Stop meddling in political issues, nPDP tells Police

NATIONAL Youth Leader of the break-away new Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, Comrade Timi Frank has accused the police of becoming partisan in the politics of the country and abandoning its primary function of maintaining peace and order.

Comrade Frank advised the men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force to stop meddling in political issues and concentrate on tackling security challenges like kidnapping, terrorism and the insurgence of Boko Haram that have placed the country in a bad light.

The factional nPDP Youth Leader also dismissed the recent reports that the crisis rocking the PDP would soon be over, saying that peace would only return to the party if all the conditions presented by the Alhaji Baraje-led faction were met.

He said, “Reports just coming in indicate that some members of the New PDP in Bayelsa State are being haunted for identifying with the party, and the new PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt being sealed off by police.

New PDP Faction: From Left, New National Secretary and Former Governor of Osun State Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Former Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Adamu, Kwara State Governor Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amechi , New PDP Factional National Chairman Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Kano State Governor Rabiu Kawankwazo and Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido at Press conference announcing new PDP Factional Leadership in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

“I dare say that if this is the case, then it would be a grievous mistake as actions like this will only worsen matters, and therefore urging the Nigeria police to concentrate on security issues and kidnappings ravaging the country instead of joining in internal political matters.

”The constitution of the Federal Republic is clear as it relates to freedom of association, more even as regards the factionalization of a party. It would therefore, amount to outright breach of the constitution as well as abuse of the rule of law and denial of fundamental human rights for persons to be haunted or arrested based on the current crisis in the PDP. We shall resist such attempts as they are simply barbaric,” the youth leader said.

While asking security agencies to remain neutral and not to join in the present squabble in the party, Comrade Frank en joined party stalwarts, supporters and indeed Nigerians to remain steadfast in the bid to enthrone a new order and instill internal democracy within the ruling party.

The Bayelsa State born politician while reacting to the reports credited to the Political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, that the crisis in the PDP would soon be over and that all issues were being addressed alleged that those that instigated the crisis were playing to the gallery.

He said that even though discussions were ongoing, the crisis will be far from over except all the conditions given to the President were met within the stipulated time adding that after which failure to meet with the demands within the stipulated time, the leadership of the new PDP would unveil its next plan of action to its numerous supporters cut across the nation.

Comrade Frank said it was wrong for Gulak to attempt to hoodwink party members to believe that a truce was in sight, while knowing that the truth remained that except some sacrifices were made by the President and his allies, it would be practically difficult for the crisis to be over.

Govt House blockade: It’s act of lawlessness – Amaechi

The Abubakar Kawu Baraje led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP yesterday described the sack of nine  Ministers by President Goodluck Jonathan as that targeted at the ‘rebel’ governors and also designed to victimise those perceived to be supporting them, just as it warned that anarchy looms in the country if leaders of thought failed to intervene.

The Baraje led nPDP also said that the police barring Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi and his visitors Thursday night from accessing the Governor’s residence through the private gate of the State Government House was an indication of the return of the dark days of former Military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, just as the group pleaded with Heads of State, religious leaders, traditional rulers, Civil Society Organisations, among others to  save the country from those it said were working towards plunging it into a state of anarchy.

BLOCKED—Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State complaining of the police action, Friday.

Also, commenting on the issue, Governor Amaechi and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum,  condemned the Police blockade, saying “it is the height of lawlessness and impunity.”

The Governor was returning to Government House, Port Harcourt with the Forum of former Speakers of State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria at about 7.00pm after an inspection of numerous projects executed by his adminstration when it was discovered there was a police roadblock at the Port Harcourt Club junction along Forces Avenue.

The Governor also apologized to the ex-Speakers of Nigeria for the embarrassment by the Rivers Police Command.

“I apologize for the embarrassment you suffered during our return from inspection to various projects.”

He also explained the overriding need for the National Assembly and the various State Houses of Assembly to fashion out a Legislative Framework that would address retirement benefits of the ex-lawmakers and their welfare, especially as former elected public officers who represented their people well and served the nation meritoriously.

Also yesterday in a statement  by the nPDP National Publicity Secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the party said, “No matter the flimsy excuses being given by the Federal Government over the sack of nine of our candidates from the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the truth of the matter is that these innocent Ministers were sacked because they were either nominated by us or sympathetic to our cause.

”We are aware that these Ministers had been under surveillance and denied the necessary tools to work with – in short, they were programmed to fail immediately they were indentified with us. Sadly, these innocent Ministers have been sacked while the most corrupt Ministers whose atrocious activities are well known to Nigerians, are retained. The most pitiable case of these sacked Ministers is that of our mother, the Minister of Housing, Ms Ama Pepple, whose crime was approaching Mr. President to plead with him, even kneeling down to beg him to forgive Gov. Amaechi for whatever sins he is assumed to have committed against him.

”We wish to assure these victimised Ministers that their travails are temporary. They have nothing to be ashamed of; their fate is in the hands of God and their future is very bright. Therefore, rather than being sad, they should count themselves lucky for being part of the struggle to salvage our party and country from the hands of opportunists who are using a political party which they do not know how it was formed to torment and haunt the founders of the party and their supporters.

”We urge former Heads of State, Religious Leaders, Our Royal Fathers, Civil Society Activists and all men of goodwill to intervene before these misguided elements plunge this nation into anarchy. This country belongs to all of us and we can no longer sit and watch an over ambitious cabal intoxicated by power brazenly inflict needless pain on us on a daily basis.

”It started like a joke. After the state governors elected their leader, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of RiversState, in a vote of 19 to 16, defeating Gov. Jonah Jang of PlateauState to retain his position as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), PDP under Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and their collaborators in government preferred the defeated candidate. They improved on this when they engineered five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to attempt to impeach the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dan Amachree, in a House of 32 members with the intention of reconvening few hours later to impeach the Governor.  If not for the swift intervention of the National Assembly, they might have succeeded in achieving their devilish aim without minding the consequences.

”These enemies of democracy did not stop there; they organised and stoned visiting Northern Governors on a solidarity visit to their Rivers State counterpart, not minding the consequences.

”They went ahead to illegally suspend a sitting Governor (Rt. Hon. Amaechi) against the spirit of the PDP Constitution, soon following it with the suspension of Gov. Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State for not picking the calls of the tyrannical National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. As if this was not enough, they went ahead to suspend Senator Andy Uba for winning the Anambra State PDP Governorship Primaries just because they preferred another aspirant. And then from nowhere, they suspended PDP’s former National Vice Chairman, Dr. Sam Jaja!

”Not yet satisfied, these enemies of democracy had the guts to remove the names of Governor Murtala Nyako and that of one of the founders of PDP, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, from the delegates list of Adamawa State for their failed Special National Convention. Haba! What type of politics is this? And these people still want us at our ages to keep quiet and allow them to shave our heads while we do nothing! God forbid!!

”Against the spirit of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that clearly stipulates freedom of association for Nigerians – even the freedom of factionalisation of a political party as stated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), our people are being hounded in various states of the Federation. In flagrant and outright breach of the Constitution and abuse of the rule of law, today our National Secretariat remains sealed by the Police. To add salt to our injury, our Rivers State Secretariat which just opened for business has also been sealed by the Police, who claimed to be acting on orders from above.

”Indeed, General Sani Abacha must be lamenting in his grave that Nigerians wrongly abused him considering the high degree of impunities being encouraged in a democratic set up, with the Police being used as a tool to haunt political opponents.

”We are however consoled that while the G34 that gave birth to PDP was born during the dark days of Abacha, today a new PDP is being given birth to and is determined to legally and constitutionally fight these impunities being perpetrated by false democrats in our country.

”We urge our supporters to continue to exercise patience and avoid the temptation to meet force with force so as not to play into the hands of our enemies. We also urge all Nigerians to intensify prayers for God to touch the hearts of our leaders so that these dark days of General Abacha during which people are haunted for expressing their views may be cut short.”

Meanwhile, the Police in BayelsaState have launched man hunt for members of the group it tagged illegal political organisation under the name of “new PDP” forcing them to go into hiding.

The group, which declared support for the Kawu Baraje led PDP faction was formed by loyalists of former Governor Timipre Sylva.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hillary Okpara in a statement yesterday in Yenagoa confirmed that the security agencies in the state have been put on red alert to hunt for the purported members of the new Bayelsa PDP, describing them as sponsors of an illegal organisation out to disrupt the peace of the state.

Hillary Okpara in a statement said “the Police in BayelsaState have alerted the public of attempts by some people in the State to form an illegal political organization under the name of “New PDP” and advised law abiding Bayelsans to dissociate themselves from the group.

”We warned persons associated with the illegal group, including their sponsors to desist forthwith, stressing that no such group or any other organization not legally registered would be allowed to disrupt the existing peace and tranquility in the State.

”The police and other security agencies in the state have been put on notice and urged members of the public to promptly report the existence or the activities of such illegal groups in any part of the state to the nearest police station or security outfit for necessary action.

”While, advising members of the law abiding Bayelsa public to go about their legitimate businesses, it warned that anybody or group of persons that violate the order will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

Tukur-led PDP reacts

Reacting to the development, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday urged the RiversState governor Chibuike Amaechi not to incite Nigerians against the President Goodluck Jonathan, the Federal Government and the Nigerian Police.

In a statement yesterday by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh,  the PDP while urging Governor Amaechi not to drag the Police into politics, said, “Governor Amaechi must understand that the Nigeria Police is a sacred institution which should not in anyway be dragged into politics. In the same vein he must understand that facts are sacred and should not be distorted under any guise.”

Metuh who also stressed that the governor was manipulating the media to his favour as well as alleged that he was distorting information, said, “the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns in its entirety, the manipulation of the Nigerian press by certain individuals who consider themselves above the law.

”Of particular concern is the manipulation of the media by the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Governor Chibuike Amaechi to mislead Nigerians and create an impression that he was barred by the Police and the Federal Government from entering the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.

”This distortion of facts is totally unacceptable and  unbefitting of a state governor. It is indeed condemnable that Governor Amaechi has continued to distort facts and interfere in the lawful activities of the police and security operatives ensuring law and order in Rivers state only to manipulate the media and portray himself as the victim.

”Governor Chibuike Amaechi was fully aware that based on the ruling of the courts, the police had sealed off a secretariat illegally opened by some individuals under the name, flag and colour of the PDP, consequent upon which the route leading to the structure was also closed.

”However, in his usual defiance of law and order, Governor Amaechi chose to take the same route accompanied by unauthorized persons who sought to beat security and access the sealed secretariat only for him to turn around to create a scene and distort facts so as to incite Nigerians against the police and the Federal Government.

”Governor Amaechi cannot feign ignorance of the fact that the route was closed as he must have been fully informed by his security details, otherwise he is running an incompetent government that cannot guarantee the safety and welfare of his state.”

Former Ondo State Gov Agagu is dead

THE immediate past governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Kokumo Agagu is dead.

Dr. Agagu died yesterday afternoon,less than 24 hours after returning from a trip to United States. He was aged 65.

He reportedly slumped and died in his House in Ibadan, Oyo State while another source said that he died in his Ikoyi residence, in Lagos.

The late Dr Agagu was to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan next week along with some elders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the South West on the lingering crisis in the Party.

The state Chairman of the PDP, Ebenezer Alabi yesterday confirmed the  death of Dr  Agagu.

Alabi said “We spoke extensively by 10am today, we even shared jokes.”

Dr Agagu was born 16 February, 1948 at Iju Odo in Okipipupa local government area of the state.

He was elected Governor of Ondo State from 29 May, 2003 until February 2009.

He commenced his elementary education at St. Luke’s Anglican School, now known as St. Paul’s Anglican School Okitipupa, in 1954. In January 1958, he moved to live with his cousin, Edward Fagbohun in Ibadan, Oyo state where he continued his primary education at Ebenezer African Church School, Oke-Ado, Ibadan.

He continued his primary education in Kano in 1959 at Ebenezer Methodist School and Baptist Primary School Sabon-Gari, Kano State but came back
to Ebenezer African Church School, Ibadan where he completed his primary education in 1960. Thereafter, he was in Ibadan Grammar School between January 1961 and 1967 where he passed his West African School Certificate and the Higher School Certificate examinations.

He was admitted into the University of Ibadan in 1968 to study Botany but later changed to Geology in which he graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Second Class Upper Division, in 1971.

Agagu went to the University of Texas between 1973 and 1974 for his Masters degree in Geology. Returning to Nigeria, he obtained a Ph.D degree in Petroleum Geology from the University of Ibadan in 1978.

Agagu was appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo as Minister of Aviation in 1999.

Alcohol, smokig rules night life at Motor parks

In major cities and towns across the country, villages strategically located along highways, there are up to more than 3000 motor parks and joints in  which travellers eat, drink and smoke without mandatory closing time, from morning through the night till day break.

Licensing authorities at any level of government are not in place to regulate and control the establishment and activities of these kiosks, stores, drinking palours, joints, restaurants, open spaces with tables and chairs mounted to sell alcohol- all within a few blocks in some cases, around the neighbourhood or vicinity.

In the Lagos metropolis for example, these motor parks for both intra and inter-state travelling can be found at Ojota, Maza-Maza, Mile 2, Mile 12, Jibowu, Ojuelegba, Oshodi, Iyana-Iba, Iyana-Ipaja, Agege, Oworo, Sango-Otta, Abule-Egba and Ikotun.

A Lagos motor-park

Others are at Lekki, Obalende, CMS, Owode, Ikorodu, Epe, Volks, Ajah and other places with high concentration of people across Nigeria.

At most of these motor-parks and major bus stops, operators of the drinking spots are usually women and young girls. All sorts of alcoholic drinks are sold. From soft drinks to beer, stout, wines, brandy, gordon gin, chelsea, Bertola, illicit gin locally known as “ogogoro” in various components.

Cigarettes of different brands including Indian hemp (marijuana), cocaine, heroin are also not left out. Majority of the customers are bus and taxi drivers, tricycle operators, conductors, motor-cyle riders and Agberos when they want to cool down after running up and down extorting money from private commercial transporters.

In addition, there are numerous travellers,  day and night, boarding buses to different destinations in the East, West, South and North, and even to neigbbouring countries in the sub-West  African region.

Some people preferred night travels inspite of the danger involved as  armed robbers could disguise as genuine passengers only to pull out guns while on the journey. Armed robbers may operate on the highway, shooting and dispossessing passengers of their goods, luggages and money.

Before the journey commenced, travellers often waited for the night buses to load which could depart between 10pm and 12 midnight. They will relax at these joints to drink and eat before departure time.

Some of these inter-state bus drivers often consumed excessive liquor before hitting the road on a trip that could last for five, eight, twelve hours and above.

According to a traveller at Maza-Maza park going to Abuja, a lot of accidents are caused by reckless druken drivers. “There are no government guidelines  on alcohol consumption especially for commercial drivers in this country. The Police should crack down on the patrons and the bars around motor parks who sell alcohol indiscriminately.

“We don’t have restrictive time for sale of drinks and it’s particularly wrong for drivers to be under the influence of alcohol while driving. By this, they are putting the lives of passengers in grave danger.”

Reports have showed that thousands of Nigerians die annually on road accidents due to reckless driving. Moreover the government itself seems to lack a coherent alcohol policy.

Investigation by Saturday Vanguard showed that  many people  are against unlimited sale and use of alcohol by commercial transport operators, preferring a ban outright of alcohol sale in motor parks. The government has not found a way out of this to address the growing concern from the public on this  issue. “We are building a big problem ahead if we don’t really find a workable solution to alcohol-related road accidents in our country”, said Mr. Kennedy Tosin, a textile dealer, a frequent traveller.

“A minority of dealers in alcoholic drinks at motor parks are responsible for the carnage on our highways. A staggered closing hours for sale of drinks to commercial drivers will reduce the number of accidents on the roads. Varied hours can help and consumption pegged at tolerable limit,” he suggested.

According to Tosin, “if you allow people to drink more, they will drink more and that could lead to more antisocial behaviour, crime and more abuse of alcohol.”

He added: “A lot of people share this view. In a typical Friday night around motor parks thousands of people roll up to over 300  restaurants, bars, beer palours, disco clubs, licensed and unlicensed to sell alcohol. They serve drinks, chicken and fried meat from 5pm to as late as 5a.m. in some cases.”

It has been discovered that at times, violent crimes and kidnapping are hatched from these spots. Prostitution also flourished as women of easy virtue stayed around looking for customers who will take them home.

No wonder Police often raided such places in search of criminals who hang around these “dark spots”.

Some people, after spending time at the motor parks, proceed to night clubs in quest of more fun. It’s like having good time around the clock. Those without permanent places of abode, could move into nearby places with facilities for toilet and bathing to clean up and start another day afresh.

Some travellers are however compelled to stay very late at the motor parks which have also become transit zones for those who arrived a city late in the night without immediate connecting transportation to their eventual destination.

Truck and trailer drivers conveying haulage goods from the west to the north and East could stop at Ore, Oluku  junction, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode to rest and re-fuel. In the course of the long journey, they make use of the entertainment facilities in the motor parks to relax, eat, drink and socialise within the environment.

So these motor parks provide ‘safe haven” for genuine travellers, “shelter” for travellers in transit, drinks and food for many, and hide outs for the criminally minded. Therefore, the good and the bad, often availed themselves with what the motor parks  can offer.

In the first half of 2013, about 1,397 persons were killed in road accidents in different parts of Nigeria. Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC Corps Marshal Osita Chidoka who disclosed this recently said that the frequency of these accidents were due to “non-compliance with traffic laws, especially overspeeding by motorists”, adding, “the current situation calls for urgent steps to deal with the menace of road traffic crashes.”

Annie Idibia Breaks Down In Tears During Interview On Inspiration FM

On Wednesday, Annie Macualay-Idibia was at Inspiration FM for a 45minutes interview with OAP Nana King.
During the interview, the actress, wife and mother cleared the air on the many controversial issues that fans have been willing to ask.During the interview, the actress, wife and mother cleared the air on the many controversial issues that fans have been willing to ask.
On the Dubai wedding "Dubai wedding was 2face's idea not mine. I wanted a very quiet wedding in Abuja, in short we wanted a quiet wedding but then 2face wanted a dream wedding in Dubai, you know he has got friends and so many peeps..."

Girls in the mood controversy: "That photo of me on the movie cover with a towel and panties, was photo-shopped, that girl wasn't me, my face was used on someone else's body. I wanted to sue the movie producer but my husband said I should ignore it."

Her takes on blogs "they are annoying but I will never say any word against them...they love making news out of nothing, so most times I ignore the stories, I don't bother my head about their stories anymore"

On her relationship with 2face Idibia's baby mamas and sons "I love them. When you love someone, you get to love or fall in love with what they love too so I love those boys, they are just as sweet as my Isabella and I have a good relationship with their mums too"

Insulting her daughter on social media "I will rather have anyone insult me and my husband than insult my daughter,I won't let people insult my daughter"

She broke down in tears when a fan called to wish her well and thank her for standing by 2face when he was a nobody...

Mercedes-Benz Unveils Self-Driving Car To Be On Sale By 2020

* Car will be able to hand control back to the driver in difficult situations
* Group recently demonstrated autonomous driving on a 100km road
* Volvo,General Motors, and Volkswagen are working on similar technology
Daimler, the maker of Mercedes-Benz and Smart cars, has announced that it will start selling a self-driving car by 2020.

It is thought the car will be able to drive on its own in most situations but will still hand control back to the driver during difficult situations such as dealing with traffic lights.

The move could help Daimler regain its position as the leading luxury car market from its rival BMW.

will accomplish that in this decade,’ said Daimler head of development Thomas Weber.

The technology featured at this week's Frankfurt car show but won’t come to market for another 10 years.

The German car maker has been working on improving its driverless technology over the past few years and recently became the world’s first car manufacturer to demonstrate autonomous driving in rural and urban traffic.

Last month, a Mercedes Benz S 500 Intelligent Drive research vehicle, drove autonomously through a 100-kilometre-long route from Mannheim to Pforzheim in Germany.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv1gFD8H4Kc

All four Delhi gangrape convicts get death

The four men convicted in the 16 December Delhi gangrape case have been handed the death sentence at 2:30PM today for the rape and murder of a 23-year-old medical student. They were also handed the maximum sentence under every section of the Indian Penal Code they were convicted under, reported the Firstpost which was maintaining a live blog of today’s sentencing.

The Indian judiciary on an average hands down 130 death sentences per year, but India has executed only three people in the last 17 years, according to Reuters which added that India voted against the UN resolution calling for the abolition of the capital punishment last year.

Whether today’s death sentence will reach the execution stage will be determined by at least a high court division bench that would have to confirm the sentence. This is because the Saket district court – a trial court – has handed down the death sentence today. If the convicts’ lawyers appeal the sentence, such appeal would be combined with the reference to the high court which will re-evaluate the evidence and re-assess the conclusions of the trial court.

Many criminal lawyers said death references are given priority by high courts particularly for highly publicised cases, which are also heard day-to-day, rather than with long adjournments, according to the WSJ.

Nigerians see new-look Mikel with Keshi

Mikel Obi

Pius Ayinor examines Mikel Obi’s change of attitude and the impact on the Super Eagles

After the game against Malawi last Saturday, Nigeria coach, Stephen Keshi heaped praises on Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi. Keshi said that the midfielder had been at his best under him.

Mikel made distinct impression on the field against a boastful Malawi team and was deservedly voted the Most Valuable Player in the game. For the immediate reward, he got the TomTom $5,000 set aside for the MVP.

But he was not just establishing himself as a midfielder to be relied on with the World Cup qualifying match in Calabar. He was in full control of Nigeria’s movements during the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in February. For his work rate, he and his teammates got rewarded with the African cup after a long wait since 1994. But perhaps the most enterprising outing so far in recent times for the Chelsea star remains the FIFA Confederations Cup which held in Brazil. It was a competition that brought to fore the attacking prowess of the young Nigerian.

Nigerians first knew Mikel as an attacking midfielder with the national U-17 and U-20 teams but he soon became a midfielder who hardly had any business with the attack formation when he joined Jose Mourinho at Chelsea. But under Keshi, Mikel has played a more attacking position from the midfield than the defensive role he plays for Chelsea and he fully underlined it with his attacking posture during the FIFA event in Brazil. And remarkably, he scored the country’s goal in the 2-1 loss to Uruguay.

The positive review Mikel is receiving now has come after so much waiting. His lack of presence with the national team had made him quite unpopular with Nigerians. He was derided, dubbed unpatriotic and called names in the years past. Even when Keshi first took charge of the Eagles in November 2011, the midfielder, continued with the lack of commitment for the national team. Mikel stayed away from the two friendlies against Botswana and Zambia – the games with which Keshi started. He was out due to injury but many Nigerians accepted the excuse with doubts. It was not until several months later that he finally played for the Super Eagles and the relationship with the team managers and Nigerians in general has moved from lukewarm to something hotter.

His new disposition has made some fans of the Eagles to call for his elevation to position of the team captain with the continued absence of Joseph Yobo. But what could have created the new Mikel? Is it maturity or the dream for the captain’s band?

A former midfielder and 1994 African cup winner, Mutiu Adepoju, believes it is a question of maturity rather than any other factor that has changed Mikel.

He said, “For me, it has to do with maturity; I don’t see the captain’s angle to what we see of Mikel now. People mature with time and he is not different.

“His club environment could have had positive impact on him largely. As you know, he plays alongside mainly national team players of other countries and the way they have responded to national team duties over the years must have made quite some remarkable impact on him. Mikel now has the understanding that it is a thing of pride to play for one’s country and he is exhibiting real maturity and leadership.

“When a senior player like him behaves in such a positive manner, it has a way of touching the up and coming ones. The younger ones will simply watch the behaviour of the senior ones and emulate them. And so whichever direction the senior ones turn, they will likely follow.”

Adepoju who played professionally in Spain added, “I understand he really showed leadership on and off the pitch during the Nations Cup in South Africa. He was the first to get to anywhere they were asked to go. Winning the African cup could not have come from nothing. The change is surely one of the best things happening to the Eagles right now.”

Nigerians are surely waiting to see if the change will be permanent or could go with the wind.

Undergraduate ingests liquid cocaine packed inside condoms

Nwabuwa

A 32-year-old undergraduate, Chizoba Nwabuwa, has been arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for ingesting 25 wraps of male condoms filled with cocaine.

In a statement by the NDLEA’s Head of Public Affiars, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, the agency said the arrest was made at the newly upgraded Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu State.

Head of the NDLEA, Enugu Aiport Command, Mr. Nsikak- Abasi Udoh, confirmed the arrest. He said, “Nwabuwa was arrested during the inward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian flight from Brazil.

“The suspect excreted 25 wraps of a liquid substance that tested positive for cocaine, weighing 1.250kg. This is the first drug seizure to be made at the airport; it is exciting because we have just commenced operations.”

Nwabuwa, who claimed to be a 400 level student of Fine and Applied Arts at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State said, “I wanted to use the N500, 000 they promised to pay me in developing my art gallery. They assured me in Brazil that authorities will not be able to detect liquid cocaine, so I was confident.”

Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA Ahmadu Giade commended his men for the seizure.

He said, “The Agency accords high priority attention to all the nations’ airports. We shall continue to improve our operations at the airports and prevent drug trafficking syndicates from using them.”

Police block Amaechi from entering Rivers Govt House

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State complaining about the blockade of the Force Avenue, Port Harcourt by policemen ... on Thursday.| credits: Rivers Government House.

There was a drama in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Thursday as policemen  stopped  Governor Rotimi Amaechi from gaining entrance into the Government House.

Amaechi was in company with  102 former Speakers of state Houses of Assembly when a team of policemen, allegedly drafted by the State Police Commissioner, Mr.  Joseph Mbu,   blocked  the Forces Avenue which   leads to Amaechi’s residence in the Government House.

After about 30 minutes of heated argument between Amaechi, his aides and the policemen, the governor’s convoy had to turn back and take another route.

The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who confirmed the incident, told The  PUNCH that even when the governor personally came down from his vehicle to introduce himself to the leader of the police team, he and his guests were still not allowed passage.

The leader of the team, according to her, said,  “ I do  not take orders from civilians.’

The incident, it was learnt, lasted for more than 30 minutes before the governor decided to take another way.

Semenitari  said, “The State Commissioner of Police ordered his men to barricade the road. Indeed, they (policemen) knew that it was the governor.

“The governor came down from his vehicle and introduced himself to the leader of the police team that blocked the road. But the leader said he does not take orders from civilians.

“The governor, who was with some visitors, later turned back and took a longer route to his   residence inside the Government House.”

Also, the Chief of Staff, Government House,  Chief Tony Okocha, told our correspondent that Amaechi was with 102 former speakers that came from different parts of the country when the incident happened.

Okocha added that the incident happened in the full glare of the visitors and described it as unfortunate. He added that it was planned  to embarrass the governor.

He  said there was a heated argument between the governor’s entourage and the policemen that blocked the  road before he (Amaechi) decided to leave the scene.

He pointed out that the thinking earlier was that the policemen were only guiding the sealed New PDP secretariat located on the same road.

The Chief of Staff said, “It is good that this happened in the full glare of the visitors. We have said it on several occasions that Rivers State  is under siege. Mbu ordered his men to stop the governor from entering the Government House.

“We did not bother to call the Commissioner of Police because some of the policemen there said they were acting on his (Mbu) order.”

Reacting, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Angela Agabe, dismissed the claim that police blocked the governor and his guests.

Agabe said security operatives were not at the Government House, but only mounted  a guard at the New PDP Secretariat that was sealed off  on Thursday.

She claimed that some hoodlums with PDP flags took  over the property  before  the policemen were  sent to  disperse them when they (hoodlums) started fighting.

A former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, and Simon Lalong of Plateau State, were said to be among the 102 former speakers.

The former speakers, who belong to a national association, were in Port Harcourt for a meeting before paying  the governor a courtesy visit.They later joined  him on an inspection tour of some of his projects.

Amaechi had earlier met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Port Harcourt International Airport during the President’s trip to Bayelsa State.

Before Thursday’s incident, there had  been no love lost between Amaechi and Mbu since he (Mbu) assumed duty as the state commissioner of police.

The disagreement between them started with the takeover of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area  secretariat by policemen after the suspension of the chairman, Timothy Nsirim, by the state House of Assembly.

Before then, Mbu had during his maiden interaction with newsmen warned that gone were the days policemen would be used like errand boys.

The police commissioner later withdrew security aides to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Otelemaba Amachree, and some local government chairmen.

Security operatives in the Government House were also withdrawn,  a development that worsened the already strained relationship between Amaechi and Mbu as the governor believed that Mbu’s actions were against his (Amaechi) perceived supporters.

The governor had on several occasions called for Mbu’s redeployment to no avail as the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, insisted that he    had carried out his job in a professional manner.

While the National Assembly had directed that Mbu be redeployed, such a directive had not been executed.

Presidency denies ordering 53 gold-plated iphones for independence celebration

ABUJA — The Presidency has denied media reports that it ordered 53 gold-plated iPhones to celebrate the country’s 53rd independence, saying the report is not only misleading but false and mischievous.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said the report was part of attempts by political opponents to discredit the Jonathan administration.

The statement reads: “We consider the reports in a section of the media claiming that the Nigerian government had ordered customized gold iPhones from a Dubai-based company to mark the country’s 53rd independence anniversary in October as not only false and misleading, but utterly mischievous.

“It is instructive that despite the refutation of the story by the company, which ought to have laid the mischief to rest, a number of politically-minded news media continue to insist on promoting the blatant falsehood. We deplore their antics as yet another attempt to use any trick or means possible to discredit President Jonathan’s well-meaning, hardworking and focused administration.

“It is certainly a matter of public record and knowledge that since his assumption of office, President Jonathan has ensured that October 1 independence-day anniversaries are low-keyed, without any pomp or pageantry. Ironically, even this prudence generated criticisms from a cynical and opportunistic segment of the public which alleged in 2011, and again in 2012, that the President was either too scared to celebrate or that the government was broke.

“This administration has no intention to depart from its established habit of prudent management of resources and modest celebration of the country’s independence. This year, the public should be assured that the October 1 anniversary will also be low-keyed. Neither the Federal Government nor its agencies has ordered any gold iPhones to mark the anniversary.

“We do not see any justification for such extravagance either now or at any other time. The Jonathan administration’s gold standard is to continue to provide responsible, committed, and result-oriented leadership, not to engage in the purchase and distribution of party gifts.

“We urge the Dubai-based company, which has since said that the order for the said 53 gold i-phones was placed by a private individual and not the Nigerian government, to go ahead and disclose the identity of that individual. We appeal to the public to beware of the increasing desperation of those with politically vested interests, seeking to pull down this administration. Their moral bankruptcy is condemnable.

“The Jonathan administration will remain focused as it continues to serve the Nigerian people diligently” he said.

From Tunisia with bitter tales: Deportees recount ordeal

They left the shores of Nigeria in search of greener pastures with very high expectations but returned home empty handed. That was the story of 90 Nigerians who were repatriated from Tunisia. The deportees who arrived the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos on Tuesday, wore mournful looks as they re-lived the sad tales of their sojourn in the North African country. The repatriation was facilitated by the International Organisation for Migration, IOM, with the support of the Tunisian government.

One of the returnees who identified herself as Miss Success Smart, 15, said she left Nigeria about two years ago when her hope of becoming an apprentice hair dresser was dashed. The teenager explained that she embarked on the tedious journey to Tunisia through the Libyan route when her parents refused to sign an agreement with the salon operator where she had enrolled as an apprentice. ‘’I received favour from somebody who offered to take me to Tunisia. We were there until recently when things became very difficult for her and she had to return to Nigeria,’’ Success said.

•Iyiola Akande receiving one of the returnees and her baby

For Miss Blessing Ogbabolo, 17, the story is slightly different. She claimed that her father died when she was only three years. Her elder brother was the one who took her to Tunisia. Blessing said she had on several occasions pleaded with her brother to allow her return to Nigeria, but all these pleas fell on deaf ears. “I was fed up with the difficult conditions out there and when the opportunity of returning to Nigeria free of charge came, I jumped at the offer,” she said.

Asked about her brother, Blessing said she lost contact with him when she made up her mind to  return home. A visibly frustrated Blessing noted that it would take only divine intervention for her to put the sad experiences behind her.’’I pray that God will help me to forge ahead after my frustrating experience overseas,’’ she submitted.

Another deportee who gave his names as Emmanuel Oduoba, vowed never to nurse the idea of travelling abroad again. He passionately appealed to Nigerian youths to avoid any temptation to travel out of Nigeria because all the sweet stories of hitting the jackpot are bags of lies. He urged Nigerian leaders to be most focused and to put in place measures that would uplift the living conditions of the citizenry.

Although the returnees debunked stories of any crisis in Tunisia, they maintained that there is no place like home.

Vanguard Metro learnt that officials of the National Agency for Protection and Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, have taken over the case of the teenagers. They would be reoriented and later rehabilitated.   The returnees were received  and screened by different government agencies like the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Police, NAPTIP and other stakeholders, ostensibly to ascertain their nationalities.

Transport allowances were later given to them to facilitate their journeys to their respective states.

A breakdown of the 90 returnees shows that two of them are infants, aged five and 14 months. A further breakdown shows that 12 are teenagers, 13 of them are young ladies while the remaining 61 are young men. Edo State has the highest number of 77  returnees, while Delta State had eight. The remaining six  hail from Imo, Lagos, Kano and Plateau states.

890 traders displaced as Enugu demolishes Old Park Market

ENUGU — DESPITE a sub-sisting order of an Enugu State High Court, restraining Enugu State Government from demolishing stalls at the Old Park Market in Enugu metropolis without first relocating the 890 affected traders, the state government has pulled down stalls in the market.

Apart from the statutory shop owners in the market, no fewer than 2,000 other traders doing business in the market are to be displaced as the state government had served a fresh eviction notice to enable it demolish the entire structures in the market with effect from today.

In the first phase of the demolition exercise carried out under the supervision of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, about 66 stalls were brought down, while the remaining 824 were marked for demolition.

demolition: Demolition at Old Park Market in Enugu. INSETS: Traders affected by the exercise.

Government had last year indicated interest to relocate the traders in the market to enable it erect a shopping mall in the place and asked the affected traders to move to the new market on Aria Road.

The suit

However, when government began to issue quit notices to the affected traders, the traders proceeded to court on the ground that the so-called alternative allocation was not real.

In the suit on their behalf by Ifeanyichukwu Eneh against the state government and Enugu Capital Territory, the traders had sought the protection of their property rights.

The court had, in both interim and interlocutory orders, restrained the state government from demolishing the stalls without providing alternative place to the affected traders.

Some of the affected traders, who spoke on the development, yesterday, said they were shocked to arrive their shop on Friday to discover a notice from the state government, urging them to “park out without an alternative place,” even when there was a subsisting court order barring government from demolishing the stalls.

A victim’s story

Chief Ahara, one of the affected traders, said: “We are not against government doing whatever it wants to do with the place. What we are saying is that many of us have paid rents in advance, running into millions, to the same state government.

“They asked for the rents, collected them and never told us that we are not wanted at the place. This is where we do our business. Many of us have two to three shops here.

“What we are asking for is that they show us alternative places to do our business.”

In a statement on their behalf by their counsel, Tagbo Ike, they condemned the action of the state government as not only dictatorial but barbaric.

He said: “We watch in awe and total amazement the orchestrated demolitions and threats of further demolitions of market stalls of our clients at Old Park, Ogbete Market, Enugu, by the government through the instrumentality of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority despite a subsisting and extant order of the High Court of Enugu State stopping the demolition.

“We find the state government’s posture and attitude as not only dictatorial and draconian, but also barbaric, contemptuous disregard to extant and subsisting court order, affront to rule of law, which forbids parties in a suit in court from compromising same, and flagrant show of lawlessness and arbitrariness.

‘Not civil’

“We live in an age where the rest of humanity is striving to attain the civilised ethos of international best practices and the Enugu State Government, rather than adhere to this international norm, chooses a descent to the Hobbesian state of impunity, arbitrariness and lawlessness.”

He implored the state government to abide by the rule of law and cease further demolition of the market stalls, and await the outcome of the litigation.

Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Commissioner in charge of the ECTD, Mr. Ikechukwu Ugwuegede, on the issue proved abortive as he neither answered calls to his mobile number nor responded to text messages sent to him on the issue, at press time.

2 foreign journalists arrested in Rivers, released

Port Harcourt — Two journalists working with Guardian of London newspaper, were reportedly arrested, yesterday, in Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State, by Policemen for allegedly taking photographs of flames from the Eleme Refinery.

A Niger Delta activist, Mr. Patrick Nagbatoon, who informed of the arrest in a text message to newsmen in Port Harcourt, gave the names of the journalists as Jon Vidal, a correspondent with Guardian of London and his cameraman, Mr. Naoh.

He said: “Two journalists were arrested in Rivers State late afternoon today (yesterday). Jon Vidal, a correspondent with Guardian of London newspapers and his cameraman, Naoh.

“Both British nationals were arrested for taking pictures of a huge flame at the Eleme Refinery in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.”

In a text message later, he said they had been released. The second text came barely two hours after the first.

Patrick said: “Just to let you know the situation with the journalists is all sorted out now and they have been released. 

Flood Destroys Houses In Kaduna (Pictures)

Flood has destroyed several houses and farmlands in Kaduna town following a heavy thunderstorm that occurred in Kaduna State. The downpour began on Tuesday night and lasted till the early hours of Wednesday.

The most affected areas included Gonin Gora, Ungwan Romi, Narayi, Kamazo, Kabala Costain, and Ungwan Rimi, all in Kaduna North and Chikun local government areas of the state. “Everything we had in our house has been destroyed, said Sani Abubakar, a resident of Ungwan Rimi.