UNIPORT KILLINGS: CRY MY BELOVED NIGERIA

UNIPORT KILLINGS: CRY MY BELOVED NIGERIA

Rewind 2001: It was the eve of my mothers burial and I knew I needed to get to Uromi, Edo state where my brothers and sisters were already waiting for me with the entire extended family members.

I had a big problem on my hands as I had so much to tidy in school that day, however I was determined to leave at first light, the next morning.

I checked my wrist watch, it was a few minutes to twelve midnight, moving from the Abuja campus to Choba was another big headache. How will I be able to walk the narrow path that leads to my off campus residence which was not far from the Choba campus, I had to make a decision, take the risk and make my journey at first light or sleep over on campus and leave later than scheduled.

My mind was made up, I would walk out of campus since it was impossible to get any bike, I said a little prayer and began the almost forty minutes walk. Within the school there was security but as I got out of the school campus I could hear my heart beat.

I approached my fear: the narrow path leading to my house, this would take me about ten minutes. I entered the pathway, suddenly a figure approached from the darkness, "Who goes there?" I stopped, looked at the young man in front of him, he held a machete, I knew at this point that I needed God, "My friend, how are you I replied and brought out my hand for a handshake"

"Shut up" was the reply I heard, "we are vigilantes and I suspect you, you are a thief",  he raised up the machete, I knew that this was the point God had to intervene,  i needed to be bold and believe God would protect me.

I brought down my hand from the snubbed handshake, "Oh, you are a vigilante, thank God" i said and then added "I am a student and i'm on my way home, tomorrow is my mothers burial and i need to get to my house now, i live up front", i didn't wait for any reply, i just walked past him, suddenly I heard another voice from behind me shout "Hold am, I sure say e get bullet for hin pocket", the first young man walked quickly to me and tried to touch my pocket, I had money in the pocket, about N2, 500 which I intended using to pay transport for my journey and I knew that if they discovered that, the money would be gone, I hit his hand from my pocket and said this time in pidgin "My friend, I think say una say una be vigilantes, i thank una for the job wey una dey do, I don tell you before, I be student", I walked off.

As I walked off, I heard the two of them conversing behind me, I didn't bother to look back or rather didn't dare to look back.

As I got to my house, I knew, I was saved indeed by God.

7th Oct, 2012 (6:18pm); I just finished watching the you tube video on my IPad on the murder of about four undergraduate students of the University of Port Harcourt, I almost began to shed tears.

I first heard of the story two days ago and the first thing I did was to begin making calls, I had lived at Aluu between 1998 and 2000, and as an old student I knew to an extent how the system works over there.

Most students stay off campus, the student lodges are usually not situated in the main villages, usually at the outskirts and though students live in some of the villages, students never, I mean never really associate with the villagers except on issues of trade and other services.

I made a few calls and began to find out more about the murdered boys, rich young kids that according to students standards, were living large. One student I spoke to said in clear terms "the boys were innocent, only unfortunate", he added "they planned to mess them up, and they succeeded", however, social media; Facebook and twitter which was awash with pictures of the young men, some had already passed judgement claiming they were dare devil armed robbers.

As an old student of Uniport, I have been robbed once, had friends who have been robbed, in very clear terms, students don't rob villagers, no, the students are richer, why go for poor villagers, instead students who steal or rob prefer to rob their fellow students, that is where they hope to get something tangible, if no money, a laptop or a phone.

The point of this piece is this, I want Nigerians to begin to picture how the system works, I am not advocating for the murdered young men but all I am saying, it is high time we put an end to these atrocities committed around the  Uniport  environment.

Rewind 2005: She told me she was raped and identified the culprits. She was a student of Uniport. I told her in clear terms, go and report the case to the president of the Choba youths association, that some young men from Choba community broke into your apartment and raped three ladies.

One week later I saw her and asked her, "did you do it?", she said she did but received a shocker, the youth president said, she is not the first person reporting such incidences, he doesn't doubt her but unfortunately there is nothing he can do, they do not use their own hands to destroy their indigenes...

I didn't know what to say, I felt anger from deep within me, this was a rape case, how can I tell her to go report somewhere else, even the police... the case  died in front of me.

Back to the Uniport killings, people who accuse the young men of being notorious armed robbers who kill, rape and maim at will are only being ignorant, they don't know how the system works. There are countless stories i can say from a first hand experience but i know i do not have the luxury of space and time. 

Nigerians must be safe in their own country irrespective of whether they reside in other peoples communities and villages, this is what government must work hard to ensure. The young men have been accused, tried and convicted in the court of public opinion, thanks to social media. Killed by locals who are the only ones that know why they were killed.

It is high time an end to these despicable killings come to an end, a popular Nigerian author once said, "Things fall apart and the center cannot hold...", I hope it does not get to that point else everybody will be a victim...

Written by Amadin Uyi, an Abuja based journalist, he can be reached via amadin2000@yahoo.com

Samsung pays Apple $1 Billion sending 30 trucks full of 5 cent coins

This morning more than 30 trucks filled with 5-cent coins arrived at Apple’s headquarters in California. Initially, the security company that protects the facility said the trucks were in the wrong place, but minutes later, Tim Cook (Apple CEO) received a call from Samsung CEO explaining that they will pay $1 billion dollars for the fine recently ruled against the South Korean company in this way.

This dirty but genius geek troll play is a new headache to Apple executives as they will need to put in long hours counting all that money, to check if it is all there and to try to deposit it crossing fingers to hope a bank will accept all the coins.

The funny part is that the signed document does not specify a single payment method, so Samsung is entitled to send the creators of the iPhone their billion dollars in the way they deem best.

Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, told the media that his company is not going to be intimidated by a group of “geeks with style” and that if they want to play dirty, they also know how to do it.

You can use your coins to buy refreshments at the little machine for life or melt the coins to make computers, that’s not my problem, I already paid them and fulfilled the law.

A total of 20 billion coins, delivery hope to finish this week.

Let’s see how Apple will respond to this.

(August 29th, 2012)
Culled from zurmat.com

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DIVIDENDS OF IMPEACHMENT BROUHAHA...

DIVIDENDS OF IMPEACHMENT BROUHAHA...

24th August 2012, Amadin Uyi

When on the 19th of July, this year, the minority leader of the house of representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila moved a motion on the floor of the house criticizing the absolute disregard of the nations capital budget by the executive arm of government, many had criticized the members of the green chambers as self serving and aiming to derail the nations democracy.

Supporters of Mr President willfully refused to assess this threat by its merit and national interest but at various foras and opportunities available criticized Nigeria's opposition for taking a step too far intended at coercion and blackmail which will have dire consequences on the nation. Many of them were not shy in asserting that the impeachment plan is a calculated ploy not only to embarrass and ridicule Mr. President but also to impugn the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

One question that spectators of the impeachment saga would have loved to ask all who care to listen is if Mr President is bigger than Nigeria and should be too big to be impeached even if he is found to have contravened the constitution that gives him legitimacy and a right to govern over 160 million expectant Nigerians. Section 143 (1) of Nigeria’s 1999 constitution states inter alia: The President or Vice-President may be removed from office in accordance with the provisions of this section. Section 143 (2) states thus: whenever a notice of any allegation in writing is signed by not less that one-third of the members of the National Assembly. Section 143 (2b) states that the holder of the office of President or Vice President is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office, detailed particulars of which shall be specified, the president of the senate shall within seven days of the receipt of the notice cause a copy thereof to be served on the holder of the office and on each member of the National Assembly, and shall also cause any statement made in reply to the allegation by the holder of the office to be served on each member of the National Assembly. Section 143 (11) states.... In this section - "gross misconduct" means a grave violation or breach of the provisions of this constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts in the OPINION of the National Assembly to gross misconduct. However, the answer to this question on whether Mr President can be impeached or not or should be impeached or not should be left for another day as this is not the intent of this piece.

The events which have sequeled that motion in the last few weeks has stressed the urgent need for all Nigerians to put their hands on deck and reconsider if the impeachment threat is indeed a brouhaha or a step in the right direction.

A look back at the budget performance in the last three years has shamefully disclosed what runs within the mindset of supposedly responsible Nigerian leaders. Non execution of the capital budget has categorically become a perennial curse as most Nigerians who are keen observers of the budget implementation process will see that tax payers monies spent in planning the budgets are wasted down the drain. This is because the budget execution process has now become a farce or maybe better, a jamboree.

The budget is divided into two major subheads known as the recurrent and capital. While the recurrent can boast that it caters for salaries and other expenses and emoluments which a lame man knows as expenses for travels, estacodes, training, conferences and etc, it is of note that over the last few years, the recurrent part of the budget has seen a 100% implementation, year in year out.

The capital part of the budget which caters for roads, infrastructure and should pay for white elephant projects sited in different parts of the country and needed to fast track development and integration of rural nigeria to its urban counterpart continues to see less that 35% implementation rate. This explains why the completion or contract awards of major roads around the country continues to be a pipe dream.

Also, it further explains why the divide between the rich and the poor continues to increase and yet Nigerians see no tangible development across the country. Those in government positions continue to amass massive wealth because the recurrent part of the budget which caters for their needs continues to be implemented, thus government in Nigeria is now the biggest business.

Economic experts have described Nigeria as defying all economic postulations and theories available. This is because whether as a critic or supporter of this administration, you must admit and give kudos to this government because the nation has in the last one year achieved economic growth. However the irony of this growth is that while bookmakers and foreign  investors continue to see Nigeria as an investors haven, the gap between the rich and the poor continues to grow.

Nothing is more true than the fact that Nigeria continues to be a rich country with poor citizens. Satirically, many describe democracy in Nigeria as a government for the rich, by the rich and in the interest of the rich.

Suprisingly, the impeachment motion by Hon Gbajabiala as earlier stated has culminated in a series of events. The first notable move by the executive was the release of the over 300B Naira budgeted for the the third quarter of this fiscal year. This is a step in the right direction as the process for contractual awards of much expected projects to help the poor will be fastracked. 

The most recent of moves by the executive and indeed President Goodluck Jonathan is the signing of performance contracts by serving ministers. Many of them have before now enjoyed complacency and receive tax payers salaries even in the face of non performance.  The ministers are expected to drive the economic aspirations of this current administration and transform Mr. President's transformation agenda from paperwork to reality. Therefore it is right to say that if the current administration fails in its duty to  help and reach out to the poor and needy, then that failure begins on the table of the ministers.

Kudos to this administration for making a move to enforce performance among its highly exalted cadre of ministers but more kudos to the lawmakers led by Hon Femi Gbajabiamila. Indeed Nigerians have begun to see the dividends of the house of representatives suposedly impeachment brouhaha.

This goes on to sound a note of warning that the nation tends to benefit tremendously when public officers perform their obligated duties without fear or favor, not patronizing or indulging anybody no matter how highly placed that individual is, but putting the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians, first.

This piece is written by Amadin Uyi, an Abuja based journalist. He can be reached via amadin2000@yahoo.com

DIVIDENDS OF IMPEACHMENT BROUHAHA...

When on the 19th of July, this year, the minority leader of the house of representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila moved a motion on the floor of the house criticizing the absolute disregard of the nations capital budget by the executive arm of government, many had criticized the members of the green chambers as self serving and aiming to derail the nations democracy.

Supporters of Mr President willfully refused to assess this threat by its merit and national interest but at various foras and opportunities available criticized Nigeria's opposition for taking a step too far intended at coercion and blackmail which will have dire consequences on the nation. Many of them were not shy in asserting that the impeachment plan is a calculated ploy not only to embarrass and ridicule Mr. President but also to impugn the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

One question that spectators of the impeachment saga would have loved to ask all who care to listen is if Mr President is bigger than Nigeria and should be too big to be impeached even if he is found to have contravened the constitution that gives him legitimacy and a right to govern over 160 million expectant Nigerians. Section 143 (1) of Nigeria’s 1999 constitution states inter alia: The President or Vice-President may be removed from office in accordance with the provisions of this section. Section 143 (2) states thus: whenever a notice of any allegation in writing is signed by not less that one-third of the members of the National Assembly. Section 143 (2b) states that the holder of the office of President or Vice President is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office, detailed particulars of which shall be specified, the president of the senate shall within seven days of the receipt of the notice cause a copy thereof to be served on the holder of the office and on each member of the National Assembly, and shall also cause any statement made in reply to the allegation by the holder of the office to be served on each member of the National Assembly. Section 143 (11) states.... In this section - "gross misconduct" means a grave violation or breach of the provisions of this constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts in the OPINION of the National Assembly to gross misconduct. However, the answer to this question on whether Mr President can be impeached or not or should be impeached or not should be left for another day as this is not the intent of this piece.

The events which have sequeled that motion in the last few weeks has stressed the urgent need for all Nigerians to put their hands on deck and reconsider if the impeachment threat is indeed a brouhaha or a step in the right direction.

A look back at the budget performance in the last three years has shamefully disclosed what runs within the mindset of supposedly responsible Nigerian leaders. Non execution of the capital budget has categorically become a perennial curse as most Nigerians who are keen observers of the budget implementation process will see that tax payers monies spent in planning the budgets are wasted down the drain. This is because the budget execution process has now become a farce or maybe better, a jamboree.

The budget is divided into two major subheads known as the recurrent and capital. While the recurrent can boast that it caters for salaries and other expenses and emoluments which a lame man knows as expenses for travels, estacodes, training, conferences and etc, it is of note that over the last few years, the recurrent part of the budget has seen a 100% implementation, year in year out.

The capital part of the budget which caters for roads, infrastructure and should pay for white elephant projects sited in different parts of the country and needed to fast track development and integration of rural nigeria to its urban counterpart continues to see less that 35% implementation rate. This explains why the completion or contract awards of major roads around the country continues to be a pipe dream.

Also, it further explains why the divide between the rich and the poor continues to increase and yet Nigerians see no tangible development across the country. Those in government positions continue to amass massive wealth because the recurrent part of the budget which caters for their needs continues to be implemented, thus government in Nigeria is now the biggest business.

Economic experts have described Nigeria as defying all economic postulations and theories available. This is because whether as a critic or supporter of this administration, you must admit and give kudos to this government because the nation has in the last one year achieved economic growth. However the irony of this growth is that while bookmakers and foreign  investors continue to see Nigeria as an investors haven, the gap between the rich and the poor continues to grow.

Nothing is more true than the fact that Nigeria continues to be a rich country with poor citizens. Satirically, many describe democracy in Nigeria as a government for the rich, by the rich and in the interest of the rich.

Suprisingly, the impeachment motion by Hon Gbajabiala as earlier stated has culminated in a series of events. The first notable move by the executive was the release of the over 300B Naira budgeted for the the third quarter of this fiscal year. This is a step in the right direction as the process for contractual awards of much expected projects to help the poor will be fastracked. 

The most recent of moves by the executive and indeed President Goodluck Jonathan is the signing of performance contracts by serving ministers. Many of them have before now enjoyed complacency and receive tax payers salaries even in the face of non performance.  The ministers are expected to drive the economic aspirations of this current administration and transform Mr. President's transformation agenda from paperwork to reality. Therefore it is right to say that if the current administration fails in its duty to  help and reach out to the poor and needy, then that failure begins on the table of the ministers.

Kudos to this administration for making a move to enforce performance among its highly exalted cadre of ministers but more kudos to the lawmakers led by Hon Femi Gbajabiamila. Indeed Nigerians have begun to see the dividends of the house of representatives suposedly impeachment brouhaha.

This goes on to sound a note of warning that the nation tends to benefit tremendously when public officers perform their obligated duties without fear or favor, not patronizing or indulging anybody no matter how highly placed that individual is, but putting the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians, first.

This piece is written by Amadin Uyi, an Abuja based journalist. He can be reached via amadin2000@yahoo.com

MINISTER OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES REFUTES HOSPITAL ADMISSION CLAIM.

The minister of Petroleum resources Diezanni Allison-Maduekwe has refuted claims that she is on admission in an undisclosed hospital in London via her Facebook page.

This comes as there has been widespread criticism of her admission following revelations that the first lady is also on admission for food poisoning in a German hospital.

Allison-Maduekwe says that she is not on admission and contrary to reports, she and her family are doing just fine.

Critics have criticized government officials of what they call medical tourism in foreign hospitals while public hospitals which are expected to cater for over one hundred and sixty million Nigerians remain unequipped and cannot cater for emergencies.

Two former first ladies in recent years have died on foreign beds in foreign hospitals and the nation's health sector is in dire need of a total overhaul.

Written by Amadin Uyi, an Abuja based Journalist, amadin2000@yahoo.com

NIGERIA's INSTITUTE OF PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION; A MIASMA OF ROT AND DECAY

NIGERIA's INSTITUTE OF PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION; A MIASMA OF ROT AND DECAY

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) was established in February, 2000 under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It's objective is primarily a research centre, a think-tank and an agency to strengthen Nigeria's capacity for the promotion of peace, conflict prevention, management and resolution.

Special investigation has revealed that the institute in the last few months has become a national shame and been filled with pervasive rot thus it's failure to fulfill its mandate and objectives as prescribed by its setup aim and objectives.

The alarm bells began to ring when there were accusations that Nigeria's First lady Dame Patience Jonathan had taken over the facility hosting the institute at its central area office in Abuja. This happened prior to the first lady's international conference for first ladies of fellow African countries recently held in the nations federal capital.

An investigation was carried out which revealled that initial feelers coming from the institute was only a tip on the ice berg as the management of the institute under Dr. Joseph Golwa has lost focus and intentionally been gradually leading the institute astray.

A member of  staff of the institute who spoke on condition of anomity however exonerated the high handedness of the office of the first lady claiming, the institute had gotten to where it is because of a failure in management.

Another member of staff was not so civil as he claimed that the rot in the institute did not start immediately but had been festering over the years. Though he disputed that the office of the first lady did not take over the whole facility and admitted that some part of the facility was taken over, He said that in fact the management invited the office of the first lady in a bid to save their face after discovering that the growing discontent among staff was becoming manifest and thus the need to attract favor from personalities in high places.

A chat with another staff who was visibly angry at how the institute had turned out revealed much more, she claimed that it is time for federal authorities to investigate the management style of the leadership, she also added that over the last few years, promotion of staff has been stalled and selective. She disclosed that there has been no training for any member of staff unless you are in the good books of Dr Joseph Golwa , who has also used promotion and retrenchment as a tool of vendetta to frustrate all that dare oppose his style of leadership.

She cited examples of some Ass. Directors and Directors that were rendered redundant and later sacked in the last few years and gave their names as Dr Ojiji and Mr Obafemi. Ojiji was demoted from Director to Ass. director and later dismissed for dare challenging the leadership style of Dr Golwa while Mr Obafemi was first rendered redundant before he was later dismissed.

She says it is time Nigerians and the federal government, hold Dr. Golwa accountable as the institute is not his private business.

While some claim that Nigeria is currently facing an insurgency war against dreaded terrorist organization BOKO Haram and others argue that finding a lasting solution to this national malaise falls under the immediate purview of the core mandate of the institute, there are many who think that a thorough reorganization is necessary by the oversighting ministry; the ministry of foreign affairs.

Auwal Rafsanjani from the Zero Corruption Coalition however thinks that the office of the first lady is culpable and maintains that the happenings within the agency is a reflection of the intensity of corruption within the country. 

Rafsanjani maintains that occupation of any government facility by the first lady is illegal and an abuse of public resources claiming that her office is not recognized by the Nigerian constitution. He maintains that putting the blame alone on the failure of Dr Joseph Golwa's management is justifying an illegality.

Jaiye Gaskia from the United Action for Democracy (UAD) when commenting on the issue stated that the eviction of a statutory government agency by an NGO is not only illegally but a further demonstration of impunity of this government and manifestation of corruption at the highest level. He states that the UAD's information on this issue reveals that even adjourning car parks of the institute were also confiscated.

Gaskia wants this impunity urgently stopped and monies spent in renovations which according to the UAD runs into the tune of billions of naira investigated. This is since the first lady's NGO is a private organization and not owned by government. 

Calls made to the mobile phone of Dr. Golwa was not answered and text messages also sent was also not replied. Investigations also revealed that in recent months he has been traveling around Africa, doing the bidding of the NGO of the first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

This piece was written by Uyi Amadin Joseph, an Abuja based Journalist. He can be reached via amadin2000@yahoo.com