BAGA:US,ACN seek probe of rights violators

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru,

• DHQ officials visit Baga, start probe into killings

Onwuka Nzeshi, Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Damilola Oyedele and Michael Olugbode 

The United States has called on the federal government to ensure that all human rights violators in the process of dealing with the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria are made to face justice.

US Secretary of State, John Kerry, during a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, at the State Department in Washington, yesterday expressed concern at the abuse of human rights and extra-judicial killings that have accompanied the fight to stop Boko Haram.

Kerry spoke against the backdrop of the widespread condemnations that have trailed the report that about 190 people were killed last week in a gun duel between the Islamic militants and troops of the Multinational Task Force (MTF) in Baga, Borno State.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) also called for a probe into the allegations that foreign troops were involved in the killings at Baga, where military chiefs visited yesterday in a bid by the government to determine the death toll in the incident that has been put at between 36 and 190 by the MTF and other sources.

To stem the tide of the humanitarian crisis caused by the Baga clash, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigeria Red Cross have set up camps in the community to assist in the resettlement of the residents.

However, amid the calls for a probe into the Baga killings, the House of Representatives also Thursday passed a resolution asking the federal government to construct a perimeter fence across Nigeria's borders with neighbouring countries in a bid to tackle the growing insecurity in the country occasioned by terrorist attacks by Boko Haram.

The House passed the resolution on a day security agencies accused gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram of killing no fewer than 11 persons, including six policemen, in attacks on two towns in Borno and Yobe States.

According to a statement from the Nigerian Embassy in the US, Kerry, during his meeting with Ashiru, harped on the need for Nigeria to ensure that civilian population and innocent neighbours of Boko Haram members are not made to suffer bodily injuries, loss of lives and property in the anti-terror war. 

He also expressed hope that the 2015 elections for which preparations are already being made, would be a remarkable improvement on those of 2011.

He expressed concern at the recent pardon granted some former high profile convicts and also urged that democratic and human rights protection institutions are strengthened through constant upholding of the rule of law.

Ashiru, in his remarks, assured Kerry that Nigeria was taking adequate steps to protect the civilian population in the terror-prone north.

He added that the government was making efforts to open up areas for economic development and generating employment, especially in northern Nigeria, as a long term strategy to eradicate the susceptibility of the population to easy recruitment into Boko Haram.

“He (Ashiru) reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to democracy, human rights, nuclear non-proliferation, consultation as a means of preventing and resolving conflicts and thereby ensuring peace and stability in the global hemisphere,” the statement said.

Defending the pardon granted some ex-convicts, he explained that it would not reduce Nigeria's commitment to the anti-corruption fight, giving the assurance that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would continue to prosecute all those involved in oil subsidy scandals and other forms of corruption.

Other matters discussed at the meeting included Nigeria's bid to diversify its economy and reduce the reliance on oil, as well as Mali.

Both parties agreed to hold outstanding meetings of the Bi-National Commission, which remains an effective framework for implementing the strategic global and regional objectives of both countries.

As criticisms continued to trail the Baga killings, ACN has urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to probe the alleged massacre of civilians.

It also called on the National Assembly to investigate how troops from foreign countries became part of the task force now battling the insurgents in the north.

The party said the killing of people, mostly women and children, in Baga might constitute crimes against humanity for which the attention of the ICC would be needed, especially because the federal government was either unwilling or unable to prosecute those involved.

In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said beyond the call for the judicial commission of inquiry into the Baga massacre, leaders under whose watch the killings were perpetrated should be held to account.

Reacting to the ACN’s statement, the presidency last night wondered why the party must “play politics with everything.”

In a statement by the president’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Dr. Rueben Abati, the presidency said: “Reducing the Baga incident to another opportunity for name-calling and the politics of blame and abuse is irresponsible to say the least.

“In no manner can President Goodluck Jonathan be accused of having incited the security agencies or the insurgents against the people of Baga during his visit to Yobe and Borno States. To make such an allegation is preposterous and insulting.”

Abati warned that for promoters of the aphorism that a lie when reported too often may begin to sound like the truth, they must begin to realise that they cannot fool the people all the time. 

He stated that the president had ordered an investigation into the incident in Baga and has publicly condemned it, “including clear assurances that whoever is found behind the incident will be sanctioned accordingly, and where rules of engagement have been violated, appropriate cause of action will be taken.”

Abati further expressed surprise that the ACN spokesman was ignorant of the MTF that was set up under the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin Commission to ensure security along the joint borders, involving Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroun.

“He could simply have done a little research to know this. Having failed to do so, I recommend that simple exercise to him now and always, as a reality check before he makes his usual wild and incorrect allegations,” he said.

As part of efforts to unravel how many people were killed in Baga, top officials of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday visited the town to start an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

The leader of the team, who is also the Chief of Training and Operations, DHQ, Major-General Lawrence Ngubani, while on a courtesy call on Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, said the committee was mandated to find out the veracity or otherwise of the casualty figures as widely reported by the local and international media.

According to Ngubani, the committee was constituted at the instance of the Chief of Defence Staff, (CDS), Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, due to the global outcry that greeted the incident.

The military chief added that the latest preliminary assessment proved that the casualty figures being reported were far from the truth, and were actually exaggerated.

“The assessment team visited Baga town and had audience with the victims and other relevant persons. We visited two separate graveyards where the victims were purportedly buried.

“What we saw was extremely below what was reported. However, we are not undermining the death of a single Nigerian, in fact it is a great loss to the nation,” he added.

Shettima regretted the Baga killings, saying the number of the victims should not be of great concern now since the deed had been done.

“The time for who to be blamed for the incident should not be an issue for now, rather we should all concentrate on how best to restore peace and normalcy,” he said.

But the death toll from Boko Haram attacks in the North-east, which has become the epicentre of terror activities, rose further yesterday as gunmen linked to the Islamic militants killed no fewer than 11 persons, including six policemen, in two attacks on Gashua, Yobe State and Bama in Borno State.

A statement from the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Damaturu said the Islamic militants, in the wee hours of yesterday, attacked JTF location in Gashua town, the Police Area Command and Gashua Divisional Police Station.

But JTF spokesman, Lt. Eli Lazarus, said troops deployed in the town were able to repel the attack, adding that two police officers were killed in the attack, while five of the suspected terrorists also lost their lives.

He said some of the suspected terrorists escaped in two vehicles with injuries, while others are believed to still be in the town.

He explained that security agents recovered a Toyota Corolla car, a Peugeot 406 saloon car, an Isuzu van, one AK47 rifle, a police riot gun, a locally-made pistol, a rocket propelled grenade (RPG), a generating set and a large quantity of ammunition.

Following the attack, the Yobe State Government has imposed a   curfew from 7 am to 1 pm on Gashua town to allow security agents comb the area for the terrorists.

Boko Haram members were also suspected of being behind the attack on Bama in which four policemen were killed while several houses were torched.

Security sources and residents of the town said the attack led to many residents fleeing the town.

It was also gathered that the gunmen attempted to kill the divisional police officer (DPO) of the town who was lucky to escape with bullet injuries.

Sources told journalists that several houses around the police divisional headquarters in the town were torched during the shootout between the gunmen and security forces.

A civil servant in Maiduguri, who identified himself as Muhammed Ali, and whose family lives in Bama, said he received a distress call from his wife that their house had been torched.

A top security source, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the killing of two

policemen but declined comments on possible civilian casualties.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Gideon Jubrin, who also confirmed the attack on the town, also failed to disclose the number of casualties.

Meanwhile, NEMA and the Nigeria Red Cross have set up camps in Baga for those displaced by the attack on the town, during which about 10,000 people are said to have lost their homes and livelihoods.

As part of steps to reduce the sufferings of the people, NEMA has also started the distribution of relief materials to them.

Materials distributed included food items, mats, cloths and toiletries while those who needed medical attention were treated.

Also thursday, the House of Representatives passed a resolution asking the federal government to construct a perimeter fence across the nation’s borders with neighbouring countries as a way of checking the insecurity in the country.

It mandated its Committee on Interior to liaise with the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to explore the possibility of constructing the fence to properly demarcate the borders and check the indiscriminate influx of illegal aliens, whom security agencies have identified as recruits of the terrorist group into the country.

The House, after considering a motion sponsored by Hon. Hassan Saleh (PDP/Benue) in which the lawmaker drew the attention of the parliament to the porous nature of Nigerian borders with other countries, proposed that the fence should be equipped with sensors and cameras to track illegal migrants.

This, the lawmakers added, would help NIS have proper statistics of persons going in and out of the country.

FG gives BOKO haram amnesty committee 90 days deadline

• Jonathan says Baga culprits ’ll be brought to book

From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, Abuja

The Federal Government has given the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, chaired by the Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, 90 days to carry out its assignment.

The government said the Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons, chaired by Ambassador Emmanuel Imohe, was a standing committee that could be dissolved at any time the government felt its assignment was done.

This was even as the Federal Government assured Nigerians, the United Nations and the international community that the culprits involved in the clash between the North-East Joint Border Security Task Force (JB-STF) and Boko Haram insurgents, that left close to 200 people dead would be brought to book at the end of investigations that had been ordered.

President Goodluck Jonathan said this yesterday at the inauguration of both committees at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Also, the president, who tactically took a swipe at both Dr. Datti Ahmed and Shehu Sanni who rejected membership of the Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, commended those who accepted to work for the country despite not being consulted before hand, adding that it showed their commitment and preparedness to serve the nation and play their part in stabilizing the nation.

The president, while noting that Nigerians were expecting the committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North to perform magic, prayed God to grant them wisdom to do so. He said: “Without peace, we can’t develop no matter how committed we are.

Without peace, we cannot progress as a nation.” President Jonathan said the establishment of the committee was to re-affirm the readiness and commitment of his administration to bringing the spate of violence and insecurity that had been witnessed in many decades in the country to an end.

Speaking on the reason the Small Arms and Light Weapons Committee was set up, President Jonathan said it was in keeping with the promise he made at the United Nations, African Union and other platforms to check the influx of small arms and light weapons, saying that its effect was as devastating as drug trafficking.

He accused the manufacturers of small arms and light weapons of being responsible for the current instability on the African continent, adding that, “they are not doing good to the world.

The effect is as bad as the production and distribution of drugs because what the thrills of small arms and light weapons is creating, I believe, is even more devastating than that of drugs.

Without the free flow of small arms and light weapons, even the war against drug trafficking would have been easier in the states. “So we use this opportunity to urge the United Nations again to come up with a comprehensive approach to the control of small arms and light weapons.”

President Jonathan emphasized that the committee was not a task force set out to enforce rules and regulations but to provide government with the necessary advice to mitigate the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

He said there were departments that were responsible for enforcing rules and regulations, saying they could only succeed if supported by the proper advice and international linkages.

In his response, the Chairman, Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, said President Jonathan had by inaugurating the committee demonstrated his genuine desire to end the security challenges in the country.

The Chairman of the 26-man Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North is the Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.

Members are Sheik Ahmed Lemu (representative of Northern Elders Forum); Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Col. Musa Shehu (retd.) (Representative of Arewa Consultative Forum); Sheik Abubakar Tureta and Aisha Wakil, a lawyer who replaced Shehu Sani.

Also on the committee are Senator Sodangi Abubakar, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim (representative of Northern Governors’ Forum); Bikilsu Yusuf (who replaced Dr. Datti Ahmed); Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed, Malam Adamu S. Ladan, Dr. Joseph Golwa (Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution – IPCR); AVM A. I. Shehu, Mr. Raymond I. Nkemdirim, DIG P. I. Leha, Prof. Nur Alkali (representative of Bornu Elders Forum) and Malam Salihu Abubakar.

Others are Alhaji Abubakar Sani Lugga, Ibrahim Tahir, a lawyer; Brig General Ibrahim Sabo, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda, Group Captain Bilal Bulama (retd.), Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi and a representative of the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) will act as secretary.

The Chairman for the 17-man Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons is Ambassador Emmanuel Imohe.

Members are Ambassador Martin I. Uhomoibhi, Ambassador T. D. Hart, Ambassador Ghali Umar, Ambassador B. G. Wakil and Mr. Opelusi Olureti, representative of Ministry of Interior, representative of National Security Adviser (NSA), representative of director general (SSS), representative of NIA, representative of Federal Ministry of Justice, representative of Ministry of Defence and representative of DIA.

Also in the committee are representative of the Nigeria Police Force, representative of the Nigerian Customs Service; representative of OSGF and director, International Organisations Dept (MFA) will act as secretary of the committee.

BOKO HARAM amnesty. Why we made U-turn, by Jonathan

By SAM OTTI

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, gave reasons yesterday the Jonathan administration reversed its earlier position not to grant amnesty to the Islamist sect, Boko Haram. He said President Goodluck Jonathan had to bow to pressure from notable personalities from the North, who pleaded for an amnesty deal to stop further killings by the sect. Okupe gave the explanation during a visit to the corporate headquarters of The Sun Publishing Ltd in Lagos.

He was accompanied by the Special Assistant to the President on Public Relations, Dr Olusanya Amosan, the Director, Digital and Social Media, Churchhill Umoren, the Director, Media, Bamidele Salam and the Publicity Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Lagos State, Taofik Gani. Okupe, who led the team, was received by the company’s Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Femi Adesina and other management staff including the Editor, Saturday Sun, Onuoha Ukeh, the Editor, Sunday Sun, Funke Egbemode, the Editor, Magazine, Sola Osunkeye and the Deputy Editor, Daily, Femi Adeoti. Okupe extolled The Sun as a frontline newspaper in the country, describing its titles as rich in content.

He said the company has become a national pride, adding that the products are impressive. On the dramatic reversal of the Federal Government ‘s stance on amnesty, he said the President acceded to pleadings from the leadership of the North, who recommended the deal to curtail insurgent attacks in the region. He described Jonathan as God-sent, noting that he prized the safety and well-being of every Nigerian above his personal ego and interest. “President Goodluck Jonathan, take my word for it, is the best option for Nigeria at this time. Goodluck Jonathan is the best option for this time and for this season. God does not make mistakes. God knows that we will go through these difficulties and challenges. If we didn’t have a man at the saddle of affairs in this season, only God knows what would have happened to the country.

“Goodluck behaves in Christ-like manner, taking the sins of others on your head, accepting them and moving on as if nothing has happened. The President is a caring man. The President, even though he did not believe in amnesty for Boko Haram because they were not known, not well-identified. But when the entire region, the political leadership, the traditional leadership, the social leadership of the entire North came and insisted on amnesty, they found a listening ear in Goodluck Jonathan.

This is a caring person that places the love and well-being of every Nigerian over and above his personal rationalisation,” he said. Okupe said Jonathan had not hired ‘ghost catchers’ to arrest the Boko Haram faceless members, noting that the President acted like a statesman by acquiescing with the leaders of the region to fashion out a peace plan. He said the huge sums of money expended on interventions to curtail this silent war would have been better spent on job creation, social services and infrastructure. Okupe, who wore a white caftan and black cap, expressed pity for Jonathan, whom he said had to live with a maze of uncertainties beclouding the nation. He said Jonathan was ushered into power when half of the populace were hostile and the opposition increasingly vociferous.

“Apart from the time of civil war, this is an unparallel period in our history. Sometimes, if you are spiritual, you would begin to wonder if there was a major issue or not. Killings, deaths and bloodshed everywhere! If you are the President and you carry such a burden, you will be totally destabilised. The President has to live with the anticipation and fear of where they would bomb tomorrow, how many people would be killed tonight, it is difficult to even remain focused. I actually feel sorry for him. He is a strong person,” he said. Okupe noted that some people openly decimate and desecrate the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria before foreign countries, describing such disparaging comments as unpatriotic and unbecoming of an elder statesman.

He accused the opposition of spearheading activities capable of destroying the country. He said highly dependable sources have revealed how the opposition spend millions of ill-gotten dollars on lobbyists to malign the Jonathan administration and entrench western contempt. Okupe denied having any personal issues with General Muhammad Buhari. He condemned the comments credited to the former military leader which blamed Jonathan for the Boko Haram insurgency, accusing him of being unfair to Mr President. “General Buhari consistently wants the Nigerian people to believe that anything that is wrong in the country is Jonathan. He is one of those enforcing the idea of ineptitude, It is a fallacy.

It is not correct, if you talk about governance on issue-based matters, we will take you up on that. But if you disparage my principal, I am sorry, I cannot take that,” he said. Okupe also knocked opposition parties, challenging the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to present its score card for public scrutiny. He said the party has nothing to show in Lagos State, in spite of the 12 years of its leadership. He said the party was defective in performance, wearing tattered shirts to mask its over-bloated ego. He also laughed off the threat of the merger party, All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the coalition as a bunch of ‘political first-timers’, ‘political Lilliputians’ and ‘pretenders to the throne.’

While welcoming the guests, Adesina said The Sun is printing simultaneously from its three plants in Lagos, Abuja and Aba to serve the markets efficiently. He promised that the organization would not renege on its mandate to serve Nigerians better, describing the various titles as ‘a reliable vehicle’ to reach millions of people in the country.

Kogi council polls: fear of imposition of candidates threatens PDP

From EMMANUEL ADEYEMI, Lokoja

Palpable apprehension now hangs over the conduct of the May 4, 2013 council polls in Kogi State, as members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state are now leaving the party in droves.

This is because the party primary, which took place recently,  ended on a sour note with reports of imposition of candidates, alleged display of bias by PDP electoral officers  and hijacking of ballot boxes.

Political watchers believe that the outcome of the forthcoming poll  may either tear the  PDP in the state into shreds or make it much stronger.

Investigations show that strong pillars of the party in almost all the 21 councils in the state are considering jettisoning the party and are romancing with the yet to be registered All Peoples Congress (APC).

Aside from some current political office holders in Governor Idris Wada’s administration, who are already holding clandestine meetings with the APC, some PDP bigwigs, who felt short changed in the current dispensation may be on their way out of the PDP, it was learnt.

Such people may include the former acting governor, Clarence Olafemi, the running mate to PDP governorship candidate Isah Echo, who is said to have been sidelined by the deputy governor, Yomi Awoniyi, in his Mopamuro council.

Also, former commissioner for Finance, Abiodun Ojo, and close associate of ex- governor Ibrahim Idris, whose word is law in Ijumu Local Government Area, is said to have had his influence seriously whittled down by Senator Smart Adeyemi, who is calling the shots in the area.

Similarly, sources close to a member, representing Ajaokuta Federal Counstituency, Mohammed Sadiq, insist that he may have instructed his supporters to work against the PDP chairmanship candidate in his council.

Indeed, Daily Sun gathered that a sizeable number of PDP stalwarts in all the three senatorial districts in the state are on their way out of the party, if serious reconcilliation meetings are not called.

It was gathered that based on squabbles that were generated in the heat of the party  primary, the state governor, Mr. Idris Wada, called a meeting of the party stakeholders in the state and pleaded with aggrieved members to close ranks.

He  told them that contrary to the rumours, flying round the state, he had no annointed candidate for the council poll.

But critics say, Wada’s  statement was a mere cosmetic approach  aimed at deceiving the electorate and portraying him as a saint.

They insist that the  unfolding events are enough pointer  to the fact that Wada is just a mere tool in the hands of the former governor, Alh Ibrahim Idris, who has a domineering influence on the laters administration.

It is the  belief that though Wada is at the driver’s seat, the real hand behind the car steering is that of Ibrahim Idris, who is rumoured to be dictating what happens.

A PDP stalwart in Olamaboro local government area. Chief Jonah Odogu told Daily Sun that if you need a political position either appointive or elective, as far as such person has the consent of the ex governor, the deal is considered done.”

In the last party primary, investigations revealed that the former governor personally annointed no fewer than 18 of the 21 chairmanship candidates with only one of the candidates from Omalla, in the person of Aminu Atabo  losing out.

It was also learnt that Atabo lost out due to persistent arrogance to party elders.

Even Wada reportedly had no say in who becomes the chairman of his own local government as the ex governor’s annointed  candidate, Mohammed Ali scaled through inspite of mass  protests by people.

“Wada is very weak when it comes to party matters, and even sensitive state matters. He has to consult Ibro, his godfather because he doesn’t want to offend him,” said a source.

However, Wada’s supporters say the governor’s seeming complacency should not be taken as weakness, as he is only exhibiting restraints.

Meanwhile reports say Dekina people are now revolting against the imposition of  Alli, a 25 year old who was a special assistant to the ex governor because they alleged he is too young and also hails from  Bassa local government area.

Fears are rife that there may be protest votes as the PDP stalwarts in the area are now backing one Benjamin Ikani who is the Action Congress of Nigeria ACN. Chairmanship candidate

Aside from Dekina council, investigations show that imposition of candidates are more pronounced in Bassa, Igalame-odolu, Olamaboro, Kotonkarfi, Mopamuro and Ofu local councils, among others.

Apart from the alleged role of the former governor, the last primary was also said to be characterized by irregularities, as the PDP. State executive members openly took sides with aspirants who could afford to induce them with money.

The Kogi west PDP chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed Balga was even openly beaten and his clothes turn into shreds by alleged supporters of a chairmanship aspirant in Lokoja local government area. When confronted separately on the issue, both Salau and Balga however denied the allegations

Another matter that may constitute a hidrance to the smooth conduct of the local government poll in the state is   the cry of the opposition  over the credibility and non partisanship of the members of the State Independent Electoral Commission SIEC.

They specifically claim that the chairman of KOSIEC, Mr Abaraham Olaniran is a card carrying member of PDP who contested for the House of Assembly election in 2007

According to the opposition, there can not be free, fair, and credible election under the current SIEC leadership even as they call for Olaniran,s immediate removal.

The government is however turning deaf ear to the opposition’s allegation

A source close to KOSIEC said the electoral body is now recruiting members of PDP at the ward level to be fielded as Adhoc staff and electoral officers in the forthcoming council poll.

But the problem with Kogi state is that the state is lacking virile opposition such that the ruling party will always have it’s way.

Except the ACN which occasionally criticises the PDP led government in the State, other opposition parties are almost non existent.

On what is likely to be the expectations in the forthcoming poll, one of the aggrieved chairmanship aspirants, Mohammed Umar from Bassa Local Council told Daily Sun that  most of those who felt short changed in the last PDP primaries are now considering the option of joining the ACN along with their godfathers and supporters to realize their ambitions

In his words” we are ready to leave the PDP enmasse for ACN. Those who think they can impose candidates on the masses  should continue, we are only waiting for the registration of APC to give PDP in the state, stone for stone, pebble for pebble” he said.

But if the election is conducted under the current  SIEC  leadership in the state, it remained to be seen how far the opposition can go.

42 million Nigerians are jobless-investigation

From IKENNA EMEWU, Abuja

Reliable data from Federal Government sources have shown that the nation has been in uninterrupted mess over unemployment in the past 14 years. With data from the National Bureau of Statistics available to Daily Sun, we can authoritatively reveal that between 1999 and 2011, the nation witnessed a sharp drop in the employment ratio by 15.7 percent. Unfortunately, in the 12 years data obtained, there was no increase or improvement in any year in the years reviewed.

Whereas the nation, from the document, had an unemployment ratio of 8.2 percent in 1999, it plummeted to 13.1 percent the following year, a sharp decline of about five percent. Request About the first week of February, Daily Sun had written the Bureau and the Ministry of Labour and Productivity to obtain from them authentic and official documents on jobs creation and losses in the country since 2005.

After very long and rigorous delays, Daily Sun incidentally got a copy of the document from the Bureau with startling figures on the dwindling fortunes of the nation’s economy as depicted by the unemployment rate and the steady decline to worse situations in the past four years. The Labour Ministry has, however, not found it worthy to give any reply to our request. What looked like a reply was a text message a very senior officer of the ministry sent indicating subtly that the ministry had no such data.

He sent a message that the request did not get to him, although at the point of submission at the office, the letter was duly acknowledged. But he later added in verbal communication on phone, the off-the-record style, that he was not sure the ministry had any such document and that should be the reason the receivers of the letter since early February refused to give any form of reply. Ironically, the years sampled had been the ones in which Nigeria had experimented in democracy.

Under reported However, while the data from the Bureau remains the official figure, some other sources available to us indicate the Bureau must have underestimated or under reported the development. In March 2009, the World Bank published a document that Nigeria had about 40 million jobless citizens. The report put the percentage of joblessness at 28.57. In the same 2009, contrary to World Bank records, the Bureau stated that the unemployment ratio was 19.7percent.

The admittance of the FG that the World Bank record was authentic through the Labour Ministry in the same month of publication was a popular media issue that was widely reported. Based on the corroboration by the FG and the fact that between 2009 and 2011, the rate dropped to 23.9percent, according to the Bureau data, that implies simultaneously that the 5percent percent drop adopted in the World Bank’s figure within the period means the actual unemployment rate would be about 32.77percent, some 42 million persons in raw figure as at 2011.

Worst season The next terrible season of the crisis was between 1999 and 2000 when the unemployment ratio declined from 8.2percent to 13.1poercent, almost 5percent in one year. Another bad era was between 2008 and 2011 at a decline ratio of 9.0percent, from 14.9percent to 23.9percent. The facts also showed that the only year Nigeria had single digit unemployment ratio in the years reviewed was 1999. While the best in the employment rate remains 1999, the worst is 2011. And on the gender analysis aspect, women are worse off than men.

The unemployment rate for the women in the years is 23.5percent while men have 19.6percent. But on age group, the bracket between 15 and 24 are the worst affected of the four sub-orders. The age bracket of the population sampled is between 15 and 64. Education factor The Statistics Bureau data also indicated that educational level was a major factor that affected or influenced access to employment. The data grouped persons exposed to unemployment into 10 sub-groups ranging from those that have no formal education, those below primary education qualification and the employable population with doctorate qualification.

The doctorate caliber has unemployment rate of 19.6percent, master’s degree level has 20.1percent, first degree has 23.1percent and same with OND, NCE cadre while SSS level has 23.9 and primary school certificate qualification has 21.8percent. States At the states breakdown, Oyo and Osun states have the most favourable figure of unemployment, while the next to them is Anambra. Although Lagos maintained a good showing considering the pressure on it by graduates for job, it had one of the worst cases of all the states in 2010 with an alarming 36.5percent. But the worst affected of the states is Zamfara that sustained very high double-digit rate in all the 12 years.

Whereas Oyo and Osun in one year, 2008, hit below one percent ratio, Zamfara’s best year was 13.3percent in 2009 and its worst and in fact the worst for all the states and all the years was in 2003 with alarming 71.5percent joblessness rate. Another state that reaped very bleak returns just next to Zamfara was Taraba State. As the states suffered bad days in employment between 2007 and 2011 when almost all the figures came in double digits, only Benue had bright four straight years between 2007 and 2010 where the rate remained consistently at single digit. It had the best year in 2010 with a rate of 6.0percent and the worst in the four years in 2009 with 8.5percent joblessness.

Within 2007 and 2011, about 95percent of the states faced their worst season and hit double figures. The FTC also had a bad showing all through with the worst year in 2007 when it had 46.8percent joblessness. The next year, there was a sharp drop to 8.7percent. Its overall best was in year 2000 when the FCT unemployment rate was 3.9percent. However, the worst affected state in the South of the nation was Cross River State. It maintained high double-digit ratio in eight of the 12 years sampled. But at the national level, there was no interruption in the steady decline since 1999.

Cruel: woman sells twins for 4million naira

From PAUL OSUYI, Asaba

Five suspects including a couple are at present cooling their heels at the headquarters of the Delta State Police Command in Asaba, for alleged involvement in the sale of a set of twins (a boy and a girl). The suspects include a couple, Augustine and Ebere, Anwulie, the alleged buyer and Ebele, who served as middleman in the deal.

Also arrested is one Onyeogali, a staff of the Welfare Department of the state Ministry of Women Affairs said to have masterminded the deal. Investigation revealed that Ebere was delivered of a set of twins at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba and was allegedly under pressure from one Ebele (F) who resides in Ogwashi-Uku to sell the babies.

The said Ofuani, it was further gathered, linked up with Onyeogali of the Welfare Department who allegedly masterminded the sale of the infants to a Lagos-based woman, Anwulie at the rate of N200,000 each. Public Relations Officer of the state police command, ASP Lucky Uyabeme who confirmed the arrest of the suspect, stated that the local vigilance group in Asaba burst the syndicate. “On April 21 at about 15:10 hours, the chairman of Asaba Community Policing, Mr. Anthony C.M. Okonkevo arrested a couple, one Augustine (M) and Ebere (F) of back of NTA Asaba, for child stealing and handed them over to the DPO ‘A’ Division Police State, Asaba,” Uyabeme stated.

The police spokesman however added that after interrogation, it was discovered that the said Ebere delivered the set of twins before selling them to Okogwu. According to Uyabeme, her confession led to the arrest of others, adding that investigation was still going in the matter. He informed that the babies, who were recovered from the alleged buyer, had been handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Asaba for proper care.

I killed 11 babies for money rituals

…Confession of 20-yr-old ex-cultist

By WOLE BALOGUN

The love of money is the root of all evil, so says the Bible. This aphorism aptly captures the experience of a 20-year-old man, Agu Nwanu, who said he delved into voodoo practices and money ritual in a bid to get rich by all means.

Nwanu told the reporter that at the peak of his foray into voodooism, he, alongside a traditional priest, slaughtered 11 young virgins for money rituals at a village in Ebonyi State. According to him, right from his childhood, he had made up his mind to serve the devil in order to become rich.

He took the decision, he noted, as a 15-year-old young lad in his village in Ebonyi State. Agu’s reason for insisting on serving the devil was that his father, who served God all his life was also poor all his life. Said he:

“When I was growing up, I never wanted to be as poor as my father. I had wanted to become not just rich but very wealthy. I reasoned that I had to serve the devil in order to become very wealthy. I believed that my father was afflicted by abject poverty because he had faithfully served God. I had believed that by serving Satan, I would be very rich, build mansions and ride big cars, as I have learnt that many wealthy persons got their money by serving the devil. So, I was determined to do money rituals too so as to hit it big.

“At 15, I began to practise paganism, I would go into the bush in the village, clear a spot, gather some stones and put some leaves on them. I would then pour oil on the stones and then kneel down to worship the objects.

I also was desirous to know the devil. I was very curious about him. I was asking everyone around about powerful native men, who could link me to the devil. I wanted to meet with him, tell him that I wanted to be very rich at all cost.”

Indeed, a few years later, Nwanu came by powerful native doctors, who introduced him into various ways of doing money rituals. “I began to meet with different native doctors, who were asking for some items as requirements for money rituals.

The items included dogs, fowls, hairs and parts of human beings as well as some other things needed for the rituals. These items were mixed together and eventually, I started making money. That was how I was able to sponsor myself in secondary school as well as feed and clothe myself. In spite of all these, I wasn’t yet satisfied, as I was still living with my uncle. “I was thirsty for good money.

I once got introduced to a powerful native doctor, who assured that he could help me to become very wealthy on certain conditions. He said I had to get married and begin to make babies, as my wife and children would be useful in sustaining the money rituals. The man also told me that I was also too young then because I was barely 20 years old.

He advised me to do the rituals when I turned 25. I didn’t like the conditions he gave, so, I decided to seek for help elsewhere and I got it. “In January this year, I was introduced to another powerful native doctor in Ebonyi State. I had to travel all the way from Lagos to Ebonyi to meet with the man.

I disguised as a middle-aged man to forestall a possibility of the man, dismissing me as too young. The native doctor turned out to be a priest to a deity believed to be the god of money. “At the priest’s place, I was asked to speak with an invisible deity, who spoke to me in a guttural voice. He demanded the heads of seven female virgins, babies preferably.

Though I was stunned at its demand, I was ready to do whatever needed to be done. I indicated my readiness but said I didn’t have the means of getting the babies since I was not used to the place.

The priest offered to help and took me to some motherless babies’ homes and hospitals in the state. “At first, the owners of the homes and hospitals asked for N400, 000 for each baby but we haggled and beat the price to N70, 000 for each.

We eventually got seven babies even though we didn’t make all the payment. The priest made arrangement with the authorities of the motherless babies’ home to secretly bring the babies to his shrine in order to prevent a possible encounter with the police.

‘‘Once the priest got the items, he asked me to go into a room where he had lodged me. So, the next day, he invited me to his shrine and there I saw blood and human remains splattered all over the premises of his shrine and I concluded that he must have used those babies for the rituals. “The priest then handed some charms to me and instructed me to return to Lagos. He said I should observe a dry fast for seven days and nights.

He also instructed me strongly against having anything to do with women. He specifically said I should not allow a woman touch me or talk to me.

This, to him, would preserve the potency of the juju. “I was overwhelmed with great joy and made a strong decision to obey the priest’s instruction to the letter. But before I boarded the bus en route to Lagos from the Ebonyi motor park, an unknown woman called out to me and followed me in spite of my blunt refusal to give her audience. The lady succeeded in touching me before I got rid of her.

“Instantly, the charm I was given got broken. I ran back to the priest and was dumfounded with what he said. He said the lady that accosted me had ruined the charm because she was in her menstrual period when she touched me.

I would have been punished severely for spoiling the charm but the deity had a soft spot for me and gave me a second and last chance. I was to do another charm with another seven virgins, four males and three females.

My failure to get the additional seven virgins in three days, he said, would result in my death. “By that time, I had spent almost all I had on me. I had only N43, 000 left. I had paid N400, 000 as part payment for the earlier ritual.

So, I pleaded with the priest to assist me and he contacted some kidnappers in the state. He invited them to have a chat with me and the kidnappers said I was fortunate to approach them at that time because they had four virgins whom they had fetched for a client that didn’t need them any more, as another set of kidnappers he also contacted had gotten the virgins for him. So, the priest and I pleaded with the kidnappers to give me the four virgins on credit. I gave them N40,000. We promised to pay the outstanding money after the second ritual.

“Actually, the money was ready and stacked in many polythene bags and they were shown to me. But the deity had warned that I shouldn’t touch the money since the charm was already spoilt. The other seven virgins were to be used to placate the spirit behind the money so that anyone, who touched it would not be severely punished.

“Considering my situation, the priest pleaded with the deity to accept the four virgins that we eventually got from the kidnappers and the ritual of appeasement was done. After that, I was asked to come back to Lagos and wait for seven months.

I was instructed to struggle to survive by doing odd jobs within those seven months so that I would have gathered enough experience that would enable me spend the money prudently. “As the ritual of appeasement on the money was done, a paper on which my name was written fell from the ceiling.

There was a message, congratulating and welcoming me to the club of billionaires. On that note, I returned to Lagos.

As the earlier instructions about abstaining from women were passed to me, I did my best to abstain from women for the seven days of the dry fasting. I ensured this by locking myself up in the house and coming out only in the midnight to get fresh air.

“But shortly after the fasting, I had an encounter with a member of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement.

The man preached to me and we became friends. I agreed to go to church with him one day and after the church service, the presiding pastor, Brother Anapeto Peter, ministered to me and prayed with me. It was there that I received Christ and renounced my evil ways.

“Since then, I’ve been having an inexplicable peace of mind. I have asked God to forgive me for my past atrocities. I will never go back for the money, as I have given up everything for God to rule my life. I have realised that I was just being deceived by the satanic priest and his deity.”

We paid 250 000 naira each for employment letter. Victims

From ADETUTU FOLASADE-KOYI, Abuja

Two whistle-blowers appeared before the Senate in Abuja yesterday and admitted paying N250,000 each to secure appointments in the Ministries of Lands and Housing, Information, Works, Trade and Investment, aided principally by staff of the federal agencies.

Mrs. Rose Nkarishor Odey and Idachaba Tijani told the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs that the job-for-sale racket was being allegedly spearheaded by one Juliet Egobunor and Simon Odujebe.

The duo claimed to work for the Ministry of Lands and Housing from where they fleeced nnocent Nigerians of N250,000 each with the promise of employment in any federal ministry.

In the letter before the committee, titled: Petition against Juliet Egobunor and Simon Odujebe for issuing me fake appointment letter for N250,000, dated March 25, 2013, Odey tendered an Offer of Temporary Appointment letter purportedly issued on the letter head of the Federal Civil Service Commission, dated September 5, 2007 with Ref No: FC.7000/C.4261/19. The said appointment letter, a copy of which  was obtained by Daily Sun, signed by one Ahmed S. Dantanko offered Odey, whose address was stated as 16, Bolarinwa Street, Molete, Ibadan, Oyo State, was appointed as Administrative Officer II on salary Grade Level 08, Step 02 which is N164,272.00 per annum.

Odey’s appointment, as with many others in various ministries, was equally captured in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Gazette Section of October 18, 2011.

Besides, Odey attached a circular, which allegedly emanated from the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation marked: HCSF/PSO/002/S.I/Tiii of January 25,2012 which “approved the posting of newly-appointed/transferred Administrative Officers into the Federal Civil Service as in the attached format…

“The postings are with immediate effect and all officers are to report not later than Friday, February 2012.” One Mrs. Kehinde Ajoni, Permanent Secretary (CMO), reportedly signed the circular on behalf of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

But Odey admitted before the committee yesterday that she was given the appointment in April, 2012 and could not explain why the  letter given her by Juliet read September, 2007. In her testimony before the committee, an obviously Mrs. Odey carefully detailed how the deal was struck in the house of her sister, Martina, and how for eight months she worked without any salary.

Odey was initially given an employment letter for the Ministry of Information before she was “transferred” to the Trade and Investment Ministry. That was where the illegal transactions were exposed. All efforts to retrieve her N250,000 has since failed.

The racket blew open when she went for registration in the ministry and it was discovered that she shared the same employment number with two other men! The racketeers then offered her another slot.

Tijani was not so lucky. He worked for only some months before he was apprehended as a fake staff of the Works Ministry.

Quickly, Tijani demanded a refund but has only succeeded in getting N100,000 back from Egobunor and Odujebe.

When it was his turn to testify , Tijani, who wore white buba and sokoto and for the most part of the confession kept his head bowed, re-echoed the employment story of Mrs. Odey.

He was, however, lucky because he has, so far, managed to evade arrest and was also able to retrieve N100,000 from the N250,000 he paid to the job racketeers.

Tijani’s words: “I met Egobunor who I offered N250,000 for employment. After that, I was posted to the Ministry of Works in April 2012 and my appointment letter was duly signed. From there, I was posted to a department in the ministry.

“On May 30, I was apprehended because the documents regarding my appointment were fake and I was asked where the documents were from. I cooperated fully with them and told them who gave me the appointment letter.

“I was thereafter taken to the Ministry of Lands and Housing to confront Juliet but before we got there, she had left office. I was asked to go for that day and report back the following day but I didn’t go back as asked, because I was afraid of being arrested.

“Somehow, I met Egobunor and demanded for a refund and she sent me to Simon Odujebe who told me categorically that a refund was not easy but instead, offered to take me to a new ministry. I refused that offer and we ended up bargaining for how much to get back from the initial N250,000 I had paid. I was offered 60 per cent of the N250,000, but I demanded for 80 per cent instead because I just wanted my money at that point. In November, I was given N100,000 and I was supposed to have been reimbursed another N50,000 which I have not got till date. Odujebe sent a text message to me, promising to refund the N50,000 and the message is still in my phone as I speak before you…

“That is why I came here with my petition, hoping that something will be done…”

On cross-examination from the co-Chairman of the committee, Senator Wilson Ake, how he, Tijani, came about the appointment letter which read 2007 instead of 2012, Tijani replied: “I don’t know why they gave me an appointment letter reading 2007 when I was employed in April 2012… I don’t know why they did all these because I have no experience in civil service. I cannot explain the discrepancies.”

Ake asked Tijani whether he signed any acknowledgement letter from the ministry on his employment to which he simply said: No.

He said that Egobunor only gave him some letters purportedly for his employment.

In attendance was the Deaconess Tolani Ayo, Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), who asked for time to investigate the authenticity of the letter cum circular bandied by Mrs. Odey.

The Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta-led joint committee demanded the FCSC chairman return today with more evidence. The public hearing continues today.

Are You a Youth Entrepreneur? Showcase Your Business to the World at the Youth Enterprise Exhibition “YEEX Lagos 2013” | 16th – 18th May 2013

To provide young entrepreneurs with a platform for growth, exposure, networking and brand positioning, 3Wise Magazine in partnership with School of Media and Communication of Pan African University, Office of Limited Partnerships of Lagos State Ministry of Justice and the US-Nigeria Trade Council would be organizing a 3-day youth enterprise exhibition YEEX Lagos 2013.

The exhibition which is endorsed by Lagos State Ministry of Commerce and Industry and is targeted at providing youths between the ages of 18-35, who are either just starting out or have been running their businesses for a while, an opportunity to exhibit their products and services.

Exhibitors also have the opportunity to launch new products and services, meet with financial institutions, Angel investors and Venture capitalists for possible equity investment and get useful media exposure in the YEEX brochure and website, 3 Wise Magazine, video profiling and websites of media partners. Also, one entrepreneur per day out of the exhibitors could win $500 of the crowd-funding opportunity available. A booth cost N15,000 while an advert in the brochure starts from N10,000.

Date: 16th – 18th May 2013

For more information visit YEEX Website, www.yeex.com.ng or send an email contact info@yeex.com.ng or call08055375908 or 08088038606

Stella Damascus opens up.plus more surprise birthday pictures

The newly married actress wrote this on her blog this afternoon and shared more photos from her birthday party. See her blog post below...

I have Been trending for the past two days now. Day one was about people wishing me well and praying for me on my birthday. Day two is now filled with gossip, scandals and all sorts, but that is as far as the so called journalists and bloggers are concerned. As far as I am concerned I had a blast on my birthday and I will not allow other human beings steal my joy regardless.

I choose to enjoy my life because I know I deserve it. Nobody went through my own trying times with me and I did not go through any with others.

More when you continue...


When God decides to bless me, turn my mourning to dancing, turn my tears to laughter and turn my anger to happiness, no man on earth can change it or spoil it.

Truth is, I laughed when I saw some of the blogs and websites quoting and saying things they know absolutely nothing about. Writing things they have heard without concrete evidence, ghosts that cannot show their faces and ask direct questions. But they believe and think that they can wake up one day and decide people's fate and destiny. Unfortunately they are made to feel important because people hate to read  positive things and achievements, but give them juicy gossip and all of a sudden you become the most popular writer who has gist on everybody.

I realized that when I write blogs and articles about important information, encouragement, education and positive things, only twenty percent out of a hundred actually read it and leave comments. The other eighty percent jump at the gossip and scandals and then start to ask me stupid questions. These are people who have not communicated with me in ages but all of a sudden they feel the need to profess undying friendship and a listening ear. The fact that they believe I have the time or energy to respond to the most trivial issues baffles me.

Let me repeat myself in case some of these people missed it. "I really do not care what you say or write, the truth is who God has blessed no man can curse" , and if you believe that trying to turn a wonderful birthday  into a global gossip game will make me feel bad then I am so sorry this Stella is not as stupid as you think"

For those who want to really see pictures to satisfy their curiosity, please enjoy.