Below are the major headlines that made the round in all tiers of government from October 2003 till date:
JUDICIARY
OCTOBER 2003 Wed 1st — IGE: Omisore has case to answer— COURT
An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan ruled that Senator Iyiola Omisore has a case to answer over the assassination of former Justice Minister, Chief Bola Ige( SAN). Justice Akinola Sanda, ruled on the case.
NOVEMBER 2003
Sat 22nd— Bamaiyi: Judge refuses to hands-off case .
Justice Joseph Oyewole of an Ikeja high court ruled that he would not hands off the trial of former Chief of Army Staff Lt- Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi and four others over their alleged involvement in the 1956 attempted murder of The Guardian publisher, Mr Alex Ibru, saying granting their prayers as requested in the case would be unconstitutional.
DECEMBER 2003
Tues 30th— $214m Identity Card: Afolabi, Akwanga, others trial begins in Abuja.
Former Internal Affairs Minister, Chief Sunday Afolabi and others in detention over the alleged $214million National identity card scam were to face a 16-count when arranged in court in Abuja.
Thur 4th — ICPC probes Afolabi, others over $214m ID card scam .
Labour and Productivity Minster, Alhaji Hussain Akwanga , and two former ministers of Internal Affairs, Chief Sunday Afolabi and Dr Mohammed Shata, were being investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) for alleged corrupt practices in connection with the national identity card scam.
Wed 31st — Court Grants Afolabi, Akwanga, others bail
An Abuja high court granted two former ministers of Internal Affairs, chief Sunday Afolabi and Dr Mohammed Shata, as well as sacked Labour Minister, Alhaji Hussaini Akwanga bail following their arraignment in connection with the alleged $214 million national identity card bribe scandal
Sun 21st — NEMESIS:
Failed road contractors in trouble
FG sets police, EFCC on their trail
The Federal government appeared set to bring to trial contractors behind failed roads nation wide as the minister of works Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe disclosed that they have been identified and that the Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were set on their trail for their arraignment before the court
JANUARY 2004
4th— Court orders removal of Ngige
A fresh political crisis brewed in Anambra State after an Enugu State High Court directed the Inspector General of Police to remove Governor Chris Ngige from office “in the same manner he put him in office on 10th July, 2003 after having resigned as governor of Anambra State and left therefrom.”
5th— Gov Ngige re-appears
Slams removal order
*It was a kangaroo court, he says
Embattled Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State reappeared in public in Awka, denouncing the Enugu High Court that ordered his removal as kangaroo court.
3rd— SSS arrests two fake ICPC officials in Oyo
Two middle-aged men were arrested by the State Security Services (SSS) in Oyo State for allegedly parading themselves as officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
16th— Court okays NLC strike
The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory [FCT], Justice Lawal Gunmi on Friday, January 16, 2004 gave his approval to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) proposed nationwide strike scheduled for January 21, 2004.
20th— Court orders suspension of nationwide strike
The Court of Appeal ordered the suspension of today’s nationwide strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to protest the N1.50 full tax..
FEBRUARY 2004
Tue 11th— $242m scam: Judge warns parties on bribery
As the prosecution of suspects allegedly involved in $242 million bank fraud continued, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Lawal Gunmi, warned parties involved in the matter not to contemplate offering bribe to any judicial officer in their bid to pervert justice.
Fri 14th— Akunyili: Court asks police to charge suspects in Anambra
A Federal High Court in Awka has ordered the police to charge the four suspects being held in connection with the December 26, 2003 attempted murder of NAFDAC boss, Dr. Dora Akunyili in Anambra State.
Mon 17th— Ex-parte orders: NBA threatens to blacklist lawyers
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) threatened to blacklist lawyers who misguide or mislead judges into giving or making questionable orders, noting that such lawyers will henceforth be punished by the association. A black book is to be opened at the national secretariat of the association for such lawyers
Fri 21st— $242m scam: Court refuses Nwude, others bail
Hope of the three accused persons standing trial in the $242 million bank fraud instituted by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) was dashed as an Abuja High Court rejected their applications for bail. Justice Lawal Gunmi, Chief Judge of the High Court, said he was rejecting the bail request because of the nature of the charge and the severity of punishment if found guilty.
MARCH 2004
Wed 11th— Ige: Govt not owing counsel — Oyo A-G
* Obasanjo contributed N5m.
Oyo State government said yesterday that President Olusegun Obasanjo contributed N5 million to the on-going prosecution of Senator Iyiola Omisore and others in connection with the December 23, 2001 assassination of the then Attorney-General of Federation and Justice Minister, Chief Bola Ige.
Sat 21st— INEC backs Ibori against tribunal ’s relocation
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) supported the objection raised by Governor James Ibori of Delta State to the re-location of the Delta State Gubernatorial Election Tribunal to Abuja, describing Asaba, the Delta State capital as the appropriate venue for the tribunal’s sitting.
Sun 22nd— NGIGE: NJC suspends Justice Nnaji
The National Judicial Council (NJC) sent on suspension, Justice Stanley Nnaji of the Enugu High Court following his order directing the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tafa Balogun, to remove Dr Chris Ngige from office as Governor of Anambra State.
Fri 26th— Court orders Lagos SIEC to conduct elections today
The road was cleared for the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) to conduct local council poll in the 57 newly created local government council of the state, as Justice Augustine Ade-Alabi of the Lagos High Court sitting in the state granted a mandatory order, compelling SEIC to hold the elections, following a suit by the Alliance for Democracy (AD) chairmanship candidates in the 57 local councils of the state.
APRIL 2004
Thur 1st— Ige: Omisore has case to answer, says Appeal Court
The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan ruled that the former deputy governor of Osun State, Otunba Iyiola Omisore, has a case to answer in the murder of the late former Attorney -General and Minister for Justice, Chief Ajibola Ige (SAN).
MAY 2004
26th— IGE: Fryo’s evidence contradictory, says Omisore’s counsel
Lead counsel to Senator Iyiola Omisore in the on going murder trial of late Chief Bola Ige (SAN), Mr Tony Idigbe (SAN) told an Oyo State High Court that the polygraph test conducted on Adebayo Adedamola a.k.a. Fryo remained the only scientific and independent evidence to resolve the contradictions and in-consistencies in the statement of Fryo on the Ige murder saga.
JUNE 2004
8th—High Court stops nationwide strike
*Asks FG to revert to old price
Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Roseline Ukeje, stopped the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) from embarking on its nationwide strike over hike in the prices of petroleum products. Besides, she ordered the Federal Government to revert the price of petrol to N38 per litre.
16th— Pay N70 per litre or embrace fuel scarcity — A-G
Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Chief Akin Olujimi, said that Nigerians should wake up to the reality that they would eventually pay N70 per litre of petrol, or live with fuel scarcity
22nd— Revert to N38 per litre or face contempt charge
*Justice Ukeje orders Federal Government
*Warns labour not to go on strike
*Excess revenue from oil hits N264b
Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Roseline Ukeje, issued a fresh order against the Federal Government to revert the prices of petroleum products to the pre-fuel tax rates, or face contempt of court. The court also warned labour against a fresh strike over the matter.
28th— Court summons Gummi, 4 others as retrial of Ibori’s ex-parte case begins
Twenty four hours to the commencement of identification trial ordered by the Supreme Court to determine whether Governor James Ibori of Delta State was the same person convicted by an Upper Area Court, Bwari in 1995, an Abuja High Court trying the matter issued subpoena on five persons including the incumbent Chief Judge of the high court, Justice Lawal Gummi, to produce certain vital documents before him this morning for verification.
JULY 2004
11th— Ibori seeks court‘s injunction on trial
Governor James Ibori filed an action before an Abuja High Court, seeking to stop two members of People’s Democratic Party (PDP)— Messrs Goodnews Agbi and Anthony Alabi— from dragging him before the court to face an Upper Area Court judge, Justice Awwal Yusuf, over the allegation that he is an ex-convict.
13th— Gani spits fire as Ibori stops bid to invite Gumi
Lagos lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, practically exploded at the Abuja High Court after Governor James Ibori of Delta State opposed his (Fawehinmi) bid to invite the Chief Judge of Abuja High Court, Justice Lawal Gumi to testify in the on-going trial ordered by the Supreme Court confirming whether the governor is an ex-convict.
14th— Oyinlola rules out anti-graft panel for Akande over alleged N2.5m scam
Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, declared that he would not be stampeded into dragging his predecessor in office, Chief Bisi Akande, before the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) over the alleged N126 million contract scam while in office.
16th— Court shuns Plateau lawmakers’ plea, asks them to go to Abuja
The Federal High Court sitting in Jos turned down a suit filed by members of the suspended Plateau State House of Assembly, challenging their suspension and imposition of emergency rule in the state.
17th— FG directs EFCC to prosecute crude oil thieves
.....Loss climbs to 40,000 p/d
The Federal Government directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take over the prosecution of crude oil thieves from the Nigerian Police in a fresh move to stem the rising incidence of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta. The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company/Shell Petroleum Development Company (NNPC/SPDC) joint venture alone loses 40,000 barrels per day to oil theft.
20th— Judge shut out of court
Justice Hussein Murktar of the Abuja High Court shut out his boss, Justice Lawal Gummi, from giving evidence in the on-going identification trial ordered by the Supreme Court over whether Governor James Onanefe Ibori is an ex-convict or not as he (Murktar) voided a subpoena issued on him (Gummi).
23rd— Court orders arrest of Catholic priests
An Imo State High Court sitting in Okigwe ordered the immediate arrest and detention of two Catholic priests, Rev. Fr. John Ekeogu and Rev. Fr. Joachim Lechukwu, for refusing to answer the contempt charges preferred against them in the court.
29th— Yusuf convicted ‘one’ James Onanefe Ibori, says police report
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tafa Balogun, declared that former judge of the Upper Area Court, Bwari, Justice Awwal Yusuf, convicted one James Onanefe Ibori on September 28, 1995 on a two-count charge of negligent conduct and criminal breach of trust.
AUGUST 2004
Thur 19th— Oyo State disowns lawsuit on oil dichotomy
* We are not a party to the suit, Oyo A-G says
The Oyo State government disowned the suit now before the Supreme Court, seeking to void the act abrogating the on-shore/off-shore oil dichotomy, saying it was wrong to refer to it as one of the plaintiffs in the matter.
Sun 29th— Police wants to implicate me says Ibori
Governor James Ibori of Delta state alleged a grand conspiracy by the police to implicate him in the ongoing trial to identify the James Onanefe Ibori convicted by a Bwari area court for stealing.
Mon 30th—OKIJA: Publish names in register— Ngige
Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State said that he was in total support of the publication of names found on the registers recovered by the police at Okija shrine.
Tue 31st— Ibori was an ex-convict— Police final reports
The police in their final report in the investigation of the matter, said the conviction of one James Onanefe Ibori nine years ago by a Bwari Upper Area Court “is incontrovertible.”
SEPTEMBER 2004
Wed 22nd— NLC has no powers to call general strike, can’t negotiate uniform minimum wages–Court
Chief Judge of the Federal High Gourt, Justice Roseline Ukeje, said that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has no power under the law to call out workers on general strike to protest government policies or for any reason whatsoever.
CIVIL SOCIETY
OCTOBER 2003
Thur 2nd — Oil union threaten war over new fuel prices
As petrol sells for N39.50 - N41 per litre
NLC holds crucial meeting on Saturday at Ibadan
Oshiomhole asks Nigerians to reject deregulation
Motorist in Lagos, Ibadan and Abeokuta who rushed to filling stations for fuel where shocked to find the pumps meters displaying new prices ranging between N39.50 and N41pre litre.
The hike confirmed speculations that government was totally deregulating the down-stream oil sector, allowing marketers to fix prices as they deem fit.
The submission of the defence team led by Mr Anthony Idigbe (SAN), said based on evidence of the 13 witnesses called by the prosecution, a prima face case has been established by the accused.
Sat 4th — OPC, CD, 27 groups back NLC on strike
A coalition of 29 civil society groups resolved to back any action decided by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to resist the new fuel prices .
Thur 9th— Prepare for prolonged strike
We will resume Thursday -NLC
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) fixed a new date for the resumption of its suspended strike over the hike in the prices of petroleum product.
Tues 21st — Detained NLC leaders freed
Group mobilizes against marketers on 34 per litre. The six labour leaders arrested penultimate week by the police and subsequently detained on the orders of an Abuja magistrate court regained their freedom after they where granted bail by the court in the sum of N500,000 each .They were arrested for attempting to enforce the N34 per litre price of petrol.
Tue 14th — Labour leaders arrested
NLC holds emergency talk
Stakeholders meeting for Thursday. Security operatives in Abuja arrested seven labour activist while attempting to enforce the N34per litre price of petrol at Macron filling station at Jabi in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) . Their arrest came against the background of a hint dropped in Ibadan by governor Adamu Abdullahi of Nasarawa state that new prices of petroleum products maybe decided by stakeholders comprising state governors organised labour and marketers at a meeting in Abuja.
NOVEMBER 2003
Sat 1st— You can’t disband NLC, Oshiomhole tells FG .
The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole warned that the attempt to silence organized labour through the executive initiated Trade Union Amendment Bill 2003 would fail.
Sat 29th— Robbers kill 7 policemen in Lagos.
No fewer than seven police officers were shot dead in Lagos by a gang of suspected armed robbers who attacked a bullion van conveying money from one of the second generation banks to its headquarters.
JANUARY 2004
01st— Fuel now N43 per litre as N1.50 tax takes off
Marketers of petroleum products begun the implementation of the N1.50 fuel tax contained in the 2004 Appropriation Bill before the National Assembly, with petrol price rising to N43 per litre in Lagos and some other parts of the country.
6th— Buhari, Oshoimhole faults crisis in Anambra
Presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), General Muhammadu Buhari, and President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, have criticized the political crisis in Anambra State.
7th— NLC gives 14-day ultimatum on fuel tax
The Nigeria Labour (NLC) handed down a 14-day warning to commence a national strike if the Federal Government fails to stop the deduction of the N1.50 fuel tax which it began implementing on January 1, 2004.
18th— Jan 21: NLC commence strike
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and civil society groups directed all Nigerians to commence a total strike on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 and advised them to make withdrawals from the banks today and tomorrow in readiness for the first phase of the strike, even as it continues its discussions with the Federal Government today.
26th— Suspension of fuel tax, NLC strike stands, declares appeal court
The Court of Appeal renewed its suspension of the anti-fuel tax protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and collection of the N1.50 tax itself by the Federal Government. The renewed suspension is indefinite.
Fri 28th— Awoniyi ask northern govs to save the region
Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Chief Sunday Awoniyi, challenged the governors of the 19 Northern states to save the region from sliding further into the abyss of educational, social and economic difficulties.
MARCH 2004
Sun 1st— NLC suspends planned picketing of banks
Following the intervention of the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) agreed to suspend the planned picketing of 56 banks for alleged anti-labour practices.
Sun 8th— NLC rejects out of court deal on fuel tax
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) rejected the Federal Government’s proposal for an out of court settlement in the on-going legal battle between them on the controversial N1.50 per litre of petroleum products and opted for a judicial settlement of the vexed issue.
Thur 22nd— NLC threatens mass action
*Aborts sale of FG’s properties in Lagos
Nine days to the protest march planned by the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) for Abuja to protest the Federal Government policies, the government is faced opposition from yet another front. The opposition this time was from Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) which threatened to call out Nigerians on a mass action against the government if it proceeds with the sale of its choice properties in Lagos, particularly the 1004 flats housing federal civil servants in Victoria Island in the former Federal Capital.
Tue 30th— Police summon Delta dep gov over alleged arms deal
Delta State deputy governor, Chief Benjamin Elue, left Asaba for Abuja on the invitation of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tafa Balogun, to throw light on the recovery of 12 AK47 rifles intercepted from one of his official vehicles.
APRIL 2004
27th— Anyaoku backs May 3 mass protest
Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, said in Lagos, that he saw nothing wrong in the proposed May 3 protest by the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) provided it would be peaceful.
MAY 2004
15th— NLC writes Obasanjo, asks for Wabara’s probe
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) launched a fresh move, for the investigation of allegations of corruption leveled at Senate President, Chief Adolphus Wabara.
16th— Soyinka, activists ask Obasanjo to quit now
* Vow to organise Sovereign National Confab
Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, and other prominent human rights activists who were brutalized by policemen at Saturday’s rally in Lagos were back in the fray, calling for the resignation of President Olusegun Obasanjo
29th— Angry Nigerians protest fuel price hike
* PPPRA cautions marketers
Angry reactions from Nigerians trailed the hike in the prices of petroleum products in the country which pushed the pump price of petrol from between N42.70 and N43 per litre to between N47 and N50 per litre. The government body vested with the responsibility of monitoring prices of petroleum products, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), appealed to marketers to be reasonable in fixing pump prices of the products
JUNE 2004
2nd— Labour gives FG 7-day ultimatum on rising fuel price
* Asks Nigerians to embark on strike Wednesday
The National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) rose from its emergency meeting in Abuja, giving Nigerians the go ahead to embark on strike from Wednesday, June 9, 2004 should the Federal Government fail to reverse fuel prices to the pre-January 2004 rates.
3rd— Mass Protest: TUC, CFTU to join NLC
Just five days to the ultimatum the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) issued the Federal Government over the rising prices of petroleum products, strong support came for the June 9 nationwide strike as Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), National Conscience Party (NCP), Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Congress of Free Trade Union of Nigeria (CFTU) declared they would join the mass protest.
5th— Mass Protest: Labour leaders under siege
There were indications that security agents may be on the trail of President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, and 14 other leading members of the organisation ahead of the planned strike action.
6th— Fuel strike to last 21 days— LABOUR
* Asks Nigerians to stock food
* Kupolokun dares Nigerians to go ahead
* Oshiomhole, others under surveillance
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and 38 civil society groups operating under the umbrella of Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) warned that the planned strike over the latest rise in fuel prices could last for 21 days. They therefore asked Nigerians to use the next 48 hours to stock food and other essential goods at home to last them for the duration of the strike. But an unimpressed Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Funsho Kupolokun, dared the NLC to “go ahead and we will see how it turns out.”
7th— Strike: Govt invites labour for talks
The Federal Government invited labour leaders to a meeting last night in Abuja in a move to head off the strike over fuel price hike scheduled. However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said it had nothing to do with the meeting while Nigerians stockpiled food and fuel yesterday in readiness for the strike.
21st— Fuel scarcity looms, as marketers, tankers owners warn over N400m debt
Major marketers inability to pay tanker owners an outstanding debt estimated at N400 million crippled fuel supply and distribution in Abuja metropolis and environs. The tanker owners withdrew their services. The withdrawal of the tankers from supply and distribution of petroleum products also threatens to affect availability of fuel at the pumps in Lagos and other towns if left unresolved.
JULY 2004
5th— Soyinka at 70, committed to justice, says Jeyifo
As the activities marking the 70th birthday of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, got underway in Lagos, renowned literary writer, Professor Biodun Jeyifo, described him as a man dedicated to social justice, and who uses his Ogun creative metaphor in taking the English Language beyond the frontiers of the original owners of the language.
30th— Labour Bill: SSS arrest NLC leaders
Twenty four hours after President Olusegun Obasanjo presented the Trade Union Bill to the House of Representatives, operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) arrested two officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Benson Upah and Moses Umaru. The duo were picked up at the National Assembly lobby and were first detained at the complex basement before they were taken away.
AUGUST 2004
8th— Okija saga: Police orders shrines shut nationwide
The police authorities have ordered a clampdown on shrines and other fetish set-ups across the country which share similarities of operations with the recently discovered Ogwugwu shrine in Okija, Ihiala local government area of Anambra State.
Tue 24th— Police abort NLC rally
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) protest rally to the National Assembly was aborted by about 1,000 armed policemen, led by Mr. Lawrence Alobi, who restricted the rally to the NLC headquarters, Abuja with a warning that the full weight of the law would be visited on them if they staged the protest beyond the four walls of the secretariat.
SEPTEMBER 2004
Fri 10th—Senate breaks Labour, passes Amendment Bill
* Removes ‘‘no strike’’ clause, okays voluntary membership
The Senate passed President Olusegun Obasanjo’s amendment bill to the Trade Union Act, stipulating among others that the support of a majority of workers is required to declare a strike action. The passage of the amendment bill immediately triggered controversy as some Senators criticised.
Tues 14th— Ojukwu alleges govt plot to kill him, MASSOB boss
*Slams SSS invitation
The Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, turned down an invitation from the State Security Service (SSS), Abuja and alleged that the Federal government planned to kill him and the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.
Wed 15th— SSS slams Ojukwu over alleged plot to kill him, says it is cheap blackmail
The State Security Service (SSS) slammed the Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, for expressing fear over the organisation’s invitation and turning it into an “object of public drama and cheap blackmail.”
Sat 18th— 2007: Ohaneze faults North on Presidency
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo faulted the insistence by some politicians in the North on the zone producing the president in 2007 or nothing else, saying that the issue of 2007 presidency remained open to all zones.
Sun 19th— I have nothing against Nigeria says Ojukwu
Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, declared that he has nothing against Nigeria, saying his recent comments on vexing national issues were not different from those issues that dominated the Aburi Conference of Nigerian leaders in 1967.
LEGISLATURE
Mon 6th — Fuel: Reps summon major marketers
NLC warns ahead of strike on Thursday
The House of Representatives summoned chief executives of the major petroleum marketers to brief it on the parameters used in fixing the latest prices of petroleum products.
Wed 8th — Mantu, Zwingina asked me for N45million bribe says el-Rufai
On a day Nigeria was named the second most corrupt country in the world after Bangladash, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, fingered Deputy Senate President; Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, and deputy senate leader, Dr Jonathan Zwingina, as those that demanded N54million from him to facilitate his clearance as minister. The duo swiftly denounced the minister’s allegation as mere fabrication as an attempt to smear their reputation.
Mon 13th— Senate’s verdict on alleged N54m sam final — WABARA
The allegation by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, that two principal officers of the senate demanded a bribe of N54m from him is closed as far as the upper chamber of the National Assembly is concerned, its president, Chief Adolphus Wabara, declared in Lagos.
Thur 30th — Masari assures NLC of openness.
Speaker of the house of Representatives, Alhaji Bello Masari promised the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that the house will continue to remain an avenue of people to express their voices of dissent on policy issues when the need arises.
Tues 11th— Senate vows to work out new revenue formula.
Faults Obasanjo on withdrawal bid.
The Senate defied President Olusegun Obasanjo’s request for the withdrawal of the new Revenue Allocation Bill and vowed to forge ahead with its effort in prescribing a new allocation formula for the country.
NOVEMBER 2003
Fri 14th — Reform committee wants 774 LG retained
Recommends scrapping of point council accounts
Okays parliamentary system at the grassroots.
The technical committee on the review of local government in Nigeria submitted its report with a recommendation that the 774 local government areas listed in the 1999 constitution, be retained thus barring further creation of LG areas.
DECEMBER 2003
Sun 16th— Visa syndicate rattles Wabara
Masari, others victims.
Rattled by the activities of a visa syndicate which apparently penetrated the National Assembly, Senate President Adolphus Wabara, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Alhaji Aminu Masari, initiated plans to aid the checking of the syndicate that is said to be holding the leadership to ransom.
JANUARY 2004
14th—House of Reps faults fuel tax
In its fiercest attack yet on President Olusegun Obasanjo since its inauguration last year, the House of Representatives, dismissed the president’s introduction of the N1.50 fuel tax as “unconstitutional, illegal and oppressive.” It, therefore, in a unanimous resolution, asked him to stop forthwith the collection of the tax across the country.
27th— Nzeribe tackles Chukwumerije on bribery scandal
*Insists on state of emergency in Anambra
Controversial politician, Chief Arthur Nzeribe, who was named last week by Senator Uche Chukwumerije as distributing and attempting to distribute a bribe of N500,000 to each senator for the purpose of declaring a state of emergency in Anambra State, fought back and challenged his accuser to name senators involved in the deal. But Chief Nzeribe said the only solution to the Anambra political crisis was imposition of a state of emergency.
MARCH 2004
Sat 7th— Senate fails bid to stop CBN on N1,000 note
A last minute effort by the Senate to stop the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from introducing a N1,000 note into circulation failed with the apex bank sticking to its guns on plans to introduce the highest circulation note before the end of the year.
Sun 15th— Senate Committee vows to stop Obasanjo on 3rd term bid
Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, ruled out any constitutional amendment that would enable President Olusegun Obasanjo seek another term as president.
APRIL 2004
Wed 7th—Budget 2004: Senate aborts Easter break, considers Obasanjo’s objections
The Senate is cut short its Easter holidays to enable senators consider objections raised by President Olusegun Obasanjo to the 2004 budget approved by the National Assembly
Fri 9th— 2007: Na‘Abba leads former Reps to influence Nigeria’s future
Immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Na‘Abba indicated that he and former members of the House were getting ready to play a positive role in the determination of Nigeria’s political future.
Sun 25th— Support for Wabara dims, fresh contracts mess alleged
Support for Chief Adolphus Wabara’s continued stay as Senate President appeared to be fast diminishing among senators last night as fresh allegations of financial impropriety emerged against his leadership of the upper chambers of the National Assembly.
26th— Anti-Wabara Senators ask him to quit today
*Only PDP can sack me, says Wabara
The anti-Wabara forces in the Senate gave Senate President up till 10a.m. to resign or face impeachment, although the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the man at the centre of the storm, Chief Adolphus Wabara himself launched into series of meetings to save the situation. But that was after Chief Wabara, on his return from Mexico, had told reporters in Lagos that his fate could be decided only by his party— the PDP.
Fri 23rd— Senators adamant on Budget 2004
*ask Obasanjo to sign bill
Ahead of their resumption, Senators yielded little in their dispute with President Olusegun Obasanjo over clauses in the 2004 budget that the president said were infringements on his executive powers. However, the Senate leadership was said to be desperately wooing Senators to back out of the seemingly confrontational position with reports suggesting some little success in one of the four points at dispute between the National Assembly and the executive.
4th— Apologetic Wabara gets reprieve as Senators set up Committee to review Senate
processes
Embattled Senate President, Chief Adolphus Wabara, got a reprieve from his colleagues after profuse apologies to them, although the Senate constituted a 12-man ad-hoc committee to review his administrative lapses, which it blamed for the recent crisis.
14th— ANPP Senator raps Buhari, CNPP on calls for mass resignation, mass action
Senator Sule Yari Gandi (ANPP, Sokoto) chided the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) over its call for the mass resignation of elected public office holders just as he condemned the relationship between Alhaji Muhamadu Buhari, the party’’s 2003 presidential candidate and the CNPP.
JUNE 2004
1st— Senate, Reps pass 8 Obasanjo’s emergency powers
* Gani, others sue Obasanjo on Plateau emergency rule
The Senate and the House of Representatives at their separate sessions, passed the eight emergency regulations sought by President Olusegun Obasanjo to enforce emergency rule in Plateau State.
A few kilometres away from the National Assembly, the civil and human rights community and Lagos lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, simultaneously filed two suits against President Olusegun Obasanjo over his May 18, 2004 imposition of emergency rule on the state
20th— Proscription of NLC: Senators split along party lines
Ahead of formal receipt of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s legislative proposal to scrap the central role of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in organising workers, Senators were split along party lines on the matter.
AUGUST 2004
3rd— House of Rep to amend ICPC law
President Olusegun Obasanjo’s fight against corruption came under a re-assessment from the House of Representatives which said government was not showing sufficient seriousness in the battle. It therefore, resolved to amend the law establishing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Allied Offences (ICPC) to make it effective.
4th— MPs seek direct funding from federation account
The Senate initiated a move to reverse its financial dependency on the executive arm of government, tabling a bill that seeks to place funding of the National Assembly on the first line charge of the consolidated revenue fund of the federation.
11th— National Assembly set to review EFCC Act
The House of Representatives yesterday commenced deliberation on the amendment to the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act that would compel all cyber cafés and GSM commercial operators to register with the commission and get the names and addresses of their patrons for easy tracing by the commission.
12th— Senate moves to check CBN on N25b capital base
Two bills seeking to check the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its move to raise the minimum capital
base of operating banks to N25 billion were introduced on the floor of the Senate.
Wed 25th— Senate indicts el-Rufai over BPE funds
The Senate adopted the report of its Committee on Public Accounts, indicating the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, of irregularity in the management of finances during his tenure as Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), and his current post.
Thur 26th— OKIJA shrines causes uproar at House of Reps
A last minute withdrawal of a motion seeking to get a parliamentary commendation for the Police for dislodging the Okija shrine threw the House of Representatives into confusion for more than 30 minutes after some members insisted that the motion be allowed to be debated.
Fri 27th— Anti-people clauses will not survive in labour bill, Senators promise
Ahead of consideration of the Committee report on the labour reform bill, Senators Chris Adighije and Ibiabuye Martyns-Yellowe expressed determination of the Senate to ensure that contentious clauses in the controversial amendment bill submitted by President Olusegun Obasanjo to the Senate are dealt with.
SEPTEMBER 2004
Wed 1st—Senate wants Obasanjo to sack el-Rufai
On a day it was to pass the bill restricting strike action by workers, the Senate embarked on a 48-hour strike to compel the dismissal of Federal Capital Minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, from office on account of invectives against them (Senators).
Thur 2nd— Senate shuns Obasanjo, El-Rufai’s lobby
*Insists he must be sacked
President Olusegun Obasanjo and the embattled Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, launched a desperate lobby to placate angry senators who suspended plenary sessions to enforce their demand for the dismissal of the minister. President Obasanjo’s personal lobby of the Senate leadership and Mallam el-Rufai’s personal visit to some Senators, however, appeared to be yielding little effort as most of the Senators were adamant that the minister must be sacked for his insults against the National Assembly.
Fri 3rd—Senate insists Obasanjo must sack El-Rufai
*Threatens to stop legislative dealings with executive
The Senate pressed ahead in its agitation for the dismissal of Federal Capital Minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, from office with a threat to suspend all legislative dealings with President Olusegun Obasanjo until the president acted on its decision.
Wed 8th— el-Rufai to apologise before Senate
Embattled Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, wrote to the Senate offering to appear before it to tender an apology to the upper chambers of the National Assembly for his inappropriate deployment of language against it. And the Senate obliged him
Thur 16th— Reps summon el-Rufai over NITEL deal
The House of Representatives Committee on Communications summoned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to appear before it to provide details of how the Pentascope group emerged as management consultant to the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL).
NOVEMBER 2003
Sat 11th— MCK : Obasanjo, Ohanaeze, others pay tributes.
President Olusegun, said Nigeria has lost one of the remaining members of its first generation of authentic nationalists with the death of Chief MCK Ajuluchukwu, just as the pan-Igbo organisation, Ohaneaze and other noticeable Nigerians paid tribute.
DECEMBER 2003
Fri 22nd— 22 Perish in Lagos in an auto crash .
It was a tragic day in Lagos after a mini bus skidded off the Oworonsoki road just at the foot of the third mainland bridge and plunged into the lagoon killing all the 22 occupants.
MARCH 2004
Sat 14th— 7 feared dead in fresh Itsekiri -Ijaw war
It was bloodshed in Delta State after suspected Itsekiri youths attacked four Ijaw communities in Egbema clan in Warri North local government area, killing seven persons.
Wed 18th— YCE. leader, Adewale Thompson, dies at 81
Erudite jurist and Secretary-General of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Justice Adewale Thompson, was declared dead. Justice Thompson, a confidant of the late slain Justice Minister, Chief Bola Ige (SAN), was 81.
Thur19th— Prisoner murders warder, attempts jail break
One of the prisons inmates at the Kwale Prisons, Delta State reportedly killed a prison warder while attempting to break jail.
APRIL 2004
Wed 14th— Five youth shot dead in Warri
Five unidentified youth were in Warri shot dead by soldiers attached to the Joint Security Task Force, Operation Restore Hope, while attempting to hijack oil barges belonging to the Shell Petroleum Developing Company (SPDC).
MAY 2004
10th— S.M Afolabi dies at 73
Veteran politician, Second Republic Deputy Governor of the old Oyo State, and until last year, Internal Affairs Minister, Chief Sunday Michael Afolabi, passed on in a Manchester hospital, aged 73.
11th— Kano: Curfew as 10 die in protest against Yelwa killings
The Kano State government imposed a dusk-to-down curfew on the capital, Kano, after a protest by Muslims to show their anger over the religious killings in Yelwa, Plateau State turned violent, claiming at least 10 lives.
19th— Fulani militants invade Plateau, kill 6
*Administrator spits fire, ask trouble makers not test govt’s will
There seems to be no immediate end to the spate of sectarian killings in Plateau State, after some people suspected to be Fulani attacked villages in Qua’an Pan and Wase local government areas, killing six people. They also burnt 30 houses, even as the state’s administrator, Major General Chris Alli (rtd), warned trouble makers not to test the will of government.
JUNE 2004
11th— N-Delta: Another 10 suspected pirates, one soldier killed
Another 10 suspects pirates were killed after two hours shoot-out with the operatives of the Joint Security Task Force for Niger Delta.
JULY 2004
7th— 5 feared dead as police, Air Force clash rages
The clash between Police and Air Force men in Ikeja raged for the second day running with five policemen feared dead.
25th— 4 feared dead as helicopter plunges into Atlantic Ocean
No fewer than four persons were feared dead when the helicopter in which they were traveling plunged into the Atlantic Ocean in the Escravos area.
AUGUST 2004
Mon 16th— Owu kingmakers arrested
The crisis over the nomination of a new Olowu of Owu, Abeokuta appeared to have degenerated with the arrest of three of the five kingmakers opposed to President Olusegun Obasanjo’s alleged annulment of last week’s election of the new Olowu.
Tues 17th— Owo kingmakers freed
*Obasanjo washes hands off arrest
The three Owu kingmakers arrested in Abeokuta supposedly over the stalemated struggle for the Olowu throne regained their freedom with their leader and Akogun of Owu, Chief Rufus Onifade, declaring that he was leaving President Olusegun Obasanjo in the hands of God and their ancestors. But the president, reacting to insinuations that he was responsible for the ordeal of the kingmakers on account of their opposition to his (Obasanjo) choice for the throne, said he had no hand in their arrest and detention.
Wed 18th— Police IG at Okija, vows to stop barbaric killings
* Okija community asks names of visitors to the shrine be published
Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, on a fact-finding visit to the Ogwugwu Idigo shrine in Okija, Anambra State said he could not believe what he saw, and vowed that the police would not allow “barbaric deity” in this age.
Sat 21st— 200 perish in Gombe flood
Gombe State was thrown into mourning when a heavy flood which swept through the state capital and environs killed about 200 people and rendered thousands homeless.
SEPTEMBER 2004
Fri 17th— 15 feared dead in Lagos pipeline fire
An early morning pipeline explosion rocked Imore village, a suburb of Lagos, leaving on its trail about 15 people dead, all of them yet to be identified. Imore lies between Satellite Town and Ijegun near Ikotun.
PRESIDENCY
OCTOBER 2004
Tues 28th — FUEL: No going back on deregulation
*Obasanjo replies labour
The Federal government’s recent policy on the deregulation of fuel prices is irreversible, according to the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) Chief Ufot Ekaette.
Thur 20th —Bakassi: FG warns against secession bid
The Presidency warned against any attempt by natives of Bakassi in cross-river state to secede or declare sovereign state.
NOVEMBER 2003
Thur 27th— Mugabe not invited to CHOGM— Obasanjo
President Olusegun Obasanjo said he had not invited President Robert Mugabe for the meeting.
Thur 6th— New revenue bill forged— Obasanjo
Writes National Assembly for withdrawal. The new revenue sharing formula bill currently receiving the attention of the national assembly has been forged by unknown people according to president Olusegun Obasanjo who wrote to the legislative arm for its (bill) withdrawal.
Sun 30th— TERRORISM:
Militant youths acquire gadgets
Security alert at ports, borders.
The Federal government put intelligence agencies at the airport, seaport and land borders at alert following the discovery by the military after its assault and the capture of militant Ijaw youths who sized two oil flow stations in the Niger Delta.
Fri 17th —NNPC owes N138.76 billion
The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) indebted to the tune of N138.76billion .
Mon 24th— Debt deductions cripple State govt.
Eight States in the government have been bogged down by heavy debts as 24-50 percent of their monthly allocations are deducted by the Federal government at source.
Mon 17th— LG reform committee illegal— Tinubu, Shekarau
Fault return of parliamentary system at the grass-roots
Governor Tinubu of Lagos State and Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State were opposed to the recommendation of the local government reforms committee for a return to the parliamentary system at that level of government.
Thur 13th— FG to spend N1.16 trillion in 2004
Budget based on oil income of $23per barrel
A picture of what the 2004 national budget would look like emerged after the Federal government indicated that it was proposing to spend a total of N1.16trillion projected revenue, according to Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala.
Sat 15th— Obasanjo loses to Buhari at Supreme Court .
President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Supreme Court lost his battle to terminate the petition filed by the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential candidate, Gen. Mohamed Buhari challenging him (Obasanjo’s) victory at the April 19, 2003 polls.
Tue 4th— NNPC: Obaseki out, kupolokun in
The Federal Government dropped Dr. Jackson Gaius- Obaseki as group managing director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) and replaced him with Mr. Funsho Kupolokun.
DECEMBER 2003
Tues 23th — Fuel Queues back as FG hints on N1.50 tax
Long queues of vehicles returned to filling stations in many part of Lagos metropolises just 96hours after President Olusegun Obasanjo hinted of the coming of a fuel tax of N1.50 per litre in his 2004 appropriation bill.
Sun 28th — DO YOUR WORST:
Afolabi’s Kinsmen dare Obasanjo
Kinsmen to the detained former Minister of Internal Affairs, Chief S. M Afolabi have dared the President asking him to do the worst over the alleged scam of the $214m identity card project.
Sun 14th— STOP 2007 CAMPAIGN NOW:
Obasanjo to Atiku , others
The campaign for the candidates of Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the 2007 presidential election by his supporters at the Peoples’s Democratic Party (PDP) convention grounds in Abuja did not go down well with President Olusegun Obasanjo who ordered that such campaign be stopped forthwith.
Wed 3rd — NAIRA: FG tackles banks over round-tripping .
If feelers from the stakeholders meeting on the depreciating value of the naira are anything to go by, banks are in for a tough time as the Federal government is said to have concluded plans to deal with financial institutions involved in round-tripping at the foreign exchange market.
Fri 15th — Labour Minister, Akwanga fired .
Labour and Productivity Minister, Alhaji Hussaini Akwanga, who the independent corrupt practices and other related offenders commission (ICPC) said. It was investigating for alleged corrupt practices in connections with national identity card contract was fired by the President.
Tues 2nd — Obasanjo holds emergency meeting
Talks on naira free fall
President Olusegun Obasanjo convened an emergency meeting of his economic team in Abuja to check the current free fall of the naira.
JANUARY 2004
2nd— 2007 SHOCKER!
*Ex-minister defies Atiku, takes campaign abroad
Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s directive to his political associates to stop the campaign for his candidature in the 2007 presidential election may have met a brick wall in some of his supporters who have resolved that it is not in the interest of the vice-president that the campaign be halted.
8th—Anambra: AIG moved to forestall crisis
Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone Nine, Umuahia, Alhaji Abdulrahim Yusuf, moved to Awka and took over the security of Anambra State, citing need to forestall violence.
13th— Obasanjo withdraws N1.50 fuel tax
President Obasanjo wrote to the National Assembly, seeking the removal of the N1.50 per litre fuel tax from the Appropriation Bill which received the legislature’s attention.
15th— FG loses bid to stop Jan 21 fuel strike
The Federal Government failed in its legal bid to halt the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strike, scheduled for January 21, 2003 after the Chief Judge of the Abuja High Court refused to grant its (FG’s) ex-parte application which sought to restrain NLC from embarking on the strike
28th— FG confirms spread of polio
The Federal Government admitted the spread of a strain of polio disease prevalent in some parts of Northern states to neighbouring countries.
FEBRUARY 2004
Sat 1st — Why I sued Obasanjo, by Ngige
Embattled Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, said he sued President Olusegun Obasanjo so that the Supreme Court can define the limit of presidential power. He also claimed that he has a pact with his estranged political godfather, Chief Chris Uba, not to destabilise the state.
Sun 9th— FG, NLC to strike deal on N1.50 fuel tax
The Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) agreed, yesterday, to seek a negotiated settlement on the controversial N1.50 fuel tax. But a separate dispute is brewing between the House of Representatives and the executive over the planned privatisation of the nation’s refineries.
Mon 10th— Nigeria hands over Bakassi to Cameroun this year
Nigeria plans to cede the disputed Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun this year, although there may be delays in the planned handover timetable, the head of Nigeria’s delegation to UN-mediated talks made this known.
Thur 20th— FG gives condition for more revenue to states
Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Policy, Programmes, Monitoring and Evaluation, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said that the Federal Government was not opposed to the agitation for more revenue by the 36 states governors, provided they agree to take on more responsibilities from the centre.
Sat 22nd— Mugabe slams Obasanjo
President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe slammed President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and the majority of African leaders for allegedly succumbing to Western influence and turning against African causes. He singled out Nigeria for having given in to the white Commonwealth pressure on the decision taken against Zimbabwe at the last December Commonwealth Summit in Abuja.
MARCH 2004
Tue 3rd— Dollar pay for ministers illegal says Revenue Commission
*Soyinka blames it on FG
The dollar-denominated salaries of Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonojo-Iweala and her Foreign Affairs counterpart, Mr. Olu Adeniji run foul of Nigeria’s laws, officials of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) declared.
But Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, also speaking on the issue in Lagos absolved the ministers of any blame in the controversy, saying it was government that should be blamed for the situation.
Thur 5th— Atiku sympathizes with Akume over attack by armed bandits Vice president Atiku Abubakar on Friday sympathized with the Benue state governor, George Akume, over the attack on his convoy by unknown gunmen admitting that such violent attacks “can hardly recommend our country to foreign investors”
Fri 6th— Obasanjo speaks on June 12 annulment
President Olusegun Obasanjo revisited the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election and declared that the whole story of that episode must be told if Nigeria would not repeat the mistake in future.
Sun 28th— FG moves against Ngige
The Federal Government has launched a fresh legal move to unseat Anambra State governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, by asking the Supreme Court to declare his swearing-in illegal.
Mon 29th— Adamawa polls: Atiku Abubakar denies move to beat up judge
* Akpamgbo ask him to apologize
Vice President Atiku Abubakar assured the Judiciary of his highest regards following reports, weekend, that he threatened to beat up judges if necessary. But reacting to the reports, Senior Special Assistant (Public Communications and Media Affairs) to the vice president, Dr. Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, said much as “there are serious ground to question the impartiality of the judge,” the VP still believed in “the sanctity of this institution.
APRIL 2004
Sun 4th— Why Obasanjo is bent on removing Ngige — Anambra Govt
The Anambra State Government said the reason why President Olusegun Obasanjo is bent on removing Governor Chris Ngige is to install someone acceptable to him (Obasanjo).
Mon 5th— Gov Tinubu, Osoba, Adebayo under house arrest for 12 hours
Armed soldiers drafted to supervise the postponed election in the four local governments of Ikole, Ikere, Efon and Ekiti South in Ekiti State technically put Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State, former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba and his Ekiti counterpart, Chief Niyi Adebayo under “house arrest” for several hours in the country home of retired General Adeyinka Adebayo at Iyin Ekiti. Tue 6th—I won’t take less my monthly dollar pay in Naira — ADENIJI
Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Olu Adeniji, whose dollar salary generated controversy across the land now said he does not mind to be paid in naira provided the amount so paid is not less than the dollar equivalent.
Thur 8th— Ngige drops suit against Obasanjo
Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State applied to the Supreme Court to strike out President Olusegun Obasanjo’s name from the suit he (Ngige) filed against the Federal Government and the governors of the other 35 states over the withdrawal of his security details.
Sat 17th—Obasanjo chides Tinubu
President Olusegun Obasanjo blamed Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State for breaching protocol during his recent visit to Ekiti State during which he (Tinubu) and former Governors Olusegun Osoba of Ogun state and Adebayo Adeniyi were put under “house arrest” President Obasanjo defended the Ekiti State governor who has been in the eye of the storm for allegedly ordering police men and soldiers to get Governor Tinubu and the former governors ‘detained’ overnight while in Iyin Ekiti for the burial of the father of one of the Lagos state governor’s commissioners
28th— SLAIN OIL WORKERS:
Security detectives escape death in fresh attack
Operatives of the Warri Joint Security Task Force, Operation Restore Hope, investigating the last murder of seven persons on the Benin River in Delta State narrowly escaped death after a group of militant youths opened fire on them on Oghege creeks in Warri North local government area of the state.
29th—FG under pressure on slain oil workers
The Federal Government is under pressure from the United States of America (USA) to find the killers of seven men including two Americans on Olero creeks in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.
MAY 2004
1st— I have no hand in Senate crisis says Obasanjo
President Olusegun Obasanjo said he has no hand in the leadership crisis rocking the Senate.
He spoke at the May Day rally in Lagos after Nigeria Labour Congress President Adams Oshiomhole had called for his resignation.
9th— FG not pleased with governors‘ way of spending
The Federal Government is displeased by the spending pattern of state governors some of whom, according to the Minister of State for Finance, Mrs Esther Usman, have been taking public funds out of the country rather than spending such for the development of their state.
13th— OBASANJO CALLS CAN PRESIDENT IDIOT
President Olusegun Obasanjo’s legendary temperament appeared to have scuttled his peace initiation on the Plateau State religious crisis after flaring up at a stakeholders meeting in Jos, calling the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) an idiot.
17th— Anxiety grips Plateau over plot to declare state of emergency
•FG summons House officers to Abuja
Anxiety gripped Jos following the summoning of the eight principal officers of the state House of Assembly to Abuja in what many residents interpreted as a prelude to the declarationof a state of emergency in the state. It was reliably gathered that the officers were at the Presidential Villa for hours where they met with top government officials on the various options on the problem in the state.
18th— Obasanjo slams state of emergency on Plateau
* Suspends Dariye
President Olusegun Obasanjo, invoking Section 305 of the constitution, declared a State of Emergency in Plateau State and suspended from office Governor Joshua Dariye and the state legislative for six months in the first instance.”
20th— Obasanjo aborted Dariye’s plan to quit before emergency rule— Lar
Suspended governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye, offered to resign his position on the eve of the imposition of emergency rule in his state, but was allegedly prevented from doing so by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
27th— Scrap new LGs, get your allocation, FG tells Lagos
The Federal Government told the Supreme Court that it would effect the immediate release of the suspended allocation for the running of 22 recognized local governments in Lagos State once the state government agrees to scrap all its newly created local councils.
30th— Obasanjo justifies price hike
President Olusegun Obasanjo, in a special media chat to mark five years of democracy justified the latest hike in the prices of petroleum products, saying the situation as it stands is predicated on the price in the international market.
31st— Labour asks Obasanjo to arrest rising fuel price
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) wrote to President Olusegun Obasanjo in the latest increase in fuel prices and appealed to him “in the strongest terms possible to consider the plight,” of the poor and “roll back these new price increases without further delay.”
JUNE 2004
27th— Indigene/settler controversy dangerous — Atiku*As FG vows to wade into Tinubu/Ogunlewe face off
Vice-President Atiku Abubakar described the contentious indigene/settler debate as unconstitutional, divisive and dangerous to the unity of the country. The vice president also said that government would wade into the crises between the Federal Ministry of Works and Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) over the control of Lagos roads with a view to solving the problem between them.
JULY 2004
26th— FG withdraws Labour Bill
The controversial Bill introduced by the Executive, seeking to whittle down the powers of the NigeriaLabour Congress (NLC) has been withdrawn from the National Assembly for further amendments.
27th— Federal Finance Ministry gets autonomy
A major re-organisation was imminent in the Federal Ministry of Finance which confers on the ministry a reasonable level of autonomy.
AUGUST 2004
9th— Obasanjo over-rules new Olowu’s nomination
•Threatens to deal with kingmakers
The fresh nomination of a new Olowu of Owu, Abeokuta was halted after President Olusegun Obasanjo, a son of the soil and major factor in the selection, allegedly annulled the result of selection and tore the election sheet. Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, five of the eight kingmakers who participated in the selection at the Owu Palace alleged that President Obasanjo after tearing the election result threatened to deal with them for not doing his bidding.
10th— IGP to visit Okija shrine
Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, received a presidential directive to personally take charge of on-going investigation into the Okija Shrines, where the police, last week, recovered 20 human skulls and a fresh corpse.
Sun 22nd— 2007 Presidency: I remain neutral says Obasanjo
President Olusegun Obasanjo said that he chose to remain neutral in the struggle for his successor in 2007 in the best interest of his government and the country.
Mon 23rd— 2007: It is the turn of the North— Markafi
With the controversy over which part of the country will produce the next president still raging, Governor Ahmed Maikarfi of Kaduna State said President Olusegun Obasanjo and 63 other members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have already decided that it is the turn of the north.
POLITICAL PARTIES
Thur 23rd— PDP may lose 2007 polls
The ruling people’s democratic party(PDP) stands the risk of losing the 2007 elections unless it checks in-fighting and anti-party activities, national chairman of the party, Chief Audu Ogbeh ,warned at the start of the party’s two-day national executive committee meeting in Abuja.
NOVEMBER 2003
Fri 28th— Obasanjo backs bid to de-register parties
If president Olusegun Obasanjo had his way some of the enlisting political parties would be de-registered and the registration provision tightened. Besides there could be ceiling on what candidates and their could spend on elections.
DECEMBER 2003
Sat 6th— DE-REGISTRATION OF PARTIES
You cant do it!: Jambo, Oyegun,Okorie and others tell Obasanjo.
AD to convey new convention, seeks a new beginning
JANUARY 2004
23rd— N558 million fraud on 2003 polls uncovered
* Agency petitions ICPC, EFCC, National Assembly
While the dust is yet to settle on the $214 million National Identity Card scheme alleged scam for which three former ministers and three others are being tried, a fraud totaling N558.6 million has been alleged on another government project. The project, this time, is the voter education programme preparatory to last April 2003 general elections and enlightenment campaign on corruption handled by the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
25th—CNPP tasks ICPC over Senate’s bribery scandal
The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) challenged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to immediately probe the allegation of bribery and corruption in the Senate. The conference was referring to the allegation by Senator Chukwumerije that maverick politician, Arthur Nzeribe, attempted bribing senators with the sum of N500,000 each to declare a state of emergency in Anambra State.
FEBRUARY 2004
Tues 4th— PDP directs states not to conduct elections into new councils
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) directed its state chapters not to conduct elections into the newly created Local Government Areas insisting that the exercise should only be limited to the existing 774 council areas recognised by the constitution.
Thur 13th— AD crisis: Akinfenwa tackles INEC over Abuja convention
The factional National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa in Ibadan faulted the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for not recognising the Abuja convention of the party.
MARCH 2004
Fri 20th— Death threat: Anenih goes to court, as PDP splits
The face-off between former Works and Housing Minister, Chief Tony Anenih, and Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, further escalated as Chief Anenih is headed for an Abuja High Court to slam defamation of character suit against a national newspaper.
APRIL 2004
Sat 10th— Balarabe raps PDP over coup scare- plot to divert attention, he says
Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said the alleged coup scare uncovered and investigated by the military authorities may have been a ploy by the presidency to divert attention from the misrule of the People’s Democratic Party-led Federal Government and clampdown on leading opposition figures in the country.
Tue 13th— PDP asks Kalu to apologize to Anenih
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) directed Governor Orji Kalu, of Abia State to tender an unreserved apology to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, for alleging that Chief Anenih threatened to kill him. The NWC found
Governor Kalu’s allegation unconstitutional.
Wed 21st— PDP govs vow to resist annulment of LG polls
State governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) vowed to resist the decision of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to “annul” the election of some chairmen and councillors fielded by them (governors) at the March 27 local government elections
Sun 18th— CNPP: enemy of State— FG
With the opposition group— Coalition of Opposition Parties (CNPP) —- pressing ahead with its planned mass action against the Federal Government, the Presidency called its leaders enemies of the state.
JUNE 2004
26th— AD: call Ogunlewe to order
Alliance for Democracy (AD) Senate leader, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi called on the Federal Government to call the Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe to order even as he warned the minister not to test the might of the state government over personal issues capable of causing chaos in the state.
JULY 2004
2nd— 2007:PDP South-East make case for President
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) South-East zone made a strong case for the emergence of the next president of country from the zone, insisting that Igbo have a stake in 2007 presidency.
4th— Gov Attah confirms PDP’s zoning of presidency to North
As controversy raged over whether the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has zoned its 2007 presidential ticket to the North or not, Governor Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State said that the party had done so since last year.
24th— George carpets Oyo PDP over Adedibu’s expulsion
South-West national vice chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Olabode George carpeted Oyo State chapter of the party over the purported expulsion of Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu , an action that was immediately reversed by the PDP national leadership.
31st— 2007: It is the turn of the Igbos— govs
The South-East governors said that the zone must produce the President of Nigeria in 2007. They said it is the only way Nigeria could be seen to be practicing equity, justice and fair play.
SEPTEMBER 2004
Mon 13th— CNPP, APGA, Igbo condemn Ojukwu’s security invitation
The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Igbo National Assembly condemned the invitation of Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, by the State Security Service (SSS).
