WE ARE CHRISTIAN, MUSLIM PRAYER WARRIORS, OMBASTE CLAIMS

The Eggon group, Ombatse, yesterday denied being a cult group claiming it has no shrines.

They said only a prayer group, consisting of Christians, Muslims and heathens just as they claimed Baba Alakyo widely referred to as the chief priest of the group, is only a prayer leader.

“There is no shrine; I am emphatic that there is no shrine. Babalakyo is a leader of the prayer group. Babalakyo is an herbalist. That is what he is,” legal adviser of the Ombaste group Barrister Zamani Zachary Allumaga said at the ongoing commission of inquiry on the May 7 killing of security operatives in Alakyo.
The group has been widely blamed for the killing of the security operatives.

Barrister Allumaga, who faced cross-examinations from counsels representing various groups and communities, as well as Mrs. Funso Lawal representing the panel consistently denied that the group was responsible for the Alakyo killing of policemen and Secret Security Service (SSS) operatives.

“We in Ombatse group are only there to pray. We do not carry weapons. We have no business with humans,” he said.

He also said the name Ombatse, Eggon means “time has come for prayers.”
The group announced on Monday it has suspended activities; albeit temporarily,  pending the out-come of the ongoing investigation.

The group also criticized Gove-rnor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State for failure to go after the perpetrators of the ambush and by extension, the murder of about 74 officers and men of the police and SSS.
The Ombatse legal adviser who is a former legal adviser of the state owned broadcast station said: “Baba(alakyo) asked why they were in his house and immediately, they became drunk and started killing themselves.” Allumaga said.    culled from Dally  Trust

FLOOD CLAIMS STUDENT IN ENUGU

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A 13-year-old student of a private school in Abakpa Nike, Enugu State drowned in a flood that followed a rainfall yesterday.

A witness who preferred anonymity said the girl fell into the gutter while dodging a speeding commercial bus which splashed water as it moved.
Mr Ejike Okpara, who was also at the scene on Nike Road, told newsmen that a pupil was earlier saved by bystanders after she also fell into the gutter.
Okpara said the little girl from St Theresa Primary School, Abakpa  fell into the gutter near her school around 7.30 a.m. but was saved by passersby.
The witness, however, said the second girl, a JS II student of Modern Ideal College (MIC), was unlucky as she drowned in the flood.
He said efforts by youths in the area to rescue her failed as the flood overpowered them and moved her into the nearby Ekulu River.
Members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who waded through the river to search for the girl could not recover her body.
One of them, Mr Ikechukwu Ani, said they searched through a distance of about five kilometres on the river bank but could not find her body.
Owner of the school, Mrs Florence Ani, expressed shock at the incident which she said was the first of its kind.
Ani said the school was doing everything possible to recover the student who was identified as Onyinye Akabuko.
She said the parents of the girl were also making efforts to find their daughter.
The incident is the second in the state capital within one month, it was gathered. Coordinator of the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Joe Offor, declined to pick his calls when newsmen attempted to get his reaction.

Guild of Tourism Journalists lament Deji Falae’s death

THE Guild of Tourism Journalists in Nigeria( GTJN ) has described the death of the Ondo State  Commissioner for Tourism and Orientation, Mr Deji Falae,  as a “a sudden drop of a bright star  from the tourism  firmament of the nation.”

 The group, in a  press release signed by its President, Mr. Wale Ojo – Lanre,  lamented: “We are shocked beyond the marrows that death has no regard  for brilliance, intelligence, good conduct,  humbleness, youthfulness, erudition,  candour, reasonability and responsiveness, which Deji Falae epitomised when alive.

GTJN pointed out that “His death is a wicked pain and irreparable blow to the tourism sector in Ondo State, where he has, in his usual quiet and smooth  manner, started to show the stuff he was made of.”

The group remarked that “Deji was one of the pillars of the  tourism strides of Governor Olusegun Mimiko  in Ondo State.

Though, a Barrister-at-Law with no experience in tourism administration, the late Deji stooped low to learn, read and consult widely on tourism and took time to understand the import of the sector, hence his ability to key into the tourism vision of Governor Mimiko perfectly. GTJN pointed out that “at every tourism and cultural event hosted by the Ondo State government, especially Mare Festival, you would see the diligence of purpose and passion with which he handled his brief.”

The group recalled the last time  the late Deji  had  some members of the association at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos: “We  never knew that  you were signing off here  on earth when you left your seat at the Civic Centre, Ozumba  Mbadiwe, during the Tourism Stakeholders’ Forum called by the Director – General, Nigerian Tourism Development  Corporation ( NTDC),   to exchange pleasantries and rubbed minds on tourism issues with our members.”

The late Deji, according to the release, gave an insight into what should be expected at the Mare Mountain Climbing Festival 2013: “I am assuring you that the next Mare, which your association has been penciled down as one of the facilitators and collaborators, will be bigger, better and of immense economic benefit to Ondo State people. You will be happy; Governor Mimiko is going higher with Mare this year. We shall all make Ondo-State proud with the festival this year.”

The group, however, condoled with the governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, on losing such a dynamic and purposeful aide who has been a keen loyalist and a dutiful executor of the vision of his boss.

“We urge Governor Mimiko  to take heart and solace in the fact that we all know how much he  loves Deji but that God  loves him more,” GTJN concluded.

Agagu Crash: Ondo Govt Reacts To Aircraft Hire Claim

Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (middle), with the Leaders of
Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo (left), Pa Olanihun Ajayi (right), during
their condolence visit to the Governor, at the Government House,
Akure

The Ondo state Government, has reacted to the  claim that it hired the aircraft of Associated Airline, which crash-landed last Thursday in Lagos, while  conveying  the body of former Governor of the state, Dr Olusegun Agagu, to Akure for the commencement of  the burial rites.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade in Akure, the government  said  the reaction would not have been necessary at the time the state and families are still mourning those who lost their lives in the crash, but for inaccurate media reports.

It explained that its determination to give the former Governor a befitting state burial made it set up a burial committee, which met regularly with the family of the deceased to arrive at a burial programme agreeable to the family.

At one of the meetings, the statement said,  the issue of the transportation of the body from Lagos to Akure was discussed. "The committee deferred to the family's insistence that the body be moved to Akure by air. The family thereafter introduced Mr. Tunji Okusanya (now deceased) of MIC Funeral as the official undertaker, who would
make necessary arrangements regarding the movement of the body and the funeral."

"Thereafter", the statement further explained, “the MIC boss forwarded the names of various airlines through an e-mail message to the Committee, namely, Aero Contractor; OAS Helicopters; Chachangi; Arik; Dana; and IRS as the Airline operators that have been contacted".

“It was indicated in his message that IRS was not available for conveying human remains; Dana aircraft had gone for maintenance; and Arik does not fly the Akure route". He, therefore, suggested Chachangi
as "the best offer".

The government further indicated that it was neither the wish nor the prerogative of government to indicate any preference for a particular airline stressing that the interface with MIC at the instance of the family, was necessary for facilitation of payment ,insisting that "at no time was Associated Airline mentioned.

Stating that the government made these clarifications against its wish, the statement emphasized that "this is definitely not the time for this as we are still mourning.” adding that “It is pathetic losing any soul in the course of paying homage to our former Governor, particularly government officials and other bread winners of their
families, including the Managing Director of MIC, his son, and other workers of his company".

The government thanked the Federal Government for ordering a thorough investigation into the crash in order to prevent the occurrence of such tragedies in the future, imploring  the team of investigators to leave no stone unturned in the course of their investigation.

Futher, the government said it "wishes to place on record it's appreciation of the active and timely involvement of the Lagos State Government through its Emergency Agency as well as Federal Emergency agencies. We thank the management and staff of the Lagos State Teaching Hospital LASUTH, and other medical facilities who came to the rescue of the survivors," .


Thanking those "who have identified with the government during these trying times". It also "sincerely thanked those who have shared in our pain by identifying with us at this time. We implore you to pray for the repose of those who lost their lives in the ill-fated crash and also continue to pray for all the bereaved families", the government appealed

Funmi Olayinka Diagnostic and Wellness Centre for Inauguration

   

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, will on Wednesday commission the Funmi Olayinka Diagnostic and Wellness Centre, built in memory of the late Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs Funmi Adunni Olayinka, who died on April 6, 2013.

According to a release signed by Mr Yinka Oyebode, the chief press secretary to the state governor,the centre, which is equipped with state of the art facilities, will focus on early detention and treatment of cancer. 

The centre is built within the premises of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti.

Governor Fayemi had  announced the establishment of the diagnostic centre, shortly after Mrs Olayinka’s death, as part of government’s plans to immortalise the late Deputy Governor and also contribute to the treatment of the dreaded disease.

The event which will hold at the premises of the State University Teaching Hospitals, will commence by 10am.

Ajimobi lashes Out Predecessors over Development in Oyo.

  Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (centre) in a warm handshake with the President of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adebayo Oyero (left) at the 2013 World Teachers' Day celebrations in Ibadan on Saturday. With them i the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu (right).

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has lashed out at the past administration in the state for playing unnecessary politics at the expense of development, saying this had left the state at the brink of precipice.

The governor, while speaking at this year’s World Teachers’ Day celebrations held at Teachers’ House, Ibadan on Saturday, said that the level of development he met when he took over the mantle of leadership of the state in May 2011 was zero.

He added that the lack of development permeated all sectors of the economy, including education, thus drawing back the state in the comity of other states.

``Oyo State was at the precipice as at the time we came in. Development was zero. People paid too much attention to politics at the expense of development of the state. Everything they were doing was more of propaganda and mere noise making; it lacked substance,’’ the governor said.

Governor Ajimobi, who said that he was overwhelmed by the potentials which he discovered that the state possessed, added that it they had been properly channeled by the past administration, the state would have been much better.

``It is not enough for anybody to have vision or to dream dreams. What is important is for the person to actualize his vision or dream. If they had used the opportunity they had very well, Oyo State would have been much better than we met it,’’ he said.

The governor, while congratulating the teachers on this year’s World Teachers’ Day, praised their efforts at making the society better through impartation of knowledge.

``Teachers determine the world; they empower people to think; to shape the world; to impart knowledge, values and to help people to unleash their potentials and set the pace,’’ he said.

Governor Ajimobi said that his administration would continue to accord teachers in the state their priority attention and ensure that their welfare was attended to even as he directed the representatives of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to meet with government to address their demands.

In his address, the Chairman of the state wing of NUT, Mr. Joseph Babatunde said the importance of the World Teachers’ Day was to re-emphasise the importance of teachers and to further attest to the fact that no nation supersedes the quality of its teachers and that teachers deserved to be recognized and have their rewards here on earth.

He commended the governor for his efforts at rescuing the education sector from total collapse, adding that his physical presence at the occasion had not only added colour to the celebrations, but had also indicated the beginning of a fresh and robust relationship between the state government, the teachers and the union.   

PDP commiserates with families of plane crash victims

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the crash of the Associated Airline carrying the remains of former Gov. Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State to Akure for burial was unfortunate.

Mr Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary of the party, told the News Agency Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that the party received the news with shock.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of other promising Nigerians who were on board the ill-fated aircraft.’’

He condoled with the families of the dead and prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

NAN reports that the chartered plane crashed at about 9.00am shortly after take-off from the domestic terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The plane was en route Akure, the Ondo State capital where the remains of the former governor was to lie in state.

Agagu died on Sept.13, and was scheduled to be buried this weekend.

Also, the splitter group of the PDP, led by Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, has urged Nigerians to remember the victims of the crash and their families in prayer.

The group also called on Nigerians to intensify prayers for the nation in these difficult times.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Chukwuemeka Eze, National Publicity Secretary of the splitter group.

“We are shattered by the news of this unspeakable tragedy, especially as the flight also had some prominent personalities on board.

“Our hearts go out to the Agagu family, the families of victims of the crash, as well as the people and Government of Ondo State’’, the statement said.

It also condoled with President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigerians and the management of the Associated Airlines on the tragedy. 

Oyo collaborates with Japan on teachers’ training, teaching of Science

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (left)welcoming the Austria Ambassador in Nigeria, Dr. Joachim Oeppniger (centre) and his Finland counterpart, Mrs. Ritta Koipivaara who were on a courtesy call to him in his office in Ibadan on Thursday

The Oyo State Government has expressed its readiness to collaborate with Japan to improve the  teaching of some subjects in its schools across the state.

The state Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who disclosed this on Thursday while receiving the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) who paid him a courtesy call in his office, identified the subject as English Language, Mathematics as well as Science and Technology.

He said that the collaboration would also include the training of teachers, provision of physical infrastructure and education equipment.

The governor said this had become necessary in view of the fact that Japan ranked high in the areas of science and technology as well as development of intellectual capital.

While reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the provision of qualitative education in the state, Governor Ajimobi said emphasis had been on human capital development as one of the means of unleashing the potentials of the people, particularly the youth.

In his remarks, the leader of JICA, Mr. Seki Jetsuo described education as the bedrock of development in any society, stressing that efforts must be made by government at all levels to improve the system from the beginning.

He said that the intervention programme of the agency in the state would include strengthening Mathematics and Science education, improving the quality of teachers through in-service training, especially in Mathematics and other science subjects.

He also pledged the readiness of his agency in constructing classrooms in some schools in the state.

' 111, 000 Nigerian youths may lose jobs if ' - Kolade

Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Dr Christopher Kolade, said about 111, 000 youths engaged under the scheme may lose their jobs due to paucity of funds.
Kolade said this when he briefed members of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on SURE-P.

He said all the 111,000 youths under the scheme would lose their jobs if more funds were not made available to the committee.
According to him, the committee employed 3,000 youths from each of the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The SURE-P chairman said that out of a budget proposal of N27 billion for the payment of the youth under its employment generation scheme, only N9 billion was approved in the 2013 budget.

Kolade said that the reduction in the appropriation had prevented the committee from achieving its target of employing 5,000 youths per state and Abuja with a monthly allowance of N10, 000.

“The committee estimated N28.5 billion to cover the 5,000 target,” he said. “But our budget estimate was N27 billion which was reduced to N9 billion.
“We alerted the executive after the budget was passed and they promised to do something about it, but up till now the amount approved is still N9 billion.
“This means that we cannot employ the 5,000

Emir Of Kano Returns Amidst Jubilation

Kano’s most revered emir, Alhaji Dr Ado Bayero, yesterday returned to Kano from abroad where he had gone for medical attention. Emir Bayero, 83, arrived in the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, at exactly 4pm aboard a presidential jet.

He was received at the airport by the state government delegation, his friends, businessmen, royals and thousands of his subjects who joined his convoy from the airport to his palace.

The senior special assistant to the Kano State governor on chieftaincy affairs, Alhaji Tijjani Mailafiya Sanka, told journalists at the Emir’s health condition had improved. The state government, he said, takes care of its emirs’ health at home and abroad. “Emir Bayero returned to Kano hale and hearty,” he said.

Several people interviewed expressed joy over the return of the Emir. Malam Idris Musa said he was happy to see Emir Bayero return to Kano alive and in good health condition. Malama Maryam, a civil servant, informed that the spiritual leader of Kano should not die now because the country needs him now more than ever.

Among those at the airport to welcome the Emir were Kano-based billionaires Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata and Alhaji Isyaku Rabiu, Emir of Ringim Alhaji Sayyadi Mahmoud Ringim, and Emir of Daura Alhaji Dr Farouk Umar Farouk.

New Automative Policy: FG Ends Import Of Tokunbo Cars

The federal government has begun the phasing out of used cars (otherwise known as “tokunbo”) which may lead to the eventual stoppage of importation of used cars into the country.

The move, which received the nod of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday, was contained in a new National Automotive Policy which was endorsed in a meeting chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House.

Announcing the decision after the FEC meeting, minister of industry, trade and investment Olusegun Aganga said the policy,  which was  drawn over the last nine months with  the input of the National Automotive Council (NAC) and foreign car manufacturers such as Toyota, Nissan and Honda,  would encourage local manufacturing of vehicles and enforce a gradual phasing out of used cars.

Briefing journalists alongside his information and FCT counterparts Labaran Maku and Senator Bala Mohammed, Aganga said the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) would kick off a new vehicle car registration/tracking system in the next two weeks to check the smuggling of used cars into the country.

He said that the federal government  was worried  that with the country spending a whopping  $4.2 billion (about N550billion) on the importation of cars in 2010, and $3.4 billion on the item in 2012, car importation was almost head-to–head  with machinery as  the biggest consumer of the country’s foreign reserves.

Aganga said government would encourage banks to operate vehicle purchase schemes to enable Nigerians to buy cars on easy terms with payment in instalments.

He informed  that government would put  in place appropriate tariff regimes to discourage car importation and encourage local manufacturing.

The minister disclosed that the new policy would run as a 10–year plan and would be reviewed every five years,  adding that Nigeria and Bangladesh were among the few countries without national automotive policies.

According to him, highpoints of the new policy include the establishment of three automotive clusters in three parts of the country, namely, Ogun and Lagos states, Kano and Kaduna states and Enugu and Anambra states, pointing out that the establishment of the automotive clusters would reduce the cost of investments and production. In addition, the policy would encourage the revival of the petrochemical and metal/steel sectors and tyre manufacturing industries, he said.

Aganga revealed that the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) was collaborating with Cena, a vehicle manufacturer in Brazil, to open automotive training centres in Nigeria.

This is just as two Nigerian universities had been designated to commence degree programmes in auto-mechanical engineering to provide adequate local manpower

The minister said that government’s projection was that, with strict implementation of the policy, a brand new car locally produced would sell for less than N1.5 million.

He said the policy when fully implemented would also create a minimum of 700,000 job opportunities.

According to him,  a similar policy in the country in the 1970s during which new Peugeot and Volkswagen cars were produced locally and were affordable for average citizens failed as a result of the lack of infrastructure, non-implementation, inappropriate tariff regime, among others, assuring  that government had identified the pitfalls and would  put forward measures that would guard against the inadequacies and encourage the success of the new policy.

Aganga said countries such as South Africa, India and Brazil had successfully operated the policy.

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Lawyer Urges FG To Establish Tourism Practitioners Registration Council

Mr Gbenga Ajayi, a Lagos-based legal practitioner, has urged the Federal Government to set up a tourism practitioners registration council to regulate the activities of practitioners.

Ajayi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that the sector had been infiltrated by quacks due to the absence of a regulatory body.

He expressed a strong belief that setting up a regulatory body would help to curb activities of illegal operators in the sector.

``Government needs to set up a tourism practitioners registration council of Nigeria as it is done in other professions.

``This is to instil discipline and maintain high ethical code of conduct for the industry.''

He urged tour operators and travel agents in the country to exhibit professionalism in their practice because unwholesome practice was capable of eroding the efforts of genuine stakeholders.

``Illegal operators had defrauded many travellers, therefore, it is necessary to checkmate them and cleanse the industry, ‘’ Ajayi said.

He also advised tourism practitioners to maintain good moral conduct in the industry. (NAN

Nguru Dev. Union Honours NCPC Boss

Exe. Sec. NCPC, Mr. John Kennedy Opara (right) being presented with a plaque of Distinguished Honourary Patron of Nguru Dev. Union Central (NDUC) FCT, Abuja by the President of the Union, Chief Charles Ike during their courtesy visit to NCPC HQRTS, Abuja

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Mr. John Kennedy Opara has been honoured by the Nguru Development Union Central (NDUC) FCT, Abuja with a Distinguished Honourary Patron of NDUC Abuja for his contributions to the development of the Nguru Community in Imo State and his selfless service to the nation.

Presenting the plaque of the honour, the President of the Union, Chief Charles Ike thanked the Executive Secretary who is an illustrious son of the community for making them proud. He thanked him for granting them audience despite the short notice. He equally commended Mr. President for re-appointing him for another second tenure in office.

The President solicited the assistance of the NCPC boss in the growth and development of the Association.

Responding, the NCPC boss, thanked members of the Union for their visit. He explained that his rise to limelight was only made possible by the Grace of the Almighty God.

He averred that the main reason of sending people on Holy Pilgrimage was for them to experience Christ so that they could be transformed and in turn impact on their immediate communities.

He stressed that he would never compromise standards but would continue to do what is right. He added that due process must be religiously followed to the latter in the selection of medical team for Christian pilgrimage exercise to the Holy Land.

Mr. Opara promised members of the (NDUC) that he would continue to support and encourage them. His words: “I will do whatever it takes to assist you”. He added: “We will try to partner with you”.

He urged them to always pray for the success of the transformation Agenda of the present administration and the well being of Mr. President.

Full Text of Speech Delivered by Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, at Nigeria's Independence Ceremony, October 1st, 1960

On Saturday, October 1, 1960, Nigeria became an independent nation.  What follows is Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa's speech delivered at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos at the Independence Ceremony.

Today is Independence Day. The first of October 1960 is a date to which for two years every Nigerian has been eagerly looking forward. At last, our great day has arrived, and Nigeria is now indeed an independent sovereign nation.
Words cannot adequately express my joy and pride at being the Nigerian citizen privileged to accept from Her Royal Highness these Constitutional Instruments which are the symbols of Nigeria’s Independence. It is a unique privilege which I shall remember forever, and it gives me strength and courage as I dedicate my life to the service of our country.

This is a wonderful day, and it is all the more wonderful because we have awaited it with increasing impatience, compelled to watch one country after another overtaking us on the road when we had so nearly reached our goal. But now we have acquired our rightful status, and I feel sure that history will show that the building of our nation proceeded at the wisest pace: it has been thorough, and Nigeria now stands well- built upon firm foundations.
Today’s ceremony marks the culmination of a process which began fifteen years ago and has now reached a happy and successful conclusion. It is with justifiable pride that we claim the achievement of our Independence to be unparalleled in the annals of history. Each step of our constitutional advance has been purposefully and peacefully planned with full and open consultation, not only between representatives of all the various interests in Nigeria but in harmonious cooperation with the administering power which has today relinquished its authority.

At the time when our constitutional development entered upon its final phase, the emphasis was largely upon self-government. We, the elected representatives of the people of Nigeria, concentrated on proving that we were fully capable of managing our own affairs both internally and as a nation. However, we were not to be allowed the selfish luxury of focusing our interest on our own homes. In these days of rapid communications we cannot live in isolation, apart from the rest of the world, even if we wished to do so. All too soon it has become evident that for us Independence implies a great deal more than self-government. This great country, which has now emerged without bitterness or bloodshed, finds that she must at once be ready to deal with grave international issues.

This fact has of recent months been unhappily emphasized by the startling events which have occurred in this continent. I shall not labour the point but it would be unrealistic not to draw attention first to the awe-inspiring task confronting us at the very start of our nationhood. When this day in October 1960 was chosen for our Independence it seemed that we were destined to move with quiet dignity to place on the world stage. Recent events have changed the scene beyond recognition, so that we find ourselves today being tested to the utmost We are called upon immediately to show that our claims to responsible government are well-founded, and having been accepted as an indepedent state we must at once play an active part in maintaining the peace of the world and in preserving civilisation. I promise you, we shall not fail for want of determination.

And we come to this task better-equipped than many. For this, I pay tribute to the manner in which successive British Governments have gradually transferred the burden of responsibility to our shoulders. The assistance and unfailing encouragement which we have received from each Secretary of State for the Colonies and their intense personal interest in our development has immeasurably lightened that burden.

All our friends in the Colonial Office must today be proud of their handiwork and in the knowledge that they have helped to lay the foundations of a lasting friendship between our two nations. I have indeed every confidence that, based on the happy experience of a successful partnership, our future relations with the United Kingdom will be more cordial than ever, bound together, as we shall be in the Commonwealth, by a common allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, whom today we proudly acclaim as Queen of Nigeria and Head of the Commonwealth.

Time will not permit the individual mention of all those friends, many of them Nigerians, whose selfless labours have contributed to our Independence. Some have not lived to see the fulfilment of their hopes—on them be peace—but nevertheless they are remembered here, and the names of buildings and streets and roads and bridges throughout the country recall to our minds their achievements, some of them on a national scale. Others confined, perhaps, to a small area in one Division, are more humble but of equal value in the sum-total.

Today, we have with us representatives of those who have made Nigeria: Representatives of the Regional Governments, of former Central Governments, of the Missionary Societies, and of the Banking and Commercial enterprises, and members, both past and present, of the Public Service. We welcome you, and we rejoice that you have been able to come and share in our celebrations. We wish that it could have been possible for all of those whom you represent to be here today: Many, I know, will be disappointed to be absent, but if they are listening to me now, I say to them: ‘Thank you on behalf of my Thank you for your devoted service which helped build up Nigeria into a nation. Today we are reaping the harvest which you sowed, and the quality of the harvest is equalled only by our gratitude to you. May God bless you all.

This is an occasion when our hearts are filled with conflicting emotions: we are, indeed, proud to have achieved our independence, and proud that our efforts should have contributed to this happy event. But do not mistake our pride for arrogance. It is tempered by feelings of sincere gratitude to all who have shared in the task of developing Nigeria politically, socially and economically. We are grateful to the British officers whom we have known, first as masters, and then as leaders, and finally as partners, but always as friends.  And there have been countless missionaries who have laboured unceasingly in the cause of education and to whom we owe many of our medical services. We are grateful also to those who have brought modern methods of banking and of commerce, and new industries. I wish to pay tribute to all of these people and to declare our everlasting admiration of their devotion to duty.

And, finally, I must express our gratitude to Her Royal Highness the Princess Alexandra of Kent for personally bringing to us these symbols of our freedom, and especially for delivering the gracious message from Her Majesty The Queen. And so, with the words ‘God Save Our Queen’, I open a new chapter in the history of Nigeria, and of the Commonwealth, and indeed of the world.

Sources:

Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Mr. Prime Minister: A Selection of Speeches Made by Alhaji the Right Honourable Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, K.B.E., M.P., Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Apapa: Nigerian National Press, Ltd., 1964).

Afenifere calls for Sovereign National Conference

 

YORUBA socio-political group, Afenifere has reviewed various problems threatening the corporate existence of the country and reiterated its call for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference, SNC.

Rising from a meeting at the residence of its National Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, the group called on President Goodluck Jonathan to as a matter of urgency put machinery in place to convoke the SNC.

Reading the communiqué after the meeting, its Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, said so many unfortunate incidents were over-heating the polity.

Afenifere said the rampaging activities of Boko Haram and the drum-beat of war by ethnic groups demanded urgent attention via the convocation of the SNC.

The group dismissed fears that all political structures would be dismantled by the convocation of the SNC, contending rather that the voices of Nigerians would matter in the running of the affairs of the country.

Afenifere, which lauded both President Jonathan and the Senate President David Mark for not objecting to the idea of convoking the SNC, however appealed to others expressing fears that they would lose out to consider the interest of the country and not their selfish interest.

The group said: “To preven the ship of this country from capsizing, we have no other option than to convoke SNC. The tension in this country is heightened; the polity is over-heated and the warning signal is too glaring.”

On the plan by President Jonathan to re-contest in 2015, Afenifere said the nation’s constitution allowed him to re-contest if he so wished.

According to the group, “Our group is not against anyone contesting or not contesting.

“Let the electorate decide the fate of any politician seeking political office. Nigerians should stop over-heating the polity, causing divisions.

“If care is not taken a politician would not be allowed to campaign in one area of the country while another will be allowed.

“Let Nigerians decide who they want through their votes. Afenifere is not against anybody contesting or not contesting. The Nigerian constitution guarantees any Nigerian to seek for any political office.”

28 minutes ago

MEND leader John Togo for burial 2 years after death

The Defence Headquarters has given the go-ahead for the burial of a notorious sea piracy kingpin and leader of the Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF), John Togo, over two years after he was killed in a clash with troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.

The Nation reliably gathered that the JTF has received the approval to release the body of the crime lord to relevant authority for burial.

Sources said the delay in burying the scar-face militant, who was a factional leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), was due to the Federal Government’s directives that a DNA test be carried out on his decomposing remains.

Togo was killed in an aerial assault by the Airforce arm of the JTF in May 2011 after a five-month stand-off between his ragtag army and troops of the JTF.

He died after he renounced the Amnesty Programme of the Federal Government in November 2010, took up arms and went back to the trenches with a handful of his fellow NDLF members.

He triggered a furious manhunt when he ambushed and killed about six soldiers of a JTF team near Ayakoromo in November 2010; the incident led to the invasion of the community and burning down of about 50 houses in the Ijaw community.

Thereafter, the JTF intensified manhunt for him and his boys, who were encamped at the ‘Israel Camp’ of the group in an isolated boundary area between Bayelsa and Delta states.

He was killed after months of bloody clashes and his gang members buried his remains in a shallow grave before fleeing the scene.

His body was later exhumed when the JTF sent in ground troops, who arrested one of the fleeing militants who led them to his burial site.

The remains could not be buried due to the military’s insistence that a DNA must be conducted to properly identify his body before the manhunt launched for him would be officially called off.

The DNA test, which confirmed the remains as that of Togo, was carried out leading to the recent approval given for his burial.

A top official of the JTF in Effurun Barracks, Capt. Mohammed Abdulahi, was contacted by our reporter, confirmed the report.

He said: “It is true that approval has been given for the burial of Togo, but it is not the task of the JTF to bury him, the body will be released to the Police.”

A source at the JTF’s headquarters, Yenagoa said the approval came last Wednesday.