Ajimobi ’ll discourage street begging - Disabled president

PRESIDENT of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disability, Prince Paul Adelabu, has unveiled what the incoming governor of Oyo State, Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi, has for the disabled persons in the state.

Prince Adelabu, who is the leader of Ajimobi Disability Support Group, said the Governor-elect has evolved welfarist programmes that will wipe out poverty from the lives of the disabled persons in Oyo State.

Adelabu who was the former principal of Rehabilitation Centre for the Disabled, Moniya, Ibadan said the incoming administration will execute certain programmes that will discourage disabled persons from begging for alms on the streets.

Speaking with Sunday Tribune in Ibadan on Tuesday, he said Ajimobi administration will appoint a disabled person as a commissioner and that each local government chairman will create a department for disabled persons, and a disabled person of special adviser status will head the department.

According to Adelabu who claimed that his group had concluded agreement with Ajimobi before the election, the welfarist programme shall include monthly allocation to the Disabled Persons Departments at the state and local government levels, creation of camps where disabled persons are to be settled and learning of trade and acquisition of skills, provision of fund for disabled persons to set up business and special welfare package for those who cannot do anything.

Adelabu also stated that bursary allowance and scholarship will be made available  to brilliant disabled persons, while each ministry shall grant employment to them.

He said within the first hundred days of Ajimobi’s administration, beggars would be flushed out from the streets of Ibadan and its environment and laws prohibiting giving of alms to the beggars on the street will be promulgated.

Jonathan to commission Kwara university

THE Vice Chancellor of  Kwara State University (KWASU),  Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, has said that the institution is set to receive President Goodluck Jonathan, who is expected to commission the newly established university next Tuesday.

Na’Allah,  who  stated this  during a press briefing in his office at  Malete Campus  of the university  in Moro Local Government Area of the state,  also noted that President Jonathan  would  be  amazed to  see a first class university   in the state.

According to him, the university’s rapid development will be showcased to tell Nigerians that such institutions can contribute to the growth and development of the country.

He said the university and all other universities alike had no option than to see   themselves  as an agent of change   in the country.

The Vice Chancellor,  who  attributed  lack  of fund  to be the impediment  that delayed  the smooth  take off of the other  campuses of the university in Kwara South  and Kwara North, respectively, also said  the university was exploring other  avenues  to  be able to raise fund to  begin  the other  campuses as soon as possible.

He said the university decided to take up gradually in order to ensure that the quality of their graduands is not compromised.

He  disclosed that  the main aim was to ensure that all  students  that  graduate from the university  are  up to standard  and can compete  favourably  in any part of the world they may find themselves.

Fulfill your electoral promises to the people, Alaafin charges new Oyo govt

THE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has charged the incoming government in Oyo State to fulfil its electoral promises to the people of the state when it takes over the reign of governance on May 29, 2011.

Oba Adeyemi, while receiving in his palace the deputy governor-elect, Chief Moses Adeyemo, noted that winning an election is one part of a two-part contract between the electorate and those in government, stressing “now that the electorate had fulfilled their part of the contract, the other leg is for those elected to do their own side of the contract by ensuring they do all those things promised the people that endeared them to you.”

The monarch particularly urged the new government to look into areas of unemployment, decayed infrastructure across the state, good road network, housing scheme and education for the people.

He also implored the incoming administration to always conduct the affairs of the state in strict adherence to the rule of law and with the fear of God, adding that political power could be so alluring and tempting to the extent of driving the holder against the people, if not well handled.

The new deputy governor thanked the monarch for his support to his party, the ACN, during the election and promised to always consult him for elderly wisdom in the running of the government from time to time.

Chief Adeyemo noted that despite  the seemingly unquestionable powers of political office holders, only those of them not deep enough in the arrangement of the Yoruba nation would think they hold the power of life and death and thus would refuse to pay due reverence to traditional rulers.

He said a paramount ruler like the Alaafin could not be toyed with by any government that wanted to enjoy large following among the people, saying first and foremost, “ our obas are our fathers who must be respected at all times.”

Lagos revs up work on Lagos rail system

Ahead of his inauguration for a second term in office, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, (SAN), has pressed forward to continue work on the state’s light rail programme as he undertakes a pre-shipment inspection of the trains in Canada to be used by Ekorail, the operators of the programme.

The 27 kilometre light metro rail line, christened Blue Line, will run from Okokomaiko in the west of Lagos to CMS in Central Lagos and is expected to provide alternative transportation for thousands of commuters moving from the western axis  of the city to the city centre everyday.

Already, substantial work has begun on the project between the National Theatre in Iganmu and Mile 2. 

According to a recent 2011 monthly progress report on the project, all the columns for the concourse at the Lagos end of the rail line have been completely cast to the Alaba station’s elevated level with the concretes currently being cast while the superstructure work on the station is still in progress.

The rail project, according to the report, will increase economic activities along the corridor, reduce traffic congestion and vehicular emission since owners would be encouraged to drop their vehicles and use public transport.

“Aside creating employment, both directly and indirectly, the project will help to build a crop of expertise in the construction of this magnitude, thus affording Nigerians the opportunity to be part of historical moments,” the report said.

Currently, even at its construction stage, over 4,000 workers are engaged at various skills level on the light rail project while over 8,000 Nigerians will be engaged to work on the system when it takes off. For now, thousands are also engaged in a secondary economy supplying raw material inputs, food and refreshments to those working at the sites.

Governor Fashola, who  said during the campaigns that the inspection would take place once the elections were over, is being accompanied on the inspection tour by the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, his Science and Technology counterpart, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Special Adviser for Works, Engineer Ganiyu Johnson, the Managing Director of the Metropolitan Area and Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the Director General of the Public Private Partnership Office (PPPO), Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi.

Don’t appoint Ohakim minister - Kinsmen

President Goodluck Jonathan has been urged not to appoint outgoing governor of Imo State , Chief Ikedi Ohakim a cabinet Minister in order not to provoke the anger of the people.

The League of Okigwe Professionals in a statement in Owerri on Saturday argued that after the disgraceful ouster of Ohakim by Imo people as a result of non performance, the outgoing governor should for now, disappear from public domain.

Rev Fr Jerome Nwokere (Okigwe LGA), Pastor Jones Umunna (Onuimo), Chief Ohakim Jonas, (Isiala Mbano), Nze Odika Iwu (Ehime Mbano) Rev George Anyanwu (Ihitte-Uboma) and Dr Charles Ala (Obowo) signed the statement on behalf of the league.

They were angry that Ohakim was scheming to be a minister after he wasted the opportunity given to him by Imo people to write his name in gold, but failed.

They also averred that having failed to perform in Imo State as governor, there was no basis for Ohakim to aspire to  a higher service at the federal level.

According to them, “it was unfortunate that the governor, who allegedly pushed for the sack of the Interior Minister, Capt Emmanuel Iheanacho for losing his senatorial zone, now wants to be rewarded by President Jonathan and PDP for losing Imo State.”

Adducing reasons why Ohakim led PDP to a humiliating defeat at the Imo governorship election, the Okigwe League of Professionals blamed it on arrogance, non performance and betrayal of trust.

They noted that the governor showed disdain to Chief Achike Udenwa, Prof Maurice Iwu and Orji Uzor Kalu whom they described as the core people that facilitated Ohakim’s ascension to power in 2007

They declared, “Rather than continue to put Okigwe zone to shame, Ohakim should take a sabbatical so that his marry sins would be forgotten by Imo people with the passage of time.”

FG uncovers plot to derail Jonathan’s inauguration

 A plot to scuttle the inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan on May 29 has been uncovered by some agencies of government said to be working on counter terrorism theories.
Sources in Abuja, the Federal Capita l Territory told the Sunday Tribune that a group(name withheld) close to a popular politician  were said to have met in Kaduna on May 6, where they unfolded the plan to scuttle the President’s inauguration on May 29.

Sources in the know told the Sunday Tribune that some top aides of the said politician were at the Kaduna meeting where the plot to undermine the presidential inauguration ceremony was debated.

It was gathered that some leaders of the group had perfected plans to initiate another round of confrontation between their supporters and security agents so as to paint a picture of insecurity in Nigeria.

Some of the plans adopted according to sources include instigating riots in states including Kaduna, Bauchi, Plateau, Borno and Kano. The plan, according to the source was aimed at precipitating reprisals from some Southern states  such that the security agencies would have their hands full.

A source also said that one of the action plan of the group discovered include the bid to infiltrate extremist religious groups to co-opt them in the plot to undermine security and attract international attention.

It was also gathered that the group plans to circulate some false but sensitive information about the government  through some foreign media outfits to cause disaffection.

The plan also include labeling some Northerners working in the federal government as anti-people and target them for attacks.

A source also said that the group plans to circulate some inciting messages, while some religious leaders have also been penciled down for engagement.

One of the points to be raised by those behind the plot according to one source, is the picture where President Jonathan knelt down before Pastor Enoch ADEBOYE, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Lagos. The picture, it was learnt was going to be circulated as evidence of religious bigotry by the leader.

The information contained in the blueprint for the plot also include the engagement of some sympathetic media houses. The essence it was gathered was aimed at recruiting the youth  in rural areas.

It was also gathered that some civil servants top in the hierarchy would be reached to sabotage projects of the administration and ensure nothing works.

A source said: “One of the plan is also to ensure that those involved would engage in aggressive campaign against the government through various social networks such as the Facebook;
“Text messages will also be utilized to portray the post-election violence and manifestation of antagonism between Christians and Muslims.”

The group, it was further learnt  plans to surreptitiously engineer violence in some Institutions of higher learning which would eventually take ethno-religious dimensions. It also plans to sustain its activities through propaganda and blackmail.

It was however confirmed on Saturday that  the authorities have placed some of those involved under close watch.

Ministerial appointment: Security reports indict 3 ex-govs •Jonathan to shock Nigerians

As lobbying for ministerial appointments gathers storm, security reports may have done damages to the ambitions of some former governors to secure ministerial posts in President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet. Exclusive details obtained by Sunday Tribune revealed that some of the governors jostling for appointments have indictments bordering on their role in the election of Mr President.

It was learnt that a former head of state had, in late April, submitted a list of ministerial nominees from his zone in which the former governors were included.

The list, according to Sunday Tribune’s sources was forwarded to the National Security Adviser for vetting by the president.

Sunday Tribune was told that the National Security Adviser‘s office prior to the president’s referral had already compiled dossiers on many nominees whose names were being bandied in the media.

It was learnt that three of the nominees had indictments hanging on their heads based on field reports filed by security agencies in the zone.

One of the nominees was alleged to have diverted funds meant for the presidential election to pursue his private agenda despite protests by party elders at a meeting held at the nominee’s house.

Another of the nominees, also an ex-governor, was alleged to have disobeyed a presidential advice to accommodate some factions within the state chapter leading to the failure of the party in the state during the elections.

Other indictments levelled against the nominees included pending cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as a new case an ACN governor  is about to file against the Federal Government.

The ACN governor was said to have accused the ex-governor of paying for contracts that were unexecuted while already inviting the EFCC to look into the cases.

In another state, reports indicated that the ex-governor actively opposed a deal meant to get an opposition governor to support Mr President during the polls.

A competent source within the presidency told Sunday Tribune that the nominees of the former leader would not even get on the list due to these negative and well established findings against him.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the states of the federation began submission of names of people expected to make President Goodluck Jonathan’s list of new ministers, there are indications that the president will surprise Nigerians with the final list.

President Jonathan indicated that he would soon dissolve his cabinet, a development upon which the Acting Chairman of the PDP, Mohammed Bello Haliru, mandated the party leadership and governors of the PDP-led states to forward 10 names each for consideration for ministerial and ambassadorial slots.

But feelers have it that despite Jonathan’s expectation of nominees to be compiled by the states’ party leadership, governors and ministers, where applicable, the president could shock those who think they can predict his choice of ministers, ambassadors and other cabinet positions.

Besides, President Jonathan’s antecedents are in support of the possibility of him proving bookmakers wrong. He had surprised Nigerians several times in his days as acting president and earlier in his days as substantive president.

In 2010, when he made his ministerial appointments, he surprised not a few Nigerians by submitting to the Senate names of some Nigerians least expected. These included those regarded as the new turks in government circles today.

Against the expectations of many, names Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah, Fidelia Njeze, Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed, Adetokunbo Kayode, Ruqayyatu Rufai, John Odey, Mohammed Bello Adoke, Musa Mohammed Sada, Godsday Orubebe, Aliyu Idi Hong, Suleiman Bello, Labaran Maku and Nuhu Wya found their ways into the president’s cabinet.

It will also be recalled that prior to this time, President Jonathan had shocked Nigerians in his choice of deputy. While the names of the governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and Senator Ahmed Makarfi were on the lips of many Nigerians as prospective vice president under Jonathan, the president went for the least expected former governor of Kaduna State, Namadi Sambo.

In a similar circumstance in October 2010, the expectation of many Nigerians was that former Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), Colonel Kayode Are, would be appointed as National Security Adviser (NSA).

But President Jonathan, in a rare show of independence, stunned Nigerians and appointed General Andrew Owoye Azazi.

Colonel Are had been in the same position, but in acting capacity, after the exit of former NSA, General Aliyu Gusau, and many had thought that he would be confirmed as substantive NSA. Jonathan, however, had his plan.

Yet another instance where President Jonathan surprised Nigerians was the appointment of Professor Attahiru Jega as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While Nigerians were bandying the names of notables like former Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Dora Akunyili; former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and popular lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba, Jonathan kept his plans close to his chest.

He was to later consider a list of three unexpected nominees, which included a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Nuhu Yakub; Barrister Bukhari Bello; and the then Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Professor Attahiru Jega, who was later announced as the president’s choice.

Jonathan was quoted to have said at a public forum that his choice of Jega was in tandem with his promise to hand the nation free, fair and credible elections earlier in the year.

“If I don’t have confidence in the people of Kebbi, I wouldn’t have appointed your own son, Professor Jega, to supervise elections in which I will participate and which we all want to be free and fair. I believe that he would do the right thing; he will not rig or manipulate any election to favour anybody,” the president was quoted to have told a gathering of Kebbi State indigenes shortly before the elections.

It is also in the light of the electoral promise that President Jonathan is seen to have surprised many Nigerians, particularly governors who got into office on the ticket of his party, the PDP.

It was learnt that many of the governors and National Assembly members, particularly in the South-West, had expected that the president would “intervene” in their bid to get re-elected, but Jonathan had made it clear that he would not even expect anybody to rig for him, meaning that he would leave the field level for all.

The president was to surprise all by even congratulating members of the opposition parties who won in the elections.

A source said, “it is, thus, unlikely that President Jonathan’s choice would be influenced by the state governors on the ticket of his party in his choice of ministers and ambassadors.”

Sources in the Presidency were only short of confirming this when they hinted that it appeared the president was, again, keeping his card close to his chest.