Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Not-So-Good Source Signals Awards Rehearsal In Abuja

A not-very-reliable source, swinging ---k, has told the Raging Bull ERHC message board that Nigeria-Sao Tome Joint Development Authority (JDA) chief Carlos Gomes concluded a meeting with Nigerian Foreign Minister Al-haji Abubakar A. Tanko in Abuja about an hour ago as the two rehearsed the upcoming awards ceremony that will reveal winners of the 26 bids for oil-rich blocks of the JDA's Joint Development Zone.

Tanko sits on the JDA's Joint Ministerial Council.

The source reported:

Gomes is meeting with Alhaji Abubakar A. Tanko, or rather has met with, about 3pm Abuja time. I believe he is one of the Heads of the JMC. My sources tell me this is the walk thru of the awards ceremony. They have been given clearance to start contacting the press. I hear back from my guy in the A.M & will know the next JMC meeting date... Which should happen before the end of the month...Will post if the date is set today...


The news is yet another sign that awards are due to be concluded within days after nearly three weeks of delays following the failure of the Dec. 31 deadline.


Update: I was under the impression that another source, not swinging ---k, was the originator of this post. Swinging ---k's posts are sometimes accurate in part, but in my opinion usually cannot be relied upon.


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Joe check this story out.

This Day (Lagos)

January 19, 2005
Posted to the web January 19, 2005

Ike Abonyi
Lagos

A chieftain of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Okey Nwosu, has raised alarm that the embattled Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige, is being coerced into signing N25 billion as an upward condition for peace in the state.

Nwosu, who was a deputy governorship candidate in the state in 2003 general elections, alleged that the governor is being coerced to settle godfathers both imaginary and real.


He said the term of settlement ranges from N2 billion to N7.5 billion to each interest group.

Nwosu added that when "put together, N20 -- N25 billion are being demanded by individuals and interest groups so that there will be peace in Anambra State," but he wondered what kind of peace they wanted to achieve with so huge money.

He described those putting pressure on the governor to part with the state fund as "cocoons and gladiators" who are more greedy and dangerous than even PDP godfathers in the state.

Nwosu, who was the pioneer national treasurer of APGA, said he had to shout out as it has become "urgent and cogent for Nigerians and the whole world to know some truths before Anambra State will sink further."

He wondered why President Olusegun Obasanjo had to watch and allow Anambra State being destroyed and queried why Anambra election cannot be accepted when all Nigerians are aware of what happened nationwide.

"If Nigerians have accepted the results of the imperfect general election nationwide, and carried on with their lives, what is happening in Anambra under the guise of the same election of 2003 is wrong and double standard," the politician declared.

...Joe Shea said...

We've written extensively about this dispute in other posts. It has little meaning for ERHC investors at this time. Eventually, it could erode support for President Olusegun Obasanjo, but beyond the problems it's already caused him I doubt it will impact us.