Jonathan set to impose Tony Anenih as chairman of PDP’s Board of Trustees

Following the resignation of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as the Chairman of Board of Trustees (BoT) of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, battle has begun on who will take over the mantle of leadership.

Five aspirants have already indicated interest to mount the highly-exalted seat, which former President Olusegun Obasanjo voluntarily vacated sometime in April.

Aspirants gunning for the seat include: Chief Harry Akande, Senator Ahmadu Ali, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and a former President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani.
But it was learnt that the presidency is tipping a former Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih to emerge as the next BoT chairman.

DailyPost has gathered that the Presidency met on Thursday with some top members of the board, and urged everybody to vote for Anenih on Friday night when the election is expected to take place.

A close insider, who craved anonymity, said the President, Goodluck Jonathan and his supporters believe that the emergence of Anenih would make his bid for second term in 2015 come true.

However, some members of the board from the Northern part of the country are against Anenih’s candidancy, hence they prefer Nnamani.

The source said, “The President and his supporters are of the opinion that if Anenih emerges the chairman of the PDP, he will help the president to get second term ticket from the party.

“Apart from that, the President and his aides want someone who can checkmate Obasanjo and others who have turned out to be Jonathan’s critics.”

But other opponents prefer Nnamani, who is from the Southeast geo-political zone.

They maintained that it would be wrong for the President, who is from the South-South to insist on someone from the same zone to become the BoT chairman of the party.

He said, “The President is from the South-South, his deputy is from the North-West, the National Chairman of the PDP is from the North-East, while the National Secretary of PDP is from the South-West.
“So, in the running of the party, where is South-East?”

In a similar view, a member of the board from the Northwest region said it would be wrong for President Jonathan, who hails from the South-South to throw his weight behind someone from his zone.

He noted that though people from the South-East are currently holding high position in the government, those positions were not party related.
It was also gathered that the immediate past chairman, Obasanjo is tipping Ali, who happened to be the chairman of the party when he was the President.

Source:Daily Post.

Bianca gets lion’s share of Ojukwu’s will

By Adebola Adeyileka
The will of the late leader of the defunct Biafra Republic and Ikemba of Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, was on Friday presented to the family with his widow, Bianca, getting the lion’s share.

The presentation by the Chief Registrar of the Enugu High Court, Mr Dennis Ekoh, was witnessed by Bianca, Mr Val Nwosu, Ojukwu’s first cousin, and Mr Mike Ejemba.

In the will, the late Ojukwu identified one Tenny Haman as one of his children.

Ojukwu listed the children as Tenny Haman, Chukwuemeka Jnr, Mmegha, Okigbo, Ebele, Chineme, Afam and Nwachukwu.

The Ikemba gave the Casabianca Lodge at No. 7, Forest Crescent, GRA, Enugu, two property at Jabi and Kuje in the FCT as well as all his money and personal effects to his widow.

He also said that Bianca should replace him as the trustee in the family company, Ojukwu Transport Ltd, while also giving her two plots of land in his village at Nnewi.

He, however, added that if she re-married, the land should be taken away from her.

The first son, Emeka Jnr., got the family house at Nnewi, while the newly mentioned daughter, Tenny Haman, got the Jubilee Hotel located in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The Biafran warlord also shared other landed property in the village among all his children.

Ojukwu listed the trustees and executors of the will to include Bianca, Emeka Jnr and Mr James Chukwuneme.

Reacting to the will, Bianca, who is Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, expressed satisfaction with its contents.

“It was a fair will. This time round, he did not disappoint us,’’ she said.

The ambassador, however, expressed shock at the disclosure of a new daughter in the family, whom she said had never been mentioned by her husband.

None of the children was present at the presentation of the will.

LAM ONAOLAPO ADESHINA—THE ECLIPSE OF A POLITICAL COLOSSUS

By Bello Destiny Paul

‘All men will come to me
In due time ,but theirs
Is the agony of waiting’’—Walter Russell’s
Although sweet is the memory of the just ,but the sudden death of the oyo state political giant ,and one of the progressive politicians in Nigeria, a very consistent, amiable, godly, highly religious, but not an extremist or a fanatic, very intelligent, prudent, coolheaded and humane, will remains excruciantly painful in our annals.
Not that he was not old enough,but because of his invaluable contributions to the state and national discourses, because of his fatherly intervention, political and administrative acumen, that we still demands from him. His death is very painful, because of his immeasurable usefulness, that would have been of utmost assistance to the present government and the good people of oyo state,as at the time,the state is drastically undergoing a superb reformation ,and massive developments under the able Governor Abiola Ajimobi
‘’Great men sow their seeds
In the minds of others, so
As to cause infinite actions
And opinions in succeeding ages’’—Sir Francis Bacon
But inspite ,that Lam Adeshina, departure is disheartening, and saddening, we still finds solace in the good works ,cherish legacy, and exemplary life he lived ,and his gangartua contributions to the happiness and developments of humanities will forever be cherished
Lam Adeshina,honestly is another good and typical example, which teaches us, that whatever we are ,whatever we have, we will die one day, his death, reminds us, of the need to elevate truth over falsehood, and justice over injustice and to leave a worthy legacies behind after our departure from this terrestrials world to celestial abode ,from this third planet to the great beyond ,and that good life has nothing to do with ,numbers of position we had attained ,numbers of children, wives or concubine we had. But on positive impact made on the lives of people,and their well being, selfless service rendered unto mankind, upliftment of the just over unjust .
These are the lessons, the passage of this man of timber and caliber ,a roaring lion, a lion heart ,a die hard Awoist, a consummate organizer and planner, a prudent manager of men and resource, a model of rectitude, exemplary figure and a role model, a worthy leader, an administrative guru, a disciplinarian to the core, reveals to us
Lamidi Adeshina names,without any fear of contradictions or any words of equivocation is another Tanto nomini nullum per elogium, which means, for so great a name no praise can adequate
To all those, who are in position of power and authority, to all those who are influential, wealthy, strong, and powerful, a day is coming, sooner  or later, when cock will crow behind you. It is worthy to remember that something is before us,of which we cannot escape, although daily we are hearing of its tales, we are reading of its agonies, we are witnessing its ferociousness- the tales ,ferocity and agony of death.
But we must know, even if we don’t believe that, it will soon be our turn, to bid adieu to this world, it s either today or tomorrow, it may be in the night or in the morning, it is either sooner or later, we too ,will cross the Rubicon to the great beyond. It’s highly expedient, and expected of us to now look beyond where we are, what we are doing or what we want to do, that after our sojourned on earth, after our departure from this world of sin, emptiness and vanity, what do we want people to say, about us, and people we  not talk about our earthly position, or wealth, but of positive or negative impact or legacy we left behind.
And also, heavens will not judge us, base on what we have achieved, in terms of wealth, religious or political position, but on what humanities and heavens have benefitted from us.
The death of Lam Adeshina is a call, a clarion calls, for everyone of us, to turn a new leaf, to change for better, to see this world as a temporary abode, a place to serve God, and not for us to turn against God, a place to make a choice, not only on what we want to become, but on where we want to go, after our departure from this world of sin, and cruel place, devil and man’s dwell.
This we must know, this we must remember and this we must believe.
It is of no doubt, that the death of Lam Adeshina has left a big vacuum in the politics of progressives, which cannot be filled easily. He has left a big shoe in Oyo State, which will be very difficult for any politician in Oyo State to put on.
He has left this world from glory to glory and from honour to honour, Adieu, the peoples leader, the political juggernaut, cherish husband and a good father. Till we meet and part no more. Rest in Peace.
Bello Destiny Paul
07036611633   

The Possibility Of State Police

By Akin Akinkuotu Esq. 

IT IS no gainsaying that our country has a number of daunting security challenges for which our security operatives appear to be incapable of handling to our satisfaction.   With the insurgence of Boko Haram and the ever present armed robbery, kidnapping, assassination and vandalism, it is as if our Nation is under the siege of operatives in the pit of hell.

Various personalities and experts have advanced suggestions on how we can wriggle out of this security quagmire but it appears we have not been able to get it right on the issue of the best way out.

IGP M.D Abubakar

As with all forms of ailment affecting an individual or society, the starting point should be correct diagnosis of the problem in order to ascertain the root cause.

What are the causes of these crimes in Nigeria? To my mind, there are so many things that may have engendered crime. One problem is the issue of unemployed youths. This is another way of saying there is poverty in Nigeria.

Another issue is that it appears crime pays in Nigeria. Statistics based on media reports indicate that when, for example, armed robbery occurs 10 times, hardly are our security systems able to mobilize effective challenge against the hoodlums once. This, in business terms, means there is 90 percent possibility of success each time robbers or other criminals launch out.

Also, there is the view that police-community ratio is too low for effectiveness.

It is in this vein that the Governors Forum recently renewed the call for the establishment of State Police.

While it has been correctly argued that this is the practice in civilized climes, the antecedents of some of our political office holders make the option of State Police terrifying.

However, there is a way out under the Police Act, which is one of the extant Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

Section 18 of the Police Act provides:

(1)                  Any person (including any government department) who desires to avail himself of the services of one or more police officers for the protection of property owned or controlled by him may make application therefor to the Inspector-General, stating the nature and situation of the property in question and giving such other particulars as the Inspector-General may require.

(2)                  On an application under the foregoing subsection the Inspector-General may, with the approval of the President, direct the appropriate authority to appoint as supernumerary police officers in the Force such number of persons as the Inspector-General thinks requisite for the protection of the property to which the application relates.

(3)                  Every supernumerary police officer appointed under this Section ---

(a)                                  Shall be appointed in respect of the area of the police province or, where there is no police province, the police district or police division in which the property which he is to protect is situated;

(b)                                  shall be employed exclusively on duties connected with the protection of that property;

(c)                                  shall, in the police area in respect of which he is appointed and in any police area adjacent thereto, but not elsewhere, have the powers, privileges and immunities of a police officer; and

(d)                                  subject to the restrictions imposed by paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection and to the provisions of Section 22 of this Act, shall be a member of the Force for all purposes and shall accordingly be subject to the provisions of this Act and in particular the provisions thereof relating to discipline.

(4)                  Where any supernumerary police officer is appointed under this Section, the person availing himself of the services of that officer shall pay to the Accountant-General ---

(a)                                  on the enlistment of the officer, the full cost of the officer’s uniform; and

(b)                                  quarterly in advance, a sum equal to the aggregate of the amount of the officer’s pay for the quarter in question and such additional amounts as the Inspector-General may direct to be paid in respect of the maintenance of the officer during that quarter;

and any sum payable to the Accountant-General under this subsection which is not duly paid may be recovered in a summary manner before a Magistrate on the complaint of any superior police officer:

     Provided that this subsection shall not apply in the case of an appointment made on the application of a department of the Government of the Federation.

(5)                  Where the person availing himself of the services of any supernumerary police officer appointed under this section desires the services of that officer to be discontinued, he must give not less than two months’ notice in writing to that effect, in the case of an officer appointed in respect of a police area within that part of Lagos State formerly known as the Federal territory, to the Inspector-General or, in the case of an officer appointed in respect of a police area within a State, to the Commissioner of Police of that State; and on the expiration of such notice the services of the supernumerary police officer in question shall be withdrawn.

Section 20 continues in somewhat similar vein:

(1)                  If at any time the President is satisfied, as regards any police area, that it is necessary in the public interest for supernumerary police officers to be employed in that area, he may authorize the appropriate authority to appoint persons as supernumerary police officers in the Force under and in accordance with the authorization.

(2)                  Every authorization under this section shall be in writing and shall specify the police area to which it relates and the maximum number of supernumerary police officers who may be appointed under that authorization.

Another variant of these provisions is contained in Part X of the Police Act. This part is about the appointment of Special Constables.

In this regard, Section 49 of the Police Act provides:

(1)          There shall continue to be a Nigeria Special Constabulary (in this Act called “the special constabulary”).

(2)          The special constabulary shall be, and deemed always to have been, part of the Nigeria Police Force, and accordingly references in this Act to the Police Force established under this Act shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, include, and be deemed always to have included, references to the special constabulary.

(3)          The special constabulary shall consist of ---

(a)                                  special constables appointed in normal circumstances under Section 50 of this Act; and

(b)                                  such emergency special constables as may be appointed from time to time under Section 4 of this Act.

Section 4 of the Police Act referred to above simply states the duties of the Nigeria Police as it provides thus:

The Police shall be employed for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged, and shall perform such military duties within or without Nigeria as may be required by them by, or under the authority of, this or any other Act.

The implication of these provisions, to my mind, is that if there is sincerity of purpose, appointment of police officers for the use of any State Government could be accommodated under the extant Law without the need for polarizing our Nation further by the clamour for State Police.

Obama’s Re-Election and the Lessons for All

‘’The history of a movement, The history of a nation, The history of a race,    Is the guide post,  that movement destiny, That nation’s destiny, That race’s destiny’’—Marcus Garvey

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

By Bello Destiny Paul

E-mail:   bellodestinypaul@rocketmail.com  

UNDOUBTEDLY, the re-election of president Barrack Obama is a fulfillment of a long term dream and a final burial cum funeral of segregation and undue discrimination meted on Negroes in the past. Honestly no amounts of words could quantify or fathom the expression of our joy, to see Obama, our own Obama emerged from the tough electoral ring triumphantly and joyfully.

But as we are basking in the euphoria of joy, on Obama’s well deserved victory ,by cheering, jeering ,dancing ,celebrating ,praising and jubilating . I consider it expedient, for us to look at Obama’s   victory, beyond euphoria level.  And that his re-election is not only a grand celebration, but also a great lesson ,a lesson for other race [s], for other nation and for an individual.

A LESSON FOR OTHER RACE[S] –that in spite of long years of suffering, injustice ,inhuman treatment undue discrimination, bully and exploitation of the highest order ,yet a race of negroes, could still survive in a foreign land ,endured ,perserved, united  and struggled ,refused to  be cowed ,surrendered  and frustrated . but still with a rare courage ,uncommon tolerance ,inexpressible patience and unshakeable faith in God ,still produce a personality ,a child of destiny ,a fulfiller of  a dream, peoples leader and a ruler of  the world .

It is a lesson, of which every troubled, persecuted, discriminated, rejected and condemned race, must embrace .It is a path to follow, and heroic deed, worthy of emulation. And history could still repeat itself for any race, anywhere in the world.

A LESSON FOR THE NATION—It is a lesson that every nation ,should learn from ,that in spite of thick and thin, twist and turns ,ups and downs ,a  nation, suffering from economic woes or retrogression, plague and manacle  with social vices ,struggling out of stagnancy ,underdevelopments ,and backwardness etc could still survive and attain her greater heights .

It is an eye opener ,for a nation that is still looking ,praying ,hoping and eyeing for a leader ,who will take her to a standard  level ,a leader who can turn a stone to bread ,an ordinary water to wine ,who can bring water from the rock, who can led her people to the land flowing with milk and honey .

It is a lesson  for such nation ,who still finds it hard, to have such leaders ,like Kemal  Atartuk, Park Lee , Augustus  Ceaser, biblical Moses and Joshua ,Haile Selassie , Nelson Mandela , Chief Obafemi  Awolowo, Abraham Lincoln ,Bill Clinton , John Atta Mills, Martin Luther and Martin Luther king  jnr.etc ,never to lose hope, never to give up and  never to relent .

It is a lesson for such nations like ours ,that despite the inimical activities of our political gladiators, insurgencies of cabal ,parochial attitudes of our leaders, selfishness ,inconsiderate ,and inhumane disposition of our rulers ,in spite the apostasies of our activists, religion founders and leaders ,blowing  hot and cold  dispositions  of  our electoral umpire ,coupled with cowardice exhibition  of  our arbiters, , gullibility ,docility ,dogmatic, superficialities  and frivolousness of our youth ,a nation like ours, could still reach her Eldorado , by breaking the evil jinx and choose  a leader ,who ,who have  the interest of the nation in his heart ,a leader  who will not let the labour of  our past heroes be in vain ,a leader  who will realize the dream of our country as a peaceful, united and prosperous nation ,bound in freedom, peace , unity and justice .

As the dream of America negroes is being realized ,with the sons of former slaves and the sons of  former slave owner, are sitting down together  at the table of brotherhood ,and as the once heat of injustice ,sweltering  with the heat of oppression in Mississippi is being transformed ,into an oasis of freedom and justice .

It  is also a lesson ,that our nation too ,could still bid adieu and say bygone is bygone ,to inequality before the law ,infrastructural decay ,arbitrary widening gap between haves and have not, electoral manipulations ,political imposition ,quagmire of secular underdevelopments ,abject poverty and persistence insecurity of lives and property, this is a lesson, that ,it is not too late.

“Do not go where the path may lead [but] Go where there is no path and leave a trail’’—Ralph Waldo Emerson.

THE LESSONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL—And is that, the emergence of Barrack Obama ,from  lower background to a  upper level ,from being a stone rejected now to a corner stone ,from a follower to a leader, and from nobody to somebody etc, is a lesson for us, that  we too ,can achieve the seemingly unachievable ,that we  can break the perceived unbreakable, that we can conquer the much talked unconquerable  and penetrate the impregnable . It is a lesson that, our lonely background, our poor upbringing, our present challenges, the disappointment and failure besetting us. The reproaches and mockery that stares at us, can never be the yardstick or measure of what we will become.

‘’ one aim of an optimistic people is a belief that one individual could make a difference” –James kouzes

It is a lesson ,that no matter what ,we must be determined ,optimistic, focus  and persever ,it is a lesson to lay  a larger vision before us ,to run towards a tall dream, and to incubate ,and saturate a bigger  achievement  and uncommon success for illumination. These are lessons for us to learn, lesson we should work towards, lessons we should all embrace, The great lessons indeed.

(Bello Destiny Paul, the 1st Senior Advocate University of Ado-Ekiti, Faculty of law  Judicial Council, and 1st  Senor Advocate of Student Union Judicial Council, and 2010 Human right activist of the year,  resides in Lagos.)

Phone:  07036611633