Heartland FC wins 'Super 4' trophy for Imo State

The Heartland football club of Imo State has won the ‘Super 4’ trophy contested by four football teams in Nigeria, namely, Kano Pillars, Lobi Stars, Rangers and Heartland Foot ball club.
By this victory, the Heartland FC have been distinguished as the best football team in Nigeria, having won 3 trophies for the State recently, including the FA Cup ‘back –to-back’ twice consecutively in the last 2 yrs.

Receiving the team and the trophy at the Government House Owerri today, Governor Okorocha commended the Heartland FC for making Imo State proud. According to him, the latest victory by the Heartland indicates that God’s favour is upon Imo State.

He called on the Federal government of Nigeria to extend support to some States that are doing well in certain sports so as to encourage them to do more.

Earlier, the Imo State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Kenneth Emelue said that the Heartland FC has won three out of the four trophies contested by State-owned football clubs in Nigeria in the last 2 years.
Highlight of the occasion is the display of the trophy before the audience at the Government House, Owerri which was preceded by handshakes between the Governor and each player of the Heartland FC.

Also present at the occasion is the Imo State Deputy governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, Chief of Staff, Government House, Prince Eze Madumere, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Chinedu Offor and a host of others.

Nigerian Christians in US petition Obama over Boko Haram

Obama

Members of the Christian Association of Nigeria  ( CAN), based in the United States of America had sent a written petition to the White House and President Barack Obama lamenting the continued killing of innocent Christian worshipers in the northern parts of Nigeria.

The Christian group alleged that on  Christmas day in northern Nigeria, Boko Haram was  busy slashing the throats of Christians right inside their churches or at their homes, adding that at least 15 of such barbaric killings have been reported in the past  number of days, while worshippers had to watch in terror as their colleagues’ throats were slashed open.

In a  statement signed by the Executive Director of Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, CANAN,’Laolu Akande in connection with the 2012 Christmas day attacks by Boko Haram in Maidugiri, Borno State, the body urged the American Government to  designate Boko Haram, as Foreign Terrorist Organization ( FTO).

“What we are asking today is whether President Barack Obama and the State Department are comfortable to be mere witnesses to this evil? Is President Obama not aware that they are cutting the throats of innocent Nigerians who are simply practising  their faith?

“In the hope that President Obama is not comfortable with what is going on, we as Nigerian-Americans, are appealing to his humanity to please instruct the State Department to do what is right and to label the Boko Haram group an FTO.

However CANAN said US designation  of Boko  Haram as a terrorist group  would send the warning signal to those financing and supporting the terrorists, that the game is up.

It said  without such global intervention,  Boko Haram financiers and supporters are being dangerously awarded a grant of impunity!

“We had warned that Boko Haram would continue its tradition of killing Nigerian Christians on Christmas day. Last week marked the third straight year that the terror group has murdered Nigerian Christians in the church on a Christmas day.

“But the problem is worse than that. This year (2012) alone Boko Haram has killed almost 800 Nigerians, most of whom are Christians. In the last three years, over 3000 have been sent to tragic deaths. Victims also include people from several other countries.

The group said President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had again over the weekend acknowledged his government’s inability to contain  the Boko Haram menace.
Quoting the Associated Press, CANAN  said Jonathan’s remarks offer a glimpse into “the worried leader’s mind as his weak government remains unable to stop attacks by the Boko Haram.”

“Our government in Washington DC, especially the White House and the State Department are fully aware of what is going on. But both President Barack Obama and outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have simply tolerated this impunity by their inaction.

“Already, American citizens have been affected, and the United Nations building in Abuja has been attacked by these terrorists. The US Congress has affirmed that Boko Haram is a threat to the US, especially with the group’s suspected links to al-Qaeda, “ it said.
Culled from THIS DAY

3rd Class Degree, SSCE holders barred from Nigerian Police recruitment

Nigeria's Inspector General of Police, Mr. Abubakar

In a bid to sanitize the Nigeria Police as well as carry-out far reaching reforms in repositioning the force to achieve its mandate of effectively securing lives and property, the Police Service Commission has said holders of Secondary School Certificate would no longer be accepted into the Nigeria Police Force as constables.
It said the minimum entry requirement now was Ordinary National Diploma.
In the same vein, Third Class degree holders would no longer be accepted as Cadet Inspectors, in line with the reform in the force.
PSC Commissioner and Chairman, Public Affairs Committee of the commission, Ms. Comfort Obi, who stated this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, explained that the commission had reviewed the recruitment process into the police.
According to her, the PSC has over the years formulated policies aimed at the efficiency and discipline of the police force, adding that background checks are now carried out on applicants to separate bad eggs and discourage shady characters from joining the police.
To achieve some of this lofty objectives, Obi stated that polygraph tests were also carried out on applicants to determine drug users, alcoholics and liars that could tarnish the image of the force.
She said, “The mechanism put in place by the commission is in line with police regulations to ensure that bad eggs don’t find their way into the force. We are focusing on the recruitment process and have raised the minimum entry requirements.
“SSCE holders can no longer join the police as constables; even a third class degree holder cannot join the Cadet Inspector cadre. The minimum qualification for a constable is OND and it must include six credit passes in SSCE including Credit pass in English and Mathematics.”
The PSC Commissioner in charge of Strategy, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, explained that written examinations had been introduced for applicants, adding that promotions in the force were based on merit rather than Federal Character.
Culled from Information Nigeria

Three Nigerian governors in critical health condition

Sullivan Chime

As Nigerians mourn the death of Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State alongside former National Security Adviser Andrew Azazi, the health condition of three other serving governors is a matter of serious concern to the people of their States and that of the Federal Government.

The health conditions of Governors Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and of course Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State are giving their people sleepless nights.

Liyel Imoke

Danbaba is lying critical ill in a Hanova Germany hospital as a result of injuries he sustained when a private jet he personally flew from Jalingo to Adamawa crashed into a bush. He was in the plane with four aides all of who are equally in critical conditions in a different hospital. There have been reports that Danbaba’s brain has damaged, thereby making him a ‘human vegetable.’ But Taraba State commissioner for information Emma Bello told Daily Times that the governor is responding to treatment.

Dambaba Suntai

On his own, Governor Imoke has been out of Cross River State for over two months due to medical issues. There have been rumours that the governor is dead but like Emma Bello, the state information commissioner released a press statement last week saying the governor was not dead but receiving treatment abroad. He stated that the governor before leaving the country had written a formal letter informing the State Assembly that he would be away for medical treatment. The governor was not in the state when the last Calabar carnival took place. His wife Obioma was in charge of proceedings that day.
Rumours were everywhere on Saturday that Sullivan Chime, Governor of Enugu State was dead. And like the others, the state commissioner for information came out to say that the governor was still alive but receiving treatment abroad. Chime has been away from the state for over three months.
Ironically, all the affected governors are receiving treatments abroad, a development that provokes the people of Nigeria and their separate states to anger as they wonder why the nation’s leaders cannot fix the problems of the country’s health sector instead of running overseas whenever they have health challenges.
Whatever is the case, it should worry all well meaning Nigerians that three out of 36 state governors are in critical health condition while their people wallow in ignorance, diseases and pain.

 

Yakowa and Azazi died on Saturday with their aides and two pilots when the military helicopter with which they travelled to River State for the burial of the father of Oronto Douglas crashed into a mangrove in Bayelsa State.

Culled from DAILY TIMES

No going back on deregistration of 28 parties says Jega

Jega

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday foreclosed another chance for the deregistered 28 political parties.
Besides, he said the commission did not act in subjudice of a pending case before a Lagos High Court.
Jega insisted that the parties were deregistered in compliance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).
He, however, said there is no plan to limit the nation to any fixed number of parties because new political parties would be registered as more cease to exist.
Jega, who spoke during an interview in Abuja, promised that the 2015 elections will be “remarkably” better than the 2011 poll.
He is optimistic that Nigeria would have overcome Boko Haram and other security challenges before the 2015 elections.
He said the delimitation of constituencies, which was last conducted in 1996, will hold in 2013, but the final say on the number of senatorial districts and federal constituencies suitable for the nation will be determined by the National Assembly.
Jega said: “As you are no doubt aware, we made a commitment to Nigerians to continue to improve upon the electoral process to continue to sanitise the electoral process and to continue to ensure that as we move from 2011 elections to the 2015 elections, there are remarkable improvements which can be measured.
“The current deregistration of political parties should be viewed in this context of bringing sanity to the electoral process.
The constitution also defines in Section 221-228 what the requirements of registration are.
“Then the provision that grants INEC the powers to register political parties also gives the National Assembly the powers to enact laws to govern the electoral process. So, the National Assembly, in compliance with that constitutional provision, enacted the Electoral Act as amended in 2010. And that is the Electoral Act that has guided our action.
“Section 78, sub-section 7 of that Electoral Act gives INEC the power to deregister political parties which are not in compliance with constitutional provisions for the registration of the parties in the first place.
“And if you are aware, we also have the powers to monitor the activities of political parties. And from the information available to us, we have incontrovertible evidence that the parties that we deregistered have not complied with those provisions of the constitution, which defined, what is required for registration.
“In particular, if you look at Sections 222 and 223, political parties are supposed to register with INEC and to have an office in Abuja ; they are supposed to hold periodic elections; they are supposed to have executives that represent in their composition the Federal Character in particular two-thirds of the state of the Federation. And also the Electoral Act, in particular, says that those who did not win any seat in any of the elections can be deregistered.
“The first exercise we did when seven parties were deregistered, we deregistered them solely on the basis of the fact that they did not even field candidates for the elections.
“But this particular deregistration of 28 political parties is not based solely on that reason alone; there are other reasons. And for each political party that INEC deregistered, we wrote a letter to them indicating the grounds upon which they were deregistered.
“Many of them received the letters. About 17 out of the 28 parties received their letters before we went public, before we announced the deregistration.
“The remaining ones, some of them we could not get them…They were supposed to have offices in Abuja but they did not.
“I will give you one example. Our officer who took the letter went to a particular address of a political party. They went there, the sign board was there but there are new tenants in the building. It is a business centre.
“So, because we also have the telephone numbers of the official, the official was telephoned and he was told that we are at your office to give you a letter and we found that there is a business centre there. He said, ‘please, take back the letter; I will come to your office and collect it’. The same parties are now saying that we did not inform them before they were deregistered. If you gave us an address and we did our best and went to that address and we cannot find you and we even called you and you said you were going to come to collect your letter, how can you accuse us of not informing you.”
Asked why INEC deregistered parties in subjudice to the ongoing court process, Jega said the commission did not spite a Lagos High Court.
He added: “We are aware of the case and we did not deregister the party that was in court. If you look at the list of the parties that were deregistered, since we know they took us to court, we did not deregister that party. We will await the outcome of that case.
“In fact, we did our best and to the best of my knowledge, we did not deregister any party that has any case in court that can be misconstrued as a violation of the court process. Any party we know that there is a court case between us and it on this issue, we did not deregister it.’
Responding to a question on whether INEC has penciled down 25 more parties for deregistration, Jega said: “It is not true that there is a figure to the parties that we are going to deregister, but as you are aware, registration and deregistration of parties are continuous processes.
“As more applicants meet the requirements of registration, we will register them. As more parties violate the requirements of the constitution and the Electoral Act, if it warrants deregistration, we will deregister them. So, it is a continuous process.”
Pressed to comment if INEC has predetermined number of parties which Nigeria should have, the INEC chairman said: “I do not have a benchmark and INEC does not have a benchmark . The legal regime that guides our action says any group that meets the requirements for registration as a party, we should register them. The same legal regime says that under some conditions, you can deregister. All we are doing is those who meet the registration we register, those who do not meet the registration, we deregister.
“Our hope is that if we are consistently doing this, then with time, people will know that if you are registered as a political party, then you must be in full compliance with the requirements for the registration.”
Regarding the delimitation of constituencies, Jega said: “We are determined to conclude it before the 2015 elections.
“We will commence the delimitation by the first quarter of 2013 and we should be able to complete it by the end of 2013 or the first quarter of 2014. As you rightly pointed out. The last time the constituency delimitation was done was in 1996. And it is a constitutional requirement that it should be done every 10 years.”
Culled from THE NATION

OHAKIM'S KINSMEN BACK ROCHAS’ MOVE TO RECOVER STOLEN FUNDS

Ohakim

A group of political leaders from Isiala Mbano Local Government Area (former governor Ohakim’s LGA) led by Sen.B C Agunanne has declared its support for the efforts being made by Rochas Okorocha – led government to recover funds looted by the past administration in Imo State.

The group took this decision less than 48hrs after Governor Okorocha addressed a group known as Joint Action Group (JAG), comprising of tricycle operators, motor mechanics, transporters and artisans who had earlier issued a 21-day ultimatum for Ohakim's probe at the House of Assembly Complex, Owerri.

During his address to the Joint Action Group, Governor Okorocha said that government has decided to make public the activities of the former governor within 14 days.

Said he; "Let me inform you the decision of the present administration to bring justice to bear following your protest over the activities of the past administration. Nobody has negotiated to cover the activities of ex-governor Ohakim within the four years he governed the State, rather it may interest you to know that the panel set up to look into the activities of the former governor has just presented its report. Within the remaining 14 days of your ultimatum, we shall make Ohakim's activities in Government House known to the public".

Governor Okorocha who expressed dismay that ex-governor Ikedi Ohakim did only 3 uncompleted projects and a total of 87 kilometer of roads, also uncompleted, in four years said that government will ensure that the funds stashed away by the former governor are recovered for the development of the State.
In his words, "I want to thank you for your patience so far. Honestly, I agree with you that it is worrisome that Ohakim did only 3 uncompleted projects in four years and 87 kilometer of uncompleted roads project. So, the money must be somewhere and if that money is recovered, it will help to make health-care services free in addition to the free education programme".

He urged them to be law-abiding as the security agencies and other relevant authorities are set to ensure that the former governor faces the full wrath of the law.

Earlier, the leader of the group, Rev. (Mrs) Ngozi Amadi, said they are disappointed that the State government is yet to take position on the former governor after it issued a 21-day ultimatum last week.
She said "Your Excellency, instead of arresting and trying Ohakim, we have his men still gallivanting and threatening fire and brimstone. Our leadership has been receiving threatening calls but never will that derail our call for justice. If this is democracy, then we have every right to call our leaders and ask for what is reasonably attainable. It is true that we commend your revolutionary feat in transforming our State; we surely will not rest on our oars until those who looted our treasury are brought to book".

Rev Amadi maintained that ex-governor Ikedi Ohakim's squandered public funds on non-existent Oak Refinery, Midwest Airline, Dredging of Nwaorie River, Oguta Lake Resort as well as diverted substantial sum of the N18.5 Billion Bond.
She, however, lamented that it has become worrisome and insulting to hear Ohakim claiming that he invested N25.7 Billion on President Goodluck Jonathan during his election as such would not be arrested by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

HOW ROCHAS SAVED N5.7 BILLION FROM INFLATED CONTRACTS

Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha said that his administration has saved N5.7 billion from re-negotiation of over-valued contracts awarded by Chief Ikedi Ohakim’s administration.

Speaking during budget presentation for the 2013 fiscal year at the Imo House of Assembly on Monday, Governor Okorocha said that Ohakim’s administration awarded N3.2 billion contract for the construction of the Ahajioku Convention Centre, Owerri and paid N2 billion to the contractors whereas the said project which according to him, can be built with not more than 800 million naira is yet to be completed.

He said his administration was taking steps to recover the N6.4 billion that his predecessor, Ikedi Ohakim, allegedly borrowed from the banks few days before he left office, adding that his administration was determined to ensure accountability and would not conceal any fraud committed by the past administration.

The governor, who said he was “under pressure to probe his predecessor”, however, did not say if he would succumb to the pressure.

Speaking further at the occasion, Okorocha also announced that his administration had awarded contracts worth N45 billion for the construction of over 1,000 km roads across the State, adding that N19 billion had already been paid to the contractor handling the project.

He said that every contractor in the State had received at least 30 per cent of the contract sum for each project under construction.

Okorocha’s clarification on the payment of contractors was sequel to speculations in some quarters in the State that he had not been paying contractors.

POPE BENEDICT the 16th EXTOLS GOV OKOROCHA FOR GOOD LEADERSHIP

Gov rochas okorocha with archbishop fernado cardinal filano of vatican during a courtesy visit to govt. House, owerri recently.

The Catholic Pontiff, Pope Benedict the 16th, has commended Governor Okorocha for his developmental strides in Imo State.

Speaking through the Prefect General of the Congregation of Evangelism, His Eminence Fernando Cardinal Filoni during his visit to Government House, Owerri yesterday, the Pope described Imo State as the heart of Catholic evangelism in Nigeria.

Cardinal Filoni who represented the Pope at the centenary celebration of the Arch Diocese of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province expressed satisfaction over the tremendous transformation that has taken place
in the State, especially in the area of evangelism and human development.

He assured that the church must continue to support and pray for his government and the nation for justice and peaceful co-existence even as he thanked him for his hospitality and provisions of security.

Responding, the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha expressed joy for hosting His Eminence Fernando Filoni which he described as a blessing to the State and appealed to the Pope’s representative to call for a conference of political and religious leaders for effective development of the people and to address global leadership challenges.

He pointed out that such step would go a long way towards achieving the desired leadership that will help the society to grow. He envisaged a scenario where people’s culture should be a synergy with religion, pointing out his observation that people like worshipping God in their own tradition, culture, norms and values.
Also present at the occasion is the Bishop of Abuja Catholic diocese, Cardinal John Onaikan.

ROCHAS OKOROCHA LAUNCHES MAGAZINE ON LEADERSHIP AND ECONOMICS

A theory of economics called ‘Rochanomics’ which is propounded by Rochas Okorocha and enshrined in a magazine was launched in Imo State at the weekend.

Speaking during the occasion, the Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha said that ‘Generation Rochas’ is designed to foster qualitative leadership ideals in the society and to leave a legacy for future generations.
He said the idea that was first launched in Houston, Texas USA and has since metamorphosed into a movement, adding that he was happy to see youths from various parts of the world coming together to celebrate and propagate his ideals of leadership.
He said that Africa needs leaders that can put men and materials together as God has blessed Africa with abundant resources that can transform the continent from poor economy to rich and progressive societies.

Speaking further at the occasion, Governor Okorocha said that the theory of ‘Rochanomics’ is based on a bottom-to-top approach in governance which is aimed at empowering people at the grassroots for increased production of food and raw materials and eradication of illiteracy and poverty.

Earlier in an address, the Executive Assistant to the governor on Special Duties, Mr. Tochukwu Udeze said ‘Generation Rochas’ is partnering with Bill Clinton Initiative to develop a comprehensive leadership programme for African youths.
Over 13 million naira was raised at the launching with 10 million naira coming from the Chairman of the occasion, Engr Godson Onukwugha. 

HUNDREDS ARRESTED BY POLICE AFTER GROUP DECLARED 'BIAFRA' IN ENUGU

At least 100 people have been charged with treason in south-eastern Nigeria after a march supporting independence for Biafra, their lawyer says.

Members of the Biafran Zionist Movement declared independence, raised the Biafran flag and then marched through the region's main town, Enugu.
More than one million people died during the 1967-70 Biafran conflict - mostly from hunger and disease.
Most of those arrested were young men but some were veterans of the war.
They were all remanded in custody.
The BZM first gathered on Sunday to mark the birthday of former Biafran leader Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, who died in November 2011 and was buried in March.
The BBC's Will Ross in Lagos says that 45 years after the Biafran flag was first raised - an action which sparked Nigeria's civil war - a small number of separatists still keep their dream alive, despite the threat of being charged with treason.
Our correspondent says the war has been put back in the spotlight as the renowned Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe has just released his memoirs of the conflict.
He also notes that as the novel Half of a Yellow Sun by the author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is being made into a film, this traumatic period of Nigeria's history is set to reach a wider audience.
The Biafran leaders were mostly from the Igbo ethnic group, whose members were targeted by rioters in northern areas following a 1966 coup seen as being led by Igbo officers.
Culled from BBC