DEMOCRACY DAY MESSAGE FROM PENGASSAN

Today May 29^th, we mark the 13^th anniversary of Nigeria’s return to civil democratic rule after 15 years of military despotism.

Our journey to democracy has been chequered. The acorn seeds of democracy which had been planted on June 12, 1993 and which all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, tongue and religion had hoped would grow into an oak of liberty and prosperity was atrophied by the Babangida junta and it took the sweat, tears and blood of Nigerians galvanised by pro-democracy groups of which PENGASSAN was a leading light and divine intervention for Nigerians to bask in the sunlight of democracy again.

Nigerians therefore woke up on May 29^th, 1999 with renewed hope for not just only a free democratic nation but also an economically prosperous one. However the hope of Nigerians in the promise of democracy for a better life, a life more abundant seems to have been betrayed by an uncaring ruling elite.

While democracy has made millionaires of our politicians, ordinary Nigerians and workers have been impoverished. Poverty has continued to ravage the land, from the latest NBS statistics about 70% of Nigerians live in poverty. Unemployment even by official figures is about 25% thus providing a ready army for criminals and criminal activity. Inflation is soaring at double digits. Insecurity stalks the land. Educational, health and physical infrastructure have collapsed. In one word, Nigeria is in crisis.

So today, PENGASSAN urges all political office holders to do away with the usual platitudes with which they mark occasions like this and get down to the serious business of governance at all levels. Nigerians are no longer interested in promises of a better life in an indeterminate future. What we want to see is good governance.

The challenges facing us as a nation are not insurmountable as have been aptly demonstrated by countries with whom we were in the same development bracket at independence. All we require is a purposeful government with the interest of ordinary Nigerians at heart and not a clannish or cabalistic interest.

Furthermore, we remind Nigerians that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. We must therefore continue to hold the feet of government officials to the fire in order to make them accountable to us and make them work for us, Nigerians.

May the flames of democracy never burn out in our country

Long live Nigeria and God bless us.

Comrade Zaid Kolawole

National Publicity Secretary

PENGASSAN

‎2015: JONATHAN DIVIDES NORTH

Prominent political stakeholders from the North were at the weekend divided in their response to the renewed bid by elder-statesman Chief Edwin Clark to position President Goodluck Jonathan for another term in office in 2015.

While nearly all of them including those who vehemently opposed the president in his 2011 bid showed outrage over the renewed campaign, they nevertheless disagreed among themselves on a common position with some vowing that they would meet the President on the field in 2015.

President Goodluck Jonathan
Some of the Northern leaders also revealed that a prominent Ijaw leader pledged on his knees before northern leaders prior to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP presidential primaries of 2011 that Jonathan would only serve a single term if supported by the Northern leaders.

The Ijaw leader who supposedly made the plea could not be reached last night and was said to be with the President at a function when Vanguard sought his opinion.

The PDP which controls power at the federal level has itself dismissed the renewed clamour, describing it as a distraction for the party and the president.

Chief Clark had at a press conference on the eve of his 85th birthday last Thursday, given vent to a second term for President Jonathan, the first person from the South-South geopolitical zone to lead the country. He based his claim on the fact that all other leaders of the country were not constrained in the bid for a second term.

Northern political leaders with the connivance of some Southern politicians had vehemently opposed Jonathan’s bid in 2011 on the basis of what they claimed as an infringement of the PDP’s zoning configuration. Among the most prominent vocal groups was the Northern Leaders Political Forum, NPLF led by Mallam Adamu Ciroma, a former Minister of Finance.

Yesterday, Ciroma whose bid to stop Jonathan failed at the PDP primaries refused to offer a comment maintaining the silence he has kept since the NPLF lost its fight against Jonathan in the 2011 presidential primaries.

Other northerners were, however, nonplussed on the issue. Among those who spoke were Ambassador Yayaha Kwande, Tanko Yakassaqi, civil rights activist, Shehu Sani, National President of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Organisation, SOKAPU which is the umbrella group of the non-Hausa population in Kaduna State and former vice chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Alhaji Nasiru Garba Dantiye.

Speaking on Clark’s bid to sustain the Jonathan presidency beyond 2015, Kwande said yesterday:

No agreement stopping Jonathan — Kwande

“Even when we had an agreement in which Jonathan himself signed, it wasn’t put to practice so how much more when there wasn’t an agreement. So, if Clark said Jonathan will contest, Jonathan is a citizen of this country, so why do you think it is something extraordinary? Is there any agreement stopping him?

“Even when an agreement stopped him, it did not materialise. Leave Clark to talk, we will talk too. Clark has right to talk. If he didn’t obey known agreements why should he obey no agreements? Why?”

Clark refused to be dragged into assertions that a prominent supporter of the president from the South-South promised that Jonathan would serve only one term in office.

“I don’t even know whether we have three years ahead of us and we are talking. Those who have been elected should go and work we will meet them on the field in 2015 if we are alive,” he said.

Leading Kano politician Yakassai on his part refused to see Clark’s comment as an issue saying that debate on the issue could be a distraction for the president.

Yakassai who served as National Assembly liaision officer for President Shehu Shagari in the second republic said that the debate “may hand him excuses and license not to perform”.

“It is rather too early to begin this kind of debate when the President has a subsisting mandate and backlog of campaign promises to be fulfilled within the next three years”.

Yakassai who was one of the most prominent northerners to back Jonathan’s bid for the presidency in 2011 said: “Let’s help Jonathan deliver, let’s help him succeed because I believe this kind of debate over the prospect of being fielded by his party in 2015 has the capability of distracting Mr. President.”

Mallam Sani, one of the leading civil rights activists from the zone speaking in the same wise called for caution. Reacting to Clark’s declaration, he said: “That was a very weighty statement. Because the North and Southeast are also thinking that it is their turn too. But, you see, I cannot say anything now, because I believe that Chief Clark is not the official spokesman of Mr. President. I will be seeing Mr. Reuben Abati (Media aide to President Goodluck) to find out the position of the president on that statement. It is after that meeting that I will be able to voice my opinion. My concern now is that the President has not said anything so far. And, you know, if something is said about you, and you did not refute it, it would look as if you have no problem with it. So by tomorrow (today) I should be able to tell you my stand on that.”

SOKAPU, which is the platform for the non-Hausa population in Kaduna State in its reaction to the controversy gave fillip to the Clark declaration saying that there was no constitutional encumbrance to the President seeking another term in office.

Speaking through its national secretary Marshall Adamu, the group said:

“There is nothing that stops President Jonathan from contesting the 2015 Presidential elections. As a Nigerian, who has met the criteria, nothing in the constitution says he cannot contest.

“Yes, we understand that the PDP has some zoning arrangements to give other zones some sense of belonging and equality. But the constitution of a party is inferior to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So we are not a union that would want to discourage anybody from pursuing his constitutional franchise. This is a simple matter that should not be stretched too far,” he told Vanguard in a telephone interview.

Dantiye, a stalwart of the opposition All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP on his part, however, saw the debate as a window for the opposition to throw out the PDP from office.

The former lawmaker who represented Garki /Babura federal constituency told Vanguard that “the dismal performance of the incumbent President has boxed him to a disadvantaged line and in effect boosted the campaign effort of the would be candidate of the opposition by 80 percent.

“As it stands today President Jonathan can not win a free and fair contest in Nigeria because he has proved his incompetence before us and his candidacy should elicit celebration among patriots.

“I for one I am beginning to see the prospect of demystifying the so called incumbency power for the first time in our national life and we only hope that we are ready to seize the opportunity” Dantiye stressed.

“We should not lose sleep over the plan by PDP or Aso Rock to field President Jonathan by 2015. What those of us in opposition should be doing for now is to harness our resources and make the final putsch by the next election and it is a sacrifice we must do for generations yet unborn”, Dantiye stressed.

It’s a distraction — PDP

Dismissing the debate as a distraction yesterday, the PDP said it would not waste its time on the issue.

Speaking with Vanguard yesterday, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said the party was presently preoccupied with how to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Nigeria.

He said the debate was a scheme by the opposition to distract the President, adding, ‘’2015 is diversionary, we are not interested in 2015 now, we are more focused to ensure that we deliver on our promises to the electorate.

“Nigerians do not have to live from election to election and the issue of election at the moment is secondary to us, we are very busy with governance and how to improve on the present situation. The National Working Committee, NWC that is led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur is supporting President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that dividends of democracy were provided for the people of Nigeria. ‘’The opposition parties want us to focus on election and who will win or not instead of democracy.”

Culled from the PUNCH

Oh My Nigeria

I miss the days of Akwoche,cloths made frm chair materials

• D days when we went to school,lined up&D headmistress&teachers inspect our nails&uniform&den we march to our classrooms 
• D days of Computer Socks, U Remember na?? 
• D days of Nasco Biscuit,Trebor,sisi pelepe, ekono gowon,baba dudu,Okin Round&Okin Four Corner. Iced Colored water tied in nylon we called it "condense"
• D days of Goody-Goody&pako Biscuit.
• D days of sakobi the snake girl,Nneka the pretty serpent, ali & simbi,Mr Salami & Mrs Salami, Agbo lives in Calabar & in yoruba class obe oba be obo oba
• Chei i remember those days when one naira coin na money,when groundnut was 5 kobo. & choco milo sweet was 25 kobo
• days of messing game,who is in d garden, police and thief.
• D days of mummy & daddy play
• days when we use to build houses with sand, play suwe game,tinco tinco,mr marcaroni,change Ɣ☺U̶̲̥̅̊я style,pion pion pion (gun sound), ten ten, skipping, stop! U remember na!!!
•those days wen we used to fly kite on streets, wen boys used to use d paint bucket cover as tire & their daddy's hanger as d steering
•those days when rubber band was stock exchange
•days when votron, jumbo, power rangers, spider man was our favourite cartoons
• D days of limca soft drinks & choco milo advert on black and white tv Nd̶̲̥̅̊ sunday rendevous by1:30pm
• when we say 'leke leke give me white finger
• Those days when eleganza pen was d best
• D days wen we used to drink water from d tap even suck out d water if its not coming
• D days when NTA will show rainbow color for 30 mins then national anthem before they resume programme by 4pm• D days were basket sandals,simbi nd kitto sandals was d best.
Days wen we all sing sandalili sandalili songs dstv has come no more old fun
I'm really proud to have experienced all this. If u r nt smiling it means u were nt born in my generation.
Happy childrens day.

By Ali Dambatta

NIGERIAN NAVY UNVEILS FIRST LOCALLY MADE VESSEL

The Nigerian Navy has successfully completed the construction of a locally made vessel, the first of its kind in the West African subregion, the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ola´Ibrahim has said.

Ibrahim said this on Sunday in Calabar in a message to the Inter Denominational Church Service held to mark the 56th Anniversary of the Nigerian Navy.

The message was delivered by the Field Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Olufemi Ogunjimi.

The Naval Chief said that the construction of the vessel was a bold step taken by the Navy as part of the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda.

“Accordingly, a 31 metre Seaward Defence Boat constructed by the Nigerian Navy will be commissioned on Friday, June 1, by the President and Commander -in- Chief, Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

“This is the first War Ship constructed locally in the West African Sub region,” he said.

He said that the milestone was part of a sustained research and development in the Nigerian Navy “towards achieving national transformation.”

Ibrahim also disclosed that the President has approved the purchase of two new Offfshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) for the Navy.

“The President will also lay the keel of the second Seaward Defence Boat to be built soon by the Navy,” he added.

Culled from The Observer

IGP APPROVES POSTING OF AIGS

The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has approved the posting of Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs) to various formations across the country.

The posting is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Frank Mba, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer in Abuja.

It stated that it was part of ongoing efforts to restructure and reposition the police for effective performance, adding that it would take effect from May 30.

Under the new dispensation, Mr Dan’Azumi Doma, becomes the new Force Secretary while Solomon Arase holds fort at Criminal Intelligence.

Other postings included Solomon Olusegun in charge of Zone 9, Umuahia; Michael Zuokumor Zone 4, Makurdi; Orubeb Ebikeme, Zone 11, Osogbo; Philemon Leha, Zone 1, Kano; and Jonathan Johnson, Zne 8, Lokoja.

Others were Muntari Ibrahim Zone 10, Sokoto; Suleiman Abba, Zone 7, Abuja; Mohammed Tsafe, Zone 2, Lagos and Saliu Hasima, Zone 5, Benin.

The IG charged the newly posted AIGs to bring their professional skills and experiences to bear in the maintenance of law and order in their zones.

Abubakar said that Nigerians were look up to them for a dynamic and result-oriented leadership on security matters.

The IG charged the AIGs to do everything to justify the confidence reposed in them.

Meanwhile, the IG has also directed Commissioners of Police in the state commands as well as Zonal AIGs, to provide adequate security at the venues of Sunday’s Children Day celebrations across the nation.

He said the commissioners should collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the children enjoy a hitch free -celebration

Culled from the Observer

DEMOCRACY DAY: JTF UNCOVERS TERRORISTS PLOT TO ATTACK BORNO

The Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO) has said that it had uncovered plots by some terrorists to cause havoc during the democracy day in Maiduguri.

JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col.Sagir Musa, made this known in a statement in Maiduguri.

“Information available to JTF revealed that some terrorists are planning to cause mayhem as a deliberate effort to disrupt the democracy day activities in the state. “Members of the group intend to attack some identified locations in Maiduguri and environs,” Musa said.

He warned that the JTF would deal ruthlessly with anyone found trying to breach the peace in the state.

“The JTF, therefore, warns in strong terms that terrorists and other criminals should stay clear of the evil plan as the taskforce will deal ruthlessly with any one or group that tries to disrupt the peace.’’

He advised members of the public not to panic but to continue with their routine activities.

Meanwhile, the Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Theophilus, says the command will deploy 700 policemen for the Democracy Day celebration in the state.

Theophilius said this while briefing newsmen in Dutse on Friday that the police would be stationed at the venue of the occasion and in every nook and cranny of the capital city to maintain law and order.

He said officers of the command had been proactive and they would continue to be more efficient to ensure a hitch-free celebration in the state.

“We are well-prepared and ready to secure the lives and property of the people of the state, especially during the democracy day celebration.”

He assured the residents of the state that the celebration would be “peaceful and calm.’’

Culled from The Observer

INDISCIPLINE: 62 SOLDIERS REPATRIATED FROM SUDAN

Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, said that 62 soldiers were repatriated from the mission in Sudan for acts of indiscipline.

Wahab made the remarks at the graduation ceremony of 26 Battalion pre-deployment training course 1 at the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, near Kaduna on Sunday.

He warned troops of the 26 Battalion against similar acts, adding that the army would not accept a repeat of such acts in mission assignments.

The GOC also urged them to remain focused and highly professional in the discharge of their duties.
He said, “The Nigerian Army will not accept any situation, where its troops are disarmed; hence, the need for effective leadership at all levels.”

The GOC said that those repatriated were being investigated to ascertain their culpability in the acts and would be punished if found wanting in the discharge of their duty, while in the mission area.

Wahab said, “You must be resolute in dealing with operational matters, while ensuring compliance with UNAMID’s rules of engagement and force protection measures.

“Your success in the mission area will justify resources and time spent on your training.

“It is important to remind you of the unpredictable situation in Sudan due to the complexity in the conflict environment and dynamics.”

Earlier, the Commandant of the Centre, Maj.-Gen. J.S Zaruwa, said that the troops had received
“appreciable level of training to ensure effective performance in peace support operations”.

Culled from The Observer