For God’s Sake Jake Hand Over Ridge Residence

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In the continent of Africa and the little space that God has given to us called Ghana, there are some issues which make you wonder whether the Good Lord did us a big disfavour by giving us an insight to the written language “education”. To exacerbate our problems the ‘devil” added politics into the potent mixture of greed, incompetence and poverty stricken Africa. For example, every issue in contemporary Ghana is seen within the context of NDC or NPP. A time will come when even the food that we eat will be a determining factor in our political allegiance.

It is a bloody shame- we have lost the ability to debate, analyse, convince and use data and statistics to argue our point. Just last week a young gentleman was jailed 2 years for stealing 2 fowls in our NPP and NDC country by a learned Judge. Two days ago a young lady from the Volta Region lost her life due to her inability to pay for the cost of blood. These are not phantom stories, they are not numbers, they are real people, citizens of Ghana and they all have families.

What angers most ordinary Ghanaians is the sheer hypocrisy and “joined-up” economic crimes being committed by the educated elite on the majority impoverished souls. Bear in mind, the Arab Spring Awakening was begun by a small petty trader in Tunisia who set himself alight. Why? “his small kiosk” his only means of earning peanuts was going to be demolished

What has got my back up? As reported in the news, the Supreme Court (SC) has directed its registrar to serve hearing notices on Okudzeto Ablakwa and Emmanuel Omane Boamah in the case in which the two are challenging Hon Jake’s right to purchase a Government bungalow he occupied as a Minister of State. The two were seeking a declaration that by virtue of Articles 20(5), 23, 257, 258,284 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution, the Government was obliged to retain and continue to use in the public interest the property in dispute.

Folks you know what, our most learned Judges and brightest legal brains decided to adjourn the case sine die. For Heaven’s Sake “Learned Judges”, do not confuse us mere mortals with big legal jargons. Haba! Do we need the Supreme Court to decide on this issue? The Former Minster of Housing, Lands Commissioner and all those involved in this shameful and disgraceful sale of this property must bow down their heads in shame.

The patience of most Ghanaians is fast running out! Many Ghanaians live in abject poverty, suffer daily treatment of poverty psychosis, are hounded out of their shed in the name of the law, and are sick and tired of our elected politicians, educated ones, opinion leaders using Articles and legal procedures to confuse them.

Even my “uneducated” aunties at Nkawie knows that the palace built by the late chief of Nkawie belongs to the whole village and is meant as a living quarters for the current chief- and cannot be sold to any ex-Chief. What about our Learned Judges?

Haba, Haba, Haba! Why, Why, Why- awurade yesu hun ye mobo. Just let us assume that

Alasdair Darling, the former Finance Minister in the Labour Government decided to purchase

his official residence, No 11 Downing Street after leaving office – what would have been the

reaction? Folks are you aware that the first Chancellor to occupy No 11, was Lord

Henry Petty in 1828 and it still serves as the residence of the current Chancellor George

Osborne.

Hon Jake, Please return this property and stop contesting this case- you will and must not be

allowed to acquire No 2 Mango Street, Ridge.

Kufuor, Appiah-Danquah

Komla Dumor; Ghana’s Pride on BBC

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Komla Dumor

Ghana’s ace BBC news anchor, Komla Dumor, makes another jump not only to the top but a platform that uplifts the pride of Ghana. Komla Dumor, the only West African presenter on BBC World News, keeps soaring as he makes an intriguing breakthrough in broadcast journalism.

He commenced his journalism career at Joy Fm as a traffic watch reporter revealing the challenges people encounter on the road. His firm control over the foreign dialect, English, and perfect description of the traffic situations confronting the nation pulled to his side many admirers.

Komla Dumor made his mark after the departure of Tommy Annan-Forson who was then the host of the Super Morning Show on Joy Fm. After Tommy¹s departure,he assumed the role of the Super Morning Show host, re-branded it and became a suitable replacement. In a later time, he had become the focus of many Ghanaians as during his reign on radio in Ghana, he was unmatchable.

He became the mouthpiece for the voiceless in the country and trumpeted the interest of the masses for prompt response. Vendors, Taxi drivers, hawkers and several Ghanaians took their turns to make their voices heard. Komla did what many could not do by attacking the controversies of life and ensuring the underprivileged are well catered for.

His diligence and determination won him the Best Journalist of the Year award in 2003, conferred on him by the Ghana Journalist Association.

His achievements within the media fraternity could not have been more honorable without projecting his dream beyond the shores of Ghana. The climax of his hard work saw him become the only West African presenter with the African Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

In September 1, 2008, he was promoted from the African Service to the World Service of the corporation. With this promotion, he was on his way to reaching millions of people in the world. He has today made himself and the nation proud as the first Ghanaian and African to hop to such stage on BBC.

He has interviewed legendary personalities on the world map and Wednesday, January 25, 2012 is no exception as he hosted one of Microsoft¹s giants, Bill Gates, on various BBC screens across the world.

The 56 billion dollar face of Microsoft, Bill Gates, not only a powerful personality but also the second richest man in the world, was interviewed by Ghana¹s pride Komla Dumor today. The interview centered on a variety of issues basically a reaction to earlier speech by US President Barak Obama who called for an imposition of higher taxes on the wealthy.

The world-class interview today can go into the history of Ghana as the first Ghanaian journalist to host the most wanted Microsoft giant in the world. Komla Dumor has indeed lifted the flag of Ghana high and indeed, Ghana is the gateway to Africa.

Story by Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/X fm 95.1/Accra/Ghana

MASS TRANSIT PROGRAMME WILL REDUCE TRANSPORTATION COST -AGANGA

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Mass transit programme will reduce transportation cost -Aganga
From WALTER UKAEGBU, Abuja
Thursday, January 26, 2012

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, has said that Federal Government’s Mass Transit Programme would reduce the cost of transportation across the country. Speaking during the flagging off of the operations of the mass transit buses in Abuja, Aganga said the Federal Government was committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the policy.

“If you look at the transportation cost, it has four major areas, which are: maintenance cost, financing cost, overhead cost, fuel cost and. However, the only part that was affected by the removal of the fuel subsidy was the fuel cost. If you look at the cost and the contribution to the total cost, fuel contributes about 26 per cent of the total cost of transportation fare.
“Assuming you were buying PMS at N141, the maximum increase in transport fare should not have exceeded 30 per cent for PMS driven vehicles.

For diesel-powered vehicles, it shouldn’t affect transportation fare significantly because there was no increase in the price of diesel. But the experience was that transport fare went up significantly. We then computed the impact of the access to the mass transit-revolving loan at zero percent. If you compare that to getting a commercial loan of about 18-21 per cent, that immediately brings the price down. And when we computed it, the price is supposed to be the same or lower than the pre-removal of subsidy, which was what the president directed us to work towards.

Aganga noted that, owing to incentives provided by the Federal Government to transport operators, they (transport operators) had agreed to reduce the cost of transportation by at least 20 per cent. “I am delighted that the NURTW, NARTO and other transporters agreed that if we are able to make that loan available to them on those terms, they will charge 20 per cent less than what they charged before subsidy was removed.

Unfortunately, we were able to put it to work immediately because of the strike. But I am delighted to say that few days ago, the scheme started operating in Abuja. And the routes we went to, pre-subsidy removal they were charging N100 for that route but post subsidy removal they were charging between N150 and N200.

Nationwide Defenders of Corruption

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A talk about the bad effects of corruption on our people, country and continent will be a mere waste of breath. Everyone knows how this menace has eaten us up, barely putting our development, both national and individual on a halt. It is therefore heartbreaking to know that people supposed to put up a fierce fight against it rather shamelessly defend same.

I have little time to waste on the Woyomegate saga. But I can’t ignore the dismissal of Hon Martin Amidu under such bizarre circumstances. It still baffles me that president Mills came on Radio Gold to defend his friends associated to this gargantuan crime of looting the state of close to a trillion cedis. It touched my spine that words like “I am not here to disgrace the beneficiaries of the judgement debt” could emanate from the very mouth of our head of state. What is even more surprising is that, three days after the Ex Attorney General(Hon Martin Amidu) had initiated the process of trailing the “gargantuan Criminals” and to use his position as the state attorney to prosecute them for the crimes against the country, President Mills saw it fit to dismiss him.

I can’t stop thinking of the big blow this has done to our fight against corruption. I am not Mr Amidu’s fan but anybody who takes the step Mr Amidu took in circling the Robbers of our land will sure be a hero to me. Instead of gaining support and strengthening, he has rather been thrown together with his ideals of integrity and patriotism into the cold.

Apart from the president not giving any tangible reason for chasing the sincerely nationalistic minded man from office, his(the president’s) remaining integrity when it comes to fighting corruption has been washed away by the flimsy and shallow excuse that Mr Amidu’s behavior is not up to the standard of a minister of state. His defense of Mutaka and the dismissal of those who blew the whistle on the former Youth and Sports Minister coupled with the surprising transfer of the TOR whistle blowers had successfully portrayed the president as one who was in accord with those found culpable for corrupt practices. This latest development relating to his once running mate shows he is not only in accord with such corrupt officials but actually teams up with them to defend the evil they do against this state.

For the first time I have been courageous to say without doubt that all the atrocities the lieutenants of President Mills are committing are with his blessings. He has in dismissing Mr Amidu showed that he will defend those who will do anything at all to the state whilst pretending to be obedient to him. If you are the type of Sekou Nkrumah who will see the wrong and point it out or like Martin Amidu who will be prepared to bring the criminals in his government to book, you cannot work with him. Be a Rawlings and point to his mistakes and you will be called a “dog”.

A clear show of the presidents disapproval of the bold initiative of Hon Martin Amidu is his appointment of EOCO to handle a case which is obviously outside of their jurisdiction whilst the then Attorney general who has the constitution authority to prosecute such cases was ignored. Because long before now, as Mr Amidu said in his press statement, his work was a threat to President Mills’ corrupt cronies and his favorite “rented publishers”.

If president Mills had any trust in him what could have prompted referring this case to EOCO when it is clearly within the jurisdiction of the attorney generals office? The worst show by any Ghanaian head of state in his stance against corruption is that of President John Evans Atta Mills in the Woyomegate saga and the dismissal of Hon Martin Amidu. And the entire administration and it’s “mouths pieces” are supporting this bad stand nationwide and defending corruption together with their leader without any shame.

Reagan Adomah Koduah.

London, UK. e-mail: [email protected]

WORK GROUNDED IN CHEVRON AS IJAW WOMEN LOCK OUT WORKERS

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Work grounded in Chevron as Ijaw women lock out workers
From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE, Warri
Thursday, January 26, 2012

Activities were grounded at Chevron yesterday in Warri, Delta State as scores of Ijaw women locked out workers of the multibillion naira company in protest against alleged marginalization and inhuman treatment. The protesters from Kolu Ama clan, in Bayelsa State said the American oil giant since 1953 had made life miserable for the oil bearing community and vowed not to leave the office premises until the misdeed against them was addressed.

The protesters, who were half-naked carried placards with the inscriptions, ‘Chevron must go, we don’t need your food’, ‘since 1953 Chevron has been operating in the area there is no visible progress, no meaningful development’, we want World Heath Organization to come to our aid.’ Others inscription were “we are suffering, we have no potable water, no light, many lives have been lost as a result of Chevron’s insensitivity to our plight”, we are fed up with the divide and rule tactics of Chevron.”

Speaking, the leader of the group, Mrs. Epowotei Edi, told newsmen that they decided to take the action because Chevron had refused to listen to their complaints.“We are not leaving this premises until our issue is solved. Chevron has been operating in our area since 1953 and there is nothing to show that Kolu-Ama is an oil producing area,” said the leader, who is also the wife of Kolu-Ama King community.

“Most pathetic is that Chevron used dynamite while prospecting for oil but after five days, angry wave took over the whole area and devastated the community and it’s source of livelihood,” she said bitterly. According to her, each time there was oil spill, Chevron in its deceitful manner would bring food only without adequate compensation, lamenting that recently there was gas explosion in the area, which destroyed the community source of livelihood, yet Chevron was trying to cover-up the massive spillage.

CORRUPTION IS TEARING NIGERIA DOWN –OPADOKUN

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Corruption is tearing Nigeria down –Opadokun
By CHINELO OBOGO
Thursday, January 26, 2012

• Opadokun

Former secretary of Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Ayo Opadokun has described government’s fight against corruption as insincere. In an interview with CHINELO OBOGO, he speaks on the fight against the menace and other national issues.
Government’s fight against corruption

Honestly, the Federal Government is only pretending to be fighting corruption but in their hearts, there is nothing to show that they are serious about it. To the extent that the major personalities that are supposed to be fighting corruption are neck deep in it. When you have an attorney-general that has a unique profile of dubious style, they will not be able to do anything about corruption.

On the executive side of the government, you will know that they are not interested. There is a litany of cases of corruption that the Nigerian media has published and laid out, yet the government has done nothing about it. For instance, the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria set up by government to make power generation, transmission and supply easier, especially in the big states…the chairman of the Power Committee in the House of Representatives went and collaborated with the officials of that organisation and awarded contracts worth over N5 billion in a disorganised manner, not following any procedure. That matter was charged to court to fulfil all righteousness. So, who are they fooling? The level of corruption in Nigeria is tearing us down and the perpetrators are not willing to give up.

For instance, the success of the Aladja Steel Company for some time now has been frustrated by our executive from becoming useful and productive. Right from the time of Obasanjo, the executive gives out that organisation to private ventures in a very tattered Memorandum of Understanding and agreement, not knowing that when the people get there, they continue to steal the assets of the organisation and this has gone on more than five times. That place is now a shadow of itself. I continually ask myself why this country remains comatose when we have a legislature that is supposed to be doing the checks and balancing, ensuring that the executive performs to the dictates of the law.

They will budget for some activities within a year and you will find out that five years later, that thing for which they budgeted money has not been done, yet nobody is doing anything about it. Under our constitution, the legislature has what is called ‘oversight function’ of their various committees. But why is it that nothing has happened, and no one has been brought to book? It is because, the parliamentarians themselves as a corporate body and many of its members are neck deep in corruption. That is why those over inflated contracts cannot even be located.

Maybe the small group of the present lawmakers that are articulate will be able to raise their voices against the evil regime that is prevailing in our land, but these people are only in the minority. So the executive is totally bereft of sanity and the parliamentarians are worse off because they compromise themselves a lot. From the media reports that we have been getting, what they do is that they go to a ministry or parastatal and they force them to come and defend their budgets before their committees. This action is very wrong, and it ought not to be so, because they are not supposed to rewrite the budget that was sent by the executive. But that is what they normally do now. After they inflate it, they ask for their own share.

Democracy vs. the military regime
It is painful to compare the military to democracy because they are poles apart. The best of the military should not even be compared to our democracy. When people compare former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure as a military president and his tenure as a civilian president, I will say that there were some factors that were at play that made it look like he performed better as a military president. As a military president, he was actually not in charge, because there were people in there like the former Chief of Staff, Theophilus Danjuma who could call him to order if he tries to roughshod anyone.

He was not the most loved as the military head of state; it was because of the discretion of Gen. Danjuma who insisted that since Murtala has died, the next most senior was Obasanjo and he should take over. There was a lot of pressure on Danjuma to take over but being a decent man, he rejected the offer and instead supported Obasanjo to emerge as the Head of State.
However, what we are supposed to have now is a democracy, but what we have is a decadent situation. Honestly, any decent person can achieve and perform excellently well in this system if he has the political will to do so. There is substantial evidence to show that after Obasanjo retired as a military Head of State, he felt very bad that there was not enough money to do what he wanted to do.

But the thing with Obasanjo is that if you help him, he will pay you back in betrayal. He will do everything to make you feel sorry for yourself. During his time, he knew that a lot of corrupt activities were going on at the state and the national level but he did not do anything about it unless the fellow involved raised a political opposition against him. Some of the things that are traceable to him now ought not to have happened. For instance, before the end of 2004, Obasanjo knew how wicked James Ibori was in the manner by which he was handling everything about the affairs of Delta State. They had it on good authority, lots of evidence on how he was changing naira into hard currencies.

He decided to be so friendly with Obasanjo so much so that if Obasanjo wanted anything, Ibori will use the state’s money and get it for him. That is why he provided so much money to run Yar’adua’s presidential elections and that was why he and his friends were able to execute a lot of things during Yar’adua’s tenure. Another instance is that of his private Doctor friend, Dr. Makonjuola whom he made permanent secretary of Ministry of Defence. There was a time when over N400 million was traced to Makonjuola’s account. They allowed him to be taken before the court and that ended the matter.

Anyone that is willing to reduce corruption to the barest minimum, can handle corruption..there was this research by the Economic intelligence Bureau that said that from the time of Obasanjo till now, Nigeria has earned over N233 billion dollars..where is the evidence? Where was the money spent? What we have is the total collapse of our economy and infrastructure? Many people have died because they could not afford drugs worth N1000 but when our supposed leaders are sick, some of them are even flown with air ambulances abroad to receive treatment. When we talk of education, in the last four to five years, less than 20 per cent of our students are able to pass Mathematics and English successfully. What kind of society is that? Their own children are abroad so they do not care about you or I. The succeeding governments in Nigeria are not ready to fight corruptiuon, they just mouth it and this amounts to mere rhetoric.

The Judiciary
I base my premise on one perspective and that is, when you have leaders who have the political will to do what is right, they can do anything because they control the political equation. They decide who emerges as the Judge. Higher benches in Nigeria are now on the basis of loyalty to government for all time. So the judiciary has corrupted and perverted itself. The perverted minds that have occupied the highest offices of our land have deliberately conspired to pervert justice. Those in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and other privileged positions now depend on whom you know.

That is why most of those who could not succeed in private practice are the ones in the High Courts. Like the former Chief Justice of Lagos who during the time of Babangida as President said that he was the almighty, so he issued a decree that no one should challenge him. That is why we had a situation some months back where the National Judicial Council that is supposed to be the greatest promoter and defender of the rule of Law decided to ignore it and become a judge in its own court. It was the same Ibrahim Auta that gave the infamous judgement that led to the killing of Ken Sarowiwa and the Ogoni nine

This system is so perverted. So for one to perform successfully, the person has to be a self-contented person who is not ready to acquire wealth indiscrimately.

Does Charles Takyi-Boadu Think He Has The Capacity To Destroy The NDC?

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Commentary

Charles Takyi-Boadu, the newest lapdog for Gina and Freddie Blay, must be living in a world of dreams and deluding himself into believing that he has what it takes to destroy the NDC.
A rather fine gentleman when he was working with The Chronicle, Charles Takyi-Boadu has become a personification of everything bad and stinking about journalism.
Charles Takyi-Boadu is the one that Gina Blay and Freddie Blay have put on the NDC to manufacture and churn out outright lies.
Charles Takyi-Boadu is the new kid on the block, who must write and say nasty things about no less a person than the President of the Republic.
As if his by-line means nothing to him, he writes all his fairytales with glee and gusto.
Most recently, Charles Takyi-Boadu lied to the whole world that he had interviewed Mr. Martin Amidu in the wake of the latter being asked to drop his tools.
In the said fairytale, Charles Takyi-Boadu created the false impression that Martin Amidu threatened to “spill the beans” if he is pushed to the wall.
How funny!!!
Which beans?
The truth of the matter is that there are no beans to be spilt.
If there is anything to be spilt; it is the dead brain cells of Charles Takyi-Boadu, which can be reassembled to make his head work better.
The truth of the matter is that, Martin Amidu told Charles Takyi-Boadu not to push him to the wall, lest he pours his heat on the Daily Guide.
Charles Takyi-Boadu, in his infantile mind, thought that he could push Martin Amidu to the wall for the latter to speak and create confusion within the NDC.
When Martin Amidu refused to fall for the bait, Charles Takyi-Boadu kept asking foolish questions; and that is what compelled Martin Amidu to tell Gina Blay’s poodle not to push him to the wall lest he pours his anger on The Daily Guide.
What Charles Takyi-Boadu does not know is that; many have done the stinking hatchet job that he is doing now; and they did not ‘survive’.
Yes, many people did what Charles Takyi-Boadu is doing but they did not survive.
Is it not a shame that Charles Takyi-Boadu turns himself into an object of scorn, when he had the rare opportunity to question the President during the recent media encounter at the Castle?
Out of the over hundred journalists present, Charles got a rare opportunity, but asked the President if he was suffering from cancer.
How foolish!
If Charles wants to know if somebody is suffering from cancer, why does he not ask his boss Gina Blay?
If Charles Takyi-Boadu is looking for cancer patients, why does he not take a close look at Gina Blay and Freddie Blay?
Does Charles Takyi-Boadu think we do not know what is happening at The Daily Guide?
Can Charles Takyi-Boadu tell us where Gabby Asare-Otchere Darko is?
Does Charles Takyi-Boadu think we don’t know that Akufo-Addo sneaks out of town every now and then to go for medical treatment in London?
We are not fools, and so we will not say all the things that we know.
Is Charles Takyi-Boadu more interested in cancer patients than in media houses that become safe heavens for homosexual and paedophiles?
It was interesting hearing Charles Takyi-Boadu say after the media encounter that he was not allowed to ask other questions.
How foolish!!
When you have the opportunity to ask a single question, and you ask a foolish question, why should you be given the opportunity to ask another foolish question?
The President is not in the business of answering foolish questions; he is in the business of answering intelligent questions.
Watching Charles Takyi-Boadu on TV, his body language exposes him as a senseless agent who was just doing the bidding of his paymasters.
Does Charles Takyi-Boadu not know a certain Baby Ansabah also known as Ato Sam, who was thrown out of The Daily Guide after spending years doing the dirty work for Gina Blay and Freddie Blay?
Is it not under the watch of the NDC that Baby Ansabah is living a decent life today?
Under the watch of NPP, Gina Blay and Freddie Blay, was Baby Ansabah not one of the least respected journalists in Ghana?
Have the likes of Fortune Alimi and A.R Gomda not slowed down?
Charles Takyi-Boadu should ask Fortune Alimi and A.R. Gomda why they have decided to no longer do the dirty work for Gina Blay and Freddie Blay.
Has Halifax Ansah Addo not also slowed down after his initial attempt to be the hit-man for Gina Blay and Freddie Blay?
So if those who were there before he arrived, have taken a wise decision not to continue to do any dirty job for Gina Blay and Freddie Blay, why is Charles Takyi-Boadu so much in hurry to become the most insulted, disrespected, disliked, and disgraceful journalist in Ghana?
Is it not the case that Charles Takyi-Boadu got married recently?
Does he want his wife to be walking around with people pointing fingers at her?
Nobody is forcing Charles Takyi-Boadu to love President Atta Mills and the NDC; all we are saying is that, he is gradually becoming a disgrace to the journalism profession and gradually becoming the Baby Ansabah of Daily Guide.
As for those of us on The Informer, we think that Charles Takyi-Boadu has what it takes to become a fine and level-headed journalist.
But if the young-man chooses to mortgage his conscience and family name to Gina and Freddie Blay, and succeeds in receiving the Order of the Vulture award (an award that was incidentally instituted by Gina Blay’s Daily Guide), for being the most disgraceful and stinking journalist in Ghana, that is his own cup of tea.
The Informer has spoken; if Charles Takyi-Boadu has ears, let him hear ooooo!!!
And if Charles Takyi-Boadu thinks he has the capacity to bring down the Atta Mills Administration, he may end up walking half-naked around Asylum Down and talking to himself because not even Hercules can take up such a task.
Charles Takyi-Boadu, The Informer has given you free advice; take it or leave it!!!

The Informer

ELDERLY PEOPLE NEED HELP, WELFARE – AMOSUN’S WIFE

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Elderly people need help, welfare – Amosun’s wife
From Our reporter
Thursday, January 26, 2012

• Amosun
Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun has advised the younger people to pay attention to the welfare of the older ones, saying ageing was a gift from God and elderly persons deserve to be taken care of.

According to her, “our desire is to fill in the gap of fulfilling the social needs of vulnerable elderly people who are lonely, who lose touch with their environment, who struggle hard in their daily activities, who are down-hearted and who need daily basic health care. We hope to regularly bring them a wonderful forum to make them happier and uplift them.”

Entitled, “uplifting the aged,” Mrs. Amosun said, “ageing is not a big issue, but there may be vulnerable older persons who have no relatives to look after them. This is one area we should be able to offer a helping hand to our elderly people to lift them up and make them happy.”

Speaking at a ceremony organised for the elderly people across the 236 wards of Ogun State at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, Mrs. Amosun said it’s the desire of many people to live long enough to have their hair turn grey and as “our elderly ones grow older they need our support and care.”
The programme coincided with Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s birthday anniversary but since the governor said there would be no formal gathering to mark the day, the First Lady chose to spend the day with the needy aged.

The programme, which had in attendance more than 1,000 participants, afforded the aged the opportunity to undertake free health screening and referral services, talks on availability of safe blood for communities during emergencies and light exercise practice. They were also given items like blankets, rice, gari, groundnut oil and token cash gifts.

PPPRA SEALS OFF FILLING STATIONS IN OSUN

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PPPRA seals off filling stations in Osun
From BAMIGBOLA GBOLAGUNTE, Osogbo
Thursday, January 26, 2012

• Amosun

The Petroleum Products Prices Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) yesterday sealed off no fewer than six filling stations in Osogbo, the Osun state capital for allegedly selling premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as petrol above the N97 per litre announced by the agency.
The filling stations, located around Oke Baale and Ilobu Road areas were selling a litre of petrol for between N100 and N105, a development which was described as illegal by the PPPRA.

The PPPRA task force led by Mr John Ikwejuibe stormed Osogbo in the early hours of the day and moved round the town to find out filling stations selling above the normal pump price announced by the Federal Government. Mr Ikwejuibe who announced that the affected filling stations would remain closed until further directive of the agency, warned petroleum dealers in the state against noncompliance with the pump price of petroleum products.

He said the action was taken by the agency to avoid further fraudulent practices by petroleum dealers in the country and the state in particular. Also, Mr Ikwejuibe cautioned petrol dealers in the state against adjusting their machines, saying, “whoso ever is discovered to have adjusted the pump machine of their filling stations will also have their stations closed down by the agency.”

He said the agency would continue to beam its search light on the state to ensure total compliance with the new pump price of N97 per litre as directed by the Federal Government, adding that any petrol dealer who sells above the price would be punished appropriately.

FROM ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE, KADUNA

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A’Court confirms Senator Datti’s sack
From ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE, Kaduna
Thursday, January 26, 2012

The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna on Tuesday dismissed Senator Ahmed Datti’s appeal against the National Assembly Election Tribunal that nullified his election and ordered Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue his opponent, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, with Certificate of Return as the senator representing Kaduna Northern Senatorial Zone.

With this development, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former governor of the state, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi is to replace Congress for Progressive Change (CPC’s) Senator Datti in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kaduna had on November 14, 2011 nullified the election of Datti and declared Makarfi the winner of the election.

Ruling on the matter on Tuesday evening, the presiding judge, Justice Amina Augie said, considering the provision of Section 285, Sub-section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulated the time frame of 60 days for the hearing of appeal from election tribunal to be filed before the Appeal Court, the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the appeal.
Justice Augie in the 22-minute ruling, which ended 7:33pm, said though counsel to the appelant, Mr. Abbas Ibrahim argued that the delay in the hearing of the appeal was not caused by either of the parties involved in the case, the Constitution was very strict about the 60 days.

She further stressed that even if the court was to hear the appeal today (on Tuesday), the appeal was not yet before the court.
“What is before the court as we speak are applications for extension of time to file the appeal proper and application to regularise the appellant’s appeal before the court. “We can only say the court has an appeal before it when there is an application for appeal and record of proceedings of the previous judgement,” she stressed.

Earlier in his argument, counsel to the appellant (Senator Datti), Mr. Abbas Ibrahim said the 60 days ought to have lapsed on January 12, 2012 but due to the nationwide strike and the 24 hours curfew imposed on Kaduna State during the fuel subsidy protest, the court had the jurisdiction to hear the appeal. “If the court looked critically at the provision of Section 285 (7) with the aim of ensuring justice, not merely looking at it technically, the court has jurisdiction to hear the appeal,” he said.

On the contrary, counsel to the first respondent (Senator Makarfi), Yunus Ustaz Usman (SAN) argued that in the first place, the appellant was responsible for the delay, considering his failure to file the appeal before the court within the stipulated period of 60 days.

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