Saturday 7 November 2009

FD Pproject chosen for National Exhibition

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

Wednesday 21 October 2009

DLTW CSOG 2009!
















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











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.

Tuesday 6 October 2009

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

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

Monday 5 October 2009

Niger Delta Amnesty Continues

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.

Friday 2 October 2009

NIGERIA AT 49

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

Thursday 10 September 2009




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.

Monday 31 August 2009

Northern reps against N400 billion bailout of banks

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

Thursday 27 August 2009

srudents PEACE sign

Table Tennis session


Table Tennis session

Intl Youth Day Interaction

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.

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


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

Tuesday 25 August 2009

Nigerian/Ghana Youths Interact


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


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

Tuesday 18 August 2009

Interaction with African Sage on the Ghanaian Story

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

Monday 17 August 2009

Conversations with H.E Jerry Rawlings 1

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

Saturday 15 August 2009

UN chief says young people hit by global economic recession

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

Friday 7 August 2009

Sex in the Office

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

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

Friday 31 July 2009

A taste of the Taliban

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

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

Bayelsa to lobby against Petroleum Industry Bill

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

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

MEND condemns crisis in the North

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

Thursday 30 July 2009

SOME PICTURES OF PARTICIPATING SCHHOLS











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

Tuesday 28 July 2009

Lagos eases its environmental burden by planting trees

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

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

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

Friday 24 July 2009

ALF Hosts LIP Orientation Workshop






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