The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Wike won election, says APC witness

    The African Action Congress (AAC) collation agent for Rivers State governorship election, Nenye Kocha, has testified that Governor Nyesom Wike won the March 9 election.

    Kocha, who testified as AAC’s star witness yesterday, said there was no time the AAC candidate led in the race during collation of results.

    He told the tribunal that the party had only 418 agents across the 4,442 units. As a new party, it was only able to clear four House of Assembly candidates and one governorship candidate, he added.

    According to Kocha, Donatus Bariko, from Gokana council, and Henry Iyala, from Degema council, who testified for Awara as party collation agents, were not party members but imposters.

    Kocha said there were no results collated for Gokana and Abua/Odual councils.

    Read Also: My public greeting to Buhari better than night visits, says Wike

    He said: “We had just four House of Assembly candidates and one governorship candidate. Of the 32 seats in the House of Assembly, we had only four candidates; no candidate for National Assembly. We had collation agents in only 418 polling units across the 4,442 polling units in the state.

    “No result was declared for Abua/Odual and Gokana councils as at the time of collation. INEC conducted the election in strict compliance with the Electoral Act and guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “Donatus Barikor (Gokana) and Henry Iyala (Degema) were not AAC party agents. This is the first time I am in politics; coming from industry, I am in politics for integrity. APC adopted our governorship candidate two days to the election.”

    Kocha admitted that the party no longer had a deputy governorship candidate following the withdrawal of Chief Akpo Bomba Yeeh from the race. According to him, the AAC won in only two councils – Akuku-Toru and Oyigbo – as declared by INEC.

    He said most of the witnesses presented by Biokpomabo Awara initially were not members of AAC.

    The witness said AAC started in August 2018 and prepared for the election two days after it was adopted by APC.

    A certified video clip was also presented by AAC, through its subpoenaed witness, Osademe Joseph.

    The video proved Wike won the governorship election after collation of results between April 2 and 3.

    Osademe told the tribunal that he was one of the producers of the live broadcast of election results collation between April 2 and 3, at INEC’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.

    In the video clip, INEC declared Wike winner of the poll with 888,264 votes ahead of AAC candidate, Awara, who came second with 173, 859 votes.

    The video also confirmed the collation and declaration of Obio Akpor council results and non-declaration of Gokana and Abua/Odual councils.

    The matter was adjourned till today.

  • Rivers APC congresses on hold

    Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee in Rivers State Isaac Ogbobula has said the planned ward, local government and state congresses have been put on hold.

    Ogbobula, however, said other activities would go on.

    The National Working Committee (NWC) last week scheduled  fresh congresses for September 17 to 28. It also inaugurated the Ogbobula-led five-member caretaker committee.

    Read Also: ‘Abe must be expelled from APC’

    A governorship aspirant, Senator Magnus Abe, last week obtained a court order stopping the congresses and declared the caretaker committee illegal. Ogbobula said the congresses were put on hold as directed by the NWC following the development in the judiciary. He hinted that NWC members were responsible for the reconciliation process.

    He assured party faithful that other party activities would continue unhindered.

  • Delta 2023: power rotation agreement sacrosanct, says Ibori 

    Former Delta State Governor James Ibori has said power rotation among the north, south and central senatorial districts remains ‘sacrosanct’ for future polls.

    Ibori spoke during a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders’ meeting in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government, at the weekend.

    According to him, complying with the established pattern of power rotation, which started in 1999, would ensure fairness to every ethnic nationality in the state.

    He was confident that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa would hand over to an elected Delta Central indigene in 2023, as promised during his campaign.

    Ibori, who noted that time was still far away, wondered why some PDP politicians outside the district were agitating for the ticket.

    Read Also: Delta spends N377m on water reticulation

    He said: “Governor Okowa, during his campaign, promised to hand over to Delta Central; and as a gentleman and promise keeper, we have no doubt he will do everything within his God-given powers to keep his promise.

    “We expect all genuine members of our great party, PDP, to comply with the power rotation agreement. It is for the good of all; majority and minority, the weak and the strong, for a balanced society.

    “Equity, justice and good conscience are some of the major pillars of constitutional democracy, hence, PDP in Delta State encourages power rotation to enable the majority and minority groups, and or ethnic nationalities, via senatorial districts and power arrangements, to produce governor; and the agreement remains sacrosanct.

    “Let me also state clearly that 2023 is still far ahead, and it’s not time yet for political campaigns, but we shall begin primary arrangements and wide consultations in the near future. We must remain united and avoid unnecessary division and attacks on personalities within and outside Delta Central as we make steady progress towards the historic inauguration of the next Urhobo governor in 2023…”

  • Nigerians advised to embrace local languages

    A former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, has said the use of Nigeria’s indigenous languages is necessary to have a more literate and sustainable society.

    She urged Nigerians to embrace the use of local languages in education and literacy.

    Prof. Adelabu spoke during the inauguration of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and investiture of members of the Non-Governmental Association for Literacy Support Services (NOGALSS) in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The former deputy governor, who is also the association’s National, said: “I am an advocate of the mother tongue. I have done a lot on it. I pilot-studied the mother tongue study with the World Bank. If you learn in your own language, in your own mother tongue, you will understand better; and it does not stop you from learning English as a second language.

    “When we are talking of literacy, it doesn’t have to be in English. It can be in your mother tongue. Our old people can learn and understand better using their mother tongue.”

    Read Also: Why education policies fail in Nigeria, by Adelabu

    She said the association would work to depopulate the number of Nigerian illiterates.

    According to the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC), about 60 million Nigerians are illiterate.

    Adelabu said: “I am looking forward to doing my best to depopulate illiteracy in our communities and country and to give back to the public what I have gotten.”

    Also, a NOGALSS BoT member Chief Adewale Omojuwa said the association would work to reduce the number of uneducated Nigerians.

    Omojuwa, who is also the Adetolugbo of Ugbo land in Ondo State, said NOGALSS would collaborate with NMEC to ensure that Nigerians are educated, either in the formal or informal way.

    Education Minister Adamu Adamu said youth and adult illiteracy was among the social issues on the path of development of the country.

    To address this, the minister advocated for adult education awareness as a necessary tool to enlighten every part of the country.

    NOGALSS was established in 1993 by the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC).

    The association is tasked with the responsibilities to complement government efforts in the eradication of illiteracy in Nigeria.

  • ‘Abe must be expelled from APC’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chukwuemeka Eze, has called for the suspension of Senator Magnus Abe to ensure peace and unity.

    Eze said: “Abe’s personal attacks on the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, are aimed at destroying the party at the national level, after dismantling the APC’s structure in Rivers State.

    “Abe decided to turn the heat on the NWC, even while continuing to make moves to ensure the party in Rivers State never gets out of the incapacitation he foisted on it. Abe is on a mission to destroy APC in Rivers State and to dismantle the party at the national level. The continued presence of the former senator and his followers in the party is dangerous. It is left to the national leadership to do the needful by expelling Abe so as not to weaken APC ahead of 2023.”

    Read Also: ‘Abe must be expelled from APC to end Rivers crisis’

    The party chieftain said he was glad that chairman of Abe’s faction, Peter Odike, has returned to the mainstream APC…

    He congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the tribunal, and called on Nigerians to support the administration.

    Eze urged the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, to ignore the enemies of democracy “…urging him to challenge the tribunal’s judgment at the Supreme Court”.

    Abe could not be reached for comments on Monday.

  • Air Force to battle banditry in Niger

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it will work with other security agencies to tackle insecurity in Niger State.

    Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar gave the assurance yesterday when Governor Abubakar Bello visited him in Abuja.

    He said: “We are interested in adding value to your governance. We are also monitoring what is happening there.

    “I assure you that the Nigerian Air Force will take steps.

    “We already have our quick response unit there in Minna with some of our special forces there.

    “I believe it is something that can be done and will be done very soon. We are gathering the necessary intelligence and information that is required.

    “We will not require anything from the state government in terms of logistics or resources. We have resources given to us by the Federal Government. All that we require from you is intelligence.

    “Give us intelligence and we will use that intelligence with the resources available to us to ensure that we address these problems.”

    Read Also: Air Force strikes Boko Haram Facilities, neutralises occupants

    Bello had told the air chief that the northern part of Niger had been faced with security challenges.

    He said his visit was to solicit further support of the NAF to address the menace of the bandits.

    “We are faced with security challenges in the northern part of Niger State in the last two, three months.

    “These ongoing challenges have been on for a while, but somehow with the support of security agencies, we have maintained calm and peace in those areas.

    “But somehow, in the last months, we have major influx of armed bandits we suspect are coming from Zamfara State due to the amnesty in Zamfara. They see Niger State even because of the vast forest.

    “You may be aware that Niger State on its own covers about 10 per cent of Nigeria’s landmass, it is very difficult to police and to even patrol.

    “More so that we have a lot of rivers and streams, it is difficult for our patrol vehicles or even motorcycles at times to reach some areas in the state.

    “My visit today is to come and see the Chief of Air Staff to request additional support and assistance toward ensuring security within those restricted areas in the forest that our ground troops do not have access to,” the governor said.

    He said based on his interaction with the joint security agencies, “they are of the opinion that the easiest and safest mode of operation to address these challenges will be through air raid.”

    Bello said many communities had been displaced by bandits.

    “The victims have become Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in nearby town of Kagara where I think, if my calculation is correct, we have not fewer than 1,000 IDPs.

    “We are concerned that if we do not make effort for them to go back to their villages, we will start having health hazards in the IDPs camp.

    “We believe that the earlier they go back home, the better. But for them to go back home, we must guarantee security in those areas,” he said.

  • OYSIEC members sue Makinde over dissolution

    The chairman and members of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) have dragged Governor Seyi Makinde to court over the dissolution of the commission.

    Joined in the multiple suits filed at the National Industrial Court sitting in Ibadan are the Attorney-General of the state, House of Assembly and Head of Service.

    In seven separate suits individually filed by the chairman and members of OYSIEC, the claimants are challenging the premature dissolution and termination of their tenure of office as chairman and members of the commission.

    In the originating summons filed by the claimants, they are seeking 10 reliefs including among others: A declaration that the purported dissolution of the OYSIEC and termination of the appointment of the claimants by the governor is illegal, null and void; declaration that the resolution of the House of Assembly purporting to ratify such dissolution of the commission is illegal, null and void; a declaration that the Oyo State Government letter terminating their appointment as chairman and members of OYSIEC and dissolving the commission, dated July 1, 2019 and issued by the Head of Service is illegal, unconstitutional and void; an order setting aside the said letter of dissolution terminating their appointment as chairman and members of OYSIEC; an order of reinstatement of the claimants back on OYSIEC board and restoring all entitlements and rights; injunction restraining the Oyo State Government and its agencies from reconstituting or appointing any persons on the commission until the expiration of the claimants constitutional five-year tenure.

    Read Also: Sacked LG bosses: Makinde to constitute OYSIEC in few days

    The claimants have also filed before the court an application seeking interlocutory injunction against the Oyo State Governor, House  of Assembly and others, to restrain them and their agents or servants from nominating, appointing, screening any person or reconstituting the commission (OYSIEC ) until the determination of their case.

    Governor Makinde had by a letter of  July 1, 2019 issued by the Head of Service dissolved the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, admitting that their tenure had not expired, but offering the members money to pay them off for their unexpired tenure.

    The claimants’ counsel in a letter accompanying the service of the court processes filed, and addressed to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, which was copied to other defendants and the National Industrial Court, warned the government not to take any step to over reach or disregard the jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court, but respect the rule of law by ensuring nothing is done to appoint anyone into OYSIEC while the cases are pending.

    This, the counsel said, is in line with the Supreme Court decision in Ojukwu V Gov, Lagos State which held decisively that where a party is served with a notice of a suit before a court especially when accompanied with a motion for injunction seeking to restrain the performance of any act or enjoining the doing of certain activities, the hands of the said party are effectively tied from proceeding with the threatened action, even if no preliminary injunction has been issued.

    Recently, a flurry of cases and applications have been filed in the state against Governor Makinde’s administration and officials by the Chairmen of local government councils in the state challenging the dissolution of local government councils.

  • AbdulRazaq orders refund of exam charges to head teachers, others

    Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has ordered refund of N2000 and N1500 examination charges the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) collected from teachers, who applied to become head teachers and deputy head teachers.

    He said there is no basis for such charges since the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the government now get their running cost.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye,

    said the over 100 applicants for the positions who sat for the evaluation examination last Wednesday had been asked to pay the fee as was the practice before, but the AbdulRazaq administration objected to it on the grounds that the government had already paid for running cost that covered such exercise.

    The statement said TESCOM has complied with the governor’s directive, as over 90 per cent of the applicants have been refunded.

    It quoted the TESCOM’s supervisory Permanent Secretary, Bayo Onimago.

    “The directive has been complied with. Almost all the affected head teachers and deputy head teachers have been refunded,” the statement quoted Onimago as saying.

    A key development in Kwara’s civil service since AbdulRazaq’s ascension was the restoration of running cost to the ministries — a step that has energised the civil service to perform its roles as the government’s engine room.

  • NECO ‘withholds’ Niger state students results 

    Students in public secondary schools in Niger State are unable to access their National Examinations Council (NECO) May/June Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results.

    The body has withheld the results following the debts owed by the government.

    The results were released on August 27.

    Students in public secondary schools, who reached out to The Nation, bemoaned their inability to access their results in order to attend the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) screenings of the universities of their choice.

    Niger State Government has admitted that it is owing the examination body N470 million.

    It said it has paid N150 million.

    Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education Abubakar Aliyu, who spoke to The Nation, admitted that they were owing the examination body, but appealed for consideration to enable the students access their results, especially those due for post UTME screenings.

    Read Also: NECO releases May/June 2019 exam results

    He said: “The state government has been paying NECO and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for its students from the previous government and the arrangement has always been that when the government has funds, we pay in instalments.

    “NECO is owed N400 million this year and the government has begun the payment. Last Friday, we remitted N150 million to them and we are still negotiating with them to release the results, but they have not. Hopefully, they may release it today (Monday).”

    Aliyu said the government does not have enough money to give to NECO at once, adding that they will pay whenever there are funds.

    “For us, as a government, we do not have money to release at once. But as a responsive government, we have a clear picture of what we want to do. Once we get money, we will make release to them. Within the availability of resources, we have given what we have and we will continue to give them what we have until we clear the accumulated debts.”

    The permanent secretary said if the result is not released before the end of Monday, they will source money to pay the debts, noting that one of the directors in the ministry was in a meeting with NECO at the time of interviewing him.

    NECO Information Officer Mallam Azeez Sani could not be reached to state why the body had not released the results of the students.

  • Fayemi hands over Christ’s School to Anglican Communion

    Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi has handed over Christ’s School, Ado- Ekiti to its original owner, the Anglican Communion, in fulfilment of the government’s pledge to return mission schools to their owners.

    Fayemi, who signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) returning the school to the Anglican Communion yesterday, said the handing over would provide a template for subsequent release of other schools, whose owners have indicated interest in having them back.

    The brief ceremony, held at the Governor’s Office, was witnessed by the Bishop of Anglican Communion, Ekiti Diocese, Rt. Revd. Christopher Omotunde, leaders of the church and representatives of the alumni association of the 86-year-old school.

    Dr. Fayemi stressed that the return of mission schools would help in building a future generation of value-driven and morally-sound individuals.

    Read Also: Fayemi orders probe into killing of FUOYE students

    He said the action would assist in relieving government’s financial burden, especially at a time when the state is not financially buoyant.

    The governor, who reiterated his administration’s commitment to engaging positively with missions that desire to take over their schools, hoped that the school would assist the present administration in achieving “its policy thrust of reclaiming our land and restoring our values as Ekitis”.

    “What we are witnessing today is a culmination of a process which began during our first term in office to return schools belonging to mission bodies to their original owners. I am delighted that the final consummation of the release of Christ’s School has been achieved. Ours will not be the first time such a consummation will take place between governments and missionary bodies. Other states like Anambra, Lagos and Enugu had done similarly in the past,” he said.

    The Bishop of Ekiti Anglican Diocese, Rt. Rev. Christopher Omotunde, hailed the government’s decision on mission schools.

    He praised Governor Fayemi for making good his promise to return mission schools to their original owners.

    “You initiated the idea of returning mission schools to their original owners during your first term. We are happy that you are here today fulfilling that promise with the return of Christ’s School to the Anglican Church,” Rev. Omotunde said.

    The cleric, who said Christ’s School had always been a model across the country, promised that the mission will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the school returns to its pride of place in Nigeria.

    Dr. Odunayo Fagbeyiro, who represented Christ’s School Alumni and Bishop Omotunde signed the MoU on behalf of the Anglican Communion, while the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji and the state Attorney-General, Mr. Wale Fapohunda, signed on behalf of the state government.