The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Osun Assembly to scrap non-performing agencies

    The Osun House of Assembly On Monday in Osogbo threatened to recommend government agencies that were not performing to expectations for scrapping.

    The Chairman House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Folorunsho Bamisayemi, made the threat when the State Property Development Corporation (PDC) appeared before the committee for its 2013 budget performance review.

    Bamisayemi said the House noticed that in its presentation the PDC had not been generating revenue for the state.

    “During the next budget review, I can assure you that some of us may press for the total scrapping of your agency and some other agencies that are dormant like yours.

    “If you are creative, there are so many things you can do to make the government feel your impact. But if you continue this way, we will not have other option than to recommend your scrapping.

    “Those working in that agency are just collecting salaries without doing anything. The government cannot continue to pump money where there is no positive result,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the committee chairman as saying at the forum.

    Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr. Kamil Oyedele, urged the management of the corporation to be creative and come up with ideas that could assist them in generating revenue.

    Oyedele said next year’s budget would not be business as usual, adding that the House would only approve budget to government agencies based on their actual performances in terms of internally generated revenue.

    Responding, the newly-appointed Board Chairman of the Corporation, Mr. Tunde Faleye, said when he assumed office in July, he noticed the observations of the Assembly that the corporation was dormant.

    He said that since his assumption, the board members had been working assiduously to change the situation with a view to making the corporation a more functioning agency.

     

  • I suffered from interferences in Rangers – Emordi

    I suffered from interferences in Rangers – Emordi

    Former Enugu Rangers coach, Okey Emordi, has said he threw in the towel because of interferences in his job by top officials.

    “I must say that the condition of service for me has been greatly breached by the club management,” he told MTNFootball.com

    “How do you explain a situation where players are imposed on me by the general manager (Paul Chibuzor) or how do you explain the registration of ineligible players which led to our disqualification from the continent?

    “All these and more as well as my inability to transform the team to a trophy-winning side due to the above mentioned interferences, pushed me to take this decision.

    “I wish the club well and hope that whoever takes charge of the team after me will be given the chance to do his job without external interferences in technical matters. The administrators should concern themselves with proper administration of the club.”

    Former Enyimba coach Emordi, who was named CAF Coach of the Year in 2004, further informed MTNFootball.com that he quit his post soon after Rangers pipped visiting El Kanemi Warriors on the final day of the season to place fifth on the table.

     

  • Rock legend Reed dies at 71

    Rock legend Reed dies at 71

    United States singer and former Velvet Underground frontman Lou Reed has died at the age of 71.

    Known for tracks including Perfect Day and Walk on the Wild Side, Reed was considered one of the most influential singers and songwriters in rock.

    BBC says the Velvet Underground became renowned for their fusion of art and music and for collaborating with Andy Warhol.

    According to the Associated Press news agency, Reed’s literary agent said he died of a “liver-related ailment.”

    Andrew Wylie said the musician died at his home in Long Island, New York, on Sunday morning and had not been well “for a few months.”

    Reed’s former Velvet Underground bandmate John Cale wrote on his website: “The world has lost a fine songwriter and poet… I’ve lost my ‘school-yard buddy.”

    Other stars paying tribute included The Who, who tweeted: “RIP Lou Reed. Walk on the peaceful side.” Iggy Pop said it was “devastating news.”

    An admitted hard drinker and drug user for many years, Reed had a liver transplant this May after suffering liver failure.

    “I am a triumph of modern medicine,” Reed posted on his website on June 1.

    The Velvet Underground never achieved commercial success during their 1960s existence, but their influence on music in later decades was widely recognised.

     

     

  • Photo: Jonathan decorated with JP insigna

    Photo: Jonathan decorated with JP insigna

  • Suntai in Church, marks one-year air crash survival

    Suntai in Church, marks one-year air crash survival

    Recuperating governor seeks forgiveness
    Recuperating Governor of  Taraba State, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai caused an emotional scene when he stormed the Unity Chapel Church (UCC) in Government House, Jalingo for thanks giving at the weekend.
    Suntai was pronounced dead when an aircraft he piloted crashed near Yola, the Adamawa State capital, on Thursday, October 25 last year.
    He spent 10 months in Germany and United States hospitals for treatment, returning on August 25.
    He wrote the House of Assembly of his readiness to resume duty but was stopped by the lawmakers on health grounds.
    Last Friday was exactly one year since the governor and his Aide de Camp (ADC) Iliya Dasat, Chief Detail Joel Danladi and Chief Security Officer (CSO) Tino Dangana who were also on board the ill-fated Cessna 208 aircraft survived the air mishap.
    The three aides who were treated in Germany were with the governor during the thanksgiving service. Also accompanying the governor were his wife Hauwa, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) GT Kataps and Chief of Staff, Aminu Jika, among other aides.
    Suntai’s thanksgiving ceremony came a few days after he went out for a fishing expedition to shake off officialdom.
    The congregation was all tears on seeing him. The tears of joy  followed  the governor’s speech, which turned out to be the morning sermon for the worshipers.
    “I thank God that I survived the air crash to see this day. I am happy to reunite with you again,” Suntai said.
    He thanked Taraba residents for their prayers on him which he said have helped him.
    The governor preached forgiveness and asked everybody whom he said he may have offended to forgive him.
    “Do not hold anything against your enemy or anyone at heart. For me and my family, we have forgiven all our adversaries,” he said.
    Suntai said what God has done and shown him, even if he drops dead today (on Friday) he would die a fulfilled mortal.

     

  • Police abort G-7, Baraje faction’s meeting

    The police Sunday night aborted a scheduled meeting of the G-7 Governors and the leadership of the Abubakar-Baraje-led breakaway group.

    The meeting, scheduled by the organisers to hold at the Sokoto State Governor’s lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, at 8pm, got botched by truck loads of heavily armed riot policemen.

    Swiftly, the members regrouped at an undisclosed location where they met. They discussed briefly and dispersed as soon as they gathered.

    Reports claimed that  armed policemen in two trucks parked close to the entrance of the building as at 7.45 pm.

    But when our correspondent arrived the venue at 8.30 pm, there was only one police car parked close to the entrance with only two policemen in visibility.

    Drivers and vehicle owners were prevented from stopping metres close to the building. Parking was not allowed.

    Spokesman for the Baraje faction, Chukwuemeka Eze confirmed the siege. He told our correspondent on the telephone that members were forced to beat a retreat, strictly for security reasons.

    According to him, “we are being careful not to play into the hands of certain state sponsored agents currently on the prowl”.

  • Ike Uche scores in Villarreal win

    Nigerian international, Ike Uche put up a five star performance scoring one and  assisting  Villarreal CF secure an emphatic 4-1 victory over Valencia in the Spanish League at the Camp El Madrigal on Sunday.
    The Super Eagles striker who has been overlooked in recent times by national team coach, Stephen Keshi, opened scoring for the Yellow Submarine in the 17th minutes with a right footed shot from the edge of the area after receiving a thorough ball from Giovani dos Santos.
    The Mexican dazzled his way down the left, whipped in a cross and Uche made the connection near the  post to score his second goal of the season.
    Five minutes later and giving Valencia no time to take stock of their situation, Villarreal doubled their lead in the 22nd minute through Pérez González bullet header.
    Uche then continued to terrorize the Villarreal defense and was fouled in the 18 yard box by Mathieu Jérémy leaving the center referee, Clos Gómez with no option but to point to the spot. Dos Santos however failed to score the resultant penalty as goalkeeper Guaita Panadero guessed the direction and tipped the ball out for a corner. Uche then took the corner kick and Dos Santos made up for his penalty miss to head home the third goal.
    The visitors however pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute through unmarked Ricardo Costa who was free to power his header into the back of the net.
    With victory certain, Uche was replaced in the 73rd minute by Javier Aquino but the team made sure of the points with six minutes remaining as Dos Santos grabbed his second of the match.
  • World Day for Audio Visual Heritage

    World Day for Audio Visual Heritage

    Today commemorates 12 years of the celebration of the world day for Audio Visual Heritage which is annually observed on October 27 to build global awareness on preserving audio visual materials and documents.

    The world day for audio visual heritage explore the world of sound recording, moving image, audio visual document such as films, radio and television programs and other audio visual materials.
    The audio visual heritage document contain the primary records of the 21st centuries, which help to maintain the cultural identity of people, but countless documentary treasures have disappear since the invention of image and sound technologies.

    Audio visual heritage proposal was approved at United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) general conference in 2005 as a mechanism to raise this awareness.

    The first world day for audio visual heritage was held on October 27, 2007 with the commemoration of the adoption in 1980 by 21st general conference for the safeguarding and prevention of moving images.

    But the celebration of the world audio visual day seemed strange to many Nigerians.

    Mr. Femi Osuntoki a senior lecturer in Nigerian Institute of Journalism and a radio presenter in Eko FM said;  “it is very strange to me, this is my first time of hearing this; am not sure they are observing it in Nigeria.”

    Osuntoki said it will be good if the day is popularized in the country as it would help to maintain our culture and also reminds us of great Nigerians that have done good things in the nation, person like Obafemi Awolowo, Nnmadi Azikwe and many others.
    He said it will be an avenue to create awareness and improve what is ongoing in the society and it can also serves as documentary to review a long time event that happen in the past, present, and that of the future.

    The world day for audio visual heritage is a global observance and not a public holiday, countries that previously observed the day include Canada, Thailand Dan Mark and United State.

  • ‘U.S bugged Merkel’s phone since 2002’

    ‘U.S bugged Merkel’s phone since 2002’

    The United States has been spying on German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s mobile phone since 2002, according to a report in Der Spiegel magazine.

    The German publication claimed to have seen secret documents from the National Security Agency which show Mrs. Merkel’s number on a list dating from 2002 – before she became chancellor.

    BBC reports that her number was still on a surveillance list in 2013.

    Meanwhile Washington has seen a protest against the NSA’s spying programme.

    Several thousand protesters marched to the U.S Capitol to demand a limit to the surveillance. Some of them held banners in support of the fugitive former contractor Edward Snowden, who revealed the extent of the NSA’s activities.

    The nature of the monitoring of Mrs. Merkel’s mobile phone is not clear from the files, Der Spiegel says.

    For example, it is possible that the chancellor’s conversations were recorded, or that her contacts were simply assessed.

    Germany is sending its top intelligence chiefs to Washington in the coming week to “push forward” an investigation into the spying allegations, which have caused outrage in Germany.

    On Friday, Germany and France said they want the U.S to sign a no-spy deal by the end of the year.

    As well as the bugging of Mrs. Merkel’s phone, there are claims the NSA has monitored millions of telephone calls made by German and French citizens.

     

  • I’m fit for Ethiopia’s clash – Ideye

    I’m fit for Ethiopia’s clash – Ideye

    Brown Ideye has said he is fit for next month’s World Cup playoff against Ethiopia.

    The Dynamo Kyiv striker dismissed report that he will miss the crucial encounter because of injury.

    Speaking in a special interview with MTNFootball.com from his Ukrainian base, Ideye said, “I am only serving my three-match suspension, I am not in any way ruled out. I am shocked at these reports back home.

    “I have not been in the team because I was also asked to rest after the muscle strain I suffered.”

    Brown, who was a second half substitute in Addis Ababa against Ethiopia in the first leg World Cup playoff, further stated:”I have resumed training and will join the full squad by next week and hopefully be available for selection in next weekend’s game.

    “I am fit and ready to go for the Eagles. There is no truth in the report that I am injured and ruled out.”

    The Eagles go into a November 16 return leg match in Calabar with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Ethiopia.