News Release: Investment Community To Gather In Abuja Led By IFC And World Bank

The 1st Annual Powering Africa: Nigeria meeting is fast approaching and despite no sign of the new APC cabinet, the Nigerian power sector is still gaining momentum. In fact, President Buhari ensured that the government signed the World Bank Partial Risk Guarantees which will enable the 450MW Azura project to move forward swiftly!

News Release: CLO Rejects The Proliferation Of Military Checkpoints In Anambra State

(The new Military check point along Onitsha –Enugu expressway close to Govt. house is a disaster waiting to happen)

Open Letter: Work Place Discrimination

Mr. Stan Baran,

Manager And Head

Avionics System Engineering

FRCSE, US Naval Air force

US Department of Navy

Jacksonville Florida

United States

Work Place Discrimination

Dear Mr Baran,

You are the executive manager and head of department of Avionics System Engineering in the US Naval Air System Command, Fleet Readiness Center Southeast in the United States Department of Navy Jacksonville Florida.

News Release: The Threat Of Arrest And Lawsuit By The Imo State Government

Governor Okorocha of Imo State

The Youths for Human Rights Protection and Transparency Initiative (YARPTI) has read with dismay the news release by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State via his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo threatening arrest and court actions against those criticising his government .

News Release: Ninety (90) Wasted Days Of The Buhari Administration; Nigeria Returns To The Cave (2)

President Buhari

Worried by chronic rigmarole in leadership absurdities by political leaders in Africa, President Julius Nyerere of the United Republic of Tanzania (Tanganyika and Zanzibar) had in 1994 raised an immortal theoretical question and threw it in the direction of roguish and primordial African political leaders. Former President Nyerere (1922-1999), as he then was, had asked: “why is it that when Europeans, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEANs) and North Americans are busy finding their ways to the moon, Africans are busy going back to the cave?”. President Nyerere answered his theoretical question by attributing it to lack of leadership vision, statesmanship, selflessness and institutionalization of kleptomania by African political leaders, making it possible for Africans including Nigerians to be led back to the cave.

News Release: Amaechi Plan To Bribe Abuja Judge With N200m

Amaechi

The Rivers Renaissance Forum wishes to intimate the Nigerian public, security agencies and the people of Rivers  State of the grand plan by Mr. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, the immediate former governor of Rivers to induce and procure a black market injunction from the Abuja High Court, sitting in Apo under Justice Valentine Ashi.

News Release: Ninety (90) Wasted Days Of The Buhari Administration; Nigeria Returns To The Cave (1)

President Buhari

Today marks ninety (90) days in office of President Muhammadu Buhari as the sixth civilian president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Buhari administration was elected in March 2015, though controversially and divisively, under a constitutional democracy guided by the 1999 Constitution. Following this, the leadership of International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) has carried out a comprehensive assessment of the President’s ninety (90) days in office so as to predict the country’s future in the next four years under Buhari’s Presidency.

Article: Mr President, Soon There Would Be Another Bail Out For The Government

President Buhari

By Ogwazu Nnamdi

As a I child, I came in contact with bail out when a relative was held behind bars and my Dad making efforts to secure his release. In that case, it turned a point of reference as every demand on my dad met the response of having used what is left in the House to secure the release and so, we became used to same.

News Release: President Buhari Is Sending Wrong Signals That Nigeria Is An Occupied Territory

Buhari

An Abuja-based lawyer and founder of the Egalitarian Mission- an NGO established to champion the rights of the downtrodden has reacted to the recent announcement of federal appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing the president of treating the nation like occupied territory.

News Release: How Nigeria Police Personnel Aid & Abet Abuse Of Sirens & Covered Plate Numbers In Anambra

The attention of the leadership of International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) is drawn to a recent public warning issued by the Commissioner of Police,  Anambra State  Command, Mr. Hosea Karma over the reckless use of sirens and covered plate numbers by private citizens particularly politicians and business moguls of credible and banditry backgrounds. CP Hosea Karma had in the warning statement blamed members of the public as being solely responsible for the abuse and disclosed that he had ordered his officers to commence manhunts for their “defaulters”, and that any defaulter caught will be arrested and prosecuted. He also, by his statement exonerated his officers from any responsibility and culpability. The link below credited to a leading online newspaper ( Nigerian News Express) is the referenced public statement: (http://www.newsexpressngr.com/news/detail.php?news=14467&title=Police-warns-against-use-of-siren,-covering-of-plate-number-%E2%80%A2Begins-clampdown-on-defaulters-in-Anambra).

Article: The Need to Review the Operational Guidelines Of Hajj

By Yusuf Abdullahi

In the name of Allah who states “..... and pilgrimage to the house is incumbent upon men for the sake of Allah, (upon) everyone who is able to undertake the journey to it; and whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is self - sufficient, above any needs of the worlds" Q3:97

News Release: 500 Days In Captivity; In Solidarity For The Souls Of Our Girls

The Chibok girls

Women Arise for Change Initiative today remembers the sad incident of the night of April 14th, 2014, wherein 276 schoolgirls were abducted from their school dormitory in Chibok, Borno State by terrorist gang known as Boko Haram. This abduction, even as not the only in history, is symbolic and has particularly generated global reactions with singular demand for rescue of the victim girls.

Article: Governor Rochas, Pay Us Our Salaries (Part 2)

Governor Rochas

By Kenneth Uwadi

Ralph Miliband a key twentieth century political thinker once said that the hottest place in hell will be reserved for those who sit on the fence in the face of great moral crisis. No one will want to go to the hottest place in hell, at least not me. As a Nigerian citizen I am worried about what is happening in Imo State. I am sad seeing how pensioners who had put into selfless service the most active part of their adult life, at the age of retirement, are made to pass through a living hell before they are able to get their deserved benefits.Why should political officials be paid stupendous salaries and allowances while workers and pensioners are being owed back log of poor salaries and pensions that are at most times, barely able to cater for their immediate needs. If we don’t join hands now to struggle with pensioners for improved welfare, the same treatment being meted out currently to the old will befall workers of today in their retirement age. Today Imo pensioners are owed 19 months salaries while civil servants are owed 4 months and 9 months .

Article: If Nigerians Must Exalt “Honourable” And “Distinguished”

By Ogwazu Nnamdi

Once upon a time came a select group of visitors to the animal kingdom and the euphoria went wide among the residents that none ever bothered to establish the background and orientation of the visitors. Though, the assumption within the kingdom is that these men/women appearing in free- flowing buba and Designers  suit must represent a breed sought after, and with the requisite skills that none ever tried to disparage them.

News Release: Kenya To Host The First Monitoring For Environment And Security In Africa Forum

(The Forum will examine how Earth Observation data through the MESA Project supports policy, planning and decision making at the national, regional and continental level in Africa)

News Release: US Embassy-Intersociety Meeting: A Call For New Generation Of Political Leaders For Nigeria

The leadership of International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) yesterday  (24th day of August 2015), played host to top officials of  Political & Economic Section of the Consulate of the United States Embassy in Nigeria at its Onitsha office. The three-person team was led by Head of Political/Economic Section of the Embassy, Mr. Thomas Hines. Other members of the team are Ms Danielle J. Grigsby, Political/Economic Assistant and Ms Mary-Anne A. Onwuchekwa (Protocol Assistant). Our organization had earlier on 18th June 2015, met with the three-man delegation from Political Section of the British High Commission (UK) in Nigeria. The team was led by Political Chancellor of the High Commission, Mr. Liewelyne-Jones, accompanied by Mr. Edward Dunn (Political Secretary) and Mr. Osaro Odemwingie (Senior Political Adviser). Delegations from the Canadian High Commission and the European Union had also met with Intersociety in Onitsha and Awka in recent past.

News Release: President Buhari Continually Violating the Constitution

President Buhari

Highlights:

*Supports Buhari Anti-Corruption War But It Should Not Be Selective.

*Agrees With The President That Corruption is An Abuse of Human Right

*Insists that Any Violation of The Constitution is An Abuse of Human Rights.

News Release: African Militaries Must Unite To Avert A Serious Readiness Crisis And Further Deterioration Of Security In Africa

 (New funding priorities and approaches to resourcing African militaries are required)

News Release: Meeting Of The Ministers Of Finance And Governors Of The Central African Banks, The African Caucus

(Angola will host the Meeting of the Ministers of Finance and Governors of the Central African Banks, the African Caucus)

News Release: Corrupt Politicians Are Turning APC to Sanctuary

Ajulo

The founder and convener of The Egalitarian Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation, Kayode Ajulo has criticized the frantic spate of decampment of politicians nationwide into the folds of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the wake of the party’s emergence as the ruling party as “desperate, venal, and self-seeking behavior” on the part of the decampees.

News Release: Capt Ihenacho denies joining APC

Capt Ihenacho

The former nation’s Minister of Interior and governorship candidate for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the last governorship election in Imo State, Capt Emmanuel Ihenacho, has said that he is not a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and does not have any intention to join the party.

Article: Removing Nigeria’s Fuel Subsidy Is A Lame Excuse

A fuel subsidy protest in Nigeria

By SKC Ogbonnia

Plagued by endemic corruption, Nigeria’s fuel subsidy scheme has ignited intense debate in recent times. The past Jonathan regime attempted to end the subsidy but was rebuffed by the masses. Once Muhammadu Buhari was elected president, many pundits, including former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair; Bukola Saraki, now Senate President; and the Presidential Transition Committee urged him to terminate the subsidy entirely. Although President Buhari has rejected such calls, the tone of his press statement of July 13, 2015 lacked the decisiveness needed to quell the debate.

Article: Confronting The Predicament Of The Ummah

By Yusuf Abdullahi

In the name of Allah who states “Whatever misfortune happens to you, is because of the things your hands have wrought, and for many of them He grants forgiveness” Q26:31. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His chosen servant, our master Muhammad and his purified progeny.

News Release: Geopoll And Kantar Media Unveil Kantar-Geopoll Media Measurement In Africa

(GeoPoll’s existing mobile platform and media measurement service to be combined with Kantar Media’s experience in audience measurement methodology)

News Release: Approaching Anti-Corruption With Dirty Hands & Institutional Bottlenecks In Nigeria

Crimes globally are divided into two major categories of “mala inse” (crimes with global application such as murder, armed robbery and rape) and “mala prohibita” (crimes defined differently by different countries such as adultery and some categories of white-collar crimes). “Corruption” as a crime appears to fall under “mala inse” because of its global reprehension leading to the adoption of the United Natios’ Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) by the member-States of the United Nations including Nigeria in 2003. The UN Anti-Corruption Convention entered into force on 14th December 2005 with 176 signatories and 140 full State-Parties. Nigeria signed it on 3rd December 2003 and ratified it on 14th December 2004.

News Release: Why Buhari Administration Must Avoid Corrupting Anti-Corruption & Go To Equity With Clean Hands (1)

Buhari

Since assumption of office as the sixth electoral president of Nigeria on 29th May 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari and his Presidency have saturated the minds and consciousness of Nigerians and members of the international community with “fight against corruption” alarmist messages. While it is a truism that Nigeria’s major social problem since independence in 1960 is “bad political leadership” triggered by economic and political corruption leading to national loss of sums estimated at over $500Billion/$600Billion since independence to treasury looters; “anti-corruption” policies of successive military and civilian administrations in the country have undergone series of corruption and bastardization.

News Release: Labour Party Condoles Borno State Governor, Residents On Deputy Governor’s Death

The National Executive of the Labour Party has expressed Sadness at the news of the sudden death of the Borno State deputy governor, Zannah Mustapha.

News Release: The Consequences Of Imposition Of A Leader

When in the past, just before the 2015 elections to usher in the new elective and political leaders, some democratic watchers who believed in new order of good governance were stressing the need to look beyond ethnic or indigenous politics in order to give way for issue based and people oriented leadership. The SAVE ABIA NOW group was determined to monitor the political events both in the past and present administration of Abia State government. This is why during the past administration led by Chief T.A Orji our emphasis was specifically built on the need to vote in a government that will change the old other or administrative pattern of Abia State that has not really favored the entire State and its environs since 1999. It was on the strength of this too, that the organization dispassionately rolled out series of sensitization programs so that, the electorates should be mindful or careful of choice of leaders to avoid the repeat of the past.

News Release; A Call For Declaration Of Anambra State Police Command As Disaster Command

Governor Obiano of Anambra State

In late May 2015, the Government of Anambra State, under Governor Willie Obiano, announced the ban on the use of a number of public roads located in Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi by the operators of private and commercial motorcycles in the State,  for the purpose of reducing Okada related accidents and crimes. The public roads affected by the ban are Awka Road, Oguta Road, New Market Road, Old Market Road, Onitsha-Enugu Expressway and Onitsha-Owerri Dual Carriage Way, all in Onitsha. Others are Bank Road and Nnewi-Nnobi Road in Nnewi and Zik’s Avenue Dual Carriage Way and Awka-Enugu Express Way in Awka. The Government of Anambra State announced June 5th 2015 as deadline.

Interview: “Buhari's War Against Corruption Is In Order”---Dr. Musa Babayo, PDP Former National Secretary

Dr. Musa Babayo

(A Former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Immediate Past Chairman, Board Of Trustees Of The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Dr. Musa Babayo's Interview With the News media.)

Article: De-Constructing Governor Obiano At 60

Governor Obiano

By Nnamdi  Ezenwuzie

On the 8th of August this year, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano turned 60. He had every right to roll out the drums to celebrate the occasion, and he did just that. For several weeks prior to the due date, there was a promotional frenzy in quite a number of media platforms. His Internet Boys, infamously known as ‘e-rats’, over-reached themselves as they even composed music in his name. A medley of friends, sycophants, shouters and hangers-on were also prompted to place newspaper advertisements in praise of their great leader.

News Release: MainOne’s Tier III Data Center is first PCI DSS, ISO 27001 Certified Data Center in Nigeria

(The certifications ensure the Data Center’s compliance to globally accepted standards on Customer Data Security as well as commitment towards the security and protection of the company’s information assets.)

News Release: Abia State Human Rights Defenders Petition The Police, Others

Few weeks after raising the alarm over alleged premeditated attacks by a combined team of security agencies, including NDLEA  police and Soldiers, on innocent bystanders at Ariaria International Market in Aba, Abia State and repeated Calls by several quarters for investigation to ascertain the perpetrators of the heinous Crime.

Article: The Tepid And The Vivacious Commander-In-Chief

Buhari; Nigeria's Commander-In-Chief

By Sunny .A. Dada

Democracy with its gorgeous doctrines cannot deliver the needed dividends without a charismatic leader who has the capacity to translate the tenets into solid developments.  In the world over, democratic governance that delivers concrete developments are piloted by enigmatic leaders who does not only place demands on the system, but drives it to conform to the expectations of the citizens.

News Release: Niger Delta Too Critical To Be Ignored

(A Release Issued By Concerned Civil Society Organisations Operating In The Niger Delta Region Of Nigeria)

Article: The Imperative of Engaging in Judicial Cleansing Before Combating Corruption

By Kayode Ajulo

President Mohammadu Buhari in keeping faith with his promise to embark on an onslaught against corruption as key priority, named a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption headed by Professor Itse Sagay, a prominent professor of Law and civil rights activist.

Open Letter: Petition Against Governor Rauf Aregbesola

Governor Rauf Aregbesola   

The Chairman,

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),

Federal Capital Territory (FCT),

Abuja.

Dear Sir,

Petition Against Governor Rauf Aregbesola For Financial Recklessness, Corruption, Money Laundering And Fraudulent Application Of Osun State’s Resources

We concerned citizens of Osun State having observed the profligacy, hypocrisy, corruption and financial decadence and recklessness of the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor of Osun State in the last five years hereby forward a petition detailing his atrocities for investigation by your Commission as mandated by the summit on the state of Osun state held on July 23rd, 2015.

News Release: The Future Awards Africa Hosts Africa-Wide Town Hall Meetings As Call For Nominations Continue

The Future Awards Africa (TFAA), Africa’s biggest youth awards, will be touring 10 African cities to host town hall meetings as part of run up to the 10th edition of TFAA set to take place in December.

News Release: Ghana Minister Of Power To Lead Top Level Delegation Of Public Sector Representatives

(The Powering Africa Ghana Meeting will be taking place on 17-18 September 2015 in Accra)

News Release: Call For Abrogation Of The 1999 Constitution: Coupist; Voice Of Jacob & Hand Of Esau

The attention of the leadership of International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) is drawn to a public statement made by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 2015 gubernatorial aspirant of the Party in Bauchi State, Northeast Nigeria, Dr. Ibrahim Yukubu Lame in which he called for “establishment of emergency powers for President Muhammadu Buhari” above the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended. Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, who is also a former Minister for Police Affairs, further recommended for extra constitutional processes of fighting corruption to ensure speed and results.  To him, the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and her processes are very slow. The referenced public statement was widely published in a number of print media including the Nigerian Pilot Newspaper of today (10-8-2015)

News Release: Negative Perceptions Blamed For Impeding Investment Into Africa

Denys Denya, Afreximbank Executive Vice President (left) on the panel during an exchange with Nigel Chanakira, Chairman of the Zimbabwe Investment Authority.

Negative perceptions about the economic environment in Africa is a key factor militating against the flow of external investment into the continent,  Denys Denya, Executive Vice President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in charge of Finance, Administration and Banking Services, has said.

Article: I am For All; But Not For All

By Sunny .A. Dada

May 29, 2015, saw the birth of a new axiom into the Nigerian political lexicon. The maxim “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody” was birthed by Nigeria’s oldest President, Muhammadu Buhari. The axiom which has generated commentaries from various political strata has since been put to test with the president’s implicit actions in his sixty nine days in office.

Article: Every Nigerian Blood Is On The Line

Senate President Bukola Saraki

By SKC Ogbonnia, PhD.

A group of senators forged documents to enthrone a cabal to the leadership of the Nigerian Senate, the nation’s highest law-making body on June 9, 2015. They were caught red handed in a broad day light. After a routine investigation, the police confirmed that a felony was indeed committed. On top of that, the individual who assumed the position of the senate president, Bukola Saraki, and his wife have been embroiled in corruption charges for ages from their different activities in the private as well as the public sectors.

News Release: Attempts At Balancing Lopsidedness In The Nigeria Police Force: A Commendable Bold Step

The heart of the leadership of International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of law (Intersociety) is slightly gladdened over the recent promotions in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) by the authorities of the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigeria Police Force. Though promotions are routine in the NPF, but the slightly striking aspect of the recent promotions are attempts made for the purpose of addressing the chronic imbalances with respect to geopolitical and gender representations in the NPF command structure, in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution particularly her Section 14 (3).

News Release: The Constitutional Prodigal Appointment Of Musa Daura As DG Of DSS: Why He Must Be Sacked

Musa Daura

 On 3^rd day of August 2015, we issued a public statement condemning the blundered presidential appointment of retired Senior Agent (director) Lawal Musa Daura of Daura-Katsina State origin as the “acting” Director General of the Department of State Security Services (DSS/SSS). We also gave the appointing authority, President Muhammadu Buhari and his ruling party-APC 72hours to present publicly relevant constitutional or statutory sections or provisions, which empower the President to appoint a retired director of DSS as Director General of the same DSS that he served and retired from. We further demanded firmly that the explanations must not only be constitutionally and statutorily grounded, but also be concretely and expeditiously provided; hence the referenced 72hours deadline.

Communiqué: A Synopsis Of The First International Quds Day Conference And Exhibition

On the 26 July 2015, the first international Quds conference and exhibition was held in Abuja-Nigeria to crown 4-day long events designed to remember the 34 massacred while commemorating the Quds day of 2014 in Zaria.

U-Report: Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky Attends Scholars Of Resistance Summit In Beirut; Participants Vow To Confront Israel

Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky  

Report By Stephen Lawan

Islamic scholars from around the globe participating in a conference in Lebanon’s capital Beirut have underlined the need for the Muslim world to unite against Israel, saying the Zionist regime has launched an open war on Muslims.

News Release: AIF Announces IPA 2016 Call For Applications

(Africa’s most prestigious innovation Awards celebrates its 5 year milestone in catalysing the innovation spirit in Africa!)

News Release: Blundered Appointment Of Director General Of SSS; Critical Questions Before Buhari & APC

The leadership of International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) had in its 28th July 2015 maiden letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, condemned, among other things, the anomalous appointment of Mr. Lawal Ahmed Daura as the Director General of the Department of State Security Services (DSS/SSS).