The Former Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion has stated his readiness to face trial over the 142-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a letter to the EFCC, his lawyer, Chief Richard Ahanaruogho, said his client also wanted an assurance that he would be free from intimidation and harassment when he returns.He also demanded that the commission should return to court to vacate the warrant of arrest it obtained against him.
He said he was ready to return to the country for his trial if his safety can be guaranteed.
Can you imagine that? What safety does he want? He shouldn't fool himself if he is clean let him come and defend himself.
When he was stealing did he ask for safety guaranteed to fairy the money?
He is even arguing that the arrest warrant was obtained without following due process. He said he was not served a notice of invitation that he did not honour, nor was he given an opportunity to appear to defend the charges against him.
Igbinedion's case even so annoying that a man that came from a rich home could still have itchy fingers. He can be rest assured that we will ensure he is prosecuted. He mus join his colleagues in any of the prisons across the country.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
37 Million Nigerians Blind?
I just read the alarm raised by the Minister of Health, Professor Adenike Grange 37 million Nigerians representing one quarter of the country’s population are either blind or suffering from one form of visual impairment or the other.
How factual is this? If indeed this is true what is she doing to tackle this? I have since learnt that some of these ministers just like to make headlines and after that they go to sleep. In other countries, we will see genuine efforts to tackle this and before you know it, we will see positive results.
It is not enough to go to flag-off ceremonies like that of the Free Cataract Surgery Programme at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State capital, what next after this alarm has been raised? Is not enough to underlined the importance of quality vision to the individual and commend others initiatives.
How factual is this? If indeed this is true what is she doing to tackle this? I have since learnt that some of these ministers just like to make headlines and after that they go to sleep. In other countries, we will see genuine efforts to tackle this and before you know it, we will see positive results.
It is not enough to go to flag-off ceremonies like that of the Free Cataract Surgery Programme at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State capital, what next after this alarm has been raised? Is not enough to underlined the importance of quality vision to the individual and commend others initiatives.
37 Million Nigerians Blind?
Minister of Health, Professor Adenike Grange has decried the alarming increase in the number of Nigerians suffering from cataract and other eye diseases. The Minister disclosed that about thirty seven million Nigerians representing one quarter of the country’s population are either blind or suffering one form of visual impairment or the other. The disclosure came at the flag-off ceremony of the Free Cataract Surgery Programme at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, and the Edo state capital. The project, which is being undertaken by a non-governmental organisation, Amen Foundation in collaboration with the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, is designed to provide treatment of cataract and other related eye diseases to patients free of charge so as to save more Nigerians from avoidable blindness. Grange, who underlined the importance of quality vision to the individual, commended the initiative, stating that the gesture would provide hundreds of thousands of Nigerians life and sight lines. Cataract, she said, could be effectively tackled since the leading causes were preventable if discovered on time. She said that in Nigeria as in most poor countries, cataract has remained a leading cause of blindness except that most people are either not aware that they have the problem or are too impoverished to access quality eye care. The Minister therefore urged t he nation's tertiary health institutions to move out o f their ivory towers into the neighbourhoods, in order to allow the local people access the facilities available in the teaching hospitals. She also implored the leadership of the states and local councils to latch onto the gesture and similar initiatives to bring succour to their people, adding that ''the eye is too precious and its care too delicate to be left in the hands of quacks and charlatans.'' Earlier, the founder and president of Amen Foundation, Rita Oguntoyinbo disclosed that cataract surgeries have been carried out on 276 patients including children, whilst 1,491 glasses have been given out to persons with varying degrees of visual impairments . She said that it was for the purpose of ensuring that the under-privileged for whom the free cataract services are being provided actually benefit from that the foundation.She also disclosed that the Foundation planned to work closely with the mi nistry of health, the central hospital and the local government to conduct cataract screenings in the rural c ommunities.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Police Reform Committee
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has expressed regrets that the police as an institution, has not kept pace with society's rapid transformation hence has promised that his administration is ready to reform and reposition it to make it fully functional and able to meet its constitutional mandate of effective maintenance of law and order.
But can the 17-member Presidential Committee on the Reform of the Nigeria Police Force, inaugurated at the Presidential Villa, yesterday deliver?
"The Nigeria society has undergone fundamental transformation in several respects over nearly half a century of nationhood. Regrettably, the Nigeria Police as an institution, has not kept pace with this rapid transformation. The obvious result has been a Force that is neither prepared nor equipped to cope with the challenges of policing a modern, increasingly urban society like ours, in today’s technology-and knowledge-driven world".
Isn't it clear what the problems are? Do we need a committee of men and women with retired brain that know next to nothing about modern trend in security operations to spend the next three months to tell us?
The Chairman of the Committee, Mohammed Dikko Yusuf (rtd) described the assignment as a difficult one not for the committee but for the federal government. “We hope the federal government will be able to implement the recommendation because within the past eight to nine years, several attempts have been made to reform the police but the Federal Government always chicken out. We hope when it comes to implementation this time it will be different”.
It was Oby Ezekwesili as Education Minister that said that Nigeria is an over workshopped and over reform committee society. Never body doubts this? Drop your comment
But can the 17-member Presidential Committee on the Reform of the Nigeria Police Force, inaugurated at the Presidential Villa, yesterday deliver?
"The Nigeria society has undergone fundamental transformation in several respects over nearly half a century of nationhood. Regrettably, the Nigeria Police as an institution, has not kept pace with this rapid transformation. The obvious result has been a Force that is neither prepared nor equipped to cope with the challenges of policing a modern, increasingly urban society like ours, in today’s technology-and knowledge-driven world".
Isn't it clear what the problems are? Do we need a committee of men and women with retired brain that know next to nothing about modern trend in security operations to spend the next three months to tell us?
The Chairman of the Committee, Mohammed Dikko Yusuf (rtd) described the assignment as a difficult one not for the committee but for the federal government. “We hope the federal government will be able to implement the recommendation because within the past eight to nine years, several attempts have been made to reform the police but the Federal Government always chicken out. We hope when it comes to implementation this time it will be different”.
It was Oby Ezekwesili as Education Minister that said that Nigeria is an over workshopped and over reform committee society. Never body doubts this? Drop your comment
Even the President is Pissed
Yesterday I was walking on air and boy did i feel good?
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, the rule of law president yesterday expressed displeasure with the management of Nigeria Communication’s Commission (NCC) and the GSM operators over the poor quality of services rendered to Nigerians as well as complaints over tariffs. He has warned that it should be taken seriously.
One of my mischivious colleague said the president reacted because his credit has been chopped too. Now let's see if these GSM operators will continue to take us for granted.
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, the rule of law president yesterday expressed displeasure with the management of Nigeria Communication’s Commission (NCC) and the GSM operators over the poor quality of services rendered to Nigerians as well as complaints over tariffs. He has warned that it should be taken seriously.
One of my mischivious colleague said the president reacted because his credit has been chopped too. Now let's see if these GSM operators will continue to take us for granted.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Frank & Katherine Edoho
Away from Nigeria problems I have something disturbing me right now.
I just read about the marital problems of Frank and Katherine Edoho and to say the least I am very sad. I am so sad to know Frank is a wife beater and I am unhappy that Katherine rather than seek professional help for her husband choose to throw everything they stood for to the wind by going to the press. I hope this will not end like Fred and Agatha Amata or Esse and Kingsley Ogoro etc.
My sister is in a similar situation right now. Initially she was the silient one in the matter while the hubby made us believed she was the devil in the marriage. Of course she got the tongue lashing of her life from us all bcos we thought she was the trouble maker. But when he started threatening her with acid bath, machete cuts and outright killing, we advised her to move out with the help of the police while her hubby cools down.
He initially he called us unprintable names rather than plead with his wife for them to find solution but when the damage had gone too far and he realised the wife was ready to divorce him, he started running to the same family (both his and ours that he was insulting for help).
Right now they are trying to solve the problem but i honestly do not know how it will end.
My point is, you can only solve your problem if you admit there is indeed a problem. I am so sad because both Frank and Katherine are my favourite celebrity couple in Nigeria. Frank needs help and that is sure but Katherine will have to help her husband, going to the press is not the solution. I am against her keeping silence on the issue but how many professional help has she sought for her man?I hope part of Frank's problem is not because he allowed his fame to get into his head bcos b4 now his wife was the famous one and we didn't hear of any wahala. I am damn sure he must have been getting a lot of female attention this of course might blind and make him think his wife can be replaced at will.
I pray family members, church leaders and genuine friends would interven and reconcile them, this marriage must not end like this pls. Katherine also needs to know this might just be attack from the devil becos he hates happy homes and will do anything to destroy it. If frank is really interested in getting his wife back, he must seek help and he must attend the sessions with his wife. My prayer is that God will restore their home in Jesus Name. Amen.
People what do you think? Drop your comments pls.
I just read about the marital problems of Frank and Katherine Edoho and to say the least I am very sad. I am so sad to know Frank is a wife beater and I am unhappy that Katherine rather than seek professional help for her husband choose to throw everything they stood for to the wind by going to the press. I hope this will not end like Fred and Agatha Amata or Esse and Kingsley Ogoro etc.
My sister is in a similar situation right now. Initially she was the silient one in the matter while the hubby made us believed she was the devil in the marriage. Of course she got the tongue lashing of her life from us all bcos we thought she was the trouble maker. But when he started threatening her with acid bath, machete cuts and outright killing, we advised her to move out with the help of the police while her hubby cools down.
He initially he called us unprintable names rather than plead with his wife for them to find solution but when the damage had gone too far and he realised the wife was ready to divorce him, he started running to the same family (both his and ours that he was insulting for help).
Right now they are trying to solve the problem but i honestly do not know how it will end.
My point is, you can only solve your problem if you admit there is indeed a problem. I am so sad because both Frank and Katherine are my favourite celebrity couple in Nigeria. Frank needs help and that is sure but Katherine will have to help her husband, going to the press is not the solution. I am against her keeping silence on the issue but how many professional help has she sought for her man?I hope part of Frank's problem is not because he allowed his fame to get into his head bcos b4 now his wife was the famous one and we didn't hear of any wahala. I am damn sure he must have been getting a lot of female attention this of course might blind and make him think his wife can be replaced at will.
I pray family members, church leaders and genuine friends would interven and reconcile them, this marriage must not end like this pls. Katherine also needs to know this might just be attack from the devil becos he hates happy homes and will do anything to destroy it. If frank is really interested in getting his wife back, he must seek help and he must attend the sessions with his wife. My prayer is that God will restore their home in Jesus Name. Amen.
People what do you think? Drop your comments pls.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Nigerian Roads
No matter how broke I am, traveling by road is never an option for me. I'll rather do the business on phone or source the money some how to go by air. That our roads are dead traps is no longer news but like somebody once said, I will never loose faith in this country that providing the basic amenities can never be achieved.
President Yar'Adua has had six months sabatical leave if you ask me and is about time he starts with the roads. Really with what I saw on TV for those traveling home to be with love ones during the xmas and new year celebratins, the suffering was not worth the troubles. Many even died in the process and it was turned into mourning season.
I am looking forward to the day a minister of works or is it transport will really make impact like the likes of Nuhu Ribadu(who the whole country is agog for his posting to NIPSS for promotional course), Dora Akunyili, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, El-Rufai etc. It is possible all we need is th will.
Welcome to 2008 and please do drop your comment.
President Yar'Adua has had six months sabatical leave if you ask me and is about time he starts with the roads. Really with what I saw on TV for those traveling home to be with love ones during the xmas and new year celebratins, the suffering was not worth the troubles. Many even died in the process and it was turned into mourning season.
I am looking forward to the day a minister of works or is it transport will really make impact like the likes of Nuhu Ribadu(who the whole country is agog for his posting to NIPSS for promotional course), Dora Akunyili, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, El-Rufai etc. It is possible all we need is th will.
Welcome to 2008 and please do drop your comment.
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