Achike Udenwa Emerges Minister of Commerce
December 24, 2008 by 
Che Oyimnatumba · 3 Comments
Last night the Yar;Adua’s administration put all doubts about her unseriousness to rest when the Ministry of Commerce portfolio was Chief Achike Udenwa the immediate pass governor of Imo State, South East Nigeria.
Throughout his stint in Imo State, there was no industrial chimney belching smoke. As recent as yesterday, the Chief Press Secretary to his successor Ikedi Ohakim, stated that there was infrastructural decay under the tenure of Chief Udenwa, although the CPS was responding to the story of a High Court Uruall Judge sitting under a mango tree. If this is the true position of things in Imo State, what is the evidence of achievement that made this administration to nominate and insist that Udenwa be made minister?
It will be recalled that there was protest at the gate of the National Assembly Complex on the day the Senate was screening Udenwa. This protest if nothing shows that Udenwa does not have the support and loyalty of the state he ruled for 8 years. Forget his answer to the effect that all politicians have enemies. But what Udenwa failed to tell us is that no ministerial nominee had his enemies marching down the gate of the Assembly on the day of their screening.
Another thing we should not lose sight of is that Udenwa whose name was among the first batch of nominees was delayed at the SSS, implying that his credentials may not be as starling as some of his paid loyalists are making out. At this juncture, I cannot help but imagine what it was that delayed his security clearance. Nigerians should now understand why some politicians are hell bent on frustrating the passing of Freedom on Information Bill (FoIB)
The immediate past Minister of Commerce was Charles Ugwu, the PDP flag bearer in Imo State during the April 14th guber election. Udenwa against party primary result that favoured Senator Ifeanyi Ararume aided Charles Ugwu despite a Supreme Court ruling declaring Ararume as the rightful flag bearer of PDP. Consequently, a new election was conducted on the 28th of April and PPA led by Ikedi Ohakim became governor.
With this history fresh on our minds, one cannot help query the rational behind the compensation with a ministerial appointment to a sitting governor who could not deliver his state for his party.
If Charles Ugwu could not deliver will his godfather deliver? Their inability to deliver is plainly because there is no functional industry or mega commercial activity going on in Imo State. The Industrial Estate on Owerri-Onitsha road, is a grave yard with only NBC and a handful of pure water companies working.
Ugwu who was the head of Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), could not stem the tide of Chinese importations of substandard goods, especially textile.
Another draw back in this ministerial appointment is the generational question. Are there no able young men in Imo State that can fill the Imo State Ministerial slot? Why bring back an ex-governor? And an ex-governor that has nothing in terms of improved commercial activity during his ruin of the state to justify foisting him on the nation.
On a general scale, President Yar’Adua should quickly reshuffle his new lack luster cabinet as it is obvious that the present constituent of his cabinet will not move this nation anywhere near his 7 Point Agenda.
You need to see Dora Akunyili battling to keep a straight face while trying to spin out an image for the government.
How about the 72 year old Lukman? This administration is fast becoming a dump ground for recycled dead woods.
What are these ex-governors doing in the cabinet? Are they not tired that after 8 years they could not radically improve their states?
What new vigor will Ufot Ekaette bring to Niger Delta that he forgot to tell Obasanjo and other Heads of state he served that will warrant his appointment as Minister in charge of the virgin Niger Delta Affairs Ministry?
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Yar’Adua’s Cabinet:Rethinking the Reshuffle
November 2, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · 1 Comment
After waiting for 5 months during which the anxiety was watered down, President Umar Yar’Adua expelled 20 ministers from attendance to the weekly Federal Executive Council Meeting. Apart from three heavy weights, the others are featherweights whose absence does nothing to convey that the presidency is serious about igniting people oriented fireworks among his ministers.
Modibbo was not removed solely because he lost against Goje his state governor, but how will you explain the religious zeal with which the ex-minister undertook the building of 60 Billion Naira Boulevard, planting 1 million trees valued at 1 billion naira when there are visible collapses of infrastructure in FCT? Traffic jams are building up in all the 3 entry points into Abuja with expansion works going on to alleviate the waste of time and productivity.
SSS Releases Elendu.
October 31, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · Leave a Comment
After 12 grueling days in illegal detention, the Nigeria State Security Service (SSS) has released Mr. Jonathan Elendu of elendureports.com. Elendu was arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on 18th of October 2008.
During his 12 days illegal stay in SSS Head Quarters in Asokoro, he was denied access to his lawyer and no family member was allowed to visit him. The SSS claimed that they held him because his website has being reporting what they consider a national security risk.
According to Mr. Elendu, he flew in from his USA base to conclude a documentary he was doing in respect of the inhuman conditions in the oil rich Niger Delta. This callous and senseless arrest shows that the Nigeria State has dwindled into a tyranny as it is historic that tyrants do not want their “subjects” to be aware of the evil being done against a sector of the populace in other not for them to forge a solidarity to break the shackles of the tyrant. We call on all men of good conscience to add a voice to denounce this ugly development. The people of the Niger Delta should also nationalize their struggle so that the oppressed peoples of other geo-political zones can draw a inspiration from them and confront these politicians whose sole interest is to enrich themselves at the expense of the people.
In a statement released by www.elendureports.com Elendu expressed his gratitude to all who in one way or the other aided in mounting pressure of the SSS goons to ease off which led to his release on Wednesday 29th of October.
We welcome Elendu to freedom and castigate these overzealous Gestapo operatives in the pay role of the SSS.
We further urge all Nigerians to be vigilant and report any threat to press freedom by any organization particularly, the SSS and the Nigeria Police attached to politicians.
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Elendu Should be Freed Now!
October 28, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · 1 Comment
What is Elendu’s crime?
Elendu is a United States based online journalist, who have been reporting the ills bedeviling Nigeria, which the administration doesn’t want Nigerians to read about. His second sin is mistaken identity. The SSS goons after the missing 17 days in Hajj by Mr. President, are in search of anybody remote or imaginarily associated with Saharareportes. It was sharareporters that broke the news about the health condition of Mr. President two weeks before the sudden and elongated lesser Hajj jamboree.
Why are the SSS after these online journalists? Most Nigeria Newspapers have of late become a paid mouth piece of those who offer them adverts. At the last count, over 80 % of the papers circulating in Nigeria is own by an ex-governor or a sitting one. Sun Newspaper, Spectator-Oji Uzo Kalu, Independent Newspaper-James Ibori, The Nation Newspaper and Life-Ahmed Tinubu, Compas Newspaper-Gbenga Daniels to mention but a few. A good number of them e.g Thisday Newspaper, Africa Independent Television (AIT)now give awards to those in government instead of putting them on their toes to deliver dividends of democracy to their constituencies. Furthermore unlike in the early 80s when Nigerian media was setting agenda and were investigative, the culture of brown envelops and systematic corruption has eaten deep into the ethics of the profession. A good number of quality news about Nigeria is culled from either BBC, VOA or these online blogs operated by Nigerians in Diaspora dedicated to Nigerian affairs. Hence the Nigerian State is happy with the sleepy media which these online journalists want to wake up to their responsibility.
There is nothing a tyrant fears most than an educated citizenry, for the greatest weapon of an oppressor, is the silence of the oppressed. So chant it load, SSS RELEASE ELENDU or charge him to court. Activate a free Elendu campaign in your neighborhood today.
The slide of Nigeria to tyranny began with the closure of Channels television over the rumored impending resignation of President Yar’Adua. And the Secrete Oath administered on the aides to Mr. President.
If you feel less concerned, cast your mind to George Orwell’s Animal Farm. The rules were gradually changed till Animal Farm became worst than Manor’s Farm. More also, the Ram should not rejoice that it is headache of the Chicken as Christmas draws near, he only escaped Sallah to be fattened for next year’s slaughter. Today it’s Elendu tomorrow it could be you. This attack on Nigerian returnees should be stopped as it is affecting Nigeria’s image and those with something to offer in the quest of Nigeria to be among industrialized nations by 2020 will think twice before boarding a one way fight to Nigeria.
You see what happens in the absence of quality information? When the cat is away, the mouse will play all manner of mischief. The SSS still stuck on military mentality have failed to understand that misinformation can only be corrected by correct information and not arresting people of shady “threat to national security” Isn’t a sick president a threat to national security?
It is the inability of the Nigerian State to state the true health condition of Mr. President in line with Section 144 of the 1999 Constitution that the SSS goons are arresting every whisper as a threat to national security. The whole world knows the true health status of mere contestants McCain and Obama why not a sitting president Yar’Adua? Nature abhors vacuum and where no quality replacement, the fertile imagination of man will go on a frolic.
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Elendureports.com Arrested By The SSS
October 23, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · 9 Comments
WWN denounce the arrest of Jonathan Elendu by the SSS. Elendu is an online journalist whom the SSS have in their custody and have been denied access to a lawyer. Since the SSS clamped down on Channels Television without any caution, the SSS have been embolden and easily dwindle into military era methods in handling Nigerian journalists that will make the Gestapo look like a rookie.
It is reported that the SSS have refused the wife of the detained journalist access to him and attempt by his lawyer to secure administrative bail was met with frustration as he was told to apply to court for enforcement of his client’s rights. Nigerian Security goons, PARTICULARLY the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) should be reminded that there is no democracy without freedom of the minority to say his mind and have a lawyer at his side when he writes his statement. Elendu is the journalist behind www.elendureports.com
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Esko Toyo Points the way out Of Nigerians’ Misery
October 17, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · Leave a Comment
The erudite and unrelenting veteran of the quest for a Nigerian Revolution, Professor Esko Toyo yesterday during the median edition of Mokwugo Okoye Lecture in Abuja opined that those who are shouting about Revolution in Nigeria are not serious as they are not willing to make the required sacrifices to make a revolution a reality in Nigeria.
According to Professor Esko ““It is very easy to talk about change. But how can there be change without sacrifice. You have agreed to be a slave in your country, because nobody is ready to make the sacrifice. This country is a slave country. I say it again and again and again. You have agreed to become slaves in your own country. Only revolution can change Nigeria. Nobody can, no amount of talk without action can”.
WWN firmly believe with the postulation of the learned professor but ask the question; where are the leadership in the left movement in Nigeria that can transform the Nigerian society into the desired people’s paradise? Are they not submerged in NGO and would rather dress a corpse than bury it for a new man to regenerate from the ashes and debris called Nigeria since 1960?
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