MAN IS A POLITICAL HYPOCRITE!-Abah Joseph Idenyi

Politics is too serious a business to be left to the politicians alone, we are familiar with the fact that Aristotle has already stated that man is a political animal; this political animal called man can be in a rather precise and direct manner classified as a political hypocrite “no offence”.

Politics could be seen as all those activities that have to do with the acquisition and exercise of power regardless of where it is been done, so in one way or the other, man is involved in the game of politics; it is a game because someone at all times must emerge a victor, either as an emotional victor, a physical victor or even a psychological victor… a hypocrite from the Encarta dictionary can be seen as somebody who pretends to have admirable principles, beliefs, or feelings but behaves otherwise… who then is politically hypocritical in nature but man.

“The woes of the Mahatmas are known only to the Mahatmas.”- Ghandi

There are many reasons why man chooses to be hypocritical in his art of politicking, it could be to gain freedom, to save life, to save time, to save shame, to gain fame, to gain a political position or recognition, to let his selfish ambition rule and what have you. So classifying these reasons into two we have: reasons for good and reasons for bad or evil.

Biblically we can trace this art of hypocritical political nature of man by using some biblical political figures as an example:

The political hypocritical David: he showed his lust for the charms of Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of his generals. To let selfish desire at that moment rule, he sent Uriah to the heat of the war without letting him know his intentions, Uriah who had love for the service of his country, moved willingly to the heat of the war and was killed for believing in the rather humble and gentle request of the king; at the kings moment of requesting that he moves to the heat of the war, he pretended as though he had no personal reasons for his order. After ensuring Uriah's death by sending him into the front lines in a battle with the Ammonites, David married Bathsheba, who had become pregnant by the King.

That was a shear act of political hypocriticism…

The politically hypocritical Moses: a time came when Moses knew that the maltreated resident Israelites in Egypt where his biological brothers and sisters, he didn’t want to bargain with his own life and freedom so he decided to act as though he cared less whether or not they are been maltreated, he chose to act in this manner because he knew that pharaoh will definitely not tolerate his own pitying the Israelites he treated like less humans, in the presence of pharaoh, he was an adorable adopted son of his daughter, in the presence of some of the resident Israelites in Egypt, he was a two faced mask; this one reason why when he tried to separate the two Israelites engaging in a fight, one attacked him saying “…do you want to kill me as you did kill the Egyptian.” So little or none really knew Moses…

A critical review of the biblical Moses in Egypt portrays him as a man politically hypocritical, in the presence of pharaoh, he pretends as though he had qualities and beliefs admirable to pharaoh; pharaoh looked at him as one of his own but at the other hand, Moses patiently waited for the slightest chance to face pharaoh with his evils yet he played along with him…. Man is a political hypocrite!

The politically hypocritical Judas: He disclosed Jesus' whereabouts to the chief priests and elders for 30 pieces of silver. Even when he was planning his evil ordeal, he still coexisted and related with the rest of the apostles and Jesus himself as though he had no ugly intentions. The chief priests and elders provided the armed guards that he brought to the Garden of Gethsemane, near Jerusalem, where Jesus went to pray with the other 11 Apostles after the Last Supper. There he identified Jesus with a kiss (a hypocritical symbol of love), addressing him as “master.” Matt. 26:14–16 and John 12:6 designate Judas' motive as avarice.

Although his name subsequently became associated with traitor (a Judas) and treacherous kiss (a Judas kiss), not all depictions of Judas portrayed him as betraying Jesus.

In Muslim polemic literature, Judas ceases to be a traitor; instead, he supposedly lied to the Jews in order to defend Jesus (who was not crucified). The 14th-century cosmographer al-Dimashqī maintains that Judas assumed Jesus' likeness and was crucified in his place. The 2nd-century apocryphal Gospel of Judas, a Gnostic text written in Greek, depicts him as a collaborator and close confidant of Jesus. According to the gospel—a Coptic translation from c. 300 was discovered in the 1970s and published in 2006—Judas was the only apostle who understood Jesus' message. In the account of the gospel, during the celebration of Passover, Jesus takes Judas aside and reveals secret knowledge about God and creation to him, declaring that Judas is greater than the other apostles. Jesus seems to instruct Judas to report him to the authorities, so that Jesus' spiritual self may escape from the material body in which it is trapped… whichever is true, the fact still remains that Judas was a Political Hypocrite.

Trying to bring up every example in history is like trying to write a second edition of the encyclopedia… however the successes of many in history would have not been possible without an atom of hypocritical politicking at some points in their life; the successes of Casanova,  Gbriele D’Annunzio, Jeanne Poisson,

As a baby we all cried to get our mother’s attention even when we are not hurt, we do this because we believe it is the shortest distance to getting her attention… it is a culture in an African setting to be on black after a close relation passes on; we were black to show that we are in moments of mourning, but in the real sense; “how many persons are truly mourning the dead”

Every man is a political hypocrite, the difference between you and the few mentioned above is that fate has provided an opportunity for them to be unmasked and you are yet to be…

    

References

Judas Iscariot. (2010). Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite.  Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica.

biblical literature. (2010). Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite.  Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica.

FG seeks Israel’s support to fight terrorism

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati.

| credits: thewillnigeria.com

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday sought the support of the Israeli government in order to fight terrorism occasioned by the activities of the fundamental Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President made the appeal during a meeting with President Shimon Peres of Israel in Jerusalem during his ongoing Christian pilgrimage to the country.

Jonathan was quoted as reiterating his promise to combat the menace of terrorism in partnership with all peace-loving countries of the world.

He said, “Combating the menace of terrorism is a challenge that we must address in partnership with all peace loving countries and peoples of the world.

“I seek the cooperation of your country to confront the security threat from terrorist groups that my country is now facing.

“There is no doubt that Israel has had decades of experience in combating terrorism. Nigeria can benefit tremendously from your experience in this area.”

Acknowledging the growing economic relations between Nigeria and Israel, Jonathan reportedly called for greater collaboration between the two countries in other sectors.

He said his administration would also welcome the greater deployment of Israel’s renowned expertise in furtherance of Nigeria’s agenda for national transformation in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, power supply and the management of water resources.

He assured Peres that his administration would continue to encourage the expansion of trade, economic and cultural relations between Nigeria and Israel, adding that the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the two countries would boost such relations.

In his remarks at the meeting, Peres was quoted as saying that he was delighted and privileged to have had the opportunity of hosting the first Nigerian President to visit the state of Israel.

He said, “You are a most distinguished pilgrim. In recent years, our relations have extended to many other spheres, and are steadily growing. The relations between Nigeria and Israel are close and long-standing. They are based upon friendship and the shared values of freedom, democracy and faith. Today, we also face common menaces.”

t-fam�3 ”�V�Ȧ�”serif”;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia’>“Others include our request for the removal of  Tukur as our party National Chairman knowing his flawed election as our party Chairman, and ending the impunity in Adamawa State, among other demands that will put PDP in a strong position as a political party but for reasons not too clear to some of us failed to receive the blessing of Mr. President.

“To us, we see all these as attempts by the Tukur’s faction to destroy the party seeing that they (those in Tukur’s group) have no stake in the party anymore.”

The meeting mandated its mobilisation/contact committee to explore other options available to the members of the faction  should the dialogue with President Jonathan fails to yield any positive result for its future political activity.

Eze added that the committee was expected also to liaise with the new five other PDP governors and other leaders, who he said had indicated interest to join the group and to submit their report during the next meeting of the caucus that will hold in a week’s time.

On the deployment of Police to the vicinity of the Sokoto Governor’s Lodge, Abuja to scuttle the caucus meeting on Sunday evening, Eze said it was unfortunate that the police who were unable to find a solution to the menace of Boko Haram, kidnapping and other security challenges of the country could be cheaply used to harass innocent and unarmed civilians.

While reacting to the allegation against him, Tukur said he did not set up any parallel state executive in any state, adding that the party appointed caretaker committees in states where the tenure of their substantive officers had expired.

Tukur, who spoke through his Media Adviser, Oliver Okpala, said the aggrieved governors were not aware that the executives that were removed in the affected states wrote to the national headquarters of the party to inform it that their tenure had expired.

Osun: Muslims warn CAN against opposition to hijab

Chairman of the Movement Against Corruption and Chief Missioner of Ansar Ud Deen, Imam Abdur-Rahman

The Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria has warned members of Christians Association of Nigeria in Osun State against preventing hijab-wearing pupils from any public school in the state.

The National Publicity Secretary of the group, Alhaji Muibi Adebanjo, gave the warning in a statement in Osogbo on Monday.

The warning came just as the President, Muslim Community in Osun State, Sheikh Salahudeen Olayiwola,  also announced the Muslims’  support for the new education policy of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

He spoke on Monday at a press conference which was part of activities to herald  Hijra 1435.

Olayiwola described the new education policy as a step in the right direction, saying the policy would soon put Osun State in position of leadership in the education sector.

He said that the group had nothing against CAN opinion but said that they should not infringe on the rights of Muslim students who had chosen to wear hijab.

The statement read, “The Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria has been following with keen interest the recent changes in the education policy of the Osun State Government and the comments of the Christian Association of Nigeria on the merger of schools.

“Whilst we are not against CAN for airing their views on  the implementation of the state government policy on the merger of schools, we detest its act of religious intolerance by protesting against Muslim children wearing hijab to their newly allocated schools in accordance to their faith.

“We want to remind the CAN that the issue of hijab wearing is the fundamental rights of any Muslim child that cannot be tampered with and should not be mixed up with the government policy on education. The action of CAN is capable of igniting religious crisis in the state that is presently enjoying peaceful coexistence amongst adherents of all religions.”

Adebanjo said that the nation was already battling insecurity problem saying religious crisis should not be added to the problems militating against the country’s development.

It will be recalled that members of CAN had staged a protest against the merging of hijab wearing pupils with pupils in Christian schools in the state.

Meanwhile, the Old Students’ Association of Ife-Oluwa Grammar School, Osogbo has declared support for the schools reclassification of the state government.

The National President of IOGS Old Students’ Association, Mr. Soji Ajibade who spoke  at a dinner to mark the 50 anniversary of the school said that the reclassification of school by Aregbesola’s government was a right step in right direction.

Our grouse with Jonathan – Rebel govs

The seven governors of the Peoples Democratic Party  on Monday opened up on the cause of their dispute with President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the PDP.

They said the President had refused to act on the issues they raised during their meetings with him and some leaders of the party on how to restore the crisis rocking the party.

They added that the President had refused to act on issues discussed with the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-led Elders Committee and the reports presented to him.

Rather than act, they said President Jonathan and his supporters bluntly turned down the report.

The governors stated this in the communique issued after the meeting, which they held in Abuja on Sunday night.

The communique was signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the New PDP, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze.

The governors are Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Aliyu Babangida (Niger); Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano).

Apart from the governors, others in their group are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some former governors – Bukola Saraki (Kwara), Shaba Lafiagi (Kwara), Danjuma Goje (Gombe) and Abdulahi Adamu (Nasarawa).

Others include a former Acting National Secretary of the party,who is now leading the New PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje; Deputy Chairman Sam Sam Jaja; a former National Secretary of the party, who is occupying the same position in the faction, Prince  Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and Vice-Chairman, North-West of the PDP,  Ibrahim Kazuare.

Eze said the Sunday meeting reviewed all the peace meetings so far held with President Jonathan and the Dr. Bamanga Tukur-led PDP and commended the aggrieved governors for the maturity they have exhibited  since the beginning of the crisis.

He said, “Some of the demands presented by our governors  include the need to reverse the impunity in Rivers State, where a sitting governor was suspended from the party against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the PDP Constitution, and refusing to uphold the result of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum election that saw Amaechi winning 19 votes as Jonah Jang’s 16.

“Others include our request for the removal of  Tukur as our party National Chairman knowing his flawed election as our party Chairman, and ending the impunity in Adamawa State, among other demands that will put PDP in a strong position as a political party but for reasons not too clear to some of us failed to receive the blessing of Mr. President.

“To us, we see all these as attempts by the Tukur’s faction to destroy the party seeing that they (those in Tukur’s group) have no stake in the party anymore.”

The meeting mandated its mobilisation/contact committee to explore other options available to the members of the faction  should the dialogue with President Jonathan fails to yield any positive result for its future political activity.

Eze added that the committee was expected also to liaise with the new five other PDP governors and other leaders, who he said had indicated interest to join the group and to submit their report during the next meeting of the caucus that will hold in a week’s time.

On the deployment of Police to the vicinity of the Sokoto Governor’s Lodge, Abuja to scuttle the caucus meeting on Sunday evening, Eze said it was unfortunate that the police who were unable to find a solution to the menace of Boko Haram, kidnapping and other security challenges of the country could be cheaply used to harass innocent and unarmed civilians.

While reacting to the allegation against him, Tukur said he did not set up any parallel state executive in any state, adding that the party appointed caretaker committees in states where the tenure of their substantive officers had expired.

Tukur, who spoke through his Media Adviser, Oliver Okpala, said the aggrieved governors were not aware that the executives that were removed in the affected states wrote to the national headquarters of the party to inform it that their tenure had expired.

N255m car scandal: Finally, Jonathan moves against Stella Oduah

Embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah

President Goodluck Jonathan may have finally succumbed to public pressure to  move against the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, who is currently being probed over the N255m  bulletproof cars bought for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

The development came to the fore with the last-minute decision to stop Oduah from signing the much-publicised Bilateral Air Services Agreement with Israel.

The ceremony was given by Presidency officials as the  main purpose of her inclusion in the President’s entourage to Israel for this year’s Christian pilgrimage.

In her stead, Minister of State I, Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, signed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government while the Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister, Mr. Zeer Elkin, signed on behalf of the Israeli government.

Presidential spokesman,  Dr. Reuben Abati, after releasing a photograph on Monday on the signing ceremony, issued a statement in which he confirmed  that Onwuliri signed on behalf of the government.

Abati did not however explain  why Oduah was not allowed to sign the agreement despite the fact that the photograph released by her aides  showed that she was present at the event.

The President had come under criticisms for allowing the  minister to be on his entourage at a time he set up a three-member   panel to investigate the purchase of the cars.

A top Presidency source on the entourage of the President in Israel told our correspondent on the telephone that the decision to stop Oduah from signing the agreement   was taken shortly after Jonathan arrived in Israel.

That same reason, he added, informed the decision of the President’s aides  to keep the minister away from the President since their arrival in the country.

The Special Adviser on Media to Oduah, Mr. Joe Obi, had on October 22 said in statement that the minister travelled to Israel to sign the pact. Two days after, the Ministry’s  Permanent Secretary, Mr. George Ossi, told the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation that Oduah could not appear before it because she “was leading the Nigerian delegation to Israel to sign the BASA.”

 A former Minister of Aviation, Mr.Femi Fani-Kayode,  who shed light on the development, said Jonathan must have prevented her from signing the BASA because of the situation she  was  in.

He said, “BASA is supposed to be signed by the aviation minister or she could delegate it to the  permanent secretary in the ministry. The agreement has nothing to do with the Foreign Affairs Ministry.  I signed quite a few during my tenure.”

• Oduah, NCAA chiefs risk five years in jail

 Before Abati’s statement,  the House Committee on Public Procurement had   said in Abuja   that  Oduah, and officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority risked five-year jail term if  found   guilty of breaching procurement regulations in the purchase of the  bulletproof cars.

The committee  Chairman, Ms Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, who accused the minister of shunning 12 invitations previously extended to her by the committee,  explained that    the Public Procurement Act clearly spelt out the penalty for any breach.

Section 58 (5) of the Act states, “Any persons, who, while carrying out his duties as an officer of the Bureau or any procuring entity who contravenes any provision of this Act, commits an offence and is liable to a conviction of cumulative punishment of (a) a term of imprisonment of not less than five calendar years without any option of fines and (b) summary dismissal from government services.

Okoya-Thomas dismissed the explanation by the NCAA that the cars were procured through a lease agreement and pointed out that no government official or agency could claim to be ignorant of the provisions of the Act.

According to her, what is important is that since  public money was involved, its spending  must  follow  legal procedure.

She added, “Argument about lease purchase does not hold  as long as they are going to pay with public funds and to say that  the NCAA is within the threshold makes it look like splitting the budget, which is another case on its own under the Procurement law.

“Our committee has the responsibility to oversight BPP and since the core objective of public procurement is to ascertain value for money, we have been having issues with the Ministry of Aviation and agencies under it for sometime now.

“It may interest you to know that we have issued out not less than 12 invitations to the Minister of Aviation, but she has not deemed it fit to respond even for once.

“She has always been giving us one excuse or the other.  Apart from  the fact that there are issues on the rehabilitation of airports around the country over issues of value for money, which Nigerians are not getting, if she had taken her time to honour our invitation, maybe she would  have been able to avoid this issue of threshold.

“What these heads of agencies don’t realise is that when we send out letters like that, it is not   to intimidate   them but to rub minds and enlighten them on the nitty-gritty of the provisions of procurement laws.

“If she had been honouring our invitations, by now a lot of things would have been known to her and she would not have  found  herself in this situation.”

• Minister now  to appear before Reps Wednesday

 Earlier on Monday, the    House Committee on Aviation, which is investigating the car scandal,   said the minister would no longer appear before it on Tuesday (today) as earlier scheduled.

The committee ,   headed by Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha,  abruptly put off the hearing through a statement on Monday, claiming that it was to give all the stakeholders the opportunity to prepare their documents.

The panel had adjourned hearing on Thursday last week till today.

 However, findings indicated that the committee came under pressure to postpone the hearing after Oduah reportedly made “a passionate appeal” to be allowed to appear on Wednesday.

She was said to have explained that she was still in Israel where   she had gone to   sign  the BASA  with Israel.

Sources close to the committee confided in The PUNCH  that a representative of the embattled minister “begged  for  her to be allowed to appear on Wednesday instead of Tuesday.”

One of the sources  added,  “What we hear is that she made appeals.

“She is still in Israel and it is not clear what time the agreement will be signed today (Monday) for her to fly down to Nigeria on Tuesday to attend the hearing.

“Since her appearance is the main issue left before the committee, the members also considered that it was wise to give her till Wednesday to appear.”

The new twist is  different from the tough stance the committee took on Thursday when Onyejeocha ruled that “the minister must appear unfailingly on Tuesday;  wether she is in Nigeria or not.”

The committee, through its Clerk, Mr. Abubakar Chana, said the postponement was to give all stakeholders the opportunity to put their documents in order and make detailed presentations.

Part of the statement reads, “This is to notify all stakeholders and the general public that the Public Hearing of the House Committee on Aviation on the purchase of two BMW cars by the NCAA earlier slated for Tuesday, October 29,  2013 has been postponed to Wednesday,  October 30,  2013.

“This is to allow ample time for the invited agencies to put their documents together…”

The  committee wrote a separate letter to Oduah on Monday, which confirmed that the postponement of the hearing was to give her some grace.

The letter by Chana  indicated that the committee received a letter from the minister on Monday explaining why she was unable to attend the hearing.

The committee complained that her non-appearance was delaying the investigation, adding that it was forced to reschedule the hearing till Wednesday.

It warned that failure to attend tomorrow’ session would leave the committee with no option but “to enforce the appropriate laws and apply necessary sanctions.”

The letter reads in part, “I am further directed to inform you that your inability to appear before the committee has become a serious constraint to the committee, as the House of Representatives has mandated the committee to submit its report within one week.

“More so, the committee has been utterly gracious for postponing the hearing to Wednesday,   October 30, 2013.

“It is the directive of the House that you should appear on the rescheduled date.”

• We didn’t appropriate funds for controversial cars

Also in Abuja, the   Senate   said  it  did not appropriate funds to the NCAA  for the purchace of bulletproof vehicles for   Oduah.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodima, made the clarification at a public hearing where the managements of  the NCAA  and  the National Aviation Management Authority   defended   their roles in  the Associated Airlines plane crash   in Lagos on October 3.

Uzodima  noted that findings by the committee indicated that the NCAA appeared to have lost its freedom to the Ministry of Aviation.

He also  expressed  surprise  when the NCAA Director-General,  Captain Fola Akinkuotu,  could not justify the purchase of the bulletproof  cars  on the grounds that  the transaction was concluded before he assumed office.

• Quit, S’East,  S’South professionals tell minister

Earlier on Monday,  the South-East and South-South Professionals Forum  had called  on   Oduah to step aside in the face of mounting protests over her role in the  purchase of the bulletproof cars.

It expressed disappointment over the scandal rocking the Aviation industry which is under Oduah’s   watch.

The forum’s    President , Emeka Ugwu-Oju,  spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting organised to marshal their  position on the national dialogue in Benin, Edo State.

Ugwu-Oju   said,  “We are not saying she is guilty but for what has happened in the ministry under her watch, it is clear the ministry   could afford such money for some frivolous purposes. It is a wrong thing to do and  somebody has to take responsibility.

“We are of the view that the current minister of aviation should go.  She is going not because she is found culpable but we are looking at the overall picture of values.

 “The honourable thing for her to do is to step aside and go.”

• NDF says probe panel   a ruse

 In Minna, Niger State, a pro-democracy group, the  National Democratic Forum, said the committee            set up by Jonathan    to probe the scandal lacked the  courage to carry out the assignment.

The group described the  committee as a ploy  to shield and provide a safe landing for the Aviation minister.

Its position was contained in a statement by its National Co-ordinator, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, and Secretary, Eze   Kalu.

In the statement  issued after its 47th Congress in Minna, the group said it believed that the     committee would not do a  thorough investigation   because of  fear of ridiculing the Executive arm of government.

The forum, which  wants    an independent panel to probe the  purchase of the cars,   advised that the  minister and the  Principal Officers of the NCAA be suspended immediately.

The  statement added,  “ We doubt if the Presidency has the courage to really probe Oduah.

“It is on record that the so-much touted fight against corruption by this administration is a ruse. Its penchant to cover the ‘sins’ of some sacred cows is legendary. If this administration could pardon Diepreye   Alamieyeseigha, and sweep the House of Representatives bribery scam under the carpet, one should not expect anything positive from the latest  panel.

Adamu Aliero surfaces at factional PDP meeting

FROM TAIWO AMODU, Abuja
The aggrieved faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday held a meeting at the Kano State governors lodge, Asokoro Abuja. Details of the meeting which was presided over by the factional chairman, Alhaji Kawu Baraje was sketchy as at press time.
But the agenda of the meeting, which was made available at the weekend was the way forward for the group, as a result of the credibility crisis thrown up by the judgment of a federal high court which had pronounced the parallel National Working Committee led by Kawu Baraje and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola illegal.

Justice Elvis Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja had restrained  the Baraje group from  parading itself as the authentic leadership of the party and further  declared the party’s National Working Committee under Bamanga Tukur as the duly constituted national executive of the party.
According to the judge,  with the provision of  Section 222 and 223 of the Electoral Act as amended and the PDP Constitution as amended, the Abubakar Baraje-led faction could not  nullify the PDP convention that brought Tukur and the NWC to power.
The National Publicity Secretary of the faction, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze told Daily Sun on phone that a communique of their resolutions would be made available today.
Daily Sun checks revealed that governors of Rivers, Adamawa, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano were present. Two governors belonging to the G-7 governors , Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed and Babangida Aliyu, governors of Kwara and Niger states, respectively  were absent.
Further checks revealed that former Kebbi State governor, who was the FCT minister under the late President, Umaru Yar’Adua, Adamu Aliero was a new entrant into the fold of the aggrieved faction.
But unlike their initial boast that about five new governors would pledge loyalty to their camp, last night, none of the 16 governors loyal to the Presidency and the Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee was sighted at the venue of the meeting.
Also present was the former Kwara State governor and chairman, Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Bukola Saraki.

Police deny invading Amaechi’s aide’s residence

Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu and Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi

THE Rivers State Police Command has denied invading the residence of the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha.

The command said contrary to the claim by Okocha, the police did not break into the residence of Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s aide or withdraw policemen attached to him.

Speaking while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, explained that while the SSG was entitled to only one orderly, the chief of staff, Government House, was not entitled to any police orderly or guard.

Mohammad, who described the claim that security operatives invaded Okocha residence as false and an attempt to score cheap popularity and whip up public sentiment, said the command would continue to protect the governor, lives of the people and property in the state.

“The Rivers State Police Command hearby react to the recent outcry by Chief Tony Okocha, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Rivers State, in his endless attempts to score cheap popularity and whip up public sentiment, that policemen invaded and broke into his house and withdrew some policemen attached to him.

“The command wishes to state categorically that there was no such incident and that the statement was false and misleading. Going by the existing circular from the police authority, the chief of staff is not entitled to police orderly or guard.

“However, for the avoidance of doubt, the Secretary to the State Government is entitled to only one police orderly,” the state police spokesman said.

He pointed out that while Amaechi had 32 policemen attached to him, 20 security operatives were attached to the governor’s wife.

“The deputy governor’s escort has 20 policemen while only 12 policemen are attached to the deputy governor’s wife. The Secretary to the State Government has five policemen attached to his office while the entire Government House has 109 policemen attached to it.

“The five policemen attached to the Chief of Staff is a privilege because he is not entitled to any policeman or guard. The cumulative number of policemen attached to the state governor stands at 287,” Mohammad stressed.

He called on members of the public to disregard the claim that it withdrew policemen attached to the chief of staff, describing it as misleading.

Reacting, Okocha said, “I am not the first chief of staff in Rivers State and I am not the only chief of staff in Nigeria.

N225m armoured cars: Reps reject calls for Oduah’s sack

…Deny seeking minister’s arrest

FROM IHEANACHO NWOSU, Abuja
The House of Representatives has rejected the clamour by some Nigerians that the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, be relieved of her position by President Goodluck Jonathan over the purchase of two BMW bulletproof cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) valued at N225million.
It also dispelled the rumour that it was planning to order for the arrest of the embattled minister.
House Committee Chairman on Aviation, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, disclosed the stand of the Lower Chamber in an interview with newsmen.
Onyejeocha’s committee last week, commenced a public hearing on the purchase of the armoured vehicles.
Oduah, NCAA officials and Chairman of Coscharis Motors, Mr. Cosmos Maduka, whose company sold the bulletproof cars, are expected to appear before the committee tomorrow.
At last week’s hearing, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) accused NCAA of breaking procurement laws in the purchase of the vehicles. The agency was also alleged to have violated the appropriation law by going outside what was approved for it in the 2013 budget.
In her reaction to calls by some people that Oduah should either resign or be kicked out by President Jonathan, Onyejeocha dismissed the calls as uncalled for.  She argued that until the ongoing investigation is completed, Oduah cannot be accused of any wrongdoing.
The committee chairman said: “When you haven’t given her fair hearing, it is wrong. She is entitled to fair hearing and until we finish our investigation, until you indict somebody, you don’t call for her resignation or that she should be sacked.
“For me, you allow one to have a fair hearing and you get to a bridge before you cross it.  One of the questions that we asked was were the cars bought? Were they appropriated for? Under any Nigerian law, could you have done this? When we conclude our investigation and submit the report, we’ll know if she is the one to resign or it is another person.”
On the speculation that her committee was planning to issue arrest warrant on the minister if she fails to appear before the probe panel, Onyejeocha dismissed such claims. She stated that her committee had no doubt in its mind that the minister would honour the invitation to the public hearing.
The lawmaker defended Oduah’s absence from last Thursday’s hearing, saying that she was on another assignment.
She said: “I don’t want to talk about that because she didn’t abscond. Her programme was on, so to say, before we started our investigation. I don’t see her not appearing on Wednesday.

National dialogue’ll come to nothing –Oshiomhole

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole

| credits: File copy

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole  on Monday said the proposed national dialogue would not achieve any meaningful result.

The governor said this at the South-South pre-national conference deliberations, which held in Benin City on Monday.

Oshimhole, who arrived late to the event, in his remark said the proposed dialogue was not designed to work.

He said previous conferences which held to fashion out desirable political structure for the country did not work and that the current national dialogue to be organised by the Federal Government could not achieve good result.

He said, “One would have expected the Federal Government to make an outline and allow Nigerians make additional input, instead of saying there are no no-go areas and giving the impression the exercise will end nowhere.

“When the issue of fashioning a new political system came up in the past, a lot of money was spent, transporting people all over the whole country and expending more on related issues but at the end what did we get?

“To me, this (national dialogue) is not meant to work and it will not work.”

The governor’s remarks caused commotion at the Imaguero College hall venue of the event with those who supported Oshiomhole and those against his words shouting, ‘yes’ ‘no’ and made continuation of the programme practically impossible.

While the Senator Femi Okurohunmu committee tried to proceed with the event, the divided participants continued to shout at each other.

Oshiomhole’s party, the All Progressive Congress, had said the national conference being planned by the Federal Government was diversionary and threatened to boycott it.

The Peoples Democratic Party had also replied the APC, saying the opposition party was free to boycott the talks, which it said was not holding along party lines.

At the pre-conference event in Benin on Monday, various ethnic nationalities, including the Ijaw, Urhobo, Benin and Isoko, made presentations.

Akhigbe dies at 68

Ex-Chief of General Staff, Mike Akhigbe

A former Chief of General Staff, Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe, is dead. He died in a New York hospital at around 1.06pm, about 7.pm Nigerian time on Monday.  Aged 68, Akhigbe, who was the second in command to the former military ruler, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, was said to have died of cancer-related ailment. Before his death on Monday, there was speculation over his state of health.

 The Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan, who confirmed his death, said his boss was the deceased’s course mate at the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Mark in a statement on Monday night described his death as the loss of “a brother, confidant, friend and comrade-at-arms.”

Mark, who was overwhelmed by emotions, recalled their days together  at the Nigerian Defence Academy, noting that “Mike was fearless and very diligent in our course.

“He took these attributes to all the formations where he was privileged to have been posted either in his core military postings or political offices.

“He was one of the poster boys of our Course 3 and we were all very proud of him. His death is a huge personal loss to me, the members of Course 3, the Armed Forces, Edo State and the nation.

“But we cannot question God. He alone gives life and takes it when he so desires. We are bound by his decision to take our brother and friend at this time,” he said.

Mark, who is the Chairman of Course 3 Alumni of the Nigerian Defence Academy, said, “We are however consoled that while Mike was with us, he lived his life in the service of God and mankind. May the Lord grant all of us the fortitude to bear this very painful departure.”

Wife stabs husband to death

…During quarrel over proposed visit of mother-in-law from village

From TUNDE RAHEEM AkureA young couple’s union has ended tragically in Ondo with the 16-year-old wife stabbing his husband to death during an argument. The murder incident, which occurred last Monday at Omolere/Mobil area of Akure threw the metropolis into shock and disbelief. The housewife and mother of two, Ebere Ogu stabbed her husband, Chinedu Patrick Ogu, 31, in the stomach during a squabble, which broke out over the proposed visit of the husband’s mother from the village.
The wife, it was learnt, had kicked against her husband’s move to invite his mother to Akure from his village in Imo State. The husband too was said to have insisted that his mother must be in Akure for medical treatment.
It was gathered that co-tenants had been used to the couple’s frequent fights, but Monday’s turned fatal, claiming a life.
Ebere, it was further gathered, abandoned her bleeding husband and ran away with her two kids to an unknown destination after stabbing him in the stomach, leaving the knife stuck in his stomach
A co-tenant who sought for anonymity said he had resolved disagreements involving the couple times on end before the last one that claimed the husband’s life.
According to the co-tenant whose room is next to the couple’s, the husband and wife had been quarrelling over the Patrick’s decision to invite his mother from his village to Akure for medical treatment, but Ebere maintained he would not have his way.
“They had been having issues over the plan by the husband to invite his mother from his village in Imo State to Akure for medical treatment and Ebere kicked against it. I tried to resolve it for three days before the incident that claimed Patrick’s life and I thought the woman had agreed to my pleas but the issue degenerated into violence.
“On this fateful morning when I got into their room I saw Ebere holding a knife against her husband so I pleaded with her to drop the knife and pleaded with the Patrick not to beat his wife.
“At the first attempt I succeeded in separating them so Ebere dropped the knife she was holding but as soon as Patrick saw that his wife had dropped the knife he seized the opportunity to pounce on her and gave her thorough beating and I quickly rushed back from my room when I heard Ebere screaming.
“And before I could enter their room the wife had grabbed the knife again and stabbed the husband and when I entered I was even blaming Patrick for beating the woman again. Then I noticed that Patrick was going down. Before I knew what was going on he had slumped. That was when I rushed out and screamed for help and called other members of the house. “When we entered their apartment we realised that Patrick was already on the floor so people began to urge Ebere to lift her husband up which she eventually did and we saw that the man was already bleeding.
“The people there were shocked and most of them took to their heels which gave Ebere the opportunity to escape with her two kids to an unknown destination.”
The incident, it was gathered, was later reported at the police station while the police and some residents of the area were said to have made futile efforts to track the fleeing wife.
The husband, it was learnt, was rushed to the Ondo State Specialist Hospital where doctors confirmed him dead.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Wole Ogodo, assistant superintendent of police (ASP) who confirmed the report, described it as pathetic and unfortunate.
Ogodo said it was the landlord who reported the incident to the police, adding that the police had since stepped into the matter.
He said the policemen dispatched to the scene found the victim dead, saying he died from the knife injury inflicted on him by his wife.

Aviation workers threaten to go on strike

Aviation workers have threatened to protest against the purchase of two armoured cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, SUNDAY PUNCH reports.

The NCAA had reportedly paid about N255m for two bulletproof BMW 760 Li cars.

The NCAA, while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation in Abuja on Thursday, admitted that the Ministry of Aviation approved the purchase of the cars for Oduah.

The Director of Aerodrome, NCAA, Mr. Joyce Nkem-Akonam, who handled the transaction as the acting Managing Director of the NCAA, told the committee that the agency breached no law, as “leased financing, not direct financing, was   adopted to procure the vehicles.”

Speaking to one of our correspondents on Friday, the National President, Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Benjamin Okewu, however said the association did not buy NCAA’s explanation and would hold a meeting next week to conclude its plans on the protest.

According to him, other labour unions and civil society groups have been lobbying aviation workers to join them in a mass protest.

Okewu said, “What we are talking about is between now and Wednesday. We should have had the meeting and taken a decision on what to do.”

The General Secretary, National Union of Air Transport Employees, Abdulkareem Motajo, in a separate interview, confirmed that associations in the sector were making plans to protest against corruption in the aviation ministry.

“All the three unions in the industry are doing the same thing; we are leading the fight together and we will not relent until we ensure that everything is put in order. We are working together,” Motajo said.

Apart from the corruption in the industry, the workers are angry that the Federal Government is bent on punishing the whistle-blower who revealed the scandalous car transaction to the media. The unions argued that what the informant did was for public good.

The Federal Government had announced its manhunt for those who leaked official information on the bulletproof cars, but Okewu noted that the Freedom of Information Act protected such persons.

He said, “Let them (FG) try anything, we’ll tell them that we are in charge.”

Similarly, Motajo said the person who leaked the information deserved a national honour.

He said the individual should be given a national award “for exposing what Nigerians have seen as a risk to their common wealth.”

He added that the informant had the cover of the Freedom of Information Act.

“The unions are waiting to see any action that will be taken against such a person. We demand that the National Assembly and the Federal Government should give a national award to such a person, instead of sacking him or her. The union will never allow anybody to be sent out as a result of divulging this information.”

Meanwhile, SUNDAY PUNCH authoritatively gathered on Friday that the Presidency is angry with Oduah for the leakage of her explanation of the  car purchase to the media before the President got his copy.

Oduah in her explanation claimed that she committed no crime in the matter that had attracted public outcry forcing President Goodluck Jonathan to constitute a three-man panel to probe her.

Jonathan was in Israel for the ongoing Christian pilgrimage when the minister’s response was published.

The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, told one of our correspondents that Oduah  should have kept silent and allowed the panel set up by the President to carry out its assignment.

“If I were her (the minister), I would be silent until the committee set up by the President to probe the matter finishes its job,” he said.

When asked specifically if it was true that the Presidency was not happy with the minister for allowing her response go public, he replied, “That was why I told you that if I was in her shoes, I would have kept quiet and allowed the committee do its job.”

In a related development, investigations carried out by SUNDAY PUNCH have revealed that the police have no record of any complaint about threat to the life of the minister.

The minister had claimed that she authorised the purchase of the two armoured cars on account of threat to her life because of the reforms she was carrying out in the aviation sector. However, findings indicated that no formal report about the alleged threat was lodged with the police.

Police sources told our correspondent in Abuja on Friday that the Force would have taken such a matter seriously, if Oduah had lodged a report about threats to her life.

“The minister reportedly said her life was under threat, but she didn’t lodge any complaint to the police; we can’t find anything in our record about the reported threat; there was no petition or complaint that we could have worked with, if indeed her life was under threat as she claimed,” a senior police officer who pleaded anonymity stated.

Further findings showed that none of the ministers had requested additional protection or additional personnel from security agencies in the past months.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, could not be reached for comments as he was said to be out of the country on an official assignment, while Assistant Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Inyang, declined to speak on the matter.

SUNDAY PUNCH further learnt that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Saturday, asked NCAA officials to tender documents of the BMW cars purchased before it.

“That’s the first step, we need to see the documents before inviting everyone involved in the deal,” a top official of the EFCC, who pleaded anonymity, said on Saturday.

Jonathan had on Wednesday succumbed to pressure mounted on him by Nigerians and other stakeholders on the purchase of the  bulletproof cars by instituting a probe into the matter.

The President’s decision came less than 24 hours after members of the House of Representatives ordered an investigation into the matter.

Oduah, who has been under public criticism for the cars, on Wednesday departed for Israel where the President is also observing pilgrimage. There have been reports that her Israel trip was an attempt by the minister to lobby Jonathan to retain her job.

The Presidency had, however, said Oduah was in Israel to sign a bilateral services agreement on behalf of Nigeria with Israel.

The minister played a prominent role during the 2011 campaign for Jonathan’s presidency.

Oduah: Groups plan nationwide mass protest

Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah

SOME civil society groups have said unless those found culpable in the N255m — armoured cars scandal rocking the Ministry of Aviation are investigated and prosecuted, they will take to the streets in mass protests.

The groups include the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, the Campaign for Democracy, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, the Joint Action Front, the Civil Liberties Organisation and the Committee for Democracy and Rights of the People.

In separate interviews with our correspondents on Friday, the groups said only a thorough investigation and prosecution of those indicted, including the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, would stop them from protesting.

The National Coordinator, CDRP, Mr. Amitolu Shittu, told one of our correspondents that civil society groups had met and had started mobilisation for a mass protest.

Shittu said with the way President Goodluck Jonathan handled previous cases of corruption and misappropriation of funds by public officials, he was not likely to punish Oduah, even if the probe panels indicted her.

He said, “From the look of things, it seems Jonathan is trying to exonerate her. But, we will not let that happen. There was a meeting in Osogbo by the civil society groups two days ago on this issue. We discussed, argued on it and we decided that we are fighting these people to a standstill. We are not keeping quiet on this.

“As part of the plan, there will be protest, but we want to come out unannounced. We are not afraid of arrest and detention. We will not announce the date of the protest because we don’t want hoodlums in government and those on the streets to take advantage of this.”

Shittu added that apart from demanding  the sacking and prosecution of Oduah, the planned protest would be in solidarity with the striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

“Mobilisation is ongoing. Some people are in schools making adequate preparations because we are in support of ASUU. It would be a combined protest, both to show support for ASUU and also protest against that woman (Oduah). It’s going to be a very strong protest,” he said.

Similarly, the Executive Chairman, CACOL, Debo Adeniran, said, “We have written to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission; we submitted the letter on Wednesday and we gave them seven days. After that expiration, CACOL is taking its independent action.

“We are going to hit the roads to protest the issue.”

In her submission, the President, CD, Joe Okei-Odumakin, said impunity should not be encouraged. She described Oduah’s trip to Israel for pilgrimage in the heat of the crisis as an affront to Nigerians. She said it showed the aviation minister was not remorseful and not in tune with the masses.

Okei-Odumakin said although Oduah had the right to fair hearing, she, however, said the panel set up by President Jonathan was only for “administrative purposes.”

The CD President said the group would take to the streets, if the investigation panel was found wanting.

The Executive Director, SERAP,  also   said Adetokunbo Mumuni, the group was waiting for President Goodluck Jonathan’s action on Oduah’s response to the query issued to her.

He said the group was also waiting for the outcome of the probe by a presidential panel.

Mumuni said, “We’ll support whatever other civil rights organisations are ready to do in respect of the matter (scandal). We may take it a little bit further by filing a court action, once we are able to make up our mind on the substance of the case before the court.

“If no action is taken by the President, we may be compelled to go to court.”

Likewise, the Executive Director, CLO, Mr. Ibuchukwu Ezike, said the group would take necessary actions, if the Federal Government failed to punish all those indicted in the scam, including Oduah.

“The President has set up a committee to investigate the matter and the House has asked its committee to look into the matter. One thing we know is that Nigerians are not happy with this and we will not allow them to sweep it under the carpet.”

Army arrests ex-colonel who led Yobe B’Haram attacks

Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Attahiru

A retired lieutenant colonel, who was said to have led the Boko Haram attacks on Damaturu, Yobe State, on Thursday was arrested by security forces during the encounter.

The retired army officer is being detained at a military facility.

It could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report if he has been moved to Abuja for interrogation or not.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim,  had put the casualty figure on the part of the insurgents at 70 in a statement that was silent on the number of soldiers killed in the attack.

It was however, learnt that nine soldiers including a lieutenant and four policemen lost their lives in the attack.

“The retired lieutenant colonel was properly discharged from the Army and it was a big surprise when he was arrested and identified by those who knew him as a former officer,” an Army source said.

It was further learnt that the attack on security formations in Damaturu was to avenge the seizure of a truck containing military uniforms and arms by security forces.

The truck was seized last week when the driver objected to a search of the vehicle and he tendered a memo purportedly from the Defence Headquarters directing that the truck should not be searched.

The driver and other passengers were detained and the truck was impounded and parked at the Police Area Command, Guija Road, Damaturu, when the army camouflage and weapons were found inside it.

SUNDAY PUNCH further gathered that members of the sect  are holding a medical doctor who was abducted while on duty at the Sani Abacha Hospital during the Thursday attack.

They also carted away drugs that were in the pharmacy of the medical facility and took away two ambulances belonging  to the Damaturu General Hospital.

Security operatives are said to be looking for the doctor who is feared to have been taken to one of the enclaves of the sect in the North-East.

A security source said on Saturday that the Boko Haram members might have taken away the drugs for the purpose of giving medication to injured fighters of the group while the medical doctor might have been seized for the purpose of rendering medication to their injured members.

Meanwhile, the military on Saturday relaxed the 24 hours curfew imposed on Yobe State to nine hours.

When our correspondent contacted the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade, he said, “Whatever you call it, we are capable of dealing with it decisively.

“We will continue to do the required adjustment both in approach and structure to respond appropriately and ensure that our duty to defend the country and the citizenry is discharged effectively.”

Women who are more powerful than Jonathan

Powerful women in Jonathan administration

Since inception, President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has been accused of impunity, usually caused by decisions and actions of the President, including those of his ministers and close associates.

Most of the glaring cases of abuse of power including reckless spending of taxpayers’ money have been carried out by the women in Jonathan’s cabinet. These women have proven to be more powerful than the number one citizen of Nigeria because despite public outcries that greet some of their decisions, they go scot-free.

Those who fall in this seemingly untouchable category are the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan; the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke; the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms. Arunma Oteh; and the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah.

These powerful women have some things in common. They are all from the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones. Four of them had their higher education in the United States and two of them are daughters of traditional rulers. Needless to say they occupy some of the most strategic and ‘lucrative’ positions in the Federal Government.

PATIENCE JONATHAN

In Nigeria’s history, Patience Jonathan is believed to be the most powerful First Lady in terms of the amount of influence she has over her husband and his cabinet.

Mrs. Jonathan first gave a glimpse into the enormous power she wields in 2011 when she traversed the country, campaigning for her husband in a way that irked many Nigerians.

Several calls by individuals and groups to the President to restrain his wife yielded no result.

Also, in June this year, in apparent violation of the electoral act, Mrs. Jonathan reportedly started campaigning for her husband ahead of the 2015 elections.

Another show of impunity by the President’s wife is the way she cripples any town or city she visits with her long motorcade, including bulletproof limousines and scores of armed policemen.

She grounded Lagos in 2012 when she visited to say “thank you” to some women groups for their support in electing her husband.

Despite the protest by several Nigerians, who felt that their right to move freely in their country was violated by the movement of an unelected individual, the President’s wife was never cautioned, at least not publicly.

Instead, the Presidency rose to her defence, giving her the liberty to do more in other cities. Her visits and grounding of traffic in Port Harcourt and Warri were also greeted with wide condemnations.

To show how powerful she is, Mrs. Jonathan publicly admitted making attempts to dictate to the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, a move that largely precipitated the ongoing political crisis in the state.

In Aso Rock, where she resides with her husband, the fear of Mrs. Jonathan is the beginning of wisdom as she leaves no one in doubt that she is in charge. There is always a retinue of favour seekers waiting to see her daily.

Mrs. Jonathan, a native of Bayelsa State, was born in Port Harcourt on October 25, 1957 and holds National Certificate of Education in Mathematics and Biology from the Rivers State College of Arts and Science, and a Bachelor of Education degree in biology and psychology from the University of Port Harcourt.

NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA

Right from when the negotiation to bring her from the World Bank started, it was obvious that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was bound to wield so much power in Jonathan’s government.

With her position as the coordinating minister for the economy (a new position created for her) and Finance Minister, Okonjo-Iweala, who is currently 83rd on Forbes’ global list of powerful women, calls the shots as far as Nigeria’s economy is concerned.

While doing that, she has called the bluff of many including state governors and the National Assembly without any consequence.

The state governors, who have complained about the shabby way the minister treat them, have called for her removal while the Academic Staff Union of Universities has called her a ‘dictator.’ But no matter the protest, Okonjo-Iweala remains a darling of the President.

The sacking of Mr. Shuaib Yushau as the Head, Media and Information Unit of the National Emergency Management Agency, after he wrote what was considered a critical article against Okonjo-Iweala, further showed that the minister was not to be messed with.

The article entitled ‘Still on Okonjo-Iweala over Controversial Appointments’, published on March 6, called on the minister “to ensure that appointments into important positions should be done in credible and transparent manner that can withstand public scrutiny.”

Similarly, Mr. Lawrence Ani, was reportedly suspended indefinitely from his job as Saturday Editor of Thisday Newspaper for publishing a story that cited data that indicated a drop in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product under Okonjo-Iweala’s watch.

In 2011, against the opinion of the majority of Nigerians, Okonjo-Iweala and the  Minister of Petroleum Resources,  Diezani Alison-Madueke, insisted on the removal of fuel subsidy, and literally ordered it on the outset of 2012, resulting in the Occupy Nigeria protest.

Okonjo-Iweala, who also served as finance minister and foreign minister under President Olusegun Obansanjo and as a Managing Director at the World Bank, was born on June 13, 1954 to Professor Chukuka Okonjo, who is the Obi (traditional ruler) of Ogwashi-Uku.

She graduated from Harvard University in 1977, and earned her Ph.D. in regional economic development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981.

She is married to Ikemba Iweala from Abia State.

DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE

Virtually all sections of the Nigerian society have called for the resignation of the Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, all to no avail.

Most of those who sought her removal had cited several allegations of corrupt practices under her watch as reasons for their demand.

After the revelation of massive fraud in the fuel subsidy administration to the tune of N1.7trn, many had thought that heads would roll, including that of Alison-Madueke, who supervised the rot.

Some heads did roll, but not that of the queen of the Nigeria oil and gas industry.

Till date, the Presidency has not queried or probed Diezani over allegations against her and the indictment of departments under her by several panels, including those headed by Nuhu Ribadu, Farouk Lawan, and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede as well as the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative.

Diezani has also not explained to Nigeria, whom she was appointed to serve, what role she played in the massive corruption that led to the loss of huge amounts of public fund.

Apart from the demands for the Alison-Madueke’s resignation and prosecution by civil society groups, who led the Occupy Nigeria protest, the House of Representatives also demanded her removal as minister.

Despite this, the President did not suspend her, and gave no explanation for that. This shows how powerful she is.

Alison-Madueke is the first woman to hold the position of Minister of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria, and in October 2010 she became the first woman to head a country’s delegation at the annual OPEC conference.

She was also the first female Minister of Transportation, and the first woman to be appointed to the board of Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria.

Alison-Madueke was born on December 6, 1960 in Port Harcourt.

She graduated from Howard University in 1992, with a Bachelor’s degree in architecture and returned to Nigeria to join Shell Petroleum Development Corporation.

About 10 years later, she earned an MBA from Cambridge University and was appointed as the first female executive director of Shell Nigeria.

In 1999, she got married to Admiral Alison Madueke (retd), one-time Chief of Naval Staff who was at different times military governor of Imo and Anambra states.

STELLA ODUAH

Not many are aware of the tremendous power of the Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, in Jonathan’s government.

For her role in Jonathan’s 2011 campaign, she was reportedly rewarded with a ministerial appointment to the aviation ministry, even though she had no prior training in the field of aviation.

Many believe that the President feels indebted to her for her role as the Director of Finance and Administration of the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation and in the establishment of Neighbour-to-Neighbour outfit, which reportedly spent billions of naira on adverts and media propaganda in favour of Jonathan, especially while the Occupy Nigeria protest lasted.

Considering this relationship with Jonathan, it should not be a surprise that Oduah’s response to critics after the Dana and Associated Airlines crashes reeked of arrogance.

The latest revelation that she forced the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to buy her bulletproof vehicles has again elicited calls for her removal and prosecution but considering the way the President has treated public outcries against these powerful women, Oduah is likely to remain minister till the end of Jonathan’s administration.

Princess Stella Oduah was born on January 5, 1962 to Igwe D.O. Oduah of Akili-Ozizor in Anambra State on January 5, 1962.

She got her Bachelor’s degree in accounting and MBA from American universities.

Oduah joined the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in 1983 and in 1992, she established a petroleum products marketing company, Sea Petroleum & Gas Company Limited.

She was married to the former Minister for Works, Chris Ogiemwonyi.

ARUNMA OTEH

Through her battles, the Director-General of the Securities Exchange Commission, Ms. Arunma Oteh, has sufficiently earned the name ‘Iron lady’ even beyond her official sphere of influence.

When she clashed with the House of Representatives Committee on the Capital Market, it was the chairman of the committee, Mr. Herman Hembe, that got hurt.

The committee had accused Oteh of fraud and misappropriation of funds. She fired back, accusing Hembe of demanding bribe from SEC.

The SEC board suspended Oteh in order to investigate the findings of the lawmakers, who probed the capital market and indicted her. She immediately petitioned the President and Okonjo-Iweala.

After two months, the President returned Oteh to her position, following the auditor’s report that said her offence amounted only to ‘administrative lapses.’ The directors and staff of the commission, who had protested Oteh’s alleged high-handedness, were advised to calm down and obey their boss.

On the other hand, Hembe was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and also stepped down as chairman of the committee.

The crisis led to an intense battle between President Jonathan and the House of Representatives. The House demanded the sacking of Oteh but Jonathan refused.

The passage of the 2013 budget was delayed because of the fight. Eventually, the lawmakers insisted on zero budget for SEC to force the President’s hand, but he did not budge.

Calls for her removal by civil society groups also fell on deaf ears.

Oteh, who is an indigene of Abia State, is also a British citizen.

She graduated with first-class degree in computer sciences from the University of Nigeria in Nsukka and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School.