The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Defiant Hong Kong protesters clash with police, set fires

    The 13th straight weekend of demonstrations turned violent in Hong Kong on Saturday as police fired tear gas and water cannon at anti-government protesters, who responded by throwing petrol bombs and other projectiles.

    There were several tense standoffs between the two sides, including outside the Hong Kong government headquarters, where police sprayed blue-dyed water at the protesters in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

    The colouring leaves stains and makes the participants potentially easier to identify later.

    Officers also shot pepper spray and tear gas towards the crowd.

    The protesters retreated and eventually moved towards the police headquarters, where they piled debris and built makeshift barricades on nearby roads.

    Protesters lit several of their barricades on fire, with one of them growing into a large blaze that filled the commercial street with smoke.

    It was later put out by by firefighters.

    There was a pattern on Saturday of young, black-shirted protesters moving into an area of the city, facing off with responding riot police officers, and then staying a step ahead of authorities by making a hasty retreat to somewhere else.

    Meanwhile, thousands of other protesters holding umbrellas marched in a procession that took them in a circle around the Hong Kong island’s central business and government districts, in defiance of a police ban.

    The march took place in intermittent periods of heavy rain and was planned to mark five years since Beijing failed to grant electoral reform to Hong Kong, prompting 2014’s Umbrella Movement pro-democracy protests.

    The authorities did not grant authorisation for the rally but protesters came out anyway.

    “It is a memorial day for us, that’s why we gather together to fight together for our right.

    ”Unfortunately, our legal right has been banned.

    “We will do it without their permission because this is a human right,” said protester Beatrix Wong.

    Police presence was heavy with officers creating roadblocks to direct protesters away from government landmarks while a number of police vehicles were spotted across Hong Kong island.

    In anticipation of protests, Hong Kong’s subway system suspended service to the station nearest China’s Liaison office.

    Saturday’s protest came the day after nine legislators and activists were charged by police for their role in the anti-government demonstrations, which began on June 9 over a legislative bill that would have allowed for criminal extradition to China.

    Protester Jessica Wu said that she thought the government was attempting to create a climate of fear to keep people from protesting.

    “I think they want to create a ‘white terror’ … to stop us from coming out or exercising our rights,” she told dpa, using a term that refers to past episodes of political repression.”

    (NAN)

  • Buhari lampoons Nigerian Universities for monetizing honourary awards

    President Muhammadu Buhari, has berated many universities in the country for placing priority on money in the conferment of honourary awards on Nigerians.

    Buhari said the ugly development is coming at this point in time when the country is battling to entrench the culture of good character would help the rebranding efforts of the federal government.

    The president made this disclosure on Saturday at Federal University, Oye Ekiti(FUOYE) during the 2nd combined convocation ceremony held at the institution’s Hall.

    The visitor to the university commended the institution for conferring awards on Nigerians with impeccable characters without compromising standard, saying he was particularly elated by the quality of people being conferred with honours.

    Those who were honoured with honourary degrees include: The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Reverend Felix Femi Ajakaye, the cleric who saved 262 Christians from being killed by insurgents in Barkin Ladi in Plateau State, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi and Chief Guy Garguilo, a British National, who had mentored  many Nigerians and rendered a lot of humanitarian services to the nation.

    Buhari, represented by a Director at Tertiary Education Trust Find (TETFUND), Dr. John Ojo Olusola said: “As a government, we take pride in our  popular appeal to integrity and excellence. That is why we are glad by the exemplary personalities and outstanding pedigrees of the distinguished Nigerians that the university had awarded.

    “You can never be wrong in the choice of these worthy Nigerians , who have been absolutely selfless and altruistic in their commitments to the Nigerian projects.

    Read Also: Buhari welcomes investments from Japan Bank, Toyota

    “The university’s decision, in this respect , I must admit, says a lot not only about the integrity of the selection process , also the quality of university’s management, especially the Vice Chancellor, Prof Kayode Soremekun.

    “That this is coming at a time when most other Nigerian universities have completely bastardised and instrumentalised such awards , offering it to the highest bidders, makes it more commendable.

    “But FUOYE chose to follow the path of honour. I congratulate you for this lofty height and call on Nigerian universities to emulate this inspiring story”, he advised.

    The Chairman and the Pro- Chancellor of the university, Prof Tunde Samuel, warned that it would be a great disservice to the country for rumour peddlers and militant unionists to demarket the university for primordial gains.

    This, he said, may hamper the glowing future FUOYE has as an institution.

    Also speaking, Governor Kayode Fayemi  appreciated the contributions of the university to socio -economic growth of Ekiti, saying: “that is why we are tarring  intra-campus road in the institution and the contractor will soon go to site.

    “Recently, I called  the attention of the  visitor to this  university, President Buhari to that fact that  this institution  has not legally bear its new name  . You could all remember that the name was changed two years ago and incidentally, it was named after our own hero, Major Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo.

    “And the Visitor assured us that in short time, that legal mandate will be put in place and the university will bear its new and legal name”, he said.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Soremekun  said his vision is to transform FUOYE into a model across Africa, as a university which graduates are of quality and can compete anywhere across the globe.

    He said all the programmes being offered by the institution are accredited while efforts have been  intensified  to  seek accreditation for  Law and Pharmacy Faculities  from their respective councils, having been granted the leave to run the two courses  by National Universities Commission (NUC).

    An activist and Lawyer, who represented the honoured British citizen, Guy Garguilo, said the honouree was unique and believed in the uncommon philosophy of selflessness to build the destinies of the people.

    “This man Garguilo is unique and he has built the destinies of many Nigerians, especially from Akoko region of Ondo State . Many of those he mentored are now distinguished scholars . Recently, he sold the property of his father, who was an Italian Air Force officer to buy tractor to help Akoko farmers. This man deliberately made himself poor for others to be great”.

    Abdullahi commending the university for finding him worthy of the honour, saying this will further spur him to do more for the nation and  humanity.

  • Gbajabiamila leads Nigerian delegation to Commonwealth Parliamentary conference

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila is leading the Nigerian delegation to the 50th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Africa Region, Conference taking place in Zanzibar, Tanzania from September 1.

    A Statement Signed by Lanre Lasisi , his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity further reads: “Members of the Nigerian delegation include the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and lawmakers from both chambers of the National Assembly.

    “The 50th Conference, with the theme ‘E-Parliament: Seamless Platform for Facilitating Democracy’ will feature discussions at plenary sessions on different categories such as ‘Parliamentary Affairs: The use of ICT in strengthening public involvement in the Legislative Process,’ and Social Affairs: The use of Social Media in enhancing Parliamentarians’ Constituency engagement.’

    “Other categories are Gender Affairs: Empowerment of Women: Strategies to enable Women’s participation in decision making; Youth Affairs: Implementation of Youth Policies as a tool to combat Migration.

    “The rest of the categories for discussion at the conference include Economic Affairs: Enhancing Information and Communication Technolgy (ICT) use in providing life-changing solutions in rural communities, and Political Affairs: The role of technology in developing democratic practices.”

    Speaking on the conference, Gbajabiamila according to the statement said the CPA platform would be maximized by the Nigeria delegation towards enhancing the country’s democracy and help deepen cooperation with member countries to strengthen democracy in Africa.

    “The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Conference is scheduled to take place on “, the 4th September 2019.

    “Delegates from other African countries in the Commonwealth are expected at the 50th CPA Conference.,” the statement said.

  • Two Unilag scholars attract £1,200,000 research grants

    Two scholars from the University of Lagos have attracted a total of €1,200,000, pounds (N540,000,000 million) for research.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the grants were from the United Kingdom Research and Innovation Global Challenges Research Fund.

    The scholars are Dr Sunday Adebisi, Director, African Research Universities Alliance ARUA Centre of Excellence in Unemployment and Skills Development, and  Prof. Timothy Nubi, Director, Centre for Urbanisation and Habitable Cities.

    Adebisi secured the grant for Partnership, Research and Capacity Building for Youth Unemployment Solutions in Africa while Nubi got  the grant  for African Research Network for Urbanisation and Habitable Cities.

    The duration of the research projects is 36 months –   from Sept. 1, 2019 to Aug. 31 2022.

    NAN reports that the grants are for the development of integrated solutions that will maximise employment opportunities and enhance the future of work in Africa.

    They are  also to provide a strategic platform for developing research capacities in African institutions to address Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using a hub and spoke models that will increase collaboration among African teams from diverse disciplines.

    Read Also: UNILAG targets 9,000 placements for 2019/2020 academic session

    They are also to be used to fund themed capacity building workshops, PhD Colloquia in conferences and researcher exchange programmes that will promote mentoring as well as carry out scooping studies in research areas, specific to Africa’s urbanisation challenges.

    Adebisi told NAN on Saturday in Lagos  that a major aim of the grant was to tackle the challenges of youth unemployment, using a stakeholder network approach involving academic research institutes and non academic institutions with shared vision, interest, goals and objectives.

    According to him, this will build significant research capacity across African universities as well as  promote youth employment and skills development in African countries starting with universities in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt and South Africa.

    He added that it would enhance the realisation of the SDGs.

    “It will also provide sponsorship for academic training for seven doctoral students, six post doctoral fellows as well as 15 faculty members distributed across African universities for capacity building in carrying out research on skills development for reducing youth unemployment in Africa.

    “This grant will also be used to create a one-high performing hub that has the capacity to raise external funds, firm partnerships, explore entrepreneurial activities as well as attract excellent mentors worldwide and anchor research network across African universities toward youth skills development, in a bid to achieve the SDGs.

    “We will also strive to hold international conferences, workshops and trainings that will be attended by not less than two hundred participants every year for the duration of the project,” he told NAN.

    Adebisi said that the activities,  under the ARUA  Centre of Excellence, would be in collaboration with universities such as Coventry, Lancaster, University of Derby, University of Cape Town and universities of Ghana and Nairobi.

    (NAN)

  • Bayelsa primaries: APC battles to vacate court order, mulls consensus

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has intensified its efforts to vacate a court order, which stopped its governorship primaries in Bayelsa State.

    The party shifted the primaries from August 29th to 31st citing logistic issues and but further postponed it indefinitely following the order by the Sagbama High Court sitting in Yenagoa stopping the planned use of direct method in conducting the internal poll.

    An electoral committee headed by the Governor of Yobe State, Mai-Mala Buni, as its Returning Officer, was already in Yenagoa to conduct the internal poll but decided otherwise after waiting in vain for the vacation of the order on Friday.

    A party source, who spoke in confidence, said the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party thought that it could counter the order at the Court of Appeal to enable the conduct of the primaries, but failed to complete the legal process.

    He said: “But everything is in motion to vacate the order on Monday or Tuesday. Surely the order will be vacated. We would have gone ahead to hold the primaries because based on the Electoral Act that injunction is illegal.

    “Section 87(10) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, provides that nothing in this section shall empower the courts to stop the holding of primaries or general election or the thereof under this Act pending the determination of a suit.

    Read Also: Bayelsa guber: ‘Jonathan, Dickson’ll back sellable candidate’

    “But the party doesn’t want any legal impediments to its primaries. It is only reasonable to counter the order that since there is still time to do so. All we know is that the order will be voided and the primaries will be conducted wanting he stipulated time”.

    Announcing the postponement, the Secretary of the Electoral Committee, Senator Emmanuel Ocheja, described the APC as a law-abiding party with respect for its constitution and the laws of the land.

    Ocheja in a statement said: “The APC is aware of conflicting orders from courts of equal jurisdiction on the Bayelsa governorship primary election.

    “As a result of these conflicting orders and following a meeting that Governor Mai-Mala Buni had with the aspirants and party stakeholders in Yenagoa, it was resolved that the primary election should be postponed until the committee headed by the governor receives clear direction from the party headquarters on the matter.

    “Party members and especially the aspirants are assured that the Bayelsa 2019 governorship primary election will take place within the timeframe stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission”.

    It was, however, gathered that some party stalwarts from the camps of the aspirants were suggesting consensus method of selecting the party’s candidate in case other forms of primaries failed to take place.

    A major party stakeholder, who spoke in confidence, said they had started tinkering with the idea of a consensus candidate adding that most of the aspirants were ready to harmonize their positions and step down for one of them.

  • Women, youth groups back NDDC appointees in Cross River

    Women and youth groups in Cross River State have given their support to the appointments into the new board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), made by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The groups include Youth Alliance in Cross River led by Comrade Ekpenyong Akiba, Buhari Youth Organization led by Prince Clement Etim Asanya, Women in Focus led by Hon Vivian Umo Edem, Southern Cross River Youth Liberation led by Elder Abednego Okon, G7 led by Edem Bassey, and National youth Council of Nigeria Bakassi Local Government led by Asuquo Nyong Etim.

    In a resolution from an emergency meeting in Calabar yesterday, they said, “We wish to very strongly state in clear terms without any equivocation our total support to our newly appointed Commissioner representing Cross River State in the person of the indefatigable Sir Maurice Effiwatt  and by extension also specially congratulate others who have been nominated by our Dear President His Excellency Muhamadu Buhari GCFR.

    Read Also: Row over appointment of Ondo NDDC Commissioner

    “We distance ourselves from the recent submissions and objections by some stakeholders in the Niger Delta region in their argument amongst others that the procedure employed for the dissolution and appointment of the new board lies in bad taste and that they were not being consulted.

    “We make bold to say that we don’t share in these views and sentiments, the appointments as composed is apt and in order, suffice to say that the procedural processes in the constitution of the board of Niger Delta Development Commission is not cast in stone and so can be upturned by the highest public office holder in the country

    “We pledge our loyalty t o the President of the Federal Republic and our believe in the newly inaugurated ministers of Niger Delta ministry.”

  • Banditry: FUDMA dismisses report of attack on female hostel

    The authorities of Federal University Dutsinma, FUDMA, in Katsina State, Saturday dismissed social media and news reports of banditry attacks on its female hostel, describing it as not only fake but mischievous and unfounded

    The varsity’s Acting Director Public Relations, Habib Garba Matazu, told newsmen on Saturday in katsina, that it is unfortunate that some people hide under unpopular platforms to spread rumors and discordant lies for their selfish motives.

    He further stated that the university is presently enjoying a safe and secured academic environment and that activities are going on uninterrupted in the institution

    Read Also: Banditry: 330 attacks, 1,460 deaths recorded in 7 months – FG

    He said ’’This is to cleally inform well meaning Nigerians especially parents and guardians that one Isah Musa is spreading rumors and lies on social media that bandits have attacked the females’ hostel of Federal University Dutsin-ma’’.

    ‘’This is very unfortunate that some people enjoy spreading rumors and blatant lies for their selfish end’’

    ‘’I want confirm to the general public that it is not true that our females’ hostel was attacked by bandits. There is nothing to hide. If there is anything like this we would have issued a statement to the general public’’.

    ‘’All our two females hotels at Isah Kaita Collage and Take off Campus are safe and fully protected’’

    The Nation recalled that several social media outfits in katsina had in the past few hours been awash with reported bandit attacks in FUDMA

  • Bishop canvasses culture facelift in Nigeria

    Catholic Bishop of Diocese of Awka, Anambra State, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor has called on government at all levels to give culture a facelift through the provision of incentive and paying adequate attention to the celebrants.

    He urged them to upheld their cultural heritage, stressing that it was only insane fellows and dimwit that undermined their culture.

    Speaking at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral’s refectory, Awka after cutting the roast new yam and declaring it open for consumption, the cleric described yam as the king of all crops and Igbo’s identity.

    He expressed gratitude to God for his mercies, health and for allowing them to participate in another round of iwaji celebration.

    He said, “The period of iwaji was actually a period of thanksgiving to God for His benevolence and for granting the farmers bountiful harvest.”

    The Catholic Prelate who ate the roasted yam with garnished sauce in the presence of his guests, said he would not relent in appreciating culture and tradition.

    He announced that the celebration at the Cathedral would be carried out simultaneously in all the parishes in the Diocese, noting that he was not alone in the celebration.

    The celebration was witnessed by priests in their numbers adorning all manner of traditional attires.

  • Ruptured gas pipeline will not affect power supply, says Kyari

    Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari has said that the gas pipeline that ruptured in Delta State would not affect power supply in the country.

    A gas pipeline was reported to have exploded in Otu-Jeremi in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

    The Abuna Crude Truck Line at OML 34 is jointly operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), the production arm of NNPC and ND Western, an indigenous oil firm.

    Mallam Kyari dispel rumour that it was gas explosion but a rupture that would be fixed within three days.

    Speaking to Journalists in Benin City shortly after performing the ceremonial tee-off of the 2019 NNPC Upstream Golf Tournament, Kyari said, “It was not an explosion but a rupture. Our team have moved to site and in three days we are going to fix it. We have contained the spill that is coming from that rupture so it is a rupture and not an explosion

    Read Also: What NNPC/Shell partnership does for society

    “There is no fire on that place. It will also not have effect on power supply because we are going to fix it three days.”

    On the NNPC golf tournament being held at the Benin Golf Club, Kyari said “This place is very important to NNPC because majority of or so much of our operations take place in this area, our staff live here and thy are part of the usual practice of golf to relax and enjoy themselves in their spare time that is why we are very interested in this place and not only that, the creme de la creme of the society live around here in the town and our operation require the help and support of everyone to succeed so therefore we always see it as an opportunity to always meet with our stakeholders so that they can help us make sure that the objective of the collaboration which is to grow production, to grow reserve and peace in the Niger Delta is achieved.”

    On his part, Captain of Benin Golf Club, Prince Aghatise Ereduauwa commended the relationship the Club has had with NNPC.

    He said “The relationship has been very cordial and the have meet up with their social responsibility, we have cooperated for so many years”

  • Erosion: Nasarawa govt. plants 1.3m trees

    The Nasarawa State Government has flagged off the planting of 1.3 million trees across the state.

    Gov. Abdullahi Sule of the state said this on Saturday at the flag off of 2019 the tree planting in Akwanga Local Government Area.

    The governor, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Mr Emmanuel Akabe, said that the trees would be planted within three years.

    “For this year, 1000 trees would be planted in each of the 13 local government areas totaling 13,000.

    “So, each year from 2019 to 2022 the government will plant 13,000 trees,” the governor said.

    He added that felling of trees without replacement would expose the environment to flooding and erosion among other dangers.

    Sule also directed all local governments Chairmen, Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to key into this policy in order to protect the environment.

    He, therefore, called on the public to desist from engaging in activities such as cutting down of trees that would expose the environment to danger.

    Similarly, Mr Abubakar Murtala, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said the tree planting was part of effort towards achieving goal 15 of the SDGs.

    He called on members of the public to take ownership of the tree and guide then jealously in order to protect the environment.

    He said that his office would put machinery in place to ensure that the trees to be planted were protected.

    In their goodwill messages, Mr Samuel Meshi and Mr Samson Gamu-Yare, Chairman Akwanga Local Government Area and the Chum-Mada, expressed gratitude to the governor for flagging off the programme in the area.

    They promised to plant trees themselves and carry out campaigns to mobilise the public towards planting trees in the area.

    (NAN)