The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Boko Haram has nothing to do with religion, ethnicity- Jonathan

    Boko Haram has nothing to do with religion, ethnicity- Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan has said the the terrorist killings in the country has no religious or ethnic link.

    He spoke at the Presidential Villa while receiving the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, who led the Muslim community to pay Sallah homage on him after the Eid-El-Kabir morning prayers.

    According to him, the killings is because the world is generally experiencing terrorism.

    “That is why I asked those who killed those 50 students did they even bother about their religion or ethnicity? It has nothing to do with religion, it has nothing to do with ethnicity,” he said

    He however said there was need for Nigerians to  “talk to ourselves in  the way that our children will not develop hate amongst themselves.”

    “At times, when you listen to radio and read in the papers and you see  sometimes even our elders that are supposed to give us leadership quarreling over nothing, sometimes even insulting themselves and even making provocative statements that will sometimes instigate one group against the other.

    ” We decided that we cannot continue that way, the talking must have a direction. What has been happening on the pages of the newspapers are discussions that have no direction.”

    “We want a country that will have a direction so  the discussions must have a direction, the discussion must lead Nigeria to where we want to be, not a divided Nigeria, not a Nigeria that is sown on hate, not a Nigeria that will be based on acrimony, ethnicity and tribal sentiments in the way we conduct ourselves.”

    “That is a reason we set up that committee and we have given them the free will. Some people are still instigating others that the president is doing this, the government does not have the capacity to do that. We are totally committed to do what is right.”

    He thanked the muslim community and other visitors for finding time to pay homage.

    He said: “Some of you have been consistent. We thank God that inspite of the challenges we are celebrating.”

    “We have challenges but I’m glad that Allah made it possible for us to be here today. Other countries have had their own challenges, 53 years is a long period for an adult but as a nation we are very young.”

    Speaking earlier, Vice President Sambo congratulated the President’s successful outing at the recent United Nations General Assembly in the United States, Nigeria’s 53rd Independent anniversary and Super Eagle’s victory over Ethiopia in the first leg world cup qualifier.

    He also commended the efforts of the President towards ensuring political stability in the country.

    According to him, the National Conference initiated by the President was also commendable as it would promote peace and the unity of the country.

    Sambo and the Minister of State for the FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide later presented Sallah card to the President.

    At the occasion  were  Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim; former PDP National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali; Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar and National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki rtd and John Cardinal Onayeikan.

  • Eid-El-Kabir: Jonathan preaches tolerance, peaceful co-existence

    Eid-El-Kabir: Jonathan preaches tolerance, peaceful co-existence

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday urged Muslims to continue to meditate on the immense benefits derivable by Nigeria from honesty, selflessness, tolerance, peaceful co-existence, equity, fairness and justice for all.

    In his Eid-El-Kabir message to Nigerians, he noted that all those qualities are integral part of the message of the Holy Prophet.

    He also maintained that he has no hidden agenda in the proposed national conversation as he urged all Nigerians to support the new effort at charting a new course for the country.

    He said: “I extend warm greetings and felicitations to you all as we celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival. I also congratulate all Nigerians who have been able to undertake the Hajj this year in fulfillment of their religious obligations.

    “As they undergo the rites of the Hajj in the Holy Land, and celebrate the Feast of Sacrifice here at home, I urge our Islamic Faithful to offer special prayers for peace, harmony, unity, security and progress in our fatherland.

    “I also implore them, as always, to find time in the midst of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations to meditate on the immense benefits our nation can derive from a greater exhibition by its people of piety, honesty, selflessness, tolerance, peaceful co-existence with others, equity, fairness and justice for all, which are an integral part of the message of the Holy Prophet.

    Jonathan continued: “My administration will continue to promote and encourage the teaching of these commendable virtues of Islam and our other religious beliefs in the knowledge that a greater manifestation of such virtues and ideals by our people will stand our country in very good stead as we strive to overcome the challenges of development and build a great nation.

    “My administration also remains fully committed to the implementation of measures and policies that will further promote and enhance national peace, stability and progress.”

    On the national conference, he said: “It is in keeping with that avowed commitment and my firm belief in the right to freedom of expression and the right of all people in a democracy to make choices on how they wish to live and be governed that I recently announced plans for an orderly national conversation on our problems and challenges. Those who continue to say that the initiative is diversionary or aimed at promoting certain political ambitions are in error.”

     

  • Jonathan seeks EITI’s help on oil theft

    Jonathan seeks EITI’s help on oil theft

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday urged the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) to do more to support the Federal Government’s efforts aimed at checking oil theft in the country.

    He made the call while speaking with the Chairperson of EITI, Ms. Claire Short, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Stressing that the stolen oil business involves the collusion of foreigners, he urged EITI to identify and punish refineries that receive stolen crude oil from Nigeria.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President said, “The efforts of EITI in criminalizing ‘blood diamonds’ from African mines have helped in curtailing that illegal business. I urge you to also support Nigeria as we confront the forces stealing Nigerian crude oil.

    “The theft of crude oil from Nigeria involves the collusion of foreigners and the stolen crude is refined abroad. EITI can use its mechanisms to help us track down the thieves and those who receive the stolen crude oil,” he said.

    Noting that Africa was losing a lot through leakages in the mining and extractive industry, Jonathan also urged Ms. Short and her colleagues at EITI to help in ending the exploitation of Africans and African nations by multinational companies engaged in the extraction of the continent’s immense natural resources.

    Jonathan said that in keeping with the Federal Government’s commitment to giving the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) all necessary support and freedom to discharge its duties, he will inaugurate an expanded inter-ministerial committee next week to ensure greater synergy in NEITI’s investigations and facilitate the implementation of its recommendations for greater probity in Nigeria’s oil industry.

    Commending EITI’s efforts to discourage exploitation and corruption in extractive industries across the world, Jonathan assured Ms. Short and her team that Nigeria will continue to strive for even greater openness and transparency in its oil and mining sectors.

    Ms. Short briefed President Jonathan on EITI’s ongoing efforts to ensure that oil and other mineral resources of countries are well managed and utilized for the benefit of their citizens.

     

  • Fire guts POWA market

    No fewer than 48 shops were razed by inferno on Sunday night at the Police Officers Wives Association market in Ikeja.

    Although the fire, which reportedly started around 9:30pm, affected 86 shops in the market, the remaining 38 were saved from complete ruin.

    However, no life was lost in the disaster, allegedly caused by a power generating set, which was kept close to a cooking area.

    Confirming the incident, the Director, Lagos Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe, said it was a serious fire.

    Fadipe said the call came in at about 9:21pm on Sunday, adding “two water trucks of 10, 000 litres each were deployed to combat the fire.

    “48 shops were razed by the fire while 38 shops were only mildly affected by the inferno and several goods which I cannot say the worth were burnt because this is a general market and they sell different goods,” he said.

    Fadipe condemned the reaction of the residents, saying “they halted their activities and caused delay for the firefighters.”

    He said: “When we arrived at the scene, we discovered that the residents were trying to fight the fire with water from the drainage channel. And we had to beg them before they could leave the scene for us to tackle the fire.

    “Alausa and Ikeja fire trucks responded promptly to save the day,” he said.

     

  • NCAA to carry out audit of domestic airlines

    NCAA to carry out audit of domestic airlines

    As part of measures to enhance air safety in the country, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority said on Monday that it will carry out joint audit of domestic carriers to ascertain their technical and financial state of health.

    The Director- General of NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, disclosed this during a briefing at the Aviation House, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    He insisted that there is no going back on the audit, which will be carried out in collaboration with foreign firms.

    Akinkuotu revealed the NCAA will shut down airlines owing workers salaries, saying the authority will only find out such development if the matter is brought to its notice.

    He said the NCAA will take steps to raise the bar in safety by ensuring that all domestic operators undergo the International Operations Safety Audit (IOSA), conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

    He explained that steps were being taken to restore the confidence of the flying public, which has become critical in the last few weeks on account of the Associated Aviation Embraer 120 crash in Lagos and other incidents.

    He said,” We will continue to engage domestic operators to do what is right. They have a responsibility to comply with the rules and avoid lapses that will expose the industry to emergencies.

    The NCAA demands that all operators must sit up.

    As the regulatory body the NCAA has a role to ensure that there is continuous monitoring to enhance safety.

     

  • How to build pragmatic judiciary – CJN

    How to build pragmatic judiciary – CJN

    Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, on Monday called for partnership between the academia and the judiciary to improve legal practice in Nigeria.

    She said the quality of judgments will improve with such collaboration, which she believes will further build judges’ intellectual capacity.

    “The need for a partnership between the two professions is without doubt very fundamental and deserving of all seriousness by all stakeholders.

    “This can in turn build a pragmatic judiciary and develop our legal jurisprudence as we continue to shift the frontiers of law,” she said.

    She spoke while declaring open the week-long Annual Scholarship Festival of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) in Lagos.

    The CJN said a “symbiotic” relationship exists between judges and academics.

    “Judges rely on academic pieces in their work, especially the time honoured practice of commenting on judicial opinions through law reviews, proposing and granting legitimacy to new legal doctrines, amongst others.

    “We, thus, need to strengthen the relationship between judges and academics by making academics more responsive to the needs of the judiciary and making judges more sensitive to feedback from the academia,” Justice Mukhtar said.

    The CJN praised NIALS for providing “a veritable platform for the articulation of ideas that will significantly transform legal scholarship.”

     

  • Sallah: PDP factions, Atiku, urge sacrifice, accountability

    Sallah: PDP factions, Atiku, urge sacrifice, accountability

    The Bamanga Tukur led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Nigerians to take advantage of this year’s Eid El Kabir festival to ensure total reconciliation and rededication to the ideals of sacrifice, patriotism and total submission to the will of God.

    Similarly, the Abubakar Baraje led faction also urged Nigerians to pause and reflect on the significance of the festive period, which highlights the need for sacrifice and the benefits thereof.

    In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of Tukur’s PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, on Monday, the party urged Nigerians to always be guided by the lessons of the Eid El Kabir which emphaises selfless service, obedience to constituted authority and love for one another.

    Metuh said: “The lessons of this great celebration are of critical importance to our dear country at this moment in our political evolution. Nigeria will be a greater country if all citizens imbibe the culture of sacrifice, selfless service and support to constituted authority especially the current transformational efforts of the Federal Government.”

    He called on Nigerians to remain their brothers’ keepers and remember the less privileged as they celebrate the feast of sacrifice. He urged Muslim clerics and faithful to pray for the peace and unity of the country.

    In a statement issued by the spokesman of the Baraje faction, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, the party called on those in political authority to imbibe the culture of sacrifice.

    The party called for divine intervention in the affairs of the country, “which explains why our party chieftains led by our National Chairman, Alhaji Baraje went to the Holy land for this year’s pilgrimage, for the opportunity to pray for our troubled country.

    “We are confident that with prayers and the needed sacrifices, Allah will show us mercy and intervene to solve our current economic and political challenges”, Eze stated.

    On his part, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar observed that accountability and a sense of inter-personal love are two important values that Nigerians must continue to uphold.

    In a statement by his media office, Atiku said only accountability could ensure the freeing of government resources for development to end joblessness, insecurity and pervasive economic hardship being faced by Nigerians.

     

  • Super Eagles, Supporters return from Ethiopia

    The Super Eagles on Monday arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after securing a 2-1 victory over the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia, in a World Cup qualifying play-off in Addis Ababa.

    The match, played at the Addis Ababa National Stadium on Sunday, saw Emmanuel Emenike scoring twice for the Eagles to silence the hosts who took the lead in the 57th minute.

    23 Super Eagles players arrived in Abuja aboard a chartered Boeing 777 Ethiopian Airliner at exactly 4.30am together with four coaches and eight backroom staff.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Executive Committee members of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), led by its Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, accompanied the team back home.

    Some National Assembly members, including the Senate Committee Chairman on Sports, Adamu Gumba, and his House of Representatives counterpart, Godfrey Gaiya, were in the entourage that arrived with the team.

    Others were officials of the National Sports Commission (NSC), the Nigeria Football and Other Sports Supporters Club, as well as the management and secretariat staff of the NFA

    Media representatives were also in the 263-member Nigerian delegation that made the trip to Ethiopia.

    NAN also reports that most of the foreign-based players connected flights immediately back to their bases in Europe, in preparation for this weekend’s matches in various European leagues.

    NAN recalls that the Super Eagles suffered various degrees of intimidation and humiliation in the hands of the Ethiopian security personnel and football fans.

    The intimidation and harassment started when the Eagles were given a bus infested with cockroaches, on arrival, while the police team attached to the team usually took routes in gridlock.

    This was deliberate to ensure the Eagles arrived late when it was time for training.

    The intimidation reached a crescendo on match day, when all manner of soft drink bottles were hauled at the Nigerian players and supporters when the Ethiopians thought that they had been denied a goal in the first half.

    Television replays later showed that Godfrey Oboabona cleared the ball off the line.

    The attack on the pitch was taken outside it as some fans ambushed the Eagles and hauled stones at the team’s bus as it made its way back to Saro Maria hotel, after the game.

    One of the heavy stones shattered the rear windscreen of the bus, sending all persons inside the bus scampering for safety and taking cover under their seats.

    Nosa Igiebor, the Real Betis midfielder, was unlucky as one of the stones slashed his right palm leading to profuse bleeding that was immediately attended to by the team doctor, Ibrahim Gyaran.

     

  • World Cup playoff: It was a team victory – Emenike

    World Cup playoff: It was a team victory – Emenike

    Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has said Sunday’s victory in Ethiopia was achieved by the entire team.

    Emenike scored twice for the Eagles to take a 2-1 advantage into November 16 return leg in Calabar.

    “We prepared well for this game and we deserved the three points. It was not all about me because this was a collective victory for us. We all worked hard as a team to show the spirit of champions,” Emenike told MTNFootball.com

    “It was a tough game, it is one of the toughest games I have played for Eagles so far and I am happy to have conquered the fears.

    “I went to Ethiopia with a determination for victory, so the victory was a mission accomplished. We remain humble in victory.

    “I must give God the glory and adoration because he made it happen for me and my team.”

    The 2013 AFCON top scorer said he expects the return leg to be even tougher.

    “The return leg will be tough, we are not there yet, but we are in a comfortable zone. We just need to be focused and wrap it up in the second leg with another victory,” he said.

    Italy-based Nnamdi Oduamadi told MTNFootball.com he did not panic even when Ethiopia went ahead.

    “It was a tough match no doubt, they came at us to win but we gave our best to curtail them. I never felt we will not win the game, I was very upbeat there was no way the Ethiopians will beat,” he said.

    “I was sure of victory. I am happy to be part of the team. World Cup here we come!”

    Oduamadi was one of Nigeria’s best performers at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil in June and said he will be glad to return there for the World Cup.

    “I was at the Confederations Cup this year, I am glad that I will be going back there for the World Cup, it is a football country,” Oduamadi told MTNFootball.com.

     

  • IGP to meet UN police adviser in New York

    IGP to meet UN police adviser in New York

    The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, is expected to embark on a working visit to the United Nations in New York between October 20 and 23, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    The police chief, who will visit the Police Commissioner of the New York Police Department (NYPD), is also expected to visit the UN Police Adviser.

    The IGP would also hold discussions with the Under Secretary-General Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO) and the Assistant Secretary-General, Office of Rule of Law and Security Institution (ORLSI).