Manchester City to go on shopping spree, starting with Kolo Toure

Moneybags Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is set to spark a £63million transfer merry-go-round for defenders.

Kolo Toure will be the trigger, with City confident of signing the defensive lynchpin in a £14million switch from Arsenal.

Hughes has wanted Toure all year ever since missing out on the Ivory Coast defender in January - and will offer him a £90,000-a-week deal to join his Blues revolution.

Emirates chief Arsene Wenger will then use the cash to pursue Fulham's Brede Hangeland, viewing the Norway star as a direct replacement for Toure.

The Cottagers are determined not to let their prized asset leave on the cheap and will demand all of the Toure money before they even consider selling him.

Wenger could face competition from Everton for Hangeland, and manager David Moyes
is monitoring developments with City also after Joleon Lescott.

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Hughes is focusing on his defence after signing strikers Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and Carlos Tevez.

Hughes said: "We're in the market for good players that we think will improve us. If we can bring them to the club we'll be very delighted."

Lescott falls into that category for Hughes and Everton have rejected City's £15m offer, demanding £20m for the versatile England defender, who can play centre-half or full-
back.

Moyes feels this is the going rate after Liverpool shelled out £17m to land Glen Johnson.
City have so far refused to increase their £15m bid and may have to bait the deal with Nedum Onuoha.

Moyes would then have the cash to step up his interest in Tottenham's Alan Hutton, after losing out to Spurs for Kyle Naughton.

I will Be Special At Man United>>>>>>JM

Jose Mourinho last night said he wants to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as manager of Manchester United.

The former Chelsea coach, who lifted last season's Serie A title at Inter Milan, issued a come-and-getme plea to the Old Trafford hierarchy when Fergie retires.

Mourinho, who last night exchanged striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o plus £40million and former Arsenal winger Alexander Hleb in the deal of the summer, said: "I would consider going to Manchester United. but United have to consider if they want me to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson. If they do, then of course.

"I like England, where the fans are very passionate and make a game a beautiful occasion with such an incredible atmosphere."

But ref lecting on his acrimonious departure from Chelsea in 2005 after two League titles, the Special One could not resist a dig.

He said: "I had many conversations before Chelsea and I decided on a divorce.

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"It was difficult for me because we loved each other, but the relationship went in one direction and it was best for everyone.

"Since I left I became champion again but they have not been champions again. I keep winning and they don't."

Mourinho now has his sights set on bringing the Champions League to Inter - they last won Europe's premier trophy way back in 1965.

He said: "I have a project in hand and I am very excited. When I went to Chelsea the big obsession was to win the Premier League after half a century.

"At Inter, winning the Italian League is very important but we have something else on our minds."

Terry Commits His Future To The Blues

John Terry has looked to end speculation regarding his future by committing himself to Chelsea.

The Blues skipper has remained ominously quiet this summer throughout a protracted transfer saga linking him with a move to Manchester City.

His refusal to comment was taken as a hint that he could be tempted to take on a new challenge at Eastlands, after spending his entire career to date at Stamford Bridge.

However, the England international has now laid those rumours to rest by insisting he has no desire to secure a switch away from West London any time soon.

"There has been a lot of speculation recently about my future and I want to clear this up once and for all," Terry said in a statement released on Chelsea's official website.

"I am totally committed to Chelsea and always have been. Chelsea have also made it clear to me consistently that there was never any intention to accept any kind of offer.

Respect
"When you are linked with any club, or with a manager who I have huge respect for, it will always make headlines but me leaving Chelsea was never a possibility.

"I know there has been comment that I should have made a statement earlier. However, throughout this period there have been numerous discussions between myself, the owner and the Chelsea board and we all agreed that the timing of the statement would suit everyone involved in those talks, not any outside influences or agendas.

"What is clear to me following those discussions is that Chelsea's ambition remains as high as ever. This has been further proved by the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti. I am certain that he will take this club on to the next level.

"Another important factor was knowing that Chelsea would be securing key current players for the long term. The strengthening of the squad around this core is crucial to pushing us onto greater success.

"I am as committed as ever to helping drive Chelsea forward and I will be proud to lead the team for as long as I can."

Fiorentina keen to sign versatile Arsenal player

Fiorentina president Andrea Della Valle has expressed a desire to sign Emmanuel Eboue from Arsenal.

The Ivory Coast international emerged as a transfer target for Fiorentina earlier in the summer when the Gunners were keen to take Felipe Melo in the opposite direction.

A swap deal involving the two players was proposed by Viola but ultimately failed to materialise, with Melo securing a move to Juventus.

Fiorentina have now rekindled their interest in the 26-year-old, although Della Valle admits it will be difficult to prise him away from Emirates Stadium.

"Arsenal's Eboue is a really good player and it won't be easy to take him to Florence," he told the Italian press.

Eboue is contracted to Arsenal until 2010 and reports suggest Fiorentina would be willing to pay around €10million (£8.6m).

Adebayor wants Toure/Terry In Citeh

Emmanuel Adebayor has told Manchester City to sign his former Arsenal team-mate Kolo Toure.

Togo international Adebayor recently swapped the Emirates Stadium for Eastlands in a big-money move to join the ambitious project on offer in Manchester.

The 25-year-old is now keen for defender Toure to follow him to City, who have set their sights on overtaking Arsenal in the top four of the Premier League.

City boss Mark Hughes is chasing Chelsea centre-back John Terry, but Adebayor believes Toure would also be a successful signing.

He said: "Kolo is a great friend of mine. He is a big player for Arsenal and a top defender.

"He has been playing in the Premier League for seven or eight years now so he knows this league really well.

"If the manager could get him, he can get exactly what this club wants and needs from him. I'm sure about that.

"I know how good Kolo is and I think what Man City needs now is a top quality defender like him or John Terry."

Cesc hails returning Rosicky

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas believes Tomas Rosicky will return stronger and better from his injury nightmare when the new season gets underway.

The Czech Republic midfielder has been sidelined since January 2008 with a series of hamstring and leg muscle problems.

However, the 28-year-old can see light at the end of the tunnel as he has been taking a full part in pre-season training.

"I have spent a lot of time with him and I know how he feels," Fabregas told the club's official website.

"I know what he wants and I have never seen a guy being so committed, so professional and never giving up.

"If this happened to me I probably wouldn't want to talk to anyone, I would be always down and angry.

"But he's unbelievable and when we see that he will be back next season, he will be strong and hopefully he can help us improve a lot.

"He's the type of player you enjoy playing alongside and as a guy he's amazing. He didn't deserve his injury but I am sure he will come back stronger. I wish him all the best because everyone here at Arsenal loves him a lot.

Know who's in form? Predict the results of this week's games and win with Soccer 7!"I feel sorry for him, but I don't need to say that to him, he's my best friend in the team and one of my best friends in football and my life."

Manchester United Sign Senegalese Star

Manchester United have announced the signature of an unnamed Senegalese player, believed to be Mame Biram Diouf.

United are in Malaysia for their pre-season tour of the Far East and Sir Alex Ferguson revealed he has signed a 21-year-old Norwegian player, but did not divulge his name.

Striker Diouf plays in Norway for Molde FK and will stay with the club on loan until January 2010, at which point he will join up with his new team-mates.

Sir Alex Ferguson said: "We signed a young player yesterday from Norway, who we've been looking at for two years.

"We weren't intending on signing anyone else after last week - we feel we have a full squad - but the situation accelerated to a point where other clubs started to make bids, so we had to decide whether we acted or didn't act. We decided to act and he'll be the last person we sign."

Know who's in form? Predict the results of this week's games and win with Soccer 7!Chief executive David Gill added: "He was signed yesterday and he needs a work permit.

"He'll stay on loan where he is and we'll look to bring him [to Manchester] in January."

Bordeaux Want Silvestre Included In Arsenal's Chamakh Bid

Bordeaux have told Arsenal that their €8 million bid for Marouane Chamakh will only be accepted if Mikael Silvestre is thrown in as well.

With Emmanuel Adebayor edging closer to a move to Manchester City, Arsene Wenger is keen to bring Chamakh in as his replacement.

However, according to The Sun, Bordeaux will only sell the Moroccan striker if Silvestre, who signed on at the Emirates only last summer, is included in the deal.

With Arsenal having already signed Thomas Vermaelen, opportunities could be limited for Silvestre this season, but it remains to be seen whether Wenger wants to hold on to him to add depth to the squad.

Chamakh only has one year left on his contract, so Bordeaux are keen to sell him now rather than lose him for nothing after the upcoming season.

Chelsea Suffer Midfield Blow As Joe Cole Suffers Further Injury

Chelsea and England attack-minded midfielder Joe Cole, who had been recovering following a serious knee injury - the same sustained by club team-mates Michael Essien and Paulo Ferriera - has had to undergo another operation in order to help aid his rehabilitation.

Cole was a notable absentee from the Blues' potentially money-spinning pre-season tour of the United States of America, as he had minor surgery that intended to correct a minor meniscus tear in his right knee.


The club's official website confirmed, "In light of his previous surgery, excellent rehab and recent return to full training, this is only a minor setback and we expect Cole to return to full training in approximately one month."

Cole developed the injury, a rupture to his anterior cruciate ligament, during a victorious FA Cup clash against minnows Southend United in January (pictured).


The seriousness of his continued absence perhaps adds further credence to the speculation that the west Londoners are in the market for Aston Villa flanker Ashley Young, although the player - according to a Goal.com exclusive released earlier today - is believed to prefer a move to Manchester United should one develop.

Arshavin On Ade's Move to Man City

The Russian playmaker has revealed he thinks the Togolese must make his own mind up as to whether to depart the Emirates or not.

Arsenal's dynamic forward Andrey Arshavin has asserted that Emmanuel Adebayor, expected to sign for Manchester City very shortly, must make his own mind up as to whether or nor to leave the Gunners.

The Togolese passed a medical and had a work permit granted yesterday, according to reports, but was also this morning apparently having second thoughts, as he worried that the move might be percieved as greedy back in his homeland.

Whether or not the striker moves is very much down to him, though, Adebayor's Russian team-mate has affirmed.

"Of course, I think it's a very difficult question for Arsenal and for Adebayor as well," he told Sky Sports News.

"He is an excellent striker. Everybody knows him. He can score from nothing. But it's his decision. If he wants to stay or he wants to leave."

As for whether the Gunners have enough remaining firepower should Adebayor decide to go, Arshavin preferred to leave the assessment to his manager, Arsene Wenger, in whose footballing judgement he has complete faith.

"I think it's not my question," he replied, when asked about the Gunners striking options, should his team-mate depart.

"We have Arsene. He knows everything. He knows that if we need someone Arsenal will buy."

Northern Senators Back Down On Resource Control, State Creation

Northern Senators have changed their opposition to an increase in oil derivation from 13 per cent to 50 per cent, and now want exploration of mineral resources in the region.

The U-turn came less than a month of their rejection of the idea, and that of creation of states demanded especially by the South East.

The Northern Senators, Forum (NSF) said exploration of mineral resources in the North should also attract derivation mandated by the Constitution.

,,We cannot see why there won,t be oil in the North when a desert country like Libya has oil; when Chad and Cameroon have oil,,, a Northern Senator argued.

And ,,seriously speaking, he added, ,,none of us would oppose state creation because there are some states in the North that favour carving out states from the present arrangement.

,,For instance, in Bauchi, there is the agitation for Katagum State and in Benue, a call for the creation of Apa State. So, you can see that it pays the North to go along with the South on state creation.,,

It was also learnt that the Presidency has reached out to the NSF to co-operate on the remaining four of the six electoral reform Bills in the National Assembly (NASS).

Besides, the NSF is considering meeting with the SSF to ,,agree on areas that would be amended in the Constitution and how they would jointly benefit us. We have since realised that there is no need for friction.

,,There are certain aspects of the Constitution amendment that would benefit the entire country. So, the NSF feels there is need for both groups to meet,,, said a source who attended the NSF meeting last Thursday.

The NSF has three core areas it wants Aso Rock to concentrate on in the 2010 budget: agriculture, energy, and mineral resources.

,,We are going to tell the Presidency that more funds need to be allocated to agriculture. In the past, the North was acclaimed for its agricultural prowess. We need to regain that glory and be the food basket of the nation once more.

,,On energy, we are going to parley with the Presidency on the alternative source of energy. Nigeria can do it, because we have the resources.

,,We are looking at wind energy which can be tapped from a state like Katsina. Exploration of wind energy can work in the North just as there is crude oil in the Niger Delta

Terry's Mum and In-Law Cautioned for Shop Lifting

SOCCER hero John Terry's mum and mother-in-law were allegedly caught loading £800-worth of stolen store goods into a car.
Sue Terry, 50, and Sue Poole, 54, were nicked and officially cautioned by cops for shoplifting clothes and food from Marks & Spencer and Tesco.



Mum-in-law ... Terry shows baby to Sue Poole
By accepting the caution, they formally acknowledged their guilt.

The incident is a huge embarrassment to Chelsea and England skipper Terry, 28, and to the FA.

Tesco is the official England supermarket and M&S supplies suits to the England squad. One of the vice-presidents for England's 2018 World Cup bid is Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy.


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Track suits were among the gear the women are said to have taken at the Brooklands Shopping Centre in Weybridge, Surrey.


Police were called by security staff at 3pm on Wednesday and the pair were taken to Staines police station, Middlesex.



England hero ... Terry
Defender Terry earns £135,000-a-week, plus bonuses and huge sums from sponsorship deals.

His mum and mother-in-law live jet-set lives thanks to his huge wealth. They have have been flown all over the world at Terry's expense to watch him play, including at the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.

Terry also bought both women detached houses in the exclusive street in Oxshott, Surrey, where he and wife Toni, 26, live with twins Georgie and Summer, two. The leafy drive is famously known as "Terry Street".

A source said last night: "Everyone was gobsmacked when the police realised they had arrested John Terry's mum and mum-in-law.



Family ... Terry, pregnant wife Toni and his mum

BIG PICTURES
"They're women who want for nothing, yet they were accused of taking cheap gear without paying. They seemed at a loss to explain.

"One said she had no idea why she'd taken sports gear as she didn't even like wearing the stuff. They seemed shaken up."

Another source said the women loaded their car with goods from M&S but were stopped when they went back to Tesco for more.

A source close to Terry said: "This will come as a terrible shock to John. His mum has never done anything like this before.

"It would be easier if he had the first idea why it happened."

A Surrey Police spokesman said last night: "Cautions are usually applied for more minor matters, when it is a first time offence.

"A caution represents an admission of guilt and forms part of a criminal record. Officers arrested two women aged 50 and 54, both from Oxshott, on suspicion of theft.



Link ... Tesco and England
"This followed reports of shoplifting. The women were interviewed in custody and have been cautioned for the offences."

Terry's lawyer Angus McBride insisted the pair were entirely innocent and were victims of an "unfortunate misunderstanding".

Mr McBride said they would not have agreed to be cautioned had they realised they were admitting guilt and will be taking legal action to clear their names.

He added: "They didn't do anything wrong. They didn't have legal advice and weren't aware they were admitting guilt."

Terry has worked hard on his image in recent years but was once a notorious boozer and womaniser, reported to have had EIGHT flings behind Toni's back.



FA shock ... the M&S store
He and Chelsea team-mates were accused of drunkenly mocking US tourists after 9/11. And he was arrested over a fracas at a London nightclub in 2002 but later cleared of charges including wounding

10 Classic Quotes From The Special One

[10]"I studied Italian five hours a day for many months to ensure I could communicate with the players, media and fans. [Claudio] Ranieri had been in England for five years and still struggled to say ‘good morning’ and ‘good afternoon.'
"He has won a Super Cup, a small cup. He has never won a major trophy. Maybe he needs to change his mindset but he is too old to do it."

After the Juventus boss hinted at criticism of the coaching methods of Mourinho, Jose went on the offensive in the summer of 2008. He also estimated the former Chelsea manager's age to be 70 years old, with his tongue firmly in cheek.

[9]"If I had wanted to be protected in a quiet job, I could have stayed at Porto. I would have been second, after God, in the eyes of the fans even if I had never won another thing."

Upon his arrival at Chelsea in 2004, Jose had the hacks purring with his quotability. Above is just one of the nuggets he came out with when asked about his decision to take on a high profile gig at Stamford Bridge.

Two for one next; in the wake of Chelsea's two-legged win over Barcelona in the Champions League in 2005, Jose unleashed a flurry against Barca coach, Frank Rijkaard. The first leg was won in Catalunya by the hosts, which had Mourinho fuming at his opposite number and kicking up a storm over his allegations against referee, Anders Frisk.

[8]"When I saw Rijkaard entering the referee's dressing room I couldn't believe it. When Didier Drogba was sent off I wasn't surprised."

[=]“My history as a manager cannot be compared with Frank Rijkaard’s history. He has zero trophies and I have a lot of them.”

[7]"For me, pressure is bird flu. I'm feeling a lot of pressure with the problem in Scotland. It's not fun and I'm more scared of it than football."

Jose responds to the 'pressure' on his Chelsea camp as the 2006 season reaches its climax.

[6] “As for Lo Monaco I do not know who he is. With the name Monaco I have heard of Bayern Monaco (Munich) and the Monaco GP, the Tibetan Monaco (Monk), and the Principality of Monaco. I have never heard of any others.”

Proving that he is still capable of mixing it in a non-native tongue, this time in Italian, after Catania president Pietro Lo Monaco claimed he wanted to 'smack [Mourinho] in the mouth' following Inter's November 2008 Serie A win in Sicily.

[5] "I think he is one of these people who is a voyeur. He likes to watch other people. There are some guys who, when they are at home, have a big telescope to see what happens in other families. He speaks, speaks, speaks about Chelsea."

Besmirching Arsene Wenger's reputation in October 2005, a remark for which Jose later apologised.

[4] “As we say in Portugal, they brought the bus and they left the bus in front of the goal. I would have been frustrated if I had been a supporter who paid £50 to watch this game because Spurs came to defend.”

Accusing Tottenham Hotspur of failing to make a game of it in the wake of a 2004 Premier League tie, coining another catch-phrase in the process.

The animosity that existed between Jose and his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo was well documented; in April 2007, the coach came out with this scathing criticism.

[3] "It's not even a game between me and him. It's a game where a kid made some statements not showing maturity and respect. Maybe [it's his] education, difficult childhood, no education, maybe [it is] the consequence of that."

The two have since patched up their differences, but Mourinho could not resist a dig against his forthcoming foe when all the talk concerned the Madeira native's Ballon d'Or win.

[2] "Ronaldo is a good player but he is certainly not the best. He deserved the Golden Ball award because his team won the Champions League and the Premier League. But, for me, Ibrahimovic is the best."

And the quote that launched a thousand opinions; When he arrived at Chelsea as Champions League-winning manager, some doubts existed over his suitability to work, and indeed, win in the Premier League. Water off a duck's back, the phrase goes.

[1] “Please don’t call me arrogant, but I’m European champion and I think I’m a special one.”

The State of Nigeria and The Aburi Meeting

INTRODUCTION

ON 17 JANUARY, 1966, the former civilian Federal Government of Nigeria handed over power to the Armed Forces. Major-General J. T. U. Aguiyi-Ironsi as the General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army assumed the headship of the Federal Military Government and established the Supreme Military Council. Subsequently, on 24 May, 1966, he promulgated the Decree No. 34 putting into effect the decisions of the Supreme Military Council to establish a centralized administration for the country. Six days later widespread violence and riots broke out in Northern Nigeria. Thousands of Easterners were massacred.

2. On 29 July, 1966, a group of Northern Nigerian Army personnel kidnapped and, as was later revealed, murdered Major-General J. T. U. Aguiyi-Ironsi, the Supreme Commander and Head of the Federal Military Government. At the same time they attempted to annihilate all Eastern Nigerian Army Officers and men at Ibadan, Abeokuta and Ikeja in Western Nigeria and at Kaduna, Zaria and Kano in Northern Nigeria. Nearly 200 officers and men of Eastern Nigeria origin were slaughtered. Those who escaped but later returned to their posts following assurances of safety were also murdered. The pogrom was soon extended to Eastern Nigerian civilians resident in Northern Nigeria, Lagos and the West; and by September, 1966, the killings and molestations carried out by the combined forces of Northern Nigerian soldiers and civilians had assumed such large proportions that Easterners everywhere outside the East sought protection within their home Region.



3. All these massacres, which claimed the lives of over 30,000 Easterners, jolted the conscience and aroused the indignation of the world. They were also fraught with tragic consequences for the country. The bond of comradeship which had previously held the Nigerian Army together completely severed. Mutual fear, suspicion and hatred have prevailed to such an extent that Army Officers and men Eastern Nigeria origin cannot now co-exist with those of Northern Nigeria origin. The massive movement of population which has resulted from these tragic events has also posed serious economic and social problems.



4.The fleeing Easterners had abandoned their homes, businesses for and employments and swelled the population of Eastern Nigeria by den nearly two million. As they returned a potentially explosive situation arose in the East and in consequence the Government of Eastern Nigeria was obliged to ask non-Easterners residing in the East to leave to the Region in the interest of their own safety. The flight of Easterners has also radically altered the machinery and structure of the Federal Government, for Easterners have been forcibly excluded from participating in the Federal Government, Federal Statutory Corporations and the other Federal Organizations outside the Eastern Region.



5.The disintegration of the Army and the mass movement of population, coupled with the necessary measures taken to prevent further friction, conflict and killing, have intensified Regional loyalties and made it impossible today for any one person to command the loyalty of all sections of the country.


6. It has been the view of the Government and people of the East

that a solution can and must be found quickly to the country’s present problems and in doing so full cognizance must be taken of the stark realities of the present in order to avoid future conflict and bloodshed. The East has accordingly co-operated with the rest of the country in efforts to find a realistic solution. But progress in this direction has been frustrated by incessant exhibition of bad faith on the part of the Military Leaders in Lagos and the North. A few examples will serve to illustrate this.



7. The disappearance of the Supreme Commander on 29 July, 1966, demanded that the next senior Military Officer should temporarily assume command of the Army and the headship of the Federal Military Government until the Supreme Military Council should determine the leadership of the Army and the country. But on 1 August, 1966,
Lt.-Col.Yakubu Gowon, Chief of Staff, Army Headquarters, announced that he had assumed the Offices of Supreme Commander and Head of the Federal Military Government, although there were at least half-a- dozen Military Officers who were senior to him. The Military Government of Eastern Nigeria found it impossible to recognize this seizure of power; nevertheless it was prepared to co-operate with Lt.-Col. Gowon in order to prevent further bloodshed.

8. On 9 August, a meeting of representatives of the Military -Governors of the East, Mid-West, West, North and Lt.-Col. Gowon met and unanimously reached agreement on five issues which were vital for reducing the tension then existing in the country. The first demonstration of bad faith on the part of Lt.-Col. Gowon was his non-implementation of a number of these agreements which concerned him, particularly the one stipulating that soldiers should be repatriated to their Regions of origin and confined to barracks. Lt.-Col. Gowon had also agreed with the Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria that soldiers returning to the North from the East and vice versa should carry their arms and some quantity of ammunition for self-defence but that these arms and ammunition should be returned to their original armoury immediately the soldiers had reached their destination. Eastern soldiers returning from the North were not even given arms and ammunition for self-protection as stipulated. Furthermore, when Northern soldiers arrived at their destination they failed to return the arms and ammunition given to them in the East.


9. Another agreement reached on 9 August, was that a conference of Regional delegations should be held to recommend in broad outline the future form of political association for Nigeria. The Ad Hoc Constitutional Conference duly met from 12 September to 3 October when it adjourned for three weeks. By the time it rose it had reached a measure of agreement on a number of issues. But while the Conference was still in session, Northern soldiers with the aid of civilians massacred thousands of Eastern Nigerians in the North and some even in Lagos, the venue of the Conference.


10. As the date of resumption of the Ad Hoc ConstitutionalConference approached the question of the safety of Eastern delegates came to the fore. The Eastern Nigeria Military Government insisted on the immediate implementation of the agreement of 9 August whereby all military personnel were to be posted to barracks within their respective Regions of origin. The Eastern position was unanimously supported by the Leaders of Thought Conference of Western Nigeria. But the proposal was not acceptable to Lt.-Col. Gowon, and without further consultations with all the Military Governors he dismissed the Constitutional Conference on 30 November, 1966. At the same time he declared that he was appointing a "drafting committee" to draw up a constitution on lines which would be suitable to him, and threatened to mobilize enough forces to deal with anyone who opposed his will.



11. The Military Government of Eastern Nigeria thought that Gowon events were taking a dangerous turn and that it was essential for the Supreme Military Council, which had not been convoked since 29 July, to meet. Since the situation in the country made it impossible for the Military Governor of the East to attend a meeting in any area occupied by Northern troops, various suggestions of alternative venues were put forward by him. So anxious indeed was he to attend the meeting that he purchased an executive plane to facilitate his journey to any acceptable venue. For long, however, his suggestions were treated with levity by Lt.-Col. Gowon, but eventually it was unanimously agreed that the meeting should hold outside Nigeria.




THE ABURI MEETING

12. The Supreme Military Council subsequently met at Aburi, Ghana, on 4 and 5 January, 1967. It had been recognized by the Military leaders that the meeting would:

(a) resolve the question of leadership within the army, restore the chain of command which had become badly disrupted, and examine the crisis of confidence amongst the officers and soldiers which had rendered it impossible for them intermingle;

(b) evolve ways and means of carrying on the responsibility of administering the country until a new constitution had been determined; and

(c) tackle realistically the problems of displaced persons. These considerations were reflected in the agenda which was agreed upon by members of the Supreme Military Council (see Appendix I Annexure A).


13. 0n the first day of the meeting the Military Governor of the East put forward a resolution, which the meeting endorsed, calling -on the military leaders to renounce the use of force as a means of settling the Nigerian crisis. It was this resolution which was embodied in a communique issued by the Council at the end of the first day of the meeting (see Appendix I Annexure B).


14. After deliberating anxiously and seriously on the reorganization, administration and control of the Army the meeting reached aft agreements on the following lines (see Appendix I for the Official Minutes of the Conference):

"(a) Army to be governed by the Supreme Military Council under a chairman to be known as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Head of the Federal Military Government.

"(b) Establishment of a Military Headquarters comprising equal representation from the Regions and headed by a Chief of Staff.

"(c) Creation of Area Commands corresponding to existing Regions and under the charge of Area Commanders.

"(d) Matters of policy, including appointments and promotions to top executive posts in the Armed Forces and the Police, to be dealt with by the Supreme Military Council.

"(e) During the period of the Military Government, Military Governors will have control over Area Commands for internal security.

"(f) Creation of a Lagos Garrison including Ikeja Barracks."


15. It was further agreed by the Supreme Military Council that a Military Committee comprising representatives of the Regions should meet within two weeks from the date of receiving instructions to prepare statistics which would show:

"(a) Present strength of Nigerian Army;

"(b) Deficiency in each sector of each unit;

"(c) The size appropriate for the country and each Area Command;

"(d) Additional requirement for the country and each Area Command."

Pending the completion of the work of the Committee, it was agreed by the Council that further recruitment of soldiers throughout the country should cease.



16. On the implementation of the agreement reached by representatives of the Military Leaders on 9 August, 1966, the Council reaffirmed the principle that Army personnel of Northern origin should return to the North from the West. In order to meet the security needs of the West it was agreed that a crash programme of recruitment and training was necessary but that the details should be examined after the Military Committee had finished its work. -

17. It was in the course of discussing the reorganization of the Army that the crucial issue of the assumption by Lt.-Col. Cowon of the offices of Supreme Commander and Head of the Federal Military Government arose. The Governor of the East, in explaining why it was impossible for him to recognize Lt.-Col. Gowon as Supreme Commander, pointed out that the fate of Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi, the legitimate Supreme Commander, was yet unknown and so no one could succeed him; that in the absence of Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi whoever was the next senior officer in rank should manage the affairs of the country; and that the East was never party to any decision to appoint Lt.-Col. Gowon Supreme Commander. Subsequently, Lt.-Col. Gowon volunteered information regarding the murder of the MajorGeneral and his host, Lt.-Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, on 29 July, 1966. The Supreme Military Council decided to accord the late military leaders the full honours due to them.


18. The Supreme Military Council recognized that with the demise of Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi no other Military Leader could command the support of the entire Nigerian Army and that a new arrangement was necessary for an effective administration of the whole country. The Council also took cognizance of the fact that extreme centralization had been the bane of the Military Regime in the past and that it was essential to re-define the powers of the Federal Military Government vis-a-vis the Regional Military Governments in order to ensure public confidence and co-operation.


19. When the Supreme Military Council resumed its deliberations at Aburi on 5 January, after members had spent the night at their various posts with their advisers, it proceeded to discuss the powers of the Federal Military Government vis-a-vis the Regional Governments. -The upshot was that the Council re-affirmed its previous decisions on the reorganization of the Army and also took the following additional decisions: -

"(ii) On appointments to certain posts.

The following appointments must be approved by the Supreme Military Council:

(a) Diplomatic and Consular posts.

(b) Senior posts in the Armed Forces and the Police.

(c) Super-scale Federal Civil Service and Federal Corporation posts.


"(iii) On the functioning of the Supreme Military Council. Any decisions affecting the whole country must be determined by the Supreme Military Council. Where a meeting is not possible such a matter must be referred to Military Governors for comment and concurrence.

"(iv) That all the Law Officers of the Federation should meet in Benin on the 14 January and list all the Decrees and provisions of Decrees concerned so that they may be repealed not later than 21 January, if possible.



"(v) That for at least the next six months, there should be purely a Military Government, having nothing to do whatsoever with politicians."

20. The next item discussed was the Ad Hoc Constitutional Conference which Lt.-Col. Gowon had unilaterally dissolved on 30 November, 1966. The Council agreed that the Conference should resume sitting as soon as practicable to continue from where it left off, and that the question of implementing the unanimous recommendations of the Conference in September, 1966 should be considered at a later meeting of the Supreme Military Council.

21. Finally, on the problem of displaced persons, the relevant section of the Official Minutes of the Council reads as follows:

"(a) on rehabilitation, that Finance Permanent Secretaries should resume their meeting within two weeks and submit recommendations and that each Region should send three representatives to the meeting;

"(b) on employment and recovery of property, that civil servants and Corporation staff (including daily paid employees) who have not been absorbed should continue to be paid their full salaries until 31 March, 1967 provided they have not got alternative employment, and that the Military Governors of the East, West and Mid-West should send representatives (Police Commissioners) to meet and discuss the problem of recovery of property left behind by displaced persons."

22. On his return from the Aburi meeting the Military Governor of the East held a press conference to reassure Easterners who had considerable apprehension about the meeting and its outcome. (For the full text of the Military Governor’s press statement see Appendix 2.) He emphasized at this conference that the Aburi meeting had been worthwhile and gave the assurance that provided the agreements reached were ~implemented much progress would have been made towards relieving tension and banishing fear within the country.



IMPLEMENTATION OF ABURI AGREEMENTS



23. The Military Government of Eastern Nigeria was represented at the meeting of the Solicitors-General held in Benin on 14 and 15 January. (For the Report of the Law Officers see Appendix III). The Eastern delegation received full briefing in the light of the Aburi decisions to which its views strictly adhered. Since some other delegations had not been fully briefed it became necessary to refer a number of issues back to the Supreme Military Council. One of the most important was section 69 of the Nigerian Constitution in respect of which the Report of the Law Officers’ meeting reads—

"As regards the powers of the Federal Military Government vis-a-vis the Regional Government, all the Law Officers, excepting those from the East, are of the view that effect would be fully given to the Accra decision in this regard by repealing section 3 of Decree No. 1 and restoring the provisions of the suspended section 69 with necessary modifications whereby the Federal Military Government will now have power to make Decrees to the following extent:

(a) With respect to the Federal Territory of Lagos, on any matter whatever;


(b) With respect to the whole of Nigeria, or any part thereof (other than Lagos), on
matters included in the Exclusive Legislative List and the Concurrent Legislative List; provided that where there is an inconsistency between a Federal Decree on a Concurrent matter and a Regional Edict on the same matter, the Federal Decree will prevail.

"Under this arrangement the Military Governors will have no power to make Edicts on matters on the Exclusive Legislative List but will have powers to make Edicts on matters in the Concurrent Legislative List and on residual matters."

"The view of the Eastern Law Officers is that the introduction of the element of Regional consent in Federal legislation must necessarily modify the position as it was before 17 January in the sense that there will be a lacuna in the legislative activities of both the Supreme Military Council and the Regions where consent is not given. It appears, therefore, to be the intention of the Accra decision that such a lacuna should be filled by the Regions. With respect to matters on the Concurrent Legislative List, it is their view that the Regions can legislate in relation to Federal Law."

24. The views of the Eastern Nigerian Law Officers quoted above from the Solicitors-General Report clearly reflect the spirit and letter of the Aburi decision on this matter. One of the main areas of friction between the Regions and the Central Government during the last civilian regime concerns the exercise of powers over matters on the Concurrent List. The controversial issue was the provision whereby a law passed by the Federal Government superseded any other law passed by a Regional Government on the same subject. This problem was fully recognized by most delegations to the meeting of the Ad Hoc Constitutional Conference in Lagos in September, 1966. It was the objective of the Aburi meeting to eliminate such sources of friction, hence the decision that "the legislative and executive authority of the Federal Military Government should remain in the Supreme Military Council (not in one man) to which any decision affecting the whole country (whether on the Exclusive or Concurrent List) shall be referred for determination provided that where it is not possible for a meeting to be held the matter requiring determination must be referred to Military Governors for their comment and concurrence." There can be no doubt that this modified the position before 17 January, 1966, when the Military Regime took over, and that it provides a new governmental arrangement needed for Nigeria "in view of what the country has experienced in the past year (1966)."

25. Since the receipt of the Report of the Law Officers by the members of the Supreme Military Council, the Military Governor of Western Nigeria has vindicated the stand of the Eastern Nigerian Law Officers as regards section 69. He commented—
"In the light of what has been stated at pages two to three of the Report, it is considered that only the Supreme Military Council should have power to make laws on matters on the Exclusive Legislative List. As regards matters on the Concurrent Legislative List, it is felt that the exercise of powers concurrently by the Supreme Military Council and the Military Governors of the Regions with respect to the same subjects could lead to conflict or friction of a type which ought to be avoided under the present Military Regime. It seems that one sure way to avoid such conflict or friction would be by making new provisions whereby the Supreme Military Council will have power to make laws on matters on the Concurrent Legislative List in respect of Lagos only whilst the Military Governors will have power to make laws by Edict on those matters in respect of their Regions."

26. The Law Officers held divergent views on such questions as the machinery for the meetings of the Supreme Military Council and the manner in which the concurrence of the Military Governors, as members of the Council, should be signified in the making of Decrees. On these questions the Military Governor, West, has again vindicated the stand of the East when he commented as follows:

"(a)...a meeting of the Supreme Military Council will be properly constituted and can properly be held if any Military Governor isabsent, but as agreed at Accra, any Military Governor not present will be given the opportunity to express his comments on, and concurrence with, the decisions taken in his absencebefore they are implemented.

"(b) Where all the Military Governors are present at a meeting of the Supreme Military Council decisions should now be taken only with the concurrence or unanimity of all the Military Governors. Decisions by majority would have been the best thing in ordinary circumstances but in the present situation in the country, one has to admit that such a rule could lead to open disagreements and conflicts and so to the revival of tension which everything must be done now to reduce."

27.Again, the Eastern Military Government readily sent representatives to the meeting of the Committee of Army Officers at Benin which, as was agreed at Aburi, would discuss matters relating to the quantity of arms and ammunition available in each Unit of the Army in each Region and in the unallocated stores, as well as the sharing out of such arms equitably to the various Commands. The Committee - -could not progress with its work for lack of co-operation from the representatives of Lt.-Col.Gowon.

28. While the Military Government of Eastern Nigeria has been making a determined and sincere effort to act according to the spirit and decisions of Aburi, Lt.-Col. Gowon has deliberately set out to ignore both. Ten days after the Aburi meeting, the Gowon Government issued a booklet, entitled Nigeria 1966, parts of which attacked and libelled
the Military Governor of the East. The booklet also contained tendentious statements the sole aim of which could only be to inflame passions and cause disaffection within the country. This booklet was launched in New York, London and other capitals of the world.


29. Worse still, three weeks after the meeting, at a press conference which he held on 26 January, 1967, Lt.-Col. Gowon reproduced a truncated and distorted version of the agreements reached at Aburi. The source of Lt.-Col. Gowon’s statement was not the official minutes of the meeting, which had been prepared by his own officials, but a hostile commentary on the Aburi decisions prepared afterwards by people with vested interests in Lagos—men who were neither members of the Supreme Military Council nor were present at the meeting. These people were in a position to advise Lt.-Col. Gowon before the meeting since the agenda for the Aburi meeting were agreed to well beforehand. Furthermore, most of the major decisoins at Aburi were taken on the second day of the meeting after members had spent the night at their respective stations, consulting with their advisers.

30. A few days after Aburi some Permanent Secretaries in Lagos met to criticize the decisions reached by the Supreme Military Council, the highest authority in the land. With regard to the reorganization of the Army they objected to the new title of "Commander-in-Chief" on the grounds that—

"(1) it would be a subtle way of either abolishing the post of Supreme Commander or declaring it vacant to be filled by unanimous decision of the Supreme
Military Council... and

(2) The Accra decision transfers the Executive Authority of the Federal Military Government from the Head of the Federal Military Government and Supreme Commander (in accordance with Decree No. 1) to the Supreme Military Council. The implication of this is that the Commander-in-Chief would have no power of control or dismissal over the Regional Governors..."

On the establishment of Military Headquarters, the Permanent Secretaries stated that "the establishment of Military Headquarters with equal representatives from the Regions headed by a Chief of Staff amounts to confederation". They made no effort to define what they meant by a "confederation". As regards the creation of Area Commands the Permanent Secretaries took exception to what they considered to be "dividing up the Nigerian Army into Regional ones, without links with or effective unifying control over the Army by the ‘Supreme Commander’." This advice, which was clearly motivated by selfish interests, ignored the anxiety of the Nigerian public for a workable and effective settlement of the crisis and a quick return to normal conditions. In strict compliance with this advice, however, Lt.-Col. Gowon, true to his well-known characteristic of ignoring solemn agreements, made a volte-face at his press conference. On the issue of the reorganization of the Army he declared—

"We reviewed the situation in- the Nigerian Army and we all agreed that there should be one Nigerian Army under a unified command as at present. We recognized that in the context of the events of 1966, the most practical way of achieving this aim is to organize the Army into area commands. The preponderance of T the army personnel in each command will be drawn from the re indigenes of that area. Each area command will be under an P Area Commander who will take operational instructions from the Military Headquarters which will be directly under me as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Under the proposal, the Military Governors can use the area command for internal security purposes but this will normally be done with the express permission of the Head of the Federal Military Government. We definitely decided tit against Regional armies."

As could be seen from the Minutes of the Aburi Conference, no decision was taken that the Area Commands should be directly under Lt.-Col. Gowon "as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces" nor that the Military Governors should obtain his permission to use the Area Commands for internal security.


31. Again, instead of emphasizing that the Supreme Military Council, in recognition of the fact that no single government in the Federation has its writ running throughout the country, has introduced the element of Regional consent into the process of reaching its decisions, Lt.-Col. Gowon merely stated—


"We, however, agreed to return to the status quo ante 17 January, 1966, and this is in keeping with my earlier public pronouncements that Decrees or parts of Decrees which tended towards over- centralization should be repealed. We will continue to operate the existing Federal Constitution and the Federal system of government until a new Constitution is drawn up. A decree is now under preparation which will give effect to the decision to return to the Constitutional position before 17 January, 1966..."


32. Turning to the problem of displaced persons the Permanent Secretaries suggested:

"(a) when the meeting of Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Finance resumes, the principle of revenue allocation should not be discussed as it was not mentioned in the minutes of the Accra meeting.

"(b) the decision to continue to pay salaries till the end of March, 1967, does not take into consideration economic factors which are linked with it . . . Secondly, it does not make sense to include daily paid workers among those whose salaries should continue to be paid. The decision should therefore be reconsidered."

The insistence of the Permanent Secretaries that "the principle of revenue allocation should not be discussed" at any future meetings of Permanent Secretaries, Finance, is clear evidence that they intend to strangle the East economically since they are well aware of the mass return of nearly two million Easterners to the Region, the loss of £20,000,000 in property by refugees from the North and the forcible exclusion of Easterners from the Federal Civil Service, the Federal Statutory Corporations, the Foreign Service and other Federal institutions. - Surely they cannot expect the East to survive economically in these circumstances under the existing system of revenue allocation. Moreover, whatever economic factors are linked with the Supreme Military Council’s- decisions on this matter it is patent that the displaced employees are in no way responsible for their present plight. And the inequitable treatment suggested by the Permanent Secretaries in respect of daily paid workers can only remind the country of the industrial strife which such an application of double standards caused in the days of the former civilian regime.

33. In spite of all these Lt.-Col. Gowon in his press conference defers to the recommendations of the Permanent Secretaries on this head. Although the decision at Aburi was that the salaries of all displaced persons who had not obtained alternative employment should, without qualification, be paid until 31 March, 1967, Lt.-Col. Gowon stated that "each case is to be considered on its merit" and that Federal Corporations would find it "very difficult" to continue to pay their displaced employees.

34. With respect to appointments to certain posts in the Federal Public Service, the Permanent Secretaries commented as follows:

"(a) whichever category of officer is meant, the effect of this decision will tend to paralyse the functions of the Federal Public and the Police Service Commissions;

"(b) if Regional Governors have power to appointments, the loyalty of Federal Officers would be to their regions of origin—meaning in effect that there will be no Federal Civil Service;

"(c) the acceptance of this decision would also require, as the law officers have reported, amendments to those sections in the Constitution dealing with appointment to Nigeria Police,Federal Public Service
Commission and sections of various acts dealing with appointment in Federal Statutory
Corporations;

(d) furthermore, it is observed that while Military Governors will have power to appoint, or approve appointments of
Federal Government Servants, there is no corresponding power of the Supreme Military Council to even influence
the appointments to senior posts in the Regional Public Services. This clearly makes the Federal Military Government."

Obviously the Permanent Secretaries are not concerned with the peace, stability and even the survival of Nigeria; their sole interest is to maintain the status quo because any attempt at a fair distribution of posts -in the Federal Civil Service, the Federal Corporations, the Foreign Service and other Federal institutions would mean a diminution of the powers they now enjoy. The East must remain permanently excluded from these services and institutions for the selfish ends of Federal Permanent Secretaries. The East must be relegated to obscure embassies abroad where they will- be ineffective and unheard. In his press statement Lt.-Col. Gowon, in his attempt to keep to the advice of the Permanent Secretaries, was caught up in contradictions. In one and the same breath he said that these appointments should be approved by the Supreme Military Council and that the Federal public Service and Police Commissions should retain their present functions. His exact words were-

"There have been some speculations about the effect of our decisions on senior appointments and - promotions in the Federal Public Service. It was agreed that top posts such as Permanent Secretaries and Ambassadors will have to be approved by the I ship Supreme Military Council. I would like to explain that the Armey Federal Public Service Commission as well as the Police Commission and i will continue to function as at present."



35. Finally, on the Ad Hoc Constitutional Conference the Permanent Secretaries stated that it was rather advisable for Gowon stick to their previous recommendations and advice, namely:

"(a) that the Ad Hoc Constitutional
Conference should stand adjourned indefinitely;

"(b) that the immediate political programme announced to the nation on 30 November, 1966, by the ‘Supreme Commander’ should be implemented and the country must be so informed."

The Permanent Secretaries have here revealed that the origin of Lt.Col. Gowon’s
"political programme"
of 30 November, 1966, was "the recommendations and advice" given to him by these Permanent Secretaries. In accordance with this advice, however, Lt.-Col. Gowon, while not appearing to re-affirm "that the Ad Hoc Constitutional Conference should stand adjourned indefinitely", said— "So far I have not set up the Drafting Committee and the Constituent Assembly promised in my broadcast (of 30 November, 1966) because it was the intention that normal conditions should be fully restored before they begin to function... I am carrying... on the necessary consultations with all sections of the Nigerian - community and when eventually the names we are screening are announced the general public will be satisfied."

In this context, the indications are that Lt.-Col. Gowon would rather take steps to implement his pet programme than facilitate the resumption of the Ad Hoc Constitutional Conference as decided at Aburi. This is borne out by the draft Decree which he produced after Aburi.

36. This draft Decree, which has been circulated to the Regional Military Governors by Lt.-Col. Gowon, accordingly by-passes or ignores all the major decisions taken at Aburi. It seeks to return Nigeria to the constitutional position before 17 January, 1966, while in fact the decisions of the Supreme Military Council were on specific issues and were not limited by dates. In the draft Decree the title of "Supreme Commander" is still retained contrary to the decision at Aburi to alter it to "Commander-in-Chief". The draft Decree also retains the word "President" instead of "Chairman of the Supreme Military Council" as was agreed at Aburi. Again it enlarges the membership of the Supreme Military Council to include "Head of the Nigerian Army (a non-existent post), the "Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces" and the "Chief of Staff of the Nigerian Army". No such decisions were taken at Aburi. It was merely agreed that there should be one Chief of Staff at Headquarters.

37. In addition, contrary to the Aburi accord, the draft Decree vests executive and legislative powers either in the Federal Military Government or in the Federal Executive Council. But the Aburi meeting clearly decided that the legislative and executive authority of the

Federal Military Government should devolve on the Supreme Military Council to which any matter affecting the whole country should be referred for determination.


38. The draft Decree also completely ignores the decision at Aburi that appointments and promotions within the upper hierarchy of the Army, Police, the Public Service and Corporations must be approved by the Supreme Military Council.


39. Lastly, the draft Decree proceeds to restore sections 70, 71 and 86 of the old Constitution, which had been suspended, without also restoring the safeguards provided in that Constitution. By this action Lt.-Col. Gowon, contrary to the spirit and letter of the Aburi agreements, arrogates to himself the power to declare a state of emergency anywhere in Nigeria.


BAD FAITH OF LT.-COL. GOWON


40. The failure of Lt.-Col. Gowon to adhere to the decisions unanimously reached at Aburi is only the latest evidence of his bad faith, inconsistency and lack of realism.


41. On the first day of his seizure of power he had pleaded for co-operation from the East Military Government, and had promised to retain power only temporarily in order to normalise the extraordinary conditions created by himself and his fellow Northerners, military and civilian. Thereafter the Military leaders were to meet and decide on the leadership. Lt.-Col. Gowon has never fulfilled that promise. The breach of his promise to see to the return of arms and ammunition by Northern soldiers evacuated from the East has already been mentioned in paragraph 8 above. Lt.-Col. Gowon also assured the Military Government of the East in August, 1966 that he would stop the killings in the country, but these killings subsequently increased in organization and ferocity until they reached the proportions of a pogrom. He moreover promised that the inquiry set up by Major-General Aguiyi Ironsi into the May massacres of Easterners in Northern Nigeria would "certainly go on as scheduled". Nothing has been heard again about this inquiry ever since. So also most of the difficulties preventing the return to normal conditions in the country have stemmed from Lt.-Col. Gowon’s bad faith in not implementing the unanimous decisions reached by the representatives of the military leaders at their meeting in Lagos on 9 August.

42. Early in September 1966, armed soldiers of Northern origin from Ibadan raided Benin Prison and removed soldiers who had been detained as a result of their
alleged involvement in the attempted coup of 15 January. The Northerners among the detainees were set free and repatriated to the North; the remainder, mainly Easterners, were murdered under brutal circumstances. And although Lt.-Col. Gowon gave assurances that the murderers would be brought to justice, so far the perpetrators of the atrocities have gone unpunished.

43. It was exactly this same sort of bad faith that Lt.-Col. Gowon exhibited in September, 1966. In his opening address to the Ad Hoc Constitutional Conference, he had himself instructed the delegates to choose one of the following alternatives in formulating a new Constitution for Nigeria:

"(a) A Federal system with a strong Central Government;
"(b) A Federal system with a weak Central Government;
"(c) A Confederation ;or

"(d) An entirely new arrangement which may be peculiar to Nigeria."


At the same time Gowon disavowed any intention of dictating to the country a particular constitution. When, however, he saw that the delegations were veering towards the second or third alternative, he adjourned the conference indefinitely. He thereupon announced that "the idea of a temporary confederation is unworkable" and that he was appointing "a drafting committee" to prepare a constitution which "will reflect the generally expressed desire for a stable federation". it will be recalled, however, that the delegations to the Ad Hoc Conference went to Lagos in September, 1966, after extensive consultations among the people in each Region. Thus each delegation went with a mandate representing the "expressed desire" of its people. But, true to type, Lt.-Col. Gowon placed a dubious construction on the submissions
of the delegations to suit his purpose and that of his advisers.

44. Contrary to the decisions at Aburi recruitment into the Army has continued in different parts of the country except the East; contrary to these agreements, Lt.-Col. Gowon has proceeded to appoint Ambassadors without reference to the Supreme Military Council; contrary to the agreements, purchase and importation of arms have continued. Lt.-Col. Gowon unilaterally postponed the meeting of Military officers to discuss the reorganization of the Army as agreed at Aburi. The proposed meeting of Finance officials on the problem of rehabilitation of displaced persons has not even been held because Lt.-Col. Gowon’s Finance Permanent Secretary does not think that such a meeting will serve any useful purpose. -


45. In the light of the foregoing and since there is clearly no hope of a change of attitude on the part of Lt.-Col. Gowon, the East Military Government considers that the time has come when it must take a final stand against a regime which cannot abide by agreements voluntarily arrived at. The Military Government of the East is irrevocably committed to the task of ameliorating the suffering of its struggling people and providing them with the peace, order and good government which are their overriding needs. To this end the Government will publish shortly its future policy towards the implementation of the Aburi agreements.

Mend Attack Lagos

The Nigerian most prominent rebel group(MEND) says it carried out an unprecedented attack on an oil tanker facility close to the main commercial city of Lagos. The depot and loading tankers moored at the facility are currently on fire "said the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger-Delta(MEND).

If this incident is confirmed it will be a major escalation in Mend's activities, It's previous activities/attacks have been mostly in the Rivers and Delta State of the South South Geo-Political Region. Such attack has severely cut the the Nations oil out put. Production has been cut to almost by a fifth in the last three(3) years due to the violence situation in the region.

In a statement, Mend said that "heavily armed" men had "carried out an unprecedented attack on the Atlas Cove Jetty in Lagos" at 2230 hours Nigerian time on Sunday.

This show that Nigerian Intelligent services are not up to standard and they can hardly defeat Mend in this their war of destruction.

On the other hand the Nigerian Govt should look into the course of this violence in a view of finding amicable solution as sending the JTF to curb the violence has not yielded any result thus far.

Goldkorn

Johnson In Mourinho Blast

New Liverpool signing Glen Johnson has suggested he could never trust former boss JM after completing his move to Anfield. The three eagles full back recently left Portsmouth in a big bucks switch to Liverpool as he returns to a top four club after leaving West London for Fratton Park which was originally on loan in 2006.

Johnson points to an incident in the 04/05 season, JM first when he was offered an opportunity to impress before a UEFA Champions League match against the current European champions but was still jettisoned despite performing with aplomb. We had a couple of games to play before the Barca match. JM picked me for a game and told me in front of five witnesses that if I play well, I would keep the shirt he told the ST.

I told my agent immediately that it didn't matter how well i played, I would be dropped because JM wouldn't want me anywhere near the team for the barca game. Sure i was voted Man of the Match and i was dropped from the squad. You would have to ask JM what his reason was but I know it was because he didn't want to see me play well and be forced to pick me against Barca.
That was the day i knew i had to leave Chelsea. Managers have to stick to their word to earn the trust of their players.

Goldkorn

Zlatan in Chelsea Claim

Ibrahimovic's future at Inter Milan has been the subject of intense speculation all summer with Man United and real Madrid both linked with the tall Swedish striker.

But Inter are determined to keep hold of their star striker with president Moratti adamant the striker is going nowhere. The star admits he is flattered by Chelsea's interest in him but insist money will not be the motivating factor in any move.

In his statement " I am fully aware that Chelsea want to sign me and of course it's flattering, Ibrahimovic told the New of the World"

They are one of the biggest clubs in Europe and EPL is among the best leagues in the world, but money will not be the only thing i will base my decision on, my future and whats good for me comes first. I have to ask myself if am good for the EPL or not and many other factors.

Goldkorn

Turmoil Preventing Bassong Move to Arsenal

The French under 21 defender has claimed that turmoil at Newcastle is preventing him to move away from St James Park with Arsenal the likely destination.

The 23 year old has let his desire to leave NUFC be known and he is keen to leave the Toon Army following the club's relegation from the premiership last May.

Many premiership clubs are interested in my service but nothing is simple as NUFC are in the middle of a take over and nobody knows who the manager/owners will be. He also confirmed that their was an approach from Arsenal but for now nothing is concrete. He stated also that foreign clubs enquired about him but he is only interested to play in EPL for now.

Manchester City and Spurs are another EPL clubs that are willing to offer Bassong top flight football next this coming season.

Goldkorn

Man United To offer Atletico Madrid Barbatov for Aguero plus Cash

The Champions of England and runners up in UCL are making plans to offer Atletico Madrid the sum believed to be around £17.5M in a swap deal that will see Barbatov play in La-Liga this coming season. Man United are thought to have offered Nani and £34M earlier but the Spanish giant refused as they are not interested in the former Sporting Lisbon star.

The deal involving the swap of Barbetov started last month but the player's(Aguero) management company is demanding a £200,000 a week wage after tax. Which is the stumbling block.

Lo Colchoneros placed a £55M buy-out clause on the 21 year old striker to attract only serious clubs. AM are determined not to accept any fee below that amount as Man United just pocketed £80M for deal that saw Ronaldo move to Real Madrid earlier this month.

This transfer is likely to bring to an end the mixed relationship of the OT faithfuls on the former Spurs man, whose verdict still remains out.

The 28 year old Bulgarian striker has attracted much criticism among United faithfuls for his lazy approach to the beautiful game of football and his goal return rate of 9 goals in 31 premiership appearance after a £30.5m move from White Heart lane on transfer deadline last summer.

Goldkorn

True Love, Does it Exist?

The concept of true love is what we search for all our life and what people(men and Women) really want more than anything else is an unconditional love, to be accepted for who they are and still be loved.

Today's world is full of men and women looking for material things hence the world turned to MATERIALISTIC WORLD. Being a materialistic world made love less significant compared to gold, emerald, diamond and money which in the first place is the root of evil we have in the whole wide world of today.

I asked many of my friends this question one day and their answers wasn't encouraging, "Their is no love talk less of True Love", "Before their was but now i doubt", "Nobody can be trusted in this our world of lies and sins how then can true love exist", "True love is now a fantasy". But some still believe true love exit and we shouldn't,t find it, it will come to us if we deserve it. Does it mean that we shouldn't look for it, is it natural?

While some people say that love should be love and nothing like "True Love" it is either you love him/her or you don't.

I myself still believe in the existence of love but its very very rare to find.

Goldkorn

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