The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • APC panel disqualifies Jibrin, Audu, Lulu, Irukera, others

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) screening committee for the Kogi State governorship primary has disqualified 12 of the 16 aspirants from running for the party’s ticket.

    The party generated about N363 million from the 16 aspirants, including  Governor Yahaya Bello and three members of the Prince Abubakar Audu family.

    In the report signed by the six members of the screening committee headed by Senator Hope Uzodinma and submitted to the National Working Committee, a copy of which was obtained by The Nation, only four of the 16 aspirants were cleared.

    Apart from Bello, who was cleared by the committee, other aspirants that got the nod are Abubakar Bashir, Ekele Aishat Blessing and a serving member of the House of Representatives, Hassan Abdullahi

    Each of the aspirants paid N20 million for nomination form and N2.5 million for expression of interest form to contest the primary.

    The four-page document states the reasons why each of the aspirants were disqualified are ranging from non-membership of the party, discrepancies in age, invalid nomination among others.

    Among those disqualified are former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Usman Jibrin, former President of the Nigeria Football Federation Sani Lulu Abdullahi and former Director-General of the Consumer Protection Council, Babatunde Irukera.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Court dismisses suits over Kogi APC’s leadership dispute, choice of primary

    Three members of the Prince Abubakar Audu family, Mohammed Abubakar Audu, Mustapha Mona Audu and their uncle, Prince Yahaya Audu were barred.

    Those disqualified and reasons for their disqualification are listed below:

    • Prof. Mohammed Seidu Onailu for parading two different dates of birth. The aspirant admits to it and has no reasonable explanation to give; not a financial member of the party and incomplete nomination form;
    • Usman Oyibe Jibrin: Discrepancy in the date of birth. One, 16/09/1959 and on his passport, 16/09/1960. The aspirants admitted the error and apologised; not a financial member of the party, no evidence of support to the party and invalid membership card;
    • Mustapha Mona Audu: Invalid nomination process; not a financial member of the party. No evidence of financial contribution to the party, certificate of birth or declaration of age not attached;
    • Hadiza Iyoma Ibrahim: No supporting document/credentials, buy only police extract, invalid nomination by members of the party and not a financial member of the party;
    • Yahaya Odidi Audu: Invalid declaration of age and not a financial member of the party;
    • Sani Lulu Abdullahi: Not a financial member of the party and not registered in his ward;
    • Gen. Patrick AAdenu Akpa: Unsigned and invalid nomination form and not a financial member of the party;
    • Engr. Danlami Umar Mohammed: Not a financial member of the party, invalid party membership card and invalid nomination;
    • Yakubu Mohammed: He was disqualified for not being a financial member of the party and invalid nomination;
    • Babatunde Ayo Kunle Irukera: Invalid declaration of age, spent less than one year in the party and without a waiver, academic credentials and supporting documents not attached, a committed party member and nomination form not duly signed;
    • Rukkaya Ibrahim: Incomplete nomination form, no PVC, invalid declaration of age and not a committed party member; and
    • Mohammed Abubakar Audu: Invalid nomination form, not a financial member.

    The report added that “the committee received separate sets of petitions against some of the aspirants and are hereby attached. The screening was concluded at about 9.30pm.

    “We thank and appreciate the APC National Working Committee led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the confidence reposed on the chairman and member of the committee and hope that the committee’s recommendations will bring peace, harmony and unity that will ensure the victory of the party at the November 16 general election.”

    The report was signed by Uzodinma Senator Abdullahi Gumel, Bernard Mikko, Stella Okotete, Major-General Cecil Esekhaigbe (retd) and Dr. Adamu Abba, who served as the committee secretary.

  • Youth development: Minister lays agenda for effective engagement

    The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, has said that the ministry will collaborate with the stakeholders for effective Nigerian youths development.

    In his keynote address at the launch of the 2019 Future Awards Africa in Abuja, Dare said that the ministry will push for establishment and institutionalisation of the Nigerian National Youth and Sports Award.

    He said the awards, which would become operational in 2020, would motivate Nigerian youths and encourage them to embrace hard work, healthy work ethics and community development.

    ”Recently, the National Council on Youth Development adopted and approved the observance of a National Youth Day for Nigerian youths to commemorate and celebrate their achievements and contributions to the nation’s development.

    ”During the 2019 International Youth Day celebration, I made a commitment to get the necessary Federal Executive Council approvals as well as the legislation to actualise this.

    “Further to this, we will push for the establishment and institutionalisation of the Nigerian national youth and sports award, which we hope will commence in 2020.

    Read Also: Youth development: Expert calls for more investment

    “The award seeks to recognise and honour youths who have made astounding contributions in the areas of youths and sports development,” Dare said.

    He said the idea was to help project national icons that would inspire their peers and also motivate and breed patriotism among them.

    He noted that awards, as recognition, had the potential to motivate people to excel in what they do.

    “Reward and recognition are some of the primary needs of man and it is the key to human or personal fulfilment.

    “When persons are recognised and rewarded for their accomplishments, they feel a sense of fulfilment, which remains with them and continues to inspire them to achieve more.

    “It also impacts on those around them, who are inspired to strive towards success and excellence.

    “This is hugely important because today, Nigeria, like many nations, is grappling with issues such as insecurity, corruption, disorientation

    “These are traceable to breakdown or total loss of societal values as well as a lack of a coordinated and structured reward system,” Dare said. (NAN)

  • 12th African Games: Nigeria win 6 gold medals in weightlifting

    Team Nigeria has won six gold medals in weightlifting and three silver at the ongoing African Games in Morocco.

    The weightlifting event was held at the Nahda Arena in Salle Nahda.

    A former national junior lifter, Emmanuel Appah, won three gold medals in the men’s 61kg, having lifted a total of 271kg, with 120kg in snatch. He also lifted 151kg in Clean and Jerk.

    Adijat Olarinoye also won two gold and one silver in the women’s -55kg, while former national champion, Chika Amalaho won 1 gold and 2 silver medals in the women’s -55kg.

    Read Also: 12th African Games: Table tennis wins first gold medal

    It was all Team Nigeria in the final of table tennis women’s double with Cecilia Akpan and Edem Offiong defeating Funke Oshonaike and Fatimo Bello 3-2 (7-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-2, 13-11).

    In track and field, Grace Anigbata claimed the gold medal in the women’s Triple Jump with 13.75m jump, while Dotun Ogundeji clinched silver medal with his last throw in the men’s Discus event.

    Nigerian gymnasts won bronze medal in the women’s team Artistic event at the Ibn Rochd Centre.

    Nigeria currently have 12 gold, 11 silver and 12 bronze medals at the Games. (NAN)

  • Outrage over hoodlums’ extortion of motorists

    Some motorists in Lagos on Monday went on the social media to express their anger over extortion and intimidation by hoodlums.

    The hoodlums, they said, have constituted themselves as ‘constituted authority,’ thereby making life unbearable for people.

    According to the motorists, the hoodlums usually arrest unsuspecting people under the guise of working for councils.

    Many people, they said, have fallen victims, parting with a huge amount.

    A motorist, Abbey Omotayo, said the hoodlums printed and issued receipts with the letterhead of the councils they were operating from.

    Lagos State Government on January 31,2017 banned local government officials from controlling or engaging in traffic duties.

    The government said “… only the Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Task Force on Special Offences and Rapid Response Squad (RRS) can perform traffic duties.”

    Read Also: Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: LASG allays fears of motorists on planned closure

    Adebimpe Adeoti yesterday on Facebook urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to look into the menace at Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

    Adeoti said the hoodlums terrorised motorists.

    Another motorist, Alli Azeez, alleged that the hoodlums worked in conjunction with some police officers.

    “The annoying thing is that they will take you to BRT park and ask you to pay,” he said.

    A commuter, Khadijat Kawonise, said the hoodlums arrested and collected N15,000 from her driver.

    Samuel Ogungbe said: “At Oshodi, very close to the local government secretariat, we did nothing, we were asking for direction. Suddenly those guys in mufti attacked us, marched us into the local government secretariat, everyone including an expectant woman. The woman wept. I was fined N25,000 and we were delayed for more than five hours. Governor Sanwo-Olu has to do something about these illegalities.”

  • Osinbajo decries high port charges

    VICE President Yemi Oshibanjo has decried the imposition of arbitrary high charges by shipping lines in West and Central African countries.

    He also urged the Union of African Shippers Council to adopt common political and diplomatic strategies to check the operations of shipping lines servicing the ports in the sub-region.

    Prof Osinbanjo who spoke yesterday in Abuja while declaring open the sub-regional summit on unfair shipping surcharges and high local shipping charges at the ports of West African sub-region, said some of the charges were unnecessary.

    He listed the charges to include bunker adjustment factor, currency adjustment factor, war risk surcharge, confession sub charges, peak season surcharges, extra risk insurance sub charge, freight rate surcharge, and port operation recovery surcharge.

    Read Also: ACFTA: former President Obasanjo urges FG to sign

    He said the surcharges amounted to huge sums of illegal capital flight from the countries of the sub-region and has been depleting the countries foreign reserves. He also said data obtained from the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) showed that about N2billion is repatriated by multi-national shipping firms from reasonable of demurrage charges for Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in each quarter of the year.

    Attributing the poor transport infrastructure development  to one of the reasons for the high port charges, he urged AU member-states to prioritise the development of transport infrastructure for the work-ability of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA).

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, also condemned the unilateral manner in which service providers introduce and increase freight rates  in the sub-region through various surcharges.

    He said the Gederal Government, through its partnership with the Global Shippers Forum (GSF), has started checking claims of terrorism, piracy, armed attacks on ships and other negative activities in the Gulf of Guinea  to increase charges and introduce more surcharges in Nigeria

  • ‘Ogun Anchor Borrowers loan’ll attract single digit interest’

    THE Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Monday said Ogun State Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) will provide inputs, service support and training required for farmers through a single digit loan and a guaranteed off-taker.

    He spoke in Abeokuta while inaugurating the steering committee  to oversee the state’s ABP.

    He said his administration was fully committed to providing an environment that would ensure a better life for the people of the state, adding that  under his leadership, the state would ensure the development of all sectors of the economy.

    He said his government appreciates the immense potential of the agricultural sector.

    According to him, the target of his administration was to attain self sufficiency in food by producing more, adding that providence had blessed the state with favourable climate, fertile soil that sits on over 16,000 square meters, of which 80 per cent is arable.

    Read Also: Leave Buhari, Tinubu, Osoba out of my cabinet list delay — Dapo Abiodun

    He said: “The target of our administration is to produce enough food to attain self sufficiency in food security in the short term and over the long term, produce enough food for other states and for export. “Providence have blessed us with favorable climate and fertile soil for agriculture, we sit on  a land mass that is over 16,000 sqm, 80 per cent of which is arable, that is we have over 12,800 sqm of arable land.”

    He said government and the people should come together to chart a way forward for the development of agriculture in the state, adding that it was disheartening to note that the state had never accessed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ABP.

    “While we have seen the success of the anchor borrowers scheme in other states, it is disheartening that Ogun State has never accessed the CBN ABP through the public window,” he said.

    He said the inauguration of the committee was a practical demonstration of his administration’s commitment to the development of the agricultural sector, adding that the programme would be targeting over 40,000 farmers, of which 10,000 would be attended to in the first instance.

    “In this programme, we are targeting the empowerment of over 40,000 farmers; we are going to be starting in the first instance with an initial 10,000 farmers to which we are going to allocate 10,000 hectares of land,” he said.

  • Makinde revokes controversial Moniya-Iseyin road contract

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has announced the revocation of the Moniya-Iseyin road contract awarded during the administration of the immediate past government for N7 billion.

    Makinde, who made the disclosure while speaking at the launch of a $5 million Agribusiness Project initiative by Farmcrowdy, said that the road was central to the government’s resolve to promote agribusiness.

    According to him, the previous government awarded the contract to an Engineering firm that did not have the capacity to handle the project, adding that even though the owner of the firm was known to him, he could not mix friendship with the business of governance.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the Governor as saying that the contract was revoked to enable him to address the challenges of moving farm produce around the state.

    He added that the state government would go ahead to re-award the contract, noting that when completed, the road would redress the challenges of moving farm produce from Oke Ogun area to Ibadan, the state capital.

    The Governor maintained that Oyo was ready for agribusiness, noting that since his administration had promised to expand the state’s economy through agribusiness, the state was set to turn farm settlements around.

    Read Also: I’m still communicating with Ajimobi on policies, says Makinde

    At the event attended by the Deputy Governor, Engineer Raufu Olaniyan; the Chief of Staff, Chief Bisi Ilaka; the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun and other government functionaries, Makinde welcomed the launch of the Farmcrowdy initiative saying: “I welcome you to a partnership that I believe will be mutually beneficial to you and the people of the state.”

    The Governor, who pointed out that the state government was fully committed to revolutionising agriculture, indicated that his administration had begun the steps towards using agriculture to revamp and expand the economy of the state by identifying and recruiting one of the best names in agribusiness in Africa, Dr Debo Akande, who was appointed as Executive Adviser on Agribusiness.

    He added that in line with his commitment on agriculture, the state government had a retreat on agribusiness in Cotonou, Benin Republic, noting that his government would execute the report of the retreat to the letter

    Executive Adviser to Governor Makinde on agribusiness, Dr Akande, stated that agribusiness would take the centre stage in the state, noting that the state would explore the Public Private Development Partnership model to achieve its aim on agriculture.

    He maintained that bringing Farmcrowdy to Oyo State was a thing of pride to the Makinde government, saying: “One thing that is very sure is that if you follow the trend of what has been happening in the agriculture sector, when farmers engage themselves in production and they cannot sell, they will get discouraged. What we are trying to do is that we want to ensure that when farmers produce, there is a market for them.

    “Market determines production. We will ensure that those who want to buy get value.”

    In his speech, the Managing Director of Farmcrowdy, Kenneth Obiajulu, said that through crowd-funding, Farmcrowdy had been able to impact 25,000 farmers and worked in 14 states out of 36, noting that it was launching the initiative as a partnership on agriculture to help Oyo state.

    The Deputy Director-General of IITA Partnership for Development, Mr Kenton Dashiell, while speaking, noted that IITA was ready to be a partner with Farmcrowdy in increasing agribusiness in Oyo State, saying: “we have been working with farmers in Oyo State for 52 years but two things are missing: markets and access to quality yields.”

  • Court dismisses suits over dispute, primary

    A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has dismissed two suits filed by some members of the Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The suits were in relation to the disputes over the party’s leadership and its choice of mode of primary for selecting a candidate for the forthcoming governorship election.

    In two judgments on Monday, Justice Taiwo Taiwo dismissed both suits.

    The first suit, filed by Haddy Augu Ametuo and another, prayed the court to determine the true leaders of the party from the two sets two factions, claiming entitlement to its leadership.

    The second, filed by Destiny Eneojoh Aromeh, Isah Abubakar, Noah Aku and Mrs. Joy Onu, queried the decision of the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) to adopt indirect primary in choosing the party’s candidate for the election.

    The plaintiffs were of the view that the choice of the mode to be adopted could not be determine while the leadership question in the state chapter of the party was yet unresolved, with the pendency of the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/ 581/2018.

    Justice Taiwo, in the first judgment, dismissed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/ 581/2018 for being statute barred on the grounds that it was not heard within the 180 days stipulated under Section 285(10) of the Constitution.

    The judge upheld the preliminary objection filed against the suit, agreed with the defendants that it was a pre-election case and held that the suit is caught by the statute of limitation as contained in Section 285(10) of the constitution.

    Read Also: Primary: APC committee in Kogi approves Bello, 3 others

    He noted that as of August 15, 2019, when the suit was heard, it was over 400 days, since the suit was filed.

    Justice Taiwo noted that the issue in this matter has to do with the question regarding who is the authentic exco of the 1st defendant (APC) in Kogi State.

    He added that it might appear not to be a pre-election matter, in that it has to do with the election of the Executive Committee (EXCO) of the 1st defendant in Kogi State and not election into elective offices.

    The judge, however, held that by the Supreme Court decision in the case of APC v. Umar, the process or exercise embarked upon by a political party, such as congresses, nomination exercise, etc, are all pre-election matters or exercises.

    He added: “I am bound by this decision and I cannot decide otherwise. There is no doubt that this suit was filed more than 400 days ago.

    “The court ought to have decided this matter within 180 days. However, this is not the case. I find and hold that this court will be in contravention of Section 285(10), 4th Alteration No 21 Act, if it goes beyond this premise in this matter.”

    In the second judgment on the case marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/833/2019, Justice Taiwo held since this suit was predicated on the first suit, which had been dismissed and it was unnecessary determining issues raised in the suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/833/2018) on the grounds that they have become academic.

  • Man arraigned for alleged threat to kill priest

    39-year-old man, Yemi Falana, has been arraigned at an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ekiti State for alleged threat to kill a priest.

    Prosecuting Inspector Johnson Okunade said the defendant committed the offence on August 22, 2018 around 12pm at Araromi Obo in Igbemo-Ekiti.

    He said: “The defendant threatened to kill Rev. Father Theophilus Olaiya with a knife.

    The defendant also caused a breach of the peace with his attitude on the Rev. Father, which made him commit an offence contrary to Section 86 (2) of the Criminal Code, Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012.”

    Chief Magistrate Aderopo Adegboye granted the defendant N200,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The case was adjourned till September 18.

  • Three die as truck rams into BRT in Lagos

    Two employees of Primero and a female passenger were killed on Tuesday morning after a Dangote truck rammed into a Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) at Majidun in Ikorodu.

    Over 55 other passengers were said to have sustained varying injuries while the BRT driver was allegedly unconscious and his leg decapitated.

    It was gathered that the cement-laden truck had a brake failure and suddenly skidded into the BRT lane crushing an oncoming mass transit bus with registration number LSR228XS.

    The BRT, it was gathered had a total of 60 passengers on board with 20 of them standing.

    Announcing the death of his workers, Primero boss Fola Tinubu said there was nothing the BRT driver could do as the truck jumped from his lane and hit the bus head-on.

    He said: “A Dangote truck jumped from the regular lane on to the BRT lane and hit our bus head-on. There was nothing our driver could do to prevent the accident.

    “Unfortunately, we lost two of our staff and one passenger in the accident. We are working with the authorities to apprehend the truck driver.

    Read Also: Truck crushes Army officer to death in Ogun

    “Right now our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the deceased and we are praying for full recovery for the injured.

    “All our vehicles are fully insured and our passengers are also insured but that will not bring back the dead. I pray for God to grant the deceased souls eternal rest and we’ll continue to investigate the accident.”

    According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osayintolu only one mortality was recorded in the accident.

    He said the bus was carrying 40 seated and 20 standing passengers, adding that all the passengers on board suffered injuries.

    “All passengers on board suffered various degrees of injuries with one female passenger losing her life. The driver suffered severe life threatening injuries with his leg totally decapitated.

    “The combined efforts of the agency’s assets (Medical Unit, Tiger unit, Papa Eagle and Cobra unit) are on ground working alongside LNSC, Police, FRSC and LASTMA to ease vehicular movement and ensure a swift recovery of the accidented truck. Recovery operation is ongoing,” he said.