INEC sets up commitee to proba arrested official

The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Monday, said it had set up a disciplinary committee to probe the activities of an electoral officer in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State over his involvement in electoral irregularities during the last governorship election in the state.

Jega's INEC not better than Iwu.s

The candidate for the All Progressives Congress for Saturday’s Anambra governorship election, Senator Chris Ngige, has said he doubts if the Attahiru Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission is better than that of Prof. Maurice Iwu.

Gunmen demand new born babies in Ekiti hospital

Five gunmen, suspected to be ritualists on Sunday invaded the government hospital in Ado-Ekiti, demanding for new born babies.

INEC refuse to declare Obiano winner of Anambra guber poll

INEC refuse to declare APGA’s Obiano winner of Anambra guber poll

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has refused to declare APGA’s Obiano winer of the Anambra gubernatorial election with majority votes of 174,710.

8 women jailed for prostitution

Abuja— A Zuba Grade 1 Area Court in the FCT, yesterday, sentenced eight women to six months imprisonment each for prostitution.

15 rescued, 3 killed, as shopping complex collapses in lagos

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO
LAGOS — A five-storey shopping complex under-construction at 9,  Muri Okunola Street, in  Eti-Osa Local Government Area, yesterday, collapsed killing at least three persons and injuring 15 others.
At 8:30p.m., when Vanguard visited the scene, it was gathered that scores of persons might still be trapped under the debris.
At the scene, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Red Cross and men of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, attached to the Maroko Station, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Lagos Command, were sighted still battling to rescue the trapped persons.

*Collapsed Mall
Of the 15 rescued, five are said to be in critical conditions and have been admitted at the Accident and Emergency Centre, Toll Gate, Ikeja while others were admitted at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, hospital, few metres away from the scene. It was learnt that the construction workers were casting the decking and the pillars when the building caved-in on them at about 4:00p.m.
An eyewitness, Mr. Adetayo Olaseni stated: “The building collapsed at about 4:00p.m. while construction works were still ongoing. This led to pandemonium, as everyone scampered for safety.”
Another eye-witness, Miss Blessing Osundare said: “I  heard a loud bang and all I saw was that the entire building had collapsed on the workers. While some escaped unhurt, others are still trapped under the debris.
“I can’t say this is the number of people here, but I know that they were more than 60 persons working at the site.”
Confirming the tragedy, the General Manager of  LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said: “A twin four-storey building located at Muri Okunola Street, Victoria Island collapsed.”
“Fifteen persons have been rescued so far while three corpses  have been recovered from the debris.
“Rescue operations are still on-going and we are assuring residents that they should not panic. We are on top of the issue.”

Apple to open Phoenix-area plant, employ 700

PHOENIX -- Tech giant Apple says it will open a manufacturing plant in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa and eventually employ 700 workers.

The Cupertino, Calif., maker of the iPhone confirmed Monday that it is expanding its U.S. manufacturing operations in a former First Solar plant in Mesa. The city southeast of Phoenix already hosts a long list of high-tech manufacturing firms.

About 1,300 construction jobs will also be created as the First Solar plant designed to make thin-film solar panels is converted. The company sold the plant last month.

Apple spokeswoman Kristen Huguet says the plant will be powered with renewable energy provided by local utility Salt River Project.

Gov. Jan Brewer said Apple's decision is a sign that the Arizona's efforts to provide a pro-business climate are paying off.

CAN bans political campaigns in churches

The South-East chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria has banned political campaigns in churches across the zone.

It said it took the decision to avoid a repeat of last Saturday church stampede in Anambra State, where about 28 persons reportedly died.

The South-East CAN also asked the Federal Government to set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the remote causes of the incident.

The organisation said it was wrong for Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State to set up such panel, “as the governor cannot be a judge in his own case.”

Chairman of the group, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, made this known while speaking with journalists in Enugu, on Monday.

Chukwuma said CAN was becoming worried on why politicians should carry their campaigns to churches.

He sympathised with relatives of victims of the incident, while lamenting that political campaigns in churches had become a menace.

The cleric described the incident in Anambra as tragic, and vowed that CAN would sanction whatsoever church that violated the ban on political campaigns.

He said, “It is my own duty as CAN chairman, South-East zone, to ban all politicians from attending our churches with their political teams for campaigns. The church should also stay clear of partisan politics because there are different kinds of people in the church that belong to different political parties.

“So it’s wrong to come into the church and begin to talk about manifestos and begin to campaign. It is not going to be acceptable anymore because it causes commotion and disrespect to one another.”

The constitution we need and how to get it

WITH only two of the six geo-political zones yet to be visited by the Senator Femi Okurounmu-led advisory committee on national conference, how Nigerians want the national dialogue to be held and what they want the new constitution to look like are beginning to take shape
The zones that are still awaiting the committee are North-West and North-East. In the last two weeks, the committee has traversed eight cities spread among four zones. The 13-man team started with Akure (South-West) on October 18 and went to Jos (North-Central), October 21; Minna (North-Central), October 23; Calabar (South-South), October 25; Benin (South-South), October 28; Enugu (South-East), October 29; Umuahia (South-East), October 30 and Lagos (South-West), today.
Next week, the panel is expected to hit Sokoto (North-West) on November 4; Maiduguri (North-East), November 5; Bauchi (North-East), November 9 and Kaduna (North-West), November 11. It will round off with a sitting in Abuja on November 13 before submitting its report to President Goodluck Jonathan on November 20 as scheduled, according to the six-week time-line handed the committee to do its work on October 7, 2013.
Afenifere seek sovereign powers for confab
In Akure, Ondo State, the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, called for a “national conference with sovereign powers” according to a memorandum delivered by Chief Ayo Adebanjo.
“Nigerians must sit down and discuss their union and agree on a federal constitution to guarantee stability, justice, peace, real unity and development borne out of autonomy for the constituent units,” it said.
The group suggested that only a referendum should alter any of the decisions reached at the confab.
Afenifere suggested that 100 delegates should be elected from each of the six geo-political zones in the country and the remaining 100 delegates should represent special interest groups. And the 100 delegates from each zone should be elected on the basis of 10 per cent representation for all established ethnic nationalities in the zones.
“The remaining 90 per cent should emerge from equal number of elected delegates from all senatorial districts representing the traditional ethno-geographical contents of the region.”
It canvassed a six-month time frame for the conference.
Also, the Arogbo Ijaw Community in a memorandum delivered by Chief Francis Williams, said that all nationalities in the country should be considered equal for the purpose of the conference, irrespective of their population. It sought a Sovereign National Conference “where all decisions reached will have the force of law” which will not be subjected to the consideration of the National Assembly.
On its part, the Yoruba Unity Forum suggested a total of 400 delegates for the conference, 60 from each of the six geo-political zones and four from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
The YUF suggested that political parties should play no role in the election or selection of delegates to the conference and that the conference should be given nine months to carry out its assignment.
The Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO) suggested a total of 600 delegates from the six geo-political zones.
Conference must strengthen not dissolve Nigeria – MBF
In Jos, the Plateau State Capital, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), in a position paper read by its Chairman, Professor Jerry Gana, hoped that “the conference will not be a gathering to discuss how to dissolve our federation, but a patriotic platform to finding durable and effective solutions to our problems of nation-building” because “we are resolute to come to the national conference to find the best ways to ensure the unity, stability and progress of Nigeria.”
In its recommendation, the forum said there was need for Nigerians to live together in peace as one nation, fiscal federalism, revenue allocation/resource control, citizenship rights/protection of minority rights, recognition of indigenes, creation of states, fight against corruption, structure and funding of local governments, management of national economy and devolution of power among others..
On the structure of the conference, it said “each ethnic nationality should be represented at the conference to ensure equity, social justice and self-determination; each state should select/elect three delegates from each of the senatorial districts and the conference could sit for six months.”
Aliyu proposes 30 % derivation
When the panel stormed Minna, Niger State, Governor Babangida Aliyu, proposed a hike in derivation to 25-30 percent and a made a case for the establishment of state police.
The governor advised that the national dialogue should not be used as a platform to beat war drums or sow seeds of disunity.
On the structure of the conference, he suggested a 900-delegate gathering with one representative from each of the 774 local government areas; 100 participants to represent special interest groups and another 36 representing traditional institutions.
While calling on the committee to critically examine the derivation principle in revenue allocation, he proposed 25 to 30 percent for derivation to oil producing communities which he said should, however, be channeled directly for the development of the oil producing communities and not shared among their leaders.
Governor Aliyu also kicked against the present revenue sharing formula, saying that the 52.8 percent allocation to the Federal Government was too much.
Calabar: Stakeholders canvass 50% resource control, compensation for Bakassi ceding
In Calabar, Cross River State, Governor Liyel Imoke, in a position paper, demanded compensation for the ceding of Bakassi Peninsula by Nigeria to Cameroon in compliance with the International Court of Justice, ICJ ruling at the Hague.
Imoke, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Efiok Cobham, also called for a new revenue sharing regime in the country where the states would take a lion share of 45 per cent of the revenue, local governments, 35 per cent while the Federal Government takes 25 per cent
The governor advocated for the adoption of true federalism and called for 50 per cent derivation. “On derivation, our position aligns with that of the entire South-South states to the effect that the constitution be amended to read that a state on whose territory oil is extracted be entitled to not less than 50 per cent of the entire proceeds from exploitation and exploration”.
Several other groups that made presentations to the Committee also advocated for the restructuring of the revenue formula with the states taking control of their natural resources by having a greater percentage of the revenue.
The Obong of Calabar, Ekpo Abasi Otu in his presentation said the dialogue should be at three levels: ethnic nationalities, geopolitical zones and at the national level. “Two hundred delegates from each of the geopolitical zone, which also would include pressure groups like ASUU, MBA, NUJ, and others should first talk at the ethnic level, from there to the geopolitical zone before heading to the national level and at the end of the dialogue, the decisions reached should not be subjected to the ratification of the National Assembly but remain sovereign,” he suggested.
South-south seeks two more regions, parliamentary system
In Benin, Edo State, the Midwest Consultative Forum, led by former governor of old Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, aside backing resource control, called for the adoption of part-time parliamentary system, creation of additional two regions- a Midwest region out of the present South-South and a second one from the Middle Belt, making eight regions in the country.
On the composition of the conference, the forum suggested that a delegate should be picked from each of the 389 ethnic groups in the country, with the total delegates not exceeding 460.
The forum said: “There should be no imposition of delegates by governments. Ethnic groups should be allowed to appoint their representatives themselves. The conference should not last longer than six months.”
The MCF suggested that the Federal Government should continue to be in control of defence, currency, customs and foreign affairs, while the states should be allowed to control their resources and take charge of many other ministries currently under the Federal Government.
It said: “We are also going to discuss fiscal federalism because it is our believe that revenue formula should be reviewed to be based on revenue generation not revenue allocation, so that you can keep a substantial part of whatever you generate from your region and contribute to the central government.”
Ndigbo want equal representation
In Enugu, the apex and umbrella body of Igbo socio-cultural organsiations, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, advocated equal representation of 60 delegates from each of the six geo-political zones.
On the structure and composition of the conference,Ohanaeze President-General, Chief Garry Igariwey, said: “We advocate equal representation of each of the zones covering all the ethnic nationalities – women, labour unions, religious groups, youths and the persons with disability. The political parties should not play any role in the selection of the delegates because we have more than 50 ethnic nationalities in Igboland.
“To ensure its legality and integrity, the legal framework of the conference should be instituted through an act of the National Assembly. The executive should send an executive bill to the National Assembly to legalise the conference.” he said.
On time-line, Igariwey suggested that the Okurounmu panel should conclude its assignment by November; the National Assembly should process the enactment of the Conference Act in December; the delegates’ conference should sit between January and April; the new constitution should be drafted in May; referendum on the new constitution should hold in June; and the administrative restructuring of the new constitution should take place between July and September.
He said there should be no ‘no-go-area’ on the issues to be discussed which should include the structure of the country, the form of the government, tenure of office, devolution of power, revenue sharing formula, fiscal federalism, derivation, distribution, citizenship, armed forces and other security agencies to improve the security of lives and property.
In like manner, stakeholders in Umuahia, Abia State, sought equal representation of the zones at the confab. They said the representation should not be based on ethnic nationalities.
Governor Theodore Orji urged the committee to look at “salient propositions that will foster unity in the country” from the avalanche of submissions that they would receive.
The Governor said that the conference must among other things resolve the issues of Nigerian civil war and the marginalization of the people of South East in the politics of the country; resource control and equity in sharing of the nation’s resources; and the conflict created by the Mamman Nasir boundary demarcation committee.
The governor said that the outcome of the conference should “form the basis of the Peoples Constitution and that it should be adopted through a plebiscite.
The position of Abia State was presented by Prof. Joe Irukwu, a former president-general of Ohanaeze.
Irukwu said that he “ hoped that there will be the political will to implement the outcome of the conference”, warning that if the problems bedeviling the nation continue to drift “Nigeria can’t be great”.
The suggestions from the state which Prof. Irukwu gave include equal representation at the conference based on the six geo-political zones.
“Abia people said that they are opposed to ethnic representation because has over 200 ethnic groups. we suggest selection to be on six geo-political zones”, Irukwu said and proposed further that between 60 to 100 persons to be selected from each zone. He suggested that ethnic nationalities, civil society groups and people with disability from the various zones be included.
He also proposed that a chairman and six vice chairmen be appointed to handle the conference, but added that the zone that produced the chairman would not have a vice chairman.
On its part, the Igbo National Council suggested membership of the conference should be through election organized by INEC.

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• BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE & GBENGA OKE

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minister tasks nurses on good attitude

Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, has implored nurses and midwives across the country to always apply humanitarian attitude which the profession is known for, while carrying out their duties, saying that, lack of this has remained a major challenge undermining the development of the health sector.
Chukwu who made the appeal during the 7th edition of Nigerian Nursing Excellent Awards, NNEA, in Lagos, stressed the important roles nurses and mid-wives play in ensuring a vibrant healthcare sector that delivers quality and equitable healthcare service for the masses.
Represented by the Director of Hospital Services in the Ministry, Dr. Patience Osinubi, the Minister noted that there is need for nurses to look inward in the quest to bring back the values on which the profession rest.
“We need to stop the blaming game, the condition of the hospital should not be an excuse for losing the sight of the values on which this profession rest.
“Nursing should be seen as a calling to serve humanity and not just a career.
What is most important is not your qualification but how much understanding you have about exhibiting kindness, patience, empathy, sacrifice and endurance even in the face of unfavourable working environment. Because this is a caring profession, it requires that the practitioners display these qualities always,” she added.
In her remark, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, from Lagos Central Senatorial District who was also represented by Rev. Funmi Braithwaite, the Secretary, Surulere Local Government area, stressed the need for nurses to look beyond their academic qualification and deliver their service to the best of their ability.
Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu, of BETCY group of companies Nigeria, stated that the viability and sustainability of a country’s economic and social growth depend largely on a vibrant healthcare sector that delivers comprehensive, quality and equitable health care services to her populace.

A woman in lagos has been caught with a dead day old baby in a sack

Woman caught with dead day old baby in sack in Lagos

A 40-year old widow named Mujidat was caught yesterday Wednesday October 30th with a dead day old baby she hid inside a sack around her residence at at the Iba area of Lagos, PM News reports.

It was gathered that a member of the community, High Chief Babatunde Balogun caught the mother of seven when she was trying to dispose the baby at about 5 p.m. on Wednesday. When questioned on the content of the sack, she claimed she was coming from the market where she bought some household items.

However, on a closer look, Balogun discovered that the sack contained a dead day old baby the woman allegedly had just delivered. He then called the attention of the other residents. Neighbours told P.M News that after Mujidat’s husband known as Baba Mushin died about three years ago, they have seen men visiting her residence, the house built by her late husband.

When asked if she planned to throw away the baby because of an alleged paternity mess, she denied, claiming that a welder turned block maker near her residence was responsible for the pregnancy that resulted in the birth of the dead baby she was caught with.

She claimed she took delivery of the baby by herself because she found it easy and therefore did not go to any hospital or sought anybody’s help.

At about 9 p.m yesterday when P.M.NEWS visited the area, residents of the area were still milling around the residence of the woman.

Officials of the Community Development Association, CDA, in the area later accompanied the woman and her sack of baby to the Isheri-Oshun Police Division where the matter was reported. At the time of this report, the woman was still being interrogated

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BMW armoured cars, not meant for meant for me says ms oduah

By Emman Ovuakporie, LAWANI MIKAIRU & Levinus NwAbuhiogu
ABUJA — MINISTER of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, yesterday, told members of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation that the BMW armoured cars that were allegedly bought at a cost of N255m by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, were not meant for her personal use.
As Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, also denied granting waiver for the clearing of the armoured cars.

I didn’t grant waiver for amoured cars —Okonjo-Iweala

The Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has denied granting waiver for the clearing of the armoured cars.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said in a statement issued by her Senior Special Assistant, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, in Abuja, that she only granted waiver for the clearing of cars to be used for 2012 National Sports Festival, EKO 2012, hosted by the Lagos State Government.
According to her, it was the Lagos State Government that applied for waivers for the importation of the vehicle for the festival, as contained in a letter dated June 23, 2012. She explained that the waiver affected Coscharis Motors Nigeria Ltd, only in relation to its being the official partner for the supply of automobiles for the sports festival and no more. The statement read in full:
“Recent media reports which claim that the Federal Ministry of Finance granted a waiver to Coscharis Motors Nigeria Ltd for the purchase of armoured cars are totally false and without foundation.
“Rather, on June 23, 2012, the Lagos State Government applied for Waiver of Destination Inspection Charges and Duty Exemptions for Coscharis Motors Nigeria Ltd, the official Automobile Partner for the National Sports Festival (“EKO 2012”), to purchase 300 vehicles on its behalf for the event.
“Since the Lagos State Government met the laid-down criteria, the waiver was granted.
“It is also important to clarify that the waiver granted to the Lagos State Government for the event did not include the purchase of armoured vehicles”.
Oduah disclosed this at the investigative hearing on the controversy on a day the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, clarified that she did not grant waivers for the controversial armoured cars.
Princess Oduah also told the committee that her media aides, who rose in her defence when the story broke by saying the cars were meant for her security, actually spoke in error.

Aviation Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah

In her 12-page presentation to the committee, she said: “As you all are aware, what necessitated this public hearing were the events that followed a false and malicious online publication that I had compelled the NCAA to purchase for me two (2) nos BMW bullet proof cars at the cost of $1.6million.
“Let me state emphatically from the onset that the allegation concerning the purchase of the two (2) nos bullet proof cars for me by the NCAA is false in its entirety.”
After reading her presentation, Rep Zakari Lafia Mohammed asked her whether it was a loan or lease that her agency obtained from First Bank of Nigeria, and she said it was the same, adding that the money NCAA would pay would still be below the N240million at the end of the year.
On whether she acted within the ambits of the law by giving approval beyond N100 million, she said she approved the money and asked the NCAA to do the needful. The committee and the Aviation Minister then engaged in an argument over what she meant by “needful.”
She had claimed that in her approval she said “kindly do the needful.” Rep Mohammed took her up by suggesting that “saying the needful means a go-ahead to implement.
Responding, Oduah said: “No, you are wrong on that, the needful does not mean full approval.”

My aides spoke in error—Oduah

On the defence put up by her media assistants, the minister said both assistants were wrong to have initially denied and also saying later the cars were bought for her for security reasons. According to her, the confirmation the media said they had was wrong. “As a matter of fact, their justification and confirmation which they brandished is nothing but the erroneous responses of my aides.”
She further said: “You may recall that there have been attempts at clarifying issues pertaining to this particular procurement. In the process, some of the issues were further muddled up. I mention in this regard the first attempt at clarifying the issue by the Coordinating Spokesperson for the parastatals when he was first confronted with the allegation, without recourse to the Minister or the Principal Officer of the Ministry and its agencies, who described the information as a mere rumour.
.”This was followed by the statement of my SA Media who was himself guided by his own perception of the duties and challenges of my office and possibly, even the danger to the person and office of the Minister. This is made evident by the fact that his statement focused on my personal security and safety without recourse to procurement process and policy file to which he had no access.”
The NCAA D-G, Fola Akinkuotu was then asked whether he did the needful, and he said he was not in-charge at NCAA when the order was given for the purchase.
Also, Permanent secretary of the ministry, George Ossi was then taken to task for allegedly misleading the minister by not advising her appropriately.
The committee said the permanent secretary ought to have asked the NCAA to do the right thing. The permanent secretary, however, claimed that due diligence ought to have been done by the agency before applying for approval. He claimed that he was not available at the time everything happened. The D-G also said he would have followed the Procurement Act if he was the one the directive was given to do the needful. He said the acting D-G, Joyce Daniel Nkemakolam ought to explain why he did not do that.
In his evidence, Nkemakolam said: “We interpreted the directive to mean to go through it in line with the Procurement Act”. He said due diligence was followed but they had a mindset that they were within the budget limits.
But when he was asked why he didn’t follow due diligence to ensure that it was in tandem with the procurement law, he said he thought since the agency had got the approval of the National Assembly, there was no need for such diligence. He was also asked why he initiated a memo to approve 54 vehicles when what the National assembly approved was 25 vehicles. He was reminded that what was approved was N240million and not N643million.
NCAA was further asked whether the board sought approval of the President to approve the car loan. Nkemakolam said he was working on the mindset that they were still within the approved limit explaining that what NCAA discussed with First Bank was a lease. He was asked whether the NCAA board approved the money and he said the NCAA has interim board and that he was working on account that it was a lease and not loan.

Drama in the house

The drama continued with Rep Manwe asking the former DG of NCAA to disclose who uses the controversial bullet-proof cars since the minister bluntly confessed that they were not bought for her use.
It was one question that got him jolted as minutes passed before he could provide an answer. And when he finally found his voice, he said: “Anybody can use the vehicles when they are in the pool. They are operational vehicles.”
But the lawmaker wouldn’t give up. He continued with a rider to the question. “Do you mean that a messenger or cleaner in the agency can use the cars?”
At this juncture, there was dead silence in the hearing room, with the D-G losing his voice for the second time. And when again, he found it, he answered this way: “Those categories of vehicles are for VIPs which include the minister, including you, the honourables.”
Just then a blast of laughter erupted in the hall which to some extent provided some comic relief to everyone. But Rep Manwe wouldn’t stop. He asked again: “Can we have the log book of the movement of the car?”
In a subdued voice, the D-G answered: “I am not a transport officer. I don’t know whether they are still keeping those log books.”
When it now became obvious that the D-G had exhausted all the answers he had, the lawmakers mandated the agency to bring the man who received the vehicles at the point of delivery by Coscharis Motors.
In her closing remark, the chairperson, Onyejeocha assured Nigerians that justice would be done to the report of the hearing.
“Fact speaks for itself. We have tried to listen to people — Coscharis, the minister, NCAA, First Bank, BPP and Customs, and we have their submissions with us. We will consider what we have whether it is in line with extant laws and financial regulations. We assure everyone and all Nigerians that we will do justice to this hearing,” Onyejeocha said.
Speaking with some journalists shortly after the hearing, the minister, Oduah expressed gratitude to the National Assembly for giving her an opportunity to present her own side of the story.

Police disperse pro-Oduah protesters in Abuja

A new dimension was added to the armoured cars saga, yesterday, in Abuja when the Police dispersed a group of women who staged a solidarity march for Stella Oduah. The women who numbered about 50 had stormed the Federal Secretariat, to protest against what they alleged was the continued harassment of Oduah.
They had had arrived the Federal Secretariat chanting solidarity songs in support of Oduah with placards of different inscriptions.
Some of the placards read “Leave Stella Oduah alone” “Stella has transformed the aviation sector.”
Speaking to journalists during the protest the leader of the group who identified herself as Rita Obu and President of Goodluck Jonathan Women Support Group alleged that there was an attempt by Stella Oduah’s political opponents to frame her up in the same manner they framed up Patricia Etteh, former Speaker of the House of Representatives. Etteh was forced to resign in 2007 over a scandal that erupted in the sixth assembly of the House. She was later exonerated of any wrongdoing by the lower Chamber of the National Assembly.
Commenting on the allegation that the Aviation Minister abused her office by pressurizing the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA to purchase the cars for her use, the leader of the group asked: “Is Stella Oduah the only minister or public officer for whom bullet-proof cars have been bought in this country?”
She continued: “What her male political opponents have done is to frame her up.
Whenever, any woman is appointed into any high office in this country, the men would go and rake up untidy things about her for the purpose of bringing her down. They should leave her alone”.
In response to a reporter’s question she asked “Have the men exposed other political office holders who are also riding bullet-proof cars ?”
“Have male political office holders who are using bullet-proof cars been removed from office?”
“I want all these questions answered” she said.
According to her: “I am not saying it is good or not good for top government officials to be driven in bullet proof cars.”
What has been done to others who are being driven around in security cars?” she asked.
She said she didn’t want to mention names but was aware that other ministers and even governors were being driven in bullet proof cars.
In response to another question about public outrage over the cost of the cars, she retorted “The cost of security cars bought for other past top government officers was also too high”.
She maintained that all other top government officials should also present their bullet proof cars for probe.
She denied that the group was sponsored by the Aviation Minister to embark on the protest adding that the group’s major goal was to protect the interest of women.
She cautioned President Goodluck Jonathan against sacking the Aviation Minister adding that it would be tantamount to partiality on his part.
She linked the agitation for the sack of Princess Oduah as part of a plot by a cabal to destabilize the Jonathan administration.
Another group which identified itself as the Grassroot Movement for Unity and Stability also participated in the protest alongside the women.
In a press release circulated at the venue of the protest and signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Edisemi Yiki, the group declared that “our society will die the day men and women of good conscience choose to remain silent in the face of cheap baseless blackmail which cannot be proved beyond reasonable doubt” .
According to the group: “We are concerned that certain persons have constituted themselves into a secret cabal with the sole aim to undermine and rubbish the developmental efforts of the Aviation Minister.”
The group further stated that some of the present administration’s enemies see Oduah “as a threat come 2015 especially because her political machine known as door-to-door contributed to President Jonathan’s victory at the 2011 polls”.