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Tag: Revealed

Revealed: How Council of State rejected polls shift

Opponents of postponement of the February 14 and 28 elections won a major battle yesterday, with the Council of State giving the green light for the exercise.

IndependentNational Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega insisted on going ahead with the general elections, stressing that the commission is better prepared than it was in 2011.

It was a major victory for INEC. Ex-Heads of State and Presidents lined up behind Jega and asked the nation to go ahead with the polls.

Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief Ernest Shonekan, and Gen. Yakubu Gowon supported the elections as scheduled.

•Governors Rotimi Amaechi (left); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Deputy Governor of Borno, Alhaji Zana Umar Mustafa…yesterday.

The overwhelming backing for the elections “caught President Goodluck Jonathan unawares”, a source at the meeting said.

He (Dr. Jonathan) accused All Progressives Congress (APC) governors of being partisan on a national issue.

According to the source at the over seven hours meeting at the Presidential Villa, Jega stood his ground that the polls will not be shifted.

The source said: “Jega told the leaders that INEC is ready for the polls better than 2011. He said all logistics had been put in place for a hitch-free exercise. He confirmed that all sensitive materials, such as ballot papers, and non-sensitive materials had been distributed.

“He said it was left for other agencies connected with the conduct of the elections to discharge their duties.

“On the distribution of PVCs, Jega disclosed that more than 50 per cent of the 68.83m had been collected. At a point when some people were hammering on PVCs, Jega retorted: ‘The PVCs are available but I cannot commandeer all the registered voters to go and collect their cards. I do not think that non-collection of PVCs will amount to disenfranchisement of voters.’

“Jega dismissed insinuations that the distribution of PVCs can affect the validity of any election. He gave example of Ekiti State where 750,000 PVCs were produced but only 350,000 PVCs were collected.

“He asked rhetorically: ‘Did the number of PVCs affect the validity of the poll? With more than 50 per cent of the PVCs collected, we can go ahead with the general election.’

Another source said: “As expected, Governors Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River) battled spiritedly to justify the need for the postponement.

“Babangida Aliyu appeared to be a lone ranger from the North as most governors from the region chose to keep quiet at the session. They neither spoke against nor in favour of the poll shift.

“But they were rebuffed by council members and all APC governors at the meeting who took time to explain the grave consequences of postponing the poll and how it can damage the nation’s reputation.”

A third source said the National Security Adviser Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) briefed the session on threats to the peaceful conduct of elections in some states.

Dasuki specifically isolated Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and Gombe states as flashpoints.

The source added: “Immediately Gombe was included, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo quickly countered that ‘Gombe State is not under security threat.

“At the end of the day, 14 local governments (nine in Borno, three in Adamawa and two in Yobe) were found to have been affected by the security challenges.

“Most members of the council asked why the nation cannot isolate the 14 local government areas.”

“At this stage, all the former Heads of State, except President Olusegun Obasanjo who was absent, spoke in favour of going ahead with the elections.”

The source quoted Gen. Babangida as saying: “With the report from the NSA, it is clear that only 14 out of the 774 local governments in the country(less than 5%) are under security threats. You cannot stop elections because of these areas.”

Other leaders, such as Gen. Abdulsalami, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari,Shagari, Shonekan, and Gen. Gowon asked the military and security agencies to “concentrate efforts at resolving the challenges in the affected local governments.”

It was gathered that Mimiko also attempted to raise issues on how President Jonathan’s life had been endangered in some states where he was stoned but he was cautioned against being too emotional and personal.

A fourth source, however, gave a graphic summary of the session, saying: “It was a bad day for those who wanted the elections shift.

“At a stage, the President attacked APC governors for being too partisan on a national matter. He spoke with a little bit of anxiety and tinge of anger.”

“The Council resolved that INEC should be left to go ahead with the decision it deems fit in the circumstance and in the best interest of the nation.”

At about 8pm, Jega began a meeting with National Commissioners on how to “sort things out”.

•Kano State Governor Musa Kwakwanso(left); his Kwara State counterpart AbdulFatah Ahmed and Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke…yesterday.

A top official said: “The INEC chairman convened the meeting to brief his team on what transpired at the Council of State meeting at the Presidential Villa.

“The meeting will also look at all the options available including the fate of the 14 local governments where the situation is still tense.”

As Jega was holding court at the INEC headquarters, President Jonathan also began a meeting with PDP governors.

“We are only meeting to review the outcome of the Council of State session and re-strategise accordingly,” said a governor.

What Council of State discussed, by APC Governors’ Forum

In a statement last night on the Council of State meeting’s outcome, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha explained what transpired.

“Members of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) are delighted at the conclusions of the Council of State Meeting as follows:

“Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) strike:

This is the internal affairs of states and all state governors who have issues with judicial staff are advised to engage the unions to resolve the issues as quickly as possible.

“Security and 2015 Elections:The Council of State reviewed the report from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Security Adviser (NSA) on the state of preparedness for the 14th and 28th February General Elections.

“The Chairman of INEC assured Council that INEC is ready to proceed with elections as scheduled emphasising that, “our accomplishments are to such a degree that we can conduct the elections. Compared with the 2011 General Elections, for instance, our systems are definitely more robust … We believe that we are ready for the elections as planned”.

“The NSA, however, drew the attention of Council to security challenges in fourteen (14) Local Government Areas (LGAs in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states 2:10:2 respectively.

“The overwhelming majority of Council members, including all former Heads of State and all former Chief Justices of the Federation agreed that the elections should proceed as scheduled on 14th and 28th of February, 2015. However, many of the PDP Governors insisted on postponement in spite of INEC’s assurances.”

February 6, 2015
Revealed: What Jonathan, Babangida discussed

President woos Emirs, leaders

Former military President Ibrahim Babangida made no commitment on the 2015 presidential poll to President Goodluck Jonathan at a meeting in Minna on Saturday, The Nation learnt yesterday.

Gen. Babangida only raised issues on how to keep the nation united during and after the general elections – contrary to the widespread insinuation that he endorsed Jonathan’s bid for another term.

Buoyed by the visit, Dr. Jonathan has started reaching out to key emirs and leaders of the North to back his re-election bid.

He may soon visit these leaders as part of his action plan to reduce the influence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

The details of the meeting between Jonathan and Gen. Babangida were revealed in Abuja by one of the key aides of the former military leader.

The talks between the two leaders in Minna created ripples in the North, with many highly-placed Northerners bombarding Gen. Babangida with calls on what actually transpired.

The aide, who was at Gen. Babangida’s Hilltop mansion when Jonathan visited, said the talks had nothing to do with the general elections.

The source said: “It is true that the President visited Gen. Babangida at his Minna Hilltop mansion but the nature of his message was based purely on unity of the country and not about 2015 presidential election.

“As a former president who fought for the unity of the country, he was of the view that the president needs support as President and not as presidential candidate per se.

“It is his view that the country needs to be united as one before we can begin to talk about election. Only a united Nigeria can guarantee credible election.”

According to the aide, who requested not to be named because he was not permitted to speak to the media, “What Gen. IBB said should be viewed within the context of the larger Nigeria interest and not that of any parochial interest that is likely to unsettle the system.

“Those of them who fought in the civil war to keep the country one understand the dynamics and challenges facing us now in the face of grave insecurity and poor economic realities,” he said.

Besides, said the aide, those criticising Gen. Babangida should take it easy as he belongs to the PDP “even as a nominal member.

“As a leader and former president who was privileged to preside over the affairs of the country and who also fought in the civil war, he will continue to speak the language of unification than that of division,” he said.

Gen. Babangida’s view, according to the aide is that as a President who is facing crises, Jonathan deserves the support of all to keep the country together, irrespective of all the manifest imperfections.

Jonathan is said to have started reaching out to top Emirs and leaders in the North to checkmate Gen. Buhari’s influence.

A source spoke of the battle between Jonathan and Gen. Buhari has shifting to the North, adding that has been consulting some prominent Emirs and leaders on why he should be given second term in office.

“The President, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, PDP governors, and leaders will be embarking on shuttles to some of these key Northern leaders for support.

“They are desperate to take the battle to Buhari’s stronghold but no one can say whether the President and the PDP can go far or not,” said the source.

Another source added: “Jonathan’s game plan is to split the North.

“This explains why Northern leaders were concerned about the President’s renewed interest in the North after he failed the region in many promises he made in 2011.”

December 29, 2014
Revealed: Governorship ambition, cabinet posts behind Ize-Iyamu’s exit from APC

Squabbles over the 2015 polls and cold calculations over Edo gubernatorial polls in 2016 are the principal reasons behind the exit of some chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Party(APC) last Monday.

Announcing their resignation, one- time Secretary to the Edo State Government, Pastor Osagie Ize- Iyamu, Abubakar Momoh (Reps member, Etsakor), Tony Omoaghe, Alhaji Shagadi and their supporters cited “manipulation of the recent election” and “lack of internal democracy” as their grouse.

Specifically, Ize- Iyamu said: The governor was being held hostage “by people who have no idea about how a party is run and how a party is managed.”

But checks by The Nation revealed that the party leaders were aggrieved over their inability to take control of the party structures to enhance their chances in the forthcoming general elections as we get close to the 2016 governorship polls in Edo State.

Momoh, who currently represents Etsakor in the House of Representatives, has signified his intention to vie for the party’s Senatorial ticket for Edo State. The office is currently occupied by Senator Domingo Obende.

Ize-Iyamu is believed to be eyeing Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s seat come 2016. He was the SSG to the Chief Lucky Igbinedion administration.

Before decamping Monday, Ize-Iyamu, it was gathered, listed the dissolution of the state executive council and allocation of eight portfolios to be occupied by his nominees as condition to remain in the party.

Oshiomhole, according to a top APC chieftain who attended the last “peace meeting” in Benin City, refused to accede to Ize-Iyamu’s demand.

Said the source: ”These guys are simply too consumed by their ambition. Abubakar Momoh is unhappy with Comrade because the governor does share the sentiment that Etsakor should not produce governor as well as the Senator for Edo North.”

Obende is of Akoko Edo extraction while the incumbent SSG, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, who is eyeing the ticket, is of Owan extraction. Oshiomhole is Etsakor.

“On the other hand, Omoaghe, who was an unpopular factional chairman of the PDP in the Igbinedion years, now wanted to be made the state chairman of the APC by all means. He told Oshiomhole point- blank to deliver the post to him as his own form of settlement.

“Apart from his demand of eight plum cabinet posts, Pastor (Ize-lyamu) also wanted the Comrade Governor to ensure he takes over the party structures in Edo South which accounts for close to 60 per cent of Edo voters. The man is simply too obsessed with his ambition to succeed Oshiomhole by all means.

“Left to some of us, the governor should not be sitting with these political traitors . But Comrade Oshiomhole seemed to believe he could still win them over even when Ize- lyamu continually exhibited bad faith.

“The meeting was supposed to be the last- ditch effort by a mutual friend to reconcile Comrade Governor and Pastor after they (Ize – Iyamu and co) went to Abuja to wine and dine with President Goodluck Jonathan and Chief Tony Anenih.”

Interestingly, cracks appeared in the Ize -Iyamu camp on Thursday when Elder Igbinanke, earlier listed among the decampees on Monday, came out to disown the Ize- Iyamu group. Igbinanke, a notable politician in Ovia North East APC, explained that they were tricked into attending the Monday meeting.

“We were told we were going to discuss the issues of the party congress. They asked us to put down our names. Little did we know that the attendance list would be tendered as proof that we are in support of decamping. It was a dirty trick. I hereby disown Ize- lyamu and co. I remain in APC and loyal to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.”

May 10, 2014
Revealed: Why Boko Haram is keeping 234 abducted girls

The Islamist sect, Boko Haram, is believed to be desperate to use over 100 students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State it abducted last week as human shield, as plan to rescue them by the military intensifies.

The National Security Council at its expanded meeting on Thursday gave the military a marching order to rescue the girls.

The military operation is being co-ordinated by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who has been shuttling between Abuja and Maiduguri in the last one week.

The Nation gathered yesterday that the armed forces are taking maximum caution in handling the situation with a view to saving the lives of the girls.

“Intelligence report confirmed that Boko Haram found it strategic to keep the girls to save their camps from bombardment by troops,” a highly placed source said.

Troops are understood to be advancing on the area where the girls are being kept.

The source said: “From available security reports, troops are around the axis where the abducted girls are being held hostage.

“Details of the exact location cannot be made public.

“Even the submissions of the service chiefs at the security council meeting were tactical for operational reasons.

“The military was trying to avoid collateral damage because the affected area is bigger. It is as big as the whole of Ikeja, Lagos.”

The military and the Borno State Government are not saying much for fear that Boko Haram with its widespread cells might pick up sensitive information.

A high-powered tactical team was, on Tuesday, dispatched to Borno State by Air Chief Marshall Badeh to boost the morale of troops assigned to liberate the abducted girls.

The team returned to Abuja on Thursday night.

Another source added: “The team went to give moral and psychological support to the troops to enable them meet the expectations of Nigerians to rescue the girls.

“Comprising some Generals in the Armed Forces, the team also shared technical information with the troops to accomplish the mission.”

It was also learnt that plan by aggrieved women in Borno State to go into Sambisa Forest to look for the abducted girls may not work.

A government source said: “No one will allow these women to go into the forest. These women will also not attempt it because of the delicate nature of the terrain.”

More facts also emerged yesterday on the confrontation between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State at the Security Council meeting over the governor’s controversial letter on the state of insecurity in the Northeast.

Two versions of the drama on Nyako’s toxic letter to Northern governors were relayed to our correspondent last night by sources at the meeting.

One of the source said: “When President Goodluck Jonathan raised the matter on the agenda, Nyako said he holds the President in high esteem and would not do anything to undermine his office.

“The governor also said ‘Mr. President, you are a good man, but you have some people around you that are bad.’

“The President was not carried away by Nyako’s sentiments and he asked the governor to address the issues in the letter. He asked Nyako to read the letter to the council.

“Nyako owned up to the contents of the letter and read it without any remorse. Like a school boy, he stood up to read the letter.

“After the reading session, the President asked Nyako: What do you have to say? While still on his feet, Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and Martin Elechi (Ebonyi) descended him.”

An unperturbed Nyako refused to apologize even though most of the governors disapproved of his letter.

The Northern governors were shocked that Nyako did not back up his claim with any intelligence fact.

Another source said: “It was true that Nyako initially went cyclical praising the President who was unmoved by his U-turn.

“At a point, the President attempted to read the letter and when he was trying to shuffle through it.

“In a brave manner, the Adamawa State Governor sought the indulgence of the President to read the letter to the hearing of the council members.

“But Nyako could actually not defend the contents of the letter. Or, maybe as a former Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, he knew too much and he did not want to divulge it at the session.

“His reluctance led to some scathing remarks from some governors who took exception to certain information in the letter.

“At the end, Nyako had no regrets. He even created a mild sensation when he refused to sit besides a South-East governor. This was what happened. We were not happy, but I think we have successfully thrashed the issue.”

April 26, 2014
Revealed: How sound heals

The Managing Director, Pax Herbals Products and Research Laboratory, Ewu Ishan, Edo State, Rev. Father Adodo, answers the first question. The CEO, Health Forever Product Limited, Olajuwon Okubena, writes on the second.

There is healing power in the sound you hear. The world was created through sound. The world can be understood only through sound. Sound is the master key to unraveling nature’s mystery.

For the Traditional African, the drum is the carrier of the Word, the primordial sacred sound by which the world came into being. The drum is to the Traditional African what the Bible is to the Christian. The drum is the supreme symbol of God’s incarnation, of God among us, Logos. It is the sacrament of the divine in the human, of spirit in matter, Sacred in the profane. Sound, for the African, is an emotive and creative force. We see this even in the infant responding to the lullabies of the mother, or of the snake or praying mantis swinging to the vibration of the sound, or of the monkey swaying to tune. Through the medium of sound, the African is able to evoke and manipulate potent psychic forces.

In Yoruba language, there is a clear distinction between mere spoken words and potent speech. The former is called oro, common words used in conversation. The latter is called Ofo. The Hebrew equivalent is Dahbar, while the Greek is Logos. Ofo refers to words, which have the power of becoming an event in life simply by being uttered. When an Ofo is uttered, it goes to actualise itself. This power of making events happen through utterance is what Yorubas call Afose. Fo means speak or utter with force. Se means to come to be, to make to happen: A-fo-se. When you remove the Fo, what you have is Ase. The Hebrew equivalent of Ase is Mi-sewah, which means commandment, incantation or authority. To give somebody Ase is to give him/her authority, power, force. In Igbo tradition, the Ofo is religious authority. The man who holds the Ofo is highly respected and feared, for whatever he says while holding the Ofo stick in his hand becomes Ase, potent psychic force, power, command, more powerful than gun shots.

When sound is organised into rhythm, it is called music. Music is a powerful tool. No one can resist the lure of music. Over the years scientists and mystics alike have researched deeply into the place of music in human life. The conclusion is that music is indispensable to promoting physical, emotional and spiritual health. It is scientifically proved that music influences the circulation of blood pressure to rise and fall. We now know that variations in blood circulation depend on the pitch, intensity and timbre of the sound around us. Music increases metabolism, directs muscular energy, increases or decreases respiration, controls blood pressure and influence emotions.

In some American companies, it is customary to have cool and gentle music played throughout working hours on s

ome working days. The managers of these companies noted that workers work with better concentration and productivity on these music days while lower productivity are recorded on days when no music is played. Clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and metaphysicians know how important music is to health.

Our environment has been polluted not just with toxic wastes but also with unhealthy noise. We could hardly listen to pure sound. The music played in our churches is nothing more than cacophonies of organs, guitars and jazz bands, which give immediate gratification but does not satisfy.

Go off to the riverbank, to the forest, to the valley, away from the noise of television, radio, and could sit still in a secluded place and listen to your heartbeat, your breath and your circulation. You would note that your body is governed by a certain rhythm. Music permeates your being. You are nothing but music. The body is a living entity, an intelligent being with its own laws. The wisdom of the cosmos is reflected in the body. The body is a musical composition. The different forms of sound: the human voice, sound of nature, sound of music, carry waves for certain kinds of energy, which they impress on us.

If these energies are negative, we become sick. If positive, we become harmonious. It is no wonder that today many people are sick. Medical examinations always reveal that nothing is wrong with them; yet, they feel tired, weak and sickly continually. Such people need a physician who would help them to discover and maintain a triangular equilibrium of their energies.

When sound is sustained, the vibration begins to create a corresponding pattern. This pattern is reflected in the mood and behaviour of people present. Sound affects the pulse, breath, blood pressure, body temperature and muscles and tissues of the listeners. Even if the ears do not perceive the sound, the skin and bone pick up the vibration and transfer it into the system. No one can make him/herself immune to the influence of sound. This applies to humans, animals and plants. Animals such as frogs, lizards, snakes, rabbits and snails are very sensitive to music. Even though snakes have no ears, they can perceive the vibration of sound through the skin.

Modern men and women need to re-discover the value of silence. It is only in silence that real communication can take place. True enough, we are in the age of information. But what we have is much information with little communication, because everyone is talking while no one listens. It is only when we learn to be silent that we can hear the creative Sound of creation, restoring us to harmony, peace and contentment, values that no money can buy.

August 1, 2013