Biafran team to AU gets warm reception

The delegation of the Supreme Council of the Elders of In­digenous People of Biafra was accorded warm reception at a five-day meeting of the African Union (AU) held in Nairobi, Kenya.
The team returned to the country at the weekend even as another group dispatched to Cote D’Ivoire to thank the government and the people for harbouring the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu during his sojourn between1970 and 1982, has also returned. The Nigerian civil war ended in 1970.
Briefing newsmen in Nnewi, Anambra State yesterday, Deputy Chairman of the group, Dr Dozie Ikedife, said the pro-Biafran group which had recently been admitted as a member of Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the AU sent its delegation for the first time since admission to be part of delebrations at the Africa’s apex body to facilitate its diplomatic approach for self-determination.
“The delegates have returned. The meeting in Nairobi, Kenya lasted between December 18 and 22. Reports showed they were warmly received and given a place of recognition and honour to participate fully as members at the ECOSOCC meeting. They met other representatives from other countries and exchanged cordialities with them,” Dr Ikedife said.

Although he did not disclose the outcome of the meeting since it did not concern the pro-Biafran group alone, according to him, there would be a stronger delegation at the next meeting for fuller and more active participation. According to him, the Bilie Human Rights Initiative was on course as a legal arm of the pro-Biafran group to handle legal matters.

The former President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo also said the group sent to Cote D’Ivoire had returned.
He said “32 years after our brother, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu returned from Cote D’Ivoire, we feel obliged that according to customary law, if somebody has done you a favour, no matter how long it has taken, you will go and say ‘thank you’. We sent a delegation of three people, comprising a medical doctor, a religious leader up to the rank of a bishop and a well articulated Biafran war veteran. They went with a thank-you letter and some gift items according to our custom. The government and people of ICote D’Ivoire received them with appreciation.

Dr Ikedife said the same thank-you visit would be paid to Gabon which he said sent relief materials to war devastated Igbo and lifted their kwashiokor stricken children to take care of them.
He also said plans had reached an advanced stage to give a befitting funeral to Igbo sons and daughters who died during the civil war. He said a group had attempted to do that but could not. He said a governor, whose name he did not mention, had agreed to organize the funeral.

We didn’t rob; we only collected our dues – Suspects

The police have arrested four suspected robbers at a Lagos market who claimed they did not steal from the traders, but only came to collect their dues.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects- Onyenge Osanie, Azuka Eboh, Ezelonwu Michael and Afolabi Shakiru- were nabbed by the police while they were looting some shops and robbing traders at the Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos.

Our correspondent gathered that the suspects, who are four members of a ten-man gang, were arrested by operatives of the state Special Anti-Robbery Squad on December 20.

According to the police, the gang, which is led by a runaway suspect identified simply as Friday, made use of locally-made guns in their operations.

Our correspondent also learnt that most of the gang’s victims were phone dealers, and the gang allegedly carted away about 70 smartphones and Ipads which were worth about N1.5m.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, 35-year-old Osanie said the gang robbed the traders and looted their shops, because they refused to ‘settle’ them. He added that they only targeted shops of traders who had ‘offended’ the gang.

He said, “We usually work with phone dealers in the market who specialise in selling stolen phones. When we steal, they sell, and they then settle us. But later on, some of them defaulted, and we attacked their shops. It was not as if we robbed them, we only came to ask for our money.

“On that day, we had taken only 10 phones before the police apprehended us. I had initially escaped, but two gang members who were caught at the scene later brought the police to arrest me.”

Osanie, a father of three, said he regretted working with the gang, adding that if he was released, he would not indulge in robbery again.

Also, 27-year-old Eboh confessed that the gang did not only burgle shops, but also vandalised some property during the operation.

He said, “What we learnt initially was that a market chairman was coming to give out money but he later failed to show up. That was when we decided to deal with the traders. When we got to the shops, we broke their glasses and carted away expensive phones.

“I joined the gang because I did not have a job. I have been living in hardship with my family.”

Meanwhile, Michael, 22, said he had also gone with the gang on three occasions, adding that they took advantage of the traders’ ‘misbehaviour’ to rob them.

“I was working as a truck driver before I met them. I had gone out with the gang on three occasions to rob in the market. We only took advantage of the commotion of the market to rob them. It was not deliberate,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the arrest of the suspects.

“Investigations are still ongoing on the matter at SARS,” he added.

I regret supporting Amaechi to become gov – Odili

of the Peoples Democratic Party through his (Amaechi) defection to the All Progressives Congress.

He explained that but for the quick intervention of a former Minister of State for Education and PDP governorship candidate in Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, the party would have gone into oblivion.

The ex-governor, who spoke on Saturday during Wike’s campaign tour in Ndoni Local Government Area on Saturday, said Amaechi worked against the PDP structure put in place by the founding fathers of the party.

Odili pointed out that the PDP, in the past, supported Amaechi’s political career with good intentions, adding that he and the PDP had accepted their mistake and were poised to correct it in 2015.

It was the first time the former governor would speak publicly on the strained relationship between him and incumbent governor.

He said, “We thought we did the right thing by supporting Amaechi to become the governor of the state. We left a united state; we also left a united party. The PDP was one, Rivers State is the PDP.

“There was no other party in Rivers State other than the PDP. Whatever the party hierarchy said would happen. The secretary is here to support what I am telling you here today.

“With all the best intentions, we supported his political career and ambition. We thought we did what was best for the state. As you know, until a man has power and has money, you don’t really know him.

“One thing is clear; we have accepted our mistake and we are determined to correct it in 2015. Who would have thought that a governor who won an election on the platform of the PDP would defect with the mandate of the party to another party?

“Who would have thought that a governor elected on the platform of the PDP would abandon the PDP to join an opposition party? The elders of the party who are here can corroborate what I am saying here today. We ran a cohesive party. We had respect for the elders of the party. We had respect for party members.”

Explaining that no member of the PDP attempted to hijack the party during his reign as the leader, Odili recalled that party officials respected elders during his days as the state governor.

He, however, expressed gratitude to Wike for reuniting the PDP in the state immediately Amaechi defected to the APC, along with the former state chairman of the PDP, Chief Godspower Ake, his commissioners, his supporters and 22 out of the 23 local government chairmen.

“I want to thank the governorship candidate of the PDP for the 2015 governorship election and the next governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, for miraculously rescuing the party from disintegration and working tirelessly to unite the members of the party.

“By the special grace of God in February, we are going to the polls. The first election is to re-elect President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term. The second election will be the governorship election where our candidate, Wike, will emerge as the next governor of Rivers State.”

Buhari, threat to Jonathan’s re-election – PDP leader

He said, “By and large, the PDP should see the opposition party as a challenge, no matter who they project as their candidate owing to their desperation to get power. Even though we know that they have nothing to offer to Nigerians but the PDP should be wary of their desperation, because the APC is a propagandist party.

“The PDP should use the remaining one month to the elections to sensitise Nigerians to the antics of the opposition to clinch power at all costs.

“If anybody says Buhari is not a threat, that person is deceiving President Goodluck Jonathan. This is because Buhari and his party (the APC) are ready to kill and maim innocent souls in order to force themselves on Nigerians.”

The PDP leader, however, lampooned Buhari for his alleged desperation to rule the country.

He said, “The major fact that I want Nigerians to understand is that Buhari does not deserve to be President of this country, neither does he deserve to be elected by Nigerians.

“This is because Buhari has made all Nigerians to know that he is a man who wants to become President through violence or through war or bloodshed.

“He has proved it in previous elections. He had threatened Nigerians that “monkeys and baboons would be soaked in blood” if he didn’t win the 2011 presidential election. That alone is an indicting statement to, innocent Nigerians, both big and small, are being soaked in blood even up till date.”

My certificates consumed by fire, Sambo tells INEC

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has told the Independent National Electoral Commission that his Bachelors and Masters degrees certificates in Architecture from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, have been consumed by fire.

Sambo, who is the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, made the declaration in the documents he filed with INEC and displayed on the commission’s office in Abuja although the details of the fire that consumed the certificates were not given.

Sambo’s papers were received and stamped in INEC headquarters between December 10 and 18, 2014.

The VP’s declaration was validated by two letters from the ABU, a copy of which was obtained by The PUNCH on Sunday.

The first letter, signed by one Alhassan Garba for the institution’s registrar under the title, “To Whom it may Concern: Mohammed Namani Sambo,” read, “I certify that the above-named person having completed an approved course of study and passed the prescribed examinations was awarded the Bachelor of Science (Architecture) with Second Class Honours (Lower Division) in 1976 by the Senate of this University. His original certificate got burnt. Please treat his case in view of this certification. Thank you.”

The second letter, also signed by Garba for the ABU registrar, read, “I certify that the above-named person having completed an approved course of study and passed the prescribed examinations was awarded the Master of Science (Architecture) on May 25, 1978 by the Senate of this University. His original certificate got burnt. Please treat his case in view of this certification. Thank you.”

Meanwhile, indications have emerged that only 13 political parties would field presidential candidates in the 2015 elections.

The parties and their candidates are the People Democratic Party, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; the All Progressives Congress, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); Action Alliance, Tunde Anifowose-Kelani; Kowa Party, Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya; United Progressives Party; Chief Chekwas Okorie; and National Conscience Party, Chief Martin Onovo.

Others are African Democratic Congress, Dr. Ibrahim Nani; United Democratic Party, Godson Okoye; Alliance for Democracy, Rafiu Salau; Peoples Party of Nigeria, Kelvin Alagoa; Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, Alhaji Ganiyu Oseni; African Peoples Alliance, Alhaji Adebayo Ayeni; and Hope Democratic Party, Ambrose Owuru.

Ghana, Nigeria in billions of dollars debt

In Ghana the conversation in the Senate and on the media has been direct— Place a moratorium on Government borrowing for one to two years prior to any election. Nigeria is yet to have its conversation despite worse crisis. Nigeria has been borrowing aggressively in recent years. The Jonathan government borrowed 1.1 billion from China in July of 2013 for “Abuja light rail” project and airport repair. This loan was to be repaid in 20 years and came at an interest rate of 2.5%. Rewinding a bit, the Jonathan government launched into action in 2010 with an almost $1 billion  loan, a$915 million concessionary loan from the World Bank to be repaid in 40 years after 7 years loan-draw period. At this time, Nigeria’s external debt stood at $3.98 billion.

The House of Reps approved a borrowing cap of $7.3 billion for 2013-2015; while Nigeria borrowed $4.4 billion from the World bank with $1.8 billion disbursed and the rest attracting service charges, Business Eye reports. In November this year, Jonathan borrowed another almost $1 Billion from the International Development Association of the World Bank, to “diversify the Nigerian economy.” The $945 million loan repayable in 20 years at an interest rate of 1.5% and service fee of 0.75%. Nigeria has the highest borrow rate in Africa, period. According to Business Eye, Nigeria has become the largest recipient of loans from the International Development Agency (IDA) arm of the World Bank between 2009 and 2012 and currently has the largest outstanding IDA portfolio in Africa, ahead of Kenya and Tanzania.

Additional loans like the $1 Billion to supposedly fight Boko Haram, paint a picture of a nation that lives off of financial indebtedness. We also have dozens of other loans from varying counties, including the $100 million loan from the Indian Import-Export Bank in 2012 for Kaduna, Enugu and Cross River States, which is to be paid back in 10 years at 2% interest rates. He who goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing they say. A unique example out of the African region which defies the need for loan dependent development is that of Kano Governor in North West Nigeria, Rabiu Kwankwaso who steered significant development in his State, one-third the population of Ghana while actually paying off past debts and keeping the State 100% debt free.
Nigeria has become loan dependent under the current administration which cannot account for the nation’s oil revenue and has financed all partial infrastructure developments on crippling loans that promise to send the nation into humiliating suffering and slavery to the colonial and Eastern financial institutions for the next 40 years.

Nigeria’s external debt increased from $3.9 Billion in 2009 to a staggering $10 Billion where it is now. Our domestic debt has also shot out of proportion. The Government can simply not afford to pay contractors and even its staff. The domestic debt stands at almost $50 Billion as at November 2014. There has been a 22% yearly increase in domestic indebtedness from 2009 to 2014 and this shot up even higher in 2014. BusinessDay says that what is worrying about this worsening profile is that these debts are used for fruitless and “unproductive” ventures.

One has to ask, #WhereIsOurMoney? If all currently touted ‘development’ is based on loans to Nigeria’s detriment. Neighboring English-speaking Ghana’s predicament is quite similar. Salaries are delayed till loans come through. In the first half of 2014, the Mahama government borrowed a staggering GH¢6.3 Billion; about $2 Billion dollars to add to a cumulative debt of about $20 Billion. There has been a huge conversation on limiting Government borrowing in the West African nation of 26 million.

Both African nations bear President’s who are accidents, so-to-say; victims of the fortune of death to their bosses. Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria inherited the office when his predecessor, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua passed away in 2010. In like manner, John Dramani Mahama inherited the top job when Atta Mills, a national favorite passed in 2012. The two leaders have failed to win the hearts and respect of the people and would possibly never have occupied the seats had processes gone on naturally, as such personalities would not likely ever have been chosen candidates of any party.

Based on current oil prices, with the barrel price dropping from $111 to below $60/barrel as speculative and futuristic trade New World tools continue to deliberately send the prices plunging to punish Russia and other developing nations, Nigeria and Ghana are not just being crippled, but are going to be dragged on their faces. With corruption and lack of reasonable plans to diversify the economy, save surpluses—which always end up being looted and used to finance the billionaire private jet loving cabal—Nigeria has nothing to save itself with and cannot afford to pay the Jonathan loans based on current oil prices. According to budgiT, Nigeria is expected to have to borrow in 2015 to pay civil servant salaries due to a grossly inadequate Sovereign Wealth Fund, compared to other African nations… yes that is how bad it is looking.
The rebasing of Nigeria’s economy in 2014 has put the nation in a more dire state as this was a hallucinatory incentive to seek and be given more loans. The Jonathan administration jumped on the opportunity this created with the reduction of the debt to GDP ratio to single digits opening up access to more loans which Jonathan simply indulged in. And then came the fall in oil prices.

Nigeria devalued its currency to try to adjust to the financial catastrophe. The Ghana cedi under mismanagement faired as the worst currency in Africa this 2014, dropping 26% in value. The country is depending on an IMF bailout to save it from the impending recession courtesy of the drop in oil prices. The nation can simply not balance its budget and as is the routine, it is being governed by colonial powers by proxy due to its loan dependence, who are dictating what it needs to do to President Mahama. The drop in oil prices globally have led to reductions in pump prices by to a $1/gallon in nations across the world; the same should have been the case in Nigeria and Ghana, both refined petroleum product importers, however the Mahama government has kept the price steady because it is taxing the people an extra $0.60+ per gallon at the pump to balance its budgets. There has likewise been no reduction in pump price in Nigeria as the Goodluck Jonathan government is also illegally draining this excess in indirect tax from the citizens to help balance its budget.

The events of January 2012’s sudden removal of oil subsidy in Nigeria and Ghana as dictated by the IMF when the President Christine Lagarde visited both and other West African countries December 2011, to impose these conditions on them to assist Europe in its bailout crises, remind us of how African puppet governments typically face similar crises and sabotage their people to the benefit of the colonialists who are eager for currency devaluation, loan dependence and SAP programs developed to support Western economies to the detriment of the developing economies. The Buhari Government of Nigeria in the 80’s was likewise compelled to submit to such conditions but his government rejected to devalue Nigeria’s currency and rather embarked on trade-by-barter with more NAM (Non Aligned Movement) nations like Brazil. Likewise these challenges are not new to Ghana. The Rawlings cup of 1979 removed Hila Limann who was embattled by dependence on foreign loans and the colonial push/command to devalue the Ghanaian cedi. Rawlings declared to resist foreign dependency and promoted a policy of self dependence. His firm reforms are regarded in the shaping of what Ghana is today.

Both Ghanaian and Nigerian governments are quietly trying to save face as best they can to sprint passed the upcoming elections before their people realize the colossally disastrous situation they are in subsequent to lack of foresight, chronic corruption and stagnant-regressive economic development.
It is going to be tough in Nigeria and Ghana. If it was tough before, then hold on to your seat belts, because the ride is only just getting bumby.

- MyNews24

Mandelaism: A template for African leaders

Since the creation of man, he has for the umpteenth time found himself in a state of quandary like a lost sheep that God, in His infinite mercies has at different dispensations sent leaders to intervene for his sake. For instance, when the Israelites were being maltreated, suppressed and enslaved in the land of the Egyptians, God sent a deliverer in the person of Moses and Aaron to rescue him.

From a scriptural standpoint, Samson was divinely created to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines. Without mincing words, the greatest intervention which God has made in the affairs of men is that of sacrificing His Son for the sins of mankind.

Given the political labyrinth and complexity which corrupt and clueless leaders have thrown Africans into, there is no denying the fact that God, in His divine disposition as a God that cares, on 18 July, 1918 sent a deliverer, in the person of Rolihlahla Mandela to Africans through his mother, Nonqaphi Nosekeni and his father, Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela.

I must confess at this juncture that we Africans, particularly the politicians among us, are yet to understand God’s purpose of sending Dr. Mandela as a leader to lead a country in an African continent and in the process leave the world with a leadership template that would be known as “Mandelaism”. However, it is sad to note that one year down the line since the late sage transited to glory that the legacy or rather the political template he left all categories of leaders is yet to be emulated by political leaders in various leadership positions across Nigeria in particular in particular and African in general.   It is never an exaggeration to say that if many political leaders are religiously adopting and implementing all the principles that made up the leadership template known as Mandelaism, one year after the exemplary leader concluded his earthly journey  to meet his creator, that Nigeria and Africa political landscapes would have by now been devoid of the sad stories that characterize them at the moment.

I must confess that this piece was inspired by the observation made  as the world remembered the late Nelson Mandela on the one year anniversary of his death on 5 December.  As observed, many world leaders still lack the leadership qualities that made the great leader what he was being remembered for. One would not be wrong to say that most leaders merely graced events that were organized to either celebrate the life or death of Mandela by the virtue of the cheap popularity they expected to gain but not the virtues or the leadership qualities the sage left for them to emulate.

Be that as it may, the underlying objective of this piece is to sensitize all political leaders and observers that consequent remembrance of the late sage should not be characterized with razzmatazz, gliterrati, backslaps, and rhetorical eulogies but  with well delivered lectures that would dwell on his sterling qualities.

It is expedient to say that I am using this piece to appeal to our leaders to adopt “Mandelaism” as a political philosophy. They should use it as their political template. Whoever wants to be a good leader should embrace and adopt all the principles that “Mandelaism” espouses.

Suffice it to say at this juncture that it is not in every generation that God blesses a particular country or continent with a personality like the late Dr. Nelson Mandela. It is against this background that one would say that the leadership template he has left behind should not be treated with ignominy or sheer laxity.
It is highly regrettable to observe that many African leaders, particularly in Nigeria, are like the biblical Aaron that was in possession of a divine and miraculous rod but was so ignorant of the value of what he was holding until he was divinely directed to do so.  Seen from this perspective, it can be said that many leaders of today are well informed of some of the sterling qualities which late Dr. Nelson Mandela exhibited as a leader but it is very obvious that they lacked the moral strength needed to implement or practice them while in service.

According to an African proverb, “If the pig truly understands how many people appreciate and value its meat, it would loathe eating from nauseating and mucky environment.” Seen from the perspective of the foregoing proverb, it would not be out of place to paraphrase it to read, “If African leaders truly understands how valuable Mandelaism is, as a political philosophy, they would not be wallowing in abject political poverty.”