Naija News Blog: November 2013

Saturday 30 November 2013

A Guys First Experience with smoking Weed

"A Guys First Experience with smoking Weed"
LWKMD!! I got this story from nairaland, it really worth sharing. A user on Nairaland with the username mr_man shared this.

Guys forget the length of this story, its worth reading, very very hilarious.
When i say weed is bad, I mean its really really bad!!
Oya, start reading!!

--

I had just moved out of my parents house and was sharing a room with my "friend". I had no idea he smoked weed, despite his suspicious movements and signature weed scent(abi na odour?) barely two weeks after moving in with him, my worst fears were confirmed as he started bringing home his weed smoking buddies and they would occassionally roll a wrap and smoke it right there in the room or mix the weed with beans or spagehtti.

Being a very curious person i always wondered what made them happy after smoking, so i decided to find out for myself(wrong move) It was a very hot day in february, a saturday i think it was, my friend was out as usual.

I searched everywhere for his stash but couldn't find it so i decided to go and get mine. I arrived the weed joint all sweaty and nervous, half expecting to get muged but nobody seemed to be aware of my presence there, they were all on different planets all expect one i concluded that he must be the seller so i approached him and the following conversation ensued:

Me: how far?
Weed seller: i dey
Me: i wan buy weed
Weed seller: how many parcel?
Me: parcel ke? Iro oo, na just small i need
Weed seller: laughs really hard. bolo leleyi sha (meaning this guy is a dunce oo)

Apparently, a parcel of weed is that small wrap, i didn't know that. I thought it was something very large. I gave him 1000naira and he gave me a tiny wrap of weed with a white paper, i was suprised when he gave me 950 as change.

I couldn't believe weed was that cheap. On my way home, i decided not to smoke it but mix it with beans because i thought that it will be better that way(another wrong move).

Long story short, i cooked beans and added the whole weed, ate it and called my friend, i told him ogbeni i just ate weed oo and nothing happened to me this one that you people will eat and be feeling funky, i don chop am oo.

My friend was like ehen you be strong man ooI decided to take a quick nap before doing laundry, i woke up about 20 minutes later on the floor i was banging my head on the floor, and i couldn't stop, my heart beat was so audible and fast, everything was extra bright and extra loud.

After a few minutes of head banging, i was able to get up from the floor, I felt as if i had just gained access to a part of my mind that I never knew existed previously, it was scary and cool at the same time.

I could feel the blood flowing in my veins(you have to experience it to believe it. Though I strongly advise against it) i felt so uncomfortable in the room, it felt like i was in an oven suddenly a voice in my head wisphered ogbeni bo aso e joor (off your clothes) i obeyed.

The voice came again oya sa re(now run) that was when i realised that the weed had taken effect so i decided to take a shower to see if it will calm me down, but the water felt so hot on my skin so hot i ran out of the bathroom.

I called my friend to see if he could help me make sense of what was going on but he laughed at me, he asked me the quantity of weed i took and i told him i used a whole parcel, he said guyyyyy you don eff up if you no sleep in the next 30mins, you go mad oo go chemist make you go explain yourself.

By this time things had escalated, i had a severe itch at the back of my head that wouldn't go away no matter how hard i scratched and i was convinced that the beating in my chest was an evil spirit that could only be killed with a punch.

I ran to my neighbour champion and told him champion e jo e fun mi lese laya (champion pls punch me in the chest) ti e ba gbami lese laya mo ma ku oo(if you don't punch me i will die oo) he hissed and walked out having had enough of such nonsense from the boys in the boys quatters.
The voice in my head came again iwo na o de gba ara e lese laya abi o ti fe ku ni (why don't you punch yourself in the chest or do you want to die?) i punched and punched but there was no difference.
The house was getting hotter, the voice in my head was getting louder, the itch in my head was getting worse, and the evil spirit in my chest was getting louder.

Then came the voice again oya ma sare lo(start running) so i started running but on getting outside in the sun, i felt so cold i was shivering but that didn't stop me from running (i would have given husain bolt a run for his money on that day).

On getting to the chemist, i realised i was bare footed, i told him i had a severe headache i needed something to make me sleep immediately, he gave me the drug and i chewed it right there in his presence, next i asked him to give me a drug for evil spirit, that was when he realised something was wrong with me and chased me out.

I got back home and tried to sleep but my heart beat wouldnt let me, so i ran back out this time around to a nurse in the area, first thing she asked was kilode o wo bata ni? (why don't you have your shoes on? I told her jackie chan ti gba bata lowo mi (jackie chan collected my shoes) i was finally able to explain my situation to her and she took me in, tied something around my elbow and injected me directly in the vein.

I passed out immediately only to wake around 1 or 2am in the middle of the night with the worst kind of hunger I have ever felt in my life. I ate a whole loaf of butter field bread in one sitting without butter or tea.

I came home to a hero's welcome, my friend told me e be like say your head no carry am but e go better make you try am once more so you go dey use to it.

The following day while the house was empty, I packed my Ghana must go and like the prodigal son in the bible I went back home to my parents. It's been a few years since that experience but the lesson I learnt is an unforgettable one.

My curiosity hasn't gotten me in trouble again and my circle of friends have since changed.

LOL. .

Lesson Learnt really :)

- See more at: http://www.yabaleftonline.com/2013/11/guy-experience-with-weed.html#sthash.VKB5mcMQ.dpuf

16-Year-Old girl Killed In Her Bedroom after Mother Allows Two Strangers In to Their House

He walked into the house as an innocent teenager, but walked out a killer.

Brandon Henry Williams, a 17-year-old boy from Jonesboro, Georgia, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after killing 16-year-old V’ondra Olivaria in her bedroom.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Williams and a 20-year-old Justin Vitto walked into V’ondra’s home on Saturday evening.

V’ondra’s mother, Yolanda Rincon greeted the two males at the door, with the impression that they were harmless.

“He shook my hand and not even five minutes later, I heard a gun go off and my baby was gone,” Rincon explained to WSB-TV.

After the gunshot went off, Rincon ran up stairs to find Williams holding a gun, with fright in his eyes. The two boys quickly fled the house, leaving Rincon helplessly holding on to her daughter’s lifeless body.

Rincon believes that Brandon did not intend to kill V’ondra.

“He took my daughter’s life and he took his own life. Two lives gone for nothing,” said Rincon.

Late Sunday, Williams was charged with involuntary manslaughter, possession of a handgun to someone under the age of 18, criminal trespassing and obstruction. Williams also admitted to accidentally shoοting the 16-year-old V’ondra. Since Monday, the 17-year-old has been held without bail in the Clayton County Jail.

Police are currently questioning Vitto, and are not clear on whether he will be charged in V’ondra’s killing.

As a mother of four, Rincon described her second oldest child V’ondra as a bubbly, caring teenager who loved Instagram. The once 11th grader attended North Clayton High School.

Rincon says Williams never once met her daughter before that Saturday night.

ASUU Strike: Full list of Varsities That Voted To End/Continue Strike

Some Nigerian universities have on Monday voted to end the over 4-month old strike.

Find full voting results after the break.

Voted to continue strike

University of Jos (Note: The chairman of this branch, Dr. David Jangdam, said that despite the
vote the union will resume classes if directed by the national body)

University of Benin

Lagos State University

Voted to end strike:

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Bayero University Kano

Delta State University

Ekiti State University

Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Federal University of Technology, Akure

Federal University of Technology, MINNA

Imo State University

Obafemi Awolowo University

Olabisi Onabanjo University

University of Calabar

University of Lagos

University of Nigeria, Nsukka

University of Ibadan

University of Abuja

University of Port-Harcourt

Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto

18-Yr-Old Teen Arrested for Insulting Gombe State Governor On Facebook!

An 18-year-old Umar Abdullahi has been remanded in prison custody for allegedly insulting Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo on Facebook. The accused was arraigned before the court on November 17 for allegedly using abusive words against the governor on Facebook.
The Prosecutor, Sardauna Wukuma, told the court at a resumed hearing that the police were still investigating the matter. He further applied for adjournment to enable the police to complete investigations on the matter. According to the Prosecutor, the offence was contrary to the Penal Code Law of Gombe State. The Pantami Magistrates’ Court in Gombe State remanded Abdullahi at the Gombe prisons after he pleaded guilty to the charge before the court on November 27, 2013, Wednesday. The case has been adjourned till December 12, 2013, for

18-Yr-Old Teen Arrested for Insulting Gombe State Governor On Facebook!

Groom vanished on wedding day, Bride gets married to Guest To Avoid Shame

A woman was all set to marry the man of her dreams and, like a scene out of a bad romantic comedy, the dude bolts. So what's a devastated bride to do? Well, why not marry some other guy in attendance.

23-year-old Indian lady, P.Ponradha was already set to marry J.Sithiraivelu when plans changed.

The festivities were already underway when the bride's family learned the groom had vanished after an argument with his family.

The bride's family reportedly went into a frenzy, as a stopped marriage would affect the girl's future..

The frenzy subsided, however, when a second man, 30-year-old relative of the bride named Sivakumar, volunteered to marry her instead.

The wedding then took place as per the schedule, much to the relief of the family. The other guests who had come there also congratulated and appreciated Sivakumar for his timely gesture.

Don’t support Jonathan in 2015 – ACF warns Northern leaders

The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has warned northern politicians against working for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition in 2015.
Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed on Friday, in Kaduna alleged that some northerners had already gone round the region with a long list of prominent Northern leaders that would be induced to back Jonathan’s re-election in 2015.
Aliko in a short statement noted that the purported long list which he claimed he had seen, actually contained names of respected leaders from the region.

The Chairman declared that those advising the president to bribe some prominent northern leaders with money in exchange for support were only deceiving him, saying that he would fail woefully.
He said, “Those seeking or advising the President to offer inducement in exchange for support are clearly taking the matter of the President’s re-election away from performance in office to something else. If that is the case, they will be well advised to leave Northern leaders out of it,” he said.

“The attention of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has been drawn to stories circulating in the media lately, suggesting that some people said to be working for the Presidency are going about with a long list of names of Northern leaders they wish to induce ,in order that they will support the President’s re-election in 2015,” the chairman added.

Boko Haram: Nigerians urged to support Jonathan

Nigerians have been urged to support president Goodluck Jonathan in his efforts to wipe out terrorism from the country.
Making this call while speaking with newsmen recently, human rights lawyer and founder of Help The Poor Foundation (HTP) Barrister Kelvin Nweke said president Jonathan cannot handle the situation all alone.

Barrister Nweke noted that the Boko Haram insurgents have caused a lot of damages in the country.
He sighted the instance of one Mr. Tijani Oluwafemi Ajokunle and his family who were attacked by the insurgents at Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State.
He disclosed that even when he and his family escaped to their church, Agape Love Assembly, the outlawed sect went after them, and set the church ablaze.

Barrister Nweke further called on Nigerians to continue in prayers for the unity of the country.

http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/11/30/boko-haram-nigerians-urged-support-jonathan/

New car tariff: Reps divided, defer debate

Members of the House of Representatives were divided on Thursday over a motion seeking to suspend the Federal Government’s new tariff regime on imported used and new vehicles.
According to the government, the new regime is to create the enabling environment for the automotive industry to grow in the country.
Mr. Nathaniel Oriade, who moved a motion on the issue, told the House that a tariff of 70 per cent on new cars implied higher prices for the affected categories of vehicles and their components.
“Nigerians are already facing hardship and this new tariff can only worsen their situation,” he added.
The lawmaker called on the Ministry of Finance to “suspend the implementation of the programme up until such a time the assembly plants and equipment manufacturers would have started the production of Nigeria-made vehicles.”

But some members faulted the motion on the grounds that the Customs/Excise Tariff Act empowered the President to adjust tariff whenever necessary.
For example, Mr. Ibrahim El-Sudi observed that the only way to stop the policy was to come by an amendment bill and not through a motion.
“The President has powers to alter a tariff. It is an extant law, which cannot be changed by a motion,” he added.
There were members who also insisted that tariff was included in the Exclusive Legislative List and could not be changed by “executive fiat” unless by a law passed by the National Assembly.
In a bid to douse tension, the presiding Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, deferred further debate on the motion.

He asked the Joint Committee on Rules/Business, Justice and Judiciary, to study the opposing views on the motion and advise the House on what to do.

Don’t be discouraged, Nigeria will soon overcome its challenges – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday expressed hope that Nigeria will soon overcome its many challenges, saying that the current situation would only make the nation stronger.
The President gave the assurance at Umuida, Enugu Ezike, Enugu state during the funeral of Mrs Paulina Eze, mother of Senator Ayogu Eze.
Jonathan asserted that he was not perturbed by the challenges confronting Nigeria, noting that “every country in the world has crises and challenges”.
He said, “The world is facing crises including Nigeria. These days, once you hear breaking news, its all about crises. I urge clergymen to continue to pray for the country.

“The nation has challenges, no doubt about that. All over the world, there are challenges everywhere. When you open the television, they will always talk about crises here and there; there is always breaking news and whenever you hear this breaking news, it is never a good news.
“It is always sad, no good breaking news. All the breaking news I have seen for the past period are crises. The world is in crises. We are also having our own share of the crises, but I am convinced that with your prayers, the prayers of men and women of this country, God will see us through.”
While tasking the family of Eze to emulate the good virtues of their late mother, Jonathan added that it doesn’t matter how long one live but what he/she was able to impact on others.
In his sermon, Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Rev. Godfrey Onah called on the leaders of the country to be focused.

He said that the current challenges in the country were not insurmountable, adding that it should strengthen the resolve of the people to serve God.

http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/11/30/dont-discouraged-nigeria-will-soon-overcome-challenges-jonathan/

We will never return to PDP – Breakaway faction

The Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has foreclosed any hope of it returning to the main fold of the party.
Its spokesperson, Chukwuemeka Eze, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Chairman of the PDP, Bamanga Tukur, forced the group to join the opposition.
The faction on Tuesday signed a merger pact with the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Eze noted that, “We have bidded the sinking ship called PDP bye and there is no going back. We wish to thank President Goodluck Jonathan and Alhaji Bamanga Tukur for ensuring the death of PDP as prayed for by the good people of our country.”
He said that the recent crisis in the PDP was a divine answer to the cries of Nigerians who have suffered untold hardship under the present leadership of the party.
“History will record it that it was under their watch that a ruling party changed roles and became an opposition political party. Their eyes will clear when a rejuvenated APC dislodges the torn umbrella from the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in 2015.
“We were amused at the disciplinary committee of the PDP’s recommendation of the expulsion of the party’s National Secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, along with Mr. Baraje, and Sam Jaja, for alleged anti-party activities.
“As we have repeatedly pointed out, the work of the committee is null and void and of no effect whatsoever since the committee was illegally set up and its chairman, Dr. Umaru Dikko, is not a member of PDP,” Eze said.
According to him, it was a declaration of war against the judiciary by the leadership of the PDP, as the Appeal Court has ordered his re-instatement to the office of the National Secretary.
Eze urged the court to reject what he called an affront on it and redeem itself by re-establishing its judgement in the Oyinlola case and ensuring its execution.
He also called on the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to immediately arrest Mr. Tukur and members of his NWC for debasing the judiciary.
“The purported expulsion of Baraje and Jaja is laughable as it is coming after they have already publicly dumped the undemocratic PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC), with whom the nPDP has merged since Tuesday morning,” he said.

The faction also criticized the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Attahiru Jega, over his poor handling of the Anambra election.
“The obvious failure of INEC during the November 16 Anambra State gubernatorial election proved that Prof. Jega was no longer capable of conducting any creditable election in Nigeria. He should honourably resign.
“Though we are aware that he is on a mission to continue to execute the plots and plans of those that appointed him – but, sadly for him, his evil plot has been exposed and he should therefore resign honourably as he has become a threat to our nascent democracy by his inability to manage the INEC,” Mr. Eze said.
Mr. Eze also called on the PDP candidate in Anambra, Tony Nwoye, not to run in the supplementary election scheduled to hold Saturday, calling it a charade that is alien to Nigeria’s democratic set up.He said Mr. Nwoye had already allowed himself be used by Messrs, Tukur and Jonathan and alleged that the duo had traded off Mr. Nwoye’s mandate because of the President’s 2015 dream.
“The result would obviously have been different if the PDP National Leadership under Alhaji Bamanga Tukur had not sabotaged the party’s chances in the election, thus robbing our former great party of a golden opportunity to reclaim a state where it produced the governor until a fumbling PDP leadership cost us the state in 2003,” he said.
Eze recalled that days before the election, Tukur had told the world that the PDP was not going to win the election. He alleged that the PDP Chairman thus used his trip to Anambra State – purportedly to campaign for the PDP candidate – to declare Mr. Nwoye a loser even before the ballots were cast.
“By so doing, he left no one in doubt that his mounting the soapbox to campaign for Nwoye was just a ruse while President Jonathan refused to raise the hand of Comrade Nwoye during the rally at Anambra.
“Even though his name and those of his family and parents were missing from the Voters’ Register, the National Leadership of his party adjudged the election as credible.

“Never in the history of politics and democracy has a political party disowned its candidate and stood by a rival candidate without any justification except in the case of the current factional National leadership of the PDP,” he said.

http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/11/30/will-never-return-pdp-breakaway-faction/

Nigeria Breweries builds can line at Aba Plant

Nigeria Breweries Plc is set to commission an ultra-modern can line at its Aba Brewery Plant.
The can line is one of the projects being executed in the ongoing expansion of the plant, which is expected to scale up the production capacity of the plant from 1.2 million hectolitres (HL) to 2.4 HL per annum in 2014. The project is estimated to gulp about
N17 billion.
Ukeje Udah, the brewery manager, said that the plant will start producing can products before the end of this year (2013). Also ready for commissioning is a new water treatment plant.

“The canning line is currently on start up,” he said. “We have carried out series of tests on it – including I.O test, water test and we are now fine tuning to get it ready for commissioning and very soon we will have can products coming out from that line and that will be before the end of this year.”
He, however stated that the new brewery house, which would have been commissioned alongside the canning line, will now be commissioned in the first quarter of 2014, a development he attributed to delays in getting materials from abroad. Also to be commissioned next year is the waste water treatment plant.

The plant contributes 51 per cent of the company’s products in the South-South area of the country and contributes 21 per cent of the total volume of the company’s products in the country.

http://businessnews.com.ng/2013/11/30/nigeria-breweries-builds-can-line-aba-plant/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=nigeria-breweries-builds-can-line-aba-plant

Anambra GUBER Supplementary POLL: I cant be part of it – Ubah

By Okey Ndiribe, Kingsley Omonobi, Emman Ovuakporie, Charles Kumolu & Enyim Enyim

THE supplementary election to conclude the voting for the next governor of Anambra State is to take place tomorrow in 210 polling units in the state.

However, ahead of the poll, the Labour Party candidate, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah yesterday joined candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Comrade Tony Nwoye and the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Chris Ngige in ruling out participation in the exercise.
Nwoye, Uba and Ngige

Meanwhile, a potential judicial encumbrance against the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA candidate, Chief Willie Obiano was removed yesterday after his party rival, Rep. Uche Ekwunife withdrew a legal challenge on his validity as a candidate.

Mrs. Ekwunife who took second in the APGA gubernatorial primaries had taken Obiano to court challenging his validity on the basis that he registered twice during the voter’s registration exercise. Tomorrow’s supplementary election follows malpractises and logistical constraints that derailed the conduct of the election in the affected polling units.

APGA candidate, Obiano was leading at the conclusion of the voting penultimate Saturday and Sunday with 174,710 votes against the 94,956 votes garnered by PDP’s Nwoye, 92,300 scored by APC’s Ngige and 37,446 scored by Labour’s Ubah.

The controversies ahead of the polls nonetheless, the League of Anambra Professionals, LAP yesterday promised to work with whosever emerges the winner of the final election. Ekwunife in a statement yesterday said she was withdrawing the case due to pressure from family and friends and also, in the interest of the party. The statement read thus: “In deference to pressure from my family, my state Governor, friends, Colleagues, clergymen, royal fathers, well- wishers and the larger interest of our great party, the all Progressives Grand Alliance, I have instructed my lawyers to terminate forthwith, Duit Ni, GHC/ AWK/CS/ 281/2013, which we instituted at the Federal High Court, Awka.

“I also dissociate myself from all other suits in any form or colour against our party candidate, Chief Willie Obiano, by any person or persons, group or groups before now or in the future. May I use this opportunity to affirm my loyalty to our governor, the National Chairman of our great party, our candidate, Chief Willie Obiano and the APGA family.”

Affirming his withdrawal from the election, Ubah, the Labour Party candidate in a statement, yesterday, alleged that the previous exercise was mismanaged by INEC.

Supplementary election

A statement by Mr. Emmanuel Ibeleme, a member of the Ifeanyi Ubah Campaign Organisation said: “Labour Party will not take part in the supplementary election which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it would hold on Saturday, November 30, 2013. It has become absolutely necessary to issue this statement which is a final clarification on the matter.

“So, all our members, all our supporters, all our associates, all our friends, all our admirers and all our sympathisers are by this statement informed that the Labour Party (LP) does not have anything to do with the supplementary election which INEC, contrary to reasons, said it would be holding on Saturday, November 30, 2013.”

It further said, “this has been the consistent position of both the Labour Party and Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, the governorship candidate in the mismanaged and mishandled, generally accepted flawed governorship election of Saturday, November 16, 2013. The reasons for our position have been well canvassed at all respectable fora and need not be restated here. However, this final statement is a restatement of our consistent position.”

Meanwhile the League of Anambra Professionals, LAP, has stated that it would work with whoever emerges the eventual winner of the election, even as it urged voters to turnout for the exercise. The group in a statement by its National President Mr. Willy Nzewi said, “against the backdrop of INEC’s decision to hold a supplementary election, we the League of Anambra Professionals, a non-partisan body for the development of AnambraState, want the electorate to go out and vote peacefully for the candidate of their choice in the supplementary election.

Complaints of irregularities

Though there were complaints of irregularities by some of the gubernatorial candidates and their political parties, some other political parties described the election as free and fair.

“AnambraState should never again be turned to a theatre of war. Violence is not an option. After all, the people have no other state than Anambra.’’

Meanwhile, the candidate of the Africa Democratic Congress, ADC in the governorship election, Chief Anayo Arinze, yesterday, called on his party and supporters to shun the call for the outright cancellation of the last election and participate fully at the poll. He said, “Given INEC declaration of the November 16 governorship election in the state as inconclusive, we in ADC believe that only a supplementary election will afford the disenfranchised voters another opportunity to exercise their civic responsibility.”

He declared that, “the call for outright cancellation of AnambraState governorship election is evil, mischievous and unpatriotic and should be ignored by all well meaning citizens”.

Buhari, Tinubu, Akande, other APC leaders in street march

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress APC, yesterday, stormed the streets of Abuja in protest against the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to hold supplementary governorship election in AnambraState tomorrow. The party had earlier called for the cancellation of the entire election due to what they claimed as wide-spread irregularities which allegedly characterized the exercise held penultimate Saturday.

The APC procession was led by leaders of the party, including: the National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande; former military Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; former governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and former governor of old Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. Other notable members of the party who participated in the protest were the Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume and his deputy, Senator Ahmed Sani, Senator Kabiru Gaya, former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba and the former governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo.

Armoured personnel carriers

The protest which commenced from the party’s national secretariat at Blantyre Street, Wuse 2, moved through Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent and was stopped some distance from the INEC headquarters in Maitama. Heavily armed policemen, soldiers equipped with Armoured Personnel Carriers barricaded the street leading to the headquarters to stop the procession.

After they were stopped, Akande said they led the procession to protest against INEC’s handling of recent elections in Anambra and Delta states. He said: “We are here to say no to rigging. We have come here to hand over our petition to the leadership of INEC. We demand the cancellation of the last governorship election held in AnambraState. We reject the supplementary election scheduled to hold tomorrow because of the wide-spread irregularities which took place during the first exercise held two weeks ago”. Other leaders of the party including Gen. Buhari, Tinubu and Onu spoke along the same line.”

IG charges officers to remain politically neutral

Rising from a strategic security meeting with members of the Force Management Team, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP MD Abubakar, yesterday, assured Nigerians of the readiness of the Force to ensure adequate provision of security in and around Anambra State in tomorrow’s supplementary election in some parts of the State

Speaking after a strategic security meeting with members of the Force management team in Abuja, he promised citizens of the state that earlier security arrangements for the November 16 guber election were still in place, noting that the Force will continue to maintain its optimal presence in the State until the successful conclusion of the election.

The IG called on personnel of the Force and other security agencies to rededicate themselves and be truly committed towards ensuring a seamless and hitch free conduct of the supplementary election.

A statement signed by Force Public Relations officer, CSP Frank Mba, said the “IG charged the officers and men to remain steadfast, focused and neutral and exhibit the highest level of professionalism in the course of discharging their duties both during and after the period of the elections in the state”.

The IG also sued for peace among the people of AnambraState urging them to cooperate with the Police and other relevant security agencies in ensuring an atmosphere of peace and order throughout the remaining phase of the election. He enjoined the politicians, traditional rulers, and opinion leaders in the state to play by the rules and also help in educating their followers on the need to allow INEC and other Government agencies to see the process of the election through.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/anambra-guber-supplementary-poll-cant-part-ubah/#sthash.L89mqtbo.160KPOHn.dpuf

Edo Govt is not owing N200billion, Orbih is confused – Shuaibu

Recently, the Edo State House of Assembly suspended the Chairman of Orhiomnwon Local Government Council, Chief Roland Ibierutowhen and the entire councillors for allegedly travelling to Italy without permission from the state government.

In this interview with the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Philip Shuaibu gave reasons for their suspension just as he responded to the recent allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the state is indebted to N200billion and other national issues. Excerpts:

Suspension of Orhionmwon chairman and Councillors

We are a party that believes in the rule of law and the wishes of the people. The Orhiomnwon people rose against their leadership for locking up their Local Government secretariat to travel to Italy to go and learn legislative duties. You cannot imagine a chairman, the Vice chairman, secretary of the council and all the councillors going to learn legislative duties in a country that do not speak English. That is crazy, for us may be they want to introduce Italian language to the parliament in their area.

That does not show responsibility and we are not ashamed to fish out any one of us who do not want to follow the trend of development in our area. We are not PDP that covers up corruption in the name of their own, like the Oduah case where they are trying to use a civil servant as a scape goat to save Oduah. I think for us the people matters not individuals.
Philip-Shaibu

Philip-Shaibu

The chairman of the PDP in Edo state, Chief Dan Orbih recently said the state is indebted to N200billion and that Governor Oshiomhole has received over N19billion as security votes, what is your take on that?

I think that for an opposition to be a strong one it has to be able to work with fact not speaking blindly. Everybody today knows that Edo state is much much better than PDP left it. There is development everywhere but because Orbih is not used to good roads, good hospitals, during their tenure so he sees the good things now as under development.

Now he said Oshiomhole has received N19.5billion security votes. We have never heard of N5billion security votes in this state because we just concluded our Ministerial briefing. The present security vote is N4billion and even the N4billion during the Ministerial briefing, it is about 45 per cent of that N4billion that was expended. I expected that he should have met our colleagues in PDP who has the document before speaking.

The state government today is paying debts incurred by PDP government. The only debt this administration is owing was the N25billion it borrowed from the capital market and as we speak over N14billion has been paid. So from the N25billion the state is owing about N11billion.

So how can about N11billion constitute to N200billion debt? When government took that loan they took it with a repayment plan and that repayment plan has a time lag when the money will be defrayed. About N700.N800million is being deducted from our allocation to service that loan. And when the PDP always raise that alarm that Oshiomhole is owing debt and he will leave it for future government, I want to assure them that before Oshiomhole leaves office, there won’t be any debt to hand over to his successor unlike Oshiomhole who inherited so much debt left behind by Orbih’s PDP.

He also inherited a dilapidated state, the PDP confiscated properties belonging to Edo people including their lands. Before Oshiomhole came the state was run by the PDP like a family business. So Edo state is not owing N200 billion.

They should speak with facts, when we were in the opposition in this state we speak with facts. We have the documents, if they want them we will give it to them. I expected Orbih to speak about the inability of the PDP led government to pay allocations to states. I expect him to speak about the oil theft, to speak about Oduahgate.PDP is out of this state and they are out for good because we have seen they still have some charlatans as leaders.

You discover that the PDP in Edo state especially their chairman, they are confused. When a party chairman does not have statistics to criticise a ruling government then there is a problem. When somebody who calls himself a chairman of a party in a state does not know what development is and under development then there is a problem.

When a PDP chairman can stand up to say Edo state is under developed then that means what constitutes development to him is under development because he has never witnessed development in his life as a party chairman of PDP now development has come to Edo state, he is not seeing it as development he is seeing it as under development.

He is used to untidy classrooms, he is used to bad roads, he is used to all the negative vices of the society. For us we are of the new order and the new order is construction of roads, expanding rural areas, providing the basic amenities that is what governance is. And APC stands for that change, that change is a clear departure of the PDP slogan of under development.

APC belongs to that new generation that believes that those ailing industries that are leaving Nigeria, the UACs, it is time for them to return to Nigeria when APC is in government. Because the PDP has shown that they do not have the capacity to develop our country and they have failed woefully. It is a clear signal from the departure of those governors that the PDP has no medicine to cure the problem of Nigerians and that is why APC is coming at the right time to cure the headache of this country.

Defection of five PDP governors

I think for me it is a good sign for Nigerian politics and also to save this country from the verge of collapse. The PDP cannot develop this country, from 1999 they have been in power, they have been boasting that they were God and in the next 50 years they will continue to rule this country. And obviously man is not God. But is obvious today that the only way Nigeria can survive is when the PDP is out of power and that is the only way Nigerians can have power.

Because today we are in darkness, electricity is not on, so the only way we can have power which will generate employment, create wealth is for the PDP to be out of power. And what we are seeing today is the introduction that PDP initiated in Lagos. You remember when the PDP went to Lagos for a rally they said they have political tsunami but today it is no longer political tsunami in Lagos it is political tsunami in the PDP.

What we are seeing is a clear departure from the old order where people see PDP as the only means to power and the only means to survival. I think I will salute those governors that they have good will and they have courage because for them to be able to defect shows that they have Nigeria at heart and they have seen PDP collapsing and they have seen Nigeria collapsing if PDP is not kicked out of power. Impunity has become the order of the day in PDP and when there is impunity where everybody feels nothing can happen, that they can steal at will and nothing will happen, the danger of that is the sign of a collapse country.

And I think more governors will still defect and honestly we will have a country that is called our own. Look at those involved in the purchase of PHCN you will know that in the next ten years if things are not handled properly, we will be worst than what we are before the privatization of PHCN. So i am very happy that Nigeria is about to have power, that Nigeria is about to enjoy what democracy is all about. This is also a clear signal to the police including the IG that he is the IG of the Nigerian people notthe IG of the PDP.

They should be neutral in this game so that Nigerians will enjoy the police. What is happening today is a clear signal for those people that feels impunity is the order of the day. Nigeria is no longer a one party state, look at the National Assembly it is APC now by the time you have a balance of force i can tell you that the people that will benefit is the Nigerian masses.

But there is this rumour that the EFCC might go after them?

I think Nigerians are wiser now, the EFCC are too. Because the EFCC cannot go after the defected governors when Oduah is still roaming the streets. EFCC cannot go after the governors when Okonjo Iweala has not been investigated over his younger brother that is a consultant millionaire in dollars in Ministry of Finance.

EFCC cannot go after those governors when EFCC has not investigated Deziani the Minister of Petroleum over the theft of our crude oil that is being stolen on daily basis. The EFCC has a duty to tell Nigerians the truth over our oil that they are selling inthe name of theft. So before they go after those governors they should go after Deziani, Oduah and Okonjo Iweala first. EFCC is supposed to be an umpire so they should not allow themselves to be used.

When Farida was there we remembered when even a Minister was using her to chase his political enemies, but I want to tell Lamorde because for me he is a seasoned trained officer and he learnt from the beginning when EFCC was established. I want to advise him that it is for his own interest and that of Nigerians that he balance his forces.

If he wants to tell Nigerians that he is ready for work, he should go after Oduah, Deziani and Okonjo Iweala because these three women unfortunately they are women, they are the major problem we are having in this country. The money Nigeria is losing on daily basis in the name of theft is from a lady. The consultancy programme that is taking millions of dollars in the Ministry of Finance is also from a lady. The car saga, the Airport renovation, all these things we are aware.

I think it is time for Nigerians to sit up, and it is time we ask those questions. And the EFCC must prove that they are actually an agency to fight corruption because the international community is watching us. And the only way we can prove to the international community that we want to fight corruption in this country is when people like Okonjo Iweala, Stella Oduah and Deziani are behind bars.

Anambra election and INEC

I do not have confidence in INEC but I have confidence in Jega. There is difference between Jega as a person and INEC as an institution.

For INEC to have credibility it needs a courageous man to stamp out all those corrupt officers and all those people who are ready to mess him up because for me I believe that Jega means well, I believe that Jega is sincere because for the first time this is the first time an INEC chairman will come out and accept his faults. Before the Iwus will come out to tell you that it was the best election conducted in this country.

But today we have an INEC chairman that accepted responsibility and ready for change. I don’t believe in the system but I believe in the head and the head must stamp his authority. But before 2015 Jega needs to prove to Nigerians that he is actually ready to bring sanity. I want him to remain there but I want him to have that will to whip out those characters that are not ready to flow with the new change that Jega has brought into INEC.
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How Police in Onitsha arrested leader of deadly robbery gang

By Okonkwo Eze, Onitsha

Residents of the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State and it’s environs may heave a sigh of relief, following the arrest of one of the notorious member of a deadly armed robbery gang operating in various parts of the area.

Men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, attached to Okpoko unit recently launched an onslaught against the gang that had terrorized the inhabitants ,and the leader of the gang identified as Friday Christian was arrested.

The arrest of the said Christian, according to a reliable police source, has so far revealed the operational base of the deadly gang, their identities and modus operandi.According to the source, the gang which usually operated with motorcycles, had in October, this year, allegedly gunned down and killed an operative of Okpoko vigilance group simply identified as ‘Stubborn’ at Mugambo Street, Okpoko in the Onitsha suburban area.

Not satisfied with the killing of ‘Stubbon’, the source stated, the gangsters allegedly laid ambush and attacked another team of vigilante operatives in another location in the same Okpoko and injured the driver of the vigilante operatives, after riddling their patrol van with bullets. Last Friday, the gangsters carried out a bloody operation when they robbed motorists at Old Motor Spare Parts Market, Ugwuagba Layout, Obosi, popularly called ‘Mgbuka market, during which they realized N500,000 and killed a teenage girl.

The source further stated that during the operation, the robbers were shooting indiscriminately and in the process, a stray bullet hit the teenage girl and she slumped and died, while the gangsters carted away their N500,000 loot. But 24 hours after the incident, men of the SARS apprehended one of the gang members, Christian, on top of Upper Iweka Fly-over bridge who not only confessed to the operations of his gang but also mentioned the names of their gang leader and others.

He also confessed to the police that their gang leader gave him only N50,000 as his own share out of the N500,000 loot while others shared the remaining N450,000, adding that they were after the vigilante group because of teaming up with the police to ‘spoil’ their robbery business.

The commander of SARS at Okpoko Unit, DSP Anthony Ogar, who confirmed the arrest to Crime Guard in his office, declined further comments, adding that the suspect had been transferred to Anambra State SARS Headquarters, Awkuzu, for further investigations.

Ogar whose crime fighting tactics had been acknowledged by the inhabitants in the area, including some human rights bodies, however, maintained that the police are on the trail of the leader and other members of the gang, hence the long arm of the law would soon catch up with them, particularly now that their identities and operational base have been revealed.

It would be recalled that the armed robbers had chased the deceased vigilante operative from the rear and before he could escape, he crashed into iron protectors in the window of a compound which could not allow him jump through.

The robbers followed him into the compound and allegedly shot sporadically on the door and succeeded in pulling it off completely from the wall. They now pumped bullets into ‘stubborns’ skull and chest until they emptied one magazine on him before leaving him. According to an eye witness, it took the combined efforts of men of the Okpoko sector of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, and other members of Okpoko vigilante group, based on information provided by members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, to unravel the mystery of the armed invasion and killing.
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DEFECTION OF G-7 GOVS: Anxiety reigns over Tambuwal’s seat

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE &LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

WHAT fate now awaits the leadership of the House of Representatives in the light of the new development? Where does Speaker Aminu Tambuwal belong? Will he join the APC to keep his seat or sacrifice it? These are obviously questions earnestly begging for answers now that most of the G7 Governors have defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The aggrieved governors are Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers State), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa State), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano State), Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara State), Aliyu Wamako ( Sokoto State), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger State).

As of now the Jigawa and Niger states governors have not pulled out of the PDP.
The Governors have been having a running battle since August 31, 2013 when they with Abubakar Baraje and other members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) including former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Ababakar, staged a walk out from the party’s Special Convention at Eagles Square to form what later became the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) chaired by Baraje.

Shortly after the development, 58 members of the House of Representatives publicly switched sides to the Kawu Baraje nPDP after declaring their support for the governors.

The members included Abdullahi Balarabe, Abdulmumin Jibrin, Ali Ahmad, Abdullahi Muhammad Wamako, Abdullahi Muhammed Rico, Abdulmalik Usman Cheche, Adamu Bashir, Ahman-Patigi Aliyu, Ahmed Zerew, Aishatu Ahmed Binani, Aiyedun Akeem Olayinka, Alhassan Ado Garba, Aliyu Madaki, Aliyu Shehu, Aminu Shagari, Aminu Sulyman, Aminu Tukur, Andrew Uchendu, Bashir Baballe, Blessing Nsiegbe.
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ASUU dares FG over sack

BY ANAYO OKOLI, Umuahia
Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities [ASUU], Calabar Zone, has reacted angrily to the order to return to the classrooms issued to them by the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, saying that the action would worsen the strike action rather than solving the problem.

ASUU accused the minister of deceiving President Jonathan on the crisis, alleging that Wike and some other unnamed officials of the Government did not want the lingering problem between the union and the Federal Government to be resolved.

According to the zonal coordinator of ASUU Calabar zone, Dr. Charles Ononuju, with such threat the crisis would linger far longer than expected.

In a statement in Umuahia,. Ononuju said that the union received with shock the pronouncement by the supervising minister, saying the crisis could not be resolved that way.

“We received with shock the pronouncement of by the Supervising Minister of Education, Wike, that lecturers should resume work or be sacked”, Ononuju said.

He said that the union had gone far with discussion on how to resolve the crisis and was waiting for President Goodluck Jonathan’s reply to their letter after their meeting when the minister came up with the “unfortunate” pronouncement.

“Sacking lecturers will not solve the problem but will compound it. Wike should resign and come to the university and teach. This is not the way to go if they go this way, the crisis will not be resolved in the next 100 years”, he warned

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Drama in Obio Akpor as chairman refuses to handover to head LGA

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME, PH
There was drama at the Obio Akpor local government council yesterday as Mr Timothy Nsirim refused to vac ate his office as Chairman of the council in compliance with the dissolution of the local government council on Thursday night by governor Chibuike Amaechi.

Also the seventeen Councillors of the local government told newsmen that they would not comply with the dissolution.

It would be recalled that Mr Nsirim who was suspended alongside seventeen Councillors of the local government by the state House of Assembly six months ago, recently secured a Port Harcourt High court judgement quashing the suspension

Barely five days after the court victory governor Amaechi dissolved the council and directed that the chairman should immediately hand over to the Head of Local government Administration.

Meantime, Mr Nsirim yesterday told newsmen that he resumed at the office as early as 7am to continue the business of the day as Chairman of the council.

The Head of the Local Government Administration, Mr Singer Azubuike Singer at an interactive session with newsmen yesterday morning in Government House, Port Harcourt insisted that he was now in charge of the council, adding that the dissolution by the state governor was in order.

“The recent announcement of the governor dissolving the council and handing over to the Head of Local Government Administration is in accordance with the law. Nobody should pay revenue to individuals. There are designated banks to pay revenues to”, he said.

When asked if Mr Nsirim had handed over to him the Head of the Local Government Administration, Mr Singer said he was yet to see him.
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PDP is now a minority party in the House of Representatives

Believe it or not, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who defected to All Progressive Congress (APC) alongside 4 other erstwhile PDP Governors has a legion of supporters.

One of them is Hon. Seconte Davies who currently represents Bonny/ Degema Federal Constituency of Rivers State in the House of Representatives. He told Saturday Vanguard in this interview that the PDP is facign a great threat to its existence.

Bickering and infighting have engulfed your party, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with an implosion into the House of Representatives. How may you react to that?
Hon. Davies

Hon. Davies

I won’t actually call it bickering or infighting. What I see is difference in opinions on how the party should be run. If you look at the PDP as it has turned out to be of recent, even people have complained about one challenge, problem from the direction it was going but I think that the situation presently has worsened. Some leaders of the party decided to redirect it.

Apparently, the current leadership under Bamanga Tukur is not willing to listen to voice of reason. For me as a person, I am not much surprised because first and for most, Bamanga Turkur does not know how PDP came about. Therefore, whatever suggestion being given to him about what PDP is supposed to look like appears strange to him because he does not know where PDP supposed to be.

The unfortunate part is that some persons who should know better Bamanga Tukur is doing are not speaking up and I don’t know why they are speaking up. Otherwise, they are in a solution to also tell Bamanga that look, the way you are directing the party is not the direction is not good. But whatever reasons he has which I don’t know, which they have not expressed.

But as it is said, tyranny reigns when men keep silent. And so, there are still good men, relatively, who will not just sit down. They have to speak up. In fact, they went from place to place, talked to some of the leaders who believe that they were in a position to make thing work better.

But that is not happening. What were the responses? Threats, intimidation, oppression using federal powers because PDP is the party in control at the federal level and all that. And we are in a democracy for Gods sake.

Things that are happening now, I cannot even imagine them under the military rule, even under the most draconian military regime we have had and since we are now in democracy, people must also stand up to protect their democratic right and that is what has happened in PDP.

But unfortunately, I have to tell you that the problem of the PDP has just started. Whether PDP wants to believe it or not, the truth is that there are so many people who, nominally are still in the PDP but operationally, morally, they are no longer PDP.

As the days go by, you will begin to see these things play out. It is not a question of saying if 10 people leave, 500 people will come. It is not a question of saying don’t worry when we win in 2015, these people will come back.

There is not any guarantee. In fact, I tell you without any fear of contradiction that if PDP wins 2015 under these circumstances, under this arrangement, it will be a major miracle. And let PDP not deceive itself because we have the indices.

In fact, every Nigerian that is not even a PDP person will know that what is happening in PDP does not portend any good. As I speak with you today, based on what has happened on Tuesday, PDP is a minority party in the House of Representatives. It is now a question of formalizing their minority which may take one or two weeks.

What is your grouse against Turkur?

Our grouse against him is the fragrant disobedience of the laws of the party; Total ignorance of the party’s constitution. If Tukur knew the party’s constitution, in the first place he wouldn’t have suspended Governor Amaechi because it is only NEC that can suspend a member of NEC. Ameachi is a member of NEC. He tried that with Wamako and quickly did a retreat.

Why did he not do a retreat in the case of Ameachi? Because they thought that there is somebody behind them who is supporting them. Every day, we hear the voice of Jacob, but see the hand of Esau.

We are seeing that everyday. But one day, he will be exposed. And he has only one option. It is either he repents or he perishes. But I hope that the Jacob will be like Jacob in the Bible who ran to God. But if he is not Jacob in the Bible and he is Jacob in Nigeria, then he will receive the reward for deception.
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Anambra: INEC holds supplementary pol

THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will today conduct supplementary election in 210 polling units in AnambraState where election was cancelled on November 16, 2013 to determine the winner of the governorship election in the state.

About 4,000 aggrieved women protesting the plan to conduct the Supplementary election in AnambraState were yesterday stopped by security operatives who said they were acting on orders from above.

The women who sang songs disparaging INEC officials and the conduct of November 16 governorship election were marching towards INEC headquarters to call for the cancellation, resignation of THE Commission’s chairman , Professor Attahiru Jega and removal of Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Onukogu.

They called for conduct of a fresh election just as they said the scheduled Supplementary election of November 30 march would not hold.

They marched from Aroma junction but were pushed back by the police as they cornered to enter the route leading towards INEC state headquarters. The police arrived in six trucks to block their way. The women who continued to sing abusive songs insisted that they and the freedom as provided by the constitution to assembly, associate, and express their grievances, but the police denied them access saying they had no authority to demonstrate.

The women opted to stay put at the Aroma junction while the police kept surveillance for about seven hours the women staged the protest.

A spokesperson for the “ Anambra Women” who identified herself as an angry voter from Obosi, said the protest was aimed at sensitising the authorities that the supplementary election billed to hold today, November 30 be cancelled.

She stated that what took place on November 16, this year was a charade saying INEC compromised and took side with a political party and the Presidency to thwart the people’s choice, adding that unpopular candidate was being imposed on the people through selection rather than election.

She stated that the women would resist the imposition of an unpopular candidate as a governor.

Meanwhile, election has already been conducted in 4,398 of the state’s 4608 polling units, with the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Willie Obiano, leading with 174,710 votes and securing 25% in 18 of the 21 local government areas of the state, while Comrade Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress, APC, came second and third with 94, 856 votes and 92, 300 votes respectively. Nwoye also secured 25% in nine local government areas, while Ngige secured 25% in seven local government areas.

The state returning officer in the election, Professor James Epoke, who is the vice chancellor of the University of Calabar, had said that the supplementary poll became necessary because the margin with which the highest scorer, Chief Willie Obiano of APGA beat the runner up, Comrade Tony Nwoye of PDP, was less than 113113 registered voters in the 210 polling units where election was cancelled.

Areas where election will hold today include Idemili North local government area, which has the highest number of 160 cancelled polling units and a combined registered voters’ population of 89,997. Others are four units in Ayamelum local government (1247 voters), one poling unit in Anambra East (250 voters), six units in Anambra West (2000 voters), one unit in Anaocha (276 voters), two units in Awka North (1356 voters), one unit in Aguata (310 voters) and one unit in Awka South (249 voters). Others are three units in Ekwusigo (884 voters), two units in Idemili South (800 voters), one unit in Onitsha North (484 voters), 17 units in Onitsha South (12299 voters), four units in Orumba North (588 voters) and four units in Oyi (1202 voters).

In Idemili North where 89997 votes would be up for grabs today, APC already won 56.6% of the 12,604 votes cast on November 16, 2013 during the first exercise, while in Onitsha South where 12,299 votes would be contested for, APGA won 45% of the 16,782 votes cast, with APC securing 32.6%.

At INEC office in Awka yesterday, a large number of commercial buses being used to covey election materials were sighted about noon as they drove in and out of the commission. The INEC office, which had remained lull since the end of the November 16, came alive yesterday with many ad hoc staff, apparently those that will be on duty today, going in for their materials.

Earlier in the day, security was beefed up around the Aroma area of Awka, with police patrol vehicles stationed at strategic points and completely blocked the six- lane road leading to the INEC office. However, no sooner did the vehicles leave their positions than a group of women carrying placards assembled at the Aroma junction. However, they were prevented from advancing beyond the Enugu –Onitsha expressway into the INEC area.

The police men merely watched as the women sang and made derogatory statements against the chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega and the commission.

Some of the placards carried by the women read: ‘Cancel jaga jaga election’, ‘INEC rigging bad for Nigeria’, ‘New register, new election’, and ‘Anambra election should not be different from Edo election’.

Ikedife urges contestants to behave like sportsmen

Former president general of Ohaneze Ndigbo and current chairman of Anambra Elders Council, Dr Dozie Ikedife yesterday advised contestants in the election to develop the spirit of sportsmanship, warning that the Anambra election should not be used to cause chaos in the state.

Ezeife said he was expecting free, fair, peaceful and credible supplementary election that would be generally accepted by all the participants.

He said: “I hope this election will not lead the state to any crisis. The candidates naturally behaved well during the main election. I don’t think the mood has come to the level of causing crisis. But anybody who feels aggrieved has the right to express it, not violently. Anybody who feels cheated has the right to indicate that he feels cheated. That one is basic. You can’t beat a child and ask him not to cry”.

On the likelihood of the grievances ending in court, the elder statesman said : “We should do what we can before we take matters to court. You see, the courts are not what they used to be. You cannot even rely on courts. You should allow the people to take a decision, rather than throw it into a court where one or two persons will take a decision. The court is not as neutral as you think, from experience of events. You can rush to any court now and with proper presentation of your case, get an injunction. The court has not performed up to expectations in certain areas.”

CNPP wants all parties to participate

The Anambra State Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, has also directed all its members that took part in the November 16 election to participate in the supplementary election in the overall best interest of AnambraState and her people.

A statement signed by the state chairman of CNPP, Mrs. Kate Okafor and secretary, Chief Topsy Akudo said: “We advise those who are still aggrieved to seek legitimate and constitutional ways or options available to address their grievances, other than inciting Anambrarians against themselves.

Meanwhile, the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday said movement would be restricted in Onitsha and Idemili North, the two areas where supplementary election would take place today.

The poll will take place in 160 polling units in Idemili North, while the exercise will take place in 17 units in Onitsha South.

The state police command also last night issued a statement urging people to report suspicious movements in the state.

The statement signed by the police public relations officer in the state, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka urged qualified voters to go to the places where elections would hold to cast their votes.

“We also use this opportunity to call on non Anambrarians who want to cry louder than the bereaved to restrain themselves from whipping up unnecessary sentiments and allow the people of the state to try and solve their problems and move on, for there has not been any record of Anambra people meddling in the internal affairs of other states of the federation.”

According to CNPP, INEC was magnanimous enough to admit that there were lapses in some areas during the November 16 election, adding that it is only fair that the commission be allowed to correct the lapses.

The angry women who described themselves as “Anambra Women” carried posters which inscriptions which read: “INEC rigging, Bad for Anambra, We no go gree,”” Jega Must go,” “Jega-Jaga must go,”Jega rig Sokoto election, not Anambra,“ “Anambra shall be free,”Cancel Anambra Guber Election now,”New Election , February 2014,Reject INEC results 2013,” “Cancel Anambra Election, sack Jega.”
The women who sang songs disparaging INEC officials and the conduct of November 16 governorship election were marching towards INEC headquarters to call for the cancellation, resignation of THE Commission’s chairman , Professor Attahiru Jega and removal of Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Onukogu.
They called for conduct of a fresh election just as they said the scheduled Supplementary election of November 30 march would not hold.
They marched from Aroma junction but were pushed back by the police as they cornered to enter the route leading towards INEC state headquarters. The police arrived in six trucks to block their way. The women who continued to sing abusive songs insisted that they and the freedom as provided by the constitution to assembly, associate, and express their grievances, but the police denied them access saying they had no authority to demonstrate.
The women opted to stay put at the Aroma junction while the police kept surveillance for about seven hours the women staged the protest.
A spokesperson for the “ Anambra Women” who identified herself as an angry voter from Obosi, said the protest was aimed at sensitising the authorities that the supplementary election billed to hold today, November 30 be cancelled.
She stated that what took place on November 16, this year was a charade saying INEC compromised and took side with a political party and the Presidency to thwart the people’s choice, adding that unpopular candidate was being imposed on the people through selection rather than election.
She stated that the women would resist the imposition of an unpopular candidate as a governor.
Meanwhile, election has already been conducted in 4,398 of the state’s 4608 polling units, with the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Willie Obiano, leading with 174,710 votes and securing 25% in 18 of the 21 local government areas of the state, while Comrade Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress, APC, came second and third with 94, 856 votes and 92, 300 votes respectively. Nwoye also secured 25% in nine local government areas, while Ngige secured 25% in seven local government areas.
The state returning officer in the election, Professor James Epoke, who is the vice chancellor of the University of Calabar, had said that the supplementary poll became necessary because the margin with which the highest scorer, Chief Willie Obiano of APGA beat the runner up, Comrade Tony Nwoye of PDP, was less than 113113 registered voters in the 210 polling units where election was cancelled.
Areas where election will hold today include Idemili North local government area, which has the highest number of 160 cancelled polling units and a combined registered voters’ population of 89,997. Others are four units in Ayamelum local government (1247 voters), one poling unit in Anambra East (250 voters), six units in Anambra West (2000 voters), one unit in Anaocha (276 voters), two units in Awka North (1356 voters), one unit in Aguata (310 voters) and one unit in Awka South (249 voters). Others are three units in Ekwusigo (884 voters), two units in Idemili South (800 voters), one unit in Onitsha North (484 voters), 17 units in Onitsha South (12299 voters), four units in Orumba North (588 voters) and four units in Oyi (1202 voters).
In Idemili North where 89997 votes would be up for grabs today, APC already won 56.6% of the 12,604 votes cast on November 16, 2013 during the first exercise, while in Onitsha South where 12,299 votes would be contested for, APGA won 45% of the 16,782 votes cast, with APC securing 32.6%.
At INEC office in Awka yesterday, a large number of commercial buses being used to covey election materials were sighted about noon as they drove in and out of the commission. The INEC office, which had remained lull since the end of the November 16, came alive yesterday with many ad hoc staff, apparently those that will be on duty today, going in for their materials.
Earlier in the day, security was beefed up around the Aroma area of Awka, with police patrol vehicles stationed at strategic points and completely blocked the six- lane road leading to the INEC office. However, no sooner did the vehicles leave their positions than a group of women carrying placards assembled at the Aroma junction. However, they were prevented from advancing beyond the Enugu –Onitsha expressway into the INEC area.
The police men merely watched as the women sang and made derogatory statements against the chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega and the commission.
Some of the placards carried by the women read: ‘Cancel jaga jaga election’, ‘INEC rigging bad for Nigeria’, ‘New register, new election’, and ‘Anambra election should not be different from Edo election’.
Ikedife urges contestants to behave like sportsmen
Former president general of Ohaneze Ndigbo and current chairman of Anambra Elders Council, Dr Dozie Ikedife yesterday advised contestants in the election to develop the spirit of sportsmanship, warning that the Anambra election should not be used to cause chaos in the state.
Ezeife said he was expecting free, fair, peaceful and credible supplementary election that would be generally accepted by all the participants.
He said: “I hope this election will not lead the state to any crisis. The candidates naturally behaved well during the main election. I don’t think the mood has come to the level of causing crisis. But anybody who feels aggrieved has the right to express it, not violently. Anybody who feels cheated has the right to indicate that he feels cheated. That one is basic. You can’t beat a child and ask him not to cry”.
On the likelihood of the grievances ending in court, the elder statesman said : “We should do what we can before we take matters to court. You see, the courts are not what they used to be. You cannot even rely on courts. You should allow the people to take a decision, rather than throw it into a court where one or two persons will take a decision. The court is not as neutral as you think, from experience of events. You can rush to any court now and with proper presentation of your case, get an injunction. The court has not performed up to expectations in certain areas.”
CNPP wants all parties to participate
The Anambra State Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, has also directed all its members that took part in the November 16 election to participate in the supplementary election in the overall best interest of AnambraState and her people.
A statement signed by the state chairman of CNPP, Mrs. Kate Okafor and secretary, Chief Topsy Akudo said: “We advise those who are still aggrieved to seek legitimate and constitutional ways or options available to address their grievances, other than inciting Anambrarians against themselves.
Meanwhile, the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday said movement would be restricted in Onitsha and Idemili North, the two areas where supplementary election would take place today.
The poll will take place in 160 polling units in Idemili North, while the exercise will take place in 17 units in Onitsha South.
The state police command also last night issued a statement urging people to report suspicious movements in the state.
The statement signed by the police public relations officer in the state, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka urged qualified voters to go to the places where elections would hold to cast their votes.
“We also use this opportunity to call on non Anambrarians who want to cry louder than the bereaved to restrain themselves from whipping up unnecessary sentiments and allow the people of the state to try and solve their problems and move on, for there has not been any record of Anambra people meddling in the internal affairs of other states of the federation.”
According to CNPP, INEC was magnanimous enough to admit that there were lapses in some areas during the November 16 election, adding that it is only fair that the commission be allowed to correct the lapses.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/anambra-inec-holds-supplementary-poll/#sthash.Qikc6Lfp.dpuf

Friday 29 November 2013

Benin City’s Ritual Market - A MUST READ

Relics of normal life in time past are much sought after in sacrificial preparations. Some of these objects and materials, to the uninitiated, are very hard to come by.
To the uninitiated, seeing a tortoise could probably be at the zoo, but for those who indulge in sacrificial practices, they know where exactly to go, they know the right market and they know the right people to call on. The traditional Oliha and Ekiosa markets in Benin City are the right places to go if one needs those rare animals, native chalks, coins and several other materials which have spent over two hundred years.

Feathers of rare birds like ostrich, sparrow and even vulture, all of which have different connotations, as investigations revealed, you can get in these markets also. Things that were hitherto used as means of exchange in the days of old including cowries have now become ingredients of sacrificial preparations. Invariably, earthen pots serve as vessel for the preparations.

Earthen pots are still very popular in Benin because they keep food steamy. Local restaurants serve delicacies like black soup, banga soup or even pepper soup in earthen pots. Whereas earthen pots play major role in the preparation of several sacrifices performed by traditionalists, these sacrifices are kept mainly in junctions because they believe that many legs cross such places.

The practice continues among Binis, according to a resident. “The practice is still very relevant here, basically, because we love our tradition which includes sacrifices”, he boasted. There was a time Bishop Margaret Idahosa of Church of God Mission was asked to comment on the proliferation of churches in Benin City, and she said, “Is it not better we have that than the usual sacrifices we see in the streets?”

Investigations revealed some of the reasons people resort to the agelong practice of sacrifice include protection, search for luck, down turn in circumstance. Others do it to seek the face of the gods against conditions such as bareness, stagnation or to even ward off evil or unpalatable situations. On a collective note, individuals or groups gather to make sacrifice like in cases of annual festivals such as the Igue festival in Benin Kingdom or other customary or periodic ones.

Some of these sacrifices are believed to be capable of appeasing the ancestors or the gods of the land. In other instances, sacrifices have been made to bring or stop rain depending on the situation. Situations have been seen in the past where celebrants who have invested heavily in coming ceremonies including burial, birthday parties, call traditionalists to offer sacrifice to avert rain during the occasions.
In such instances, curious observers can see at a corner of a big party or event people making wood fire and pouring palm oil and local gin to seek the face of the gods and avert rain. We have the Osun Oshogbo festival in Osun State, the Olokun festival in the South-west and even in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, which all serve as pointer that people are still enmeshed in sacrificial offerings, if not obligations.

Elsewhere people sacrifice to deities which they connect to, including Ogun, Olokun,Yemoja, all of which investigations showed still have active priests watching as gatemen in their (the gods) continuous existence. To further buttress the import of these deities and sacrifices in Benin Kingdom and even other parts of the country, the people of Ikhuenebo in Uhumwonde Local Government Area of Edo State, recently, vowed never to cede any of their shrines to the people of Iguomo.

Iguomo had claimed that the land, where over twenty shrines are located in Ikhuenebo community, belongs to them. The chief priest of Ikhuenobo, Chief Enawakponmwhem Aighobahi, who took Sunday Vanguard round the shrines, said they will rather die than give up the shrines. He narrated, “Our shrines were founded by Oba Ewuare the Great who led Benin Kingdom from 1440-1473. Where I am standing now, Oba Ewuare is the founder of this Okwuainebenaka shrine. This shrine is number two in the hierarchy of all Okwaihe in Ikwe.

We have been here since over one thousand years ago, we are not strangers. You can see the structure of the shrine. I am the Ohen; among the top 16 Ohen chief priests, I am the second in hierarchy. The senior one is at Ewiekoyu. I am a descendant of Ohiobonikwe on that lineage because the title is hereditary. So it came to us as a shock that Iguomo community said that the whole of Ikhuobo land belongs to them”. One could see that the community had not relented in their efforts to give the gods what belongs to them through daily sacrifices.

This observation led Sunday Vanguard to Kemwinkemwin market, as the line where the sacrificial materials is called in Oliha and Ekiosa markets. The visit was quite revealing. Sunday Vanguard went with a Bini interpreter, Ogieva Oyemwenosa, because those who deal in these materials are elderly women who are traditionalists and don’t speak English. It was learnt that the materials are used for sacrifices both for good and evil, while those who deal in them are also pure traditionalists who worship different gods.

Walking round Kémwinkémwin could be scary because you see the skulls of monkey, owl, pigeon, sparrow, hyena, live tortoise and their skulls too. Any customer around the line definitely came to buy one sacrificial object or another. Foreigners also come from Europe and America to purchase these things because Sunday Vanguard was informed that some white people also worship Olokun (river goddess). At the Kemwinkemwin line of Oliha market, 76-year-old Madam Christianah Oliha explained some of the materials to Sunday Vanguard: “What I am holding now are the Azáolokun, Adá and the Ebèn, used for worshipping Olokun.

This one is Uleko, someone that has had his bath with juju is the one that wears it. I have taken that bath, so I am free to wear it. What about native chalk. What is it used for? “Native chalk (Orhue) is used for juju dance; it can be ground and eaten. When you grind it, you put it in your hand and use it to praise God. Whether you go to church or you serve juju, when you pour it out in your hand, you add salt to it and you use it to praise God to guide you and your family. What about cowries? “Ikpigho (cowries) are used to worship Olokun.

We use them for good things, we don’t throw them away. You can use them for Orunmila (god served with white clothes), you can use it for Sángo, and you can also use it to plant evil. How long have these things been in existence? “It has been long, over two hundred years. I grew up to meet them. When I was growing up, Anini (Benin coin used those days for transactions) was used to buy things. Initially, cowries were being used for transaction. From the cowries, we started using Anini.

It was the Anini that I grew up to meet. From Anini, we moved to Ekpini. All of them are here. From Ekpini, we started using Kobo. Cowries were used for transaction during the time of my forefathers. Alligator pepper “It is used when one wants to perform a juju ceremony. Alligator pepper mixed with Afòr, native chalk (Òrhue) and ash (Emuè) is used to clean abomination. With native pepper, you use it to cleanse yourself before you start the juju ceremony. This is what was applicable in the days of old.

You grind the native chalk, put your leg on it and count six, take it round your neck which signifies cleansing before entering inside for the main juju ceremony”. Asked when she started the business, Madam Oliha explained that she was into yam and goat business before she “entered the juju properties (Kèmwinkèmwin) business and so far it has favoured me and my family”.

She continued: “This business has been good for me. It has improved the life of my children, it has given me all I require in life. People started the business before most of us, our mothers were in this market before they died but today it is our turn. I have spent over 15 years in the business”. Explaining some of the materials in her shop, she said: “This is the head of a goat used for sacrifice. This is the head of a bush meat (Akwághá), it can cure epilepsy. This is called Akwá.

This one is medicinal; it can be used to cure people suffering from pile and cough when burnt”. Asked what the clothes in her shop represent, she said: “The red is for worshipping Satan or Olokun. If you want to worship Olokun, it is the dark red that you will use to sew a very big skirt and shirt (Bulukú). For Sango (god of thunder), you take both the red and white. For Ogun, you add the red; black and white together in sewing the skirt and shirt. The broken eggs are used for child bearing while the native pot is used for bathing when performing juju, you can also use it for cooking medicine”.

When Sunday Vanguard tried to find out whether she goes to church, she asserted: “I am not a Christian. I am a juju worshipper. Not that I don’t believe in God, I do. A clean mind serves God. My intentions are good toward men and women; I don’t feel hatred for anybody. I will not see a rich man and be angry with him. I feel the pains of others and I will always beg God to assist them. I am not a devil, I worship juju. My mind is even cleaner than the so-called Christians who attend church every Sunday.

Juju worshipping is our tradition and you are punished when you do evil to an innocent person”. God’s market… God’s market… Jehovah’s Witnesses At Ekiosa market, Kèmwinkèmwin blossoms too. Madam Rose Omorodion, who declared that she was a juju priestess, started by narrating the history of the market.
According to her: “Ekiosa market started with the Jehovah’s Witnesses; this was where they built their church when they came to Benin and that is why it is called Ekiosa meaning God’s market. When they left, we came here and started selling provisions, yam, plantain, beans, rice and this our business also started. The market started like that before government came to build it for us; then it caught fire. We did not know what caused the fire but this is the second time they are building the market.

This is the Kémwinkémwin line of Ekiosa market; it is a place where you can find the things of the old including the native pot (Ákhá). The native pot can be used to worship Olokun which we serve in the river. This one is the statue of the Olokun (displaying it to Sunday Vanguard), called Aza. This one is the white man’s money while the other one is the cowrie used for business transaction in the days of old. After the cowrie, we had the coin. So we said the cowrie cannot be destroyed because of its importance and we decided to keep it.

This one is Unién. You can use it to cook and it is also medicinal. This one is the statue of Sángo (Ukiisángo). The other one here is Ekò. It is chewed when a man or woman’s stomach is hot, especially pregnant women. We have the olden days knife used in the shrine of Orumila. We use the tortoise to prepare serious juju medicine”. Asked why she took to this trade which is against the Christian faith, Madam Omorodion declared she had no apologies being a juju priestess. “I am a real juju woman, a river goddess.
So I can be called upon at any time if Sango is troubling someone. I can heal the person. I can also deal with people that are being troubled by the river, I can bath the person and it will stop. Traditional healing of river spirit which is called Ogbanje by others is better than what they do in churches. If we traditionalists want to bath a child from the river, we fetch some leaves, squeeze them together and use it to bath the child. When I was a child, I used to die every day due to spirit.

But when an old man from Kokori was invited, he bathed me and showed me how to deal with the river goddess after he said I am a goddess from the river. I became okay and since that time I have never been sick and I am over 60 years now. I have the powers today and that is why I help people with similar problem. Some people come from abroad for help, I bath them and when they go back they are never sick again.”
Asked to react to the comment that the tortoise is a powerful animal for rituals, she stated: “Yes. Even when a person is cursed by Ogun to die, the tortoise can be used to relieve the person from that curse because, since the tortoise is a tricky animal, the curse on that person is averted by the tortoise”. On her part, Madam Mary Erhese told Sunday Vanguard that that the materials they sell also help in preparing rituals for Benin sons and daughters who travel abroad.
Her words: “There are mothers who come to us for help for their children who travelled and have not reached their destination. They will come to us to give them materials and, when we do, before one month, that child will get to where he or she is going”…….