unified ideology. There is no central chain of command or a clearly defined political ideal. Rather the militants are a loose eclectic mix of several aggrieved armed factions like MEND and the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force. The multi-headed militant hydra is not easy for the public to understand.

Their shadowy nature is an asset and a hindrance. While their mystique makes their detection and suppression difficult for the Nigerian security forces, it also makes them faceless and has prevented them from making political progress.

Violence is the Means, Not the End

The militants must understand that violence is the means, not the end. If they rely on violence alone, they will provoke the federal government into a massive military crackdown. The government can sustain a low intensity conflict for several years without an existential threat to Nigeria or its control over the oil industry. The Delta violence even benefits the government in a financially perverse way. Attacks on oil installations disrupt the global oil market and increases prices. Higher oil prices equals more money for the federal government.

The militants cannot succeed through violence alone and at some point will have to engage the federal government in serious negotiations. Violence was used by the ANC, IRA and PLO to bring their opponents to the negotiating table. One day, the militants must make the transition from resistance movement to political organisation. If that day comes, can they negotiate?

The militants require a political wing and a skilled orator to articulate their struggle. The ANC had Nelson Mandela, the IRA had Gerry Adams, the PLO had Yasser Arafat. Who is their interlocutor?

If the militants rely on violence alone, we may end up with another Saro-Wiwa or Adaka Boro outcome.....

maxsiollun@yahoo.com

http://maxsiollun.wordpress.com/

EXPERT FACILITATES MEDIATION SESSION

2009-07-21T10:36:00.002+01:00

The expert in the project during our proposal an expert mediator Dr Brown Ogbeifun Member, conflict Mgt and Leadership Training Institute , Canada, Member, the Governing Council, Institute of Mediation and Conciliation (Nigeria), Member, Panel of Neutrals, High Court of the Federal Territory Abuja, (Nigeria), Member, Society for Human Resource Management, (USA),MTI Certified Professional in Managing workplace conflict (USA), Accredited Mediator, Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution-UK, Member , Institute if Chartered Mediators and conciliators; associate member Nigeria Institute of management chartered and also served as the 10th PENGASSAN President Nigeria was on ground to talk to the student s on MEDIATION AS A TOOL FOR RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
The lectures was interactive and profound, he introduced the students to the basic concepts of mediation and how they can be mediators in their various schools, these was a broad frame work of discussion that would later enhance further talks on conflict, understanding conflicts and mediation. The students were deeply touched by practical examples given in the lecture.

Ogaga Maxwell

FD Porjects

Warri-Nigeria

www.ogagamaxwell.org

Group Pictures

2009-07-21T10:19:00.003+01:00

Group Pictures of 5 schools and local Youth Resource Center represented at the Sports Skills for Peace Project....Bringing Peace to the Niger Delta one student at a time

2009-07-21T08:41:00.003+01:00

SPORTS SKILLS 4 PEACE PROJECT KICKS OFF WITH 33 STUDENTS

SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN ATTENDANCE:
Two School guidance and counselors were present at the venue of the capacity building workshop as they came with their students to observe the lectures and activities, one of them was interviewed and she sated that the project was timely and it was needed.
PARTICIPANTS:
33 participants were present to kick start the project from five schools ad the local Youth Center, the schools are Okpe Senior School, Urhlapele Secondary School, Okotie-Eboh Grammar School,Zik Grammar School, Ethiope Mixed Secondary School, amongst the participant is a physically challenged youth. There was gender balance in the representation. And the students participated actively in the sessions.
EXPERT FACILITATES MEDIATION SESSION
The first session kicked off with introduction of participant and asking them their knowledge of conflict and some of their experiences, more details in the report.
The expert in the project during our proposal an expert mediator Dr Brown Ogbeifun Member, conflict Mgt and Leadership Training Institute , Canada, Member, the Governing Council, Institute of Mediation and Conciliation (Nigeria), Member, Panel of Neutrals, High Court of the Federal Territory Abuja, (Nigeria), Member, Society for Human Resource Management, (USA),MTI Certified Professional in Managing workplace conflict (USA), Accredited Mediator, Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution-UK, Member , Institute if Chartered Mediators and conciliators; associate member Nigeria Institute of management chartered and also served as the 10th PENGASSAN President Nigeria was on ground to talk to the student s on MEDIATION AS A TOOL FOR RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
The lectures was interactive and profound, he introduced the students to the basic concepts of mediation and how they can be mediators in their various schools, these was a broad frame work of discussion that would later enhance further talks on conflict, understanding conflicts and mediation. The students were deeply touched by practical examples given in the lecture. a copy of the lecture would be sent immediately it is sent to me email he came with a hard copy.
INTRODUCTION TO EARTH CHARTER
As the founder of the Earth Charter Youth Group,Warri http://ecyg.wikispaces.com/Nigeria_Warri . I introduced the participant to the Earth Charter document (www.earthcharter.org) especially the Earth Charter pillar of Promoting a culture of tolerance, nonviolence, and peace. But more specifically” b. Implement comprehensive strategies to prevent violent conflict and use collaborative problem solving to manage and resolve environmental conflicts and other disputes.”. This was also to provide further boost to the Project as this would be reported in the Earth Charter websites , and it was clearly stated that the project was funded by Youth Action for change.
NB “The Earth Charter Initiative” is an extraordinarily diverse, global network of people, organizations, and institutions that participate in promoting and implementing the values and principles of the Earth Charter.
The Initiative is a broad-based, voluntary, civil society effort. Participants include leading international institutions, national governments and their agencies, university associations, non-government organizations and community-based groups, city governments, faith groups, schools and businesses – as well as thousands of individuals.

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
When the school counselor of Okotie-Eboh grammar school was asked if the project was needed, she and the student said yes, it was learnt that just on Wednesday 15th a case of school violence took place in their school were a student was sustained injuries from a cutlass cut and was rushed to the hospital. The students narrated several conflicts and fights that have taken place in their schools over the last months, street boys coming into their classes to steal their phones and beat them up.

Updates on Niger Delta

2009-07-20T13:46:00.000+01:00

Atlas Cove Attack, an invitation to inter-tribal war – YCEFrom AKEEB ALARAPE, IbadanMonday, July 20, 2009
•Photo: The Sun Publishing
More Stories on This Section
The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has described last week’s attack on the Atlas Cove Oil Jetty in Lagos by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) as an invitation to inter-tribal war.Speaking through its National President, Major-General Adeyinka Adebayo (retd), after an emergency meeting held in Ibadan at the weekend to review the ugly development, YCE disclosed that the elders’ body had scheduled a meeting with President Umaru Yar’Adua over the matter.According to Adebayo, the extension of violent attacks by Niger Delta militants to the South-West was an invitation to an inter-tribal conflict.The Elders’ Council also expressed its displeasure over the intractable crisis rocking Ogun State government, pointing out that the continued face-off between the executive and the legislative arms of government in the state was becoming an embarrassment to Yoruba nation.YCE expressed disappointment that neither the state governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel nor the Group of 15 lawmakers opposed to the governor had honoured the peace move brokered by President Umaru Yar’Adua recently.Adebayo also disclosed that a committee of the YCE, led by him, had earlier met behind close doors with all the factions in the crisis but all to no avail.His words: “This is the second time within two months that we would be releasing communiqué on the political crisis in Ogun State . All Yoruba sons and daughters must at all times strive to adopt the concept of Omoluabi.“There is no way for war or any form of battle in Yoruba land again. The race must be noted for political sophistication, economically viable and socially progressive”, he stated.At the meeting were the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide; a former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Dr. Dejo Raimi; Secretary-General of the body, Professor Bayo Olateju, and Mrs Bolajoko Doherty, among others.

Updates on Niger Delta

2009-07-20T13:42:00.000+01:00

Niger Delta: MEND sings new song

Donald Ojogo, Bureau Chief, South-South - 20.07.2009

ONE week after reciprocating the release of Henry Okah with a 60-day ceasefire, main militant group in the Niger Delta, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), says the release of its leader, Okah, and the N50 billion amnesty package, are not indicators of a peaceful Niger Delta in the future.

MEND had declared a ceasefire for 60 days following Okah’s release and the discontinuation of his trial by the Federal Government; a development which came after a devastating attack on the Atlas Cove Jetty in Lagos, 20 hours before Okah’s release.

MEND said it carried out the attack, which led to the death of about seven persons, in two speed boats and by 18 well armed fighters. MEND’s spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, in an exclusive online response to an enquiry from our correspondent, however, asserted that only “justice“ will put an end to the crisis in the region.

Niger Delta Picture

2009-07-15T14:16:00.002+01:00

The deplorable state of the Niger Delta Region

Niger Delta Picture

2009-07-15T14:16:00.001+01:00

The deplorable state of the Niger Delta Region

Niger Delta Picture

2009-07-15T14:16:00.000+01:00

The deplorable state of the Niger Delta Region

Niger Delta Picture

2009-07-15T13:47:00.001+01:00

Niger Delta Militant in the riverian area

Update on the S.A.A.C Project

2009-07-14T12:44:00.002+01:00

On the 26th of June 2009, the fliers for the S.A.A.C Essay Competitions was dispatched to the schools involved in the S.A.A.C project. The schools include; St Patrick’s College- Ikot Ansa, Government College-Ikot Ansa, Government Secondary School –Atu, Government Secondary- Henshaw Town, Edgerley Memorial Girls School, Army Day Secondary School, West African People’s Institute (WAPI), NYSC Model School, UNICAL international School and Government Technical College-Mayne Avenue.

The students were afforded 3 weeks to write an essay on the Topic” How Conflicts affect our lives” with a maximum of 1,500 words. The deadline for the essay is Friday, 17th of July 2009.

We are excited that the response we have so far is quite impressive, the writings are creative, and objective. Most of the essays we’ve gotten are very deserving of the prizes,but we have to hold on till the 17th to know “who the cap fits’

…Until then,we would keep you posted

Esther Eshiet
Calabar, Nigeria

The S.A.A.C Project

2009-07-14T12:09:00.001+01:00

The Student Arise Against Conflict (S.A.A.C) project is targeted at students in 10 secondary Schools from Classes JSS 1-SSS 3. SAAC believes that conflicts arises from a break down in communication at the different levels in society be it the family, school, church and other social institutions. Therefore the preparation of young people as conflict mitigators is very necessary for the attainment of peace in our society.
The SAAC project is focused on the 2 local government areas in Cross River State (Calabar South and Calabar Municipality) in the Calabar metropolis. The reason for this spread is because of the social stratification existing in these local governments, this difference in economic power and social amenities provided to these areas do cause enemity between students residing in this area, there are also reported cases of inter-school fighting among students of various secondary schools.
The project objectives are:

• To increase the knowledge base of students in peace, conflicts resolution and management
• To examine the dimensions of conflicts facing students in their daily lives
• To explore management and preventive strategies to conflict issues amongst students
• To educate students on communication skills especially dialogue and tolerance as an effective way to addressing conflicts
• To reduce incidences of conflicts amongst students, school authority and interschool relations
• To publicize YAC FD project to students, teachers and other stake holders.

The S.A.A.C project would be Implemented using the following strategies:

• Publicize an essay competition for students in the Secondary Schools (Class Range-JSS 3-SS3) on the topic: “The effects of conflicts in our lives” -1500 words Maximum!
• Organize a SAAC Workshop for students from 8 secondary Schools(4 from Calabar South and 4 from Calabar Municipality-5 students per School)
• Present Prizes to Winning Essays at the SAAC Workshop
• Workshop Sessions would address the following areas, Peace Building, Conflict Management, Communication and Human Relationship Skills as well as Decision making skills.
• Inclusion of conflict management (linking that to MDGs Goal 8)to topics discussed by the MDGs clubs existing in these schools and the creation of such clubs in schools where there are non-existent.
The S.A.A.C project is supported by the Forgotten Diaries small grant programme.

Project Team Members
Esther Eshiet, Franklin Ubi, Donald Henshaw and Bernedette Assim-Ita.

UPDATE ON PROJECT/CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

2009-07-07T11:18:00.000+01:00

Since last week and this week we have been doing a selection of those who would attend the training and as of today we have 30 young people who have been randomly selected from three schools, a youth resource center where youths are trained on skills acquisition and also a street youth.

We have also been able to arrange for a training venue and have contacted the resource persons that includes myself (Ogaga Maxwell), a physically challenged person Lucky, My Igho and the mediator expert Dr Brown Ogbeifun

The schedule for training has been outlined and the first training will commence on Thursday this week by Friday Saturday the first set of pictures will be posted and the first full report including the list of accepted students will be posted.

The football and stationeries have been purchased and also the project banner is been printed and the design will be posted online in the blog on Saturday also

Ogaga Maxwell
Sports Skills 4 Peace Project
www.ogagamaxwell.org

Sports Skills 4 Peace Project

2009-07-07T10:25:00.000+01:00

www.forgottendiaries.org

Your Project Overview

Project Name:
Sports skills 4 peace

Timeframe: 1st July-August 2009.

Project geographic focus:
The project would be in the Sapele area of the Niger Delta region , a semi-urban area there have been cases of inter-school fights and violence, where students from different schools fight each other and these has in some case escalated to families, streets and some times led to the closure of the said schools, we want to use these project as an intervention project using sports and mediation /peace education skills capacity building workshop to empower the student to act as agents of change and held instill peace in their schools. The increase in school violence has led to the formation of secondary school gangs (cults) a sense of belonging may decrease the vulnerability of young people to school gangs and militancy afterward, sports becomes a good method to increase dialogue, friendship and new identities, while at the same time they are acquiring new skills. The target audience is 40 (forty students) , 8 (eight) each from the four schools in Sapele that have been involved at one time or the other in fighting (violence), age bracket 13-20. and street kids

Objectives of the project
1. To enhance the capacity of young people in identifying conflicts and method of resolving conflicts.
2. To raise through the project 40 peace peer educators into the secondary schools.
3. To develop an understanding of the process of mediation.
4. through practical sports session learn tolerance, dialogue, team work, build relationships and bridges
5. To kick start the process of contributing towards sustainable peace and social cohesion for secondary schools.
6. To engage and redirect the energy of young people towards positive and meaningful activities
Activities planned 1. 3 Peace/ Mediation Capacity workshops
2. Practical Sports session/Practice
3. A peace match (Peace & Sports Day)
4. Printing/Distribution of stickers to schools (1,000) Peace stickers “I am a student, I stand for Peace”
5. Monitoring and Evaluation
Partner NGO Expert/Resource Person
U.K Certified Mediation
Dr Brown Ogbeifun
African Initiative for Transparency
Accountability and Leadership (AFRITAL)
No 12 Okumagba Avenue, Warri
Delta State, Nigeria

Project Supervision/Mentor

Global Youth Leader (World Economic Forum)
Youngstars Development Initiative

Project Partner (Execution)
Igho Irish
Dowell Foundation Sapele.

Monitoring & Evaluating 1. Monitoring progress during and after workshop through pre and post workshop test.
2. Observing tolerance and team work attitude before and after project especially during sports session.
3. Attendance to all sessions and final completion of project.
4. testing knowledge through post test
5. No of trainees that attended sessions and completed their assignments
oral interview and questionnaires
Timeline 1stt Week July –Call for Application
2nd week in July-Review of Application/ Confirmation of selected participant
3rd week July-1st Workshop
4th week July-2nd workshop
1stst weekAugust-3rd Workshop/peace sticker’s distribution
2nd week in August-Sports Team work skills/Peace Match/ Certificate presentation.

Additional Funding Please specify all additional sources of project funding (if any), including amounts.

. Football Jerseys provided y AFRITAL (Dr Brown Ogbeifun) and technical support

Your Data

Ogaga E. Maxwell

No 12 Okumagba Avenue
Warri, Delta State

+2348034801869
+2348050637252

ogagamaxwell@yahoo.com
d2dyi@yahoo.com

www.ogagamaxwell.org
www.d2dyi.org

A CRY FOR A BETTER TOMMOROW

2009-05-15T08:25:00.000+01:00

A CRY FOR A BETTER TOMMOROW

: - A BETTER ROAD TO NOWHERE

“Countries with power, made by essential raw material, is in danger of being Economics falter as the only road, a world concern, linking them is left in a terrible state of been eroded.”

The World’s economics dilemma has causes country’s growth over the last decade and the current challenges as a result of economics falter or turndown. Economics falter can be briefly explain as a economics becoming weaker or less effective, also a less effective, also a less confident in production, trade and organize money in a particular country or region.

To understand the world’s economics dilemma, we need to consider that causes of the country’s growth over the last decade and the current challenges. The dominant cause of growth has been European or Capitalist convergence as a result of increase of stock market value, stalled of domestic reforms, isolated country’s from the outside world, falling of demand, enormous corruption, unpredictable economics crime, deterioration because of increased protectionism especially in agriculture and finance, poor banking system, malfunction public services … etc.

Unfortunately, it is easy to compile some major reasons why the world is likely to have lower growth in the near future 2020 than it has had for the last nine years.

1. Internationally, one of the greatest booms of all times is finally coming to an end. Demand is falling throughout the world, and soon the world, the developed countries like U.S.A, Russia, China … etc will also be hit. This factor alone has brought the Western World to stagnation.

2. Infrastructure, especially road, has become an extraordinary bottleneck, and the sad fact is that they are unable to carry out major infracture projects. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s came to power in 2000, Russia had 754, 000 kilometers of paved road. Incredibly, by 2006 this figure had increased by only 0.1 percent, and the little that is built costs at least three times as much as in the west.

3. The World’s main problem is its enormous corruption and implausible leader’s. According to Transparency international only Equatorial Guinea is richer and more corruption than major countries like Russia. Since the main culprit behind Russia’s aggravated corruption is Vladimir Putin’s, no improvement is likely as long as he persists.

4. Renationalization is continuing and leading to a decline in economic efficiency for example Russia, when Putin publicly attached Mechel, inventors presumed that he had decided to nationalize the company. Thus they rushed to dump their stock in Mechel, having seen what happened to Yukos, Russneft, United Heavy Machineries, and VSMR Avisma, to name a few. In a note to investors, UBS explained diplomatically that an old paradigm of higher political risk has returned to Russia, so it has reduced its price targets by an average of 20 percent, or a market value of $ 300 billion. Unpredictable economics crime is bad for growth.

5. Inflation is now rapidly high because of a poor exchange rate and monetary policies, though the current capital outflow may ease that problem.

6. Minimal reforms in law enforcement, education, and health care have been undertaken, and no new attempt is likely. The malfunctioning public services will become an even greater drag an economics growth.

7. Oil and commodity prices can only go down, and energy production is stagnant, which means that world most developed countries like Russia, U.S.A, China … etc external account are bound to deteriorate quickly.

8. Banking system in world is dominant state banks, it is inefficient and unreliable, and the national cost of a poor banking system rises over time.

9. The most successful transition countries have investment ratios exceeding 30 percent of GDP, as is also the case in East World. But west world, it is only 20 percent of GDP, and it is likely to fall in the current business environment. That means that bottlenecks will grow worse.

10. An immediate consequence of the world’s transformation into a rogue state is that membership in the World Trade Organisation is out of reach. World Bank and economics Development Ministry assessment have put the value of WTO membership at 0.5 to 1-percentage points of additional growth per year for the next ten years. Now a similar deterioration is likely because of increased protectionism, especially in agriculture and finance.

In short, the wold is set for a sudden and sharp fall in its economics growth.. It is difficult to assess the impact of each of these reasons or factors, but they are all potent and negative. A sudden, zero growth would not be surprising, and leaders in the world are not prepared to face reality. “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing and also any other.” Abraham Lincoln’s and also he quoted that the “ The people will save their government, if the government itself will allow them. The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.”

In Nigeria, when Ibrahim Babangida took power in a coup in 1986, he inherited a desperate economics situation. Nigeria Source of credit of Finance ministry report, “On the Verge of external bankruptcy.” Oil, of which h the United State has been Nigeria’s largest customer, has accounted for 95 percent of the country’s export. But because of a decline in energy price, oil revenues had fallen from $ 25 billion in 1980 to about $ 6 billion in 1986, Nigeria’s external debt soared, from $ 452 million in 1970 and $ 18 billion in 1984 to $ 30 billion last year 2008. After four years in which the real gross domestic product declined or increased only marginally, the economy expanded by 4.1 percent in 1986 and is expected to grow about the same this year 2009.

In 2009, President Umaru Yar’ Adua came to power, in an effort to stanch the hemorrhaging of the economy, the Government adopted a stringent “Structural adjustment program.” The program had all the classic financial strictures of the International Monetary Fund but without the I.M.F’s conditions for repairing the economy-conditions that many Nigerian viewed as undermining the country’s sovereignty. Fixed exchange rates were abolished and the value of the currency, the Naira, was allowed to decline from parity with the dollar to the current rate of more than seven to dollar. The Government also slashed state agricultural exports and began a program to sell state enterprises. In January, the Government announced that it was amending the Nigerian enterprise promotion decree, which will reduce the number of business reserved for Nigerian Ownership and open up most other business to 100 percent foreign ownership. “The only Hope”.

The austerity program was “Clearly the only hope Nigeria had for a recovery”

1. All Vacancies for teachers in primary and secondary schools will be immediately filled.

2. Salaries and benefits for Government workers will be raised.

3. Import duties on commercial vehicles and spare parts will be eliminated for the rest of the years.

Several factor have been adduced to explain the full in economics growth and to summarize my writ-up, I conclude homily reason or factor for A Better Road in the nearest future 2020.

We can resolve this economics situation if YOU, help in being useful, truthful, honest, and willing to create unite in our society. You as a leader’s can resolved economics falter in the world because if the leader doesn’t modify its program, this could turn into another Venezuela. So I humbly pledge for change in our society, and take examples from good leaders. Eg, Boris Yeltsin’s who fought hard to introduce Market economy, Privatization, and International Integration in Russia, the President of United State, President Obarack Obama who colluded with the province to build easy and quick wealth on a low dollar, on the steady supply of cheap immigrants labour, and on the commodities boom.

The most spurious – namely the Oil Price Windfall, it has boosted several countries budget Surplus, current account balance, and currency reserves, it have damaged its policy badly, so we need the elite focussed on the distribution of Oil rents to improve it policy.

Communism should be built over capacity in production, infrastructure and human capital.

As a consequence, the world has seen no economic or social reforms worth mentioning for the past six years. The world economic situation looks ugly. For how long can the World remain in economic crisis?

INTERNET CENTERS NEEDED IN THE REGION

2009-04-28T11:54:00.000+01:00

The youths of Niger Delta in most cases have not been empowered to fulfill their highest dreams and desires; part of what can lead them to begin to work on their POTENTIALS is the creation of viable youth centers in various rural communities in the Niger Delta area.
Few weeks ago I was doing a seminar for young people in the Sapele region of Niger Delta and you can imagine the internet café in the center has not been working for a long time, the question now is how can these young people adequately thrive in a 21st century economy that is based on internet and computer.
This is an appeal there is need for internet centers in the Niger Delta area it is needed and it is very vital
I pray that help will come at these strategic times in the region.

Niger Delta a planet in peril

2008-12-17T10:51:00.001Z

Hi All, i saw this article in my mailing list, i do agree with the writer and though to drop a line so all can read it
Ogaga Maxwell

Below is an articule i just wrote, and am posting online and sharing so that people can read, its about this so call Niger delta issue and how it is just one big lie from almost every angle you look at it.

Pls when you have time , just read through and Help me circulate, or post to your blog and if possible the papers.

Well to me, this is the little way i can fight and contribute to this struggle, by writting,.. just go tru it and i will be greatful to get your comments, or critic and pls excus my typo where they occur.
cheers

NIGER DELTA ,Planet in Peril, INDEED!!

Well thanks to the Cable News network, (CNN) Nigeria once again made a major story on one of its special program, Planet in Peril. What is it this time? Well it’s the now world famous Niger Delta story, that’s what was on the news again. Well this post is actually not about CNN and how it would rather show the ugly or troubled side of Nigeria to the world, and not try to balance those stories with all the Good or great things happening in Nigeria at the same time.My issues here on this post, is this our so called Niger Delta issue, fight for freedom or what ever they call it, that is now going on in the region for some time, because to me I really don’t know anymore and cant make sense of the whole thing.If I had grown up in another part of Nigeria, well my ignorance can be excused, but I grew up in the Heart of the so called Niger Delta, and I come from within the region, born and raised up in Warri, Delta state Nigeria and having lived and worked in Port Harcourt for the last four years before living the country, hopefully to return soon,I ought to know better about what the problem in the region is but the truth is that I don’t, and infact nobody really knows what the problem is, as obvious as it may seem, because if we all know, why are we not solving it?.Just incase you are reading this and, think why is he saying this? Well here’s why I am saying what I just said.CNN will make the average world viewers and even some Nigeria’s oblivious of the Niger Delta issue, fell like it is Hell out there in the region, and that Nigeria or the Nigeria Delta is just one big hole on the face of the planet, possibly another Sudan or Sierra Leone in the making.Well its not at least not yet, but the Niger delta is actually what we can call a very complicated case of Evil, done to a group of people or region. First off, we have a Government, and by that I mean, the Nigerian Government since independence from the British till the present day, that has been so insensitive, greedy, corrupt and far from the reality of what is really going on in the Niger Delta.Secondly we also have state Governments and Local Goverments within the region that, sadly enough have towed the same line as the Federal Government both during Military and Civilian governments.Thirdly we have the major multinational oil companies, that have been the actual investors and sometimes rapists on the ground in the Niger delta, Fourthly the so called community Leaders within the region, and last but not the least, me, you,MEND and all the 1001 militant groups springing up everyday, we all have created this MONSTER! That we see today, called the Niger Delta crisis. However, my list above is an encompassing one, I will try to make 2 exception, First the Federal Government of the day because it seems to have a good intent for the region, but they are saddle with over 40years of neglect to deal with, lack of trust and to make matters worse the people within the region just cant wait anymore, so this young Government is left to deal with a monster that past Governments in the Military era and the (Obasanjor) OBJ, Government created. The second exception I will make, will be me and you, just so that you don’t get angry that I said you are part of the problem and decide not to read through this, thirdly maybe one or two present Governor from within the region, because of their drive for change, but I wont mention names just yet.Well CNN report got one thing right, the Niger Delta, is where the thirst for oil has created a deadly situation, the wealth created by the Black gold over the years has gone into pockets of some of the most wicked, greedy and corrupt people on the face of the earth, Presidents, Governors, Local government chairman, state and federal legislators, community leaders, certain foreigners etc, and has eventually created a problem with a hydra head.I for one believe the wealth underneath the earth in the Niger Delta, is meant to be a blessing, for Nigeria. First for the people within the region that are feeling the direct effect of the exploration activities, and also for the common good of the entire Nigerian state, but sadly enough this is not the case.The wealth is in the hands of a few, some of them in Government, others out of Government and these people are everywhere round the country, from up north, to down south, from the west and to the east. They have profited from the oil wealth in government purse through their corrupt days in office or out of office, through political connections etc, these are the people that will do any thing for things to remain the way it has always been, and rather unfortunately we have a lot of these people either still in government at one level or the other, or they are Godfathers behind the scene. These groups of people, are like wolfs in wolfs clothing, they are killer bees and will always be a part of Nigeria’s problem. The so called military or is it militant group we see in the Delta, some are even groups that represent the interest of this same people mentioned above, because since the agitation in the region is growing, they now had to look for other means to continue to milk the wealth from the region, and one of such is to have or sponsor groups in the Region through this so called Niger Delta struggle, so that with the instability in the region they can profit, either through bunkering of oil, or for those in government securing heavy security vote from national and state budget that they can plunder, that’s why for me, the credibility of a whole lot of these groups within the Niger Delta that go by one name or the other, is just a masquerade.The ones that are really up in arms for a genuine struggle are few, indeed if any.The Situation in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers state in the last few years, tells you a story of how politicians helped in arming young men to use them in rigging election, these young men becoming wise and kept the guns for themselves, and in some case split up because they two have tasted oil money, power and respect by the gun, and over time we now see, what we see in Port Harcourt and surrounding town and states, such as Kidnappings for ransom, Bank robbery, jail break, and the tussle for power by some of these gangs, that spilled into the street late 2007, and yet some of this same gangs, YES!! Gangs , have the nerve to call themselves freedom fighters, fighting to free who ?, definitely not me or the millions of Niger Deltan’s that so eagerly want to see a change in the region.MEND, on the other hand, is still hard to place, they make strong statements and claims, sometimes blow up oil installations, and threaten the oil companies , but at the end of the day leaves everyone wondering, what do they really want ?, where do they want to take this fighting to ?, because to me, I see nothing so far that is constructive about the fighting, yes we all agree that the Federal Government, and the Oil companies have for so long robbed the Niger Delta people and we just cant take it anymore, so that’s why (MEND) are fight, but what about the many state governors from within the region that have also looted state treasury while people in the region suffered, what about some of the so called elders that have parleyed with Government , and oil companies to become rich and influential , while its people and the region sufferers, and now they are the ones calling themselves elder or leaders that want to mediated for peace, are these people not known as part of the problem in MEND books?To Me, I feel If MEND must raise its profile as a true fighter, then its should not just be up in arms, and enjoy clips like the one shown on CNN where they call them “ One of the most Notorious or Violent militant in the world”, No! to me I think such report do more harm than Good to the cause of MEND, which if am correct is to liberate the Niger delta from years of Poverty and neglect, then it should not let it self be called a Violent group on international TV, its ok to show the Guns and Bazookas, the Hooded face and red head bands on military camouflage, but more importantly they should tell the Niger Delta people and the world, what they have achieved so far?.So back to why I say the problem is complicated, you have groups within the region, some fighting each other, over who should be the Underground warlord e.g. Tom Ateke and George Sogboma mini war, some groups are just ethnic fighting, e.g. Okrika- Eleme, and the many other inter and intra ethic squabbles that comes up every now and then amongst the hundreds of tribe within the oil rich producing region.We have the Oil bunkering groups some of which are from the group mentioned above and in some of the text I will write belowWe have the criminal group or some time petty thief’s that take advantage of the situation and kidnap, expatriates, or wealthy Nigerians and sometimes regrettably little children also.We have groups like the well known Militants groups MEND fighting the government Military forces protecting oil installations.We have to groups that are always on TV, especially private TV stations in Lagos state, talking about the problems in the Niger Delta and how they are going to fight to the end to liberate their people, e.g. Joseph Eva, Asari Dokubo etc, and yet you will hardly see them on local TV or radio stations in the Niger delta region, at least the private radio stations, if they will want to argue that we only have mainly state run TV in the Niger delta region.We have the state Governors, most of whom where planted by their predecessors, so they really cant investigate past government as we have seen in the last one year plus now, none so far has even accused the immediate past government of corruption, maybe an exception will be in Rivers state, because the Governor came in via a court verdict in his favor.And last but not the least we, have the me and you and the millions of Niger delta people group, who just seat and watch all the various actors or groups mentioned above do the, siphoning of cash to foreign accounts, the cat catch rat match, finger pointing, blame catapulting, propaganda war, and the shelling, shooting, bombing, that go on in the creeks, or water ways of the Niger delta region.All these brings me back to where I started, which is this,. Where do we go from here? How can this problem be solved? how can the legitimate groups above be pacified and the criminal and evil one be clearly identified and totally alienated and flushed out, well its hard to tell, because sometimes, the boundaries within each of this groupings are not a clear cut one, today I can be the one writting and saying my bit or side of the story, who knows maybe tomorrow I might be amongst the masked ones in the creeks, brandishing a Gun on CNN, or who knows I can somehow find my self in government and get my conscience marred and lot the federal, state or local purse , or who knows I can still end up as an executive in the oil industry and look for all the best ways to continue milking wealth from the crude oil business, while the trouble in the region rages on. The CNN report is just meant to do one thing, and the reporter Lisa Ling, said it over and over again in her report, if you listen to it well you will pick up on it. The CNN report just serves to show that a source of crude that is Vital to US economy, is being threatened, and with the pressure already in the US economy, if it should lose oil supply from Nigeria, with out argument that loss very well, you can just imagine what will happen,that’s just itSo it’s not like CNN really want to show this region to the world, so that world leaders or the UN will debate, or pressure the Nigeria government to act, in the most expeditious and bold manner to address the biggest issue facing it nationhood, but that Nigeria’s oil is not a dependable source for supply.However Lisa ling personal statement, on the news show hit the point again, its greed thats at the bottom of all this suffering and trouble in the regionDespite the picture I have painted, I believe there’s hope for the region to change, to rise and to grow, the reason I believe this, is because of what we see today, it is bound to get this worse, before it will get better, although it would have been better if everything had worked well from the start, when oil was first supped at Oloibiri in 1956… or so, well that didn’t happen, but we are at the turning point now, lets keep hope alive and keep prayingThis perhaps happens to be my longest post ever, well I have always avoided this topic, but I guess this evening was just the right time to get it off my chest!Find linkhttp://edition. cnn.com/2008/ WORLD/africa/ 12/11/pip. nigeria.oil/ index.html# cnnSTCVideoMany people may have contrary views to some or all I have said here, but the truth is....... what it is,
Contact writer Via,
savenigeria2005@ yahoo.com

Interview With Kingsley Bangwell

2008-12-02T01:09:00.002Z

Kingsley Bangwell is one of the leading youth activists in Nigeria, the Executive Director of Yougstars Foundation Jos (www.youngstarfoundation.org). in view of his effort in youth development, he was interviewed by Maxwell Ogaga (team leader, Dare 2 Dream Youth Initiative), he hosted the 1st ever Nigerian Youth Stakeholders forum in Abuja.read and learn.

Maxwell: May we meet you Sir?
My name is Kingsley N.T. Bangwell, Team Leader of Youngstars Development Initiative a.k.a Youngstars Foundation started since 1996. I also just recently became the resident pastor of Power City Intl Churches Jos Branch and also recently admitted into ASHOKA fellowship in June 2008.

Maxwell: What project are you currently involved in now?
Ha ha, there are projects in my mind and there are projects ongoing, lets talk about projects ongoing. DESPLAY which is our annually youth democracy and good governance training program which has been elevated by our funders to an African project. Youth Works Top 12 Awards which was a program that trained over 200 Nigeria youths in about 15 states within the last 12 months, and about 47 of the youths have done 220 activities reaching about 6,000 youths in Nigeria. Next year we shall organize an award for the best 12, its being funded by British Council. There is Youth Lens, a new project that is educating youths in 3 communities on the need to help government by monitoring the quality of work done by contractors in their localities. A website is on that will report monthly what is going on and we would send periodic reports to government. Then there is Shine Plateau Youth Tv show which we piloted in April for a quarter and its going back on air in January, every quarter a youth will win $1,000 after a contest of who has a good idea to implement under the 10 point Agenda of Gov. Jang, the winner gets the fund to implement a six months project. Then there is the Kingsley Bangwell Leadership Prize for Teenagers Starting Early which is my own personal way of giving back to the society. We worked in 8 schools with 100 kids teaching them leadership over a 5 weeks course, among them they were encouraged to do projects, and about 40 projects were recorded, from which I am giving 3 of them educational scholarship of $500, and $300 respectively (by the way you can donate towards it, abi?). Guess when the event will hold…..? January 20th 2009, to mark dr. marthin lurther kings day and swearing in of sen barrack obama first African American president of the United States of America! In future I will share with you projects still being incubated in my mind!

Maxwell: You just returned from a trip, visiting Greece what can you tell us?
Yes I was invited to speak during the 13th International Anti-Corruption Conference organized every 2 years by Transparency International. It was such a great privilege for me as a young person. I spoke on how corruption fosters violent conflicts, especially youth restiveness. Although I raised my concern that such an event of about 1500 participants and they were talking about developing the future, there was just a handful of youths there. I got lots of commendation, infact, someone from the audience said I would become the Ghandi of Africa. I also met with Mrs Waziri, the Chairman of EFCC, I also met with Peter Aigen Founder of Transparency International. It was a 4 day event, and I headed back home immediately after it.

Maxwell: You have been in youth development for some time, what have been your experience?
Hmmmmm, my experience is being captured in a book I am putting together that will also share my perspective about working with funders, donors and the larger society. But working with youths is for me the essence of life. That’s my purpose, that’s my calling and my fulfillment. It has been most challenging at start because I ran my NGO for 7years without grant, office or partnerships. Many people told me to stop and do something else with my life, but I knew it was not just about what I was doing but about following my calling. Today the same people celebrate me every time we meet!

Maxwell: What are your convictions about the Nigerian nation?
Nigeria remains one the best countries of the world. Rich in all nameable resources, strategic in location, weather, peoples, culture and highly spiritual. Most of all, Nigeria is what has given me a name, an origin, a history, a nationality and the opportunity to grow and become the best I can be, (na inside Nigeria I recently found and married my sweet and dear princess!)…what will you say about such a nation? God Bless Nigeria. Yes, we may have challenges and difficulties, all of that offers opportunity for human productivity and creativity. If you don’t like Nigeria, please relocate to Rwanda or Somalia and be sure of one thing, I will take your place before you return!

Maxwell: What is your advice to young men who are in a hurry to travel abroad?
Here is my analysis, except you already have admission or a job waiting for you…I recommend you stay here and work out your destiny! It will cost you nearly N350,000 to travel to say America, believe me, if you are creative and focused, and start a business with that amount of money, in 5 years, you will be able to go to America on vacation and enjoy life! No body picks money on the street in those countries, US, UK Dubai, Greece, etc, I have visited all those countries and I tell you the truth, most of what you think about opportunities in those countries are not true! Even if you are in music, by the time you arrive South Africa or UK, you will join millions of young people with their demos also pursuing destiny. And they have an advantage over you because they already know that system, you have to start from the scratch…by the way, how many Nigerian musicians have made it abroad? Most time they make it here and then go there to maximize their opportunities! Have you been reading the news lately, with the global financial crisis many folks abroad are loosing their jobs, it also means that immigration laws shall become more stiff especially on job opportunities. Abeg stay here and succeed and then arrive the USA and someone will be at the airport with your name on a placard waiting for you and drive you to a good hotel and you have your respect, that’s what I enjoy!

Maxwell: What was your motivation to start Youngstars Foundation?
I grew up not accepting the standards of our society. I was not satisfied with the school system, I was not satisfied with the system of governance, I was further shocked to discover that here was a society that didn’t reckon, plan or see its youths as the bridge to the future and its continuity. And I said, I would start an organization that will help young people discover themselves and get involved in nation building so we can recreate the Nigeria of our dream. Every day I wake up, what I see in society further propels me to continue this work. This is one country that is yet to come to terms with the truth that the youths is her only point of reference in the future. It beats my imagination why the adult society thinks that way. Well, we are gradually changing it, as some of us are beginning to show and lead in unusuall leadership processes, they are forced to reckon with us….and so we must not stop being the best we can as young people!

Maxwell: Your comment and feelings about Barack Obama’s victory?
Oh…you mean my Uncle, President Obama…you know in Africa…family ties are still strong! Ha ha. Barack Obama wrote a book called the audacity of hope. I would say the audacious faith! That suicidal courage that he could be president, and that suicidal believe that all things are possible and that absolute trust that with God on your side…nothing can stop you gave birth to the Obama legacy. I tell people, it was more difficult to win over Hillary Clinton than to win Mc Cain! And I said it will take a miracle for Mc Cain to win but it will take supernatural miraclessssssss for Obama to win the presidency. Obama has extinguished all our excuses. Obama has shocked all our sentiments. Obama has trivialized all our experiences and circumstances. Obama has mocked all our disabilities. Obama means, if you can think it, you can make it happen. But you know the center of all of this…….? As a man thinks……..! watch out for every young person that is thinking! The world has changed! We have moved forward by a century. One man truly can make a difference. I love and pray for Obama everyday, because I see myself in him. I actually think we knew each other before we were born. To me, nothing is impossible as long as you have thought about it!

Maxwell: Who are your mentors and role models?
Jesus comes first in the list, at the age of 12 he was having intelligent conversation with professors and scholars! Can you beat that? I love Joseph too much, at 30 he became leader in a foreign land and by his wisdom saved the world! David, was a God chaser. Back to this present time, Dr. Martin Luther King remains my number one! Dr. Mandela for me is the African to watch! In Nigeria……..? I am still thinking sha!

Maxwell: Last words of advice to the Nigerian youth?
Sell your phone and buy a dream! With a reckless abandon, pursue your dream. Irrespective of your personal sentiments, ego, experiences, societal perspective of you and your background, don’t be distracted, just follow your dream. As a matter of fact, it is for all your excuses that you must succeed. Believe in your ability to be, act on your believe to become and stay there in the place of your ability until your dream come true, because Obama has shown us that dreams come true irrespective of the entire world!

© Interview by Ogaga E. Maxwell (ogagamaxwell@yahoo.com)...Dec 2008

Death toll in Nigeria clashes rises to around 400

2008-12-01T23:36:00.000Z

JOS, Nigeria, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Residents delivered more bodies to the main mosque in the central Nigerian city of Jos on Sunday, bringing the death toll from two days of clashes between Muslim and Christian gangs to around 400 people. Rival ethnic and religious mobs have burned homes, shops, mosques and churches in fighting triggered by a disputed local election in a city at the crossroads of Nigeria's Muslim north and Christian south. It is the country's worst unrest for years. Murtala Sani Hashim, who has been registering the dead as they are brought to the city's main mosque, told Reuters he had listed 367 bodies and more were arriving. Ten corpses wrapped in blankets, two of them infants, lay behind him. A doctor at one of the city's main hospitals said he had received 25 corpses and 154 injured since the unrest began. "Gunshot wounds, machete injuries, those are the two main types," Dr Aboi Madaki, director of clinical services at Jos University Teaching Hospital, told Reuters. The overall toll was expected to be higher, with some victims already buried and others taken to other clinics. The violence appeared to die down on Sunday. Soldiers patrolled on foot and in jeeps to enforce a 24-hour curfew imposed on the worst-hit areas. People who ventured out walked with their hands in the air to show they were unarmed. "They are still picking up dead bodies outside. Some areas were not reachable until now," said Al Mansur, a 53-year-old farmer who said all the homes around his had been razed. Overturned and burnt-out vehicles littered the streets while several churches, a block of houses and an Islamic school in one neighbourhood were gutted by fire. The Red Cross said around 7,000 people had fled their homes and were sheltering in government buildings, an army barracks and religious centres. A senior police official said five neighbourhoods had been hit by unrest and 523 people detained. SIMMERING TENSIONS Nigeria's 140 million people are roughly equally split between Muslims and Christians and the two communities generally live peacefully side by side. But ethnic and religious tensions in the country's central "Middle Belt" have bubbled for years, rooted in resentment from indigenous minority groups, mostly Christian or animist, towards migrants and settlers from the Hausa-speaking Muslim north. The latest clashes between gangs of Muslim Hausas and mostly Christian youths began early on Friday and were provoked by a disputed local election after rumours spread that the ANPP party candidate backed by Hausas had lost the race to the ruling PDP. "It's religious. They were burning mosques and churches. They used politics as a cover-up," said Suleyman Yusuf, a Muslim from the Yoruba ethnic group, two of whose friends were killed. Yusuf was sheltering with some 4,000 men, women and children -- Christian and Muslim, and from a variety of ethnic groups -- in a national drug agency building set up by aid workers. Hundreds were killed in ethnic-religious fighting in Jos, the capital of Plateau state, in 2001. Hundreds more died in 2004 in clashes in Yelwa, also in Plateau, leading then-President Olusegun Obasanjo to declare an emergency. Unrest in the state has in the past triggered reprisal attacks between different ethnic and religious groups in other areas of the country. But the security forces appear to have reacted more quickly than in the past to contain the violence in Jos, with the army sending in reinforcements from neighbouring states. (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa. reuters.com/ ) (Writing by Nick Tattersall; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Le péage de la mort dans des désaccords du Nigéria se lève environ à 400Automatically translated into French thanks to WorldLingo JOS, Nigéria, 30 nov. (Reuters) - résidants a fourni plus de corps à la mosquée principale dans la ville nigérienne centrale de Jos dimanche, apportant le péage de la mort de deux jours de désaccords entre les troupes musulmanes et chrétiennes à environ 400 personnes. Les foules ethniques et religieuses rivales ont brûlé des maisons, des magasins, des mosquées et des églises dans le combat déclenché par une élection locale contestée dans une ville au carrefour du nord du Nigéria et des sud musulmans de chrétien. C'est le plus mauvais malaise du pays pendant des années. Murtala Sani Hashim, qui avait enregistré les morts pendant qu'ils sont apportés à la mosquée principale de la ville, a indiqué Reuters qu'il avait énuméré 367 corps et plus arrivaient. Dix cadavres enveloppés dans des couvertures, deux d'entre elles enfants en bas âge, configuration derrière lui. Un docteur à un des hôpitaux principaux de la ville a dit qu'il avait reçu 25 cadavres et 154 ont blessé puisque le malaise a commencé. Les « blessures de coup de fusil, dommages de machette, ceux sont les deux types principaux, » DR Aboi Madaki, directeur des services cliniques à l'hôpital de enseignement d'université de Jos, dit Reuters. On s'est attendu à ce que le péage global soit plus haut, avec quelques victimes déjà enterrées et d'autres portées à d'autres cliniques. La violence a semblé mourir vers le bas dimanche. Les soldats patrouillés à pied et dans des jeeps pour imposer un couvre-feu de 24 heures ont imposé aux secteurs les plus affectés. Peuplez qui risqué à sortir a marché avec leurs mains dans le ciel à l'exposition qu'elles étaient sans armes. « Ils sont cueillette immobile vers le haut des corps morts dehors. Quelques secteurs n'étaient pas accessibles jusqu'ici, « a dit Al Mansur, un fermier de 53 ans que dit toutes maisons autour du sien avaient été rasé. Les véhicules retournés et brûlés-dehors portée les rues tandis que plusieurs églises, un bloc de maisons et une école islamique dans un voisinage étaient étripés par le feu. La croix rouge dite autour de 7.000 personnes s'était sauvée leurs maisons et les abritait aux bâtiments de gouvernement, aux casernes d'une armée et aux centres religieux. Voisinages officiels de police aînée lesdits cinq avaient été frappés par le malaise et 523 personnes ont détenu. FERMENTANT Nigéria de TENSIONS le 140 millions de personnes sont rudement également dédoublés entre les musulmans et les chrétiens et les deux communautés vivent généralement paisiblement côte à côte. Mais les tensions ethniques et religieuses dans la ceinture « moyenne » du pays centrale ont bouillonné pendant des années, enraciné dans le ressentiment des groupes indigènes de minorité, la plupart du temps chrétien ou animiste, vers des migrants et des colons du nord musulman Hausa-parlant. Les derniers désaccords entre les troupes des Hausas musulmans et la plupart du temps les jeunesses chrétiennes ont commencé dès l'abord vendredi et ont été provoqués par une élection locale contestée après que les rumeurs aient écarté que la partie d'ANPP que le candidat a soutenue par Hausas avait perdu la course au PDP régnant. « Il est religieux. Ils étaient les mosquées et les églises brûlantes. Ils ont employé la politique en tant que cover-up, « a dit Suleyman Yusuf, un musulman du groupe ethnique de Yoruba, deux lesquels des amis ont été tués. Yusuf abritait avec environ 4.000 hommes, femmes et enfants -- Chrétien et musulmans, et d'une variété de groupes ethniques -- à l'agence de drogue de national un bâtiment a établi par des ouvriers d'aide. Des centaines ont été tuées dans le combat ethnique-religieux en Jos, le capital de l'état de plateau, en 2001. Les centaines de plus sont mortes en 2004 dans les désaccords dans Yelwa, aussi dans le plateau, principal alors-Président Olusegun Obasanjo pour déclarer une urgence. Le malaise dans l'état a dans les attaques déclenchées passées de représailles entre différents groupes ethniques et religieux dans d'autres secteurs du pays. Mais les forces de sécurité semblent avoir réagi plus rapidement que dans le passé pour contenir la violence en Jos, avec l'armée introduisant les renforts des états voisins. (Pour la pleine assurance de Reuters Afrique et pour avoir votre parole sur les questions supérieures, visite : http://africa. reuters.com/) (écriture par Nick Tattersall ; Édition par Mark Trevelyan)
El peaje de la muerte en los choques de Nigeria se levanta a alrededor 400Automatically translated into Spanish thanks to WorldLingo JOS, Nigeria, 30 Nov (Reuters) - residentes entregó más cuerpos a la mezquita principal en la ciudad nigeriana central de Jos el domingo, trayendo el peaje de la muerte a partir de dos días de choques entre las cuadrillas musulmanas y cristianas a alrededor 400 personas. Las multitudes étnicas y religiosas rivales se han quemado hogares, tiendas, mezquitas e iglesias en luchar accionado por una elección local disputada en una ciudad en la encrucijada del norte de Nigeria y del sur musulmanes del cristiano. Es el malestar peor del país por años. Murtala Sani Hashim, que ha estado colocando a muertos mientras que les traen a la mezquita principal de la ciudad, dijo Reuters que él había enumerado 367 cuerpos y más llegaban. Diez cadáveres envueltos en las mantas, dos de ellas infantes, endecha detrás de él. Un doctor a la una de los hospitales principales de la ciudad dijo que él había recibido 25 cadáveres y 154 dañados desde que el malestar comenzó. Las “heridas de tiro, lesiones del machete, ésas son los dos tipos principales,” dr Aboi Madaki, director de servicios clínicos en el hospital de enseñanza de la universidad de Jos, dicho Reuters. Se esperaba que el peaje total fuera más alto, con algunas víctimas enterradas ya y otras llevadas a otras clínicas. La violencia aparecía morir abajo el domingo. Los soldados patrullados a pie y en jeeps para hacer cumplir 24 toques de queda de la hora impusieron ante las áreas más afectadas. Pueble quién aventurada hacia fuera caminó con sus manos en el aire a la demostración que él era desarmado. “Son cosecha inmóvil encima de cuerpos muertos afuera. Algunas áreas no eran accesibles hasta este momento, “dijo el Al Mansur, granjero de 53 años que dicho todos los hogares alrededor el suyo habían sido razed. Los vehículos volcados y quemados-hacia fuera dejaron en desorden las calles mientras que varias iglesias, un bloque de casas y una escuela islámica en una vecindad fueron destripados por el fuego. La Cruz Roja dijo que alrededor 7.000 personas habían huido sus hogares y que los abrigaban en edificios del gobierno, cuarteles de un ejército y centros religiosos. Vecindades dichas oficiales del policía mayor las cinco habían sido golpeadas por el malestar y 523 personas detuvieron. Nigeria de las TENSIONES de SIMMERING 140 millones de personas de están partidos áspero igualmente entre los musulmanes y los cristianos y las dos comunidades viven generalmente pacífico de lado a lado. Pero las tensiones étnicas y religiosas en la correa “media” central del país han burbujeado por años, arraigado en el resentimiento de los grupos indígenas de la minoría, sobre todo cristiano o animista, hacia nómadas y colonos del norte musulmán de Hausa-discurso. Los choques más últimos entre las cuadrillas de Hausas musulmanes y sobre todo las juventudes cristianas comenzaron a principios de viernes y fueron provocados por una elección local disputada después de que las rumores se separaran que el partido de ANPP que el candidato movió hacia atrás por Hausas había perdido la raza al PDP predominante. “Es religioso. Eran mezquitas e iglesias ardientes. Utilizaron políticas como encubrimiento, “dijo Suleyman Yusuf, musulmán del grupo étnico del yoruba, dos que de amigos fueron matados. Yusuf abrigaba con unos 4.000 hombres, mujeres y niños -- Cristiano y musulmanes, y de una variedad de grupos étnicos -- en agencia de la droga del nacional un edificio instaló por los trabajadores de la ayuda. Los centenares fueron matados en luchar étnico-religioso en Jos, el capital del estado de la meseta, en 2001. Los centenares murieron más en 2004 en choques en Yelwa, también en la meseta, entonces-Presidente principal Olusegun Obasanjo para declarar una emergencia. El malestar en el estado tiene en los últimos ataques accionados de la represalia entre diversos grupos étnicos y religiosos en otras áreas del país. Pero las fuerzas de la seguridad aparecen haber reaccionado más rápidamente que en el pasado para contener la violencia en Jos, con el ejército enviando en refuerzos de estados vecinos. (Para la cobertura completa de Reuters África y tener su opinión en las ediciones de la tapa, visita: http://africa. reuters.com/) (escritura de Nick Tattersall; El corregir de Mark Trevelyan)
Il tributo di morte in Nigeria scontra gli aumenti ad intorno 400Automatically translated into Italian thanks to WorldLingo JOS, Nigeria, 30 nov. (Reuters) - residenti ha trasportato più corpi al mosque principale nella città nigeriana centrale di Jos la domenica, portare il tributo di morte da due giorni di si scontra fra i gruppi musulmani e cristiani ad intorno 400 genti. I mobs etnici e religiosi rivali hanno bruciato le sedi, i negozi, i mosques e le chiese nel combattimento innescato tramite un'elezione locale disputata in una città alla strada trasversale del nord della Nigeria e del sud musulmani del cristiano. È l'agitazione più difettosa del paese per gli anni. Murtala Sani Hashim, che sta registrando i morti mentre sono portati al mosque principale della città, ha detto a Reuters ch'aveva elencato 367 corpi e più stavano arrivando. Dieci corpses spostati in coperte, due di loro infanti, disposizione dietro lui. Un medico ad uno degli ospedali principali della città ha detto che aveva ricevuto 25 corpses e 154 feriti da quando l'agitazione ha cominciato. “Le ferite di Gunshot, le lesioni del machete, quelle sono i due tipi principali,„ Dott Aboi Madaki, direttore dei servizi clinici all'ospedale d'istruzione dell'università del Jos, detto a Reuters. Il tributo generale si è pensato che sia più alto, con alcune vittime già sepolte ed altre prese ad altre cliniche. La violenza è sembrato morire giù la domenica. I soldati perlustrati a piedi ed in jeep per fare rispettare un coprifuoco di 24 ore hanno imposto alle zone più affettate. Popoli chi rischiato fuori ha camminato con le loro mani nell'aria all'esposizione ch'erano unarmed. “Sono raccolto tranquillo sugli enti guasti all'esterno. Alcune zone non erano raggiungibili finora, “ha detto Al Mansur, un coltivatore di 53 anni che detto tutte le sedi intorno a suo erano state razed. I veicoli capovolti e bruciati-fuori figliata le vie mentre parecchie chiese, un blocco delle case e una scuola islamica in una vicinanza sono stati sventrati da fuoco. La croce rossa detta intorno a 7.000 genti aveva fuggito le loro sedi e stava riparando nelle costruzioni di governo, nei barracks dell'esercito e nei centri religiosi. Vicinanze dette ufficiali della polizia maggiore le cinque erano state colpite da agitazione e 523 genti hanno ritenuto. Della Nigeria di TENSIONAMENTI di SIMMERING 140 milione di persone sono spaccati approssimativamente ugualmente fra i musulmani ed i cristiani e le due Comunità vivono generalmente pacificamente parallelamente. Ma i tensionamenti etnici e religiosi in cinghia “centrale„ del paese centrale hanno bollito per gli anni, sradicato nel rancore dai gruppi indigeni di minoranza, principalmente cristiano o animist, verso i migranti ed i settlers dal nord musulmano Hausa-parlante. Il più ritardato si scontra fra i gruppi dei Hausas musulmani e principalmente le gioventù cristiane hanno cominciato nella fase iniziale venerdì e sono state provocate tramite un'elezione locale disputata dopo che le voci si spargessero che il partito che di ANPP il candidato ha sostenuto da Hausas aveva perso la corsa al PDP di regolamento. “È religioso. Erano mosques e chiese burning. Hanno usato le politiche come un cover-up, “ha detto Suleyman Yusuf, un musulmano dal gruppo etnico del Yoruba, due di cui degli amici sono stati uccisi. Yusuf stava riparando con circa 4.000 uomini, donne e bambini -- Cristiano e musulmani e da una varietà di gruppi etnici -- nell'agenzia della droga del cittadino una costruzione ha installato dagli operai del sussidio. Le centinaia sono state uccise nel combattimento etnico-religioso in Jos, il capitale del plateau dichiarano, in 2001. Le centinaia di più morte in 2004 dentro si scontrano in Yelwa, anche nel plateau, allora-Presidente principale Olusegun Obasanjo per dichiarare un'emergenza. L'agitazione nel dichiarare ha negli attacchi innescati passati di reprisal fra i gruppi etnici e religiosi differenti in altre zone del paese. Ma le forze di sicurezza sembrano reagire più rapidamente di nel passato per contenere la violenza in Jos, con l'esercito che introduce i rinforzi da vicino dichiara. (Per riempimento completo di Reuters Africa ed avere vostra opinione sulle edizioni della parte superiore, chiamata: http://africa. reuters.com/) (scrittura da Nick Tattersall; Pubblicando da Mark Trevelyan)
Todesabgabe im Nigeria Zusammentreffen steigt bis herum 400Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo JOS, Nigeria, 30. Nov. (Reuters) - Bewohner lieferte mehr Körper an die Hauptmoschee in der zentralen nigerischen Stadt von Jos am Sonntag und holte herum 400 Leuten die Todesabgabe von zwei Tagen Zusammentreffen zwischen die moslemischen und christlichen Gruppen. Rivalisierender ethnischer und frommer Pöbel hat Häuser, Geschäfte gebrannt, Moscheen und Kirchen beim Kämpfen ausgelöst durch eine diskutierte lokale Wahl in einer Stadt an der Querstraße Nigerias von moslemischem Norden und von Christsüden. Es ist die schlechteste Ruhelosigkeit des Landes für Jahre. Murtala Sani Hashim, das die Toten registriert hat, während sie zur Hauptmoschee der Stadt geholt werden, erklärte Reuters, das er 367 Körper verzeichnet hatte und mehr kamen an. 10 Leichen aufgewickelt in Decken, zwei von ihnen Kinder, Lage hinter ihm. Ein Doktor bei einem der Hauptkrankenhäuser der Stadt sagte, daß er 25 Leichen empfangen hatte und 154 verletzten, da die Ruhelosigkeit anfing. „Schusswaffenwunden, Macheteverletzungen, die sind die zwei Hauptarten,“ Dr Aboi Madaki, der Direktor der klinischen Services an Jos Universitätsunterrichtendem Krankenhaus, Reuters erklärt. Die gesamte Abgabe wurde erwartet, um höher zu sein, wenn einigen Opfern, die bereits und andere begraben werden, zu anderen Kliniken genommen sind. Die Gewalttätigkeit schien, unten am Sonntag zu sterben. Soldaten patrouillierten auf Fuß und in den Jeeps, um eine 24stündige Sperrstunde zu erzwingen, die den aufs schlimmste geschlagensten Bereichen auferlegt wurde. Bevölkeren Sie, wem heraus riskiert mit ihren Händen in der Luft zum Erscheinen ging, das sie unbewaffnet waren. „Sie sind ruhiges Sammeln herauf tote Körper draußen. Etwas Bereiche waren nicht bis jetzt, „sagte Al Mansur, ein 53 Einjahreslandwirt erreichbar, der besagt alle Häuser um seins razed gewesen waren. Umgeworfene und gebrannte-heraus Träger verunreinigten die Straßen, während einige Kirchen, ein Block der Häuser und eine islamische Schule in einer Nachbarschaft durch Feuer ausgeweidet wurden. Das rote Kreuz, das um 7.000 Leute gesagt wurde, hatte ihre Häuser geflohen und in Regierung Gebäuden, Kasernen einer Armee und den frommen Mitten schützte. Waren amtliche besagte fünf Nachbarschaften der älteren Polizei von der Ruhelosigkeit und von 523 Leuten geschlagen worden, die zurückgehalten wurden. SIMMERING SPANNUNGEN Nigerias 140 Million Leute werden ungefähr gleichmäßig zwischen Moslems aufgespaltet und Christen und die zwei Gemeinschaften leben im Allgemeinen friedlich nebeneinander. Aber ethnische und fromme Spannungen im zentralen „mittleren Riemen“ des Landes haben für Jahre gesprudelt, verwurzelt im Groll von den eingeborenen Minoritätgruppen, meistens Christ oder Animist, in Richtung in Richtung den Wanderern und zu den Siedleren vom Hausa-sprechenden moslemischen Norden. Das neueste Zusammentreffen zwischen Gruppen der moslemischen Hausas und meistens christlicher Jugend fing früh am Freitag an und wurde durch eine diskutierte lokale Wahl erregt, nachdem Gerüchte verbreiteten, daß der ANPP Parteianwärter, der von Hausas unterstützt wurde, das Rennen zum regierenden PDP verloren hatte. „Es ist fromm. Sie waren brennende Moscheen und Kirchen. Sie verwendeten Politiken als cover-up, „sagte Suleyman Yusuf, ein Moslem von der ethnischen Gruppe des Yoruba, zwei von deren Freunden getötet wurden. Yusuf schützte mit ca. 4.000 Männern, Frauen und Kindern -- Christ und Moslems und von einer Vielzahl der ethnischen Gruppen -- in der Staatsangehörigdrogeagentur stellte ein Gebäude durch Hilfsmittelarbeiter auf. Hunderte wurden im ethnisch-frommen Kämpfen in Jos, das Kapital des Hochebenezustandes, 2001 getötet. Hunderte starben mehr 2004 im Zusammentreffen in Yelwa, auch in der Hochebene, führender DannPräsident Olusegun Obasanjo, um eine Dringlichkeit zu erklären. Ruhelosigkeit im Zustand hat in den letzten ausgelösten Repressalieangriffen zwischen unterschiedlichen ethnischen und frommen Gruppen in anderen Bereichen des Landes. Aber die Sicherheit Kräfte scheinen, als in der Vergangenheit schneller reagiert zu haben, zum der Gewalttätigkeit in Jos zu enthalten, wenn die Armee in Verstärkungen sendet, von benachbarten Zuständen. (Für volle Reuters Afrika Deckung und Ihr Sagen auf den Oberseite Ausgaben, Besuch haben: http://africa. reuters.com/) (Schreiben durch Nick Tattersall; Redigieren durch Mark Trevelyan)
O pedágio da morte em clashes de Nigéria levanta-se a ao redor 400Automatically translated into Portuguese thanks to WorldLingo JOS, Nigéria, novembro 30 (Reuters) - residentes entregou mais corpos ao mosque principal na cidade Nigerian central de Jos em domingo, trazendo o pedágio da morte de dois dias dos clashes entre grupos muçulmanos e Christian a ao redor 400 povos. Os mobs étnicos e religiosos rivais queimaram repousos, lojas, mosques e igrejas na luta provocada por uma eleição local disputada em uma cidade no crossroads do norte de Nigéria e do sul muçulmanos do cristão. É o unrest o mais mau do país por anos. Murtala Sani Hashim, que tem registado os mortos enquanto são trazidos ao mosque principal da cidade, disse Reuters que tinha alistado 367 corpos e mais estavam chegando. Dez corpses envolvidos nos cobertores, dois deles infantes, configuração atrás dele. Um doutor em um dos hospitais principais da cidade disse que tinha recebido 25 corpses e 154 feriram desde que o unrest começou. De “as feridas Gunshot, os ferimentos do machete, aqueles são os dois tipos principais,” Dr. Aboi Madaki, diretor de serviços clínicos no hospital ensinando da universidade de Jos, dito Reuters. O pedágio total esperou-se ser mais elevado, com algumas vítimas enterradas já e outras feitas exame a outras clínicas. A violência pareceu morrer para baixo em domingo. Os soldados patrulharam no pé e nos jipes para reforçar um curfew de 24 horas imposto nas áreas as mais worst-hit. Povoe quem arriscado para fora andou com suas mãos no ar à mostra que era unarmed. “São colheita imóvel acima dos corpos inoperantes fora. Algumas áreas não eram reachable até agora, “disse o Al Mansur, um fazendeiro de 53 year-old que dito todos os repousos em torno de his fossem razed. Os veículos virados e queimados-para fora desarrumaram as ruas quando diversas igrejas, um bloco das casas e uma escola Islamic em uma vizinhança gutted pelo fogo. A cruz vermelha dita em torno de 7.000 povos tinha fujido seus repousos e estava protegendo-os em edifícios do governo, em barracks de um exército e em centros religiosos. Vizinhanças ditas oficiais das polícias sênior as cinco tinham sido batidas pelo unrest e pelos 523 povos detidos. Povos de Nigéria das TENSÕES de SIMMERING 140 milhão são rachados aproximadamente ingualmente entre muçulmanos e os cristãos e as duas comunidades vivem geralmente pacificamente de lado a lado. Mas as tensões étnicas e religiosas na correia “média” central do país borbulharam por anos, enraizado no resentment dos grupos indígenos do minority, na maior parte cristão ou animist, para emigrantes e settlers do norte muçulmano Hausa-falador. Os clashes os mais atrasados entre grupos de Hausas muçulmanos e na maior parte juventudes Christian começaram cedo em sexta-feira e foram provocados por uma eleição local disputada depois que os boatos espalharam que o partido que de ANPP o candidato suportou por Hausas tinha perdido a raça ao PDP governando. “É religioso. Eram mosques e igrejas ardentes. Usaram a política como um cover-up, “disse Suleyman Yusuf, um muçulmano do grupo étnico do Yoruba, dois cujos de amigos foram matados. Yusuf estava protegendo com uns 4.000 homens, mulheres e crianças -- Cristão e muçulmanos, e de uma variedade de grupos étnicos -- na agência da droga do nacional um edifício ajustou-se acima por trabalhadores do dae (dispositivo automático de entrada). As centenas foram matadas na luta étnico-religiosa em Jos, o capital do estado do platô, em 2001. As centenas morreram mais em 2004 nos clashes em Yelwa, também no platô, então-Presidente principal Olusegun Obasanjo para declarar uma emergência. O Unrest no estado tem nos ataques provocados passados da represália entre grupos étnicos e religiosos diferentes em outras áreas do país. Mas as forças da segurança parecem ter reagido mais rapidamente do que no passado para conter a violência em Jos, com o exército que emite nos reforços dos estados neighbouring. (Para a cobertura cheia de Reuters África e para ter sua palavra nas edições do alto, visita: http://africa. reuters.com/) (escrita por Entalhe Tattersall; Editar por Marca Trevelyan)
Dödavgiften i Nigeria kolliderar löneförhöjningar till omkring 400Automatically translated into Swedish thanks to WorldLingo JOS Nigeria, Nov 30 (Reuters) - invånare levererade mer förkroppsligar till den huvudsakliga moskén i den nigerianska staden för centralen av Jos på söndag som kommer med dödavgiften från två dagar av sammandrabbningar mellan Muslim och kristna ligor till omkring 400 folk. Den rivaliserande person som tillhör en etnisk minoritet och religiösa folkhopar har bränt hem, shoppar, moskéer och kyrkor i stridighet som startas av ett omtvistat kommunalval i en stad på tvärgatorna av Nigeria Muslim nord och kristensöder. Det är landets värst oro för år. Murtala Sani Hashim, som har registrerat deadna, som de kommas med till stadens huvudsakliga moské, berättade Reuters som han hade listat 367 förkroppsligar, och mer ankom. Tio lik som slås in i filtar, två av dem spädbarn, lägger bak honom. En manipulera på ett av stadens huvudsakliga sjukhus sade att han hade mottagit 25 lik och 154 sårade, sedan oroen började. ”Sårar skotthållet, macheteskador, de är de två huvudsakliga typerna,” Dr Aboi Madaki, direktör av kliniskt servar på sjukhuset för Jos universitetarundervisning som berättas Reuters. Den total- avgiften förväntades för att vara högre, med några offer som begravdes redan, och andra som togs till andra kliniker. Våld verkade att dö besegrar på söndag. Soldater som patrullerades på fot och i jeeps för att upprätthålla ett 24 timmeutegångsförbud, lade på på de mest worst-hit områdena. Bemanna vågad vem ut gått med deras räcker i lufta till showen som de var unarmed. ”Är de stilla plockning upp dead förkroppsligar utanför. Några områden var inte åtkomliga till nu, ”sade Al Mansur, en årig bonde 53 som said alla hem runt om his hade raserats. Valt och brända-ut medel skräpade ner gatastunderna flera kyrkor, ett kvarter av hus, och ett islamiskt skolar i en neighbourhood var förstört avfyrar by. Röda koret som sades runt om 7.000 folk, hade flytt deras hem och beskyddade i regerings- byggnader, baracker för en armé, och klosterbrodern centrerar. Hade officiella said fem neighbourhoods för en hög polis slågits av den fördröjde oroen och 523 folk. PUTTRA SPÄNNINGS Nigeria 140 miljon delas folket ungefärligt lika mellan Muslims, och kristen och de två gemenskaperna bor allmänt peacefully jämsides. Men etniska och religiösa spänningar i landets central ”en mitt kuter” har bubblat för år, rotat i harm från infödda minoritetgrupper, mestadels kristen eller animist, in mot migranter och nybyggare från dentalande Muslim norden. De senaste sammandrabbningarna mellan ligor av Muslim Hausas och mestadels kristna ungdommar började tidig sort på fredag och provocerades av ett omtvistat kommunalval efter ryktespridning att ANPP-partikandidaten som drogs tillbaka av Hausas hade borttappadt racen till avgörandet PDP. ”Är det religiöst. De var brinns moskéer och kyrkor. De använde politik som ett cover-up, ”sade Suleyman Yusuf, en Muslim från Yorubafolkgruppen, två av vars vänner dödades. Yusuf beskyddade med några 4.000 manar, kvinnor och barn -- Kristen och Muslim, och från en variation av folkgrupper -- i en uppsättning för byggnad för medborgaredrogbyrå vid bistå upp arbetare. Hundreds dödades i person som tillhör en etnisk minoritet-klosterbrodern stridighet i Jos, huvudstaden av platån som var statlig, i 2001. Hundreds dog mer i 2004 i sammandrabbningar i Yelwa, också i platån, den ledande därefter-Presidenten Olusegun Obasanjo för att förklara ett nöd-. Oroen i det statligt har i de förgångna startade vedergällningattackerna mellan den olika person som tillhör en etnisk minoritet och religiösa grupper i andra områden av landet. Men säkerhetsstyrkorna verkar att ha reagerat snabbare, än i förflutnan som innehåller våld i Jos, med armén som överför i förstärkningar från neighbouring, påstår. (För full Reuters Afrika täckning och att ha din något att säga på det bästa utfärdar, besök: http://africa. reuters.com/) (handstil av Hack Tattersall; Att redigera by markerar Trevelyan),
Общее число погибших в clashes Нигерии поднимает до вокруг 400Automatically translated into Russian thanks to WorldLingo JOS, Нигерия, 30-ое нояб. (Reuters) - резиденты поставило больше тел к GLAVNой мечети в центральном нигерийском городе Jos на воскресенье, принося общее число погибших от 2 дней clashes между шатиями Muslim и Кристиан до вокруг 400 людей. Соперничающие этнические и вероисповедные mobs горели дома, магазины, мечети и церков в воевать вызванный оспоренный местныа выборы в городе на распутье севера Нигерии мусульманских и юга Кристиан. Будет unrest страны самым плохим на леты. Murtala Sani Hashim, которое регистрировало умерших по мере того как их приносят к мечети города GLAVNой, сказало Reuters, котор он перечислил 367 тел и больше приезжали. 10 трупов обернутых в одеялах, 2 из их младенцы, положение за им. Доктор на одном из стационаров города GLAVNых сказал он получило 25 поврежденных трупы и 154 в виду того что unrest начал. «Раны выстрела, ушибы machete, те будут 2 GLAVNыми типами,» Dr Aboi Madaki, директор клинических обслуживаний на стационаре университета Jos учя, сказанный Reuters. Была ы, что была общая пошлина более высока, при некоторые уже похороненные жертвы и другие принятые к другим клиникам. Показалось, что умер расправа вниз на воскресенье. Воины патрулированные on foot и в виллисах для того чтобы принудить 24-часовой curfew навели на worst-hit OBLASTях. Населите затеянное вне погулял с их руками в воздухе к выставке, котор они были unarmed. «Ими будет неподвижная рудоразборка вверх по мертвым телам снаружи. Некоторые OBLASTи не были reachable until now, «сказал Al Mansur, хуторянина 53 year-old который сказанн все дома вокруг его были razed. Опрокинутые и, котор ые-вне корабли засоряли улицы пока несколько церков, блок домов и исламская школа в одном районе были gutted пожаром. Красный Крест сказанный вокруг 7.000 людей исчез их дома и приютил в зданиях правительства, казармах армии и вероисповедных центрах. Районов старших полиций официальные сказанные 5 были ударены задержанными unrest и 523 людьми. Нигерии НАПРЯЖЕНИЙ SIMMERING 140 миллионов людей грубо равн разделены между Muslims и христианки и 2 общины вообще живут мирно side by side. Но этнические и вероисповедные напряжения в поясе страны центральном «среднем» клокочут на леты, после того как они укоренены в resentment от индигенных групп несовершеннолетия, главным образом Кристиан или animist, к переселенцам и поселенцам от Hausa-говоря мусульманского севера. Самые последние clashes между шатиями мусульманского Hausas и главным образом молодостями Кристиан начали early on пятницу и были спровоцированы оспоренный местныа выборы после того как молвы распространили что партия ANPP, котор выбранный подпер Hausas потеряла гонку к управляя PDP. «Оно вероисповедно. Они были горящими мечетями и церков. Они использовали политики как cover-up, «сказал Suleyman Yusuf, Muslim от этнические группы Yoruba, 2 друзей которого убил. Yusuf приютило с некоторыми 4.000 людьми, женщинами и дет -- Кристиан и Muslim, и от разнообразия этнические группы -- в агенство снадобья соотечественника здание установило вверх работниками помощи. Сотниы были убиты в этническ-вероисповедный воевать в Jos, столица положения плата, в 2001. Сотниы больше умерли в 2004 в clashes в Yelwa, также в плате, leading после этого-Президенте Olusegun Obasanjo для того чтобы объявить аварийную ситуацию. Unrest в положении имеет в прошлых вызванных нападениях репрессалии между по-разному этническими и вероисповедными группами в других RA1ONах страны. Но кажется, что реагируют силы безопасности более быстро чем в прошлом для того чтобы содержать расправу в Jos, при армия посылая в подкреплениях от соседнее государство. (Для полного охвата Reuters Африки и иметь ваше мнение на вопросах верхней части, посещение: http://africa. reuters.com/) (сочинительство Забоиной Tattersall; Редактировать Марк Trevelyan)
De tol van de dood in Nigeria botst stijgingen aan rond 400Automatically translated into Dutch thanks to WorldLingo JOS, Nigeria, 30 Nov. (Reuters) - de Ingezetenen leverden meer organismen aan de belangrijkste moskee in de centrale Nigeriaanse stad van Jos op Zondag, die de doodstol van twee dagen van conflicten brengt tussen Moslim en Christelijke troepen aan rond 400 mensen. Rivaliserende etnische en godsdienstige menigte hebben huizen, winkels gebrand, moskees en kerken in vechten teweeggebracht door een betwiste lokale verkiezing in een stad bij de kruispunten van het Christelijke zuiden van Nigeria het Moslimnoorden en. Het is jarenlang de slechtste onrust van het land. Murtala Sani Hashim, die de doden heeft geregistreerd aangezien zij aan de belangrijkste moskee van de stad worden gebracht, vertelde Reuters hij van 367 organismen een lijst had gemaakt en meer kwamen aan. Tien corpses die in dekens, twee wordt verpakt van hen zuigelingen, leggen achter hem. Een arts bij één van de belangrijkste ziekenhuizen van de stad zei hij 25 corpses had ontvangen en 154 verwondden aangezien de onrust begon. De „wonden van het revolverschot, macheteverwondingen, die zijn de twee belangrijke types,“ Dr. Aboi Madaki, directeur van de klinische diensten in Jos het Universitaire Ziekenhuis van het Onderwijs, Reuters vertelde. De algemene tol hoger zou zijn, met sommige reeds begraven slachtoffers en anderen genomen aan andere klinieken. Het geweld scheen om neer op Zondag te sterven. De militairen die te voet en in jeeps worden gepatrouilleerd om een avondklok van 24 uur af te dwingen legden aan de meest meest getroffen gebieden op. De mensen die opgestapt met hun waagden dienen de lucht in om te tonen zij unarmed waren. „Zij nemen buiten nog lijken op. Sommige gebieden waren niet tot nu toe bereikbaar, „bovengenoemde Al Mansur, een 53 éénjarigenlandbouwer die zei alle gehade huizen rond zijn razed. Ten val gebracht en branden-uit maakten een rommel de voertuigen van de straten terwijl verscheidene kerken, een blok van huizen en een Islamitische school in één buurt door brand werden uitgehaald. Het rode Kruis zei rond 7.000 mensen hun huizen waren ontvlucht en in overheidsgebouwen, een legerbarracks en godsdienstige centra beschut. Hogere politie officieel was bovengenoemd vijf buurten geraakt door vastgehouden onrust en 523 mensen. De SUDDERENDE miljoen mensen van Nigeria van SPANNINGEN 140 zijn ruwweg eveneens verdelen tussen Moslims en Christenen en de twee gemeenschappen leven over het algemeen vreedzaam zij aan zij. Maar de etnische en godsdienstige spanningen in de centrale „MiddenRiem“ van het land hebben jarenlang geborreld, wortel geschoten in wrok van inheemse meestal Christelijke minderheidsgroepen, of animist, naar migranten en kolonisten van het hausa-Sprekend Moslimnoorden. De recentste conflicten tussen troepen van MoslimHausas en meestal Christelijke jongeren begonnen vroeg Vrijdag en werden veroorzaakt door een betwiste lokale verkiezing na uitgespreide geruchten dat de ANPP partijkandidaat die door Hausas wordt gesteund de race aan de uitspraak PDP had verloren. „Het is godsdienstig. Zij brandden moskees en kerken. Zij gebruikten politiek als dekking-omhooggaand, „bovengenoemde Suleyman Yusuf, een Moslim van de etnische groep Yoruba, twee van van wie vrienden werden gedood. Yusuf beschutte met zowat 4.000 mannen, vrouwen en kinderen -- Christen en Moslim, en van een verscheidenheid van etnische groepen -- in een nationaal gebouw van het drugagentschap opgezet door hulparbeiders. Honderden werden gedood in hetgodsdienstige vechten in Jos, het kapitaal van de staat van het Plateau, in 2001. Honderden stierven meer in 2004 in conflicten in Yelwa, ook in Plateau, dat toen-voorzitter Olusegun Obasanjo ertoe brengt om een noodsituatie te verklaren. De onrust in de staat heeft in het verleden represailleaanvallen tussen verschillende etnische en godsdienstige groepen op ander gebied van het land teweeggebracht. Maar de veiligheidskrachten schijnen om sneller dan in het verleden gereageerd te hebben om het geweld in Jos, met het leger te bevatten dat in versterkingen van naburige staten verzendt. (Voor de volledige dekking van Reuters Afrika en uw op de hoogste kwesties, bezoek hebben zeggen: http://africa. reuters.com/) die (door Inkeping Tattersall schrijft; Het uitgeven door Teken Trevelyan)
موت يرتفع مكس في نيجيريا صدامات إلى حوالي 400Automatically translated into Arabic thanks to WorldLingo سلّم [جوس], نيجيريا, نوفمبر - تشرين الثّاني 30 ([ريوترس]) - مقيمات كثير أجسام إلى المسجد رئيسيّة في المدينة مركزية نيجيريّة [جوس] في يوم الأحد, يحضر الموت مكس من اثنان أيام الصدامات بين مسلمة ومجموعة مسيحية إلى حوالي 400 الناس. منافسة عرقيّة وقد أحرق تجمهر دينيّة منازل, متاجر, مساجد وكنائس في يتنازع يطلق ب يتنازع إنتخاب محلّية في مدينة في المفترق طريق من نيجيريا مسلمة شمال ومسيحية جنوب. هو البلاد إضطراب مريضة لسنون. قال [مورتلا] [سني] هاشم, الذي يتلقّى يكون يسجّل الموتى بما أنّ هم يكون أحضرت إلى المدينة مسجد رئيسيّة, [ريوترس] هو كان قد عدّل 367 أجسام وأكثر كان وصل. عشرة أجثاث يلفّ في أغطية, اثنان من هم أطفال, وضع تضاريس خلف ه. قال دكتورة في واحدة من المدينة مستشفيات رئيسيّة هو كان قد استلم 25 أجثاث و154 يجرح بما أنّ الإضطراب بدأ. "[غنشوت وووند], منجل إصابات, أنّ الاثنان أنواع رئيسيّة," دكتورة [أبوي] [مدكي], مديرة من خدمات سريريّة في [جوس] جامعة يعلم مستشفى, يقال [ريوترس]. توقّعت المكس إجماليّة كان أن يكون [هيغر], مع بعض ضحايا سابقا يدفن وأخرى يؤخذ إلى أخرى مصحة. ظهر العنف أن يموت إلى أسفل في يوم الأحد. فرض جنديات [بترولّد] [أن فووت] وفي عربة جيب أن ينفذ حالة منع تجوّل [24-هوور] على المناطق [وورست-هيت]. عمّرت الذي يجازف خارجا مشى مع أياديهم في الهواء إلى عرض هم كانوا [أونرمد]. "هم إنتقاء ساكنة فوق أجسام ميّتة في الخارج. [ب] بعض مناطق لم [رشبل] [أونتيل نوو], "قال [أل] منصور, 53 [ير-ولد] مزارعة الذي يقول [ألّ ث] منازل حول خاصّتي كانوا قد كانوا هدّم. يقلب وغطّى [بورنت-ووت] عربات الشوارع بينما عدّة كنائس, قالب المنازل ومدرسة [إيسلميك] في واحدة جوار كان أخرجت بنار. كان ال [رد كروسّ] يقال حول 7,000 الناس قد هرب منازلهم وكان أوى في حكومة بنايات, جيش ثكنات و [سنترس] دينيّة. شرطة كبريات رسميّة يقول ضربت خمسة جوارات تلقّى يكون بإضطراب و523 الناس احتجزوا. [سمّرينغ] [تنسونس] نيجيريا 140 انقسمت [ميلّيون بيوبل] تقريبا بالتّساوي بين [موسليم] ومسيحيات والاثنان جماعات عموما يعيشون سلميّا [سد بي سد]. غير أنّ عرقيّة وقد بقبق [تنسونس] دينيّة في البلاد مركزية "حزام سير متوسّطة" لسنون, يرسّخ في إمتعاض من محلّية أقلية مجموعة, في الأغلب مسيحية أو [أنيميست], نحو مهاجرات ومستوطنات من ال [هوس-سبكينغ] شمال مسلمة. بدأ الصدامات متأخّرة بين مجموعة من [هوسس] مسلمة وفي الأغلب شباب مسيحية [إرلي ون] يوم الجمعة وكان استثرت ب يتنازع إنتخاب محلّية عقب [روموور] نشروا أنّ ال [أنبّ] حزب مرشح يساعد ب [هوسس] كان قد خسر الجنس إلى ال يحكم [بدب]. "هو دينيّة. هم كانوا مشتعلة مساجد وكنائس. قال هم استعملوا سياسة ك [كفر-وب], "[سولمن] [يوسوف], [موسليم] من ال [يوروبا] مجموعة عرقيّة, اثنان من الذي صديقات كان قتلت. أوى [يوسوف] كان مع بعض 4,000 رجال, نساء وأطفال -- مسيحية و [موسليم], ومن تشكيل من مجموعة عرقيّة -- في مواطنة عقار وكالة ثبت بناية فوق بمعونة عاملات. قتلت مئات كان في [إثنيك-رليجووس] يتنازع في [جوس], الرأس مال من نجد دولة, في 2001. مات مئات أكثر في 2004 في صدامات في [يلوا], أيضا في نجد, [ثن-برسدنت] رئيسيّة [ألوسغن] [أبسنجو] أن يفيد طارئ. يتلقّى إضطراب في الدولة في السابقة يطلق إنتقام هجوم بين مختلفة عرقيّة ومجموعة دينيّة في أخرى مناطق من البلد. غير أنّ الأمن يظهر قوات أن يتلقّى تجاوبت أكثر سريعا من في الماض أن يحتوي العنف في [جوس], مع الجيش يرسل في تقوية من دول مجاورة. يتلقّى (ل يشبع [ريوترس] إفريقيا تغطية وأن رأيك على الأعلى إصدارات, زيارة: http://africa. reuters.com/) (كتابة ب [نيك] [تتّرسلّ]; يحرّر ب [مرك] [ترفلن])

Niger Delta Arms & The Army General

2008-11-21T09:08:00.000Z

Was walking past one of our newspaper stand today (19-11-08) and I read the bold headline of a general and six others who were sentenced to life imprisonment for selling 7 thousand arms to Militant MEND group for the cost of about 102 Million Naira.
The issue was how can a man raise to the position of an army general and not yet be patriotic? were are the values and discipline he was taught in the military? How can a man that has risen to that height sell his soul and all his discipline because of greed? this is the problem we face in Nigeria, rulers 9not leaders) who are more concerned with what they can acquire even though they have as opposed to what they can give, when a young dynamic ruler in the person of Barack Obama is emerging in the USA heralding change, the greedy Nigerian Army General is busy selling guns and ammunitions to young vibrant youths the future of this nation to kill and hurt themselves.
If his son was in the Niger Delta would he sell them guns, how can the federal government combat the Niger Delta problem when people within their ranks are not interested in peace but rather want to make money from the conflict of the region? The time has come for a young generation of Nigeria to arise, Nigeria with value s and dreams, we are responsible for the emerging new Nigeria…God bless Nigeria

NIGER DELTA SUMMIT DOOMED TO FAIL UNLESS……..

2008-11-20T13:27:00.001Z

A lot have been said about the need to address the issues of poverty, insecurity, underdevelopment, militancy, youth restiveness, marginalization, the criminality of the genuine struggle of the Niger Delta people and the economic banditry perpetrated by successive governments in the Niger Delta region. Several peace resolution committees, probe panels and commissions, have been set up in the past with all the reports cooling off in the dustbins of the administrations that set them up. We do not need soothsayers to tell us what the problems are or whether the problems are real.
Earlier in the year, the Senators visited the creeks and they did not believe that the Niger Delta where the source of our economic survival comes from can be in such a state of neglect. The House of Representatives also held a retreat in one of the States and were unhappy with the state of things in the Niger Delta. The basic things for the survival of man as propounded by Maslow are lacking in the region.
When I visited my late grandmother at Sakpoba Road in the 60s and early 70s there was a public tap at Asoro junction for the masses. Today, if one cannot sink a borehole the person treks kilometers to source for drinking water. It is worse in the riverine areas because the water is heavily polluted by spills from oil related activities and human wastes. So, the people do not have clean water to drink. They have no farm land for farming. There are no industries to absorb the unemployed youths. Gas flaring is destroying the eco system with unprecedented acid rains. They live in ghettoes in mosquito infested environment. To protest the wrong done to them, they started peaceful agitations. What did government do? It confronted them with tear gas canisters and guns. This led to violent struggle, which has been hijacked by a few people and now we are having kidnappings, hostage taking and all sorts of activities that negates the genuine struggle of the Niger Delta people. This however, does not mean that the genuine agitators have been diminished.
The genuine agitators have randomly condemned these acts of criminality and are seeking solutions to the issues through the dialogue option. For instance, Ledum Mittee led the Ogoni struggles for so long without guns. All we need is a sincere dialogue process, which in all intent and purposes has been lacking.
Brief Historical Excursion
Several peace resolution committees, probe panels and commissions, have been set up in the past with all the reports cooling off in the dustbins of the administrations that set them up. The Wilkins Commission of 1958, the 1992 Rio-De Janeiro 1st earth Summit, series of dialogue between 1991 and 1998 when the Ijaw National Congress (INC) lack of trust in the government’s engagement process and perceived insincerity on the part of other actors. All these finally ended with the Kaiama declaration in 1998. There have been heaps of committees’ recommendations both to the government and the multinational companies. These include Chief Gamaliel Onosode’s Committee report done for Shell petroleum development Corporation (SPDC), the Popoola and Ogomudia’s reports for the Federal Government and recently the town hall meetings of former President Obasanjo. All these were done to seeking long lasting solutions to Niger Delta problems. Yet nothing could be said to have concretely come out of these engagements. What other evidence or recommendations does government need to act decisevely? Rather than solve the problems, the various processes created some billionaires at the expense of the real people for whose sake the committees were set. This is the major reason the Niger Delta people are against any more summit that won’t add value to their lives.
From the above, it is vivid that the Niger Delta region is not in want of panaceas to the socio-economic problems besetting the region. What is lacking is the political will of each successive government to implement the recommendations of the various committees. I say this because several agencies have emerged in the past to act as platforms for bringing development to the region. The precursor of the Niger Delta development Commission (NDDC) was OMPADEC. The end of Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) did not justify the means.
The past agencies failed because of some of the following reasons:
Deliberate under funding of the agencies. We saw billions of Naira returned to the coffers of the Federal government in 2007 as unspent allocations; yet NDDC was denied its full allocation that year.
The platforms acted as conduits for siphoning money by the political actors at the States/Federal government levels.
Gave out contracts as patronage for the supporters of those in power
Weak infrastructures to monitor performance.
Corruption.
Complacency on the part of the civil populace. We would have jointly risen to demand accountability from our leaders.
Running the agencies as personal Estates.
Weak infrastructures for appraising the heads of such institutions after each administration. Thanks to the rejuvenated ICPC and the establishment of the EFCC.
The current face off
The Niger Delta Summit proposed by President Yar’Adua has generated a lot of hues, cries and resentment. It shows that the Niger Delta people have lost total confidence in the ability of government to address their problems because they have been deceived in the past. An old woman used to say “if you are deceived once, you are a fool, if you allow that same person to deceive you twice, then you are a bloody fool”.
This is the situation in the Niger Delta region. Irrespective of the need to move the process forward, this government needs to be very cautious in handling the Niger Delta issue and it stands to reason to listen to the voice of the people. The choice of Gambari who was accused of calling the likes of Ledum Mittee and late Ken Saro Wiwa common criminals at a United Nations forum compounded the issue for Yar’Adua. Gambari should been seen here as a Mediator in-Chief in this matter. In this regards, all the parties must accept to work with him without which the process is doomed to fail. Government must listen and should begin to consider other options. The competence of Gambari, a very high and respected international conflict resolver is not in doubt but he cannot perform where he is not welcomed.
From the antecedents of President Yar’Adua, I want to believe that he is very sincere about addressing the the Niger Delta problems. For him to propose the Niger Summit also underscores his non-belief in previous efforts. The past leaders have used previous summits and committees as smoke screens. It is in this light I urge all the stakeholders in this business to give him a chance to use an approach he believes in. Dialogue is a tortuous process and can never be too much even when the process hurts us, we must never give up. This is necessary because the dividends of an open, transparent and sincere dialogue process would usually stand the test of time.
Way forward:
Pending when an agreement is reached on how best to go about the dialogue process, let there be discernable and tangible development of the Niger Delta region. It is a matter of dusting previous reports and implementing the recommendations in a faithful manner.
Development cannot take place where anarchy reigns supreme. It is in this light I call on the genuine freedom fighters to lay down their arms and embrace the dialogue process. The heightened level of insecurity in the Niger Delta will make the people poorer. Industrialists who will normally invest in the oil rich region to give employment to the people cannot be guaranteed return on their investments and so will shy away from the region.
Those perpetrating criminality as in kidnapping of children, men and women for ransom, hostage taking, pipelines vandalism and illegal oil bunkering which is undermining the genuine struggle of the Niger Delta people must be fished out and made to face the music. The genuine fighters must also see this as their own war.
Upward review of the derivation formula.
The Governors of the Niger Delta region must shift their paradigm from that of their successors who aggrandized what belonged to the people for their own selfish ends. Let us begin to see the dividends of democracy in terms of the provision of the basic things of life like drinking water, shelter for the poor etc.
Release of Federal government allocations to the Federal agencies saddled with policy implementation on Niger development plans as at when due. The funds must be fully disbursed as appropriated.
Deliberate attempts to urbanize the creeks.
Deliberate attempt by the Federal government to kick start employment generation in the region.
Extensive consultations of all the relevant stakeholders in the Niger Delta.
What we are toying with in the Niger Delta is an accident waiting to happen. We have so many threats to the corporate existence of Nigeria that we all need to urgently seek solutions through the dialogue option. Except all stakeholders beat a retreat from their entrenched positions, we might jolly well be heading for a full scale war, which would not benefit the majority of Nigerians. The armed group must essentially disarm for dialogue to take place.
On the other hand, the government must make firm commitment on how to engage the militants meaningfully so that they can have a means of livelihood once they are out of the bush. Let us begin to see reclamation of land in the creeks for housing and industrialization. One thing is clear, whether the summit holds now or in the future, it is doomed to fail unless all the actors embrace a sincere process of reconciliation. This is time to walk the talk.

http://louisbrownogbeifun.com/

NIGER DELTA TECHNICAL COMMITTEE (NDTC) AND THE PEACE PROCESS

2008-11-20T13:23:00.000Z

Once again, the process of trying to resolve the Niger issue has kicked off with the swearing in of a forty five member NDTC by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan. The Committee is a body set up by the Federal Government to collate, review and distil all previous reports, suggestions and recommendations on the Niger Delta, and come up with plausible recommendations on how best to resolve the Niger Delta crisis. The implication of this is that most of the members are supposed to be knowledgeable enough about the challenges facing the region. They would therefore rely on past experiences and recommendations from previous works right from Wilkins’ Commission of 1958 to the Ogomudia report of 2005 to arriving at their recommendations, which will assist the Government to holistically deal with the Niger delta issue.
Inaugurating the Committee yesterday at Abuja , Vice President Goodluck Jonathan said that the work of the Committee would not accommodate any jamboree in form of endless field trips and it has ten days to submit its report. Niger Deltans unanimously rejected the jettisoned Niger Delta Summit and demanded that a technical committee be put in place to synthesize previous reports for implementation. This is exactly what the Government has done. All stakeholders should give peace a chance and subsume personal ego for the overall interest of Niger Delta.
Several youths’ organizations and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) have argued that the NDTC was not representative enough of the Niger Delta extraction, especially the youths who are the full bearers of the crunch of the economic banditry foisted on the region by successive governments, militancy, unemployment, and the social and environmental degradation of the region from oil exploration activities over the years. This is a genuine concern for all those who feel aleniated from the composition because of the previous experience of marginalization and non implementation of committee recommendations.
The youths should not feel left out because they are virtually in control of the rein of governance in the Niger Delta. If they are united and speak with one voice, the youths have the capacity to turn things round in the Niger delta. One can safely posit that this is the era of youths in governance in the Niger Delta. For the avoidance of doubts, all the Niger Delta Governors, majority of their Commissioners and members of the Niger Delta Houses of Assembly could be said to be youths.
Several other groups have also expressed pessimism about the genuineness of this initiative because of the lack of trust and confidence in previous efforts. This again is germain because of the ways the previous governments have treated the issues of the Niger Delta. Several Committees and Commissions have sat over this same topic. Yet nothing tangible has been achieved. I am sure that this Committee will be confronted with trailers’ load of reports on the Niger Delta crises. So, the problem is not the dearth of recommendations but lack of the political will in the past to implement the recommendations of the various committees. We have spent almost half a century unravelling, collating analysing and making series of recommendations on how to resolve the Niger Delta issue. Yet, with the huge sums said to have been expended, no appreciable development has taken place in the region. This does not show sincerity of purpose and every rational human would feel frustrated.
Howbeit, there is no substitute for dialogue. I have the belief that President Yar’Adua by his actions is genuine and also supports the fight for the emancipation of Niger Deltans from the claws of deprivation, hunger and disease that pervade the entire landscape. Please, give him a chance even if it means giving him time lines to bring to fruition the blue print planned for the region.
From the outset, the choice of Ledum Mitee as the Chairman of that Committee is a radical departure from the past. Ledum Mitee is a Niger Deltan and a product of the struggle for the emancipation of the Ogoni people. He has been deprived, incarcerated and harassed by the agents of the State. So, he knows the colour of poverty, deprivation and suffering. For such a man, all anyone owes him is to give him maximum support to succeed in this onerous task. In the NDTC; there is Tonye Princewill, a focused, well articulated and respectable personality. He has been in the forefront of the agitation for the good of the Niger delta people. In this train also is Tony Uranta, who is also an avowed loyalist in the genuine struggle of the Niger delta people. If we cannot trust these people who are fighters for the emancipation of the Niger Delta people from misgovernance, who then should we trust?, Ledum cannot afford to disappoint all those who genuinely strive for the good of the Niger delta people. Let us not by our actions or pronouncements send wrong signals that will make the enemies of the region believe that indeed the struggle has been turned into a bread and butter platform for personal aggrandizement. It will amount to cutting our nostrils to spite our faces.
I want to believe that this distillation process will give rise to a larger stakeholders’ forum where all the ethnic nationalities will be represented. Therefore, the aggrieved should come forward with inputs that will assist the NDTC to deliver on their terms of reference. Ten days is just around the corner.
In the foregoing, the happenings in the region today calls to question the sincerity of those who kill, maim and extort money from the people in the name of freedom fighting. In whose name or interest are they carrying out these kidnappings, and hostage taking? Is it irrational to be kidnapping Niger Deltans, toddlers, innocent workers who had no hand in what is happening in the Niger Delta and subject them to dehumanizing conditions? How can we rationalize that hostage taking for ransoms is part of the strategies to actualize the dreams of the Niger Delta people? We cannot be canvassing for the development of the Niger Delta region and in the same breath be acting as blockers to the dreams of the region. The few developmental projects going on have been stalled because of the harassment and hostage taking of the multinationals. There is no environment that can develop in this atmosphere of anarchy and lawlessness.
The modus operandi of the hostage takers and kidnappers demean and diminish the genuine struggle of the Niger Delta people who are undergoing the worst form of dehumanization in the history of world’s oil rich regions. The people of the Niger Delta region from where the oil wealth is gotten live in abject poverty and mosquito infested creeks, they have no access to drinking water, they drink from the same river that serves as their loo, electricity is a luxury and out of their reach, the youths are largely unemployed and uneducated. Yet, some persons are turning this regrettable and preventable misfortune to a money spinning venture that serves only their own selfish agenda. This must be discouraged. All the interest groups should condemn these acts because the happenings in the Niger Delta region is a man made social Gustav that will consume all of us except we play active roles in putting down this insurgency and selfish agenda. The genuine agitators for a better Niger Delta should continue with the systematized steps that would win the region the sympathy of the international community and all well meaning people. An environment that will allow those handling various projects owners to deliver on their targets should be created for the good of the people.
To the NDTC; this Committee cannot afford to fail. One thing the NDTC must do is to clearly spell out the quick wins like housing units built from oil money in the creeks of Niger Delta instead of the wooden structures on top of water, motorable inter and intra city roads in the entire region, bridges, livelihood empowerment programmes for both male and female folks, functional schools and hospitals etc.These are tangible and confidence building things that will make people buy-in to this renewed peace path.
To the government, this process must not fail. It must yield the desired fruits. It must be seasoned with trust and transparency. It must be laced with tangible dividends that will enable stakeholders buy into this process that has started and other future interventions. Any attempt to treat this process like any other political window dressing as done in the past will be disastrous. The Niger Delta issue is an accident waiting to happen. If allowed to happen, it will be a Tsunami of sorts and the impact will be catastrophic. Tangible and long lasting developmental processes must come alive with this process. Money appropriated for the development of the area must be released in full and judiciously committed for the good of all. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the resolution of the Niger delta crises puts all the actors on the positive side of history. The time to talk and walk the talk is now.
Topics: Uncategorized 4 Comments »
OBASANJO AND THE SERMON ON DEMOCRACY
By Louis Brown Ogbeifun August 5, 2008
At the twilight of late General Abacha’s rule, former President Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ) and others were condemned to death for plotting to overthrow his government. By divine providence, OBJ was rescued from the valley of the shadow of death. When it was time to source for the man that could help to knit the political fabrics of Nigeria together, ex-military men and the powerful political class routed for Obasanjo in 1999. Several things perhaps informed their decision. These include:
Obasanjo’s capacity to de-militarize the polity.
To assuage the feelings of the South West on the annulment of June 12, 1993 elections.
Having gone to prison and saved by God from being killed, people thought that Obasanjo would rule with the fear of God.
As a man who criticized Babangida’s Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) as lacking human face in its implementation, those who lobbied for his enthronement thought he would use the human face theory to reform the economy.
Many saw him as a man who would be bold enough to tackle the issues of corruption and poverty.
First Military Head of State to voluntarily hand over power to a civilian administration.
This was how Obasanjo rode to the towering heights of Aso Rock as an elected Executive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on a platter of gold. He started his second missionary journey on a cautious note. He told those that invested in his enthronement to see it as a sacrifice for the country rather than as a means of getting richer. Nigerians applauded this bold step. It was a signal that he would rid the political terrain of the country’s economic suckers, who make more money through the sponsoring of politicians for political offices. The various panels beaming the searchlight on the activities of governance under him proved that people got richer doing the wrong things.
As a person, I am convinced that at the inception of his administration in 1999, he had a great vision for Nigeria and her unity. Unfortunately, he got drowned in the field of politics and misdirected the powers conferred on him by the paraphernalia of executive presidency. Irrespective of the arrogance and gross abuse of office by some of the members of his economic team, the team worked hard to bring respect to Nigeria in the economic front. OBJ was doing relatively well until he mounted the pulpit as an anointed man of God, which he was not. In some instances, he played God at the expense of the reason he came into the presidential villa. He saw himself as the Solomon of our time and refused to listen to those who genuinely meant well for Nigeria. At other times, he equated himself with the State. All these led to the distractions that swayed him from a well articulated agenda, which would have brought succour to the masses. To make matters worse the sycophants and praise singers made him believe that without him, Nigeria will crumble. This led him to the mother of all mistakes in the name of the third term project, which was to elongate his tenure and the man lost his dignity and respect.
Going through the pages of newspapers in recent times, one can discern the anger and frustration in Nigerians against the legacy he left behind especially in the energy sector. If he had continued to fix the problems associated with power generation, creation of quality jobs and staying steadfastly to his initial vision, he would have been one of the greatest Presidents of our time. Unfortunately, he allowed a few cabal to hold him hostage. He deviated too sharply to negativity due to selfish interest and greed as typified by the third term agenda that fatally diminished his rule. By the time he left office in 2007, the followings were some of the negative appraisals of the Obasanjo administration:
Decay in the infrastructural facilities in the educational and health sectors. Tertiary institutions were shut for more days than they were opened for studies during his era.
Worsening states of the roads across the country despite the billions of naira sunk into the sector.
Almost all national assets were sold to government acolytes in very questionable manner.
The energy sector was left worse than he met it in spite of the huge investments in the sector. Nigeria has become a dumping ground for generators.
He came into office and left with shortages in petroleum products. He was unable to fully deal with the structural reforms needed to galvanize the sector to enviable heights.
Heightened insecurity across the nation.
Increase in petroleum pipelines vandalism and its attendant negative effects.
The manufacturing sector was less than 25% capacity utilization before he left office.
Job losses from 1999-2007 were the worse ever in Nigerian history.
Brazen abuse of judicial processes.
Increase in unresolved assassinations and murders of high profile Nigerians.
Formation of militias across the country, which was a sign of total loss of confidence in the central government.
Youths’ restiveness and militancy reached its crescendo in the last days of his administration.
Vessels implicated in illegal bunkering under protective custody disappeared like exposed spirit.
The politics of do-or-die perpetrated led to electoral fraud of unimaginable proportion.
The Local Government councils were turned into mere clearing houses for sharing of monthly allocations.
Political thuggery and amala politics became the rule rather than the exception in some parts of the country.
Manipulation of the constitutional review to perpetuate his tenure extension.
Lack of respect for elders and constituted authorities by himself and some of his appointees.
Turning the National Assembly to an extension of Aso Rock. This was partially reversed when the third term project died.
Niger Delta disaster.
The above led to the calls for the probe of his administration, which is indirectly going on through various probe panels currently probing several sectors of the economy.
I have watched, read and listened to the tongue lashing of OBJ both in the media and social circles. It cuts across all ethnic groups, ages and gender. For a man who left power in a little than a year ago, one would have thought that OBJ will still wield so much power to counter any attack from any quarters. Even IBB who left power long ago has die hard loyalists who are daily defending him and wanting to make us believe that the general is a democrat in spite of the June 12 disaster. But for OBJ, it’s a different stroke.
Less than a year after leaving office, almost all his policies have been reversed. His party men have enterered the ring, sparring to give him a technical knockout to strip him of his Board Of Trustees (BOT) championship belt he won through the manipulation of the constitution of PDP. It is just a matter of time for this to happen because the National Exective Council of Peoples’ democratic Party (PDP) has reversed the clauses that made him the only qualified candidate for the BOT position. The happenings around him have not made things easier. Soon after his exit from Aso Villa, he was accused of having inappropriate relationship with his son’s wife. Soon afterwards, his beloved daughter was in EFCC’s net. Who would have believed that Iyabo, the apple of Baba’s eyes could not attend senate sittings for the fear of arrest by EFCC? Many of the governors he unilaterally imposed on the party turned against him to choose someone outside his candidate for PDP’s chairmanship position. The Speaker he foisted on his party men in the person of Madam Speaker Etteh was removed without qualms. In such a short period, the almighty OBJ became so ordinary.
The only analogy that could be drawn here is the Marcus Antonius speech to the gathering of people around the corpse of Julius Caesar; “Oh mighty Caesar! Doth thou lie so low? Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.” Marcus did not imagine that the almighty Caesar could lie so low and unable to move any part of his body while everyone stood over his corpse nor was he able to command his army to destroy those that betrayed his trust in death. The EFCC that arrested IBB’s son during his rule came for OBJ’s daughter too. This aptly agrees with the words of Marcus Antonius that “ The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones; so let it be with Caesar………………..Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral. He was my friend and just to me”.
In Obasanjo’s case, the sordid silence of his acolytes and the 1999-2007 billionaires that he made during his service years baffles me. I thought I would find in Obasanjo loyalists, a Wada Nas, a Marcus Antonius or an Afegbua. Wada Nas was the diehard friend of the Abachas just like Marcus was to Julius Caesar and Afegbua to Babangida. Even in death Marcus and Nas stood in the gap for their friends. For Afegbua, he has been very constant in defending Babangida even when every other person was castigating him over the June 12 1993 election issue. These are courageous men who stood for what they believed in. I have been wondering what has happened to the arrays of special advisers and the egg heads like Nweke Jnr, el-Rufai, Chief Femi Fani Kayode who virtually insulted everybody that dared criticized Obasanjo’s policies in the past.
During his years in office, OBJ did the direct opposite of his purposed ideals and sermons. The examples are legion. Before he became the President, he advised IBB during the latter’s rule as Head of State to show human face in the implementation of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) because Nigerians were going through harrowing times. When he started with his own reforms the human face theory disappeared. He treated Nigerians with so much disrespect and disdain.
Obasanjo once appealed to Generals Babangida, Abdusalam Abubakar, Buhari and others to appear before Oputa Panel for the sake of their names and that of their families. Yet, the same Obasanjo refused to honor the invitation of the National Assembly to clear his name over the non-adherence to due process in the award of several contracts in the power sector. When OBJ was invited to the House of Representatives to defend his role in the power probe, he sent in a written brief. In that letter, he fell short of calling the honourable members dishonourable as he noted that the way he was invited was disrespectful to elders. He reminded the honourable members that they have forgotten so soon that he symbolized the grower and nourisher of democracy.
If a democrat as expressed, when IBB annulled June 12 1993 elections which was acclaimed as the best elections ever organized in Nigeria’s political history, he would have teamed up with the progressives to actualize the dream of true democrats in the restoration of the June 12 mandate. What was his reaction? He said that Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, his own kin’s man was not the messiah Nigerians were looking for and thus justified the annulment of June 12, 1993. He rather supported putting in place an Interim National Government as a way of easing IBB out of office. He forgot that June 12 was not about Abiola. It was about the dashed hope of a people who voted for a Muslim-Muslim ticket, a people that refused the tribal coloration during the elections; it was about subversion of the constitution and the will of the people, it was about a process mismanaged and it was a betrayal of the trust of the same people that General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida swore to defend.
One of the key attributes of a democrat is tolerance of the opposition but OBJ as a civilian President was very intolerant of the opposition. He cunningly and deceitfully destroyed AD in the south west. I have attended conferences where OBJ told people to shut up. He openly commanded his aides to take microphones from those not singing his tunes. He called labour leaders who were criticizing his policies of deregulation and privatization programs dissidents and saboteurs. One of his ministers, Mallam el-Rufai told labour leaders to go and form their political parties if they must have a say on policy issues. He also reminded the entire senate that silence was the best answer for a fool. Obasanjo did not condemn this act of insolence to a constituted authority.
In that same response to the National Assembly, he admonished the members that as Africans, they must respect, elders, age and authority. He forgot that he never respected elders or men in authority when he was the President. He once told Nigerians about the senility of a world class economist, Prof Sam Aluko. The climax of these misguided missiles was when he also referred to Reverend Yakubu Pam, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Plateau State as “a big fool and Reverend my foot” His aides followed his footsteps by routinely abusing former Heads of State and elder statesmen at the slightest opportunity. Not even Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, General Yakubu Gowon and Senator Ken Nnamani, who are old enough to parent them or at the worst senior uncles were spared in the circus of abuses and debasement that characterized their years of service.
He went further to lecture the House members on the qualities of a good leader, which includes transparency, accountability and due process through adherence to the rule of law. Please, spare me your Excellency! Under him, his aides turned the privatization exercises to the spoils of war that should be shared among associates and loyalists. The power sector probes showed disrespect for due process. The Minister of FCT took a land allocated to Universal basic Education, a public concern and gave it to Big Boss Man. Still under him, houses and lands were taken from people in the name of sitting on sewage lines and had them reallocated to themselves or their associates. The panel probing the allocation of land and houses in FCDA has been awash with sad tales of hypocrisy, tribalism and share wickedness. The Abuja demolition exercises never followed due process or honour the human face theory. The committee that was supposed to be in place to review cases of illegal structures was circumvented and never constituted. Revelations of the panel of FCT revealed how lands confiscated were either bought by the same officers or given to their friends. The same Minister handled the PENTASCOPE deals in which Nigeria lost billions of Naira.
From the above and looking back at what he was worth before 1999, and the stupendous wealth that he amassed in the last eight years, would OBJ still see himself as a democrat, a respecter of elders and authority, a transparent and accountable leader?.
However, despite the above minuses, his administration has certain pluses that cannot be wished away. Some of the things that would remain on his political balance sheet, which this administration must build on include:
Removing Nigeria from the list of highly indebted nations.
Nigeria was gradually brought back into the main stream of world politics.
The establishment of EFCC to combat money laundering and related economic crimes. Never mind the cry of selectivity in its operations. Those hounded should prove their innocence in courts of law. Like I said before, once Obasanjo left office, EFCC will come after him and his people. We have seen this happen. By the time Yar’Adua leaves office, it will also do its house cleaning job and Nigeria remains the beneficiary at the end of the day.
The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) that has reduced fake drugs to less than 17%.
The consolidation of banks, which has made it possible for people to walk into banks to transact businesses with much ease. The operations could however be made more efficient because interest rates are still at double digit level.
Access to mortgage facilities.
The capital market came to an all time high.
The refurbishing of the refineries between 2004 and 2005 for the first time in more than a decade. Unfortunately, the mismanagement of the Niger Delta crises thwarted the efforts of the optimization of the refineries.
Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has brought respect to the country as Nigeria has been acknowledged to be genuinely and positively fighting the drug war as against the use of the organization against those opposed to the military junta during the military era.
The Oil and Gas Reform Implementation Committee (OGIC) reforms.
Nigeria’s foreign reserve stood at well over $42 billion as at the time he left office.
Establishment of Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) which has since conducted the financial, physical and process audits of the oil and gas sector.
The turnaround in communication and aviation industry.
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) exploits in the prosecution of corrupt public officers.
One big lesson that resonates from all the above is that leaders in positions of authority must rule with the fear of God and ensure that the mandate of the people is not betrayed. Do those things that are right, just and fair. Only the good deeds will speak in their favour long after they have left the scene. Just like life, governace is a stage for show casing skills of leadership and service. OBJ has played his own part, the audience are appraising him and nothing can be done to turn the hand of the clock back in his favour if he did not do things right in some areas. It is just a matter of time for us to read the verdict of history on him and his administration.
Meanwhile, the focus is on the present administration under Yar’Adua. He should be mindful of the flaws of the last administration, avoid them and build on the positive areas of the foundation so that at the end, he would have made a difference by ensuring that the people are dignified in labour.

http://louisbrownogbeifun.com/

The Niger Delta Issue

2008-11-20T13:21:00.001Z

The Niger Delta Issue
Now that there is momentary peace in the Niger Delta region, the President who has started very well by taking steps to do things differently from what his predecessors did by creating the Ministry of Niger Delta and a Technical Committee to advise him on the way forward in the Niger Delta, should take a step further to visit the creeks and see for himself the real state of the region.
He should let all the community leaders into his dream for the region and give a definite time for the actualization of the quick wins. For instance, it does not take an entire generation to find low cost houses dotting the creeks, setting the grand design to kick starting industrialization of the region, which will create employment opportunities to the teeming unemployed youths and graduates, provision of portable pipe borne water and electrification etc.
Having done this, all the community leaders must pledge to ensure that their communities will collaborate with the government to prevent criminal activities in their domain especially in the prevention of products’ pipelines vandalism, oil theft, hostage taking and smuggling.
Failure to fulfil their own obligation shall lead to sanctions. However, if the community leaders cannot give such a guarantee, anybody caught perpetrating any act(s) of sabotage like illegal bunkering, smuggling of crude and other petroleum products will be heavily dealt with by the combined forces and the community leaders should keep their peace at such times.
The warning from the Chief of defence staff to the armed forces on the active connivance of force men in this economic sabotage should be further reinforced by letting the top echelon of the military know that any commander whose officer is found culpable in the act of oil theft will also be sanctioned. This has become necessary because in the past, ships under protective custody have disappeared without qualms.
Government should separate the genuine agitators for the betterment of Niger Delta region from those involved in criminality to enable it deploy the machinery of government to deal with them as appropriate. After concluding this engagement process at home, the President should take a step further to make his case before the international bodies like the European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) etc. These bodies should be told to appeal to their businessmen and women to stay clear of Nigeria’s stolen crude and finished petroleum products. It is hypocrisy to preach transparency and good governance in any part of the world while aiding and abetting oil theft in another country.
If there are no receptacles and buyers for stolen crude and petroleum products, there will be no sellers and the incidence of pipelines’ vandalism and oil theft in Nigeria will greatly reduce. Failure to heed this warning will mean a case of aggression against the good people of Nigeria by those countries fingered in this dastardly act. It also would be taken as waging economic war against this country and they should be ready to face the consequences. We should not wait until they illegally run us bankrupt before we act. In time past, these same countries were used as illegal vaults for stolen money by our past leaders.
The Niger Delta region has become our own social Gustuv, Katrina and Ike. In the Niger Delta region, oil theft, vandalism of petroleum pipelines, traumatizing act of hostage taking and kidnapping of children, women and the aged for ransom reigns supreme. This is condemnable, unacceptable and must be tackled through a multi level engagement process.
The Energy Sector
We are endowed with overwhelming hydrocarbons, solar and hydro energies yet so poor in energy. It is estimated that we need about 10,000 Mega Watts (MW) to meet our basic energy needs but the country currently has less than 2,000 MW available for consumption. In this type of environment, no magic can stimulate technological and manufacturing growth because energy is the conveyor belt that drives technological and manufacturing activities.
Companies are now perpetually running on diesel driven generators. This leads to increase overhead costs, collapse of many manufacturing outfits with a spiralling effect on job losses and increased costs of goods and services.
While the energy available is insufficient, the wasteful attitude of consumers is not helping matters. A visit to any part of the country will reveal that almost all the security lights are on in the day time. The electricity usage in the home is even worse. The bulbs are perpetually on during the day. Also, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) does not have effective tariff collection systems and therefore not able to recover enough funds for its operations. Some of its workers also connive with the consumers to tamper with the meters to make them run slowly with less charges to the consumers at the detriment of the organization. To make matters worse, vandals are not relenting in the vandalism of PHCN cables and transformers.
In the oil and gas sector, the situation is not better. We have so much crude and gas reserves yet the people suffer chronic perennial fuel shortages due to acts of vandalism, smuggling, uncoordinated policies, and sabotage to the chagrin of the international community. So much has been said on these issues locally and internationally that everybody knows what the challenges are.
The panacea to these challenges will include:
Effective tariff collection system like the pre-paid meter system should be aggressively driven. Pending when this shall be fully operational, it should use designated banks for the collection of its tariffs and stop any form of cash collection at any of its offices in the urban centres.
Stiffer sanctions for vandalism of PHCN cables and those caught should be treated as economic saboteurs.
Maintenance and upgrade of PHCN facilities.
Reinvigorating of the construction of the Nigerian Integrated Power Projects (NIPP).
Citizens should help PHCN by switching off light points that are not in use at all times.
Payment of tariffs as at when due.
Stimulate the floodgate of processed oil and gas products by building more refineries in partnership with the private sector.
Fast tracking the completion of the various gas pipelines’ projects including the West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP).
Conservation and effective utilization of gas through the faithful implementation of the gas flair out directive.
Genuinely addressing the Niger Delta crises.
Consideration of the use of solar and wind energy sources.
Aggressive research and development activities.
Building more refineries

http://louisbrownogbeifun.com/

The Niger Delta Issue

2008-11-20T13:21:00.000Z

LABOUR ISSUES-LABOUR PACT IN THE PRIVATIZATION PROCESS OF THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC) DOWNSTREAM SECTOR, A PAPER PRESENTED BY C

2008-11-20T13:16:00.000Z

LABOUR ISSUES-LABOUR PACT IN THE PRIVATIZATION PROCESS OF THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC) DOWNSTREAM SECTOR, A PAPER PRESENTED BY COMRADE LOUIS BROWN OGBEIFUN AT OWERRI DURING PENGASSAN’S SYNERGY WORKSHOP ON 8TH, JUNE, 2005.
By Louis Brown Ogbeifun November 7, 2008
‘Even a man regimented in every sense of the term would carry out his duties with more vigour and better spirit if treated as someone who really mattered and who understood the overall importance of the project in which he was involved’
- Field Marshall Montgomery.
It is with immense joy and gratitude to God that I present this paper today to enable me contribute to the re-engineering process of our great Union (PENGASSAN). I consider this a rare privilege because of the importance of this topic to the survival of members of the Association not only in the NNPC but to all Oil and Gas companies facing Employers’ restructuring processes because of the emerging global concepts. I therefore thank you Mr. President and the Central Working Committee (CWC) for this opportunity.
However, let me say that I am not here to teach or tell you something new about the topic because you have been at the vanguard of resisting the ill motivated “sell the refineries as scrap syndrome”. For us to deal with any labour pact and labour issues, there is the need to take a cursory look at the concept of privatization, its impact on labour in order to appreciate the seriousness of what your members might face and the elements needed for an ideal labour pact.
WHAT IS PRIVATIZATION?
It is primarily aimed at divesting the state’s interests in public enterprises to the private sector, thereby removing what is tagged state monopoly through liberalization of such utilities as energy, water, telecommunications, air and water transportation etcetera. Some of these fall in the domain of what we perceive as welfare oriented services. This process is a subset of the globalization concept, which seeks to remove trade barriers and encourage competition by both local and foreign investors in the running of these enterprises. This concept is premised on market driven competition with the assumption that the private sector is better managed, provides consumers with choices, more effective, efficient, yields better returns on investment, removes government’s intervention the internal affairs of the enterprise.
Laudable as these reasons are, one has found out that the success of any public or private enterprise depends largely on the operators. In recent times, several Multinational companies have collapsed and hundreds of thousands of workers retrenched. In addition, they have been fingered in issues of tax evasion and high-level corruption. Therefore, Privatization has never been able to resolve all issues of mis-management, corruption, management recklessness, abuse of office and organizational collapse.
Reasons for privatization by the Nigerian Government
Stemming the tide of dwindling fortunes of our national economy with a view to restoring it to the path of sustainable growth and global competitiveness
Unproductive investment or low productivity in public owned enterprises
Corruptionv Gross mismanagement of the enterprises slated for privatization
Collapse and increasing decadence of public utilities
Huge recurrent expenditure with a limited room for capital investment
Restoration of International Investors’ confidence
Improving managerial processes
Determination of prices through market price mechanism
Raising funds for other spending purposes
Transfer of technology from advanced nations
Government has no business in business
Introduction of free market economic reforms in alignment with the dynamics of global processes
Efficiency and improved capacity building and utilization
Resolution of Nigeria huge debt crises
Removal of government interference in the enterprises to be privatized.
Types of Privatization.
Full Privatization
Partial Privatization
Leasing
Strategic Partnering
Management Contracts.Why oil workers’ Unions resist outright privatization of the NNPC downstream sector
Lack of transparency in the privatization process. It is common knowledge that millions of naira are hidden from would be investors making profitability of running the new enterprise impossible and with this scenario, workers become the first victim when areas for cost curtailment are to be considered
Low-ball bidding
Collapse of deals, which were improperly conducted
Loss of strategic National assets to foreign interests and or government cronies
Privatization proceeds not being properly utilized
Fear of shares not being fairly distributed. Workers’ shares have been re-purchased by core investors or powerful society elites at the expense of labour in some privatized companies.
Improper valuation of assets
Job insecurity
Increased casualization and contract staffing
Non-payment of terminal benefits
The level of insecurity in the nation as typified by increased politically motivated killings, fatal robbery incidents, youth restiveness because of large-scale unemployment especially in the Niger Delta region and hostage taking of oil workers
Inconsistency in government policies and lack of will to see programmes through
Security implications.
Privatization of NNPC downstream.
The ultimate motives for the privatization on NNPC downstream sector are:
Demonopolization of state-owned refineries, petrochemical and pipelines and product marketing companiesv Autonomy to ensure competition with the objective of ensuring that all aspects of production, refining, distribution and dispensing of petroleum products are self sustaining, accountable and yield adequate returns on investments
Involving the multinationals in the refining process
Deregulation of the Nigerian downstream petroleum sector to allow for appropriate pricing.
While nobody can controvert the soundness of the aforementioned reasons, the unions were never convinced of the real intention of government going by the happenings in other sectors. We were however vindicated, when the much orchestrated deals of PENTASCOPE/NITEL, SOLGAS/STEEL; BFIG/ALSCON collapsed. After a warning strike in September 2001 and series of meetings with the Government, all strategic stakeholders agreed to the Strategic Partnering option using the NLNG model of privatization for privatizing the Refineries. This means that both the investors who must be global Refiners, Government and Workers are co-owners of the enterprise.
No matter how laudable and viable this option is; downsizing and the right of the new owners to determine the manning levels cannot be ruled out. Apart from all these, it seems to the Association that the general rule of law does not favour the transfer of employment or personal services to the new owners of a private company. This is why the Oil and Gas Unions have also been very vocal in asking for due process and that a labour pact is in place for the transiting enterprise for several reasons viz:
That Government should refurbish the Refineries to attract efficient and global refiners as investors
Ensuring that due process is followed in the process of privatization
Ensuring that the investors chosen are global refiners who will have the genuine interests, in turning the refineries around for effective and efficient service deliveries
To ensure that severed workers are paid their end of service entitlements and any involuntary severance attracts a special package
Ensuring that NNPC workers are considered for shares in the privatized outfit
To determine the fate of other retirees who are currently drawing pension from the NNPC.
Labour issues.
Job cuts
Collapse of social categories
Dislocation to family systems
Reduced income
Dwindling strength and vibrancy of trade unions
Friction between union and management if labour issues were not properly tidied up
Discouraging inter-union solidarity
Paucity of funds for trade union activities
Distrust
The continuous survival of the Unions
Welfare loss
Labour pact.
To resolve the aforementioned Labour issues and forestall the negative consequences of privatization in the downstream sector of NNPC as highlighted above, there is the need for the unions to ensure that there is a reduction of the negative impact on its members to the extent that they can live a near normal life after the transition.
Therefore, Labour Pact can be defined as a set of rules and or agreements entered into by the stakeholders, which include the Unions on one hand, the government’s agency, which in this case is the Bureau for Public Enterprises and or the Core Investor. The advantage of a proper labour pact is that it helps in midwifing the privatization process into a deliverable process, in which the new investor can have a smooth take over of the enterprise. In addition, it helps in removing distrust and assists in nurturing an enduring relationship between Labour and the new Management.
On the Union’s side, the fact that the investor may decide to change its objects and names, streamlining of the workforce without any notice, discontinuation of unionism through Yellow dog contract, in which a new employee pledges not to join the union; makes the need for a labour pact that will fully guarantee their rights become imperative. In addition, the Federal government is unlikely to honour any agreement signed with the Union on emoluments for the calculation of severance benefits beyond the year 2000.
The only instrument that will assist employees in putting in perspective and addressing their concerns is a labor pact. Therefore, the labour pact is sacrosanct in the protection of workers rights and continued sustenance of labour practices.
It should cover such areas as:
Retention of current conditions of service and any modification, Management and the Union shall use the collective bargaining (CBA) tool.
Dealing with wage arrears
Pension obligations and liabilities
Redundancy Benefits(Severance package)
End of service benefits
Social Safety Nets
Right to voluntarily exit
Share holding
Rights to unionization
Pledge to fair labour practice by the new Management.
Retention of conditions of service.
The pact should ensure that BPE, the union and the new management sign an agreement that will ensure the continuity of the current conditions of service, with modifications jointly agreed to by the stakeholders using CBA. This is necessary in order to forestall the rule of unilateralism by the new investor.
Dealing with wage arrearsAll arrears of salary and allowances should be paid to date to both workers being severed and those opting to work for the organization.
Pension and gratuityThis is perhaps the most crucial element that should be properly tied up because the union must protect the interest of those staff that will be deselected and those retirees who draw their entitlements from the NNPC. It is the wish of every working adult to continue to have means of support and livelihood on retirement. For those outside the service, the union should get in clear terms who shall be responsible for the payment of their pension benefits (enterprise, government or core investor), while an option that is viable and sustainable will be jointly agreed upon for those in service without any breach of the Pension’s Act.
Redundancy benefits.
The pact must expressly state what shall constitute redundancy in the new dispensation in line with industry practice and the financial benefits attached unambiguously stated. This will cover those that are being deselected or involuntarily separated from work by the core investor. Subsequent use of the clause in the new dispensation must also be clearly stated.
End of service benefits
All entitled end of service benefits to be paid to all the workers that are to be severed
The workers that have made contributions towards end of service benefits and or in form of provident fund must be appropriately charged into the necessary accounts with the accrued interests
The contributions of those in service should also be calculated and charged into the appropriate accounts, which the Union, Staff and Management would have agreed upon
The end of service benefits will be paid along side with the severance benefits
Where the union and staff so desire, all staffs’ end of service benefits may be paid as lump sum as per the existing collective agreement; while a new collective agreement may be negotiated for the new concern.
Social safety nets.
The major concern here is provision of some basic back up systems that will ensure that severed staff transit smoothly. This will include organizing pre-severance training for those leaving the organization on investment opportunities. In addition, workers should be retrained to enable them put to use the skills necessary to continuously remain useful to themselves and the society.
This is to ultimately empower them into small and medium enterprise (SME) development. The BPE should be of tremendous assistance to the severed staff in:v Re-employment services, including job placement assistance for those desirous of being re-engagedv Counseling on Job creation programsv Access to micro credit facilities The pact should encourage management to give former employees priority in the provision of services by third parties.
Right to voluntary exit.
The pact should ensure that workers shall have the opportunity to express interests in voluntary exit pre-privatization from the organization. In doing this, the Union must also respect the wish of management to veto the exit of essential staff that is key to its operations. Where a staff is refused voluntary exit, such staff must be given additional incentive.
Share holding.
The pact shall ensure that a percentage of the divested shares are allotted to members of staff as per agreed ratio. They must also impress it on government, enterprise or core investor to provide the loans for such purchases, which should be instalmentally deducted from their salaries and or end of service benefits.
Right to unionize.
The pact should guarantee workers’ rights to unionization in the new concern. This is a non-negotiable item.
Unfair labour practice.
During the transition period, the pact must restrain management from:
Retrenchment of workers
Downward adjustment of salaries
Demotions
Abrogation of conditions of service currently in force
Threat of mass lay off of employees.
CONCLUSION.
Going through manuals, seminar and workshop papers of Government agencies on privatization issues, the safeguards are in prints but the implementation process, just like so many other agreements are not being strictly adhered to. This in truth, has been the bane of the country’s privatization process. In addition, getting a pact as a working document, your association may be able to forestall arbitrary job cuts, redundancy, ensuring commensurate compensation and benefits for affected Association members during privatization, ensuring the security of pensions benefits for your members in line with the Pension Act, the existence of the union in the new environment and improved membership strength.
In the pursuit of the above, there are going to be very serious bottlenecks as investors and government may not readily accede to the severance package due to its financial implications, especially with the post 2000 wages and emoluments. This should not deter the unions from working hard to give a future worthy of living to their members. Government should realize that, it is an imperative to carry the unions along for self-expression on matters that affect them directly. This is where the quote from Montgomery becomes a reference point. All the stakeholders must learn from the experiences of the past on privatization issues, to ensure that we do not leave oil industry workers at the domain of perpetual poverty after a meritorious service to this great nation.
The plight of workers in some privatized or proposed privatized enterprises as typified by that of Daily Times, Nigeria Airways, ALSCON; NAFCON and Delta Steel Complex and that of Pensioners in the Public service and the Military should imprint in your hearts, the need to put up a labour pact that shall protect your members both serving and retired, who have toiled and shall continue to toil to oil the wheel of the Nigeria’s economy through their service.
However, it is not enough for the Unions to resist the privatization of the refineries without ensuring that your members do all within their spheres of influence to do all they could to sustain the optimum productivity of the plants to reduce downtime. You should eschew any act of compromising standards. You are the conscience of the organization and you must blow the whistle when things predjudicial to the interests of the organization are being perpetrated. Collective solutions to the Niger delta issues should be your goal and you should try to protect all the assets under your protective custody. Most of those who vandalize the pipelines are from the same towns and villages with some workers, some could be your brothers and sisters. When the refineries have no crude to run, your members are likely to be the victims because the plants will be forced to shut down. Therefore, you owe yourselves the duty of reaching out through seminars and workshops like this for enlightenment and advocacy.
This paper has only attempted to create the skeleton that you will at the end of this workshop adorn with the desired flesh. In the future, you may wish to consider inviting BPE and other stakeholders for a more thorough discussion on this sensitive issue and reach a concensus on how to jointly manage the exercise.
Solidarity! Forever!!!
Notes.
Akpotaire, V.(2003); Privatization of the downstream sector of the NNPC, Abuja.
Bureau of Public Enterprises (2002) Training Manual for Labor Policy Framework (Dealing with Redundancy, Severance Package, and Social Safety Net), Abuja.
Otobo, D.(2003) ; Career planning in a deregulated Economic Environment, Port-Harcourt.
Ogbeifun, L. B.(2004); Privatization and the challenges of Human Resource Management, Warri.
Ogbeifun, L.B. (2003); The challenges of globalization and Liberalization to Industrial Relations in Nigeria, Lokoja.
PENGASSAN(2002); Position paper on Privatization of NNPC Downstream Sector.

http://louisbrownogbeifun.com/