Large number of Nigerian citizens in various prisons in South Africa

Posted on May 7 2013 - 5:33pm

President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed shock over the large number of Nigerian citizens in various prisons in South Africa, reports the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.
Jonathan told the Nigerian community in South Africa on Monday in Cape Town, South Africa that the high number of Nigerians in South African prisons did not speak well about Nigeria.
“I was told that more than 250,000 Nigerians are living in South Africa and that more than 400 are in prison serving various jail terms.

“This is a bad example of what Nigerians in the Diaspora should be; there are some countries like Malawi and Uganda that no Nigerian is in prison.
“Most Nigerians are doing very well abroad in various professional callings.
“There are Nigerians living in South Africa making good name for us but a few of you are doing things in different ways.
“There is need for these few Nigerians to be good ambassadors of Nigeria so that people will not see Nigeria and Nigerians as corrupt and criminal-minded people and nation,” Jonathan said.

He said that issue of corruption, security and crime were important to him and his administration.
“From my experience as deputy governor up till the time I was elected as the vice president I know those who talk more about corruption are the most corrupt.
“Peoples’ perception about corruption in Nigeria was over amplified than the corruption that happens in the country.
“The perception index is very high, we are not saying there’s no corruption in the country, all of us must work hard to fight corruption,” Jonathan said.
He said that the problem of insecurity in some parts of the country was being addressed by government.
“The issue of insecurity, threat to peace and stability in some parts of the country is being addressed; threat to peace and stability in the country must be stopped,” Jonathan said.
The president said he was totally committed to what was right for the country at all times.
“I promise Nigerians that issue of power will be solved as soon as the privatisation of power sector is completed.
“Power is key to the transformation agenda of this government; in no distant future the type of transformation in the telecommunication sector will be experienced in the power sector.
“We as government are doing everything to build a Nigeria of our dreams. Our airports are being renovated and modernisation and expansion of our railway transport system is ongoing.
“All what we request from all Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora is support and understanding.”
Jonathan assured that insecurity and molestation of Nigerians by various South African authorities would be discussed with President Jacob Zuma during the state visit.
The President of the Nigeria Union in South Africa (NUSA), Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, commended the president for conducting what was considered the most credible election in the history of Nigeria.
“It will never be out of fashion to say congratulations to you for the election of May 2011 that brought you to office.
“We congratulate you not because you won but because you made Nigerians all over the world proud by staging what has been dubbed as the freest and fairest election.”
Anyene said the action changed the tide in the way politicians came to power in Nigeria.
“We salute the courage and wisdom with which your administration is dealing with the delicate and monstrous security challenges we are faced with at the moment in our country.”
He urged the president to continue to explore every avenue to achieve peace in Nigeria.
“We must achieve a Nigeria that is safe and secure, where all ethnic groups can live peacefully side by side with one another.
“Peace and unity is a necessary pre-condition for the development of any country.”
He said that insecurity was preventing Nigeria from becoming a destination for foreign direct investment.
Anyene said the visit of the president to South Africa would help to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and their peoples.
He said, however, that Nigeria and South Africa should find a better way of translating government-to-government talk into person-to-person relationship between the citizens of the two countries and organs of state.
“Nigeria still receive inhuman, disrespectful and degrading treatment that suggest negative social profiling in this country within the South Africa Police Service as well other government departments, especially the Home Affairs,” Anyene said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jonathan will attend the World Economic Forum on Africa on Wednesday, before leaving South Africa on Thursday for Namibia.

The APGA war

Not long after its inception, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) got into a crises that is threatening to end its existence. Already, the party is divided into two factions, one led by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and the other led by the party’s embattled Chairman, Victor Umeh. CHINELO OBOGO writes.
Okorie vs Umeh
APGA has experienced various crises since its inception in June 25, 2002, resulting in a prolonged court battle between the founder, Chekwas Okorie and the incumbent embattled National Chairman of the party, Victor Umeh. The litany of court cases started when the party, supported by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State expelled Okorie on grounds of financial misappropriation and anti party activities. Okorie went to court to challenge his expulsion and for many years, the country witnessed one of the fiercest and prolonged court battles in the history of political parties in Nigeria. From the High Court to the Court of Appeal, to the Supreme Court, the case dragged on until the Supreme Court declared Umeh the authentic chairman of the party and maintained that Okorie remained expelled. That battle came to an end when Okorie handed over the documents of the registration of the party to Umeh.
The crises continues
When political observers thought peace had returned to APGA which is presently controlling two states in the South east, the party started experiencing a fresh round of crises. This time it is between Governor Obi and Umeh. Initially, there were indications that all was not well with the duo. But when asked by newsmen, they kept insisting that all was well and in fact, that the relationship between both of them was rosy.
Things however came to a head when Umeh started complaining about the refusal of the governor to conduct local government elections. According to him, “The wrong thing I did was to tell the governor to conduct Local Government elections so that our party people would be empowered at the grassroots. I fell out with him in March 2010 shortly after he was sworn in and he sent people to tell me that he wanted to put caretaker committees in the local governments. I said no, that it was a breach of an agreement between me and him and Ojukwu. That if we campaign for him and he wins the election,  he will conduct local government election immediately so that APGA people will get involved in governance so that the party will settle down at the grassroots. As soon as he won that election, he wanted to change it, I disagreed with him. We had that problem for two months until Ojukwu resolved it and he agreed there will be local government election.”
Besides the issue of the Local Government elections, Umeh also complained that the governor was not releasing sufficient funds for the smooth running of the party and said that because of that, a lot of party members were not empowered. But the Special Adviser on Parks and Markets, Sylvester Nwobu-Alor refuted this. He told Daily Sun that the governor cannot conduct local government elections because  the case brought up by the local government chairmen against the state government is still pending in court. On the issue of the non funding of the party, Nwobu-Alor said it was unfair for Umeh to accuse the governor of not funding the party as the governor gives the party N20 million every month to ensure the party activities are run smoothly.
At this point, it became obvious that the party was no longer cohesive and Umeh who used to have a rosy relationship with Governor Obi, found a new ally in Okorocha of Imo State. He was seen at every function organized by the government of Imo State and did not spare any moment in singing Okorocha’s praises. Thus, with Umeh and Okorocha on one side, and Governor Obi on the other, the tussle for the control of the party became even more intense.  After the passing away of the party leader, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, his widow, Bianca Ojukwu pitched her tent with Obi and did not spare any moment in telling Umeh to submit to the authority of Obi. During a stakeholders meeting of party members at the late Ojukwu’s Enugu residence, Bianca was reported to have told Umeh not to scatter the party or else he would be made ‘a general without an army.”
Okorocha’s angle
No sooner than Umeh and Okorocha became buddies that things started falling apart. Okorocha, to the consternation of other party members, publicly declared support for the merger of opposition political parties which would emerge as the All Progressives Congress (APC). Already, there are speculations that he may soon be expelled from the party for anti party activities. In his reaction, Nwobu-Alor  who is also an uncle to Obi told Daily Sun that Governor Okorocha can leave if he wants, and maintained that his departure would not affect the fortunes of the party.
The party on its own declared its stance in a statement, signed by Former Minister for Health and member of the party’s Board of Trustees, Dr Tim Menakaya. He said, “The party’s attention had been drawn to a press conference by a group of Governors, including Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo State after meeting in Lagos endorsing a ‘merger of some opposition parties in Nigeria’ While we are not against the establishment of a mega opposition party, we believe that the issue of merger of political parties is a very serious matter that needs adequate consultations before a Governor participates and makes public statement. We wish to state after due consultations with most party members, including Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and other party stakeholders, that the party wish to state that we were never invited, consulted or informed about any political parties merger.”
As the crises in the party further deepened, Umeh’s faction appointed the late Ojukwu’s son, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu jnr as a member of the Board of Trustees. Ojukwu later told newsmen that the cause of the crises in the party was because Governor Obi wanted to impose a candidate on the party.  This revelation further laid credence to the speculations that Umeh was in support of Ifeanyi Ubah, the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil who has publicly declared his intention to run for the governorship election in Anambra State, while Obi is rumored to favour someone else. This conflict of interest, according to insiders is the underlying reason Umeh and Obi have been engaged in a battle to control the party and by extension, the South east.
The crises came to a crescendo when the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu ousted Umeh as the National Chairman . The party, led by Obi went ahead and conducted a convention where Maxi Okwu was elected Chairman. However, Umeh filed a suit asking for a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal which was granted. This victory may give Umeh a further grip of the party with the support of people like Senator Annie Okonkwo, Ifeanyi Uba and a few other state chairmen in the South East.
But Obi seems to have a stronger hold in the party as those who support him include Ambassador Frank Nchita Ogbuewu, the 2011 APGA Governorship Candidate in Ebonyi State, Former Minister of Culture and Tourism and 2011 APGA Governorship Candidate in Abia State,  Chief Reagam Ufomba  and  2011 APGA Governorship Candidate in Enugu State,  Obiora Obiegue. The support of these people further strengthens Obi’s grip of the party since according to APGA”s constitution, the governorship candidate and governor in each state should be regarded as the leader of the party in the state.
Other APGA political office holders  who are on his side are Senator Chris Anyanwu, representing Imo Central, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Eddie Mbadiwe- APGA Leader, House of Representatives (Imo State),  Chris Azubogu , Emeke Nwogbo and  Victor Ogene, members of the House of Representatives, Chief Chris Uche, Deputy National Chairman, South-east, Odi Nwosu, Nigerian Ambassador to Burundi, Prof. Dora Akunyili , 2011 APGA Senatorial Candidate, Anambra State, and Former Minister of Information and Communications,  Menakaya and Chuma Nzeribe, Former House of Representatives member.
With the saying that ‘when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers’, political observers are pessimistic about the survival of the party as many believe that the squabbles may affect the party’s fortunes.

Achebe: Nigerians to hold memorial service in London, May 18

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

LAGOS — NIGERIANS in the United Kingdom, will hold a memorial service and cultural reception for late literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe on May 18 in London as part of global farewell activities for the literary legend.
Professor Achebe’s body will arrive Abuja May 12, sparking off a series of festivities that will continue until his final interment in Ogidi, Anambra State on May 23.
The programme is being organised by the United Kingdom chapter of Nigerians in the Diaspora in conjunction with his family, the High Commission and the wider literary world. The activities will kick off with a memorial service at All Saints Cathedral, New Cross, London, which will be presided over by the Bishop of Southwark.

Late Prof Chinua Achebe

Ubaka Alex Achebe, a family spokesman, said: “Apart from the Bishop of Southwark, the Bishops of Woolwich and London will also be there. There will be several cannons and vicars coming too, so we are expecting about a dozen clergymen.
“After the service, guests will be treated to an evening of African culture, literature at the nearby Millwall Football Club’s reception hall. There will be cultural troupes from all over Nigeria performing as well as those from Ghana, Kenya, the Caribbean and Congo, and a re-enactment of Things Fall Apart.”
Dignitaries expected include former Commonwealth Secretary General, Emeka Anyaoku; Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida, Chi Onwurah, MP; Chuka Umunna, MP, and the Mayor of Enfield, Kate Anolue.
Also expected are the embassies representatives of Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Côte d’Ivoire. The Anambra Women Group has offered to take care of catering for the day and treat guests to the best of Nigerian cuisine.
Dan Otuonye, the chairman of the Organising Committee said: “We will print T-shirts, women’s head ties and men’s caps, which will be made available on the day. Igbo Youth Organisation will also entertain guests to the best of our culture.”
Organisers have been split into cultural, security, publicity, catering and organising committees to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day. Several Nigerian authors and poets will also be expected to read from their books, while academics who worked with Professor Achebe will read out eulogies.
Ayo Akinfe, the chairman of the publicity committee, said: “Achebe was a global icon who cared passionately about humanity and we want this event to reflect his life.
“There will be cultural troupes there to showcase how Achebe brought the attention of the world to the fact that we Africans actually have a culture. there to highlight the fact that he was a genuine global icon.”

Anambra state 2014 Governorship contestants: This is not an exhaustive list:
1. Uche Ekwunife
2. Cheif Joe Ikebudu
3. Chief Emma Nweke
4. Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige
5. Senetor Annie Okonkwo
6. Hon. Victor Afam Ogene,
7. Mr. Mike Udah,
8. Dr. Alex Obiogbolu,
9. Princess Stella Oduah,
10.Chief Paul Odenigbo,
11.Patrick Obianwu,
12. Nnamdi Egweogwu,
13. Chief Chike Obidigbo,
14.Chief Goddy Ibekwe,
15. Chief Willy Obiano,
16. Chief Dubem Obaze,
17. Mr. Oseloka Obaze,
18. Dr. Obinna Uzo
19. Andy Ubah
20. Chief George Muoghalu
21. Proff charles Soludo
22. Mr. Ifeany Ubah
Out of all the political parties registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), only three actually have strong followership in the state. They are APGA, the ruling party in the state, PDP and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The consensus here is that the chances of any of the major political parties emerging the winner in the election would depend on the credibility of its candidate as well as its ability to conduct free and fair primaries.
These considerations notwithstanding, political watchers, however, believe that APGA has brighter chances of retaining the governorship seat. The achievements of Governor Obi administration in the state have endeared the party to majority of the citizens

Martin OGBOOGU
Political Analyst

Boko Haram: Give amnesty to MASSOB too – Seigha

BY DAPO AKINREFON

MR. Manijar Seigha is chairman, Niger Delta Nationalities in Lagos State. In this interview, Seigha states that the proposed amnesty package for Boko Haram members is in order. He also argues that President Goodluck Jonathan has not lost grip in tackling insecurity challenges facing the country. Excerpts:
Considering the state of insecurity in the country do you think the president has lost grip?
President Jonathan has not lost grip of the situation in any way. However, the President’s greatest challenge is his political opponents, his enemies and a huge population of ignoramuses not Boko Haram. This is because Boko Haram‘s continuous existence is dependent on the above.
Jonathan’s next challenge (if not a problem) is the body language of the judiciary and the attitude of the legislature. It is clear to all discerning minds that the judiciary and the legislature are not in a hurry to support Mr. President in the fight against insecurity.  If they were, new, effective, and unambiguous laws would have been enacted.  In the light of the above, I think Jonathan is being pushed to step on banana peels.
Therefore the solution to Boko Haram is a collective deal, the three arms of the Federal Government, the Northern Governors, Northern leaders of thought, and Islamic clerics  in the north must sit together for a collective solution so that Jonathan as a person will not be held for the fallout. At the formation level, it was mainly an organization whose ideology was the hatred of western education.

Mr Seigha

Today the ideology is in the least a sextuplet if not a seven dimensional octopus. Boko Haram has moved from the ideology of the hatred of western education which by the death of their leader necessitated the attack on security personnels and formations, but thereafter to local ethnic cleansing between the majority Kanuri and the minority Biu tribe in Borno state, then to religious cleansing in other northern states. The other level is using it as a weapon of warning for those perceived to be preparing to rig the 2015 election. It is also seen as a regional army in the waiting.
The latest is the use of it as an instrument of blackmail to persuade the Federal Government to give in to an abnormality and be blinded from rectitude. This includes the demand for amnesty for Boko Haram, meaning the genuine purpose of Boko Haram has been displaced. I therefore sympathize with the initial ideology of the hatred of western education rather than the hijackers demanding to Islamatise the whole nation.
Should amnesty be given to the Boko Haram insurgents?
The call for amnesty in favour of Boko Haram is the handiwork of the hijackers on the one hand and sympathizers of Boko Haram on the other hand. Firstly, it is another avenue to grab more oil money to the north.
Secondly, it is the replica of rotational presidency where the north says it is her turn to produce the next president of Nigeria. Like the former, the north seems to be saying it is their turn to grab the amnesty, since the Niger Delta got it first.
Sometimes, experts believe the acquisition of the 3 E’s that is education, exposure, and experience is all that is needed to proffer the right and sound judgement on critical issues. In any case if I may ask, can’t the northern Governors grant Boko Haram the said amnesty? After all, it is the northern economy that is suffering. Note also that the amnesty granted to Niger delta militants was because their activities affected the heart of the national economy directly not a regional economy.
Jonathan can just go ahead and deliver amnesty to Boko Haram. What will be a challenge, not a problem is when it will be delivered to MASSOB and OPC too? Just give it to them without rancour since we are about practising rotational amnesty.
But during the President’s visit to Borno State, he referred to members of the sect as ghost…
There is no doubt that a number of those taking on the President for referring to Boko Haram as ghosts understand him. However, a large number of ignorants, whose trade in stock and daily source of joy is the ability to challenge Mr. President on any issue, are at it again.
Those whose intent is to intimidate President Jonathan out of office using any terrorist means might be making a slippery and catastrophic mistake, because we know their target. Capture the natural resources of the Niger Delta (crude oil) and appropriate it without question on how, where and when. This will be resisted.
Should Jonathan contest the 2015 presidential election given the tension in the land?
The answer is yes. Constitutionally, it is his right as a bonafide citizen of Nigeria. Rotationally, it is the right of the Niger Delta to consolidate its turn. The point needs to be made very clearly that Obasanjo representing the South West got his two terms in office. Musa Yar’Adua would have gotten his two terms in office if he did not die.
So what is the offence of the Niger Delta zone in this rotational formula? Indeed Nigerians owe this zone for obvious reasons. It is not about Jonathan, but the Niger Delta, The goose that lays the golden egg. A Niger Deltan is already in office, I think it is in the interest of all Nigerians that that Niger Delta is allowed to complete its tenure. A word is enough for all Nigerians.

Nigeria: APC Manifesto - Jonathan, Obasanjo to Face Probe - Immunity for President, Governors to Go By Festus Owete,

Photo: Vanguard

ACN Lagos Campaign

After weeks of intense debates, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, have finally adopted a manifesto, in which it enunciated plans to tackle corruption in Nigeria.
The parties had, in February, announced their plan to merge into one party to be known as All Progressives Congress, APC.
Consequently, the parties went into series of meetings during which it agreed on the constitution, manifesto, logo, motto and slogan.
Some of the documents are to be submitted alongside the application for registration to the Independent National Electoral Commission at the end of the national conventions of the parties, where the merger is to be approved by members.
According to the manifesto, exclusively obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the association spells out an ambitious action plan to aggressively tackle corruption, which a source said generated hot argument before it was finally adopted last week.
Some members of the association reportedly canvassed the need to include specific details, which will endear it to Nigerians above the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which it believes has not done well in that regard since assuming power at the federal level about 13 years ago.
The APC specifically declared in the 29-page document that if it comes to power in 2015, it would not only renegotiate oil deals, but would also remove the secrecy surrounding the ownership of 40% of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, and query the utilisation of the over N50 trillion oil revenue it claimed accrued to the Federation Account in the last 13 years PDP has been in power.
During the period, the PDP produced three Presidents, namely Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007), Umaru Yar'Adua (2007-2010) and incumbent Goodluck Jonathan (2010 till date).
The 20-member APC Manifesto (Logo, Slogan and Motto) Committee was headed by Audu Ogbeh, a former National Chairman of the PDP.
"We shall negotiate oil deals, unveil the secrecy surrounding the ownership of 49% of the Nigeria Liquefied, NLNG, query the over N50 trillion Oil Revenue which accrued to the Federation Account between 2000 and 2013 and recover billions of US Dollars which Ministries, Departments and Agencies, failed to remit to the Federation Account," the association declared on Section 1 Page 5 of the adopted manifesto.
The APC also declared that it would not only strengthen and make independent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and other anti-graft agencies by repealing the laws which inhibit their independent, it would also review public service rules and financial regulations which currently permit outrageous impropriety in public finances.
It also promised to push for the removal of the immunity clause in the constitution which shields the president, vice president, governors and deputy governors from prosecution while in office.
"APC in Government shall muster the political will to wage strident war against corruption; otherwise our post-oil-economy will be disastrous," the manifesto stated.
"It is our considered view that none of our cardinal programs will succeed if the current level of corruption and looting going on in the land is allowed to continue.
"We shall plug all leakages which accelerate monumental corruption, recover looted funds, cap and trim unwarranted allowances to public office holders."
With a view to sanitising the electoral process if it comes to power, the APC also adopted for its manifesto some recommendations of the defunct Electoral Reform Committee, otherwise known as Uwais Panel, set up by late President Umaru Yar'Adua.
Among the recommendations listed on Page 6 under the same section, are that it will "make the appointment of the chairman and top officials of the National and State Electoral Commissions public" and that the "Burden of Proof shall rest on the Electoral Commissioners." It did not expatiate on the recommendations.
On power, APC said in Section 4 Page 8 of the document that it will pursue the expansion of electricity generation and distribution of up to 40,000 megawatts in the four to eight years of its administration.
It added, "The party will also work assiduously at making available power from renewable energy sources such as coal solar, wind and biomass for domestic and industrial use, whenever these prove viable."
The APC also said in Section 23 Page 25 of the manifesto that, upon its assumption of office, it will begin wide consultations to amend the Constitution with a view to decentralizing the police command and expand local content.
It also promised to establish a well-trained, adequately equipped and goals-driven Serious Crime Squad to combat terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, militancy, ethno-religious and communal clashes nationwide.
On politics and governance enunciated in Section 24 Page 26 of the document, APC promised among other things, to initiate action to amend the constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench Federalism and the Federal Spirit; remove immunity from prosecution for elected public officers in criminal cases; ensure full implementation of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act so that government held data set can be requested and used by the media and public at large and then publish at large, and then on regular basis; and restructure government for a leaner, more efficient and less expensive public service.
"APC believes that our politics is broke. Our nation urgently needs fundamental political reform and improvement in governance to make it more transparent and accountable," the manifesto stressed.
On the social scene, APC also said it would not only invest in massive human capital that would encourage the youth, it promised to "assist Nollywood to fully develop into world-class industry that can compete effectively with Hollywood and Bollywood in due course.

Nigeria: ACN Holds Last Convention, Adopts APC As New Party

Photo: Vanguard

ACN Lagos Campaign

Lagos — APPROXIMATELY 4671 delegates of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Thursday in Lagos unanimously adopted the All Progressive Congress, APC, as its new political party.
Also, the party ratified the expulsion of some members approval of merger with other political parties and groups, approval of new name All Progressive Congress with acronym APC and approvals of new Constitution, manifesto, flag, logo and slogan.
There's urgent need for change - Akande
In his opening address, National Chairman of the ACN, Chief Bisi Akande said "this convention is a special one. The urgent need for change as the country desires to rescue our country compelled us to provide an alternative leadership for Nigeria. We must not entertain any fear or surrender to blackmail. We must be mindful that merger is new in Nigeria.
A storm is brewing - Tinubu
Lending his voice, national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu urged Nigerians to be part of history just as he predicted that a political storm is brewing in the country.
No ulterior motive to merger- Buhari
For ACN and CPC, it was not an alien issue, it was a continuation of what we started in 2011. Time was against us and all I can say is that the rest is history. This time around, we started early to build on the foundation we have laid in 2010. I assure you that all those who are consistent, that are concerned with this system of solidifying democracy should know that the only solution is this merger.