The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Restructuring: Clark lambasts Osoba for denigrating Confab Report

    Ijaw national leader and the convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, have lashed out at former Ogun state governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, for allegedly denigrating the agitation for the restructuring of Nigeria.

    Clark, in a statement made available to the media in Warri on Wednesday, also said the attempts by Chief Osoba to bury the importance of the 2014 National Conference and replace same with the El-Rufai Committee Report, was uncharitable, adding that suggesting the replacement of the confab with a committee report is equivalent to sacrificing national interest on the altar of partisan politics.

    Clark, who opened his statement, titled “Chief Segun Osoba at 80; and the question of Restructuring”, by congratulating Chief Osoba for clocking 80 years, before going on to reflect on his comment at the event of the ceremony that marked the celebration, recalling that he (Chief Osoba) was part of the process that produced the 2014 National Conference Report.

    He pointed out that the call for restructuring, which he said is primarily targeted at ensuring that the subject of true federalism is given proper attention and eventually allowed in Nigeria, has always been a topic of issue in the country, adding that as a senior citizen, close to President Muhammadu Buhari, he (Chief Osoba) is expected to lend his voice to achieving the adoption of the confab report by the Nigerian government.

    Read Also: Restructuring: Stop this needless war

    “I read Chief Osoba’s comments, during the launch of his book, titled: ‘Battlelines: Adventures in Journalism and Politics’, to mark his 80th birthday, he was reported to have described ‘those shouting Restructuring should realize that the power rests with the National Assembly. We have to rearrange our system. The El-Rufai report should be sent to the National Assembly. If anybody thinks Buhari can change anything by decree, it is not possible’

    “Unfortunately, It is most uncharitable of Chief Osoba to refer to the agitators of the question of Restructuring, in such a shabby manner. Chief Osoba should be reminded that, most of the people who have congregated under the Southern and Middle Belt Forum (SMBLF) were members of the 2014 National Conference of which he was a very active member.

    “The National Conference which comprised 492 Nigerians drawn from all walks of life made over 600 recommendations.  The Conference is aware that, there are parts of this Reports that could only be achieved by means of Executive Decisions, while there are aspects of the Report that must necessarily pass through the National Assembly, that will give rise to constitutional amendments or writing a new constitution, altogether.

    “The National Confab, in anticipating this latter scenario, went a step further to provide a draft Constitution, reflecting the aims, aspirations, principles, spirit and letter of the National Conference, which was submitted to Government.

    Chief Osoba is aware that, True Federalism, a byword of the subject of Restructuring, has always been a part and parcel of our evolution process.

    “The AFENIFERE of the Southwest which Chief Osoba belongs and represented at the National Conference do not believe that it is the so called El Rufai Committee that would deliver a restructured Nigeria, other than the 2014 Confab Report.

    “By his level and pedigree, it was not expected of Chief Osoba to now advise President Muhammad Buhari to send  the El-Rufai Report  to the National Assembly, reducing this all important subject of Restructuring to a mere political-orientated El-Rufai Committee report, which was hurriedly produced on the eve of the 2019 elections, to hoodwink unsuspecting Nigerians.

    “There is nothing in the El Rufai report which is not contained in the 2014 National conference. There was every opportunity for the government of PMB to present the El Rufai Reports, culled and doctored from the 2014 Conference Report,  to National Assembly, before the 2019 election, if in deed, they were sincere and patriotic, and  that,  relegating it to  arena of such an unpatriotic partisan affair is most uncharitable  of Chief Segun Osoba.

    “The question of Restructuring remains the most patriotic discourse which any lover of the country must buy into, and so, not to be commandeered into parochial political partisanship, as Chief Osoba tended to portray,” he said.

  • NSCDC dismisses, prosecutes personnel for killing colleague, Korean

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), has dismissed a personnel, Corps Assistant (CA) II Oshemi Innocent for allegedly shooting and killing a colleague, Senior Inspector of Corps (SIC) Mamman Wuyah at the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics, LADOL.

    The suspect also allegedly shot and killed a Korean expatriate working in LADOL.

    The name of the Korean was not made known as at press time.

    The Commandant General (CG) of the NSCDC, Abdullahi Mohammed, disclosed these while addressing reporters on the matter at the corps headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Mohammed, who was represented by the Corps’ Assistant Commandant General in charge of critical infrastructure protection unit, Jonathan Iyogho, said the accused had already been handed over to the police for prosecution.

    He said the incident happened on the 8th of April, 2019 at LADOL, adding that SIC Wuyah died at the spot while the Korean, who was rushed to the hospital, died two days after.

    Read Also: Police wardens dismissed over death of NSCDC staff

    “We set up a panel to investigate the incident and it has recommended his [Oshemi] dismissal and prosecution which we have already implemented,” the NSCDC boss said.

    According to him, Oshemi claimed he shot his colleague and the Korean because he was being owed by the NSCDC.

    The Commandant General however, debunked such claim.

    “There is no way the Corps would have owed him [Oshemi] because we are not responsible for salary payment. Personnel get their salaries through the IPPIS platform,” Mohammed said.

    He added that allowances were being paid directly to the security personnel by LADOL, stressing that Oshemi’s claim that he was being owed by the NSCDC was false.

    While assuring the public that the incident would not repeat itself, the CG disclosed that he had ordered a forensic and psychological profiling of all personnel to ascertain their state of mental health before deployment.

    “As soon as we conclude this exercise forensic and psychological profiling of all personnel] which is ongoing, it will guide us in deploying personnel henceforth,” he said.

  • GlaxoSmithKline Nigeria Plc appoints Oyelana as MD

    GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc has appointed Kunle Oyelana as its new Managing Director, effective 1st  June 2019.

    The appointment of Oyelana was announced at the 48th Annual General Meeting of the company.

    He brings over 20-year experience in the pharmaceutical industry where he has held roles of increasing responsibilities across Africa and Asia.

    Oyelana has a track record of success in the development and effective implementation of robust strategies with a keen focus on delivering sustainable growth in diverse markets.

    In his previous role as a Commercial Director for the Classic and Established Products (CEP) portfolio for GSK in the Africa and Developing Countries of Asia region, he provided stimulus for the over 40 markets in the Region to achieve strong double-digit growth of key assets in a challenging environment.

    Read Also: GlaxoSmithKline focuses on consumer healthcare products

    While serving as the Marketing and Commercial Excellence Director for Nigeria and previously for Kenya, East Africa, he led the rapid deployment of Commercial Trade Channel strategies and effective utilization of multiple channels and platforms to deliver exceptional customer engagement and sustained business growth.

    Oyelana, who also leads the GSK Pharmaceutical Nigeria business, has a strong focus and drive to deliver outstanding business performance while strengthening controls and developing talent. He holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy and an MBA from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria. He is also an alumnus of Strathmore Business School in Kenya and IMD in Switzerland.

    “I am excited at this new opportunity and I’m confident about the outlook for the GSK business in Nigeria,”Oyelana said “Together, with the resilience of the Nigerian team, we hope to continue to serve our customers, grow our brands and contribute to the economic growth of Nigeria.

    “Given the exceptional talents that we have in Nigeria and the huge resource base of the country, I am confident that GSK will continue to deliver immense value to our consumers,” he added.

  • Fake army captain’, two others charged with forgery, assault

    Three men, who allegedly forged documents belonging to the Olatunji Ruling House of Badagry, Lagos, assaulted two princes and damaged N55m properties, were Wednesday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The first to third defendants are: Agosu Thomas, 47; Atunisha Isidore, 59, who allegedly claimed to be a Nigerian Army Captain and Segun Alfred Awhanmienu, 46,

    They were arraigned by the police on an 11-count charge of conspiracy, forgery, threat to life, assault occasioning harm, willful destruction of property and impersonation.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Friday Mameh said the defendants and their accomplices, who are on the run, committed the offences at lragbo Community, Badagry, between 2012 and 2015.

    He said: “In 2012, the defendants conspired and forged the letterhead of the Olatunji Ruling House dated 20th September, 2012.

    “They also forged and executed a Deed of Assignment dated 3rd November, 2008 between Madam Rafatu Olatunji (assignor) and Captain Isidore Atunisha (assignee).

    “In 2015, the defendants threatened to kill Monday Olatunjjl, Joseph Okoya and other famliy members of the Olatunji Ruling House.”

    Read Also: Impersonation: Police arrest fake Army Major in Delta

    The court heard that the defendants later allegedly unlawfully assaulted Olatunji and Okoya “by beating them up and causing them bodily harm.”

    Mameh said the defendants also willfully and unlawfully “destroyed or damaged building structures, and cement blocks valued at N5million, cash crops valued at N50million property of the Olatunji Ruling House, and a Volkswagen Golf car with Registration Number BDG 289 AX valued at N170,000, property of one Emmanuel Olatunii.

    Count 11 of the charge reads: “That you Atunisha Isidore on the same date, and place did with intent to defraud Olatunji Ruling House, falsely represent yourself as a Captain in the Nigerian Military via a Deed of Assignment dated 3rd November, 2008 between Madam Rafatu Olatunji (assignor) and Captain Isidore Atunisha (assignee).”

    According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 173, 232, 350, 365, 370, 380 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011 as amended in 2015.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate M. O. Ope-Agbe granted each defendant N10million bail with two sureties in the like sum, among other conditions.

    She remanded the defendants in prison custody pending fulfilment of the bail terms and adjourned till July 17 for trial.

  • Satellite Town seeks removal of tank farms

    To avert disaster, residents of Satellite Town, Lagos, yesterday demanded the removal of tank farms from their community.

    During a protest tagged: “Save Satellite Town”, they said the tanks were a thrent to their peaceful co-existence. They took to the streets as early as 6a.m., with placards bearing inscriptions: “Satellite Town sitting on time bomb,” “Relocate, we say relocate,” “Tanker drivers have caused untold hardship in Ijegun Egba,” and “Avert tanker explosion,” among others.

    Satellite Town Forum Chairman, Michael Imitini, who led the protest, appealed to the Federal and Lagos State governments to save the residents by moving the farms.

    He said meetings had been held letters sent to various tiers of government and agencies to address the issue.

    “Satellite Town has been subjected to untold hardships by operators of tank farms, tankers, and trailers. They constitute a slur in human activity as they subject residents to a squalor state of nature.

    “Since 2013, we have commenced a struggle against the structures which were fewer then. It appears that the more we suffer and complain, the more our hardship increase. Our people are losing patience,” he said.

    He also appealed for the relocation of the bonded terminal at Alakija bus stop, reconstruction of Old Ojo Road, and construction of large underground culverts across the depot road for onward routing to the sea among others.

    Read Also: Video: Satelite town residents protest against tank farms

    A resident, Edem Vindah, said the residents were sitting on gun power because of the farms.

    “I wonder why people who have homes and families don’t have a conscience to care for other people’s families. If you have any medical emergency in Satellite Town at night, you cannot go out. Our lives are at risk; our roads have been destroyed by the tankers in our environment. God forbid one day something ignites a fire, only God knows what would be the end result. They should be relocated because our lives are at risk day and night,” he said.

    Another resident, Grace Okwuazu said: “We have no good roads, no good water, no light and the worse of all are the tankers causing serious menace here. Businesses are closing, schools are closing down, social lives are beyond zero per cent today all because of the tankers. Our children get to school very late every day,” she said.

    A trader, Michael Uzor, said the bad roads were not good for business.

    A commercial bus driver, Peter Oru said: “I service my bus every week which is caused by the bad condition of the roads. The government should help us address this issue by sending the trucks away because any explosion can lead to serious damage.”

  • Buhari mourns Vice-Admiral Husaini Abdullahi

    President Muhammadu Buhari has extended heartfelt condolences to the family, the government and people of Nasarawa State on the death of Vice Admiral Husaini Abdullahi (Rtd).

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, also commiserated with the military authorities on the passing of the former governor of Bendel State from March 1976 to July 1978.

    The President affirmed that Vice Admiral Abdullahi’s life was defined by dedicated service to the nation and others, exemplified by his brilliant career in the military and numerous works in the private sector that resulted in the provision of gainful employment to many Nigerians.

    He prayed Almighty Allah to grant the soul of the departed eternal rest and comfort all who mourn.

  • Shi’ite Protest: Senate President, IGP visit policemen in hospital

    The Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu visited Policemen who sustained injury when members of the El-Zakzakky Islamic Movement of Nigeria forcefully invaded the National Assembly on Tuesday.

    Senator Lawan and his team were said to have visited the injured policemen around 10pm on Tuesday.

    The IGP on his part was accompanied by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Ibrahim Lamorde, Commissioner of Police in charge of FCT, CP Bala Ciroma and others on Wednesday to know the status of the affected officers.

    The IGP who arrived the hospital premises around 12:28pm was taken round the ward to speak with each of the policemen on admission by the Trauma Surgeon, Dr. Apollo Kanati.

    Those affected include; Sgt. Umar Ndabrana, DSP Samuel David, Corporal Mohammed Seriki and Corporal Joseph Abutu.

    The invasion left nine Policemen injured but five are on admission at the hospital.

    The Police also debunked the claim that one of the Policemen died as a result of the attack.

    The IGP who also had a stop at the office of Chief Medical Director of the hospital to assure him of payment of the bills urged the doctors to give them the best treatment stating that the bill was not a problem.

    Read Also: Shi’ite Protest: IGP places AIGs, CPs in FCT, neighbouring states on red alert

    Commenting on the outcome of the protest, the IGP said: “In the course of protecting our citizens and giving rooms to people to express themselves, a group of people went overboard and attacked Police officers in the course of performing their duties and you see the result; our officers have been shot.

    “I have just seen them, they are carrying bullet wounds and some were attacked with clubs and stones. We showed restrain in terms of not going the same way the protesters went but it is an act that is not tolerated and it is an act we will not take again.

    “The right to express yourself does not mean the right to trample on other people’s rights to the extent of causing a lot of havoc and sufferings on other people.

    “We will make sure that we prosecute those people that have been arrested and those that are yet to be arrested, we will go after them and make sure that they are arrested and justice is done.

    On the threat made by the group to continue their protest, the IGP said: “We are ready for them. We will not explain our strategy but we will make sure we don’t allow them disrupt the peace of the city.

    “We have arrested 40 members of the El-Zakzakky Islamic Movement of Nigeria and we will make sure that those on the run are also arrested.”

    Adamu also noted that the policemen are in stable condition.

    He said: “All the policemen you have seen here, the doctor has assured us that they are in stable condition and they are doing well. As you know, police as an institution will take care of their bills, welfare and insurance. So, for now everything is in order and the rest of the actions are left to us in terms of how to handle the El-Zakzakky Islamic Movement of Nigeria.”

    On his part, the CMD, Dr. JAF Momoh said the hospital staff commenced treatment of the officers without asking for money.

    He said: “We want to ensure that Nigerians get the best of treatment once they are brought here before discussing bill. For all emergencies, that is how it is no matter the time. Before we start discussing bills, it may be 24 hours more because the priority is to save life and once we have saved and stabilized the life, we can then ask for their relation, where they come from and ask who will be responsible for their bills while we continue the treatment and management.

    “Even this morning, we have discussed the only case that needs further management and my deputy talked about how we are going to get the implants to fix the problem that he had around his mouth. We know that this was an emergency.

    He continued: “Several people have come and the Senate President with his team were at the hospital around 10 pm on Tuesday to check the patients.

    “We want to commiserate with you on this because we know they were on duty when this happened and it is the responsibility of government to take care of them.

    “We want you to be rest assured that they will be given best of treatment by a team of consultant across various departments that need to see them. They are being seen already accordingly. What we want to say is that we will coordinate with our colleagues in terms of bills that need to be paid later. We will not delay any treatment.”

  • Ohanaeze hails South East governors’ stand on Ruga

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo has commended South East Governors for their resolve not to release lands for the suspended Ruga Settlement Programme.

    The apex Igbo organisation, however, noted that they should be more of proactive than making statements and precepts.

    Ohanaeze spoke through its deputy publicity secretary, Chuks Ibegbu.

    He warned no race is superior to another in Nigeria and the same scale should be used for all Nigerians.

    Ibegbu commended Senate President Ahmed Lawan for his pan- Nigeria view, which made him initially appointed a government critique Festus Adedayo as his media aide before hawks made him reverse the appointment.

    Ohanaeze further warned “some misled Igbo politicians to stop abusing their people because of temporary political positions they occupy.

    Read Also: Ruga: Ohaneze youth warns Northern coalition over ultimatum

    “This is in view of the statement by the National Organising Secretary of the APC Mr Bediro that the Presidency in 2023 may elude the Igbos because they did not vote for President Buhari.”

    It wondered why a full blooded Igbo man could make such a statement, regretting “I don’t expect Igbos to be at the vanguard of such discouraging statements. The other time it was Rotimi Amaechi, Orji Uzor Kalu and then even Rochas Okorocha.

    “Some Igbos fully identified with Buhari and some others with Atiku just as some Northerners, Westerners and Niger Deltans did.

    “What is exceptional about Igbo position? When the Yorubas rejected Obasanjo was he not made Nigeria’s President? Did the Niger Delta or the North lick the buttocks of power holders in Nigeria before their own became Nigeria’s President? Why must that of Igbo be different?”

    It added: “Nobody in the North or West or even Niger Delta will openly make such statements against their people even if their people are political imbeciles.

    “What has become of the courageous Igbo politicians we used to know in the past? Something must be wrong with the psyche of these people. May be some of them have other blood running in their veins.”

  • Cholera death toll in northern Cameroon rises to 48

    The number of people killed by an outbreak of cholera in the North and Far North regions of Cameroon has risen from two in April to 48, officials of the Ministry of Public Health on Wednesday said.

    Arabo Saidou, an official of the ministry said 775 others have been diagnosed with the disease.

    ”The outbreak of the disease is caused by failure to abide with hygienic regulations.

    ”Access to drinking water is very difficult in this semi-arid part of the country and people tend to drink just anything.” Saidou said.

    On Monday, Cameroon’s Minster of Public Health, Manaouda Malachie, said the situation was “alarming” stressing on the need for the population to respect “basic hygiene rules”.

    Read Also: ‘Adamawa ready to receive 4,000 citizens from Cameroon’

    ”The public should take necessary measures to improve hygiene in their homes in order to help the government’s efforts to control the disease,” Saidou said.

    For many years, cholera has been a common occurrence in Cameroon’s northern regions where floods during raining season are recurrent.

    In April, health officials of the country said cholera killed at least two people and 19 suspected cases registered in North region, barely four months after the government declared the country free of the disease.

    (Xinhua/NAN)

  • Drop off fashion CEO Saint Peters launches first street wear designs

    Drop off fashion CEO Saint Peters launches first street wear designs

    The creative director and founder of Drop Off Fashion has mesmerised the public with the release of his new street wear collection.

    Amuchie posted multiple designs on his page which he tagged the likes of Gucci, Versace and Fendi with captions like: “Here’s who the world has been waiting for” and in his other post he wrote “ I hope this meets your fashion desires” #newstreetweardesigns

    Posting this achievement, one will wonder what becomes of his music career.