Telling Israel No: Obama's Bold Move

PARIS — President Barack Obama, who vowed to revive the Arab-Israeli peace process at the start of his term, has begun with a direct and public challenge to Israel’s latest plan to build new settlements in East Jerusalem.

It’s a risky move that has already provoked a sharp rebuke from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But it is hard to see how the peace process could move forward if Washington had remained silent.

Mr. Obama picked a small but symbolic issue, a 20-unit housing project on the site of the former Shepherd Hotel, sparking a full-blown diplomatic standoff. Just days after the United States objected to the project, the European Union, Russia and France did the same.

This gambit puts the settlement issue at the center of the table, even before the next round of Arab-Israeli negotiations starts — if it ever does. The downside is that it might only serve to harden Israel’s stance, without softening Arab positions.

The stalemate in the Middle East needs a new approach. By opening the most sensitive dossier first, Mr. Obama has delivered to Israel its first dose of tough love since the administration of President George H.W. Bush.

There can be no so-called two-state solution that doesn’t take into account the famous “facts on the ground,” created by Israel over international objections. At issue is the fate of about 300,000 Israeli settlers now living in the West Bank, and 190,000 in East Jerusalem.

Neither the United States nor the rest of the world has ever recognized Israel’s claim to the territories — including East Jerusalem, which is mostly Arab — that it captured after its victory in the 1967 Middle East war. By international standards, that makes housing projects for Jewish residents in those areas “settlements.”

The Shepherd Hotel site is a case in point. The most important fact about this particular project is that the building permit was granted July 2, just weeks after the Obama administration first signaled that it would object to any new building in the captured territories.

Israel’s timing couldn’t be more provocative. Giving the green light to the project now, after years of delays, may be part of a larger plan to Balkanize East Jerusalem, splitting neighborhoods in such a way that a future political solution for the city becomes impossible.

Or it might have been intended as a signal that Israel would continue to build as Israel saw fit, no matter what Washington said.

Either way, it is “unhelpful,” as Condoleezza Rice said as secretary of state in 2005 about other unilateral steps taken by Israel in East Jerusalem. That was her polite, and not very effective, way of telling Israel to hold off.

The Obama administration’s call for a freeze on new settlement construction has been unambiguous. The United States “wants to see a stop to settlements — not some settlements, not outposts, not ‘natural growth’ exceptions,” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said on May 27. She could have added “not in East Jerusalem,” which was the point of a message about the Shepherd Hotel project delivered this month to the new Israeli ambassador to the United States.

Israel’s reaction was just as clear: An undivided Jerusalem is and will always be the capital of Israel. “Our sovereignty over it cannot be challenged,” Mr. Netanyahu said at a July 19 cabinet meeting. No one, he added, has the right to tell Jews where they can live in their own capital city.

Mr. Obama, as a candidate, promised to support Jerusalem’s status as the undivided capital of Israel. What the boundaries of the city will end up being depends on negotiations.

The Israeli government has tried to change the issue: Dan Meridor, an Israeli government minister, accused the Obama administration of breaking with an agreement made in 2004 with President George W. Bush.

But the Israelis themselves have “not fully” lived up to that agreement, in the words of Elliot Abrams, a National Security Council adviser in the second Bush administration. One of the four brokered points called for a halt to government subsidies for settlers. Those have in fact continued.

Challenging the Israelis is a requirement for any U.S. administration interested in serious peacemaking in the Middle East, said Aaron David Miller, a scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, who was an adviser on the region to several U.S. secretaries of state.

This time, both Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Obama have “climbed up a very big tree,” Mr. Miller said. “They can stay there and scream, they can climb down or they can make a deal.”

Mr. Obama is signaling that there can be no deal as long as Israel tries to get away with creating more “facts on the ground.” Breaking the stalemate requires inflicting some pain, he has determined, even if it means hurting the United States’ best ally in the Middle East.

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Ohakim: Inside Story of My Return to PDP

mo State Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, has opened up on why he returned to his original party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), pointing to calls by stakeholders and an overwhelming majority of the people of the state on him to do so.
He left the party for the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) on which platform he contested and won the state governorship seat in the April 28, 2007 rescheduled election in the state.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with THISDAY in Owerri, Imo State capital, Ohakim also revealed that over 90 per cent of the Imo political elite were members of the PDP and therefore the best way to unite them was for him as the governor to move to the dominant platform, adding that his administration could neither afford disunity nor distraction at this stage.
He stated that the resolution passed by the state House of Assembly (which is 99 per cent PDP) calling on him to return to the PDP after the appellate court had ratified his election as a way of further cementing the harmony between the Legislature and the Executive arms in the state helped sway him to take the decision.
Besides, he disclosed that his moving back to his old party was a way of keeping faith with the promise he made to the PDP leadership when he was endorsed by it in the 2007 governorship election that he would return to the party in due course after the election.
He, however, clarified that the deal, which made it possible for the PDP machinery to be fully deployed in his support at the poll, was neither written nor had any precondition attached to it, adding that his promise to return was based on trust and faith.
The Imo governor said that lack of consensus within the political class was at the root of the crisis and instability that afflicted the PDP and the state before and during the last general election in 2007.
His leaving the PDP for the PPA to contest the election, according to him, was necessitated by the crisis, while his return to the PDP more than two years after it became imperative in order to halt the crisis and heal the wounds it inflicted on the Imo polity.
The governor explained that he consulted extensively with Imo stakeholders and the people before arriving at the decision to move back to the PDP.
While stressing that the defection goes beyond partisan politics, he said it was the Imo people, and not him, who decided that the political realignment should take place.
“With the event of Saturday, we have redefined politics in Imo State the way our people desire,” he pointed out.
The governor stated that the need to render quality service to the people of the state and enhance their well-being should override party affiliation and partisan considerations.
According to him, the struggle for political power should in no way impede his government’s march towards giving Imo a vibrant economy and creating the much needed jobs for the youths.
Ohakim, who was a founding member of PDP in Imo State in 1998, explained his decision to return to the old base to THISDAY this way: “I wish to state that my return was motivated by the need to provide for the people of Imo State, an atmosphere to heal the wounds inflicted on their collective psyche before and during the April 2007 general election. And in this regard, I believe the first thing to do is to restore elite consensus among the political class. It was the breakdown of elite consensus that was the root cause of the crisis we witnessed in the immediate days before the April 2007 general election. We are still living with that crisis. It is the crisis of confidence among the political class and no society makes progress under such an atmosphere.”
Ohakim stressed that the best way to consolidate on the various achievements already recorded by his administration was to find a common platform - a platform that has more latitude to accommodate a broader segment of the polity.
After a thorough survey, he said no other platform was found that could provide better opportunity for aggregation than the PDP.
He said: “So, we are saying we want to aggregate under the PDP to consolidate the gains we have made collectively in the last two years. It could have been any other party. But today, the reality on ground is that the PDP offers the most robust accommodation to provide service to the good people of Imo State.”
Ohakim said he decided to stand on the strong platform of the PDP to join hands with the vast majority of the stakeholders to rebuild the Imo polity, adding that “the bulk of the elite we want to harness are in the PDP”.
With the Imo State House of Assembly that is 99 per cent PDP having passed a resolution inviting him to return to the PDP and the vast majority of the Imo elite and stakeholders having done the same, the governor said he had no option than to answer their calls.
He explained that he consulted the wider spectrum of Imo stakeholders and people before arriving at the decision to move back to the PDP.
He declared: “It is the Imo people who have decided that this political realignment must take place. With the event of Saturday, we have redefined politics in Imo State the way our people desire.”
He threw more light on why he returned to PDP saying, “It is the Ecclesiastes that said there is time for everything under the sun. I agree and I believe that now is the time to take hard and courageous decisions to secure as well as ensure the political stability, economic progress, peace and unity in Imo State. Therefore, the action I have taken in re-joining PDP is clearly beyond politics. Again, our service to the good people of Imo should not be unduly subjected to the whims and caprices of politics and politicians. The struggle for political power should in no way impede our march towards giving Imo an economy and creating the much needed jobs for our teeming unemployed youths.”
The governor said: “Since Imo is not an island unto itself, we should be able to find synergy with the rest of the country. Again, it happens that over 90 per cent of the states of the federation are PDP. More importantly, we want to be able to fully share in the vision of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.”
He expressed the belief that the President had a good sense of mission in growing our democracy, pointing out that he had demonstrated an uncommon attribute as a true democrat. “The reason we failed to achieve much in the first eight years of our new democracy was that many of the people at the helm of affairs were not committed to enthroning the tenets of true democracy. And whether anybody likes it or not, the truth is that we will not make any progress until we begin to predicate the whole essence of our collective existence on rule of law as is currently being espoused by the President,” he said.
On whether he had weighed the legal implications of his crossover to the PDP especially against the backdrop of a threat by the National Leader and Chairman, Board of Trustees of PPA, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, to drag him to court, he said he was not losing sleep about it.
His words: “We are in a serious business. Politics is not a market place. We have had other governors in this dispensation who crossed to other parties. Dr. Kalu himself left the PDP which elected him in 1999 and 2003 to form PPA. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar left the PDP to run for election under the Action Congress. He was challenged and you know the ruling of the courts on that matter. In any case, we do not want to go into that; we believe we are doing the right thing. The personal fears or prejudices of one or two fellows should not prevent the generality of the people from pursuing a cause they believe will be to their overall interest.”
On the implications of his defection against the backdrop of a case pending at the Appeal Court in which the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Chief Martin Agbaso, is challenging the cancellation of April 14, 2007 election, he said he took into consideration the pending legal suit before leaving the PPA for the PDP.
He said: “Let me answer your question this way. First, I want to place on record that I have faced the largest number of petitions and protests arising from the 2007 general elections. I had to cope with 18 electoral cases in all and that is a record by any standard. Some of the cases were frivolous and some were quite daring, but the important thing is that I have always prevailed at the end. It is the hand of God not my power as a person.
“It is only the constitutional case between Martin Agbaso and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that is still pending at the court. With respect to that case, many people are confusing the issues. What I’m saying is that people should be conversant with what the constitution and the laws of Nigeria say. I am not averse to people going to court to challenge the action that I have taken. I have seen that there is the possibility of people challenging and I am moving with my head.”
Ohakim said as far as he knew, “we don’t have any tribunal matter outstanding in the court. The case that is pending is between Martin Agbaso and INEC. He did not sue me or the party. PPA is not a party in the suit. It is Agbaso as a person versus INEC. I understand his party, the APGA, is not even a party to the suit either.”
The full interview will be published tomorrow.

57 LGs/LCDAs: I ’ll deal with Fashola... - Yar’Adua - As traditional rulers back Lagos gov

PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua, on Tuesday, in Abuja, gave reasons why he would move against Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State over the controversial 37 local development council areas in the state.

But the traditional rulers in the Lagos State have expressed support for Governor Fashola, urging him to retain the status quo in relation to the Federal Government ultimatum.

Speaking with journalists before travelling to Brazil on a state visit, the president said, however, that before taking any action, he would give Governor Fashola the opportunity of resolving the logjam through dialogue.

He, however, added that the governor would be compelled to revert to the original 20 local government-structure after talks might have failed. He said the matter went beyond the issue of ultimatum.

He said: “I don’t know what ultimatum. I don’t think the issue between the Federal Government and the Lagos State translates as ultimatum.

“What has happened was that I wrote to the Lagos State governor, drawing his attention to the fact that both himself and myself have sworn to preserve, protect and defend the constitution of this country and that the action of the Lagos State Government and the state INEC was unconstitutional, because the constitution provides for only 20 local governments in Lagos State and I advised the Lagos State governor to take steps to rectify this unconstitutional act.

“He replied me, quoting the State Statutes and putting forward his legal position that they did not violate the constitution. I have referred his reply to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to study the reply and advise me.

“What I am determined to do is that what is constitutional must be adhered to. So if the argument put forward cannot stand on the violation of the constitution, I will invite him to discuss further and dialogue, so that this can be resolved peacefully.

“But the bottomline is that, the constitution cannot be compromised. The constitution must not be violated. If at the end of the day, dialogue fails to resolve the situation, then the Federal Government will be forced to take measures that will ensure that the Lagos State government, its SIEC and other agencies are compelled to abide by the constitution. This is a process that will take some few months and I hope that we will be able to resolve the issue through constructive dialogue.

“Our democracy is still young. We are bound to make mistakes here and there but the important thing is that we must work hard to ensure that the rule of law works in this country. We know it is not easy but it is important to our survival.”

On the crisis plaguing the education sector, Yar’Adua explained: “We have been doing everything possible to stop the crisis. I have met with their officials and the vice-president to re-assess the situation on the crisis with ASUU to see what step, again, the government can take to bring it to an end.

“We are anxious; we are, disturbed that we should keep our students in the universities at home for a very long period of time. “One central issue of the disagreement is not even that of negotiation of salaries but the issue of signing an agreement with ASUU. It is this collective bargaining and signing agreement with ASUU that is against our laws and legal system.

“ASUU is an organisation with membership cutting across federal and state governments. The Federal Government cannot sign an agreement on behalf, for instance, Lagos State or Kano State, to dictate what they are going to pay to lecturers in their own universities.

“The laws of this country have provided for separation of powers. The Lagos State University or Kano State University belongs to the state.

They employ the lecturers there; they pay them; they discipline them; they promote them; they also pay their salaries, allowances and everything and we don’t have control over their funds. Their funds are appropriated by their state Houses of Assembly. We can’t direct them by law to say that they should pay their lecturers so so amount of salaries.

This is what we are telling them, that let us have your agreement. We are not opposed to it but we will not sign a collective agreement to cut across all tiers of government, because we don’t have the constitutional power to do that.

“This is very clear. In this nation, we must respect our laws and this is one of the main points of contention. We told them that for federal universities, the Federal Government will provide the money. But for the state governments, let them go and negotiate with the state governments.

“If Rivers can pay the staff of Rivers State University that amount, may be Kano cannot afford to pay the same amount. Meanwhile, Lagos State Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, on Tuesday, rose in support of the position of the state government on, the demand to return the state to 20 local government areas, advising President Yar’Adua to seek redress in court instead of resorting to threats.

At a fully attended meeting at the Regency Hall, Ikeja, the traditional rulers and chiefs, under the chairmanship of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, produced a 19-point communique, which they proceeded to hand over to Governor Fashola at the State House, Ikeja.

In it, the traditional rulers viewed the ultimatum to the Lagos State government as uncalled for and provocative in view of the fact that the Supreme Court had long ruled that the creation of the local council development areas was in order.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, on Tuesday, condemned the sectarian violence which has led to loss of many lives.

He said the unnecessary loss of human lives and the destruction of property as a result of militants attacks were reprehensible.

Ban’s spokesperson, Farhan Haq, told journalists in response to a question that the secretary-general expressed the hope that “those behind the attacks will be identified and brought to justice in accordance with the law.”

Unholy war: Islamist militants launch fresh attacks

•4,000 displaced in Maiduguri – NEMA
From TIMOTHY OLA, Maiduguri
Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Corpses of Islamist militants killed by security agents in Maiduguri on Monday •Photo: The Sun Publishing

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No fewer than 4,000 people have been displaced in several parts of Borno State, following the violent attacks by Islamist militancy group, led by Mohammed Yusuf, just as panic gripped residents over fresh attacks on military formations and perceived enemies of the sect on Tuesday morning.

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) told journalists in Maiduguri on Tuesday that the displaced persons were at the Maimalari and Giwa Barracks, as well as the state Police Command headquarters.

NEMA Assistant Zonal Coordinator, Apollus Jediel, who was at the Maiduguri Government House to present relief materials to the state Governor, Sen. Ali Sheriff, said the zonal office was directed by its headquarters in Abuja to bring food items and beddings to the state government for distribution to the displaced persons, regretting the unfortunate incident, which had put the people of the state in fear.

The insurgence of the militants entered its second day in Maiduguri on Tuesday as the group mounted roadblocks at Galadima junction up till Railway Terminus area, which serves as their operational base.
Residents living around the area were seen escaping to other parts of the metropolis believed to be out of the control of the sect. A police station was also burnt.

Daily Sun gathered that about 200 members of the sect invaded the 21 Armored Brigade on Monday night with the intent of killing the Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. KAS Yahaya, but were quickly rounded up and shot by vigilant soldiers.

The combined team of police, SSS and army battled the group in the night as gunshots kept many residents awake throughout the night. By Tuesday morning, some corpses of the radical Islamic sect killed during gun battle with the police were seen in front of the state police headquarters along Jos/Kano.
Already, 6 light armoured tanks with additional soldiers and anti-riot mobile policemen were flown from the 3 Armoured Division in Jos to quell the insurgence.

The operation, which was said to be at the instance of President Yar’Adua was targeted at destroying the enclave of the sect in the metropolis. Sources said the leader of the sect, Malam Mohammed Yusuf, who had earlier planned to escape to the nearest country was persuaded by his lieutenants to stay ‘to complete the holy war’.

As at the time of filing this report, Borno State Governor, Ali Sheriff, was holding security meeting with all security chiefs in the state and the GOC 3 Armoured Division, Jos, Maj. Gen. Saleh Maina, who flew into Maiduguri on Tuesday with the armoured tanks to review the security situation in the state.
Residents wait anxiously to see the end of the crisis and continue their normal activities.

World Sports Mikel signs five-year deal worth N4.7bn

SUPER Eagles midfield pearl John Obi Mikel on Wednesday officially inked a new five-year deal worth £16.8 million (about N4.704 billion) to remain at Chelsea FC of London till 2014.

But the 22-year-old Nigerian, who is thought to be on around £40,000 a week, will see his wages rise to around £70,000 a week after putting pen to paper on a five-year deal.

"It was easy to commit to because I am happy here and when the opportunity came it was good to sign after speaking to the club," Mikel told Chelsea's official website.

"My future with the new manager will be bright and I think we have a good working relationship already. All the managers I have played for here have their own type of systems they want us to play, and whoever comes in will want to change little bits and pieces.
"There is not much to change but they all bring in different views, and the new manager wants us to play in a certain formation which we need to get used to before the season starts."

The new style in question has seen Italian tactician Ancelotti adopt a rigid 4-4-2 formation during pre-season fixtures. That differs from the 4-3-3 option preferred by many of his predecessors, but Mikel insists the Chelsea squad are capable of adapting their game.

"It has been hard work getting back to fitness but we all want to be sharp for the start of the season, training is hard work but we have to do it," he added.

"The new formation doesn't make too much difference to me in defensive midfield, but perhaps it is a little harder as I have to cover more ground for the team, but I feel I am up to the task and I am sure I can do it.”

Nigeria 2010 Budget: FG Benchmarks Oil at $50

The Federal Government yesterday set a benchmark of $50 per barrel of crude oil and four million barrels per day production for the 2010 budget.
It also proposed a budget deficit of N1.026 trillion, representing 3.28 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The deficit represents a slight increase from N836.6 billion in the 2009 budget.
The current budget was benchmarked against $45 per barrel, but it has hovered around $60 lately after a long period of selling even below the benchmark.
Also, it was projected that crude oil production would be 2.29mbpd, but militant activities have hampered output, with the Minister of Petroleum Resou-rces, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, disclosing on Tuesday that the country was losing nearly 1mbpd.
This budget 2010 proposal formed part of the highlights of yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, explained that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua could not attend because he was observing some rest having arrived late night Tuesday from an official trip from Togo.
She said projected oil production would be hinged on the return of peace to the troubled Niger Delta region.
The present oil production capacity of the country, which is put at 1.4 - 1.5mbpd, is caused by activities of militants in the Niger Delta oil region.
Shedding more light on the 2010 budget proposal, Finance Minister Mansur Muhtar explained that the budget would soon be presented to the National Assembly.
According to him, the deficit would be funded from traditional sources, including proceeds of privatisation, signature bonuses as well as from the domestic and foreign markets.
The minister, who did not disclose the total budget for 2010, stated that the high projection in the production capacity for 2010 was based on the fact that necessary infrastructure would have been put in place to ensure efficient functioning of the industry.
The implementation of the amnesty programme offered to militants in the region by President Yar’Adua is also expected to contribute to peace with positive impact on production capacity level.
Muhtar further explained that FEC approved a medium-term revenue and expenditure framework that would guide in the implementation of the 2010 budget with a directive for issuance of budget call circular to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has approved a total of N10.48 billion for the award of contracts for the construction of the permanent headquarters of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).
Lukman explained that the decision to construct a befitting headquarters for PTDF was to provide a conducive working environment for the outfit in view of its important role in the enforcement of local content for the oil and gas sector.
The minister also reacted to the allegation that the siting of the N14 billion Petroleum College at Kaduna was a misplaced priority, arguing that unlike the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Efuru, Delta State, which trains low level manpower in the oil and gas sector, the Kaduna College would train managerial level of manpower in the sector.
He also denied reports that the Federal Government promised to convert the PTI to a university, saying doing so would deny the sector the needed middle level manpower.

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PHCN: Power Supply to Improve by October

Nigerians should expect improved power supply by October this year, the Power Holding Com-pany of Nigeria (PHCN) said yesterday.
There has been a noticeable drop in power supply in the last one month, with many parts of Nigeria going for weeks without electricity.
However, PHCN has given a situation report, with a promise that the power generated by the hydro stations, which stands at 594 megawatts, will hit 1382 megawatts between October and November when water levels are expected to be high.
This, according to the company’s spokesperson, Mrs. Efuru Igbo, would mitigate the abysmal power supply situation.
Although the country currently needs anything between 4000-6000 megawatts to achieve a fairly stable power supply, the current output is estimated at 2000 megawatts because of problems with gas supply.
As at yesterday, the hydro plants at Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro, all in Niger State, generated 127 megawatts, 225 megawatts and 242 megawatts respectively, way below their installed capacities, owing mainly to the fact that they are yet to hit their peak in terms of available water level.
By October to November, she said, Nigerians could expect to enjoy a much improved supply, although she said 75 per cent of electricity generation in the country is based on the thermal power stations currently bedevilled by gas shortage.
Restating the government’s determination to meeting the 6000 megawatts target by December, Igbo said the power utility company was building injection substations throughout Nigeria as well as distribution substations, rehabilitating lines and constructing new lines.
She said all distribution transformers, circuit breakers and isolators had been procured from known manufacturers.
“A majority of the lines materials are in our stores,” she said.
According to her, among the items procured are 7.5MVA to 15MVA transformers and 33/11KV panels with an estimated value of over N2 billion, which will improve voltage level and relieve overloaded transformers and lines.
A document obtained by THISDAY showed that transmission projects were going on various parts of the country such as Niger, Kebbi, Kano, Lagos and Rivers States.
They are to increase the capability of the transmission grid to wheel additional power to the major load centres, reduce technical losses and generally guarantee quality and reliable electricity supply.
In particular, the document said the project in Afam, Rivers State, would provide additional security to the network in that station to evacuate the power from the new Afam VI power station by Shell.
“Similarly, the project in Kebbi at Birnin Kebbi 330/132KV station will not only improve the supply to Kebbi State but also Sokoto State in addition to providing flexibility of operations in the station,” it said.
It also disclosed 16 units of 60MVA transformers had been procured and six of them had already arrived and the clearing process was ongoing, while additional four transformers were on the high seas and would arrive in six weeks.
“These 10 no. transformers will be installed in Alimosho, Ughelli, Kaduna, Abuja, Owerri and Gombe, Maryland, Suleija, Nnewi and Sokoto transmission stations,” the document said. “As soon as the others arrive, they will be distributed to various areas of need. Three 150MVA transformers are also expected in the country within the next three weeks and they will be installed in Akangba, Kaduna (Mondo) and Abuja Katampe transmission stations.”
The PHCN spokesperson said the expansion programme would make areas without power to have access to the utility.
Igbo said owing to the vandalism of gas pipelines which had made gas supply to the power plants inadequate, there had been over-dependence on the available hydro power stations, but noted that the Federal Government had been working hard to make gas available through the gas master plan.
She said given all of the work going on across the country, the attainment of 6000 megawatts was a certainty.

NDIC gives Okiro 48hrs to pay N166m bank debt

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has accused the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mike Okiro, of contributing to the liquidation of Lead Bank Ltd.

NDIC alleged that Okiro contributed to the bank’s insolvency by failing to repay credits of more than N166 million extended to him between 2000 and 2001.

The corporation alleged that Okiro secured the loan to finance a pipeline laying contract that he won from Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), adding that he used his family business enterprise, Hekiro Nigeria Ltd, to obtain the loans.

The police reacted swiftly to the allegation, which they described as "blackmail".

In a July 20 letter to Okiro, NDIC lawyer Mr Okunade Olorundare (SAN), demanded re-payment of the loan within 48 hours. The corporation also accused Okiro of abuse of office and a breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers for using his office to secure the contract.

"Our client informed us that as at January 16, 2006 when the banking licence of Lead Bank Ltd was revoked, Hekiro Nig. Ltd, which was being run as your family business enterprise was indebted to the bank to the tune of N166,597,365.97.

"NDIC as a liquidator of Lead Bank Ltd wrote you a demand letter on May 9, 2007, asking you for proposal on how you would want to liquidate the debt. "By various documents submitted to us by our client, you personally guaranteed the loan by mortgaging your landed property at Abeokuta covered by certificate of occupancy number 022226 in the name of Mike Mbama Okiro, which you obtained while in Ogun State Command of the Police.

"From some of the documents passed to us, you signed as chairman, while in some, you signed as director for Hekiro Nigeria Limited.

"However, despite the fact that you are a police officer and knowing the implication of forging a signature, you signed as Bessy Okiro and which signature is consistent with your true signature as Sir Mike Okiro on some of the documents available to us.

"Apart from signing as Bessy Okiro, we have discovered that you did not declare your interest in Hekiro Nigeria Ltd to the Code of Conduct Bureau as required by the 1999 Constitution," the letter said.

Hekiro Nigeria Ltd, NDIC said, maintained a corporate account number 32620009260 with the Port Harcourt, Rivers State branch of the bank where the facilities were drawn.

The corporation said Okiro’s international passport number AO696925 was used in opening the account.

NDIC contended that after series of efforts to recover the loan, Okiro’s wife, Hera, paid N5million vide a Fidelity Bank cheque number 00553907 on April 30.

"Our instruction, therefore, is to demand for the immediate payment of the outstanding sum of N161,597,365.97 which was the accrued debt as at January 16, 2006.

"You are to deposit the above sum in our chambers or pay directly to NDIC, the liquidator of Lead Bank Ltd, within 48 hours from today.

"In addition to the above, it is our client’s further instruction to drag you before the Code of Conduct Tribunal and equally to write to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and related agencies to prosecute you.

"You are to comply with the above demand immediately, else, we shall carry out our client’s instructions to the hilt," the letter said.

Contacted, the Police Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, said the letter was directed to Okiro personally, adding that the alleged transaction was private not official.

Ojukwu said he recalled that the police had charged the NDIC management to court for alleged conspiracy and fraudulent deals with the recovered fund of Fortune Bank (in liquidation).

He said the allegation against Okiro could be a "hit back" by the corporation.

The police filed charges at an Abuja High Court against NDIC Managing Director, Mr Ganiyu Ogunleye and its Executive Director of Operations, Prof. Peter Umoh.

Also charged are two members of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) -Interim Management Committee for Fortune Bank, Dr Joe Emerson, and Mr Innocent Ilozumba, a manager with Fidelity Bank, Adedapo Agboola and a former chief accountant of Fortune Bank, Pius Obeleke.

The police alleged that Ogunleye, Umoh, Emerson and Ilozumba unilaterally granted 60 per cent interest waiver on the indebtedness of Nasarawa State Government to Fortune Bank without the approval of the then Finance Minister, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman.

They were also accused of dishonesty in depositing the N1.058 billion recovered from Nasarawa State Government with Fidelity Bank, instead of a designated Fortune Bank Account number 023-01236-41-55-3 with CBN.

The corporation, however, submitted that the criminal charge was "frivolous and a crude attempt to intimidate its officials and divert their attention from recovering the outstanding debt of N161.9 million, owed by Okiro’s family to Lead Bank".

NDIC said on November 12, last year, Okiro’s wife met with its officials and sought an interest concession on the loan which was not granted.

Nigeria Twenty injured as trailer crushes vehicles in Lagos

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• Twenty injured as trailer crushes vehicles in Lagos

Twenty injured as trailer crushes vehicles in Lagos

• By Tajudeen Adebanjo
• Published Today
• News
• Rating: Unrated

No fewer than 20 people were injured yesterday in Lagos when a trailer crushed four vehicles on the

Smithereens of glasses, mangled vehicles and people writhing in pains.

That was the scenario yesterday in Lagos when a trailer carrying two containers crushed four cars and one commuter bus at Jakande Bus Stop on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

No fewer than 20 people were injured in the accident, which occurred a few minutes past 2:00p.m

Eyewitnesses said the trailer rammed into the vehicles that were held up in a traffic jam as a result of the potholes on the highway, near Mile 2.

Confronted with the ugly sight of smashed vehicles and the injured, the driver of the trailer with registration number XT 101 MUS allegedly ran away.

The victims, including two children of about five and seven years, who were in a Nissan Bluebird with registration number CV 293 JJJ, were taken to an unknown hospital by the rescue team of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).

One of the owners of the cars involved in the accident, Mr. Rotimi Akilo, said when he searched the trailer, he saw a way bill which belonged to HBX Nigeria.

Akilo, who said he was coming from Alaba International Market, rode in a Honda car marked LS 107 KJA. He said he also found the driver’s mobile telephone.

A source said the fleeing trailer driver was being chased by officials of the Nigerian Customs Service.

"The trailer came from behind with speed and crushed all the vehicles you are seeing. The two air bags of my car are out," said Akilo.

He blamed the bad road and the Customs officers for the incident.

Said Akilo: "Immediately it happened,I lost consciousness. I just discovered people were bringing me out of the car. Right now, I am feeling pains on my chest. I learnt that the driver ran away, but I have been able to pick some documents inside the trailer, including the way bill."

An eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Ibrahim, told The Nation how he rescued the two children, a boy and a girl.

"I had to break the back wind screen before I could gain access into the car to rescue the kids and the driver. The commercial bus was fully loaded. One of the people inside the bus was seriously injured. A guy broke his waist. The bone came out from here (pointing to his waist)".

The owner of the commercial bus marked XR 615 LND, Mr. John Mbajito, said 13 passengers and his conductor were involved in the accident.

Mbajito, who hails from Anambra State, said it took about 20 minutes before he regained consciousness.

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Nigeria China to Issue Visas to Illegal Nigerian Immigrants

Chinese government had agreed to issue exit visas to Nigerians resident in China illegally, to enable them leave the country without molestation, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The development is coming on the heels of street protests last week, over the death of two Nigerians who jumped out of a window to escape police clampdown of illegal migrants in Guangzhou Province.
This is as Chinese Embassy in Abuja, has said it was yet to receive detailed information on the alleged death of a Nigerian, Emmanuel Egisimba, in the Chinese town of Guangzhou last Wednesday.
The Embassy’s Spokesman, Mr Peng Yijun, said they are still waiting for confirmation and approval from Beijing before any reaction could be sent to that effect.
"There is an agreement in principle with the Chinese authority to issue exit visas to Nigerians who have overstayed without arresting and clamping them into jail,'' Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ayo Olukanni, told NAN yesterday in Abuja.
'This is what the Nigerian mission in China is currently negotiating. The mission is working with the Nigerian community to ensure that the list of those affected is compiled for necessary issuing of the visas,'' he said.
Olukanni denied that two Nigerians died after jumping through a window.
'No Nigerian died. The two people, Mr Ndubusisi Ohaneme sustained some injuries and had been discharged from the hospital, while Emmanuel Okoro, who was in intensive care, is now out and is in stable condition in the hospital,'' he said.
According to Olukanni, nearly 20,000 Africans, including 5,000 Nigerians, reside in the Guangzhou Province, adding that in recent times, the Chinese had embarked on an exercise to `flush' out those staying illegally.
He advised Nigerians against overstaying their visas to avoid harassment from the security personnel of their host countries.

COMMENTS [total: 7]

• my heart is bleeding.
• This is what happens to you when you are a citizen of a failed state. Every year is worse than the preevious one. Very soon Gh...
• Unless foreign governments in Nigeria ensures that Nigerians in their respective countries are accorded reciprocal treatment, ...
• Nigerian youths have become economic refugees in foreign countries leaving behind their country which has all the potential fo...

Post Comment	All comments

With the arrival of Kaka, Ronaldo and new-look Madrid, La Liga seems

The departure of Ronaldinho, arguably the greatest football artist in the last five years, from Barcelona to AC Milan was the sign many football enthusiasts, particularly fans of the English Premier League(EPL), had been waiting for to proclaim that the Spanish La Liga was in decline, and that the Premiership was the best football league in the world. They did not point to the fact that rather than go to one of the several clubs in England that was eagerly looking forward to signing him, he chose to go to Italy, to a club with a rich European history. Fans of the EPL explained that move away, saying he was getting tired, adding weight, and therefore could not stand the sometimes cynical tackles and the huff and puff associated with the Premiership. They were right, so it seems. Week in, week out, Nigerians are tuned to their television sets watching matches of the Premiership. The Nigerian attraction to the EPL was originally made possible by Multichoice’ strategic packaging of the product in such a way as to appeal to a cross-section of people – not only to a football enthusiast, but also people with a passing interest; sometimes the ones with hardly any interest in the game. Soon, most of Nigerians were hooked, and it was this that led to intense bids for the rights to beam matches of the EPL by new rival cab. Now, EPL is available even on local television stations. This attraction of the EPL had spin-offs. Because of the huge attention the league commanded in Nigeria, it was the first league of choice for many Nigerian footballers and those aspiring to, one day, play professional football in Europe. The footballers knew they would be guaranteed a huge audience back home when they play in the Premiership, and being called into the national team would not be so difficult. That is why even players in the Championship, the lower tier of the Premiership, still manage to find their way into the national team, a taboo at some not too long era of Nigeria’s international game history. Also, as a result of the strategic and consistent marketing given the EPL in Nigeria, the tournament has a huge fan base here while its top four clubs’ supportership level has now reached an almost unbelievable level, with hooliganism sometimes associated with match-day conduct. Twenty years ago, when English football matches were available on local television, it did not command this level of followership. But with Multichoice packaging the matches in such a way as to have mass appeal, it became one of the major attractions on television. However, all this may be set for a change for two reasons. One is the movement, which is gathering momentum, of a major chunk of the world’s greatest players, to Spain. And even more importantly, the repackaging of the La Liga content, now exclusively owned by Multichoice. And with the benefit of hindsight, few Nigerians will underrate the power of the southern African company to repackage a tinsel product, at least so in Africa. Barcelona’s triumph over Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United in last season’s UEFA Champions League final is perhaps an indicator of how club footballing events of the nearest future could form shape. In that match, with United looking so primed, and given Ferguson’s mind games, which very rarely fails to work magic in results for him, and throwing in Ronaldo, the reigning FIFA World Footballer of the Year into the equation to raise the ante, it was thought by most analysts that a tough and close encounter was at hand. But what an evenly matched fixture it turned out not to be. It was almost over before it got started. One of the highpoints of the match was petite Messi leaping high up into the night sky to nod in the defence-splitting cross from Xavi. It was a devastating moment for the EPL and United’s fans. Alex Ferguson took it quite well, but moaned that Barcelona refused to release the ball, in reference to the inability of his players to retrieve the ball from the trio of Iniesta, Xavi and Messi. For long spells in the match, United players, their coach and fans were reduced to spectators, watching Barca’s football artists conjuring passes upon passes, moves upon moves. Barcelona proved to the entire world that attacking football could be very effective and sweet to watch when it is hitting the right notes and getting the results. Under the current reality, therefore, where all the first class of the world want to play for Barcelona – and if they cannot be signed by the club, then would prefer any other club in Spain – is set to become the factor that could demystify the Premiership. That is the weapon that Barca’s triumph has added to La Liga over the EPL. In Nigeria, it is a no-brainer to predict that the popularity of La Liga is going to grow in leaps and bounds with this new reality thrown into the total ownership, by Multichoice, of the content. With its expertise in packaging entertainment programmes that has made it the dominant pay television operator in Africa in the last two decades, the screening of La Liga matches is expected to take a new, more robust dimension. Supersport will devote as much time as it did on the Premiership in all the years it solely owned it – in in-depth analyses, focus on players, coaches and clubs, enhanced punditry and even superior match day commentaries – on La Liga. This is why it is safe and rational to surmise that the Premiership might be in for a rough ride in the country in the next few years. The job of repackaging La Liga will even be made easier for this provider by a number of other factors such as the fact that some of Nigeria’s cult players like Ikechukwu brothers, Kalu and Uche, are already playing in it, more Nigerian players are finding their ways to it, and of course the array of talents that will be on display when the new season kicks off. For instance, the league had in the past always boasted the presence of reigning FIFA World Player of the Year, with a few past owners of the crown. Last season, it had no single former champion in the system while the reigning ruler was living in the Premiership. But in the new season, not only will it have the reigning kink in Ronaldo, it will have the immediate past ruler in Kaka; and what more, the ‘King to be’, Messi will also be on call. They will be backed by lots other world class players. So, it can only be natural if the attention of the world’s spectators begin to shift to it. The two matches called ‘el Classico’ between Real Madrid and Barcelona next season will definitely live its name – The Classic – given the calibre of players that would be on parade in just one fixture, and the nations they will represent. Outside that, football followers would really be intrigued in how these two giants fare in all their matches against the rest. They will want to see whether the power of the purse in the transfer market, which Madrid had demonstrated, can translate to diadems. (It must be remembered that this same scenario also happened in England at the dawn of the Premiership becoming the league of choice of the world, after the combination of Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho met at the Chelsea Stamford Bridge junction.) Given all this, it is easy to predict that this next season’s La Liga title would be going to one of the two giants of the system, but it may still defy this prediction given the known temperament of it in the past. The likes of Deportivo La Coruna, Villarreal, and Valencia are capable of springing surprises. With a new President at the helm of affairs at Madrid, the era of the galactico seems back. When Florentino Perez, the architect of the first galactico era was returned unopposed to the presidency of Real Madrid, the hearts of coaches of clubs with the best players in the world must have missed a few beats. Their worst fears would have been borne out by the past activities of the team in the transfer market. And now, after a few months in power, have not these fears been confirmed? They have broken the world transfer record twice in one month – a record that has been standing for nearly a decade, broken twice in one month! After all this, all that is left is for fans to wait with bated breath for the season to begin Post Comment All comments RELATED ARTICLES Pompey Considers Private Jet for Kanu, Utaka 12.31.2007 22:59 Ghana 2008: Malaga Weather Remains Chilly 12.31.2007 22:58 After Ghana Snub, Nigeria Turns to Reggae Boyz 12.30.2008 23:42 Uche’s Coach Boasts 12.30.2008 23:38 ITF Rescues Nigeria from Zero Level 12.30.2008 23:36 Obinna Nsofor’s Annus Mirabilis 12.30.2008 00:58 All Hands Must be on Deck –Chukwu 12.30.2008 00:53 Nigeria Shops for Alternative 12.30.2008 00:50 Ghana 2008 Not Distracting Kanu, Utaka – Redknapp 12.30.2007 22:19 …As NFA Seeks CAN Funds from Saraki 12.30.2007 22:18

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