FG hands over licences to new owners of power plants

The Federal Government Monday in Abuja handed over share certificates and licences to new core owners of 15 of the 18 PHCN successor companies.

The ceremony, held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan with the Vice-President and Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, Namadi Sambo, in attendance.

Jonathan assured of better days for electricity users in the country with improved economy and employment generations.

``To the Nigerian people who have demonstrated such great patience and confidence, putting up often with darkness, noisy power-generating sets, the related pollution and daily disruptions in their lives, I say better days are coming.

``We do not expect the sector to be revitalised overnight, but we can all look forward to a better time very soon as we have seen in the telecommunication and banking sectors.

``I am confident that the power sector will promise no less, knowing the caliber of those who are taking over.
 
``Today, we embark on a journey, a journey that will usher us to a destination of enduring gain and fulfillment,’’ he said.

Jonathan said the ceremony was a milestone in the nation’s journey from a public-owned and -operated electricity sector to an industry driven by private sector.

He commended the efforts of all stakeholders in the privatisation process for the transparent, fair and well-organised way they handled the process.

He urged the affected PHCN workers not to nurse a feeling of displacement, but to dwell on the tremendous possibilities that the revitalisation of the sector hold for the future.

Speaking in the same vein, Sambo said the event marked another major landmark in the transformation agenda of Jonathan’s administration.

He noted that at the inception of the programme, pessimists believed that the feat could not be accomplished.

The vice-president gave the assurance that the electricity market would be regulated in a manner that would promote growth and competitiveness.

``Electricity consumers are assured that their interests will be protected from over-pricing and poor service.

``It is important to stress that the role of regulation in a private sector-led electricity power sector cannot be overemphasised,’’ he said.

Sambo commended international development partners such as USAID, DFID, the World Bank Group and AfDB for keeping faith with the process.

He assured the investors that the Federal Government would protect their investments and create an enabling environment for a private sector-driven electricity market to flourish.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the privatised generating companies are Geregu Power Plc, Ughelli Power Plc, Egbin Power Plc, Kainji Hydro Electric Plc and and Shiroro Hydro Electric Power Plc.

The 10 privatised distribution companies (Disco) are located in Abuja, Benin, Eko, Ibadan, Ikeja, Jos, Kano, Port-Harcourt, Yola and Enugu.

The three PHCN successor companies that have yet to be handed over because of outstanding issues are located in Afam, Kaduna, and Sapele.

Source: NAN*

MONDAY BIBLE STUDY (Special Study 30/09/2013) - THE SINFULNESS OF ACTS AND THOUGHTS OF IMPURITY Matthew 5:27-30

Special Study                                                                                                            30/09/2013                                                                                                                                                                                                     

  THE SINFULNESS OF ACTS AND THOUGHTS OF IMPURITY

Matthew 5:27-30

Jesus Christ is the Light of the world as well as the Light of the Word. Without His insight and interpretation, most people will think that they are free from the condemnation of sin. Hearing the word, “Thou shalt not kill”, the majority of people in the world will claim to have kept this God’s Word. Hearing the true explanation, “Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment,” every mouth is stopped and all the world become guilty before God (Romans 3:19). Christ’s true interpretation makes everyone see the need for forgiveness and salvation.

Our Lord now explains and applies the next commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Limited understanding, again, will lead most people to conclude that they are morally upright and righteous. That superficial righteousness is lost as we listen to Christ’s revelation on the commandment. “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Christ effectively takes the veil of deception away to make everyone in the world see the need for salvation in Him. Christ makes the world see the need for divine mercy and He makes the church see the need for heart-cleansing.

1.       COMMAND AGAINST AN IMMORAL DEED

       Matthew 5:27; Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 22:22-24; Proverbs 6:32-35; Romans 1:29-32; 13:9,10;1 Corinthians 6:9,10; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 2:19-23; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:2,3; Hebrews 13:4.

       “Ye have heard ...” We have heard from the voice of conscience, from the voice of society, from the voice of self-interest, from the voice of judgement and from the voice of priests and preachers. “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery.” This moral law had been in effect before the dispensation of the law (Genesis 20:1-7; 38:24) and it is still in effect today after the dispensation of the law; in this dispensation of grace (Matthew 19:16-18; Romans 13:9,10). Christ has not come to excuse and conceal the sin of mankind; No! He came to expose and cleanse the sin of the world. He has not come to condemn and leave man under condemnation; No! He has come to reveal the guilt and condemnation of all men in order to make men seek God’s forgiveness, mercy and salvation through Christ. His light searches us that His love may save us.

2.    CONDEMNATION OF AN IMPURE DESIRE    

       Matthew 5:28; Exodus 20:14,17; Mark 7:20-23; Romans 7:7; 2 Samuel 13:1-4; Colossians 3:5,6; James 1:14,15;1 John 2:16; Genesis 6:5; Proverbs 15:26; 24:9; Isaiah 55:7.

       The Pharisees and scribes had reduced the commandment which prohibits adultery to the mere physical act of adultery. They imagined that as long as they were not actually guilty of the act, they were perfectly innocent and free from guilt or condemnation. The great mistake of the Pharisees was that they never read the Ten commandments properly. If they had truly considered and thoroughly studied them, they would have seen the error of isolating each of the commandments. While the seventh commandment says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery”, the tenth commandment says, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife.” This law forbids lust in the heart or improper desire of “inordinate affection” for any woman in the heart. Here again, we have Christ faithfully showing us the insufficiency of external righteousness. His inspired interpretation and faithful revelation of what is in man’s heart helps us to see our need of Christ as Saviour and Sanctifier. “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24).

3.    CONSIDERATION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE DELIVERANCE

       Matthew 5:29,30; Psalm 119:37; Job 31:1; Proverbs 5:8-13; Proverbs 6:25-29; 7:25-27; Romans 6:13; 8:13; Galatians 5:24; 2 Corinthians 10:4,5; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Mark 9:43-48.

       Christ is not only the Teacher come from God, He is also the great Physician (Doctor) sent from God. He is the Saviour with the divine Word. He is also the Surgeon with divine Wisdom. For a man with a cancerous eye or hand, there are times when ‘plucking out the eye’ or ‘cutting off the hand’ becomes necessary to save the whole body. It is the last resort when all other treatments fail.

       “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” If a man or a woman as dear and precious to you as your right eye, be an occasion of offending God; a means of exciting unholy desires in your heart, delay not to separate from him or her. “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” If anyone who is as necessary, useful and profitable to you as your right hand be a constant means of impure desires or immoral deeds, cut her or him off and let there be a total and final separation.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Congregational Songs:

THE THING MY GOD DOTH HATE

1.     The thing my God doth hate

        That I no more may do,

        Thy creature, Lord, again create,

        And all my soul renew.

2.     My  soul  shall then, like Thine,

        Abhor the thing unclean,

        And,  sanctified  by love divine,

        For ever cease from sin.

3.     That blessed law of Thine,

        Jesus, to me impart;

        The Spirit’s law of life divine,

        O write it in my heart!

4.     Implant it deep within,

        Whence it may ne’er remove,

        The law of liberty from sin,

        The perfect law of love.

5.     Thy nature be my law,

        Thy spotless sanctity,

        And  sweetly every moment draw

        My happy soul to Thee.

6.     Soul of  my life remain!

        Who didst for all fulfil,

        In me, O Lord, fulfil again

        Thy heavenly Father’s will!

O FOR A HEART TO PRAISE MY GOD

1.     O for a heart to praise my God,

        A heart from sin set free,

        A heart that always feels Thy blood

        So freely spilt for me.

2.     A  heart resigned, submissive, meek,

        My great Redeemer’s throne,

        Where only Christ is heard to speak,

        Where Jesus reigns alone.

3.     A humble, lowly, contrite heart,

        Believing, true, and clean;

        Which neither life nor death can part

        From Him that dwells within.

4.     A heart in every thought  renewed,

        And full of love divine;

        Perfect, and right, and  pure, and good,

        A copy, Lord, of Thine.

5.     Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart;

        Come quickly from above,

        Write Thy new name upon my heart,

        Thy new, best name of love.  

Why We Killed Ironsi And Installed Gowon — Jeremiah Useni

on september 27, 2013 at 6:18 pm in interview
 Translated By Sani Tukur-PREMIUM TIMES


Lt. General Jeremiah Useni needs no introduction. The prominent role he played during the reign of late Head of State, Sani Abacha, as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is well known. However, there are two things about Jeremiah Useni, who was referred to as ‘Jerry Boy’ at the time. He was indeed a Boy, because he joined the Army at the age of 14. Firstly, he was one of the soldiers who fired shots during the coup against General Ironsi in which the General was killed in Ibadan. Mr. Useni was also the closest person to General Abacha up to his last moments.This interview, conducted in Hausa by the Hausa language newspaper, Rariya, and translated to English by PREMIUM TIMES’ Sani Tukur, reveals a lot of things many of us didn’t know, including the conspiracies that denied him the opportunity of succeeding Mr. Abacha after he died. Enjoy…

You joined the Army as a fourteen year old, and you were posted to England for a Course at sixteen, how did you feel at the time?

Honestly, it was like a dream to me because I broke my left leg during a game of football, just one year after I joined the Army. As a young footballer, I had very strong shooting ability with my left leg. Anyone who was unfortunate to be hit with my shots really suffered no matter their size. I spent about four months at the hospital In Kaduna. Most of the hospital staffs at the time were Europeans, and they were very efficient. They joked a lot with their patients and they related with you as if you had known them for ages. One day, they decided to come and test all of us and see those who had made progress, so that they would be discharged. When they came to me, they asked; ‘can you stand up?’ And I said, ‘yes’. Then I was asked to stand up and walk. The whiteman said, ‘this one is ok now, he can be discharged’.
Later, they said there would be exams to select those who would go to England, and I had spent four years without studies or anything. However, there was a senior officer who was teaching me, and I went to write the exams, and I passed. I was not even sure we were really going to Europe until one day when they came to the dining room and called out our names, five of us; they asked us to go to a particular building, that our attention was needed there. On getting there, we saw that they had prepared omelet and other kinds of delicacies of the Europeans. At the time, we were used to eating Garri only, we either soak or prepare Eba with one green soup like that. We realised that we might really be going to Europe. That was how I went as a very young boy, and I thank God for that because before we left Nigeria, they were paying us one naira, in fact, we were first paid seventy kobo, until after one year, when they increased it to one naira.
When I went to England, under the Boys Company battalion, they started paying us four pounds after only two months. I wrote to my father to tell him that we were now receiving four pounds as pay, and I asked him to pay any tax he was asked to pay because I was also enjoying. I told him that just to show him how happy I was.

Many people were afraid of joining the Army at the time you joined. Were your parents alive at the time?

They were alive. It was my father’s friends that did not want me to join. My father was a Royal Guard, and you know a royal guard does not fear anything. He was the most influential official next to the emir, who knows any judge at time? We didn’t even see a policeman until we went to Jos. My father’s friends were advising him not to risk his only son, because I was an only child, but he said since that was what I wanted, I should go ahead, he told them that only God would decide if I live or die.

You had some time with the Sardauna and his Ministers, such as Michael Audu Buba?

We just hear them speak on the radio, or read about them in Newspapers, but I saw Sardauna a lot when I was in Boys Company. He used to visit us, because there was a sugar cane farm, where we used to train, and after such trainings, most of us do get some sugar cane in the farm. Sardauna used to come there and we saw him a lot. I first saw him in 1957.
After your return from England, Sardauna , Tafawa Balewa and others were killed in 1966. Where were you at the time?
I was with 4th Battalion Ibadan. The coup came to us as a surprise, like a thief in the night. We just heard in the morning that Sardauna and the rest were killed. In fact, we did not get the news on time. Where was our C.O Lt. Col. Largema? And Brig. Maimalari and Col Kur Mohammed? We learnt they were all killed. And we asked, what type of coup was that? At the time, we were not concerned with where you came from or what your religion was. As long as you were from the north, we cherish each other so much.
So we organised ourselves and agreed that what happened was very dangerous. We also learnt later that a broad government was being formed. A northerner will be transferred to the South, while a Southerner will be transferred to the north. General Hassan katsina was the governor of the north at the time. People like Kashim Ibrahim were also gone. So those of us, Army officers from the north were very angry really.


What was your rank at the time?

I was a Second Lieutenant then, my mates were Ibrahim Babangida, Garba Duba, Mamman Magoro, and the rest. I was together with Yelwa in 4th Battalion, while Duba was in Kaduna. There was another officer from Niger state, I have forgotten his name, and he was even a Senator recently. We realised that Igbos were behind all the killings, and were angered the more because they were not even arrested. Although, they were later arrested and taken to jail, but information came to us that they were just enjoying themselves there. Even their ranks were returned to them and they were wearing their uniforms inside the jail.
We started meeting to find a way out. Our Brigade Commander, Maimalari was killed, Col. Pam, Tafawa Balewa and the rest were all killed. We continued to meet in secret and strategising on how to take revenge.
But while that was going on, words started going round about what the Igbo officers were saying: that they had killed the snake, but had failed to cut off the head. Which meant those of us left might make them suffer later, that there was therefore the need to finish us off. Instead of them to show remorse and apologise, they were planning another sinister attacks. We were together with Col. Remawa at the time, he was serving in Abeokuta, and we heard of a grand plot to kill our emirs. A meeting of all emirs was called in Ibadan, all our emirs gathered in Ibadan, that the head of state, Ironsi, would address them. So we said, are we going to let him come, address them and leave? Or should we just kill him or what? Our fear was that he was in the company of our emirs, and you know bullets do not select whom to hit. What do we do? We don’t want even a single emir to die.
We also considered arresting him at his lodge before he goes to meet with them. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi was the governor of South West at the time, and the head of state, Ironsi, was staying in his house in Ibadan. So we don’t want a situation where they would say he conspired with us. So we decided the best thing to do was to open fire there even if Governor Fajuyi was also caught, so that they would just be buried together, and that was what happened.
Before that time, a party was organised for officers, they brought all sort of drinks for us there. In fact, since joining the Army, I had never seen so many assorted drinks like the one they brought for us that day. The plan was to get us all drunk, so that they would just come and open fire on us and kill us all. That was what they planned for us at the 4th Battalion Ibadan because we were the most feared, because we were the ones who lost a brigade Commander, Lagerma. When Murtala returned from Lagos empty handed, everyone was just crying because Lagerma was a very nice man. After the Coup, Gowon was made the Head of state.
When Ironsi was arrested, T.Y. Danjuma was said to be in Ibadan, and there were reports that you, Duba and Remawa were the ones who arrested him?
It was Garba Dada, the guy from Niger state, the one I was telling you was a Senator recently. He was the Adjutant General at the time, and he was our co-ordinator. We did not stay in one place to meet. We used to drive up to beyond Ijebu-Ode meeting inside the car and then turn back.

Was Domkat Bali also in Ibadan at the time?

No. He was at Abeokuta. In fact they were the ones who started shooting before us. We said, if we just kept quiet, they would have arrested our Boys there.

Why was Gowon selected after the coup?

He was the most senior officer at the time. But there was another reason too. There were people like T.Y. Danjuma and Murtala. But Murtala was a bit less than Gowon in rank, and was too close to us.
After Ironsi was killed, the country was plunged into a civil war. You were heading the logistics and in charge of most war equipment. What were the challenges you faced during the war?
At times, it is good to be in the forefront in battle, instead of nominating someone. Facing the enemy is a difficult task that requires effective strategy. You need to put in place how to effectively block the supply of enough ammunitions and back up to them. If you do that, it will not be difficult to finish them off. That is the role I played, I ensured that our troops get enough ammunitions and logistic support all the time.
We started with General Danjuma, he was the C.O. and then Mamman Shuwa, who was later transferred to Kaduna as the GOC. So also was Martins Adamu. Adamu was leading Ogoja troop, Danjuma was in Nsukka, and I was in Abakaliki.

What do you think were the reasons Gowon was removed?

People began to feel he was distancing himself from them. He was unreachable. The top officers of the time felt he was building a wall between them, and so they felt there was need for change. But he was not killed, they waited until he was out of the country to Kampala, Uganda before they toppled him, and asked him not to return. Murtala was then made his successor.

How was your relationship with Murtala?

He was a gentleman. I could remember when it happened, we just returned to Jos with my troop. We moved all our military hardware on our vehicles and train and we even had to hire more vehicles. When we arrived Jos, we went round the town with our entourage up to the Government House just to show the people we have come, only to learn the following morning that Gowon had been toppled. I was a Major at the time.

When Murtala was killed, it was observed that most of the perpetrators were from Plateau, such as Dimka and Bisalla; how did you feel?

Honestly, I was really surprised. We were honest and cordial with each other, not knowing that some people had sinister motive. When we did our own, it was revenge against the Igbos, but people we don’t understand did this one. But we thank God that they were identified after investigations. It was Dimka and his people that were planning to return Gowon to power. But Bisalla, was saying ‘I am here, why should you go looking for someone outside’? This country is lucky to have people like General T.Y. Danjuma. When Obasanjo became the Head of State, he was supposed to be the second in command, but Danjuma said no, there was no need for Murtala to be killed, and an Obasanjo was made the head of State, with a T.Y. Danjuma second in command. Then Shehu Yar’adua was brought in when he was a Lieutenant Colonel but he was doubly promoted to a Brigadier General and made the second in command to Obasanjo. Yar’adua was a gentleman, and that decision was taken to promote peace in the land.

How did you meet Abacha, because you were the closest person to him?

All I can say is that it was God who crossed our path together. Firstly, I am a Tarok man, and he was not. He was a Muslim, and I am not. I was also much closed to Garba Duba. What happened was that even while we were young officers after the civil war, when a small town near Enugu was captured, then a message came that I was needed in Lagos. They told me I would be going to Europe. At the time, there was no daily flight to Lagos. So I took a Land Rover, and by 9am the following day, I was at the office. However, I was told I still had three weeks before I departed. So I went back to Enugu. We were all Lieutenants then and they said we should be changed because people in Kaduna were afraid. They said the 4th battalion should move to Kaduna, while the 3rd Battalion in Kaduna should move to Ibadan.
It so happened Abacha was the officer responsible for the movements of the Battalion from Kaduna to Ibadan, and I was in charge of those moving from Ibadan to Kaduna. They were the first to arrive, so I went to receive them at the train station and show them were to eat and sleep. But Abacha waited at the train station so that any train that brought soldiers from Kaduna, he would make sure soldiers from Ibadan followed the train back to Kaduna. We continued to do that until all the soldiers were successfully ferried. We then joined the remaining vehicles back to Kaduna, and I left him at Ibadan. That was how we became friends. And we then went on to meet at 2nd Division Ibadan.
That was also where we met with Duba. He was at Asaba with his Armoured Division, and I was at the Headquarters at Benin. Abacha was at Tom Ikimi’s town. We went out together anytime we met, and we even used to sleep in the same house. Our friendship became so strong that every weekend we visited each other’s houses and spend the weekend together. We were going to the Houses on turn-by-turn basis, up until the time Duba left the Army because of an ailment that was disturbing him. He went to a hospital in Saudi Arabia three times before he said he was tired and would simply retire. The three of us were very much close. Nothing came in between us, and people were even calling us ‘triplets’. That is God you know. That is why I always tell people that fighting is not good. If there were tribal clashes, the three of us would not have been friends.

During the time of Abacha was Head of State, people were saying you were in fact the President, because Abacha was not even seen in public much, and he was not close to his deputy. Others were saying the coup allegations against Obasanjo and Yaradu’a was just fabricated to break them down. What is the truth of the matter?

I have been asked this question several times, and my answer always was that the coup attempt was real. Even if I don’t like you, would I just pick you up and lock you up? There was a coup attempt, and I said this even while Obasanjo was president. When General Diya was being tried, you saw how he was kneeling down to beg Major Al-Mustapha who was not in anywhere close to him in rank. Definitely there was a coup attempt, but because Abacha was a good man, he did not kill them. When Obasanjo was a military Head of state, there was a coup attempt, and he enacted a law that killed the perpetrators.
But he was not killed, he was only jailed for life, and they said when another government comes, they can decide to release him. He was in jail when Abacha died, politics returned and so there was selfishness and all sort of conspiracies. He knows he was the one who signed the law that said even if you did not participate in a coup, and that you only heard of it but decided to keep quiet, you are culpable, and you face the same penalty as those who planned to execute the coup. He made that law.
When Abdulsalam assumed leadership, there was a debate whether he should be released or not, but eventually they decided to release him.

People also said General Yar’adua had put pressure on your government, insisting at the constitutional conference that power must be transferred to a civilian authority, and he must have known about the coup because he had known about all the others in the past?

Well I cannot say anything about what I have no adequate knowledge about. Yar’adua and I were very close. He was my good friend.

When you were FCT Minister, you set up a committee of traditional rulers in which you were the chairman
The name of the committee was Traditional Rulers Forum and Leaders of Thought.
Why was it formed, and what was the achievement of that committee?

We met a lot of problems on the ground when we came to power, and I realised that they were relegated to the background, they were not revered and their advice were not heeded, but whenever there was any crises people rushed to them for solutions. So I set up that committee so that traditional rulers would know what was going on, and also know that they were highly valued by the government. There were actually two committees, one of traditional rulers and the other of leaders of thought. We did not claim to know everything, so our success came in the fact that the traditional rulers were telling us what was going on among the people, and what we needed to do for the people.
It is ideal to be discussing matters of national security with them, but it is never done until something happens before you see officials rushing to them in confusion. One day, Abacha informed governors to include them in their security meetings. When a crisis occurred in Kano, Abacha called the emir and asked him what was happening? The emir replied that they had discussed and there was no tension anymore, and the emir told him ‘had we not been involved you would have heard of violence all over’.
We also looked at the allocations to traditional rulers and realised that if you were not in good terms with the governor, he would deprived you of funding. He will not renovate your palace, unless if you are subservient to his wishes. Emir of Zaria was getting only 3% and the Sultan was not getting up to 5%. Some Traditional rulers from the South were so surprised when they heard that. You know there, most of them are even businessmen. So we set up an investigative committee to help the emirs, under the leadership of the emir of Gwandu, Jakolo. Emirs of the past were the ones who give orders for something to be brought to them, and it was brought, but emirs these days have burden and many take them to court for daring to touch anything belonging to them. So we felt pity on them and took the report to Abacha saying 10% is too much, but they should at least get 5% of allocations under their domain.
Instead of holding these meetings in Abuja alone, we were holding them in various states. We started with Oyo, then Enugu. We were to hold the 3rd one in Kaduna then Abacha died. The emirs and chiefs were enjoying it because they were getting to know each other well and their domains too. I could remember one day, Abacha was seeing off the emir of Katsina after a visit, and when he saw me, he told Abacha,’ this is our Chairman, he told me we are going to Enugu and I have never been to Enugu before’. He said if it were before, if he told his people that he would be visiting Igbo land, they would ask him if he was crazy, he also said, ‘but now that everything is fine, I will go’.
Will you like to see such a committee continue to exist?
Of course yes. They need to continue with it. One day, I met the Oba of Lagos, he told me he had travelled very far and had seen a very mighty forest without a single tree.
Just like you said, you, General Abacha and Duba were like triplets. There were reports that you were together the night he died. How did you receive the news of his death the following morning?
I was very sad, despite the fact that I was not told in time. It was much later that I was told I was needed urgently at the villa. In fact, at first, I was even denied entry. One of my boys became angry and corked his gun and said ‘was he not here last night’? Before they allowed us to get in. I got there almost 11am. I met IGP Coomasie and other top government dignitaries there, those that were informed before me, in spite of the fact that his family knew I was his best friend. At first, I thought the family was informed that I had a hand in his death. They started asking me questions about what I knew about the death. We were together since we were junior officers, is it now that I would kill him? After their investigations, they realised that I had no hand in his dead.
After Abacha’s death, many thought you would be the next Head of State, and there were some arguments. Why did you not succeed him?
There was politics in the whole thing. There were several meetings, but no unified decision was reached despite the fact that I was the most senior officer of the lot. In the end, they said Abdulsalami had been selected, because he was the most senior in terms of office. I left without taking any appointment that is why up till today, no one is accusing me of anything. That was what happened.
How did you feel when that happened? Did you feel cheated or not?
As a Christian, I believe in destiny
In the past, northerners are ahead of the South in terms of governance and administration, but today, the north has been relegated to the background, no one is talking about a unified north anymore, just a community divided along ethnic and religious loyalties. The Southerners also have differences of religion and ethnicity, but it is not a source of conflict there. How did the north get here?
Even you journalists know the kind of cordial relationships that existed in the past. Truth is both sides are at fault. We northerners have our own fault, and those opposing the north also have their own fault. Did the Southerners plunge us into the crises we are witnessing today? Many innocent people have been killed today, to the extent that there was an attempt to kill the emir of Kano, just due to lack of security. Not to talk of the Plateau. One cannot say these crises are as a result of religious differences because it appears to surpass that.
But I believe we found ourselves in this mess because we have turned our backs on God, and we are mostly selfish in our affairs. We have hardened our hearts and are cheating each other, which will not take us anywhere. Everything now is based on religious on ethnic affiliations. Why won’t we continue to suffer? If we had not united ourselves as northerners in the past when some Southerners killed our leaders we would not have overcome. But today, this one will say I am a Muslim, while the other one will say, I am a Christian. How can we make progress? We cannot make progress by calling each other despicable names. Our leaders in the past did not do that.
How can relationships among northern people be improved?
Honestly, enough is enough. Emirs should be visiting each other. We can solve this problem, if we sit down and talk to each other. Emirs have stopped visiting each other. If you are angry with someone, and then he visits you, I am sure you will forgive him. Our governors too have a problem. We organised a meeting in Kaduna, the governors came and everything was so good, then the following day, only Governor Yakowa turned up, maybe he himself came because he was the host. They don’t co-operate. We have to sit and love one another, cry and laugh together. Otherwise, the upcoming generation will not inherit the right things from us.
From the time he was the head of state up till today, many people have different interpretations of who Abacha was. Some see him as a hero, while others see him as a dictator who trampled on peoples’ right especially those opposed to him. Can you briefly describe him?
Many people misunderstood who Abacha was. He was very honest and well mannered. Whenever we sat together, everyone would give their opinion, but whenever he decided, that was all. He knew how to run the economy of a nation despite the fact that he did not train as an economist. When he was the Head of State, he refused to take any loan from the World Bank, so no one dared undermine his authority. But today, you can say all sorts of things against the president and sleep peacefully in your house. So Abacha was a man who believed in law and order. He was also a man who believed in giving everyone their due. He used to listen to any complaint brought to him that concerned matters of state, and he always made sure he solved the problem. I knew him very well.



Source: Vanguard
*We translated this interview from Hausa and republished with permission from Rariya newspaper


URL to article: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/145535-interview-killed-ironsi-installed-gowon-jeremiah-useni.html

CBN Directs Banks to Stop COT Charges by 2016

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Thursday outlined plans to gradually phase-out the   Commission on Turnover (COT) charged current account by 2016.
Specifically, the apex bank directed all banks to reduce COT from its current rate of N3 to N2 by 2014, N1 by 2015 and   banks are not expected to charge for COT on current account transactions by 2016.

This formed part of the banking sector watchdog’s “Revised Guide to Bank Charges,” dated March 27, 2013, a copy of which was posted on its website.
The 36-page document, according to the CBN, would become effective from April 1.

It explained that COT applies to customer-induced debit transactions on current account, even as it warned commercial banks not to charge COT on “returned outward clearing cheques, reversal on transactions and all bank-induced debits.”
The CBN however pointed out that for loan repayment from current or savings account, COT is free.

Also, it stated that for debit transactions such as transfer to other accounts in the same name, in same branch or at another branch of the same bank, no COT would be charged.

The Guide to Bank charges, first issued in 2004, was meant to provide a standard for the application of charges in the banking industry, and to minimise conflicts between banks and their customers.

Over time, it was observed that the various charges in the Guide had become out of tune with current realities in the market, and some provisions/terms in it allowed room for ambiguity and conflict.

“In order to reflect current developments in the market and provide clarity, on banking terms, the CBN recently conducted a review of the “Guide” in consultation with all the banks and discount houses, Bankers’ Committee, financial experts/consultants and also considered inputs received from other stakeholders to produce the Revised Guide to Bank Charges.

“To reduce the ambiguity in loan transactions, minimum disclosure requirements for loan contracts have been stipulated. Banks and discount houses are enjoined to ensure compliance with provisions of the Guide,” the apex bank added.
The document also stated that for savings deposit accounts, a minimum charge of 30 per cent of Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) would be charged, while for term deposit, the charge is negotiable.

Source: This Day

£3,000 visa bond plan being reviewed – UK

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock, has said the British government is reviewing its plan to introduce a £3,000 visa bond scheme.

He also said while there were security concerns in Nigeria, they were not overwhelming in many respects and could be managed.

Pocock said this on Wednesday when he visited the Nigerian Stock Exchange to ring the closing bell, and to discuss ways in which more British companies could be encouraged to invest in the nation’s capital market.

Reports had emerged earlier this year that the British government was planning to implement a new scheme under which some visitors from some Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria, would be asked to pay a £3,000 cash bond in return for visitor visas that allowed them to stay in the UK for up to six months.

“In the long run, we are interested in a system of bonds that deters overstaying and recovers costs if a foreign national has used our public services,” an unnamed Home Office official had been quoted as saying in June.

The development had resulted in an outcry by nationals of the affected countries with the Nigerian government calling on its British counterpart to renounce the policy.

However, the British High Commissioner, after ringing the closing bell at NSE in Lagos told journalists that, “We have made it very clear to our government in London that there is concern about this. So, this is being reviewed and considered in London as we speak now.”

Pocock, who said visas were issued to 125,000 Nigerians every year, added, “If we decide that this will become a policy we will tell, firstly then Nigerian government and secondly, the Nigerian people so everyone has all the information they need. This is not a major threat to Nigerians coming to the UK; that I can guarantee.”

According to Pocock, the scheme will not be a threat to Nigerians because even if it is implemented it will affect only a fraction of Nigerians who apply for UK visas.

He also clarified that, “The visa bond, as it is being called here, is not a £3,000 charge for a British Visa. That is not the case, it is not going to happen now and it is not going to happen in the future. Visa fee, which is what you pay for a visa, will not go to £3,000 or anywhere near it.”

Source:#Punch

44thNCI

UN General Assembly commends Nigeria's role in Draft UN Resolution on Innovative Financing

Members of the UN General Assembly Leading Group on Innovative Financing (LGIF) have commended Nigeria for its inspiring leadership of the 63-nation strong body in the promotion of creative financing mechanisms to complement development aid.

Delegates from member nations of the Leading Group comprising France, Finland, Italy and international organisations who spoke at the 68th United Nations General Assembly's side event in New York organised by the Group stressed that the Nigerian Presidency of the Leading Group which began in March 2013 has offered aggressive promotion of the role of innovative financing in the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda.

The initiatives include consistently promoting useful expert reports produced by the LGIF in such critical sectors as education, health, food security, illicit flows and climate change as well as leading in the initiative that produced a draft UN resolution on innovative financing.

In his address at the session, the Minister of State for Works/Supervising Minister for National Planning, Bashir Yuguda said that Nigeria’s presidency came at a time when issues on financing the post-2015 agenda have continued to dominate international discourse.

Yuguda explained that the Group has conceptualized some visible and steady sources of fund generation for development to complement the support from the Official Development Assistance (ODA).

“We believe that besides Official Development Assistance (ODA) and financial flows from northern industrialised countries which have remained central to development funding, there is need to harness other resources with great potential which will contribute towards financing development substantially. The set of options for innovative financing mechanisms which have been provided by the leading group is one of them,” Yuguda stated.

Another concrete contribution from the leading group under the Nigerian presidency, he disclosed is a draft resolution dedicated to innovative financing which will be presented during the 68th United Nations General Assembly. Adding, ‘the resolution focuses on the role of innovative financing in the implementation of the new agenda for development.’

He indicated that the innovative financing mechanisms adopted include - the air ticket tax and effective management of aid under a newly reviewed ODA policy in line with government’s Transformation Agenda and the long term development blueprint known as the Nigeria Vision 20:2020.

The minister explained that the air ticket sales tax is charged on every ticket originating from Nigeria and is deployed towards ensuring high safety standards, provision of aviation infrastructure and manpower development.

“The Leading Group is a platform consisting of 63-member countries at various levels of development as well as international organisations and NGOs seeking to promote the definition and implementation of innovative financing mechanisms.
Through its innovative financing agenda, the Group has conceptualised predictable and stable mechanisms for raising funds for development to complement ODA,” Yuguda said.

Bashir Yuguda averred that at the 11th plenary hosted by Finland in February 2013, Nigeria assumed the presidency of the group, thereby becoming the focal nation for promoting innovative financing mechanisms.

Delegates who spoke at the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly’s side event in New York on Tuesday September 24, 2013 emanated from the United Nations, France, Finland, Chile and Italy as well as international organisations - OXFAM, UNDP and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Source :#FMI

President Jonathan's Courageous Speech at UN Assembly

Two points came out outstandingly strong in an address presented on Tuesday before the assemblage of world leaders at the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly being held in New York, the United States of America.
The President was able to, in the first place, rob in the issue of nuclear weapons and amassing of same by some of the so-called powerful nations that are, tongue-in-cheek, crying wolf when the emerging smaller nations are acquiring the same weapons.
President Jonathan was able to drive the point home that acquisition of nuclear weapons is a great danger both to the countries that have them and those that are "onlookers."
The issue is that when the devastating effect of such acquisition comes, it would consume both the owners and the innocent ones that have no hand in it.
To be sure, Nigerian leader made it clear that the threat which nuclear weapons pose to the survival of the human race is to be understood not just in the context of aspirational nations but also the nations already in possession of such weapons. In other words, the two commit the same offence.
"Nuclear weapons," Jonathan said, "are as unsafe in the hands of small powers as they are in the hands of the major powers."
He made it point blank that it is the collective responsibility of all the nations to heed to the clarion call for a peaceful universe in an age, like ours, that is filled with all manners of uncertainty.
President Jonathan expressed disturbance at situation in the Middle East with the report of chemical weapons in the Syrian crisis, saying that such situation is volatile and unacceptable.
"Nigeria condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the use of chemical weapons that are prohibited by International Conventions. We applaud the current diplomatic efforts to avert further escalation of the crisis. We urge all parties involved to end the violence and seek a negotiated solution, including the instrumentality of the United Nations."
President Jonathan made it clear that a world that is free of dangerous nuclear weapons can be attained if the nations of the world would adopt measures and policies that would promote nuclear disarmament and a push towards an international system that is based on trust, mutual respect and shared goals.
The second point which President Jonathan made clear to the world leaders is the current undemocratic structural composition of the UN Security Council.
The President said: "I believe that I express the concern of many about the slow pace of effort and apparent lack of progress in the reform of the United Nations, especially the Security Council. We believe strongly, that the call for democratization worldwide should not be for States only, but also, for International Organizations such as the UN. That is why we call for the democratization of the Security Council.
"This is desirable for the enthronement of justice, equity, and fairness; and also for the promotion of a sense of inclusiveness and balance in our world."
These points are obviously directed at, particularly, the United States of America which has prided itself as self-styled police of the world. It is the United States that had, for long, been amassing all sorts of dangerous war arsenals, including chemical weapons with which it has been harassing the weaker countries.
The irony is that it is the same US that would shout and bemoan the accumulation of chemical weapons by smaller or weaker countries.
The US's cry of wolf over the acquisition of Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) by Muamar Ghadaffi of Libya, which gave it the justification to engineer internal rebellion that led to the disgraceful death of Ghadaffi is just one out of many hypocritical showing of a self-styled super power.
As a matter of fact, if the US Congress and saner people around the world had not been asking the US government to be cautious in Syria, it would have since invaded that country, all with allegation that Syria is amassing chemical weapons.
Like President Jonathan said, a world in which power is seen as might and such power is used by the powerful nations to cow down the weaker ones, can never attain peace and tranquility.
Since God created all us truly equal, irrespective of colour, creed, nationality, we must all respect one another, else, the powerful ones would never be able to enjoy peaceful sleep. They would only continue to be busy killing the weaker ones until there are none to be so killed.
For, whether in the undemocratic structural composition of the UN Security Council or the acquisition of chemical weapons, what all the countries need is mutual respect for one another.
The world, those who pretend no to know should know, has grown beyond the 50's. The world now should be the one in which no nation, no matter how small or weak, should be looked down on.

Source : #‎Greenbarge Reporters

How to Apply for the Nigeria Immigration Service Recruitment 2013

The Nigeria Immigration Service Recruitment 2013 is still in progress and it seems that a good number of people are still having difficulties applying for these Nigeria Immigration Service  positions advertised via the Federal Ministry of Interior.

For all those with Validation Number not found or incorrect issue, please be patient as I just got from a reliable source that its being worked on gradually. It's a problem with the payment gateway which is being resolved and hopefully before this present week runs out you all can print out the validation number. Note that the application closes on the 20th of October 2013, so don't panic because you still have time.

It was also noted that some people erroneously pay funds into their eWallet account and thought that they've paid for the application because the eWallet recharge receipt has Validation Number too ...it is not the correct validation number. If you have loaded funds into your eWallet, go back to the recruitment site and click on the Edit Application tab, enter your Application ID (format IMMxxxxxxxxxxx) into the field and click on Search. If form comes up, make sure your details are correct. Click on Save and Proceed to go to the next page where you select the eWallet option and proceed with your payment fully.

Below are the steps for everyone to follow:

Step 1: Log on to the CDFIPB eRecruitment Site http://recruitment.cdfipb.gov.ng/registration/select

Step 2: Select Service Arm being applied to

Step 3: Fill out the forms displayed and click on Save and Proceed to submit your application

Step 4: On successful submission of application, you will be redirected to the Pay4me Payment page where you are required to select any payment option of your choice.

Payment Options

Bank Option: Select this option if you wish to pay at any of the designated bank. Print out the acknowledgment and take along with as it contains details of the payment to be made.

eWallet Option: Select this option if you have an existing eWallet Account (login credentials) on Pay4me with  adequate funds to cover the payment required.
Note that you will also need your 4 digits PIN number to complete the payment process.

Card Option (Interswitch – Master Card Naira and Verve/ VISA Card): Select this option if you intend paying with any of the card types mentioned above.
On being prompted to login, click on Yahoo, Google or Facebook Icon and follow the instructions.

After Payment
After payment with any of the payment options selected, a successful Payment Receipt will be issued out to you containing the Validation Number.
Log on back to the CDFIPB eRecruitment Site and click on the Acknowledgment Slip tab http://recruitment.cdfipb.gov.ng/registration/acknowledgment and enter Application ID and Validation Number respectively.

If you are faced with any difficulties, please contact the following with issue details
Pay4me: support@pay4me.com (Payment Issues)
Drexel Technologies: cdfipb.support@drexeltechglobal.com (Application or Validation issues)

Note that the eWallet and card options has been disabled temporarily but will be up by 18th
September 2013. But as today (23rd Sept. 2013), It seems the CDFIPB site is still having payment processing issues, because this information is still displayed on the site:
Dear valued applicants, please note that our payment processor is experiencing technical difficulties and as such you may encounter payment problems. Please bear with us while we work with them to fix the problem quickly.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Hotnigerianjobs.com wishes all the candidates applying Best of luck.

Note: This information was shared by one of our subscribers who had successfully applied, by the name Freeman. He shared it through our comment box to help those who are having difficulties in applying, and Hotnigerianjobs.com decided to share it on a bigger scale to reach more of such people. Thanks very much Freeman.

We also encourage other HNJ subscribers with useful information to share them via our comment box below. Thanks for being part of HNJ Family, You Guys Rock!

Nigeria Immigration Service Vacancies

Nigeria Immigration Service Graduate Recruitment 2013

Federal Ministry of Interior Massive Recruitment 2013

Nigeria Immigration Service Entry Level Assistant Inspector Recruitment 2013

Nigeria Immigration Service O'Level Immigration Assistant Recruitment 2013