$620,000 bribe-for-clearance scandal: Lawan tenders shocking evidence before committee By Dele Anofi, Abuja

There were hints yesterday of the reasons behind the cofidence exuded by the embattled former Chairman of the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee on the Management of Fuel Subsidy, Mallam Farouk Lawan.
A National Assembly source told our correspondent that Lawan is set to shock Nigerians with proofs of his innocence. Lawan had once said he would be vindicated at the end of the investigation.
The House Committee on Ethics and Privileges on Thursday commenced investigation into the sum of $620,000 Lawan allegedly collected from the Chairman of Zenon Petroleum, Femi Otedola.
Lawan, who entered the investigation room at 1:06pm   on Thursday appeared unruffled by the media attention the allegation of bribery levelled against him has gained in recent time. On sighting the more than 50 newsmen who had waited earnestly for his arrival, he said, “Mr Chairman, it is a full house.”
However, contrary to earlier promise by the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed, that the session would be open to media coverage, the Chairman of the Committee, Gambo Dan-Musa asked journalists to leave after he had read his address.
Mohammed later defended the Committee’s decision to hold the investigation behind closed door. According to the House Spokesman, the decision was to avoid distraction as other investigations on the same matter were going on.
He said the Committee would not want media attention to create a situation where evidence of one investigation would affect the course of the other.
According to the source, the lawmaker, who was also relieved of his chairmanship of the Education Committee, was not only relaxed throughout the session, he was very cooperative and was ready to assist the committee in its assignment.
Saying that Nigerians are in for a shock concerning the bribe, the source affirmed that the issue of the whereabouts of the money would be laid to rest by the time the report of the Committee is tabled before the House.
Asked about the disposition of Lawan to the Committee’s questions, the source said: “He was confident in the way he carried himself, because he has proof. He did not fidget and he gave us the relevant things we requested from him.
“You know he was Vice Chairman of Ethics committee in 1999. So, he knew the extent the Ethics Committee could go. So, he was quite open. The reality is that he has all the text messages. He has evidence that will shock everybody with the little we got from him.”
The source also revealed that the Committee was cautious but firm about the whereabouts of the cash, going by past experience. “Nobody saw any money with the former Speaker Adolphus Wabara.  Where he fell into the trap was that he allowed himself to be deceived. They cajoled him that he should accept that he took the money and that he should pay back and that there won’t be any problems. He fell for it and went and dropped the money. As soon as he dropped the money, they nailed him.
“As for Farouk, he did not deny collecting the money as he seemed to be aware of the consequences, but the whereabouts of the money is what the investigation should determin.”
He also said that the main focus of the Committee is to ascertain the relationships between the alleged bribe and the outcome of the report.
“Our own job basically is to find out if he went out to take bribe to influence the report in any way. You should not forget that Otedola has three companies involved in the case.
“One can recall that the report was tabled on the 19th. If they had taken money from anybody, why would they be indicted. You know their mandate was PMS. This is a very simple matter. If your company was not involved and you have documents to back it up, then present it.
“In the case of Zenon, he made documents available. But as for AP, he did not present any document and that was why AP was still there. He started helping the committee by giving them information. At the end of the day, it turned  around. The story changed and started with some threats, but Farouk went to get that money to save himself, not knowing at that point too, the man was also looking for how to blackmail him.
“That is basically how far I can go with you until the man appears before us to have a look at another angle to the saga. But from what he has, Nigerians will be shocked.”

Unmasking Sambo Dasuki the new NSA

Following rage over heightened insecurity in the country, President Goodluck Jonathan last Friday wielded the big stick by removing the National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoye Azazi (retd) and the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Haliru Bello. While still shopping for a new Defence Minister, the President appointed Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) as the new National Security Adviser. In this piece, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Yusuf Alli and Dare Odufowokan explore his strengths and weaknesses
Against permutations, President Goodluck Jonathan bowed to public yearning to review the nation’s security apparatchik and stem the spate of bombings in the country. Barely a few hours after returning from the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the President removed Gen. Owoye Azazi as the National  Security Adviser and fired the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Haliru Bello. Coming in from the cold from the Tsunami was Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd), who emerged as the new National Security Adviser. Apart from being a blue-blooded scion of Sokoto Caliphate and a former Aide-de-Camp to ex- Military President Ibrahim Babangida, Col. Sambo could pass for a taciturn. This explains why every Nigerian is interested in knowing the antecedents and capability of the new NSA. The questions in the week bordered on the following: Who is he?  Is he not a Colonel, how will he command the respect of the service chiefs? Does he know anything about intelligence gathering? Can he solve this problem?

The politics of the sack
There were many speculations on why the President unceremoniously removed his NSA and Defence Minister. While some attributed the sack to a genuine concern to address the Boko Haram insurgency, some claimed that the summons from the House of Representatives gingered him into action and a few others attributed it to pressure from World leaders on Jonathan at the summit in Brazil. It was learnt that no world leader, encountered the President without a reference to the insecurity in the country. Nigerians living in Brazil were also not left out of the agitation for action. According to investigation, the President had wanted to make the announcement from Brazil but he exercised restraint until after a ‘valedictory’ session. The haste with which the announcement was twitted by the presidency suggested a different signal and alluded to the wake-up call from some world leaders in Brazil. The method was a rapid departure from the status quo. But a source said: “If you know about security, such an appointment like that of the NSA could not have been done in a hurry. The President did his homework before arriving at Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). It might interest you that some former military leaders, those you did not expect were consulted.”
Investigation by The Nation also revealed that the events that led to the ouster of Azazi and Bello started with an interim report submitted to the presidency by one of the committees set up to look into the Boko Haram crises.
The committee, whose members were also at one point saddled with the task of dialoguing with the sect, according to reliable sources, recommended the appointment of northerners into some positions in government as a means of diffusing the tension in the north and preventing a backlash should the government decide to use maximum force to quell the uprising in the north.
“As part of the build up to frontally confront the Boko Haram menace, the committee, having failed to get the sect to lay down their arms after months of negotiation, adviced the President to embark on actions that will give the north more sense of belonging in his government,” a source said.
One of such is that he should appoint more northerners into key positions in the administration. Specifically, he was told to give the job of solving the Boko Haram problem to a northerner by appointing a northerner as his NSA. He was also advised to consult former Heads of states on how to go about the issue, especially those from the northern region,” our source claimed.

Azazi’s, Bello’s last ‘supper’ with Jonathan
When Jonathan returned last Friday and summoned an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, members regarded it as routine stock-taking session. The President, however, played a fast one on the team. He placed only Boko Haram as the sole agenda for the session in what appeared a hint of what he intended. Yet, it was difficult for council members to read his mood and to understand that it was a rare supper for Azazi and Bello. A source said: “Each member of the council took time to offer suggestions on the way out of the Boko Haram menace.

Sambo is fluent in Hausa and English; semi-fluent in Spanish and French languages. As a royal scion, his hobbies include Horse riding, Traveling, Polo and Scrabble. Before his appointment, he was on the board of some firms like  MegaCards Ltd.;
Regency Alliance Insurance Plc.; Seokwang Construction and Engineering WA Ltd.; Kinley Securities ; and Sealog Nigeria Ltd
But of all his accomplishments, Sambo came into national prominence when he emerged as the first Aide-de-Camp (ADC) of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida after the palace coup which toppled the regime of Major General Muhammadu Buhari on August 27, I985. As a Major, he was said to have teamed up with other Majors like Abdulmuminu Aminu and Abubakar Dangiwa Umar to ease out Buhari and the dreaded late Gen. Babatunde Idiagbon from power.

Is he really a novice?
Since his appointment, there has been the tendency to write off the NSA as a novice because the highest political office he occupied in the military was ADC to ex-Military President, Ibrahim Babangida. But apart from his royal background, Sambo has over the years commanded much respect from the military elite in the North and key ones from the South, like ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. Although he had been out of the military since 1993, he could be rated as one of the “power brokers” behind the scene who have helped to stabilise our democracy.  He is member of the military cabal in the North whose backing is required to resolve the Boko Haram menace. In a copy by a respected investigative journalist, Henry Ugbolue of The News Magazine on June 12, 2000, he described Sambo Dasuki as one of the eight men behind the then new administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. He wrote: “Colonel Sambo Dasuki, former aide-de-camp of General Babangida, played a big role in the emergence of the Obasanjo presidency. It was known that Sambo Dasuki, then exiled, joined Gusau to prevail on the military regime of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar to accept Obasanjo. The  story has it that Sambo Dasuki told both Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar that if another leader from the South-west other than Obasanjo became the president, they would be probed and probably jailed or even killed. “Babangida thereafter worked on the regime of  Abubakar to prepare grounds for the emergence of Obasanjo….while abroad, Sambo Dasuki who is the eldest son of Alhaji Ibrahim  Dasuki, the deposed Sultan of Sokoto, zealously worked on several  retired military officers of Northern extraction to accept Obasanjo.  Sambo eventually entered the country quietly early 1999 to continue his high-wire campaign for Obasanjo. With victory secured, Obasanjo quietly named Sambo the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Security and Printing Corporation (MINT). The President (Obasanjo as it were), The News learnt still consults Sambo Dasuki on a number of issues.”

Unknown strengths of the new NSA
According to findings, the real moral asset of the new NSA is his ability to call a spade a spade. Unknown to many, Dasuki was one of the few loyal military officers, like Brig.-Gen. David Mark, Col. Abubakar Umar, who stood up to their boss, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, and asked him to step aside in August 1993. Babangida knew the game was up the moment his boys like Dasuki told him to his face to quit. Another instance of Dasuki’s courage was when he squared up to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, who was trying to molest his father.  The NSA soothingly bluffed Abacha long before his father, ex-Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki, was deposed in 1996. His audacity earned him an untimely retirement from the Nigerian Army from the maximum dictator.
Besides Abacha, as steely as ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo was in power, the NSA opposed moves by his administration to privatise the Nigerian Security Minting and Printing Company. He had on March 26, 2002 appeared before the House of Representatives with a former Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Kayode Naiyeju, to make his position known. He insisted that NSPMC deals with sensitive security documents which cannot be left either in the hands of the private sector or a foreign investor. He said: “I do not favour that (privatisation of Mint). I have looked at the people we should be copying from, I can’t see any. Everywhere, it is government business. As a Nigerian who votes, I think it is the wrong way to go about.” He countered the allegation that NSPMC is not viable, saying: “My immediate reaction is to ignore the statement because it was made out of ignorance.”
He stressed that even if government is poised to privatize Mint, it should be based on truth and not running down a company before it is privatized. When he was the lone voice, he resigned as the Managing Director of the Mint to drive home his point.
A source in Sokoto said: “Sambo might sit for hours without talking but he can brave the odds to stand out in the crowd. He goes to where all of you fear to tread. But he is a good listener and quick to apologize once he is convinced that he is at fault. I remember that as a Colonel, he had a sharp disagreement with a top Army Officer and the case got to his father, His Eminence Dasuki. When he was summoned by his father, he just prostrated with his face down as the father was scolding him. He did not say a word and he left Sokoto immediately to apologize to the Superior Officer.” He lived up to this rating on Thursday when he visited Yobe State which is a foremost enclave of Boko Haram. His body language suggested that he is taking the battle to the sect.
A cosmopolitan Nigerian, the NSA has lived more in Lagos than Sokoto. As a matter of fact, he is said to have 90 per cent of his businesses in Lagos where he is often more at home.

How will he cope with service chiefs?
Immediately Sambo’s appointment was announced, a major challenge raised was how a Colonel will be managing or commanding Service Chiefs who are mostly Generals. But a source said: “By virtue of military tradition, seniority is based on year of commissioning. Sambo passed out of the NDA many years ahead of the service chiefs. There is no cause for alarm in that respect.
“Have these service chiefs not been taking instructions or directives from civilian Defence Ministers?

The ball is in Sambo’s court
As for Nigerians, the ball is now in Sambo’s court. On Thursday, he was in Yobe to assess the security situation. He personally took the battle to the Lion’s den. The visit may be a confirmation of his readiness for the job. But the nation is awaiting his magic wand. Certainly, he deserves the sympathy of all because this assignment could make or mar his career.

Boko Haram: NSA adopts new tactics, meets Shuwa, Abba Kyari, Ciroma By Yusuf Alli,

National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd)
The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), yesterday continued his shuttle of trouble spots by meeting with elders in Borno State.
It was learnt that Dasuki has opted for dialogue instead of carrying the battle to the doorstep of Boko Haram.
Investigation revealed that the NSA had closed door session with Borno elders, including a former Minister of Communications, Gen. Mohammed Shuwa; ex-Military Governor of the North-East, Brig-Gen. Abba Kyari; Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Umaru Shehu; Ambassador Usman Galtimari (who recently headed a presidential committee on the crisis in the North-East) and a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), Comrade Ali Ciroma.
A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: "The NSA is trying to change his tactics. He is exploring dialogue with all leaders in the troubled spots. He said instead of taking the battle to the doorstep of Boko Haram, it is better to facilitate dialogue.
"He is engaging all these leaders in order to mobilise them to play key roles in prevailing on the sponsors of Boko Haram to sheathe their swords. The truth is that some of the sponsors are known to the locals.
"And Northern leaders are working covertly to assist him to restore peace to all the affected states in the North."
Asked if the government will concede anything to Boko Haram leaders, the source said: "We have not got to that level because the NSA is reaching out to the elders to facilitate dialogue on terms acceptable to all."
But the NSA said yesterday that he has not fixed any timeline to put an end to the Boko Haram insurgency.
He said he did not make any January 20 commitment to resolve the violence in the North.
A statement issued on Friday by the Special Assistant to the NSA on Media, Karounwi Adekunle, said: "The NSA has denied reports quoting him as putting a timeline to the end of Boko Haram Islamist sect hostility in parts of the country.
"The NSA, who is on tour of some states where Boko Haram hostility has been rampant to meet stakeholders in such areas, was quoted in some media reports to have said that an end will come to Boko Haram hostility before the commencement of Ramadan Fast.
"The NSA never at any forum in Potiskum, Damaturu, both Yobe State on Thursday or today in Maiduguri, Borno State said he will bring an end to the sect's hostility before the start of Ramadan fast.
"His cogent message in all the meetings he's held so far with some stakeholders is the need for leaders to reach out and prevail on Boko Haram members to cease fire so as to create room for dialogue.
"This clarification has become necessary to avoid further spread of this misinformation and unnecessary insinuations."

culled from Nation Newspaper

Fuel scarcity looms as marketers shun Q3 importation By Emeka Ugwuanyi

  

Shortage of petrol looms nationwide from next month as oil marketers serve a notice of their intention to shun importation of products in the third quarter.
The country imports the bulk of its petrol needs through a subsidy regime.
The marketers blame their decision on lack of funds and inability to secure loans from banks as a result of the N200 billion owed them by the government.
In a joint letter written to the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Mr. Reginald Stanley, dated June 22, enumerated factors responsible for their inability to execute the third quarter import permits.
The letter ii signed by Chief Sylverius Okoli, Chairman, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA); Mr. Obafemi Olawore, Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN); Mr. Mike Osatuyi, National Secretary, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN); and Mr. Venkataraman Ventatapathy, Managing Director, Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO).
Titled: “PMS allocations under the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) scheme for the third quarter 2012,” the letter reads: “We the downstream petroleum industry companies from the private sector participating in the PSF scheme hereby acknowledge receipt of the Q3 2012 PMS allocations.
“The current business environment in the sector makes it necessary to bring to your attention factors that inhibit our ability to import the said volumes in Q3 2012.
“Due to the fact that issuance of Sovereign Debt Notes covering balance 2011 and current 2012 PMS import transactions were initially severely delayed and now currently suspended, we have huge outstanding, verified and unpaid subsidy claims in excess of N200 billion from the Federal Government.
“Non-reimbursement of the subsidy claims impairs the ability of any company to meet its obligations to the banks for loans advanced for the purpose of importing PMS under the scheme for the Nigerian public.
“This inability to repay has led to significant interest rate and exchange rate differential exposure which have to be claimed by the participating companies and reimbursed by the Federal Government.
“Conflicting statements by senior government officials as to the adequacy or inadequacy of the amount appropriated for subsidy in 2012 and the subsequent halt in issuance of the Sovereign Debt Notes as stated above, has led to an atmosphere of extreme uncertainty in which most banks are reluctant to provide further funding for importers and others are only willing, under extremely severe and uneconomic terms for our companies.
“Meanwhile, the volume of imports by our companies is dwindling at an alarming rate, due to non-reimbursement of outstanding subsidy claims and the inability of importing companies to secure financing. Despite the recent allocations awarded, there is currently no prospect for a reversal of this trend, which has immense implications for the efficient supply and distribution of PMS to the Nigerian public. Based on the foregoing, we hereby request that as a matter of extreme urgency and as the only means to ensure continued importation and supply of regulated products (PMS and HHK), the following actions are taken:
•The Ministry of Finance ensures the immediate resumption of the issuance of Sovereign Debt Notes by the Debt Management Office for all legitimate transactions that have been completed and audited.
•The PPPRA ensures conclusion and calculation of all outstanding legitimate claims (including but not limited to foreign exchange and interest rate differential claims) by June 30, 2012.
•The Ministry of Finance ensures cash backing for the Sovereign Debt Notes that have already been issued and payment effected.
•All valid outstanding claims for 2011 and 2012 be paid without further delay.
•A statement assuring the finance community of the Federal Government’s ability and willingness to make good its obligation to importers in relation to the subsidy scheme be issued by PPPRA and the office of the Honourable Minister of Finance.
“We believe that these actions will provide the necessary assurance to importers and financial institutions to enable continued importation and distribution of PMS in the country.”
The PPPRA in the first quarter issued permits to 42 oil depots and facility owners to import a total of 3,755,000 metric tones of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), which is equivalent to 5,035,455,000,000 litres.

culled from Nation Newspaper

Boko Haram: NSA Dasuki in push for ceasefire By Duku Joel, Damaturu

    


President Goodluck Jonathan has mandated National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki to ensure the end of bombings in the North before the beginning of Ramadan – the Islamic Holy month.
Moslems are expected to fast during the period, which is likely to begin on July 20.
Col. Dasuki (rtd), who was appointed this week, launched out yesterday on a visit to Yobe State, one of the hotbeds of the Islamist sect Boko Haram insurgency.
He met with religious and traditional leaders as well as the state government.
After meeting with Governor Ibrahim Gaidam in Damaturu, the state capital, Col. Dasuki said:  “I was in Potiskum and what I saw is pathetic. I don’t see how anybody is benefitting out of this problem (bombings). The concern of the President is that we are approaching the Ramadan and he does not want the Umma to observe Ramadan under this crisis.
“The mandate is to come and commiserate with the state and put heads together, starting with an immediate ceasefire while other things follow.
 “I know some of the complaints, like unemployment and lack of development etc.; all these things will not come unless there is peace.
“The Federal government will not build roads in Yobe unless, contractors come and contractors will not come if their lives are not safe. It’s a chicken and egg thing. Unless we stop the violence, we cannot start development. Unless we start development, we cannot start generating jobs. So, there will also be unemployment, which means there will always be recruits for whoever is doing this.
“But I am sure that with your leadership and your aid, we should be able to find a way out of this. Those achievements we have recorded are not enough. We must go back to the norm so that life will flourish because I don’t think anybody can achieve anything in this condition.”
Col. Dasuki added: “When I went to Potiskum, I told the Mai Fika (traditional ruler of the town) that as royal fathers, they must take it as a challenge to reach out to our people who are responsible for this crisis. If there is a feeling of lack of trust, they cannot distrust the rulers because he will not betray them and I will not betray the traditional rulers.
“I am committed to this course and whatever the agreement is, that is what I will implement. “
Gaidam said the emergency rule imposed on some local governments has so far cost the state about N1.2billion.
The governor said his administration spends N40 million monthly on logistics for the police. He did not quantify what he has been spending on the military.
He described Dasuki’s appointment as a clear sense of  a new strategy in the fight against insecurity, adding that this shows that there is  hope.
“There is an indication that our hope, pride and identity as citizens of this great country would be restored,” Gaidam said.
He urged the Federal Government to deploy more troops in the state and the army to quickly take possession of the barracks at Kukareta, which has recently been provided with water and electricity by his administration.
The governor said his administration was ready to join hands with the Federal Government for lasting peace to the state.
“The option of dialogue and negotiation should be pursued as a priority, provided the insurgents are willing to accept the call for dialogue,” Gaidam said.

Soldiers destroy 50,000 drums of illegally refined diesel

|
Men of Operation Thunderstorm in Edo, on Wednesday, destroyed over 50,000 drums containing illegally refined diesel products.

The drums were destroyed at Gelegele Community in  Ovia North East Local Government Council of Edo State.

Gelegele is a riverine community, located about 70 kilometres from Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Investigations revealed that the diesel was refined in illegal refineries located in the creeks of Ondo, Delta and Bayelsa states.

Gelegele residents wept profusely as they watched helplessly while the soldiers destroyed what they regarded as their means of livelihood.

The residents said they took to the illegal trade as their last option because the activities of oil companies had destroyed their farmlands and aquatic lives.

"We don't know that it is illegal. It is our means of survival. Our land does not produce anything. Government should provide alternative jobs for us. There is nothing we can do,’’ a woman resident in the community told the News Agency of Nigeria  (NAN).

The Operational Commander of Operation Thunderstorm, Major Yusuf Ishaku, warned the villagers to desist from buying illegally refined petroleum products.

He told them that the security outfit would return to destroy more drums and vehicles used for illegal activities.
Yusuf warned them saying: "this business is illegal business.

``Channel your grievances through the right path. Do not put your money in this business again. This is a bunkering community as far as we are concerned.
"We will come again if you continue doing this business. Desist from it. Our next visit will be worse,” he said.

800 Workers Fired from Mainstreet Bank as Labour Orders Immediate Reversal of Termination | Nigerian Bulletin

800 Workers Fired from Mainstreet Bank as Labour Orders Immediate Reversal of Termination | Nigerian Bulletin

Police arrest 147 youths over Kaduna violence THURSDAY, 28 JUNE NAN

The Police in Kaduna State on Wednesday said they had arrested 147 youths for alleged involvement in reprisal attacks in Kaduna. The state's Commissioner of Police, Mr Jinjiri Abubakar, who made the disclosure at a news conference in Kaduna, said the suspects were being investigated for possible prosecution.
The suspects were arrested in connection with reprisal attacked that followed bomb attacks on churches in Kaduna and Zaria on June 17.
The command also urged the public to ignore a video recording portraying security agents purportedly dumping a large consignment of bodies killed during the attacks in parts of the state.
``Residents of Kaduna State of course, know that the background of the video, the accent of the people talking, the police vehicle and neem (Dogonyaro) trees have no bearing whatsoever to Kaduna State.
`` Members of the public are therefore, advised to ignore it as it is nothing but the handiwork of enemies of peace, ``Abubakar said.
He said the police and other law enforcement agencies were working to maintain law and order in the state.

Birth Control Law to be Introduced in Nigeria-

Recently during the inauguration of Chairman and Commissioners of the National Population Commission (NPC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan mentioned that a bill may soon be sponsored at the National Assembly which will seek to ensure birth control in the country.
Birth Control; Is it a welcome develoment considering Nigeria as a multi-religious Nation even though the president has cautioned all Religious Leaders to dissociate themselves from opposing the Law as it is in the best interest of Nigerians. Now How do religious Leaders view this New Develoment whereas we all believe that childrens are Gift from God?

Smugglers battle Nigeria Customsmen

Smugglers battle Nigeria Customsmen

Guns boom in Kano, Yobe

   

•STEPPING IN: The new National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja…yesterday
-Policeman, four gunmen dead -Security tips for churches, mosques

Guns boomed again in Kano, the North’s commercial engine-room, and Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, last night.
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEAs) were set off in attacks on a police station and a prison in Kano. The Joint Task Force (JTF) returned  fire, combing the area for suspects.
Yesterday’s terror strike coincided with the resumption in Abuja of the newly appointed National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki.
Kano and Damaturu have been the centre of operations by terrorists, particularly the Islamist Boko Haram (Western education is sin).
In Kano, gunmen suspected to be members of the sect stormed the police station and the prison yard near frontline businessman Ishyaku Rabiu’s home in Dala Local Government within the metropolis. They set off explosives and fired guns sporadically.
The incident, which happened from about 5:30 p.m., left residents in fear.
“We heard multiple sounds of explosions followed by shootings. As I am speaking with you now, the frightening sounds of gunshots are still reverberating. We cannot ascertain where the shots and bombings are coming from.
“People who left for the day’s business cannot come back home. Some of us inside our homes are trapped. No one goes out or comes in. Children and women are wailing. It is a terrible situation,” a resident said on the telephone.
Security sources said the terrorists planted over 20 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) within the area.
 “We were very surprised at the attack. But I want to assure you that we are on top of the situation. As I am speaking to you now, we are taking them on a deadly shootout. There is heavy reinforcement of the JTF.
“We have cordoned off the area with over 15 Hilux vehicles. We warned them and they must surrender. We are not taking chances. They must be brought down to their knees,” a member of the JTF operation team said on telephone.
The Goron Dutse Police Station was attacked with explosives.
Five persons  - a police corporal and four terrorists – were killed, a police source said last night.
Explosions were also heard at Challawa Area near the Mobile Police Formation.
At the spot of the attack, there is a police barracks and a prison and no one could tell the main target of the attack.
As at the time of filing in this report, the total casualty figure could not be ascertained.
In Damaturu, unidentified gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram launched another onslaught  on the city.
Commissioner of Police Patrick Egbuniwe confirmed the incident last night.
The Nation  gathered from Sabon Pegi residents close to the scene of the exchange of fire that “the battle was fiecre and scary”.
There were thunderous blasts and sporadic gunshots that  resonated across the town at about 5:30pm, sending cold shivers in the spines of residents.
Loud explosions were heard near the Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu but the CP said the attackers were repelled from entering the school.
He however noted that the police and the Joint Task Force  (JTF) could not ascertain any damage because the incident took place “very late”.
“Right now, we don’t know what damage has been caused because this took place very late as you can see,” Egbuniwe said.
Students of Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu were last Thursday asked to vaccate the campus till further notice following the Monday attacks in the town.
The latest attack came barely 24 hours after the government had further relaxed the 18 hours curfew from 6pm to 7am daily.

Jonathan sacks NNPC GMD, board By Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

An earthquake hit the National Petroleum Commission (NNPC) yesterday.
Group Managing Director Mr. Austen Oniwon was removed. Gone with him is the oil giant’s entire management board.
Andrew Yakubu, an engineer, is now the GMD. Yakubu graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in 1979, with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He joined the NNPC in 1980. He has been Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company and Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production). Yakubu is an indigene of Kaduna State and a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
According to a statement by presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati, the sack is to further strengthen the ongoing reforms and transformation of the petroleum sector.
Besides, he stated, the action of the President was in furtherance of efforts to achieve greater transparency and accountability in government.
The statement reads:
“To further strengthen the ongoing reforms and transformation of Nigeria’s petroleum sector, and in furtherance of efforts to achieve greater transparency  and accountability in government, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the re-composition of the executive management team of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as follows:
“Andrew Yakubu - Group Managing Director;  Mr. Bernard O.N. Otti - Group Executive Director (Finance and Accounts); Abiye Membere - Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production); Dr. Peter S. Nmadu - Group Executive Director (Corporate Services); Anthony Ogbuigwe - Group Executive Director (Refineries & Petrochemicals); Dr. Attahir B. Yusuf - Group Executive Director (Commercial & Investments); Dr. David Ige - Group Executive Director (Gas & Power).
“President Jonathan has also approved the appointment of Victor Briggs as the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).
“The incumbent Group Managing Director, Austen Oniwon, and Mr. Michael Arokodare (outgoing Group Executive Director (Finance and Accounts), Mr. Philip Chukwu, outgoing Group Executive Director (Refineries & Petrochemicals), and Billy Agha, outgoing Group Executive Director (Engineering & Technology) are to proceed on retirement.
“President Jonathan commends the outgoing directors for their service to the nation and urges the new management team to be fully committed to rapidly implementing the critical interventions needed to positively transform Nigeria’s petroleum industry.”
Oniwon spent 14 months after he was due for retirement.
Oniwon was due for retirement on April 1, 2011, when he turned 60, which is the mandatory retirement age. But the presidency extended his tenure, which by the reorganisation ended yesterday.
Chukwu had about two years to retire. He served  as the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) before being moved to head the Research and Development Division  where he became the Managing Director of National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO). He was promoted to Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production appointed and later Group Executive Director, Refineries and Petrochemicals, a position he held until yesterday.
   culled from Nation Newspaper

Jonathan on security: more heads to roll By Onyedi Ojiabor and Kazeem Ibrahym,

SECURITY remained on the front burner yesterday, with the President telling Nigerians that this country is “in a trying period”.
He pleaded that the stifling situation should not be politicised.
The reorganisation and repositioning in the security agencies will continue, he said.
Dr Goodluck Jonathan spoke at the opening of Senate 2012 Retreat, with the theme: “The National Assembly and National Security: Securing the Future for Development” in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
The President has just removed National Security Adviser (NSA) Andrew Azazi and Defence Minister Haliru Mohammed Bello.
The Uyo ceremony was well attended, with Senators chatting and pumping hands. Senate President David Mark seemed to have set the tone for the conviviality. He told the gathering that bombings by the Islamist sect, Boko Haram would not stop the government’s programmes.
To Dr Jonathan, it is “unfortunate” that politics has become a major source of insecurity as shown in the “do-or-die politics” of some politicians.
He particularly referred to “bitter and inflammatory statements emanating from some politicians”, which “have recent times in the history of this country consumed thousands of innocent lives”.
“Now is the time for us to reclaim our prosperity. We must not play politics with everything particularly on sensitive matters of National Security,” said the President, adding:
“This is a trying period for all of us. Nigerians deserve a country that is peaceful and secure.
“As elected leaders, our primary responsibility is to protect all our citizenry and those who come here to work and visit.
“As food security is necessary, we want national security. We are committed to fiscal responsibility and consolidation.
“We recognised that we have several challenges, including terrorism, which undermines our national security.
“The Senate needs a body of all political parties to work to elevate national security above politics.
“We have experienced militancy in the oil producing areas in the South, kidnapping and cyber crimes in our country.
“Unfortunately, politics has become a major source of insecurity as evidenced in the do-or-die politics of some politicians.
“The root cause of this menace is weak moral foundations, poverty, dirty politics, poor governance, unemployment and fanatism.
“Whatever may be the cause, the solution lies in stronger union.”
The President went philosophical. He said: “If God didn’t will it, we will not be together today as a country of Christians, Moslems and traditionalists.
“If God didn’t will it, we will not be together as people of ethnic groups. If God didn’t will it, we will not be Nigerians of today.
“Our unity is the will of God.
Those who want to weaken us use axes but we’ve refused to be weakened.
“Let us unite to defeat the forces of darkness. Let us unite to prosper. We must work together to achieve our national security objectives.
“Although our system of brotherliness rests on separation of powers among the three arms of government, this principle doesn’t call for working in silence. It calls for synergy and modality of purpose.
“Our country has walked a difficult road since our independence in
1960 but make no mistake Nigeria is moving forward.”
On corruption, he noted that governance requires that the government must continue to tackle the menace at all levels.
The President noted that the executive and legislative arms of the government must continue to work together to fight corruption.
Jonathan said the government has over the past one year intensified the security system and has carefully studied the activities of terrorists around the continent.
He stressed that no challenge is too difficult when leaders cooperate, adding: “I believe through the support of our legislature we will bring the menace of Boko Haram to an end.”
Jonathan urged the National Assembly to review laws that would make it easier to track down terrorists and duly punish them.
On budget, he said that national budget should always be seen as Nigerian budget and not executive budget.
He noted that it was only when annual budget was seen as a fiscal estimate meant to better the lives of Nigerians that its implementation would be easy.
He said: “I want to appeal to the National Assembly, we don’t need to quarrel over the budget; the budget is for Nigeria.”
Mike identified Boko Haram (Western education is sin) insurgency as a major security challenge.
Mark warned that if care was not taken to confront Boko Haram, the sect’s activities might lead the country to break up.
He said: “The question is, ‘can elders in the North solve this menace? If they can’t, let them say so. Because the impression the government is getting is that there are some groups of elders who can solve the problem.
“I think it is proper for them to come out to solve the problem because Nigeria has to be one for others to exist.
“The way the Boko Haram exercise is going at the moment, God forbid, it may result into the break-up of this country because people will not take it for too long. I called on the elders to come out frankly and assist to solve the problem.”
He went on: “How long will the people wait? There is limit to patience, even when it is stated that vengeance is of God”.
Mark insisted that government programmes must continue, despite increasing terrorist activities.
“Once you stop carrying out your programme, then the terrorists have succeeded. Government programme, must go on as designed.
“If Mr. President is to visit Borno State tomorrow, he must visit it.
He mustn’t stop because of Boko Haram,” said the Senate President, adding: “If Mr. President is to visit Port Harcourt tomorrow, he must make that visit because the moment the terrorists stop you from accomplishing any government programme then they have succeeded and we don’t want them to succeed.
“The consequences of Boko Haram at the moment are so numerous. There is already mass movement on regional basis, which is not good for this country.
“It is also promoting ethnic, religious conflicts, which are also not good for this country.”
The Senate President lamented that underdevelopment in the north has become “very” obvious.
His words: “Already, people are saying the North is not developed and now with Boko Haram; will that add to the development in the North? The answer is no; we are shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Mark urged the government to direct its searchlight to how terrorists are funded and where their training is being carried out.
But noted that the solution to Boko Haram now is that “we must dialogue with the group”.
But he insisted that the sect must make their leaders known “because government cannot dialogue with a faceless group.”
According to him, if leaders of Boko Haram come out today for the dialogue, “they will not be arrested because we need to know the people behind them”.
Mark said that the fact that leaders of the sect have refused to come out for dialogue is because they know what they are doing is evil.
He said: “We must revisit the current law on terrorism. We must seek external support and cooperation.
“We shouldn’t be ashamed to do so because if we can’t handle the situation we need to seek support.
“All over the world, there is cooperation. Britain is cooperating with America; Israel is cooperating America on terrorism. So, we cannot be an Island on our own.”
He said, “The problem we have in this country today is Boko Haram as far as security is concerned.
“People have stated the causes of the action of the Boko Haram sect.
“They say it is poverty. To me, poverty is not the reason. If every poor man decides to be a suicide bomber, Nigeria’s safety would not exist.
“Secondly, people have said it is lack of education; I agreed, but we cannot overcome that overnight.
“Government has taken the right steps in educating the almajaris in the North.  We have agreed that the almajaris must be properly educated.
“When we talk of unemployment; again when everybody that is unemployed decides to become a suicide bomber, who is going to remain and how many people are going to be employed?
I don’t think there is any country in the world everybody is employed, but government should create and must make efforts to create a conducive environment for most Nigerians to be employed.”
Mark said that religious fundamentalism must be addressed as a way out of the nation’s security challenges.
He said: “I am not in any way a religious scholar, but out of curiosity I read a paper the other day about Islamic belief and stand on suicide bomber and it is the same on the Christian stand on suicide.
“If you commit suicide as a Christian, you are destined for hell.
Islam has the same provision.
“So who are these preachers who are telling them (Boko Haram adherents) ‘as a suicide bomber you go to heaven and there will be 77 virgins for you’.
“I think there is something fundamentally wrong with that preaching, but I believe that we must begin to look at what we say and make sure that that sort of preaching does not hold ground.”

Ethiopia: Genomics and African Queens 21 JUNE 2012

   
Researchers have started to unveil the genetic heritage of Ethiopian populations, who are among the most diverse in the world, and lie at the gateway from Africa. They found that the genomes of some Ethiopian populations bear striking similarities to those of populations in Israel and Syria, a potential genetic legacy of the Queen of Sheba and her companions.

The team detected mixing between some Ethiopians and non-African populations dating to approximately 3,000 years ago. The origin and date of this genomic admixture, along with previous linguistic studies, is consistent with the legend of the Queen of Sheba, who according to the Ethiopian Kebra Nagast book had a child with King Solomon from Israel and is mentioned in both the Bible and the Qur'an.

Ethiopia is situated in the horn of Africa, and has often been regarded as one of the gateways from Africa to the rest of the world. The Ethiopian region itself has the longest fossil record of human history anywhere in the world. Studying population genetics within this diverse region could help us to understand the origin of the first humans.

"From their geographic location, it is logical to think that migration out of Africa 60,000 years ago began in either Ethiopia or Egypt. Little was previously known about the populations inhabiting the North-East African region from a genomic perspective. This is the first genome study on a representative panel of Ethiopian populations," explains Luca Pagani, first author from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge. "We wanted to compare the genome of Ethiopians with other Africans to provide an essential piece to the African - and world - genetic jigsaw."

They found that the Ethiopian genome is not as ancient as was previously thought and less ancient than the genomes of some Southern African populations. There were also links with other populations.

"We found that some Ethiopians have 40-50% of their genome closer to the genomes of populations outside of Africa, while the remaining half of their genome is closer to populations within the African continent," says Dr Toomas Kivisild, co-author from the University of Cambridge. "We calculated genetic distances and found that these non-African regions of the genome are closest to populations in Egypt, Israel and Syria, rather than to the neighbouring Yemeni and Arabs".

The team found that these two groups of African and non-African people mixed approximately 3,000 years ago, well before the historically-documented Islamic expansions and the colonial period of the last centuries.

An earlier study found that Ethio-Semitic, an Ethiopian language belonging to a linguistic family primarily spoken in the Middle East, split from the main Semitic group 3,000 years ago, around the same time as the non-African genomic component arrived in Ethiopia. All this evidence combined fits the time and locations of the legend of the Queen of Sheba, which describes the encounter of the Ethiopian Queen and King Solomon.

"None of this research would have been possible without the superb fieldwork of our Ethiopian colleagues Professor Endashaw Bekele and Dr Ayele Tarekegn over many years. The outstanding genetic diversity present within the peoples of Ethiopia is a rich resource that will contribute greatly, both to our understanding of human evolution and the development of personalised medicine." says Dr Neil Bradman, co-lead author from UCL (University College London). "The Ethiopian Government has a practice of encouraging genetic research, a policy that bodes well for the future".

"Our research gives insights into important evolutionary questions," says Dr Chris Tyler-Smith, co-lead author from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. "We see imprints of historical events on top of much more ancient prehistoric ones that together create a region of rich culture and genetic diversity.

The next step for our research has to be to sequence the entire genomes, rather than read individual letters, of both Ethiopian people and others to really understand human origins and the out-of-Africa migration."

culled from allafrica.com

Nigeria: Insecurity - Governors Call for State Police BY HENRY UMORU,

WORRIED by the level of insecurity in parts of the country caused by the Boko Haram sect, the 36 state governors under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, have called for the establishment of state Police.

Rising from a meeting at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja, Monday, the governors who noted that state police was a strategy for combating the rising insecurity in the country, however, called on the Federal Government to establish a special intervention fund for state governments especially to states that are presently most affected.

In a communiqué signed by the NGF chairman and Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, the governors stressed that the intervention fund had become imperative against the backdrop that state governments were currently overstretched in funding security.

The communiqué read: “We, the governors of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at our meeting deliberated on a number of issues. The following resolutions were reached:

“Forum strongly condemned the current spate of insecurity and violence which has been drifting the nation towards anarchy and called for a multi-dimensional approach to security issues including enhanced coordination and collaboration among security forces, effective use of technology and intelligence, value re-orientation, employment generation and sincerity of purpose.

“Forum reiterated its commitment to convene a Governors’ Forum Conference on security in Nigeria.

“State governments are currently overstretched in funding security and called for a special intervention fund from the Federal Government, especially to the states that are most affected.

“Finally, the forum identified the increasing need for state police as a strategy for combating the rising insecurity in the country.”

Present at the meeting were governors of Rivers, Niger,  Bornu, Enugu, Sokoto, Delta, Taraba, Ekiti, Oyo, Kwara, Plateau, Zamfara, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Abia and Anambra.

Also present were deputy governors of Ondo, Jigawa, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos states

Federal High Court Restrains President Jonathan From Renaming UNILAG

A Federal high court judge in Ikeja has restrained the Nigerian president from changing the name of the University of Lagos, a 52-year old school widely known as UNILAG.

Justice Stephen Adah granted the interim injunction sought by students and alumni of the institution.

The plaintiffs had filed a lawsuit against the university’s governing council, the senate, office of the AGF and the Nigerian national assembly.

On May 29th 2012 President Goodluck Jonathan arbitrarily renamed the university after Bashorun MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12 1993 presidential election that was annulled by the military junta led by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.

However in the course of street protests students and alumni of the university resisted the name change leading to the closure of the university.

 The court has adjourned further hearing in the case till July 4.

culled from SaharaReporters, New York

Breaking News: Ghana to Deport Hundreds of Nigerians

The Government of Ghana is to from today forcibly evict hundreds of Nigerian businessmen who have failed to comply with the Foreign Investment Act of 1994, which obliges them to pay $300,000 before they can operate from Ghana’s local markets.
This comes after a four-month grace period offered to the Nigerians as well as other foreign businessmen elapsed.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Hannah Tetteh, said the ministry and its task force were fully aware of the ECOWAS Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons and the Right of Residence and Establishment and assured all ECOWAS citizens that the ministry would not do anything to breach the provisions of the protocols to which Ghana was a signatory.
“As a country, we are doing this to protect the interest of our citizens and also to ensure that non-Ghanaians who enjoy the hospitality of this country live by our laws and contribute to the development of the country,” she said.
The development has provoked a angry reaction from the Nigerian parliament, which has called on ECOWAS to stop the forced evictions.

Read the following report from Vanguard Nigeria:
ABUJA—The House of Representatives, weekend, called for the intervention of Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, parliament to prevent deportation of Nigerian businessmen from Ghana.

Chairman of the Diaspora Committee of the House of Representatives, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa last week led a lobby team to the ECOWAS parliament to appeal for intervention.

Dabiri-Erewa, who also led the delegation to its Speaker, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu on the situation in Ghana, urged him to intervene in the matter to halt the deportation or the Nigerian government might consider breaking diplomatic ties with that country.

“The Ghanaian Parliament has a law which says that before you can do petty business in Ghana, you must deposit $300,000. Most of these Nigerian traders in Ghana, deal in small things, such as CDs, videos, cassettes. So for you to say bring $300,000 before you can set up a petty business, is a bit hypocritical. This has been discussed at the Presidential level.

“I remember when the Ghanaian President came here, we discussed it and he said: ‘no, it is not targeted at you and don’t worry about it.’ The Ghanaian Minister of Trade was even in Nigeria and assured that it was not targetted at Nigerians, that Nigerians are okay, but throughout last week, Nigerian traders have been given the directive to leave within the week.”

She added, “They based this on a Foreign Investment Act of 1994, which specifically directed that foreigners, including Nigerians, must register with a minimum requirement of not less than $300,000 and this is about N46million, and even if the traders come together, I don’t think they will get N46million to do business there.

“Ghana should not take us back to 28 years ago when we had issues in West Africa”.

The lawmaker, who expressed confidence in the ability of the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ekweremadu to resolve the issue, called on the parliament to make haste and halt the agony of Nigerian traders in that country.
Nigerian Live TV reports

Tambuwal Attends Church Service, Preaches Tolerance ADESUWA TSAN

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday, condemned the violence that has engulfed different parts of the North and admonished adherents of all faiths in the country to respect one another and work towards building bridges of understanding among the people.

Speaking during a church service at St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church, Koroma, Tai Local Government Areas of Rivers State, Tambuwal pointed out that several communities had lived together in harmony for ages, and as such, no one should seek to undermine that peace and harmony.

Tambuwal was in the church to honour invitation of one of his colleagues’, Hon Barinada Mpigi, who had a thanksgiving ceremony in his constituency.

He stressed that the religion of Islam respects the sanctity of human life and places of worship, and added that Prophet Muhammad places high premium on respect for churches and monasteries during his life time and has enjoined his followers to do the same.

According to him, in theory and orientation, Islam and Christianity are not antagonistic to each other.

“In Damascus, I saw the tomb of John the Baptist inside a mosque. Few metres away from there lay the grave of the grandson of our holy prophet Muhammad (SAW). I think we have a lot to learn from that,” the Speaker added.

In his remarks at the occasion, Bishop of Ogoni Diocese of Anglican Communion,  Rev Solomon Gberegbara, commended Tambuwal for addressing the congregation and said that for the first time in his Episcopal life, he listened to a Muslim address his congregation in church.

While describing the Speaker as an exceptional man, the bishop urged Nigerians to live in peace with one another for development.

 culled from Leadership Newspaper

Tahrir Square erupts in celebration

Tahrir Square erupts in celebration: Tens of thousands have packed into Cairo's Tahrir Square in the largest celebration the protest hub has witnessed since Hosni Mubarak's ouster, to celebrate their new president-elect, Mohamed Morsi.

A lugubrious woman

  
Mema is the story of a very stubborn Gabonese woman who married into a different village for reason of love.  Her troublesome nature did not, however, allow her to be obedient to her man and to the entire village as stipulated by the law of the land.  In as much as the people tried to make her soft-pedal on her hard stance on certain issues in the land, the woman named, Ntsame Minlame remained adamant, headstrong and unapproachable.
Daniel Mengara, the author of the book is a Gabonese scholar who took his time to tell the story in a first person narrative.  His concern primarily is to use this singular case to examine the marriage institution as it obtains in various cultures in Gabon.  The book insists that traditional marriage until the time when the white man arrived to disrupt it, was a very important institution contracted between families, involving the villages where the man and the woman came from.
It is indeed the tale of a woman struggling against the constraints of her community.  Yet the story, in a very dramatic way, proves to be a multi-layered novel exploring and deepening a culture that is in transition.  Since Mema means Mama, (mother), we could see the woman in a lugubrious form, imploring the people to let her be.
In the beginning, she could not have children on time and so they began to brand her a witch; a barren woman made into the form she was to torment her people.
Mengara takes the story layer by layer, exploring the depth of womanhood, depicting Mema as not only tough, but difficult to handle.  His exploits as a novelist could be seen from the way he takes the character away from the people, then pits her against the centrifugal forces of the community.  She is made to pay the prize of her sins.
“People would know for certain, who Ntsame Minlame is, when things happened the right way”, the author wrote.  In other words, the woman seemed unpredictable; she often found solace and consolation in her cutlass, which she used to keep perceived enemies away from her.  When her man died after a protracted illness, Mema was terribly hit that the people began to insinuate that she had a hand in it.
Together, with the death of her two daughters, Minlame decided to toughen herself the more.  “But then, my father’s family blamed my mother for the crimes.  It was not as she said, they argued.  They had nothing to do with it.  Had they not warned their brother that this woman was full of witch craft?,”  Mengara wrote on page 63.
Deploring the images of flashbacks and moonlight tale, the author gives a complete glimpse into the old traditions of the African people.  In sequence, he tries to make the world realise that marriage pattern in Gabon and most other African communities were almost the same.  He shows in very clear ways that marriage was used to cement love, curry for communal favour and relationship in those days.  Now, what can be done to ameliorate the situation?
But then what has Western contradiction done to it?  Mema is used to look at the past and then bridge the gap with the future.
Published by Heinemann Africa, it is a book to read to acquaint one with the true values of womanhood in Africa.

Constitution amendment: Fashola wants immunity clause retained, opposes creation of more states By Oziegbe okoeki

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, yesterday said the removal of immunity clause from the constitution would not be a welcome idea as being canvassed by some members of the public.
Fashola stated this at a one-day public hearing on the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution  organised by the Lagos State House of Assembly and held at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
Fashola, who noted that the immunity clause as provided in Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution should be retained, pointed out that the clause is more for the protection of the office than the office holders.
He said “the section preserves the dignity and ensures the effectiveness of administration”, adding that “while it is regrettable that there may have been actions which are indicative of abuses of the privilege by some office holders, the privilege of immunity is not for the benefit of the office holder.
“Retention of the clause would prevent unfounded allegations of criminality against top public officials which, if allowed, would bring massive distractions.
“Even where the allegation that necessitates trial relates to corruption or other criminal offences, it is trite that time does not run against investigation and prosecution of offenders. What would have been achieved with the removal of the immunity clause could be achieved at the expiration of the tenure of the serving officials.”
Speaking further, the governor described the agitation for the creation of additional states as an attempt to balkanise the existing states.
Fashola stated that instead of demanding for additional states, people should request for additional local governments which, he said, would enhance development at the grassroots, as well as bring government closer to the people.
“Most states are currently not sufficiently viable to justify further subdivisions. It may well be that the agitation for more inclusiveness in governance and for rapid development may be better addressed by the creation of more local governments than it can be done by the creation more states,” he said.
On the call for devolution of power, Fashola said this became imperative, noting that the present system backed by the 1999 Constitution gives more power to the government at the centre.
He said “there were certain functions which are being performed by the state  governments that are supposed to be devolved to state”.
Commenting on the present sharing formula, the governor stressed the needs for its review, submitting that if the principle of the true fiscal federalism would be adhered to, the ratio formula should be FG 25 per cent; state governments 45 per cent; derivation pool 25 per cent and intervention fund 5 per cent.
On his part, former Minister of Works, Femi Okunnu, said: “I don’t think the 1999 Constitution is all that bad. It is the way we exercise our powers that is bad.”
He, however, called for the removal of Sections 3,4,5,6 and 8 of the constitution. He spoke against creation of more states, saying “it weakens the fabric of the federation, and that no law should stop states from evolving its local government system.”
While presenting his position, constitutional lawyer, Itse Sagay, said  a lot of power should be taken away from the federal government and handed over to the state governments.
“The minimum wage, for instance, is another issue that the federal government should leave for the states. Each state should be the one to determine its minimum wage and federal government should not determine what to be paid,” he added.
He said further that states and not Federal Government should conduct census to help them in developmental plans. “Local government creation and funding should be out of the constitution; states should create and fund them”, Sagay said.

The Nation - How Boko Haram kingpin Bama died 24 hours after gun duel

The Nation - How Boko Haram kingpin Bama died 24 hours after gun duel

Profile of Rtd. Colonel Sambo Dasuki; Nigeria's New National Security Adviser

Mohammed Sambo Dasuki is a former Managing Director of Security Printing & Minting Company Limited. A distinguished retired Military Officer, he attended both American Universities, Washington DC and George Washington University where he obtained a BA in International Relations and MA in Security Policy Studies respectively. He had his military training in several institutions in Nigeria and abroad including: Nigerian Army School of Artillery, Oklahoma, U.S Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth Kensas.

Posted by PublicInformationProject

Profile of Rtd. Colonel Sambo Dasuki; Nigeria's New National Security Adviser

Profile of Rtd. Colonel Sambo Dasuki; Nigeria's New National Security Adviser

Senate backs creation of Edu State

Senate backs creation of Edu State

Senate panel uncovers idle N273.9b pension cash By Yusuf Alli and Onyedi Ojiabor, Abuja

Senate President Mark
The Senate Committee on Investigation of Pension Administration has uncovered about N273.9b idle cash in seven major pension offices.
It has recommended arrest and prosecution of the Chairman of the Pension Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina and two others. It also wants other members of the team found culpable in the mismanagement of pension funds tried.
The two officials of the Task Team  recommended for trial along with Maina are John Yusuf and B.G. Kaigama.
The committee has asked the government to compel the Pension Task Team to submit its finical records and transactions from inception to date for auditing by the Auditor-General of the Federation.
These recommendations are contained in the 108-page report of the committee, which is expected to be submitted today to the Senate.
In the report, which was exclusively obtained by our correspondents last night, the committee said the Auditor-General of the Federation should be allowed unhindered access to all the pension financial records and account books for proper auditing.
The uncovering of the N273, 941, 568, 915.55b in pension offices appears a major breakthrough.
The affected pension offices and the idle funds are as follows:  Military(N23,532, 339,033.98), DSS/ NIA (N36,121,396,662.73), Police(N43,213,213,062,.63); Civilians (N58,715,239,159.66); CIPPO (N27,797,021,906.44); Parastatals(N75,783,682,992.99); Universities(N8,778,676,097.12).
The report reads in part: “That the total unspent pension funds balances in all the pension offices of the Federal  Government amount to N273, 941, 568, 915.55b.
“That there are indicators of massive fraud and embezzlement of pension funds in the years 2000 to 2007 which require comprehensive audit and forensic investigation. This is because there were no credible actions for the sensitisation and validation of pension payroll during these years.
“The number of pensioners on the payroll of the Pension Department in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation alone was above 200,000 during these years. This was reduced to about 141,000 names at the first credible effort at pensioners biometric  verification by the Pension Department in 2009.
“That the outstanding pension fund balances of N273, 941, 568, 915.55b in all pension offices of the Federal Government be moopped up by the Accountant-General of the Federation and be used to settle all outstanding pension entitlements.
“The activities and operations of the PFAs should be closely monitored by the National Pension Commission to ensure the attainment of the noble objectives of the Contributory Pension Scheme.
“The practice of different Ad Hoc Teams co-opting officers of law enforcement agencies and using them for inappropriate duties should be stopped forthwith. Law enforcement officials should only be invited to perform their statutory functions when necessary.
“All officers from the EFCC, ICPC and the SSS, who were co-opted by the Pension Task Team and found to have colluded, aided, and abetted corruption, diversion and siphoning of pension funds and have been used for inappropriate duties should be withdrawn, investigated, arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
“That the constitutional provision of Section 173(3) which states that pension should be reviewed every five years or whenever there is review of the remuneration of public servants should be strictly adhered to. Harmonization of pension should be done to ensure uniformity of pension amount irrespective of years of retirement.”
The report said: “That the Chairman of the Pension Task Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina, John Yusuf, B.G. Kaigama and all the members of the Pension Task Team involved should be arrested and prosecuted by the Nigeria Police Force for the crimes of fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, misapplication, illegal virement, contract splitting, award of contracts to non-existing companies, award of contracts without appropriations and outright stealing of pension funds. And the stolen funds should be recovered from them.
“That Mr. Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina was noted to have taken over all the Federal Pension Offices, except the Military Pensions Board, FCT, and Pension Boards of Federal Parastatals.
“That the public funds expended for verification exercises were ten times more than the amount of funds saved from the verification exercises. The amount spent on the verification exercise is sufficient for payment of more than half of one year’s pension.
“That the frequent verification exercises, which are often done without convenient arrangement, have put the pensioners  into untold sufferings and death.”
The report also faulted the EFCC for adopting a  selective method for the arrest and trial of those who allegedly looted pension money.
The committee said: “That the EFCC has been   selective in the prosecution of officials who looted, misapplied, siphoned, embezzled, and misappropriated pension funds, even when numerous petitions with incontrovertible evidences are submitted to the agency.
“EFCC was also observed to have discontinued pension fraud investigations it commenced when weighty evidences thereto linked the Chairman and members of the Task Team.”
The report indicted commercial banks for collaborating in the looting of pension funds.
It added: “That the banks were handy collaborators in the unauthorized and illegal opening of government accounts, change of signatories, transfer of funds, deposit of government funds and many other unethical financial transactions.”

The Nation - Federal Govt defends Jonathan’s trip to Brazil

The Nation - Federal Govt defends Jonathan’s trip to Brazil

The Nation - More suicide bombings coming, task force warns

The Nation - More suicide bombings coming, task force warns

The Nation - Police: Foreigners behind mayhem

The Nation - Police: Foreigners behind mayhem

The Nation - Police: Foreigners behind mayhem

The Nation - Police: Foreigners behind mayhem

North: Rise And Fall Of ‘The Superpower’ | ABDULAZIZ ABDULAZIZ leadership Newspaper Opinion Comment & Opinion

Once upon a time, there was a region in the amalgamated units called Nigeria which had the largest land mass, contributed greatly to the national pool, had fair share of commerce and industrial activities and, above all, called the shots in the art of power and leadership in the country.

This region has produced nine out of the 14 heads of government so far that had rule for the greater part of the country’s 51 years of self-government. The region also produced uncountable number of ministers and a retinue of other influential citizens who drew their power from diverse sources.

As the nation celebrates 13 years of uninterrupted democracy, one huge lesson in power which is very pertinent and quite significant in the country’s march to nationhood is how the once powerful northern region is being demystified into less relevant factor in contemporary political equation.

The North, once powerful and mystical, has within the last 13 years, helplessly watched as its influence withered and its once larger-than-life political empire becomes glaringly derelict.

Whether in military regalia or civilian garb, northern elites have had an infamous reputation as power brokers and forces behind many reigns. In 1975, in a calculated move, they fired one of their own, General Yakubu Gowon to install General Murtala Mohammed.

When Mohammed was assassinated, it was the same junta that ‘forced’ General Olusegun Obasanjo to assume Murtala’s shoes. In 1998, largely the same clique, but now out of uniform, orchestrated the transition from military to civilian rule and handover to now Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on May 29, 1999.

The popular account of how the duo of Generals Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma and Ibrahim Babangida almost singlehandedly effected the release of Obasanjo from prison (where he was serving a life sentence for allegedly plotting a coup against General Abacha) and sponsored his presidential campaign, is a trite.

It is also on record that despite coming from Abeokuta in the South West, Obasanjo rode to the Aso Villa on the votes of northerners, thanks to vigorous campaign marshalled by top northern politicians (remember the Uba Sirajo slogan!).

However, this transition came to spell doomsday for the mythical “northern oligarchy”. Thus, by the time Obasanjo settled down in his first tenure and began to be a man of his own, the northern elites began to cry foul for many reasons on account of Obasanjo’s actions or inactions.

Those who thought they could control the retired army general for their benevolence in installing him as the president from a remote prison yard got the shock of their lives when the former leader insisted on having the show all alone.

Enter the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF). This group, ostensibly described as a socio-cultural umbrella, was actually set up to champion political stance of the North and promote the region’s interests. Obasanjo, the northerners alleged, was bias in composing his cabinet and had thus marginalized the North. The forum succeeded in bringing together the titans and icons of northern Nigeria to work under one shade.

Not long after its inauguration, the forum summoned a meeting of key northern leaders to discuss the position of the North. A strong worded communiqué was later issued bemoaning the “marginalisation of the North” by the Obasanjo administration.

This heralded a new status of the North from the power broker to reckon with to a sort of opposition. It was this role that North spiritedly acted almost throughout the tenure of President Obasanjo.  

The transfer of power, once again, to the North, on May 29, 2007 was welcomed with fanfare among the elites who had, by then, were weary and demystified as the result of Obasanjo’s ruthless and aggressive politics which saw the re-emergence of a fresh power bloc, away from the traditional monolithic system.

The ascension of President Goodluck Jonathan and how some powerful northerners put a spirited fight to stop him from contesting the 2011 election on the premise that the region must be allowed to go for another term, was also a dramatic move that brought to the power the reality of North’s lost of grip over the steering of the country.

Though as it is today, the political elites of the region are in unprecedented disarray, all hope is not lost as the region still has many pluses that it can turn to its advantage. However, the million dollar question is how realistic and pragmatic is the present North to turn around its present predicament into fresh fortune.

—Abdulaziz, a writer and development worker, is based in Kano

Fuel Subsidy Probe: Otedola Confirms Bribe to Lawmakers 11 Jun 2012 Font Size: a / A Mr. Femi Otedola •SSS sends videotape to EFCC By Yemi Ajayi in Lagos, Ike Abonyi, Onwuka Nzeshi and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The full details of the $3 million bribery scandal involving members of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the Fuel Subsidy probe were revealed yesterday, as one of the major actors in the scandal has opened up on what transpired.


In an exclusive interview with THISDAY, chairman, Zenon Petroleum & Gas Ltd, Mr. Femi Otedola, who hitherto was suspected of being behind the $3 million bribery scandal, blew the lid on what transpired and how chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Hon. Farouk Lawan, and the secretary of the committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, had collected $620,000 from him in a sting operation masterminded by the security agencies.


The amount was part payment for the $3 million, which he alleged Lawan had demanded from him to exonerate Zenon Oil from the ad-hoc committee’s report.


As the scandal unfolds, it was learnt that operatives of the State Security Services have sent a video recording of the incident to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further scrutiny and action.


Otedola, who was opening up on the issue for the first time, narrated how Lawan at the outset of the probe had approached him to get some insight into the workings of the downstream oil and gas sector.


Otedola said he obliged him and ensured that his managing directors of Forte Oil Plc and Zenon Oil appeared at the subsidy probe during its public hearing after both companies had been invited by the committee.


During the probe, he said the committee was informed in no uncertain terms that Zenon does not and has never made claims for subsidy payments from the federal government, as the company was engaged solely in the importation of diesel, a product that is not subsidised.
Zenon’s managing director, Mr. Kanmi Kareem Otaru, during the probe had denied that the company had anything to do with the subsidy regime. He told the committee, “For the avoidance of doubt Zenon never participated or benefited from the subsidy scheme or Petroleum Support Fund (PSF).”


According to him, going by the Act which established the PSF scheme, “Zenon couldn’t participate in it because we don’t have a network of PMS retail outlets which was one of the key criteria beneficiaries must meet and as such we are not qualified to participate to draw from subsidy payments on PMS. So we never collected as records will show.”


Irrespective of the clarification made at the hearing, Otedola said Lawan still approached him a few days before the report was to be tabled on April 18, 2012 before the House of Representatives, demanding money so that Zenon’s name will be kept out of the report.
“When this happened, I was very angry and reminded him that Zenon has never participated in the subsidy scheme and that it would be criminal to rope in the company for something it did not do.


“But Lawan responded, stating that several other marketers were playing ball and had offered the members of the committee large sums of money to ensure that their companies’ names were not published in the report,” he added.


Otedola, said initially he balked at Lawan’s attempt to extort money from him and told the legislator that he would not pay up, as Zenon had not committed any crime.


“Then a day before the report was to be submitted, Lawan called again, informing me that Zenon’s name had been included in the report.
“I, of course, was very angry and asked him to desist from his course of action, but Lawan insisted that I must pay up as other oil marketers had done before me.”


Otedola said he could not believe his eyes the next day when the report came out and Zenon’s name had been listed under the category of companies that had bought foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) but had not imported petrol.


The amount ascribed to Zenon in the report was $232,975,385.13. The report had recommended that Zenon and 14 other marketers that had bought the foreign exchange be referred to the anti-corruption agencies to determine what they used the monies for.
Otedola said at this point he again called Lawan demanding that Zenon’s name be removed from the list, as there was no way his company could have bought that volume of foreign exchange without importing products.


“I reminded him that the amount ascribed to Zenon was wrong as what the company bought was over $400 million for importation of products through the banks – Zenith, UBA and GTB – and that under Sanusi (CBN governor) there was no way anyone could have bought that quantity of foreign exchange and not imported the products having filled the Form M.


“Sanusi will simply clamp down on anyone who tries to pull that kind of stunt,” he said.
In spite of this, Otedola said Lawan still demanded that the members of the committee be given money in exchange for removing Zenon’s name from the report before it is considered in plenary by the entire House.


Otedola said he then asked how much would be required to make the committee happy, to which Lawan responded $3 million.
“I screamed at him, demanding to know why he was doing this to me. All he said was other marketers were paying up to keep their names out of the report so I should do likewise,” he said.


Otedola revealed that it was this point he decided to involve the security agencies to catch Lawan and his committee with their hands in the till.


According to him, “As a law-abiding citizen, I decided to involve the security agencies and they advised me to play along, which prompted me to offer to pay part of the money with the promise that I would pay the balance when my company’s name had been removed from the report."


The security agencies, he disclosed, gave him serialised dollar bills for the sting job and there are call logs, video and audio recordings in the possession of the agencies to confirm all that had transpired between himself and Lawan.


He said on April 21, the Saturday before the plenary, Lawan came in person to his residence and collected $250,000 in cash, as the first instalment, “then the next Monday night he came and collected another $250,000.


“On Tuesday, at 9am, just before the House commenced seating, Boniface came and collected another $120,000.”
Otedola confirmed that during the sting, Lawan and Boniface collected a total of $620,000 in three instalments as part of the $3 million demanded from him.


He added that with the $620,000 that had been extorted by Lawan and the committee, during the plenary, Zenon’s name was removed from the list of companies that had bought foreign exchange but did not import products.


Otedola continued: “He (Lawan) now asked for the balance of $2.5 million, but when I told him that I had no money now that the money was in Lagos, he suggested that I should charter a plane to fly the money from Lagos to Abuja.”


Otedola stressed that his decision to get the law enforcement and security agencies involved stemmed from the fact that he had not broken any law, maintaining that as a law-abiding citizen, he was saddened by the fact that he was being blackmailed by of all people, members of the legislature.


“If you have information that an armed robber is come to raid your home, won’t you notify the police?  So, that was the purpose of the sting operation.


“Besides, my integrity is paramount to me. I started selling petroleum products 14 years ago in drums and somebody who has never run a petrol station is trying to blackmail and extort money from me.
“If others (marketers) have paid money, maybe they are guilty. But I did not do anything wrong, so why should they extort money from me? As a law-abiding citizen, I had to involve the security agencies. Indeed, I’m very disappointed because I have worked hard to build my business.”


Insisting that he had nothing to hide or fear over what had happened, Otedola maintained if he was in the wrong he would not have involved the security agencies in the first instance.


In a reference to the strong denials made by Lawan since the scandal became public, Otedola stated, “When he (Lawan) demanded the bribe, I called the agencies. That is because I had nothing to hide. When the bribe was paid, why did he not call and report it to the agencies if he had nothing to.”


Meanwhile, THISDAY gathered that the videotape of the illicit transaction had been sent to the EFCC to investigate the incident.
When contacted, the EFCC, however, said it had neither received the videotape nor had it commenced investigations into the bribery scandal.


EFCC Head of the Media Unit, Mr. Wilson Uwugiaren, said the allegation had not been brought to the knowledge of the commission.
According to him, the only related matter currently being handled by the EFCC was the report of the ad-hoc committee that the commission was studying to establish the facts and track down anyone found culpable for the alleged mismanagement of the PSF.

Tags: News, Nigeria, Featured, Femi Otedola, Fuel, SUBSIDY

The Nation - Rep Lawan faces suspension over alleged $3m susbsidy bribe

The Nation - Rep Lawan faces suspension over alleged $3m susbsidy bribe

The Nation - Rep Lawan faces suspension over alleged $3m susbsidy bribe

The Nation - Rep Lawan faces suspension over alleged $3m susbsidy bribe

The Nation - I never collected money from anybody, says Lawan

The Nation - I never collected money from anybody, says Lawan

Helping a grieving person tip 2: Offer practical assistance

It is difficult for many grieving people to ask for help. They might feel guilty about receiving so much attention, fear being a burden, or be too depressed to reach out. You can make it easier for them by making specific suggestions – such as, “I’m going to the market this afternoon. What can I bring you from there?” or “I’ve made beef stew for dinner. When can I come by and bring you some?”

Consistency is very helpful, if you can manage it – being there for as long as it takes. This helps the grieving person look forward to your attentiveness without having to make the additional effort of asking again and again. You can also convey an open invitation by saying, “Let me know what I can do,” which may make a grieving person feel more comfortable about asking for help. But keep in mind that the bereaved may not have the energy or motivation to call you when they need something, so it’s better if you take the initiative to check in.

Be the one who takes the initiative
There are many practical ways you can help a grieving person. You can offer to:

Shop  for him/her or run errands
Drop off a casserole or other type of food
Help with funeral arrangements
Stay in their home to take phone calls and receive guests
Help with insurance forms or bills
Take care of housework, such as cleaning or laundry
Watch their children or pick them up from school
Drive them wherever they need to go
Look after their pets
Accompany them on a walk
Take them to lunch or a movie
Share an enjoyable activity (game, puzzle, art project)
Helping a grieving person tip 3: Provide ongoing support
Grieving continues long after the funeral is over and the cards and flowers have stopped. The length of the grieving process varies from person to person. But in general, grief lasts much longer than most people expect. Your bereaved friend or family member may need your support for months or even years.

Continue your support over the long haul. Stay in touch with the grieving person, periodically checking in, dropping by, or sending letters or cards. Your support is more valuable than ever once the funeral is over, the other mourners are gone, and the initial shock of the loss has worn off.
Don’t make assumptions based on outward appearances. The bereaved person may look fine on the outside, while inside he or she is suffering. Avoid saying things like “You are so strong” or “You look so well.” This puts pressure on the person to keep up appearances and to hide his or her true feelings.
The pain of bereavement may never fully heal. Be sensitive to the fact that life may never feel the same. You don’t “get over” the death of a loved one. The bereaved person may learn to accept the loss. The pain may lessen in intensity over time. But the sadness may never completely go away.
Offer extra support on special days. Certain times and days of the year will be particularly hard for your grieving friend or family member. Holidays, family milestones, birthdays, and anniversaries often reawaken grief. Be sensitive on these occasions. Let the bereaved person know that you’re there for whatever he or she needs.
Helping a grieving person tip 4: Watch for warning signs
It’s common for a grieving person to feel depressed, confused, disconnected from others, or like they’re going crazy. But if the bereaved person’s symptoms don’t gradually start to fade – or they get worse with time – this may be a sign that normal grief has evolved into a more serious problem, such as clinical depression.

Encourage the grieving person to seek professional help if you observe any of the following warning signs after the initial grieving period – especially if it’s been over two months since the death.

Difficulty functioning in daily life
Extreme focus on the death
Excessive bitterness, anger, or guilt
Neglecting personal hygiene
Alcohol or drug abuse
Inability to enjoy life
Hallucinations
Withdrawing from others
Constant feelings of hopelessness
Talking about dying or suicide
It can be tricky to bring up your concerns to the bereaved person. You don’t want to perceived as invasive. Instead of telling the person what to do, try stating your own feelings: “I am troubled by the fact that you aren’t sleeping – perhaps you should look into getting help.”

Take talk of suicide very seriously

If a grieving friend or family member talks about suicide, get professional help right away.
Supporting a child through grief and bereavement
Even very young children feel the pain of bereavement, but they learn how to express their grief by watching the adults around them. After a loss – particularly of a sibling or parent – children need support, stability, and honesty. They may also need extra reassurance that they will be cared for and kept safe. As an adult, you can support children through the grieving process by demonstrating that it’s okay to be sad and helping them make sense of the loss.

Answer any questions the child may have as truthfully as you can. Use very simple, honest, and concrete terms when explaining death to a child. Children, especially young children, may blame themselves for what happened and the truth helps them see they are not at fault.

Open communication will smooth the way for a child to express distressing feelings. Because children often express themselves through stories, games, and artwork, encourage this self-expression, and look for clues in those activities about how they are coping.

How to help a grieving child:
Allow your child, however young, to attend the funeral if he or she wants to.
Convey your spiritual values about life and death, or pray with your child.
Meet regularly as a family to find out how everyone is coping.
Help children find ways to symbolize and memorialize the deceased person.
Keep your child’s daily routine as normal as possible.
Pay attention to the way a child plays; this can be one of a child’s primary ways of communicating.
What not to do:
Don’t force a child to publicly mourn if he or she doesn’t want to.
Don’t give false or confusing messages, like “Grandma is sleeping now.”
Don’t tell a child to stop crying because others might get upset.
Don’t try to shield a child from the loss. Children pick up on much more than adults realize. Including them in the grieving process will help them adapt and heal.
Don’t stifle your tears; By crying in front of your child, you send the message that it’s okay for him or her to express feelings, too.
Don't turn your child into your personal confidante. Rely on another adult