'After 30 days, we will take you seriously'- FG to Boko Haram

The Federal Government on Tuesday reacted to the offer of ceasefire by a  faction of the fundamentalist  Islamic group, Boko Haram,  by giving a condition to the sect.

The condition: Boko Haram must  stop its  violence in the North for a period of one month.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim, stated the Federal Government’s position just as the   Federal Capital Territory  Minister, Senator Bala  Mohammed,  summoned an emergency security meeting over increased  presence of  foreign immigrants in the FCT.

Ibrahim spoke  with journalists at the opening of the 2013 seminar on National Security with the theme, Contemporary National Security Challenges: Policy Option, organied by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College, Abuja.

 He said that while security chiefs were excited by the development, the olive branch  offered by  the sect called  for caution.

Ibrahim said  the government would only take the peace overture seriously  if Boko Haram  could ensure that attacks of whatever form did not take place  for 30 days.

He stated that security operatives would wait for the period to see if no public place, security formation and place of worship was bombed before taking the sect seriously.

Ibrahim  also said  he was optimistic that the  development would culminate in improved security in the country.

He said, “You see, we must treat that with a lot of caution. You understand, there are certain objective tests that will make sense. Let’s assume we can have a long period of about one month where no bomb explodes, where nobody is shot, where nobody is beheaded, where no church is bombed, where no mosque is threatened.

“If they can guarantee just one month, then we can begin to talk. You see we must take this with a lot of caution. That is what I am telling you.

“We hope whatever that must have brought about  this will further enhance our security and it’s like a recognition of the very futile approach to solving whatever they consider to be their problems. So we are a bit excited by it but we are taking everything with a lot of caution.”

 Boko Harama’s commander for Southern and Northern Borno, Muhammed Abdulazeez, had in a statement on Monday,  said  the sect resolved to stop its violence  after a dialogue with  the Government  of Borno State in Maiduguri.

Abdulazeez  urged all Boko Haram members to lay down their arms in honour of the declaration.

He said that the ceasefire had become necessary as a result of the hardship caused other Muslims and citizens of the North by the activities of the sect.

He stated that security operatives were free to arrest anybody found to be fomenting trouble after the perfection of the ceasefire deal.

Abdulazeez  had said, “For sometime now,  we the members of Jamaatul ahlil Boko Haram sunna lidawati wal jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram have recently had a meeting and dialogue with the government of Borno State where we resolved that given  the prevailing situation, there is the need for us to cease fire.

“We, on our own, in the top hierarchy of our movement under the leadership of Imam Abubakar Shekau, as well as some of our notable followers agreed that our brethren in Islam, both women and children are suffering unnecessarily; hence we resolved that we should bring this crisis to an end.

“We therefore call on all those that identify themselves with us and our cause, to from today(Monday) lay down their arms. Let every member who hears this announcement relay it to the next member who hasn’t heard.

“We have met with the Borno State Government on two occasions and the fallout of the meeting was  to cease fire.”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had in 2011 initiated a dialogue between the Federal Government and the sect.

Obasanjo had visited the family of the late leader of the sect, Mohammed Yusuf, in Maiduguri, where he  was received by the father-in-law of the leader, Babakura Fuggu.

Fuggu was killed a few days after Obasanjo’s visit.

In November last year, the sect named a former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and six others to mediate between it and the government.

Meanwhile, the FCT Minister, Senator Mohammed, on Tuesday  met  with the FCT Police Commissioner; Director, Department of State Security; FCT Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as  representatives of Customs, Immigration and Prisons in his official residence in Abuja.

Others at the meeting convened by the minister over the rising number of illegal immigrants in the FCT  were the FCT Permanent Secretary, Chairmen of the six Area Councils in the FCT, as well as  top officials of the FCT Administration.

SUNDAY PUNCH had reported that two Nigerian affiliates of the al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb — Boko Haram  and the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi Biladis- Sudan — are planning major reprisal to protest Nigeria’s participation in Mali.

Nigeria has deployed forces in northern Mali to flush out the al-Qaeda-linked Islamist groups, who have taken control of the vast desert territory.

Security agents had said that the sects planned to protest Nigeria’s participation in the Mali war, and had  therefore brought into the country, terrorists that may be used to carry out attacks on government installations and  in  kidnapping   high-profile  persons.

The FCT minister stated that the meeting was called to appraise the security situation in Abuja, adding that it was normal for the FCT Administration to take proactive measures to reduce any possibility of security breach in the territory.

He emphasised that the government would not want to be taken unawares as the security of lives and property remained important to the Federal Government.

The minister called for continued collaboration,and  sharing of information with a view to ensuring synergy amongst all the security outfits in the FCT.

While reminding them of the constant need to share intelligence , Mohammed promised to support the security agencies by procuring new equipment to ease their operations.

He said, “Security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory should be  on red alert to effectively take precautionary measures against any unforeseen circumstances. Residents are enjoined to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to the security agents.”

The NIS could however not be reached for comments on the alleged influx of immigrants into the FCT as its new public relations officer, Ekpedeme King, could not be reached on the phone.

He did not respond to a text message sent to his phone.

The Federal Government’s military intervention in the Malian crisis was part of the moves to solve the terrorism problem in the country, which is believed to have foreign backing.

Speaking also on the crisis in Mali, the CDS,  stated that Nigerian troops were performing very well in their peacekeeping operations in the embattled francophone country.

He said that things were moving very fast in Mali and commended Western powers such as France, the United States, the United Kingdom,  Germany, Belgium and  the African Union for the support they gave to ECOWAS in the challenge to free Northern Mali from the grip  of terrorists.

Air fares slashed by almost 50% as competition rises

Airfares on domestic routes have crashed by about 50 per cent from an average of N32,000 to N16,000 for an hour’s flight, following the recommencement of flight operations by Dana Air and Chanchangi Airlines, as well as the coming on board of a new carrier, Med-View Airlines, findings by our correspondent have revealed.

The suspension of flights by Air Nigeria, Dana Air, FirstNation Airlines and Chanchangi Airlines around the middle of last year had led to over 35 per cent increase in airfares from an average of N22,000 to N32,000.

Desperate passengers fought to get seats on Arik Air, Aero Nigeria and IRS Airlines, the only major domestic airlines in business then. Their flight tickets were sold for between N30,000 and N35,000.

Specifically, the suspension of flights by some of the airlines led to sharp drop in the number of available seats on planes plying domestic routes, a situation that made air travel a nightmarish experience

However, investigations by our correspondent on Tuesday revealed that the airfares had dropped by about 50 per cent with flight tickets now going for between N14,500 and N25,000 depending on how early a passenger bought the ticket.

The return of Dana and Chanchangi and the commencement of flights by a new operator, Med-View Airlines, in the last two months have led to the drop in airfares, according to findings

Dana Air sells its one-hour flight ticket (economy class) for between N14,000 and N20,000 depending on how early a passenger buys the ticket.

A visit to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Terminal Two, Lagos, showed that Med-View was selling its one-hour flight for about N20,000 most of the time, while Chanchangi sells it one-hour flight ticket at a flat fare of N17,500.

IRS sells its ticket on some routes, especially the Lagos-Kaduna for N16,000, depending on how early a passenger buys its ticket.

Aero’s fares have been fluctuating with its ticket being sold for over N20,000 most times. However, passengers who book online may pay below N20,000.

Arik Air, a major domestic player, has been selling its one-hour flight ticket for a little above N30,000.

Top airline officials told our correspondent under the condition of anonymity that airfares might crash further when existing carriers acquire more aircraft and more operators begin flying.

It was gathered that FirstNation might resume operations before the end of the first quarter.

Insider sources, however, said the airfares might not reduce below N15,000 because the high price of aviation fuel and exorbitant government taxes might prevent the airline operators from reducing the fares below certain levels.

The Assistant General Secretary, Airlines Operators of Nigeria, Mr. Muhammed Tukur, had predicted in January that airfares would crash by about 40 per cent to between N18,000 and N22,000.

He said, “The industry is controlled by the law of demand and supply. More airlines are coming in, while even the existing ones are buying more planes to cope with the demand.

“I believe during this year, may be in a few months’ time, the fares will drop to between N18,000 and N22,000. The reason for the drop is that the airlines will want to fill their planes.”

Super Mario goes to Milan

Mario Ballotelli has finally said good bye to Machester City in a €20m deal on Tuesday, January 29, 2013.

The former Manchester City player yesterday struck a deal with Italian Serie A side, AC Milan for a four and half year contract, ending a two and half year roller coaster with the English champions.

The final part of the contract will be completed as soon as the 22-year old completes his medical on Wednesday at the Italian club.

Manchester City had signed the youngster for €24m in 2010 with the striker scoring 20 Premier League goals for the club.

Balotelli’s departure comes weeks after he was involved in a training ground altercation with Coach Roberto Mancini amongst other controversies, on and off pitch, which has earned him the reputation as the Premier League’s most notorious player. AC Milan has always been Balloteli's dream club and had always supported them as a boy

Don Jazzy to kick off Mavin Clothing line this Summer

From music to fashion – Don Jazzy has announced he is setting up his Mavin clothing line pretty soon.

The music producer and record lable owner announced his new business venture via micrco-blogging site Twitter yesterday January 29, 2013, saying that  the clothing line will ba making its debut in the summer.

‘#MavinClothing 60% loading… Summer 2013. Watch this space. I dey hail o. IDJA’, he tweeted. It is unclear whether the producer is working with a fashion designer in the background

Don Jazzy is also looking for models who will show off his outfits on the runaway and is giving everyone an opportunity to fill in the spots by launching a Mavin Clothing Model Search.

Apart from running his record label, Don Jazzy also oversees Mavin Energy Oil and Gas service company with his younger brother James ‘Jay’ Collins.

We Want Buhari To Contest In 2015 – CPC

The Congress for Progressive Change has said it wants its National Leader, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to contest in 2015.

The party, which explained its merger talks with some opposition parties, said it wanted Buhari to contest because of the passion he had for the country.

But the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Affairs, Dr. Ahmed Gulak, said opposition parties’ merger would not defeat Peoples Democratic Party in 2015.
Gulak and the CPC spokesman, Rotimi Fashakin, spoke during an African Independent Television programme on Tuesday.
Saturday PUNCH had on January 26 reported that there were moves  in the merger plan to ask Buhari and the Action Congress of Nigeria leader, Bola Tinubu, to make personal sacrifices.
Such sacrifices, it was reported might see the duo dumping their presidential ambition.
But Fashakin said there was nothing wrong if Buhari changed his mind to contest the 2015 presidential election.
He said, “There is peace in South-Africa because of the foundation laid by the man (Nelson Mandela), who stood for democracy in that country.
“He came and ruled for one term and handed over to people of sound character.
“Also, in Ghana, the country is better now because of what Jerry Rawlings did and that is why Ghana is what it is today.
“Nigeria and Nigerians need Buhari to do the same thing for things to move on. We cannot continue like this.”
He noted that an earlier pronouncement by the retired general that he would not contest was done at a personal level.
Fashaki said, “If after the emergence of the new political party as a result of the merger the Nigerian people say they want him, he will consider it.
“He has said it that whenever we get to that bridge and they want him to cross it, he will consider it.”
But Gulak said it would be difficult for Buhari to become President.
He said apart from not being a politician, the presidential aide said the former head of state was not a mobliser.
He added that there was no way politicians, who Buhari overthrew in 1983 would embrace him.
He said the PDP was the most organised political parties in the country, adding that existence of regional parties did not augur well for the polity.
Gulak added, “The PDP sitting up is what I see happening. That   PDP will lose power to the opposition is an illusion as I am concerned.”
He said merger could only succeed if politicians were ready to build “political bridges.”
Gulak stated, “The CPC (Congress for Progressive Change)  is a regional party. The ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria) is a regional party. If they can come together, to form a formidable political party with a clear manifesto to Nigerians; it will make the PDP to be more prepared and be more organised. We need such mergers, if it going to be possible.”
Meanwhile, the intrigues in the power play within the national leadership of the PDP took another turn as all the deputy national officers of the party on Tuesday in Abuja, passed a vote confidence in their National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur.
Addressing reporters after a meeting, the leader of the group, Senator Umar Tsauri, said they met to felicitate with Tukur on the New Year and at the same time deliberate on issues affecting the party.
Tsauri, who is the PDP Deputy National Auditor, described as “very fruitful” their deliberations with Tukur and stressed that their discussions was for the benefit of the party.
He stressed that they were in support of Tukur’s leadership and they had no problem in passing a vote of confidence on him.
“Today we told the National Chairman of the party of his leadership capabilities and the way he manages crisis and we are confidence in his style of leadership.
“Our meeting with him was fruitful and we discuss the development of the party. We pass a vote of confidence on him.”

-culled from Naij.com

We are not against GEJ- Governors reply Clark

The 36 state governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, yesterday dismissed allegations by Elder Statesman and prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark that they had formed an opposition to the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government.
According to the governors, they were not fighting the President, just as they stressed that as an elder, they were not prepared to join issues with the former Federal Commissioner for Information.
Addressing journalists at the end of their meeting, held at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro Abuja, Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, however, tongue lashed the Federal Government over its attitude towards the management of Excess Crude Account, ECA. This came just as the governors vowed not to further accept adjournments of the case pending at the Supreme Court.
Asked to react to Chief Clark’s allegation of forming an opposition to the Federal Government and whether they were fighting President Jonathan, Amaechi said: “No. Chief Edwin Clark is an elder statesman, we are not going to respond to him.”
Clark last Thursday alleged that the governors had become more dictatorial than former military governors and using the forum as an opposition Party to the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government. There have been several moves by the Federal Government to have an out of Court resolution of the excess crude account crisis with the governors, but all moves have been futile because against the governors had repeatedly described the action of the Federal Government on the account as illegal.
Vote of Confidence on Amaechi
At the end of the meeting which was the first this year, the governors also “declared their confidence in the Chairman and endorsed his leadership as head of the Forum.”
Amaechi said: “Forum decries the present attitude of the Federal Government on Excess Crude Account and resolves to take no further adjournments in the subsisting case in court but to seek a final resolution of the matter from the Supreme Court.
“Forum agreed to hold a two-day retreat to deliberate on the current state of security of the country.
“On the rising incidents of Polio in the country, Forum unanimously agreed to lead the efforts to eradicate polio by instituting the following:
“A monthly campaign to be headed by Governors in all 36 states of the federation to promote healthy environmental habits;
“Governors from non-polio states will support their counterparts in affected states by joining them in their states during upcoming national polio campaign;
“To meet with Presidential Task Force on Polio Eradication in order to identify current funding gaps and challenges against polio eradication in Nigeria.
“The Forum remains resolute in the development of our different states for the benefit of the nation and our citizens.”
On when the security summit will be held, he said, “the committee is working on it. When the committee brings in their report we will fix a date.”
On the health situation of Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State and as one of the governors who visited him, Amaechi said: “I talked with him, put him on the phone to an editor of Vanguard who is my friend. It was real.”
At the meeting were governors of Nasarawa, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun, Rivers, Imo, Taraba, Anambra, Bauchi and Adamawa. Others were deputy governors of Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Bayelsa, Kwara, Jigawa, Niger and Benue.

Nobody Can Stop Jonathan From Re-contesting In 2015 – Clark

Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, yesterday, declared that nobody could stop President Goodluck Jonathan from seeking a second term in office, saying only the Nigerian electorate could decide his fate in 2015.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the opening of the Southern Leaders Conference in Enugu, Chief Clark said it would be wrong for the South to return power to the North in 2015 when the incumbent president had all the rights to re-contest.
He said since the North had ruled the nation for 38 years and the South had done only 13 years, there was need for the purpose of equity, justice and fairplay, for power to still remain in the South
His words: “The Constitution provided for two terms. In 1979, Shehu Shagari from the North was president until 1983 when he got his second term but Buhari for reasons best known to them, they thought that at the end of his second ruling he will hand over to Ekwueme or to Akinloye. They then staged a coup and drove him (Shagari) away and imprisoned all the politicians.  Who took over? Another Northerner.

“Then Ibrahim Babangida said we have had enough. He took over from Muhammadu Buhari. Babangida handed over to Ernest Shonekan, he didn’t even rule for only three months and Sanni Abacha overthrew Shonekan. Even when MKO Abiola was elected in 1993 he was not allowed to rule even one day. MKO Abiola was driven away and killed – one of the wealthiest men in Africa.  Abdulsalami Abubakar also ruled after Abacha died.

“Then Obasanjo came and ruled for eight years and Umaru Yar’Adua was also going to rule for eight years.  Why would Jonathan not be allowed to rule for eight years?
“Well, that is not what we have come here to discuss but quote me, the Constitution of Nigeria says a president will contest election for two terms and remain in office for eight years, four years each.  Jonathan came in as president because his master (Yar’Adua) died. And somebody has to feel that position and you don’t count that period as if he has contested election.  Swearing-in has nothing to do with that provision of the election. Jonathan has every right to re-contest in 2015 to complete his eight years. Nobody can stop him.”
Also speaking at the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) attended by over 120 delegates from the South East, South West and South South, the convener and Chairman of the forum , Dr. Alex Ekwueme enumerated the gains of the meeting, the second of its kind, to include collective bargain and speaking with one voice in the nation polity, just like the monolithic north does.
Ekuweme recalled that after the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates on January 1, 1914, the Northern Nigeria continued to be administered as one unit whereas the Southern Nigeria was constituted of the colony of Lagos, the western and Eastern provinces, respectively.
The second republic Vice President further narrated that part of the reason why he was denied the Presidential candidate of the party he founded in 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was because of his “hard-line posture” in securing power shift and 13% derivation for the southern states during the General Sani Abacha’s midwived Constitutional conference of 1994-1995.
Ekwueme said that during the conference, the northern delegates summoned a meeting amongst them where they resolved to maintain status quo of retaining power in the north and he took a proactive step to ensure that the southern delegates sojourn to the conference was not a sheer waste of time and so he summoned a counter southern delegates meeting.
He said: “I therefore took immediate step to organize a Southern delegates’ caucus. In this initative I had the support of late Dr. Tunji Otegbeye and High Chief Dr. Emmanuel Nsan all under my leadership and chairmanship. The immediate task of the southern delegates’ caucus was to devise a strategy that would prevent continuation of the status quo, that is, continue retention of power by the Northern elements on return to civilian rule.
“We mounted a proposal for constitutional provision for alternating or oscillating the presidency of Nigeria between the North and the South after each five-year single term, a provision more popularly referred to as rotational Presidency.
“The proposal was strongly resisted by many northern delegates who eventually accepted it provided it was enriched in the political parties’ constitutions rather than in the national constitution. The unworkability of the political party constitutional provision arrangement was then demonstrated beyond all doubt.
“When opposition to the rotational presidency persisted, it was pointed out that if the purpose of the 1914 amalgamation was to ensure that the south was always under the leadership of the north, then it might become necessary to consider the option of de-amalgamation. With this show of brinkmanship, both sides opted to retreat in the interest of Nigeria continued existence and unity and rotational presidency was endorsed by consensus and became part of the draft 1995 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Ekwueme further traced the history of power rotation, saying the first hiccup was which zone, North or South, would produce the Presidency to start with, adding that since the idea of rotation was muted to check the prolonged northern rulership, it made sense to start with the South.
“At that point we changed our sloganeering from rotational presidency to power shift so as to put the question beyond doubt. It was this power shift that the subsequent leading party, the PDP, entrenched as one of its cardinal objective principles and which ensured that northern aspirant sought the presidential nomination of the party at the return to civilian governance in 1999; and which made it possible for General Obasanjo to become the Presidential candidate of the party in 1999,” said Ekwueme.
He further narrated that with the problem of power shift settled, the next was the percentage to be ascribed to derivation. Again, the north was said to have insisted on 3% but with the agitation and doggedness of the Southern delegates, 13% minimum was finally settled for even after the group wanted 50% as was the case in the 1963 constitution.
“It was suggested to me that my so called hard-line posture in successfully securing power shift and 13% minimum for derivation were contributory factors to my inability to obtain the presidential nomination of the party I founded and nurtured to success. Be that as it may, I have no regrets as long as my guiding principles were a search for justice, equity and fair play,” said Ekwueme.
Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, urged the Southern leaders to endeavour to set things right both in the zone and in the entire nation saying Nigeria was fast drifting from the right path.
He commended the conveners of the meeting for their commitment towards ensuring the unity of the entire south, adding that the importance of the meeting made him to contribute meaningfully to its success.
“People are no longer shocked when dozens of their citizens are gunned down and bombed In his speech, Bishop Emmanuel Gbonigi, Leader of the Yoruba Unity Forum,   called for immediate national dialogue  of various sections expressed  serious concerns over the challenges plaguing the country on behalf of Yoruba delegation, said that corruption, insecurity, inequitable and problematic constitution have compounded the problems, stressing that  such ugly trend had continued to play negative impact on the progress of the country.
He said that the security situation of the country had continued to deteriorate; stressing that kidnapping for ransom had become rapidly blooming business as army of youths and unemployed swarm across villages and cities
by the Boko Haram. The massacres have become routine. It is not clear what government’s policy is towards Boko Haram. Is it dialogue or is it the use of force? It has become unconvincingly to call the terrorists faceless because recent developments show that they are known by our rulers”, he said.
Expressing disgust with the call on the president to dialogue with the Boko Haram as well as monetary compensation to their leaders and families, Gbonigi said it was akin to setting wrong standards and raising fundamental question as to whether every group needed to resort to violent acts against other citizens before they can attract government’s attention.
“There are groups in Nigeria today who believe that the mode of national revenue sharing is unfair to them, or that their part of the country is grossly marginalized, or that the constitution we operate is oppressive and disadvantageously constructed against them, or that it stifles their self realization and development. Must the government wait till all these groups mount their own insurgencies before it listens to them, and will it then proceed to have separate dialogues with each, accompanied by monetary compensation? If it is acceptable to dialogue with the Boko Haram, why can’t we have a dialogue that embraces all Nigerians once and for all, for all grievances to be expressed and mutual accommodation reached? Such a national dialogue is clearly what the nation needs, and is long overdue”, Gbonigi said
Among personalities from the three zones in attendance were Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Edwin Clark, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Bishop Emmanuel Gbonigi, Chief Gbenga Daniel, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Alabo Toye Graham-Douglas, Chief Ralph Obioha, Senator Rowland Owie, Chief Olu Falae, Dr. Walter Ofonagoro, Dr. Okwy Nwodo, Dr. Silas Iloh, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Senator Ofia Nwali, chief John Oyegun, Senator Syvester Ngele and Dr. Sam Egwu.