The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Tribunal dismisses suit filed by PDP, Satumari against Ndume

    The Borno National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Nyanya, on Monday dismissed a case filed by Malam Kudla Satumari of the PDP, challenging the election of Sen. Mohammed Ndume as winner of the Borno South Senatorial District.

    Satumari, is challenging the declaration of Sen. Ndume, of All Progressive Congress (APC) as the winner of the Borno South Senatorial District poll on Feb. 23.

    Joined as respondents in the petition are; the APC and INEC.

    NAN reports that in the petition dated March 15, with a number, EPT/BO/SEN/1/2019 and made available to journalists, Satumari averred that the election was marred by corrupt practices and non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.(NAN)

  • Fake alert: Okoko threatens to sue Bayelsa party chair

    One of the frontline governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Keniebi Okoko has threatened to sue the state party’s Chairman, Cleopas Moses, for accusing him of sending fake bank alerts to delegates.

    Moses, in a statement, alleged that Okoko was sending fake alerts to delegates to enable him win the PDP governorship primaries scheduled for September 3.

    But reacting to the statement on Monday demanded public apologies from Cleopas to be published in national dailies or he would be compelled to explore other legal options.

    He said: As usual, we would have ignored such rambling as an attempt to tar my person and portray me in bad light in the eyes of my teeming supporters within and outside Bayelsa who are banking on me to create a new and sustainable future for this state when I become governor.

    “But coming from no less a person than the chairman of our great party, the PDP, it behoves on me to respond to this grave allegation by one who ordinarily should be an umpire in this political game.

    “Let it also be stated very clearly that we do not believe that the chairman is acting with the backing of our dear Governor , Seriake Dickson, whose love for the PDP and the Bayelsan people has never been in doubt. The governor we know will never support this level of impunity.

    “First, as a pastor with a strong family name to defend, I have never and will never engage in this kind of act which the chairman who has thrown all decorum to the wind is publicly accusing me of.

    “In my 13 years as a private businessman, I have never been accused of any fraudulent activity, unlike him that has always depended on the spoils of government to survive. I have built my reputation with my own sweat and any attempt by anybody, including Cleopas to smear that image will be resisted.

    Read Also: Bayelsa primaries: Thugs attack PDP chiefs’ homes

    “The wicked is always afraid of their shadows. The same act which he has continuously deployed and all the illegal processes to sway delegates to his preferred candidate (s)  is now backfiring.

    “There is no hiding place for him and his cohorts, so they have to find someone to blame and that someone has to be Keniebi Okoko because he poses a potent threat to their devilish plots”

    He said it was unfortunate that a man who ordinarily should be neutral in a contest as important as the  party primaries had decided to take sides with some aspirants against other governorship hopeful in the party.

    Okoko said it was obvious that Moses neither had the competence nor the integrity to pilot the party through a smooth exercise devoid of acrimony and unnecessary bad blood.

    He added: “If anyone is trying to hoodwink the delegates, it is Cleopas who has shown gross irresponsibly in handling the affairs of the PDP in the state.

    “Our advice to him is to thoroughly search his conscience and retrace his steps where he lost his path in the interest of our party.

    “By his recent actions and utterances , it is obvious that Cleopas is bent on destroying our great party. We therefore call on the national leadership of the PDP to call to order this man who has taken sides in a contest in which he is supposed to be an umpire.

    :He is neither fit nor proper to occupy that exalted position which he currently sits atop and is using to destroy our great party”.

    He asked Cleopas not to tread a dangerous route or he would have to explain the intimate details of his recent Lagos trip to the party and Bayelsans.

    He said: “We are not surprised that the chairman has decided to toe this path. This is what happens when sudden power and influence fall on your laps. Cleopas was neither deserving nor prepared for it.  He should be ashamed of himself!

    “Like we stated earlier, Cleopas should be called to order by the national leadership of the PDP or he will steadily destroy this party built by the sweat of founders of this great party.

    “I remain undeterred by this latest rambling of a confused man and will keep being focused on our mission to rescue Bayelsa from the pangs of poverty and backwardness in the comity of states”.

  • Sevilla sign Chicharito from West Ham

    West Ham United confirm that striker Chicharito has joined Spanish Primera Division club Sevilla on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee.

    The Mexican’s transfer ends a two-year stay in east London, during which he scored 17 goals in 63 games in Claret and Blue.

    The 31-year-old signed-off his time with the Hammers by scoring on his final appearance in a 1-1 Premier League draw at Brighton & Hove Albion on 17 August.

    And this signing will be Sevilla’s 14th arrival of this summer.

  • South Africans again attack, loot, burn foreign-owned properties

    South Africans have begun fresh attacks, looting and burning of properties belonging to foreigners and in the process killed three people, while another is still receiving treatment for smoke inhalation.

    The President of the Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA), Adetola Olubajo said on Monday that the attacks began on Sunday morning in Jeppestown area of Johannesburg when a building was set ablaze by an angry mob

    “The mob also looted several shops that were around the vicinity suspected to be owned by foreign nationals.

    “But the Police later dispersed the mob and made some arrest,’’ he said in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    “Late in the evening of Sunday, Sept. 1, a group of violent locals suspected to be Zulu hostel dwellers besieged Jules Street in Malvern, Johannesburg looted and burned shops/businesses.’’

    Another Auto Marts set ablaze by an angry mob on Sunday, Sept. 1, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    According to a witnesses living on Jules street, the Zulu hostel dwellers were very organised and well-coordinated in looting and burning of any shops/businesses suspected to be owned by foreign nationals.

    Olubajo said that information gathered by members of NUSA in Malvern area, indicated that over 50 shops/businesses were destroyed, looted and burnt over the night.

    Read Also: ‘Nigeria, South Africa must work together to solve xenophobic attacks’

    “Also, some businesses owned by foreign nationals were looted in Germiston on Sunday evening. A Nigerian-owned Internet Café and computer accessories business was among the looted shops in Germiston.

    “When I got the sad news late yesterday (Sunday) evening, I immediately informed the Police in Jeppestown but lots of damage had been done already.

    “The means of livelihood of people were looted and destroyed by fire overnight which have left many Nigerians traumatised.

    “Nigerian-owned businesses were seriously affected. A car sales business owned by a Nigerian were among the several businesses set ablaze over the night.

    “Although the Police said that many people had been arrested in connection with the unnecessary attacks, the looting and burning of foreign-owned businesses continued till Monday morning,’’ he said.

    He added that properties and businesses belonging to foreign nationals worth millions of Rands had been lost to looting and burning in the past week at different locations in Pretoria and Johannesburg.

    Olubajo said that there was massive protest march in different parts of Johannesburg which were targeted against foreign nationals, noting that some of the areas affected by the violent protest march were Rosettenville, Turfontein, Germison, Primrose and Silverton in Pretoria.

    “We implore the security operatives to be proactive and not reactive as many long years hard earned investments have been lost through looting, destruction and burning.

    “Our government officials in South Africa should also seriously engage their counterparts in South Africa.

    “This proactive move will go a long way to prevent further loss of properties and even lives. The situation is tensed and very dangerous for foreign nationals, hence, we implore Nigerians in South Africa, most especially in Gauteng Province to be vigilant and stay safe,’’ he said.

    (NAN)

  • Primaries: IYC warns PDP, APC against violence, bloodshed

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has warned political actors in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) against resorting to violence and bloodshed in their various governorship primaries in Bayelsa State.
    The IYC in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Alfred Kemepado, appealed to the parties to ensure a hitch-free, transparent and credible gubernatorial party primaries in Bayelsa.
    He asked them to play by the rules and avoid actions and utterances that could heat up the polity.
    He, however, commended some of the aspirants from both parties for their peaceful disposition, and the decent ways they had carried out their political activities in the state.
    But he called on other violence-prone politicians, who would stop at nothing to satisfy their selfish ambitions to tow the path of peace with their supporters, while  contesting the available positions.
    He said: “Parties should take advantage of this season to build bridges through negotiations and not reinforce the walls of hate and division in Ijaw Nation.

    Read Also: Fake alert: Okoko threatens to sue Bayelsa party chair

    “We call on all the parties and the delegates to the conventions to ensure that their votes and party ticket are given to aspirants who have the state at heart and can uphold the place of Ijaw Nation amongst nations.
    “These are trying times in the history of our country and candidates must be picked in view of the challenges ahead. We advise that delegates should consider more seriously only candidates who have shown understanding of our economic problems and potentials in our fast deteriorating environment.
    “Delegates should consider aspirants who are loyal to the good success of Bayelsa State and the Ijaw Nation and not be influenced by immediate benefits such as the usual Naira that would be deployed to buy their conscience and the future of their children.
    “However the contest goes among the competent aspirants, the ultimate victory belongs to Bayelsans, so there is no need to shortchange anybody, as no Ijaw man is more Ijaw than the other. So the primaries should reflect the expectations in the general elections which is peace and the absolute will of the people.
    “Furthermore, we call on all the aspirants to approach the primaries with brotherly love for each other. The plot to cause circumstances that will incite violence, or the deliberate attempt to make youths go into violence should be avoided.
    “We also call on the youths not to allow themselves to be used as tools to cause violence and unrest, as it is hardly recorded that a politician died for his elections, but it is always the youths that end up being used as sacrificial lambs, while these politicians later kiss and makeup whenever their interests align. They should peacefully campaign for and support their choice candidates and resist any form of violence.
    “We want to remind the political players of the state that the council is in touch with embassies and the diplomatic community to report any offensive incidence and the character behind any form of violence so as to facilitate VISA and travel ban for such individual or group of persons. Our mercenaries set out will gather information with evidence which we would forward to the world”.

  • FIBA WC: D’Tigers fall to Argentina 81-94

    The Nigerian national team, D’Tigers lost their second game to Argentina 81-94 at the FIBA World Cup played today at Wuhan Sports Centre, Wuhan, China.

    The four quarter scores were 17 – 28, 26 – 15, 18 – 29, 20 – 22 for a cumulative score of 81-94 in favour of the Argentines.

    The Nigerian team rallied to even scores at 43-43 after the second quarter but lost their way in the third with their final quarter fight proving a little too late. The Nigerian team is without a win after losing the opening game to Russia 82-77.

    For the second consecutive game, Josh Okogie led the Nigerian team with 18 points, same number he amassed against Russia in the opening game.  Jordan Nwora contributed 12 points, Vincent Nnamdi added 11points, Ike Iroegbu contributed 10, while the likes of Ike Diogu, Chimezie Metu, Ben Uzoh and Stan Okoye and Al Farouq Aminu also got on the scorers’ sheet.

    The Argentines were dominant in the first and third quarters and managed the game well in the fourth quarter to repel a Nigerian fight back and win their second game in the tournament.

    The Nigerian team will take on Korea in the last game, while Argentina takes on Russia.

  • BREAKING: CSOs stage protest at British High Commission over award of $9.6 to P & ID

    A coalition of civil society groups is protesting at the British High Commission in Abuja over the award of $9.6 billion to Process and Industrial Developments Ltd.

    The CSOs are expected to stage similar protest at the Embassy of Ireland, Abuja.

    The CSOs in a statement by its President, Etuk Bassey, described judgement as a “travesty to justice, disrespect to the sovereignty of the Nigerian government.”

     

    Details shortly…

     

  • Ganduje vows to sue Wike over alleged demolition of mosque

    Kano state government has vowed to institute a legal action against the Rivers State Nyesom Wike over the demolition of Rainbow Town Central Mosque located at the Trans-Amadi Area of Port Harcourt.

    A press statement by Abba Anwar,  Chief Press Secretary to Ganduje  described the “sad story of Mosque demolition in Rivers state as shocking and promised that necessary lawful action must be taken over the happening. ”

    According to the statement, Ganduje would institute “legal action against this demolition of the Mosque as well contest it with appropriate authorities for redress”

    Anwar quoted his principal as saying: “We received this information with high degree of shock. And I am assuring the general public that, all necessary action against this demolition will be taken through appropriate authorities.”

    Read Also: Kano’s worthy example

    He therefore called on the public to remain calm and peaceful, as they were enjoined to and go about their normal businesses.

    Ganduje said: “As government, we have started touching appropriate quarters against the demolition.

    “Kano state is known for peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians, we should therefore improve on that and remain calm and peaceful. People should live peacefully with one another.”

  • Go tougher on corrupt Nigerians, Buhari tells EFCC

    As the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) completed training of 328 new detectives, President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the antigraft agency to go tougher on corrupt Nigerians.

    He said corruption was the major cause of insurgency, kidnapping,  armed banditry and poverty in the country.

    President Buhari spoke as the Reviewing Officer at the the passing out parade of the EFCC cadets Superintendent Course 8 from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna state.

    Buhari who was represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, therefore assured that, he will not interfere or influence the commission’s work.

    The President lamented that corruption has retarded development and also brought a great embarrassment to Nigeria especially before the international community.

    He stressed that, his administration has made significant progress in the fight against corruption especially cyber crime and financial crimes and will not relent in ensuring that every corrupt person is brought to justice.

    According to him, “As part of efforts to boost the war against corruption in Nigeria,  the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has trained a total of  328 new investigative officers  at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna state.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests notorious internet fraudster, Oyediran wanted by FBI

    “The training is to prepare them adequately  ahead of their deployment as anti graft investigators across the country.

    “This  colourful passing out parade follows their completion of a year long intensive training in the elite training institution.”

    Addressing the cadets, the President reminded the cadets that much is expected from them in supporting the ongoing fight against corruption, hence he charged them to live shove board.

    He admitted that there are still undeniable and systemic challenges, and the deep-routed nature of the problem obviously os corruption.

    It would be recalled that driven by the need for improved professionalism and dedication to duty, the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu in 2016, commenced the training of the commission’s cadets in the NDA which produced EFCC’s “Course 7” officers in 2017, comprising 314 detective superintendents.

    The commission is therefore,  optimistic that the 328 new officers will further boost the anti-corruption fight of the President Muhammadu  Buhari administration.

    Highlight of the graduation was the presentation of awards presented to cadets that distinguished themselves during the training.

  • Row over appointment of Ondo NDDC Commissioner

    A group, the Ondo South Mandate Group (OSMG) on Saturday kicked against the nomination of the  Chairman, Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission(OSOPADEC) Gbenga Edema as new Commissioner representing the State on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission. (NDDC).

    The group comprising All Progressives Congress (APC) members, Oil Producing Communities and leaders of Ondo South Senatorial district said the nomination of Edema was fraught with irregularities.

    A statement by the group’s Chairman and Secretary of (OSMG), Benson Odoro and Ayesa Adebambo, said since Edema is the Chairman, Ondo State Oil Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC), another person should have been nominated as the NDDC Commissioner.

    Besides, the group said the appointment of Edema as OSOPADEC Boss by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was illegal, saying “he is not from the core oil-producing community in Ilaje Local Government Area of the State”

    The group which vowed to mobilize against Edema and the APC if President Muhammadu Buhari refused to rescind his decision on Edema said the oil-producing communities in the Ilaje cannot continue to be marginalized by the government

    They said  “Oil Communities in Ondo South Say No  to Gbenga Edema and that Oil Producing Communities Demand for their Mandate from the APC.

    Read Also: NDDC gets acting MD, calls on Niger Deltans to work together

    The statement said; “Government has singlehandedly imposed Edema and we are baffled because he is not from the oil-producing community. In the history of Ondo State, this has never happened but this decision is detrimental to our destiny because it is an injury to the entire Ugbo kingdom.

    “Edema is from Mahin which is not oil-producing communities. Since the inception of NDDC, it is people of Ugbo extraction that have been made NDDC Commissioner because they are the only oil-producing communities.

    “When Akeredolu made Edema the Chairman of OSOPADEC, we took it with a pinch of salt. It has now gone to the ridiculous level that he has been made the Ondo State representative on the board of NDDC.

    “This is a clear injustice on the part of the goose that lays the egg that made the state an oil-producing state.”

    The group said” We have it on good authority that Edema did not have the blessing of the Governor and APC leadership before he got the nomination into the board of NDDC, he simply used OSOPADEC  funds to achieve his personal agenda of becoming Ondo State Representative on the board of NDDC.”

    The group alleged that Edema has been lobbying to become the MD of NDDC but stronger interests from above took away that interest from him which now made him edge out former Ondo Representative on the board, Mr. Lucky Ayedatiwa from the board and took over his seat.

    The group pleaded with the Senate of the Federal Republic to reject the nomination of Edema in order to save the South Senatorial district from around round of crisis emanating from the nomination of someone who is not qualified for the position.