NairaBrain ~ News » Nigeria Politics

Labour Party denies Donald Duke Labour Party’s membership .

soloheater — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 05:57:53 +0000

The chairman of the Labour Party, Dan Iwuanyanwu, yesterday refuted reports that the former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, is a member of his party.

Mr Duke, who resigned his membership of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in June, is widely speculated to have pitched his tent with the Labour Party, on which he allegedly plans to realise his presidential ambition. The party shares the fourth largest party position with the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), each controlling a state.

Mr Iwuanyanwu said the last time he checked, Mr Duke, who is his personal friend, was not a member of his party as widely speculated.

“As of yesterday, I don’t think Donald Duke has joined our party,” Mr Iwuanyanwu said. “I am aware he resigned from the PDP but he is not yet a member of our party.” He, however, added that Mr Duke has the right to be a member of the party.

In a letter addressed to the Cross River State Chairman of the PDP and dated April 29, Mr Duke described his former party as, “dysfunctional, unable to articulate a road map and lead Nigerians on a clear and concise path to national renewal.” He later revealed how politicians rigged elections in the country after he publicly declared his ambition to run for the presidential elections in 2011.

“I know he intends to play a major role in 2011 but I don’t know under which platform,” Mr Anyanwu said.

Party with brand name

Mr Anyanwu also denied having any talks with Nuhu Ribadu, another presidential candidate; but spoke well of Mr Ribadu’s chairmanship of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“In our party, we don’t force people,” he said. “Labour Party is a brand name. We can only talk to you, without being immodest, that you are in the wrong place; why not come and run under our platform? Some have moved, but we don’t pressurize people because if you pressurize them, they may jump out when things get worse.” Mr Anyanwu, however, said his party has got four “solid” presidential candidates from which one will emerge after serious screening.

He added that his party, unlike the PDP, was not bothered about which region in the country the candidate was born, but is rather focused on a candidate who will deliver an already mapped out blue print to prosper Nigeria.

“What is important and paramount to us is to have a presidential candidate that can stand the test of time and understands Nigeria and that is ready to work. We don’t want a situation where we have a candidate who does not understand Nigeria but because he is from one part of the country, he is voted into office,” he said.

INEC Chairman Retires Two Directors.

soloheater — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:34:04 +0000

THE much-awaited clean-up at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) began yesterday, with the retirement of two directors. Thirteen more are likely to go.

The retired directors are those who have spent more than eight years on the same position – in line with the Federal Government’s policy on retirement of directors. Some of the directors are at the state offices of the commission.

The two directors – Deputy Secretary (Publicity and Election Observation) Steve Osemeke and Deputy Secretary (Administration) E.A. Johnson – have been given their retirement letters.

INEC chair Prof Attahiru Jega has also replaced the Director of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Unit, Mr. Emmanuel Akem, for not being able to cope with the new demands of the position ahead of October’s voters registration. The former Director of Voters Registry, Mr. Adetunji Adesina, has replaced Akem.

The Federal Government had on August 26, 2009 ordered all permanent secretaries and directors, who will be eight years in office and in the same position by January 1, 2010, to submit their pre-retirement notices.

The circular, which emanated from the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), Mr. Steve Oronsaye, said the new eight-year tenure for permanent secretaries and directors is without prejudice to the mandatory 60 years of age or 35 years in service for retirement.

The new benchmark is the eight-year tenure and not attainment of retirement guidelines.

Although some INEC directors were affected by the directive, the management of the electoral body under Prof. Maurice Iwu ignored the policy.

It later became an issue between the OHCSF and INEC until a change was effected in the electoral commission by President Goodluck Jonathan.

A source in the commission said: “The reorganisation of the commission has started but it is going to be in phases.

“Although some of the retired directors are tested and experienced, INEC has no choice but to effect the policy of the government. Some of them have also spent 15 to 18 years on the same post and have become rustic.

“The case of Osemeke is more challenging as he was among those rated to succeed the Secretary to the commission, Abdullahi Kaugama, but, with a policy in place, INEC cannot retain his services.

Other top officials likely to be affected by the retirement gale are Director, Voters Education, Alhaji Ibrahim Biu (Due for retirement in three months’); Dahiru Ibrahim (Human Resources); Mustapha Kuta (Audit); Mrs. O.O. Adejumo (DD Discipline); Jafaru Gabdo (Bauchi); Umar S. Aliyu (Nasarawa); Musa T. Kuta; Nadabo Usman (Sokoto); Michael S. N’Allah (Kebbi); Mrs. Edwins Ene (FCT); Anthony Agbache (Delta); Muktar Aliyu (Zonal Director-Minna) and Dr. Aniemena Chukwudi (Zonal Director, Port Harcourt).

The source added: “The management is still looking into the records of these directors to avoid any miscarriage of justice.

“Some of them are disputing the number of years spent on the same spot; they will go in the next few days.”

Presidential Elections to Hold January 15, 2010.

soloheater — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:30:51 +0000

Elections to the office of the president will hold January 15 next year, NEXT has been informed.

The date is historical because it was on the same date that the military truncated the nation’s first democratic experiment after the 1960 independence.

The military toppled the government of Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa on January 15, 1966. The prime minister, along with several prominent politicians, were killed, and this later precipitated events that led to the 1967 civil war. It is not clear if INEC took cognisance of this fact in deciding the date for the elections.

The actual election kicks off on January 8, with the National Assembly and state houses of assembly elections, while the governorship election is slated for January 22nd.

What the law says

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who declined to be named because the date has not been formally announced, confirmed the date yesterday in Abuja. At least one political party confirmed that the electoral body has notified it about the schedule.

Formally, the electoral body has remained silent on the date, fuelling speculations on the election timetable, which are computed based on the time limit set by the new Electoral Act, signed into law by the president, Goodluck Jonathan, weeks ago. The electoral commission has promised to unveil the timetable this week. Yesterday, at a meeting with Farida Waziri, the chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega, made no mention of the widely anticipated schedule for the crucial elections. However, his media aide, Kayode Idowu, told NEXT the timetable is expected “soon”.

But officials within the commission said January 15 has been fixed for the start of the elections, which, according to the Electoral Act, begins with the highest office -the presidency- based on the allowance of the Electoral Act which stipulates that polls must be held not earlier than 150 days, and not later than 120 days to the expiration of the current tenure. Based on May 29 termination date for that tenure, the 30 days common to the two limits falls on January next year.

Mr Idowu said the commission is awaiting the release of the date, but refused to state a categorical position. He said it is hoped the announcement will be made soon.

But political parties responding to inquiries yesterday appear to be in the know of the January 15 date. The All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) acknowledged receiving formal notifications to that schedule.

Work for electoral success

Spokesperson for the party, Emmanuel Eneukwu, said the party has been notified in writing by the commission’s chairman.

“We are aware of that, and we have no option but to work towards it,” he said, when asked if that will be a convenient date for the party. The national publicity secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Lai Mohammed, said his party too, will be satisfied with the date, although he could not confirm being in official receipt of the date.

“Whatever dates the INEC puts,” he said, “we will work towards it, provided they assure there will be free and fair elections.”

However, the All People Grand Alliance (APGA) said it was not aware of the date, but promised to also abide by the schedule too.

“The problem is not the date, but whether INEC will be able to deliver given that date,” said Ifeanacho Oguejiofor, the party’s director of publicity. “We don’t have any problem.”

The official announcement is expected to be made this week. This is expected to heighten preparations by political parties pushing for the polls, which is expected as vital test of the promise for credible elections by Mr Jega.

Mr Jega reaffirmed the commitment at the meeting with Ms Waziri yesterday. He said both commissions will work closely as they draw closer to the elections, but did not state specific areas of collaborations.

Ms Waziri denied media reports that the commission is considering compiling names of persons deemed to be unfit for public office on account of corruption allegations.

“I only see that in the newspapers, but I did not say we will disqualify bad politicians,” adding, “However, if there are areas that we can assist INEC, we will do that, but it must be within the confines of the law.”

Gunmen shoot Bauchi governor’s Aides.

soloheater — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:29:35 +0000

The state of insecurity in Bauchi State manifested yesterday with an attempt made on the lives of security aides to the state’s governor.

Unidentified gunmen shot Sule Giwa, a police sergeant who serves as orderly to the state’s governor, Isa Yuguda, within the metropolis on Saturday in what seems like an assassination attempt on the state’s helm’s man.

The state Police Commissioner, Danlami Yar’Adua, confirmed the report to the News Agency on Sunday. Mr Yar’Adua, described the incident as part of the “routine crime” in the state and dismissed insinuations that the attack was an assassination attempt. He, however, gave assurance that his command was doing everything possible to curb criminal activities in the state.

This incident is coming barely one week after the son of the governor’s special adviser on pilgrims’ matters, Mahmud Dahiru, was abducted by unknown persons. Master Dahiru, 10, is yet to be released by his abductors.

It will also be recalled that the Vice Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee in the state, Bala Hadis, was recently shot and wounded in his house in the state. Mr Hadis is currently reported to be recuperating in an Indian hospital.

Also, a gubernatorial aspirant of the CPC, Sarki Muktar, popularly known as ‘Dan China’ narrowly escaped an attack when a group of unknown assailants recently raided his house at Narabi Village in Toro local government area of the state. One of Dan China’s security guards was, however, killed while another was injured during the attack.

Reacting to the latest incident, the Senior Special Assistant to the state’s governor on media, Sanusi Mohammed, described the new wave of criminal activities in the state as “unfortunate” stating that the government was taking every step to secure the lives and property.

“The government is collaborating with relevant security agencies to introduce new security measures with a view to stopping the ugly trend in the state” he said.

2011 Electoral Act: 22 Parties head for Court.

soloheater — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:46:24 +0000

In what may throw spanners in the preparations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2011 elections, 22 of the 62 registered political parties are heading for the law court to challenge the newly signed Electoral Act over perceived undue advantage conferred on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by certain provisions in the Act.
Preparatory to the filing of the action, the parties will meet today (Tuesday) in Abuja to strategize on how to go about it. Already, the parties have contracted a team of lawyers headed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Some of the parties on queue for the court action are, National Conscience Party (NCP), Labour Party, All Progressive Grand Alliance (a faction of APGA), Progressive Action Alliance (PAC), All Peoples Liberation Party (APLP) , National Action Council (NAC), and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) among others.

Specifically, the parties, Daily Sun gathered, will challenge in court, the order of elections as provided for the Act. In the new Act, elections have been re-ordered such that the National Assembly polls will hold first in the 109 senatorial districts and 360 federal constituencies across the nation.

The Presidential election follows suite while the governorship and state assembly elections come last as opposed to former order which runs from the least and peak at Presidential level. Some of the aggrieved chairmen who confided in Daily Sun revealed that another sore point which the parties would be confronting in court is the Section 78 (7) of the Act, which empowers the INEC to deregister any of the political parties that fails to win any elective post in 2011 elections.

Of the 62 registered parties only seven of the parties won various offices after the 2007 elections. They are Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Alliance for Democracy, (AD), Action Congress, (ACN), All Progress Grand Alliance (APGA), Progressive Peoples Party (PPA), and Accord Part (AP). The only Senator elected on the platform of AP is Sen Osakwe (Delta State) and he has since decamped to PDP.

National Chairman of Labour Party, Chief Dan Nwayanwu, whose party is among those spearheading the action confirmed to Daily Sun that the move is in the interest of strengthening the democracy in Nigeria saying any deliberate plan to stifle other parties is unacceptable.
According to him, the National Assembly members used their majority might in conjunction with the Executive to plant provisions that will further the interest of the PDP at the expense of other parties.

On the implication of such action coming months before the January elections, Barrister Nwayanwu argued that the planned court action was not targeted at INEC “it’s just that there is no way the INEC will not be affected because we are going to seek injunction from court stopping the INEC from using the Act pending the determination of our substantive suit.

“It leaves much to be desired that the lawmakers will deliberately insert clauses that will help their parties at election. Why did they change the former other of election and arrange it in a way that will give the PDP as the ruling party advantage over others”, he stated.
Nwayanwu pointed out further that the parties that are coming together to fight the offensive provisions in the new Act because of their belief that allowing it will mean turning Nigeria to a one party state. “Because once the President is elected, it will propel a bandwagon effect in which every other person will want to belong to the president’s party to get elected.”

Also, the Labour Party boss explained that nothing could be far more glaring as a move to kill other parties for PDP than the power conferred on INEC to deregister political parties that fail to win a seat at the state or national level. That a party deos not win in an election is not an indication that it has no supporters, people must be free to choose and join which party they like, de-registering political parties means you are limiting their choice and forcing them to belong to parties other than choice.

Chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and National Chairman of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa also condemned the provisions noting that they are undemocratic and should not be allowed.
He promised to support any move that will bring about further deepening the democracy rather than destroy it.
Alhaji Musa enjoined Nigerians to support INEC to ensure the coming elections are not only free and fair but meet the aspirations of Nigerians.

Source:SunNews Online.com

Jonathan Ready to adopt three point agenda

soloheater — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:38:59 +0000

President Goodluck Jonathan may have cut down the seven point agenda to three; and his Facebook fans were the first to know. The president’s fans on Facebook, a popular social network website, were greeted with the news on Thursday morning, when the president confirmed on his page that the focus of his administration is on electrical power, Niger Delta issues and electoral reforms.

“The greatest challenges facing this administration are to ensure electoral reform and a credible free and fair election in 2011, restore and maintain peace in the Niger Delta and most importantly make progress in the Power Sector,” the president posted on his official Facebook page on Thursday.

The president made no further official statement on this issue but his position on Facebook stands correct as the policy direction of the government.

Over the past few months, the government has spent more funds in these three sectors than other sectors in the seven point agenda.

The seven point agenda is a set of goals developed by the Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2007. They included: Sustainable growth in the real sector of the economy, Physical Infrastructure: Power, Energy & Transportation, Agriculture, Human Capital Development: Education & Health, Security, Law and Order Combating Corruption, and, Niger Delta Development.

The agenda outlined the main spending focus of the government as at the time.

Although Mr. Jonathan had, on several occasions after he took over office, claimed his government was carrying on with the agenda, he is spending more on the three sectors he has mentioned.

“Over the last few weeks, I have taken the time to keep you abreast with the progress in these sectors, i.e. the appointments of Prof. Jega [Atahiru Jega, Chairman on Independent National Electoral Commission - INEC] and his team at INEC, and Prof. Nnaji and his team on power, as well as the budgetary provisions made for them etc,” the president said.

In all, the current supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan on Facebook, with real identities at the last count, stand at 167 368 . All the over one thousand fans that commented on the post, four hours after he posted it, seemed to appreciate the move. Over a thousand others simply clicked the ‘like’ bottom to show their solidarity with the move indicating a level of acceptance for the adjustment which many have been anticipated.

Lai Mohammed, the spokesman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) commended the move, saying his party had earlier approached the president to focus on those three areas in addition to fight against corruption.

“He should add the fight against corruption to it.” Mr. Mohammed said. “The fight against corruption is central to all this.” He, however, said the electricity situation is yet to improve and that the president did not totally adopt the recommendations of the Justice Muhammad Uwais led electoral Reform Committee.

“Frankly speaking, he needs to give us something concrete on this issue of electoral reform. If he is very sincere, he can actually give Nigeria a good election,” he said.

Since making his Facebook debut in July this year, the president has revealed policy directions in similar posts on his official Facebook Fan page.

Feedback

Beyond updating his fans about his intention and policies, the president also called for input from them.

“Now that both teams are up and going and the former militants are turning their swords into ploughshares, I need your feedback. Please assess what we have done with these teams so far and let me know what you think we have done wrong and where we could make improvements. I will be spending time daily scrutinising your comments and I will be taking them into account with a view to incorporating them in the new Road-map For the Power Sector which is to be launched on August 26th.

“I will also ask my advisers to summarise your feedback on Electoral Reform as well as the Niger Delta peace process so we can make better decisions on these key areas. Please note that government does not have a monopoly of wisdom and it is only when we pool our intellect into a master mind that we will make lasting progress,” the president said.

INEC Timetable For 2011 Election is Out!.

soloheater — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:51:31 +0000

ABUJA—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, may release the timetable for 2011 elections this week following the signing of Electoral Act by President Goodluck Jonathan last Friday.

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, and his national commissioners were, yesterday, putting finishing touches to the time table which a source at the commission said “could be released between Wednesday and Friday this week.”

Vanguard gathered that with the release of money for the voters’ register, activities at the commission are expected to pick up tremendously.

A senior staff of the commission told Vanguard: “The commission has intensified negotiations with the manufacturers of machines to be used for the registration of voters and within the next few days, a definite position would have been reached.

“We should be able to finalize our arrangements with the manufacturers this week and we are also talking with some vendors in case we are not able to reach agreement with the manufacturers. We are adopting multi-pronged approach and we believe that we should be able to get good results.”

By provisions of the 2010 Electoral Act, the time table for elections which are to be held in January must be released before the end of this month to allow parties and the commission prepare adequately for the elections.

At a meeting with leaders of the registered political parties in Abuja last week, INEC Chairman, Professor Jega, warned that the commission was already two weeks behind schedule of its projected time for the elections.

President Goodluck Jonathan in his facebook posting stated that “in addition to signing the Electoral Act yesterday (Friday), the Federal Government also authorized the release of required resources to the INEC to carry out their constitutional duties.

I believe that with these, the INEC is getting fully armed and we are well on the way to progress in electoral reform.”

Source:Vanguardngr.com

Sambo,Tony Anenih to head Jonathan’s 2011 Campaign.

soloheater — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:39:45 +0000

LAGOS—AHEAD of formal declaration by President Goodluck Jonathan to contest 2011 presidential election, a campaign team headed by Vice-President Namadi Sambo and former Chairman of Board of Trustees, BoT, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, is already in place.

This is even as former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and National Security Adviser, NSA, General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (rtd) have reached an accord on how a consensus presidential candidate would emerge from among them.

President Jonathan’s campaign team, expected to swing into action once the President declared his intention early next month, had been working behind the scene soon after it was constituted two weeks ago.

A source within the Presidency confirmed the existence of the team, saying: “I can confirm to you that Vice President Namadi Sambo and Chief Tony Anenih are leading the team and you will start hearing from the team as soon as the President declares early next month.”

The source also explained why the President had not declared his intention to contest, saying that underground consultations were still on.

He said: “You know when one wants to do a thing of that nature, there has to be wide underground consultations. He can’t just come out like that. So, that is what is going on but the President wants to be sure of his support base and there is no doubt as to whether he will contest.”

Oposition to Jonathan’s candidacy

The source added that some states in the North such as Kwara, Gombe, Sokoto and Jigawa, were not on the President’s side. It was gathered that the ambitions of Governors Bukola Saraki and Danjuma Goje of Kwara and Gombe states was the major reason the two states were opposed to Jonathan’s candidacy.

Vanguard learnt that the former Head of State, Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, whose party, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, might be working against Jonathan in Sokoto and Jigawa, was not a hard nut to crack.

The source said: “We don’t have much problem with Jigawa because Governor Sule Lamido is former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s man and he (Obasanjo) can easily call him to order.

We don’t also expect to encounter problems in Katsina because the governor is battling for his own survival as he has the family of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to contend with. Also, Buhari and former Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Masari, are not making things easy for him. So, he is not a threat to us.”

A source close to President Goodluck Jonathan in his reaction to the setting up of President Jonathan’s campaign team, however, said the head of the team will only be appointed after the President has declared early next month.

Babangida, Atiku, Gusau reach accord on consensus candidate

Meantime, an accord which General Babangida, Alhaji Atiku and General Gusau were said to have had is part of the ongoing process through which a consensus candidate would emerge from the North.

A very dependable source close to the three politicians revealed to Vanguard that “the issue of arriving at a consensus candidate from the North revolves around General Babangida, Atiku and General Gusau.

“The three of them are part of the Northern Political Leaders Forum, NLPF, which has been championing the cause of zoning in the country. The three men had been in the fore front of the zoning agenda. They are also, without doubt, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

“The zoning agenda is a PDP agenda, and whatever anybody says, the next President of this country will be produced by the PDP. And that is why the contest for the presidential ticket of the party is very keen.”

Vanguard was also informed of the strategy that the three politicians would employ in arriving at a consensus.

Available information suggested that the ongoing consultations embarked upon by the three politicians with state governors and legislators (at both federal and state levels), as well as a few other categories of elected public office holders across the country, was expected to culminate in the mobilisation of support.

The source said: “What the three politicians have agreed to do is to wait for President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly declare his presidential ambition before making their move.

Once President Jonathan publicly declares that he would be offering himself for participation in next year’s presidential contest, the three politicians would swing into action.

“Based on the agreement reached, they would all go into a sort of shadow primaries with a view to picking the most suitable and most popular choice among them.

“Those who would be involved in this shadow primaries, as I told you are state governors and legislators (at federal and state levels), as well as a few other categories of elected public office holders across the country with whom the three politicians have been consulting.”

Asked whether those who would be voting at the shadow primaries would be restricted to governors and legislators from the North, the source explained: “It will not be restricted to elected public office holders from the North. Like I said earlier, the consultations are going on across the six geo-political zones of the country. It s all about democracy; it is about free choice.

“The three men, having agreed to work together, will respect the outcome of the process, irrespective of whoever wins at the end of the day.”

Reminded that former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, remained a popular figure in the North and had a massive support base, the source charged back: “Buhari is a solo player and he is not even a member of the NPLF that is championing the cause of zoning. Buhari is not a member of the PDP. He is on his own.”

President Goodluck Jonathan Swears in First Female Economic Adviser.

soloheater — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:13:49 +0000

The President yesterday swore in Precious Kassy Garba as the nation’s first female chief economic adviser, with a charge to develop blue prints that will help in turning around the economic fortunes of the country.

Mrs. Garba, an economist, took over from Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi who served the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua in the same capacity. The new Chief Economic adviser would also be only the second female aide in this administration. The other is the special assistant to the president on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Amina Zubair.

Swearing in Mrs. Garba before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the council chambers of the presidential villa, Mr. Jonathan urged her to see her appointment as a call to national service and not a service to him. He said she must work in collaboration with the finance minister to address the challenging responsibilities standing in the way of the economy.

“Now you have been called to come and serve the government and we believe that you will bring your knowledge to help in strengthening the economic team,” the president told her.

“Chief economic adviser to the president is a very strategic office, because you will work hand in hand with the minister of finance and you will be involved in a number of policies and programmes of government that has to do with her economic development and growth as a nation.

“That is quite a challenging job and we believe that you are very competent to handle this various responsibilities. You should know that your responsibilities are quite strategic and useful.

“So we believe that you will bring your knowledge and wisdom to bear and serve your nation not Mr. President to make sure that we get out of the woods and our economy turns.

“As you know, everything is centred on the economy as all other sectors depend on it for survival. You know we have a dream, a vision and an aspiration that by the year 2020 Nigeria should play big amongst the committee of nations and you have been brought in to play a role in that part. You will blend the academic and theoretical knowledge with the practical realities on ground and I believe you will succeed.”

The president told Mrs. Garba that by virtue of her position, she automatically becomes a cabinet member and is therefore eligible to attend all FEC meetings alongside the adviser on petroleum. Until her appointment, Mrs. Garba was the dean of faculty of social science at the University of Ibadan.

Atiku not bona fide member – PDP.

soloheater — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:02:35 +0000

Tomorrow’s expected presidential declaration of Atiku Abubakar may face a hitch with a declaration on Friday by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it is not aware of the membership status of the former Vice President.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Alkali, while reacting to a question over the waiver policxy of the party, said that though the former Vice President has returned to the party, he is yet to comply with the its guideline as stipulated by the party’s constitution for a returning member.

He said that until Atiku complies with the constitutional procedures, he couldn’t be granted a waiver which then qualifies him as a bona fide member of the party.

“This is the usual thing in politics, there’s nothing unusual. And so by the time they sort this out, Atiku will also be treated like any other person who has come back to the party; he will be given the waiver to be qualified as bona fide member of the party.

According to Alkali, “You will recall that the former Vice President came in to this secretariat and formally told the leadership of the party that he was returning to the party with all his supporters nationwide. He indeed brought a document showing the names of the people who came along with him and signed the document and said they are returning unconditionally.

“I’m sure you also recall that when he left we invited you to come and see the former National Chairman so that he could tell you why Alhaji Atiku Abubakar came into his office, and the Chairman, I recalled informed you that the former Vice President came into the secretariat to say that he has returned to the party formally with all his supporters.

“But the Chairman asked him to go back to his ward and register because that is the elementary thing, and then the process can start from there. Because, as he said, the party cannot reject any person coming back to (it). No party worth its salt can do that. But what the former National Chairman said, and the position of the party is that we do not have card here to give to members.

“So he was asked to go back, which means what was said in effect was Atiku Abubakar will go back and continue with the process of healing and reconciliation, a kind of mend fences with him and all the stakeholders in Adamawa State, and since that time there have been formal consultations and discussions between him and stakeholders in Adamawa state, and the Adamawa people too came to the secretariat and the rest of it.

“So I think the issues are very clear. No matter what we have done here, all these cases that you see of who has been cleared, those at the relevant level will have to clear them before they get to the national secretariat, and that is the situation.”

However, Atiku, speaking through his media assistant, Garba Shehu, said he is entitled to a waiver like all other returnees to the PDP.

He said: “(Atiku), who has since returned to the PDP having been duly registered in his Jada 11 ward of Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State, like many others sought expression in the Action Congress (AC) as a result of being excluded from a party he helped found.

“But the leadership of the ruling party seeing the necessity to woo back these valuable members constituted the National Reconciliation Committee led by former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.”

The former Vice President cited the Ekwueme committee recommendation in its report, article 5.9.1 (pp.23), which states that “the membership revalidation exercise should be revisited to allow for unfettered and unconditional return of all members of the party and access to new members.”

He explained that this recommendation was adopted and included in the white paper from the National Working Committee (NWC) to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party in “Recommendation 9” (pp.5), saying that for the avoidance of doubt, “please refer to the minutes of the 42nd NEC meeting of the party held November 23, 2007 at the WADATA PLAZA wherein the White Paper sent in by the NWC for consideration was adopted and is listed as ‘Approval’ 1 (pp.7).

He therefore concluded that “We do not believe that the party is adopting a different sort of rules in the waiver for Atiku and his associates. We believe that the PDP will make a proper announcement on the issue when it deems fit, as we have been repeatedly assured”.

Source:DailyIndependent Nig,online.com

Reps pass N87.9bn INEC budget.

soloheater — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:23:21 +0000

ABUJA—THE House of Representatives, yesterday, passed the N87.9 billion budget for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

N74.6 billion of the amount will go for the preparation of a fresh voters’ register and N15 billion for the preparation of the 2011 elections.

The drama that, however, trailed the process was whether the prospects of INEC being on the ‘first-line charge’ as inserted in 2010 Constitution would be implementable without a gazetted copy of the amended constitution.

Besides, the House suspended indefinitely the passage of the Anti_terrorism and Money Laundering bills.

Majority of the members murmured their disagreements with a part of the Money Laundering Bill that prescribes a censure on cash transactions involving N500, 000 and above.

Also yesterday, INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega said the enactment of the 2010 Electoral Act was necessary to ascertain the time it would issue the timetable and other guidelines for the 2011 general elections.

House passes INEC budget

President Goodluck Jonathan had while sending letters to the Senate and the House of Representatives, Monday, pleaded with them to pass the Bills. The Senate had passed the Bills on Tuesday, but the House decided to defer the passage of its version “until when it is appropriate”.

Over N15billion was proposed in 2009 as supplementary for the conduct of next year’s elections, while the Commission proposed N74billion for a “fresh voters’ register” this year.

The decision of the House was in defiance of an earlier warning by the INEC Chief that the budget must be passed before August 11, 2010, if the 2011 elections must be successful.

The Senate had passed over N87billion for the Commission, N2billion short of the original proposal by the presidency, on Tuesday.

Motion for the consideration of the budget was moved by the Leader of the House, Rep. Tunde Akogun, PDP, Akoko_Edo/Aiyegunle, Edo State.

The first to contribute to the motion as moved was the Minority Leader of the House, Rep. Muhammed Ali Ndume, who insisted that the proposal by INEC to buy 150,000 Transparent Collapsible Boxes at N3billion”, was too high and should be reviewed.

He noted that the INEC budget could not just be approved, for fear that a “thorough” dissection of the money bill would jeopardize the 2011 elections.

Rep. Terngu Tsegba, PDP, Gboko/Tarkaa, Benue State, in his argument, insisted that “in as much as a credible voters’ register is the bedrock of credible elections”, the House of Representatives in considering the money Bill, must be meticulous.

He stressed that in preparing the INEC estimates, the electoral umpire might have mixed up issues and put the Nigerian economy in jeopardy.

But Rep. Emmanuel Jime, Makurdi/Guma, Benue State, disagreed. He cautioned that “everybody is watching and waiting to see what the House will do today (yesterday), so our failure to push this budget through may be interpreted as negative.”

Reps Patrick Obahiagbon, ACN, Oredo, Edo State, and Aminu Shehu Shagari, PDP, Shagari, Sokoto; also warned that the budget must not be delayed. Obahiagbon who harped on Jega’s integrity, insisted that he be given a chance to prove himself.

Timetable depends on Electoral Act

However, a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Kayode Robert Idowu, said the commission awaited the enactment of the 2010 Electoral Act to ascertain the time it would issue the timetable and other guidelines for the 2011 general elections.

He said the clarification was to correct reports that Professor Jega said the guidelines would be issued on or before the end of December.

The statement said: “What the Chairman did say was that preparations were on-going in anticipation of the Electoral Act, following which details of the timetable would be unfolded by the Commission.

“By the draft law, certification of the Voters Register should be concluded by December 9, in time for the elections expected to hold in January. The election timetable/guidelines are statutorily dependent on provisions of the Electoral Act, which is yet in the legislative mill.

“The Commission hereby reassures the public that immediately the Electoral Act which stipulates the time frame for the electoral process is signed into law by the President, it will issue the necessary timetable/guidelines for the upcoming elections.”

GoodLuck Jonathan buys N23B jets.

soloheater — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:44:53 +0000

As usual, the federal executive council meeting yesterday was devoted to the approval of contracts, the biggest of which was the purchase of three new jets for the Presidential Air Fleet. The planes, which include a Gulfstream G550 and two new Falcon 7X Aircraft, will cost the country $154.3 million or N23.2 billion.

This is coming a few weeks after two aircraft in the presidential fleet developed technical faults and delayed President Goodluck Jonathan’s return from Uganda where he had gone to attend the African Union summit. As a result, Mr Jonathan couldn’t attend the federal executive council meeting, which had to be chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

The presidential fleet currently boasts of eight aircraft – including three jets. It consists of a 70-tonne Boeing business jet bought in 2006 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. In addition, there are the Gulfstream V, and Gulfstream IVSP, and two Falcon 900s.

The Federal Government had proposed to buy four more aircraft for the presidential fleet, according to the 2010 Appropriation Bill recently passed by the National Assembly.

The expenditure item, which came under the “Intelligence Community” budget, listed the cost of purchasing “4 Nos Presidential Air Craft” at $210 million, which is about N31.5 billion, although only N23.4 billion is to be provided for it in this fiscal year.

The Minister of Information and Communications, Dora Akunyili, said after the weekly FEC meeting which was chaired by Mr Jonathan, that the purchase price for the two falcon aircraft is $102.2million while the Gulfstream will be bought for $53.3million.

“Mr. President briefed council through a memo on the negotiations recently concluded with the representative of Dassault Aviation of France and Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation of USA, for the purchase of two new Falcon aircraft and one Gulfstream G550 respectively, for the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) and sought council’s approval to purchase the three aircrafts,” Mrs. Akunyili said.

She added that, following a presidential directive, the definite purchase agreement was negotiated and signed on the May 26 this year with the aviation companies.

Good bargain

She said, “the committee set up for the negotiation of the acquisition of the aircraft was able to get a reduction of the sum of $2.9 million from the proposed price of the two Falcon 7X aircraft and a reduction of the sum of $5.4 million from the offer price of the Gulfstream G550 aircraft”.

One of the Falcons will be delivered soon enough while the rest planes wait till next year. “The first Falcon aircraft being purchased will be delivered by the end of the fourth quarter of 2010, while the second Falcon and the Gulf stream G550 will be delivered by the end of second quarter 2011” Mrs Akunyili said.

She disclosed that “the sum of N21 billion has been provided in the 2010 Appropriation for outright purchase of two Falcon 7X aircraft and one G550 to be delivered as agreed in the contract.”

Vice chancellor Receives death threats.

soloheater — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:35:37 +0000

The Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Boniface Egboka, said yesterday he has received several death threats over the strict measures his administration has taken to restore discipline in the university as part of measures to restore the pride of the institution.

Mr Egboka, who announced this at the inauguration of five principal officers of the university, however said he was undeterred by those threats and vowed to not only continue with the reforms but to insist on their enforcement. “Many staff have welcomed these measures while a few have not,” he said. “I have received terrible and warning text messages and threats. I am not worried. I am rather strengthened. I believe we are handling issues well. Let us work together in the interest of all, particularly our students, for whom we are here. We make sure we are fair and firm and follow the tenets of due process and fair hearing to the letter.”

Under the institution’s new code of conduct, erring staff will henceforth be sanctioned for offences that include lateness to work, dereliction of duty, plagiarism, admission racketeering, result manipulation, bribing of lecturers and absenteeism, among others. The vice-chancellor, who frowned at a situation where he did the work of some of his principal officers because they were either lazy or incompetent, warned that he would hand over most of his responsibilities to deputy and deans of faculties and concentrate on attracting goodwill and funds to the institution. “I can’t continue to supervise staff on routine matters,” he said. “They must be able to do their jobs. No erring staff or student will be spared henceforth.”

The principal officers inaugurated include the Registrar, Chukwudi Okeke; Bursar, James Agu; Director of Information, Emma Ojukwu; Director of Sports, Peter Makasi; and Internal Auditor, Gozie Egwuatu. The institution’s pro-chancellor, Sena Ukpanah, also advised the staff to redouble their efforts towards actualising the goals of the university’s management. “Managers should be conscious of the part they play,” he said. “They should recognize and accept human weakness, laugh at themselves and avoid the temptation to play God. Leadership is about self-awareness, recognizing one’s failing and developing modesty, humility and humanity.

CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT::Abuja high Court gets 2 stoppage suits.

soloheater — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:29:54 +0000

CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT:Abuja high Court gets 2 stoppage suits.

ABUJA—THE Federal High Court has so far received two suits challenging the amendment of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly.

A News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, investigation revealed that 50 clauses in the 1999 Constitution were altered by the National Assembly while 29 of the amendments were approved by the required 24 state assemblies. Consequently, the National Assembly ordered that the 1999 Constitution (First Amendment) Bill 2010 be gazetted as an Act of the National Assembly.

One of the suits in the court’s registry came from a constitutional lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, who is challenging the National Assembly for allegedly violating the 1999 Constitution in its amendment process.

He is also seeking judicial order to nullify the purported alteration or amendment and the gazetting of the Constitution Act 2010 on the grounds that the procedure that led to it had fundamentally and viciously violated the constitution.

Aturu also applied for an order of the court to prohibit the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, SAN, from executing or implementing the amended portions of the constitution having been allegedly done in manifest breach of the constitution.

The second suit filed by the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, wants the court to resolve some issues before the new constitution could be adopted and implemented.
Top on the prayers of the NBA is whether the constitution can be deemed valid as a legal document without the assent of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Rickey Tarfa, SAN, who led Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and Yemi Candide-Johnson, SAN, to file the application, said their prayer was to stop the implementation of the constitution.

Tarfa said: “We are saying that until it is assented to by the President in line with the 1999 Constitution, it should not be implemented.”

The suit named the Senate president, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the National Assembly, the clerk of the National Assembly and the Attorney General of the Federation as defendants.

In the originating summons, the association raised three posers in which it sought to know whether, within the context of the 1999 Constitution, a provision of the constitution could be altered in a manner other than by an Act of the National Assembly.

It also sought to affirm whether any alteration of the constitution could be effected through an Act of the National Assembly.

The association also sought the court to declare that on a proper construction of some sections of the constitution, for the National Assembly to alter any of its provisions, its passage by the Senate and the House of Representatives must receive the assent of the President.

According to Tarfa, the NBA also wants the court to declare that the Act for the alteration of the 1999 Constitution purportedly passed by both chambers cannot take effect as amendments to the constitution in the absence of the assent of the President.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the two suits.

President Jonathan Reshuffles Cabinet, Appoints 3 New Ministers.

soloheater — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:18:40 +0000

President Jonathan Reshuffles Cabinet, Appoints 3 New Ministers.

The presidency has announced a cabinet reshuffle. The former Minister of State for Finance, Remi Babalola is now the Minister for Special Duties, while the former Minister for Special Duties, Caleb Olubolade, takes over as the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory.

New ministers have also been appointed; they include Kenneth Gbagi as the Minister of State for Education, Yabawa Lawan as the minister of State for Finance and Salamatu Suleiman as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
The new ministers were sworn-in today at the Federal Executive Council Meeting. NEXT had reported exclusively last week that President Goodluck Jonathan was going to reshuffle his cabinet.

Police need N1.5trillion, Namadi Sambo implies.

soloheater — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 04:01:10 +0000

About N1.5 trillion is needed by the federal government to carry out the long awaited police reforms. Already, the police affairs ministry has contributed N70 billion.

The Vice President, Namadi Sambo disclosed this while speaking at a retreat for Police high command and officials of the Ministry of Police Affairs, held in Abuja.

He added that it was common knowledge, that the image of the Nigeria Police has suffered so much damage due to poor human rights records and other sundry reasons.

According to him, community policing which has gained worldwide acceptance, entails that police personnel of all ranks undergo periodic training and re-training both at home and abroad in order to acquire ethical and professional re-orientation. He further emphasised the importance of human rights issues and urged the police to prioritise the implementation of Community Policing and not regard human rights issues as a matter of perception, adding that Civil Society Groups especially Amnesty International has been critical of the Police as a non respecter of human rights.

He decried what he called, “many years of underfunding” of the force which “have left us with a Police Force that could not perform its constitutional role effectively. Hence the nation has been bedevilled by problems of insecurity and violent crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery and pipe line vandalism.”

Mr. Sambo said, it was because the government was determined to reform the force that it initiated, the M.D. Yusuf Committee on Police Reform, which the administration has accepted its recommendations and the cost implementation of the reforms which is to the tune of N1.5 trillion and will last for a total of six years.

In his remark, the Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Waziri, noted that the Nigeria Police Force which is saddled with the constitutional right of providing security to the lives and property of the citizenry could not creditably discharge this role because of the eroded capacity, which the Force has been subjected to over the years.

He however, registered his earlier distaste for the police force before he became minister.

He noted that the Nigerian society has undergone fundamental transformation in several respects over nearly half a century and regrettably, the Nigerian Police has not kept pace with this rapid transformation.

Mr. Waziri disclosed that the Bill to establish the Police Reform Fund under the Chairmanship of the Vice President has been passed by the National Assembly as well as the Bill to convert the Police Academy at Wudil is already before the Senate for consideration.

The police reform idea has been long in coming, as Kenny Martins had during the Obasanjo administration set up a police Equipment foundation which ran into lots of problems and led to his arrest in April 2008 over allegations of mismanagement of over N50 billion belonging to the Foundation.

The foundation was first set up in 2006 as Presidential Committee on Police Equipment Fund to raise funds was for equipping the police.

The committee was accused of taking over the leadership of the committee wrongfully and appropriating its functions without being answerable and accountable to anyone and the foundation also reportedly spent over N5 billion on car gifts in the guise of strengthening national security.

Field only Northerners, ACF tells PDP & others

soloheater — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:56:32 +0000

KADUNA—THE Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday made a u-turn, asking all the political parties in the country to field northerners as presidential candidates in the 2011 elections.

Despite its earlier decision to distance itself from zoning because the issue is not a constitutional matter, ACF in its new position said the practice of zoning was in the interest of justice and fair play in the country.

Zanfara state delegation during a visit to the Aso Rock

Delivering his opening address entitled “Viability of ACF as a vehicle of northern hegemony and its limit” during its round-table conference on August 5, 2010, National Chairman of the Forum, Gen. I. B. M. Haruna, had emphasised that the constitution of the association did not allow it to engage in partisan politics, hence it would not dabble into the controversies surrounding zoning.

Haruna had noted that there was little or nothing that ACF could do as the matter fell within the purview of a political party which was designing how to share power as it deemed fit.

Justifying his stand on the issue, Haruna said: “In as much as recent political events have given rise to questioning the role, purpose and limits to the role of the ACF in the political ferment engendered by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in post Obasanjo’s regime and the passing away of President Umaru Yar’Adua, the current debates on zoning was not the same with the Obasanjo’s Constitutional Reform Agenda which was to promote his third term agenda and subsequent self succession.”

According to him then, the issue the later day zoning and rotation (PDP agreement), can be enforced by the PDP or amended by them as they had done in the past.

PDP zoning and rotation

He said: “PDP, zoning and rotation do not call for any amendment of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria or even the Electoral Law though it is the custom of our political practice sharing power. It, therefore, remains in the purview and political perspective of a political party to share power as they deem fit in adopting as their tactics for cohesion of their party, for promoting federal character, national unity and party loyalty.

“Therefore, the ACF as an umbrella body of the historical Northern Region can only fulfill its purpose as set out in its Constitution.”

However, in a three paragraph communiqué issued after an emergency meeting of the Forum which was presided over by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, General Jerry Useni, in Kaduna, yesterday, ACF stated that its support for zoning was because, this would ensure the preservation of the principle of federal character in the country.

The communiqué read: “The emergency joint meeting of ACF took place on August 10, 2010 in the conference Hall of the Forum’s office in Kaduna. The meeting was well attended and resolved to issue the following communique:

“It was resolved that all political parties should endeavour to field northern candidates for the 2011 presidential elections.

“This is very important and necessary in order to ensure the principle of federal character, which has become part and parcel of our political culture. All political parties and public organizations should continue to uphold the practice of zoning in the interest of social justice, equity, fairness and stability of a united Nigeria.

“The meeting also commended the (Federal) Government for appointing credible persons, such as Professor Attahiru Jega, at the helms of affairs of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. These have gone in no small measure to rekindle the hope and confidence of Nigerians in INEC’s capacity to conduct free and fair elections.

Furthermore, the meeting urged the government to provide INEC with all the necessary support for the 2011 elections.”

Senate Ratifies N87 billion for INEC

soloheater — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:45:03 +0000

The Senate has approved a supplementary budget of N87.7 billion for the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC)to aid the commission in organizing credible elections in 2011.

The approval is N2 billion less than the N89.59 billion the electoral body had requested. Following a meeting of INEC officials and INEC committee members of both the House of Representatives and Senate, parties agreed to cut down the amount.

“At the end of our meetings, we looked at the budget thoroughly and saw that there were areas in which we needed to give serious attention like transportation and logistics,” Ayogu Eze, the senate’s spokesman said, adding

“We moved money around and put money in crucial areas and made a saving of N2 billion.”

Wage increase: Research workers give FG a final Proposition.

soloheater — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:36:41 +0000

OVER 60 Research Institutes, colleges and agriculture and allied institutions across the country, yesterday in Abuja, gave a 7-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to conclude stalled negotiations over wage increase and payment of outstanding monetisation arrears, among others, or the entire research institutes nationwide would be shut down.

At the end of its meeting, leaders of the workers under the umbrella of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Related Institutions, NASU, expressed disappointment over the refusal of the Federal Government negotiation team to continue and conclude negotiation with the unions in the sector.

The unions lamented that the council viewed with dismay, the non-payment of the balance of monetization arrears by the Federal Government, despite the quick intervention of the labour minister on the dispute.

According to them, “the council felt disturbed and disappointed at the Federal Government negotiation team refusal to continue and conclude negotiation with the unions and observed that as a result of this position, its members have remained restive to the extent that they are agitating for a total showdown with the Federal Government on the grounds that the sector has been totally neglected.

House of Reps aspirant shot dead in Benin.

soloheater — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:25:57 +0000

In Abeokuta, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, 73, moved quickly on Monday to announce that he is still alive and well, on the back of the death in Benin of Oghogho Omorogbe, 34, a House of Representatives aspirant murdered at the weekend.

Five gunmen shot Omorogbe dead in his residence in Ugbor four days after he launched his campaign.

The incident has shattered the peace and tranquility in the political firmament of Edo State.

Omorogbe, who studied engineering at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), told journalists in Benin last Tuesday of his desire to contest on the platform of the Action Congress (AC).

He held a rally in Umagbai on the Benin-Ehor Road on Saturday where he formally declared his ambition.

Moments after he returned home, apparently trailed from the rally, the gunmen murdered him at about 8.30 p.m, despite pleas from his wife and brother for them to spare his life.

They shot him several times at close range.

Omorogbe was taken to hospital where he was confirmed dead.

Police Public Relations Officer, Peter Ogboi, confirmed the incident but said he did not have the details.

Omorogbe declared to journalists on Tuesday that he was offering himself and his conscience to serve the people of Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon Federal Constituency, describing it as a divine calling he could not ignore.

He knocked past and present representatives of the constituency who he said gave “unfulfilled promises.”

Omorogbe was until his death a member of the board of Edo Broadcasting Service inaugurated last week by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

He left behind his wife and their one-month-old baby.

To quash the rumour of his own death on Monday, which sent shivers down the spines of many, especially the South West, Obasanjo reacted in a telephone interview, saying first in Yoruba: “Nkankan o semi, kokoko lara mile bi ibon; ab’oo wa bami memu.”

Translated into English, it means: “I’m hale and hearty; nothing untoward has happened to me; will you come over and have a mug of palm wine with me.”

He then switched into English, adding: “I think you can recognise my voice, I am at Agbeloba, in Abeokuta here, I have heard the rumour too.

“Thank you for taking the trouble to find out. I understand that some of you have called Alhaji (his chief detail).”

Obasanjo, a retired General aged 73, prides himself on good health, boosted by regular exercise.

“I dey kampe,” (I am as fit as a fiddle) was his refrain whenever anyone asked if he was healthy enough when he was in Aso Rock.

He had given out one of his daughters in marriage on Saturday, 24 hours before the rumour spread like harmattan fire.

Lekan Togunwa, a lecturer at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, a native of Abeokuta North Council like Obasanjo, was among those who called Daily Independent to enquire about his death.

“What did you hear of Obasanjo, have you heard the rumour?” he asked.

The old man is fine, Togunwa was told.