NFF hails Dream Team VI for U-23 championship title, Olympic ticket

Amaju Pinnick, President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has commended players and officials of the Under-23 National Team, Dream Team VI, for winning the just concluded Under-23 championship in Senegal.
The Dream Team VI defeated Algeria 2-1 in the final match played at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar on Saturday night to win the tournament.
South Africa defeated host Senegal 3-1 on penalties to win the third place match after both teams ended the encounter goalless at regulation time.
Pinnick, in a statement posted on the federation’s website, said he was delighted to see the Nigerian team lift the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Dakar, Senegal.
“This is another reason to celebrate; we are delighted.
“But we give a lot of credit to the players and the officials, led by Coach Samson Siasia, because they showed exceptional perseverance and unyielding spirit to do the nation proud.
“The NFF has a special praise for Coach Siasia; he was strong mentally and never lost focus, even in the face of odds. He deserves every encomium,’’ Pinnick was quoted as saying.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this triumph is the fourth major trophy in the 14-month life of the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF.
The titles are the Super Falcons’ 2014 African Women Championship and the Flying Eagles’ Africa Under-20 Cup of Nations win in Senegal earlier in the year.
The third triumph is the Golden Eaglets’ successful retention of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile in November.
The Dream Team secured a place in the men’s football tournament of the 2016 Olympics when Nigeria defeated host Senegal in Wednesday’s semi-final encounter through Oghenekaro Etebo’s penalty kick.
Etebo set the Dream Team on the way to victory in the final match when he sent the Algerian goalkeeper the wrong way to net the team’s first goal from the spot in the 14th minute of the encounter.
The forward himself had been fouled by two Algerian defenders before the penalty.
Algeria drew level in a most bizarre manner when a Dream Team defender, Segun Oduduwa, headed past his own goalkeeper and into the net from a delicate pullout by an Algerian forward in the 31st minute.
Etebo netted his second goal in the encounter after he ran past a group of Algerian defenders to fire low into the net past the Algerian goalkeeper.
Nigeria goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel saved his second penalty in the tournament in the 69th minute to stop Algeria’s danger-man Ferhat, after Oduduwa, who was unimpressive in the game, fouled an Algerian striker in the box.
Daniel had saved a penalty in the semi-final encounter with Senegal on Wednesday.
NFF’s 1st Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi who led the delegation when the Under-20 male team won the Africa U-20 Championship in Senegal, was among the dignitaries at the final.

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Champions League hope for Nigeria, South Africa

The 2016 CAF Champions League draws made in Senegal this weekend offer South African and Nigerian clubs hope of going further than this year.

Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns represent South Africa again and want to avoid the round-of-32 exits they suffered in the 2015 edition of the premier African club football competition.

Enyimba are one of two Nigerian hopefuls for a second successive year and seek to atone for a last-32 exit this season.

Enyimba

Warri Wolves, the other qualifiers from the west African nation, did not compete this year.

Draws were made in Dakar for the three, two-leg knockout rounds ahead of the lucrative group stage and Chiefs’ path to the last-eight could include a rematch against recent foes.

Volcan of the Comoros should not present too many preliminary-round problems with Chiefs visiting the south-east island state for the first leg.

Former African champions ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast, who face a to-be-named Chadian club first, are the likely round-of-32 opponents of the South Africans, assuming they qualify.

The clubs met in a 2014 CAF Confederation Cup play-off with ASEC winning 2-1 in Soweto and 1-0 in Abidjan against virtual reserve Chiefs sides.

Should the South Africans clear that obstacle, they probably will come up against 2015 semi-finalists Al Hilal of Sudan with a mini-league place up for grabs.

Chiefs consider themselves among the biggest football clubs in Africa, but do not have the silverware to match, winning only the now defunct African Cup Winners Cup 14 years ago.

South Africa goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune is Chiefs’ best known footballer, Zimbabwean Willard Katsande is a combative midfielder and Togolese striker Camaldine Abrew a recent addition.

Sundowns, an expensively assembled Pretoria-based outfit owned by mining magnate Patrice Motsepe, were Champions League runners-up the same year Chiefs achieved African glory.

Coach Pitso Mosimane craves continental success and his squad includes Uganda goalkeeper Denis Onyango, Zimbabwe midfielder Khama Billiat and Burundi striker Fiston Abdul Razak.

Sundowns were paired with debutants Chicken Inn of Zimbabwe in a preliminary tie and experienced African campaigners AC Leopards from Congo Brazzaville await the winners.

Whoever survives are likely to meet 2014 Champions League runners-up V Club of the Democratic Republic of Congo in a round-of-16 showdown.

Enyimba, the 2003 and 2004 Champions League winners, confront African newcomers Vipers of Uganda in a preliminary-round highlight.

The club from south-east city Aba should keep a close watch on Farouk Miya, an 18-year-old midfielder with a fondness for goals and occasional captain of Uganda.

If Enyimba progress, they would face what appears a less difficult task against Lioli of Lesotho or Vital’O of Burundi, but highly decorated Etoile Sahel of Tunisia loom as round-of-16 opponents.

Etoile lifted the Confederation Cup last month, raising to nine their number of African successes, and the Tunisian club are the only ones to have won all five CAF competitions.

Warri should eliminate Sporting Praia Cruz of Sao Tome e Principe, but 2015 Champions League semi-finalists Al Merrikh and 2014 winners Entente Setif of Algeria are possible rivals for a group place.

The first opponents for title-holders TP Mazembe of DR Congo will be Saint George of Ethiopia or Saint Michel United of the Seychelles.

Preliminary round first legs are scheduled for February 12-14 with the return matches two weekends later.

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France international Ribery injured again, misses rest of year

Former France international Franck Ribery will miss Bayern Munich’s final three matches of 2015 after suffering a thigh injury, his team said on Friday.

Ribery only made his return from a nine-month injury lay-off a week ago, making a late scoring cameo off the bench in a 3-1 defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach.

He started Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League victory at Dinamo Zagreb but was forced off at half-time due to the muscle problem in his right thigh.

He will now miss league matches against Ingolstadt and Hanover, as well as the midweek German Cup clash with Darmstadt on Tuesday.

“I may not be able to play against Ingolstadt. I have to take it slowly even though I’m dying with desire (to play),” Ribery had told Bild newspaper.

The 32-year-old spent nine months on the sidelines due to an ankle injury and had only just returned to the team last weekend.

According to some experts in Germany, the decision is more about prudence than a serious problem.

Ribery played only 23 matches for Bayern last season due to the ankle issue.

Bayern’s Moroccan centre-back Mehdi Benatia will also sit out the rest of 2015 with the same injury.

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Kogi Supplementary Poll: Accreditation ongoing

Accreditation of voters currently is going on smoothly across the 91 polling units where supplementary governorship poll is taking place in Kogi State.

When our reporters visited a number of polling units in Kabba and Okene, the process was hitch free as voters were seen conducting themselves in an orderly manner.

At the only polling unit in Yagba West where the supplementary poll is taking place, the card reader was working optimally.

However, reports from Kogi East suggests that the card readers are not generally effective.

However, INEC officers were instructed to use incidents form where the card readers fail.

Speaking with Vanguard this morning, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Alh. Yahaya Bello expressed satisfaction with the organization of the election. He urged the people of the state to eschew violence.

Also, the chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance in the state, Hon. Simeon Ojonuba hailed the process and INEC’s near perfect organization.

He said the party decided to participate in the supplementary in solidarity with the rule of law.

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Help us find our son, please – Mother of abducted 3-year-old boy cries

Since Sunday evening when the Obazuayes discovered that that their three-year-old son Olarenwaju Babalola Obazuaye has gone missing, life has not only become unbearable but very sorrowful for the family. The once happy family who are from Ondo State have been thrown into mourning following the abduction of their second child who mysteriously went missing while playing with other kids in the neighbourhood.

Olarenwaju

It was gathered that Olarewaju who was outside playing with his peers and who had refused the call of his mother, Mrs Maria Obazua to come and have lunch, was abducted by unknown persons in front of their house located at 5 Ladipo Street, Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos.
Weeping bitterly and wishing that she could turn back the hands of the clock, the distraught mother told Crime Guard that ‘’after we came back from church on Sunday, he was playing outside our compound and I called him to come inside and eat his food, which I just finished preparing. After some time, I went outside but did not see him. I asked our neighbours and those outside if they saw him, but they said they did not see him. Since then we have been looking for him. At first I thought he was just somewhere around the neighbourhood, but after searching and searching without seeing him, I raised the alarm that my son was missing.
“My son does not go out with people he knows let alone with those he does not know. They must have used something on him to have carried him away. Please help me look for my son. “How can our son go missing without anyone noticing anything? For goodness sake, my son is just three years old. What have we done to have deserved this punishment?”

Olarenwaju’s mum

Pleading with the general public, Mrs Obazuaye said amidst tears that anyone who has any information about his whereabouts should report to the nearest police station or contact his parents, Mr and Mrs Zion Obazuaye.
Intervention of family members, neighbours
According to a neighbour, “I saw Olarenwaju that afternoon playing with other children before going out; that was the last time I saw him.” Another neighbour said: “We have been making efforts to look for him since this incident occurred; we have even reported the matter to the police who are helping us look for him as well. On Wednesday, November 25, we heard on radio that a missing child was found, and his father went to the police station, but was told it was a false alarm.”
Five days after, the toddler who is a KG2 pupil of Flosilla Nursery and Primary School, is yet to be found despite assurances from officers of various police divisions that investigations are ongoing. In the last couple of months, abduction of children in Lagos has assumed a frightening dimension. This is not the first time a toddler is abducted in the neighbourhood. It will be recalled that on September 17, 2015 a  25-year-old apprentice, identified simply as Ayomide, allegedly kidnapped his boss’s two-year-old son four days after resumption.
The abducted boy, David Sunday Ushie, was reportedly kept in the apprentice’s care by his mother, Mrs Ushie, in her fashion designing shop located on Saludi Street, along Boundary Road around the same neighbourhood. Till date David has not been seen nor found.

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Ageless Clarion Chukwurah explains her dual personalities

Ageless beauty and veteran actress, Clarion Chukwura has seen just about everything there is to see in the movie industry.
For 35 years, Clarion Chukwura has been doing what gives her joy and fulfillment. She’s been exhibiting her acting prowess on the stage and screen, and this has brought her fame and fortune.
Life is not all bed of roses, Clarion at a time was rejected, betrayed and cast out as a slot as she swum in the river of failed marriages. At the end of the day, the delectable actress triumphed and came out stronger. Clarion says her driving force is her unshakable faith in God, and more importantly, her never-say-die spirit. She recently added a feather to her cap with her documentary series, Footsteps that is set to be premiered on television stations from January 2016. Clarion in a media chat, talks about Footsteps, the motive behind it, her vision for Nollywood and other interesting issues.

Clarion Chukwurah

Looking this radiant at 51, what would you say is your beauty routine?
I don’t follow any type of routine. If I’m staying indoors, all I do is to brush my teeth. Sometimes, I don’t even have my bath until about 8pm at night. At times, I do a full bathtub or a shower depending on the weather. I also use scent oil and candles to relax myself. I go for fruit base moisturizers like pawpaw , orange, vitamin C base moisturizers.
What is your new project all about?
My new project, ‘Footsteps’ is a reality documentary series that follows my journey from America to the United Kingdom and to East Africa, looking at the issues that are uppermost in the minds of Nigerians. It looks at what these issues entail and what the solutions are. The documentary also focuses on where we stand as Nigerians and where government leadership and values of the people lie.
What was the duration of the project?
Well, I started working on ‘Footsteps’ in 2013 and it’s still an ongoing process but ‘Footsteps’ will be aired on television from January 2016.
How many episodes do you have in the documentary?
It’s a 26-episode reality documentary series but presently we have 11 episodes on ground.
As an advocate gender equality, will this project centre on women and their leadership problem?
The project is not only about women but about Nigerians and issues surrounding our leadership. It’s also about how Nigerians can be wired to a positive mindset. ‘Footsteps’ also talks about how women are treated. I didn’t limit this to Nigerian women, instead we reached out to women in South America, Caribbeans and Africa. In the course of this, we found out that the same issues women face domestically in Africa are the same issues women in America face over there.
Being in the entertainment industry, shouldn’t you be looking at issues within that sector?
With ‘Footsteps’, we try to touch every aspect of human lives. We have episodes with a former female Nigerian footballer who is now a coach in America. We have episodes with Miss Nigeria who also lives outside the country. So, ‘Footsteps’ is about the totality of Nigerians.
How will Nigerians access this documentary?
Well, we are looking at Africa Magic Showcase, Television Continental (TVC) and a couple of others. I enjoin Nigerians to watch out for ‘Footsteps’ from January 2016 and they should learn from each episode.
You’ve been off the screen for some time now, is it due to this new project?
I don’t know what you mean by that, maybe because you’ve not been watching me on Africa Magic. I had six movies in the market this year and last year I had about seven movies in the market.
What were the challenges you encountered in the course of shooting the documentary?
One of the challenges was when we were prevented from entering the Royal Oak with our recording materials. The Royal Oak is a place where top Nigerian politicians have multi-million dollar homes in Houston, Texas and they do know that some of us know about it. It’s a place where you have not just the regular security but the cops. And the fact that I could even take pictures there was because I have contacts there. Also, Houston Texas is a place where Hollywood superstars who made their money from blockbuster movies own houses. Imagine how Nigerian government officials who were on salary could afford to own two or three houses in Royal Oak. A house rates from six million dollars upward at Royal Oak.
Where do you see the Clarion Chukwurah brand in five years?
I see my brand impacting on young people, helping them achieve their goals and also making them believe there is nothing they can’t achieve.
As a non-profitable project, how would you finance the project?
Well the Clarion Chukwurah’s initiative is one that I finance from my purse. I am the executive producer.
Any plan to dump acting for the reality documentary series project?
I am an actress so it is not possible for me to dump Nollywood because that is what I do best. Nollywood and my work therein is the brain behind ‘Footsteps’. It is about me taking leverage on my brand equity. Since 1999 when I started with the Clarion Chukwurah’s initiative, it was all about leveraging on my equity. It is my passion and will always be my passion to look beyond the entertainment aspect, to look at issues that affect people in my society. I am not just an entertainer, but a multi- talented person. I am not dumping Nollywood, because being in Nollywood doesn’t mean you can’t delve into other things.
How would you advise Nigerian women regarding striking balance between marriage, motherhood, and career?
It is about time management which is very important in this context. However, I don’t support both parents working the same hours. This is affecting our society, it is highly responsible for how our things are going. We are imbibing a lot of negativity from the Western world. When children are left with little or no attention, they engage in online activities, entertainment that’s not properly censored and a host of other things that may corrupt their minds. I suggest both parents should work on how to manage their time to strike the balance.
What’s your perception of Nollywood?
Nollywood needs to be structured. It is not just about improving the quality of movies or equipment rather it involves the right funding and how actors are paid. Nollywood is still in a zigzag which means anybody can do anything. The industry has to be structured in a way that one arm of the organisation will feed on the other arm. We have to make things work in Nollywood, – you have the Guild of Producers feeding on the Director’s Guild and the Director’s Guild feeding on the Actor’s Guild. When you have a situation whereby anybody can produce, direct or act in a movie, what do you think the result will be ? Some of us seem to be selfish, we lack unity. We need to see Nollywood as one corporate entity. We have to change our mindsets as actors, producers, directors etc. in order to make Nollywood work.
Is there any difference between Clarion Chukwurah on stage and at home?
I’m two different persons – the person on the screen is the image, the brand. Simply put, the person on the screen is Clarion while the person in the house is called Nneka.
What’s the story about you being a member of the Church of Scientology?
I am not a member of the Church of Scientology. Church of Scientology is one body that supported the episodes of ‘Footsteps’. It was shot in Hollywood at the celebrity center of the Church of Scientology. This church owns this center in Hollywood. Again, the center and the crew members that worked on ‘Footsteps’ in Hollywood came from Church of Scientology.
What do you think made the Church of Scientology support ‘Footsteps’?
They considered the objective of what I was doing and how it will add value to people’s life.

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Bello’s group hails High Court judgement on Kogi Poll

Bello Support Organization, a campaign group in support of the APC governorship election in Kogi State, Alh. Yahaya Bello has hailed the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja which refused to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from going ahead with Saturday’s supplementary governorship election in the state.
In a communique by the organisation, it hailed the judiciary for rising to the occasion to salvage democracy in the state.
It says it would have amounted to murder of democracy if the court had stopped the conduct of the supplementary poll, saying the state is poised to come out of the current situation stronger.
“Bello Support Organization wishes to thank the judiciary for once again, rising to save our democracy from those who want to create a scenario of confusion in Kogi State.
“On November 21, the people of this state voted for the All Progressives Congress in an election that was acclaimed as free and fair.
Despite the unfortunate demise of our leader, late Prince Abubakar Audu, our great party has remained united and committed to the change project in Kogi as Alh. Yahaya Bello has been endorsed to fill the vacuum created by the death of the enigmatic Audu.
“It is our firm belief that Alh. Yahaya Bello will ensure the rapid development of Kogi State and chart a new direction for the social and economic development of our dear state.
“As we begin a new chapter in the political history of our dear state, we urge our people to rally round Alh. Yahaya Bello who has shown an undeniable commitment to the growth and development of our dear state.
“Above all, our party, the All Progressives Congress should consider the political situation in the state as an opportunity to give renewed hope to the people of Kogi State and rebound our dear state from the precipice of failure”.
BSO call on the people of Kogi not to waver in the task of uniting the state for social and economic possibilities, assuring the people of the readiness of Yahaya Bello to bring change to Kogi.

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Bayelsa polls: Jonathan battles to save face

There are indications that the outcome of today’s governorship election in Bayelsa State may go a long way in determining the future political relevance of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Jonathan, an indigene of Bayelsa State from Ogbia council area was defeated at the last presidential election by the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Muhammadu Buhari.

DECLARATION: Immediate past President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan(2nd left); making a remark while his Wife, Patience(3rd left); former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha(right) and Kingsley Otuaro, Deputy Governor of Delta State, (left), watch at the declaration of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State to run for a second term, yesterday, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Though Jonathan has lived a relatively quiet life since leaving office, shuttling between his Otuoke country home and Abuja and appearing twice at PDP events, such as the party primary where the incumbent Governor, Seriake Dickson, was affirmed as the party candidate for today’s polls and the mega rally where Dickson was presented the party flag, he is expected to lead some other members of the party from his Otuoke ward to cast their votes.
For Jonathan, combating the APC challenge may prove to be a Herculean task, the same challenge that sent him packing from the Aso Rock Presidential Villa last May.
Saturday Vanguard investigations showed that unlike in the past when the Ogbia people voted en bloc for their preferred candidates, the scenario may be slightly different today based on sharp divisions among his kinsmen, a development said to be linked to Jonathan’s alleged neglect of his home front.
It is the contention of the people that for the years he was away in Abuja, he did not do much to transform the Ogbia Kingdom.
The people argue that the only road leading to their council headquarters in Ogbia main town was riddled with potholes when he could have used his position to influence the development of the area and also empower his people.
This is the sad reality from the home front, according to a source who pleaded anonymity. “While some are sympathetic and are ready to support his party, the PDP, some others prefer to vote for the opposition APC.
Accordingly, the outcome of the election may decide the political future and relevance of the man who was once adored by his people many of whom were optimistic that he would use his botched second coming to make up for his failure to meet their developmental needs.
Jonathan’s political survival, according to observers of the unfolding event in the state, will be dependent on the success of his political godson, Governor Seriake Dickson.
However, some staunch supporters of the party are confident that Dickson will triumph at the polls citing his performance in the areas of critical infrastructure and the education sector.
According to them, it is unthinkable to think of PDP defeat in the governorship polls as anything contrary may spell doom for the status and personality of the former President.
PDP losing the election will be one defeat too many for Jonathan, who is already trying to recuperate from the loss of the last presidential election. Another defeat at the home front will signal the end of his domination in the political affairs of the state and indeed, the country.
Since the end of 2005 when he became the governor of Bayelsa by a twist of fate, Jonathan has since come to assume the role of a major power broker in the state.
Jonathan favours Dickson against the candidacy of a former governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, of the APC.
Jonathan who attended Dickson’s re-election kickoff campaign last September at Otuoke had explained that, “when he told me that he wanted to declare for second term, I said he should go ahead and I told him that I would be here when he would be presented with the flag of the party.”
Jonathan who was at a time Deputy Governor and later Governor of Bayelsa State is believed to have vowed to unleash his wealth of political experience to ensure that Dickson secures the governorship seat.
Addressing PDP supporters during a rally last week, Jonathan described Bayelsa as a stronghold of the PDP even as he argued that Dickson had performed well and qualified to be given another chance. According to Jonathan, “for the past 16 years, being a pioneer Deputy Governor and Governor at the state level, Vice-President and President of our country, I am in a position to say that Dickson has tried and he is still trying.
“You can see that within this short period, Dickson has been able to build a flyover and dualize a number of roads in Yenagoa. He has been able to build Toru-Ebeni Bridge.
“These are signs of development in a town that is growing to be a city. We should all be concerned about what Bayelsa will be in the next 25 years and beyond, and not what we want to gain today.
“I have looked at his policies and programmes and I am convinced that he is visionary. He is preparing Bayelsa State for tomorrow.”

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Why Nigerian politicians don’t invest much in education –Israeli expert

AN Israeli researcher, Dr. Joseph Shevel has attributed the low investment in education by Nigerian politicians to the fact that the sector takes a long time to mature, saying it was for that reason that the country’s politicians prefer to invest in areas that would assure them quick returns.

Dilapidated School

In a keynote address he delivered at the third international conference organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Shevel, who is the President of Galilee Institute, Israel and a member of Israeli Prime Minister’s committee on Social Policy, described education as the future for any nation because of its ripple effect on all sectors of human endeavour.
According to him, to be on the right path for development, a country’s budget for education must meet the basic international standard in line with the Dakar Recommendation, regretting that while the recommendation was that budget for education must not be less than 5% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, Nigeria’s budget for education has been hovering around 1.5%.
Shevel said the economic crisis facing Nigeria is an opportunity to go back to the basics, noting that the country’s problem is an interim situation that could be overcome with hard work and determination.
He said there was no reason for Nigeria to be among the world’s poorest nations going by the enormous resources she is endowed with and called on her leaders to realize that the key to improving the situation was by engaging in research and collaborating with renowned research institutes in the world to share ideas.
He said: “The rivers in Nigeria are enough for the country to have enough fish and for export. The land resources are enough to grow crops that can feed the whole of Africa. What is required is the will to do what is necessary.”
The Dean of the Faculty, Professor Jude Ezeokana observed that technology promises wondrous possibilities and profound dislocations, adding that there was therefore the need to interact with other parts of the world to tap their knowledge.

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No political will to prosecute high-profile corruption cases, says CJN

The blame game between the Judiciary and Executive arm of government continued yesterday, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, decrying what he termed “lack of political will to prosecute high-profile corruption cases.”

Justice Mahmud Mohammed

The CJN, who bared his mind during a meeting with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, in his conference room, said the lacklustre attitude of  government towards the prosecution of such criminal cases, “especially those involving politically exposed persons or political party family members,” was a major factor that has stalled trial of so many corruption cases.
A statement issued by media aide to the CJN, Mr. Ahuraka Isah, revealed that the meeting took place on November 24. Among those in attendance included Supreme Court Justices as well as heads of other federal courts.
President Muhammadu Buhari had while flagging-off the 2015 All Nigeria Judges’ Conference, slammed the judiciary, accusing it of sabotaging his effort to prosecute high-profile corruption cases.
Buhari, who was represented at the event by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, lamented  that “allegations of judicial corruption have become  more strident and frequent,” noting: “There is both local and international dissatisfaction with the long delays in the trial process. In the past few years, this has become especially so for high-profile cases of corruption, especially where they involve serving or former political office holders.”
In what appears like a direct response to the attack on the Judiciary, the CJN said the Federal Government should be blamed for the delays, noting that in some cases, it recruits unseasoned lawyers to prosecute cases.

Lack of political will
The CJN said: “Experience within the Judiciary shows that there is abject lack of political will to prosecute some of those cases pending before our various courts almost a decade in some instances.
“It is not because there are no special courts, but mostly for reasons of political expedience and other ancillary considerations.
“I would likewise wish to encourage you (AGF) to display a greater resolve than your predecessors in tackling outstanding cases before the courts. In times past, the Attorney General of the Federation would often lead teams of legal counsel in high profile cases so as to demonstrate the resolve of the government to enshrine the rule of law.
“Sadly, recent Attorneys-General have become less inclined to do this.  I would certainly like to see you, as the Attorney General, appear before us especially in cases of important national purport.
“There is the need for seasoned prosecutors to prepare and file charges before courts of competent jurisdiction so that criminal matters are timeously determined.

Quality of prosecutions must be improved upon
“The quality of prosecutions presented in courts by our prosecutorial agencies must be improved upon, as they are sometimes of a standard that will never found a conviction in any court anywhere, yet, a well prepared prosecution can see to the determination of criminal matter within a month.
“Of course, no competent prosecutor who has filed valid charges would permit an accused to mount an interlocutory appeal, to the extent of going forth and back, sometimes twice or more to the Supreme Court, since such lapses could be injurious to the dispensation of justice.”

Reform of justice sector
Besides, the CJN, advised the AGF to recruit more lawyers who should be adequately trained to handle more cases on behalf of the State, saying it would create a reservoir of highly trained, public spirited lawyers to feed the Bench and the Bar.
The CJN equally tasked the Executive to actively reform and revamp the justice sector, which he said would include strengthening the capacity of investigation units by providing facilities like a well equipped forensic and ballistics laboratories throughout Nigeria, saying it would not only help in evidence gathering, but also reduce delays in trial of cases.
The CJN further enjoined the AGF to always attend meetings of judicial bodies such as the Body of Benchers, Legal Practitioners Privileges’ Committee (LPPC), Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute and others of which he is a member by statutory provisions.
He stressed that attending such meeting would help the AGF to keep abreast of developments within the Judiciary and the legal profession in general.
With that, “the AGF can adequately brief the Federal Government with facts on issues in the Judiciary rather than press coverage and opinions of some lawyers often echoed at public events,” the CJN stated.

Funding for the judiciary
On the issue of funding for the judiciary, the CJN said the Judiciary welcomed the idea of zero budgeting as against the incremental style budgeting that often resulted in insufficient resources for the Judiciary to operate.
“Indeed, the Judiciary can now properly make its demand before the National Assembly for an appropriate budgetary figure, rather than proposing N150 billion and be appropriated with less than half of it,” he said.

Judicial officers’ emoluments’ll be enhanced —AGF
In his response, the AGF said the administration of President Buhari is focused on its agenda to curb corruption in Nigeria.
He said the Federal Government was concerned about the working condition of judicial officers whose services are required to achieve the goal.
The AGF assured the CJN that emoluments of Judicial officers and court staff will be enhanced, even as he proposed the setting up of an ‘’Interface Committee” comprising members of the Executive and the Judiciary for the purpose of preparing Executive Bills for constitution amendment, drawing up workable policies and proposing reforms that will be jointly pursued by the executive and judiciary arms of government.
More so, the AGF, said he would publicly support the Judiciary and ensure that legislation against false accusation of judicial officers is put in place.
Other Supreme Court Justices that attended the meeting were Justices Walter Onnoghen, I. T. Muhammad, M. S. Muntaka-Coomassie, John Afolabi Fabiyi, Suleiman Galadima, Bode Rhodes-Vivour, Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, Olukayode Ariwoola, Musa Dattijo Muhammad, Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, Kumai Bayang Aka’ahs, K. M. O. Kekere-Ekun,  J. I. Okoro, among others.

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Egypt coach, El-Badry, vows to deny Nigeria Olympic ticket

Egypt Under-23 national team coach Hossam El-Badry remains hopeful they will progress to the semifinals of the 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, despite getting their campaign off with a draw against Algeria in their Group B opener in M’Bour on Sunday.

El-Badry

Zamalek winger Mahmoud ‘Kahraba’ Abdel-Moneam headed home Mohamed Hani’s free-kick to give the young Pharaohs the lead on 54 minutes, but Algeria levelled matters through USM Alger attacking midfielder Zinedine Ferhat 10 minutes later with the Egyptian keeper Mosaad Awad largely to blame.
“Keeper Awad’s error cost the team a goal but such kind of errors are frequent in football,” El-Badry commented after the match.
“We were close to winning the game, especially in the first half, but we failed to capitalise on our goal-scoring chances.
“We didn’t lose the game. There are two matches remaining in the group phase and we are determined to earn positive results in these games to advance into the semis.”
The Egyptians will be looking to seal their first win of the competition when they take on Nigeria in their second Group B outing tomorrow.

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I don’t want another country

SOME  days ago, I woke up  to find  that someone, or group had decided to change my country. It was there on Facebook; a supposed map of a new country called Biafra. I was neither consulted nor my opinion sought. I am not also aware that the Ijaws, who are my parents, our neigbours the Isokos, Itsekiris, Urhobos, Efiks, Ibibios, Orons etcetera, were consulted. Some fellow Nigerians  in demonstrating their right  to  self-determination, decided that I do not have the  right to be consulted.
If I were to reincarnate and have power of choice, I would ordinarily, not decide to be a Nigerian. I would prefer to be an African, in that united continent Kwame Nkrumah prophesied, with a single government, currency, economy and citizenship.  I will not trade a continent for another small enclave, while industrialised Europe has almost evolved into one entity. That will not be strategic thinking, it will be collective backwardness.

The Indigenous People of Biafra on a Peaceful Protest over the Arrest of the Director of Radio Biafra yesterday along Ikwerre road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke

I understand why the agitators need the Southern nationalities; they require their oil and gas resources, and access to the sea. But they are being quixotic by forcing these peoples into a map. They need to consult and persuade. But this will be difficult as the advocates of a new Biafra have not made public any known philosophy, ideology, vision, road map, socio-economic programme or policy, including on peoples and minority rights.
I have read some juvenile Boko Haram Shekarau-like outbursts by the new kid on the bloc, Nnamdi Kalu  of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) who vomits words like “If they don’t give us Biafra, no human being will remain alone in Nigeria by that time; we shall turn everybody into corpses; you better go and buy your coffin.”  He reminds me of the quixotic ‘uprising’  by the Biafra Zionist Federation led by Benjamin Igwe Onwuka who on June 5, 2014  tried to seize the Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) ostensibly to declare a Biafra Republic.
Apart from these, I have seen photographs of people in camouflage doing drills in alleged preparation for war to actualise Biafra. I am not sure they know what they are doing. I was six when the civil war broke out. Until this day, I still recall the faces of my play mates like Ngozi Eze, who left for the East and never came back when their families returned. You imagine the trauma the rest of their families went through. I also, still recall the faces  of my uncles; Anusi, and Wisdom Fakrogha, who went to that war, and never returned. It is not just about the massive destruction, starvation and early graves. It included injuries that never healed, scars that people carry in their hearts. Like John Pepper Clarke wrote, in his poem, The Casualties. “The casualties are not only those who are dead… The casualties are not only those who started A fire and now cannot put out. Thousands are burning that have no say in the matter…We are all casualties”
I read about  people  on both sides, glorifying the civil war. Yes, it was a glorious war; but not for the two million who lost their lives. It was a heroic war; but not for the children taken to Gabon who never returned. War can be glamorous, but not for the dead. Not for those who become invalid, the widowed and the orphaned. For the true victims, the pain never really go away.
For Kalu and his group who argue that the Igbos are a conquered people in bondage, needing to be free, I say the conquered are not necessarily those who are said to have lost the civil war forty five years ago, but those on either side who lost their lives, income, property and loved ones. The victors are not necessarily those who sing victory songs; but those who smile to the banks having made fortunes selling arms and rice, boots and aircraft, bombs and relief materials to all sides in the conflict.
When during  the 1962 Missile Crisis over Cuba, and American President, John .F. Kennedy was  toying with the idea of going to war, then Soviet Union leader, Nikita Khrushchev  wrote him, warning “I have participated in two world wars and know that war ends only when it has  rolled through cities and villages, everywhere sowing death and destruction. For such is the logic of war. If people do not display wisdom, they will clash like blind moles and then, mutual annihilation will commence.”
But if we want to persuade our angry compatriots to remain, we must understand  why they want out. I turn to Kalu to understand him. First he claims that the operation of the  Federal  Character provision and development, is lopsided. In other words, Igbos are marginalised. But interestingly, most or all nationalities in the country feel the same way. He says Igbos are killed in parts of the country. Ironically, the ‘killing fields’  today are in  the North East, and Middle Belt where all Nigerians are victims. He argues that Nigeria is an artificial creation. I agree fully with him; but which country is not? Even the Biafra, his group wants to create will also be an artificial one. He laments that while the soldiers on the Federal side  were paid, those who fought for Biafra were not.  Whatever the arguments; this appears more an administrative issue, and less a reason for secession.
He pointed at corruption, mass unemployment and injustice in what he calls the “Zoological Republic of Nigeria” Doubtlessly, there is injustice;  to the poor and powerless; the voiceless and the vulnerable. But the solution  cannot be the balkanization of the country; rather, it is to fight these ills.
Even if I am left out of Biafra as I desire, I don’t want a passport to go drink from the knowledge of Arthur Nwankwo in Enugu, visit Maxim Uzotu, ‘the god of poetry’ or share a drink with Anaele Ihuoma in Owerri.
We cannot deny those who clamour for a new country, but the rest of us  have the duty and right to propagate our desire for a united Nigeria, and an integrated Africa.

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Corruption allegation:Lamorde’s probe resumes in Senate tomorrow

THE resumed probe of the former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, by the Senate, is expected tomorrow.
Lamorde will appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions tomorrow, to answer questions on the petition against him by Dr. George Uboh on allegations of diversion of funds.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who confirmed this, yesterday, said the committee’s schedule requires the former anti-graft agency boss to appear before it tomorrow.
Lamorde was to appear before the committee last week, Tuesday, but the committee suspended it without explanation to its action.
During the first meeting of the committee on the matter on August 26, when the petitioner, Dr. Uboh, made submissions on his petition, officials of the EFCC, led by the Director of Legal Services, Mr. Chile Okoroma, were asked to leave the hearing venue at the National Assembly, sequel to Lamorde’s request for extension of time.
Okoroma was accompanied to the hearing by Lamorde’s personal lawyer, Mr. Ugochukwu Osuagwu, who had been assigned by the then EFCC chairman to stand in for him.
After listening to the submissions of the petitioner against the former EFCC boss, Okoroma accused the Senate committee of violating the procedure on the conduct of public hearing on public petitions.
The lawyer also condemned the decision of the committee to listen to the submissions of the petitioner in the absence of the accused, alleging that it breached the principle of fair hearing.
“It is very wrong for a petitioner to be heard publicly in the absence of the person the petition is against,” he said.
One of the reasons Lamorde sought for extension of time then was the absence of the comprehensive annual audit report of the EFCC from KPMG, an audit firm handling the audit of the Commission.

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Prison officers brutalize Vanguard reporter in court premises

The harassment and assault on journalists by law enforcement officers one again came to the fore as officers of Nigerian Prison Service from Kuje Prison, Abuja, numbering about 10, openly brutalized a Vanguard reporter, Mr. Emmanuel Elebeke.
The incident occurred at about 2p.m. at the premises of Court 2 of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, when the reporter took the photograph of the six accused persons from Kuje prison, who were standing trial for a murder case.
The officials demanded for his camera and, together with family members of the accused, descended on him.
The picture was taken outside the courtroom.
The incident drew the attention of court officials, who came to the journalist’s rescue, but were overwhelmed. While one prison official was hitting the reporter his gun butt, the others kicked with their boots.
Meanwhile, one of the officials, Rita, ordered that one of the handcuffs be removed from the accused persons and used on the reporter.
The beating stopped when they got hold of the camera and made away with it in an official bus with number plates PS635A01.
When the report of the attack got to the judge, he was quoted as wondering why prison officials should take laws into their hands.
NUJ reacts
In a swift reaction, the Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mr. Paul Ella, condemned the attack and insisted that the prison officers must be brought to justice.
He said: “It is totally unacceptable to us as a union and the profession of journalism. Such an act cannot be tolerated in a society where we all call for social justice.
“We, as a union, will investigate the case in full and make sure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. We will do everything within our power to ensure that this does not repeat itself.”

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Russia sees possible ‘terror’ link in Egypt jet crash

Moscow acknowledged Monday for the first time a terrorist attack could have caused last month’s Russian plane crash in Egypt, as thousands more tourists were evacuated from the country.
Britain and the United States, as well as international investigators, suspect a bomb exploded on board the Metrojet A-321 plane, but Egyptian officials insist there is no evidence yet of an attack on the aircraft which jihadists claim to have downed.
Russia had also previously refrained from blaming the crash, which killed all 224 people on board, on terrorists until Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev‘s admission.
“The possibility of an act of terror is of course there as the reason for what happened,” Medvedev said in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta state newspaper.
A growing international chorus has backed the theory that the plane was downed in an attack, with British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond saying Monday it was “more likely than not” that the plane was downed by an “explosive device placed on board”.
On Monday, Israel — which has strong intelligence links to neighbouring Sinaiwhere the Airbus came down while en route from Egypt‘s resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to Saint Petersburg — joined in.
“There is a strong probability that this is an attack,” Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon told Israeli reporters on Monday.
And Airbus chief Fabrice Bregier said no technical fault has yet been detected for the crash of the A-321.
“I can say that so far, what we got from the investigation didn’t trigger any action, technical action on our side, regarding the A-321 fleet,” said Bregier.
“But we need to wait for the conclusion of the investigations.”
Sources close to the probe have told AFP that experts involved in the investigation, with the exception of the Egyptians, “strongly favour” the theory of a bomb on board.
Egypt has pushed back against mounting international concerns that a bomb brought down the plane, with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry saying it was too early to form a “hypothesis”.

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UPDATED: Buhari removes EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, appoints replacement

President Muhammadu Buhari has fired the chairman of the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde.
Mr. Lamorde, a former police officer, was removed Monday, four years after he took over as chairman of the agency.
He worked earlier as the director of operations before he was appointed head by former President Goodluck Jonathan on November 23, 2011, after former chairperson, Farida Waziri, was removed.
Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, told PREMIUM TIMES Mr. Lamorde “was not sacked”, but that he was only proceeding on terminal leave ahead of the expiration of his tenure in February 2016.
Mr. Adesina said more details would be provided in a statement that would be released shortly.
Beginning a terminal leave means President Buhari has refused Mr. Lamorde a second allowable term at the commission.
Mr. Adesina later issued a statement saying Mr. Buhari has approved the appointment of Ibrahim Mustafa Magu as Acting Chairman of the Commission.
Mr. Magu,  an Assistant Commissioner of Police,  is a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption and was a former Head of the Economic Governance Unit (EGU) of the anti-graft agency.
Magu, the investigator
Mr. Magu was one of the early recruits into the EFCC by the pioneer chairman of the commission, Nuhu Ribadu. He is seen by peers as an incorruptible and courageous officer and then made the head of the sensitive EGU, a unit in charge of investigations of senior public officials.
As head of the EGU, some of the investigations Mr. Magu spearheaded include the role of former Kwara State Governor and serving senator, Bukola Saraki, in the collapse of Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria, and James Ibori, former Governor of Delta State, who was convicted for money laundering in the United Kingdom.
But trouble started for the police officer after the controversial removal of Mr. Ribadu as chairman of the commission in December 2007.  The new chairman, Farida Waziri, was uncomfortable with his presence doubting his loyalty to her, sources say.
In August 2008, Mr. Magu was accused of illegally keeping case files of top politicians being investigated by the commission. His house in Abuja was searched and his property carted away by operatives of the EFCC acting under the directive of Mrs. Waziri.
He was subsequently re-deployed to the police after days of detention with nothing incriminating found against him. He was later suspended from the police, going without salaries for several months.
Following his appointment as Chairman of the EFCC in 2011, Mr. Lamorde made the return of Mr. Magu to the EFCC a top priority. Both men had worked together at the commission when Mr. Lamorde served as head of operations of the agency.
In a letter written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on March 19, 2012, and titled “Re: Postings/Transfer and secondments of police officers to the EFCC,” Mr. Lamorde put Mr. Magu as top on the list of police officers he wanted to be deployed to the EFCC.
But when the police boss was to confirm the deployment of the officers, Mr. Magu’s name was conspicuously absent.
Mr. Lamorde eventually had his way after  then President Goodluck Jonathan reportedly intervened in Mr. Magu’s case.
The President, a reliable source told PREMIUM TIMES at the time, directed the police to co-operate with the EFCC by releasing any police official the commission needs to strengthen itself,” our source said.
Following the President’s intervention, Mr. Magu was released to the EFCC. He remained a top official of the commission until he was appointed to succeed Mr. Lamorde.

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Anxiety in House of Reps as Dogara group “moves against” Gbajabiamila

Anxiety has engulfed the House of Representatives, following an All Progressives Congress caucus meeting summoned by the Chief Whip, Alhassan Dogwa.
The meeting is slated for 10 this morning(Tuesday), and coming after the Loyalist Group, which has APC lawmakers loyal to the Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, labelled the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara an “agent provocateur of destabilization.”
The composition of the headships of the 96 House committees which some APC members said favoured the opposition PDP has apparently reignited crisis in the House.
There are indications that the meeting is fixed to move against Mr. Gbajabiamila.
Mr. Dogwa is a loyalist of the Speaker.
Three legislators also confirmed the 10am meeting.
Asked if the meeting was to move against Mr. Gbajabiamila, a lawmaker (APC-Katsina) who would not not want to be named said, “actually there is something like that going around like tumour but I have not confirmed”.

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There will be Rwanda after Kagame

PAUL, the youngest of the six children of Deogratias and Asteria Rutagambwa Kagame was two when his family fled  their homestead in 1959. That was the year of the Peasant Uprising in Rwanda which became known as the Rwandan Revolution. That uprising brought to fore the ethnic tension in that country which eventually resulted in the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
Paul Kagame had the distinction of leading the Tutsi-  dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) which brought that genocide to an end. From that 1994, he was Vice President and Defence Minister. In 2000,  President Pasteur Bizimungu  gave way to Kagame, and he  has been President for fifteen years with  his tenure  scheduled to end in 2017. It is an appreciable height for a former refugee  boy to attain. And many acknowledge that he has done well.

Kagame

But rather than bow out as scheduled, he is queing to join the bad gang of African leaders who, rather than obey their country’s constitution, are prepared to do violence to it in order to hang on to power.
Careful and crafty like Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo by  not openly campaigning personally for an unconstitutional Third Term in office, he is letting others do the job  and take the bullets for him.  When I was in Kigali last May, the process was on . There were signatories being collated to amend the constitution and allow Kagame,  run again.
It is an old trick; the leader would seem disinterested and would only run if his ‘people’ ask  or beg him to run.  In Nigeria, General Sani Abacha was waiting for his ‘people’ to call him to transform into  a civilian President. He expended enormous state funds in  the gambit and had groups like Youths Earnestly Ask  For Abacha to do the dirty job of not only ‘begging’ him to run, but also to be the sole presidential candidate for all the political parties. Rather than get the call, Abacha received a call from above.
In Kagame’s case, the Parliament last  July  voted to rewrite the constitution to enable him run again. When the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda went to court for an interpretation of Section 101 that puts a limit on presidential terms, the Supreme Court ruled that the constitution can be amended since it is allegedly based on the peoples voices.
Kagame is really in bad company; from neigbouring President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi who forced a Third Term in April,  triggering  mass protests, killings and attempted coup, to  Congo Republic’s Dennis Sassou Nguesso, 71 who this month, wants to extend his rule. Nguesso’s attempt is almost incomprehensible; he was a Minister  of the Republic from 1970 becoming President for  thirteen years from  1979. After his electoral defeat in 1992, he fought his way back to power in an armed rebellion assisted by Angolan troops. So he has been in power for a combined thirty one years,  and has been African Union (OAU/AU) chair twice;  1986 and  2006. Yet, he wants to extend his rule.
Rwanda is a sensitive country with large populations in exile. Although the country  has tried to evolve into a single nationality, the Banyarwanda, and created  a single language, the Kinyarwanda, the wounds of the civil war and genocide are yet to heal. Ethnic tensions remain. The indigenous population of the country is the Twa who now account for one percent.  The Hutu, an agricultural  group joined them, and from the fifteenth to sixteenth century, the Tutsi, a pastoral group arrived. The Tutsis became the  ruling class producing the monarch. With the Hutu uprising, many Tutsis fled, and the Kagame family eventually settled in the Wshungerezi Refugee Camp, Toro, Uganda.
After the overthrow of Idi Amin in Uganda, Kagame pitched camp with the Yoweri Museveni faction of the ruling group. He was sent to Tanzania to train as a spy. After the 1980 Ugandan elections won by founding Prime Minister, Milton Obote, there were tensions between Ugandans and the Rwandese  which led to attacks and the refugees fleeing. Museveni who was considered a friend of the Rwandan refugees, challenged Obote’s government by establishing an armed rebel group, the National Resistance Army (NRA) which captured the capital, Kampala in 1986. Kagame became the new Ugandan Army Chief of Intelligence.
He was attending a Command  and General Staff College, in the United States, when his fellow compatriots in the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) invaded Rwanda. Within three days, the leader, General Fred Gisa Rwigyema, a  veteran of FRELIMO (Mozambique) and  NRA was killed, and by month end, the invaders were in  retreat. Kagame returned to lead  retreating rebels through Uganda to   the Virunga Mountains from where they conducted a guerrilla struggle  which was exacerbated by the downing  on April 6, 1994 of the aircraft  carrying Rwandese President Juvenal Habyarimana and the  Burundian President, Cyprien Ntaryamira, and the subsequent genocide.
Kagame’s administration has in comparison to most of his peers in Africa, done well especially in terms of infrastructure, particularly in Kigali. On the African scene, he is helping the integration process; Rwanda is the only country I know, where people carrying the passport of any African country, get visa at the point of entry. All some East African nationals  need to enter Rwanda is their identity card.
It is not clear why Kagame  wants to perpetuate himself in office. It could be fear of instability or  being deceived that he alone can hold the country together. But a great danger is refusing to obey the constitution. A  major attribute of a leader is his  ability to replicate himself. If  after fifteen  years as president, Kagame has no worthy successors, then he has no business remaining in office. He should learn from leaders like South Africa’s Nelson Mandela who despite the prolonged years of Apartheid and constitutional provision to run for a second term, decided to allow the younger generation take over. There are also worthy examples like Sam Nujoma of Namibia who is a father figure in both Namibia and the continent. No leader is indispensable. Before Kagame, was Rwanda, after him, shall be Rwanda.

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36 Ministerial appointees storm Abuja for two day retreat

The two day retreat for 36 ministerial nominees who were recently screened and confirmed by the Senate recently would kick off today.
Already, the ministers-designate, it was gathered, arrived Abuja last night.
Venue of the retreat is the International Conference Center, ICC, Abuja.
The event which would commence by 9:am is expected to be declared open President Mohammadu Buhari.
It will be recalled that the last batch of the confirmed nominees names was submitted to the president at the presidential villa in Abuja by the president of the senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki on
Tuesday which made the retreat possible.
It is also expected that the inauguration of the appointees would take place soon after the retreat.

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Why we don’t speak Igbo at our meetings – Ohanaeze

The umbrella association of all Igbo cultural unions, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has given reasons for Igbo language not being spoken at Igbo gatherings by Ndigbo.

File: Chief Clark, Alhaji Musa, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Femi Falana and Pat Utomi

Former National Secretary of Ohanaeze, Professor Ben Nwabueze, SAN, who spoke, lamented that Ndigbo do not speak the Igbo language to themselves because most of them were promoting their various dialects instead of speaking the central Igbo. There are as many Igbo dialects as there are communities.
Nwabueze, who spoke at an Igbo language programme organized by the Igbo Youth Movement, IYM, for secondary school students in Enugu, said that Ohanaeze Ndigbo once decided that its meetings and activities would be conducted in Igbo, but this did not work because there were several Igbo dialects spoken in various parts of Igbo nation unlike Hausa or Yoruba which had acceptable central language.
“We once said at an Ohanaeze meeting that all our meetings would be conducted in Igbo because we realized that our language was dying, but this did not work. The first day we decided that we must speak Igbo in our meetings, the late governor of Anambra State, Chief C. C. Onoh spoke his own brand of WAWA Igbo.
“Onoh spoke at length and most people did not understand what he was saying. Every other person spoke his own dialect and at the end, nobody spoke Igbo again at Ohanaeze because none of us understood one another’s dialect,” he said.
Also contributing, the former Registrar of the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, and now traditional ruler, Professor Chukwuemeka Ike, blamed the inability of Ndigbo to speak Igbo on the missionaries who established schools in Igbo land.
Ike said that when he went to the then Government College, Umuahia in the present Abia State, it was an offence to speak Igbo in the school premises.
“When I went to Government College, it was an offence to speak Igbo in the school then. When I left the college, I travelled overseas for further studies. Writers should publish their books in both English and Igbo languages …,” he added. Also speaking, the former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, said that Igbo language should not be allowed to die.
On why Ndigbo do not speak their language, Ekwueme said that this was because, “English language is a predator to Igbo,” just as Hausa is the predator to Angas, spoken by the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon’s people.
“Gowon’s father was the leader of his people in the Anglican Church. The Bible was first translated to Angas language, but nobody read it because Hausa is predator to Angas. Igbo Bible is not read because English is the predator to Igbo.
“The Hausa Bible which was translated after the Angas Bible is widely read, but that of the Angas did not sell,” he said. John Okafor, aka Ibu, an actor, also lamented that the average “Igbo child cannot tell you where he comes from. He will tell you that his/her father has not told him the name of his village. This is not good. We must speak our language,” Ibu said.

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