The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Ex- Rivers Speaker dies in Algiers

    The immediate past Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry, is dead.

    Harry died in Algiers, the capital of Algeria while he was being flown to France for medical treatment for suspected heart failure.

    It was gathered that Harry, who represented Degema Constituency in the state assembly since 1999, was in the plane when his condition became worsened mid-air.

    That development forced the pilot of the chartered aircraft to land in Algiers so that he could be resuscitated in that North African nation’s medical facilities.

    But he died shortly after the aircraft landed at the Algiers Airport.

    His remains is still in Algiers at the time of this report because the Mayor of the City is expected to approve the release of his body.

    A close family source said Harry who served as speaker from 2007 to 2011 slumped in the evening of October 1 while playing table tennis at the Tennis Section of the Port Harcourt Sports Club, and was rushed to a private hospital in the D-Line area of the city.

    The medical director of the private hospital, said to be Harry’s personal physician, later referred him to the Kesley Harrison Hospital, which is one of the newly built state-of-the arts hospital located around Emenike Street, Mile1, Port Harcourt.

     

  • CAN seeks probe of Lagos air mishap

    CAN seeks probe of Lagos air mishap

    The Christian Association of Nigeria on Friday advised the Federal Government to conduct proper investigation into what led to the crash of a chartered Embraer 120 marked 5NBJY, belonging to Associated Airlines Limited.

    In a statement issued in Abuja by the President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the body offered its deepest condolences to the victims’ families, the government and people of Ondo State and prayed that God should give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

    The statement reads: “Our thought go to the bereaved Agagu’s family as we continue prayers for protection of those the late former governor left behind.

    “Again, CAN restate that the frequent air crashes in the Nigerian aviation sector is the result of the Nigerian factor which receives strident denunciation in policies, passionate homilies of the clergy and tirades of well-meaning Nigerians, yet nothing works. It shows that take-off and landing remains the most dangerous aspects of flying in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

    “We call on the Federal Government to come up with practical measures that would reduce the margin of errors in traffic air signals, mechanical faults and bad weather. It should also undertake periodic investigations of the financial base and repair history of the airlines operating in Nigeria in order to ensure that they do not adopt short-cut policies that would endanger air travelers.”

     

  • Tight security as Agagu begins final journey home

    Tight security as Agagu begins final journey home

    There was a tight security in Iju-Odo, Ondo State, as the final burial rites for the former governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, commenced at St Paul Anglican Church on Friday.

    Scores of police men were sighted on the Okitipupa-Iju-Odo road, monitoring vehicular movement.
    Also sighted were officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Road Safety Commission.
    There was also a heavy security presence at the country home of the late former governor as well as the Manuwa Memorial Grammar School and Iju-Odo Civic Centre, both slated as venues for the reception.
    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the church was also filled to capacity even as the corpse of the former governor was still being awaited as at the time of filing this report.
    After the initial confusion that trailed Thursday’s crash of an Associated Airline plane conveying Agagu’s casket, some family members and top Ondo State government officials, the family resolved to continue with the burial programme.
    At least 13 persons died in the crash while six others were seriously injured.
    The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Mr. Ebenezer Alabi, had on Thursday announced the decision to continue with the burial programme after meeting with the Agagu’s family.
    “We have just consulted with the family and they had decided to go ahead with the burial,” Alabi said.

  • Jonathan’s confab meant to placate SNC agitators – Shehu Sani

    Kaduna based human civil rights campaigner and President of the Civil Rights Congress (CRC), Mallan Shehu Sani said on Friday that the national dialogue proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan is only aimed at placating agitators of a Sovereign National Conference and not to address the nation’s teething problems.

    Sani said in a statement in Kaduna that the proposed national dialogue is doomed to fail from the beginning as it will only provide an opportunity for northerners and southerners to engage in prolonged session of overheated sectionalist debate and give the government a respite to strategise for the 2015 elections.

    While describing the proposed dialogue as a charade, Sani said “the national conference idea of the President Jonathan’s government is nothing but a fraudulent exercise mischievously conceived to rubbish and bastardize the genuine idea of a sovereign National Conference as propagated by other progressive Nigerians over the Years.

    He said, “President Goodluck Jonathan’s conference is a journey to eldorado as it will neither take us out of the hell of our national woes nor deliver us to the paradise of our dreams. It is primarily aimed at appeasing the advocates of the conference and not achieving its ideal purpose.

    “President Goodluck Jonathan conference is a deceptive exercise aimed at diverting the attention of the nation away from the prevalent moral crisis and failure of governance, by engaging the nation in a meaningless and endless debate about a wishful future.

    “The National conference of president Jonathan will only engage northerners and southerners in a prolong session of overheated sectionalists and chauvinists debate while given the regime a respite to strategise for the 2015 elections.

    “The economy has collapsed, the universities remain shut, residents doctors are threatening to down tools, states are bankrupt, Nigerians are killed and kidnapped, oil is stolen, corruption is at its highest level, these are the issues President Jonathan’s conference is aimed at diverting.

    “Those who think that the oppressed can be free through a dialogue process organized by the oppressor and on its own terms, lives in a fool’s paradise; Nowhere in history and nowhere in the world has the oppressors willingly sits down with the oppressed, on same table and surrender their class privileges and structures of power and plunder without a bitter revolutionary struggle.”

  • Strike: Lawyer sues FG, ASUU

    Following the lingering universities’ teachers’ strike that has kept students at home for over three months, a lawyer, Daniel Onwe has approached a Federal High Court, Lagos to compel the Academic Staff Union of Universities to resume work.

    Joint in the suit with ASUU is the Federal Government, which Onwe stated was responsible for the strike action.

    In a motion on notice brought pursuant to Section 46(1)(2) of the 1999 Constitution, and dated September 30, Onwe prayed for an order of court to compel ASUU to call off the strike it embarked upon to protest the unwillingness of government to implement certain aspects of the agreement both parties signed in 2009.

    Supported by a 15 paragraph affidavit, the lawyer wants the court to declare that the indefinite strike embarked upon by ASUU, leading to the closure of government owned universities for three months, violates the fundamental rights of the students affected.

    He averred that the strike has traumatised many students who now engage in various vices.

    Onwe argued that the plight of the affected students had gotten worse as their contemporaries in private universities continue to attend lectures while they remain idle at home.

    He urged the court to compel ASUU to resume work while negotiations with the Federal Government continue.

    No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.

  • Crashed plane ‘Black box’ to be analysed in Nigeria

    Crashed plane ‘Black box’ to be analysed in Nigeria

    The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) on Friday said the “black-box” of the airplane that crashed at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, will be analysed here in Nigeria.

    The spokesman of AIB, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi , told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview that the “black box” would be analysed at its Abuja office.

    The Embraer-120 aircraft, with registration number 5N-BJY, was operated by Associated Airlines and was on a private charter flight from Lagos to Akure.

    It crashed shortly after take-off at the local wing of the Lagos airport.

    The aircraft was said to be carrying 20 persons, including the crew, as well as the remains of the former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu.

    Oketunbi said; “AIB will analyse the black box at its newly constructed accident investigation bureau office in Abuja.

    “Though, the laboratory is yet to be inaugurated, we will take the black box there for analysis to ascertain the causes of Thursday’s accident and how we can prevent a future occurrence.

    “However, if we encounter any challenges while doing that, we may contact our foreign partners for assistance,” he said.

    The black box usually contains the conversation between pilots and control tower at the airport prior to any accident.

     

  • Court adjourns Atuche’s trial till October 23

    Court adjourns Atuche’s trial till October 23

    A Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Friday adjourned the trial of a former managing director of Bank PHB, Francis Atuche, till October 23.

    Justice Lateefat Okunnu adjourned the case to enable Atuche’s lawyers to examine some documents relating to the trial.

    The documents were presented on Friday by Keystone Bank which was subpoenaed by the court.

    Addressing the court, Atuche’s counsel, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), said the documents were vital to the defence.

    Oyetibo, therefore, asked for an adjournment to enable the defence to examine the documents.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Atuche and his wife, Elizabeth, are standing trial for allegedly stealing N25.7 billion belonging to Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank).

    They were being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu.

    The accused had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges.

  • Five causes of broken homes

    Five causes of broken homes

    The rate of broken homes in marriages is becoming alarming as the number of people from broken homes is increasing by the day. The home is meant to be a place filled with joy, happiness with lot of guaranteed security and comfort but it is rather pitiful that the home is neglecting its primary functions thereby causing lots of psychological challenge in the mind of the people.

    The following are the 5 causes of a broken home and how they can be corrected:
    Lack of time management
    As the saying goes “Proper preparation prevents poor performance”, a lot of people find it difficult to mark out a good schedule of their daily activities thereby neglecting their home at the expense of their work. I can’t imagine homes that care less about their kids just because the pillars (parent) are too busy. Everyone is busy but the ability to map out a good plan schedule makes a perfect home.
    Strange partners
    In the home, some partners are very secretive in their attitude and way of life. They smile when you expect them to react to something you know that hurt them. They never share their feelings about any issue with their partners. Some may even go to the extent of over monitoring the schedule of their partners. This shows the lack of trust and confidence in the home. Learn to overlook some issues and learn to be conversational with one another. “Money is good but interaction will never let a family down”.
    Slavery mindset
    The word “help-mate” in the home is fast losing its meaning as most people are now over-conscious of the meaning of this word. Some spouse sees their partner as slaves putting all duties especially the house chores on them. I see no evil if a man decides to cook dinner for his family. But over-consciousness of being called a fool is affecting the mentality of most people.
    Over-reaction
    Humans are not perfect and are bound to make mistake. Over reaction to these mistakes may sometimes determine the life-span of a home. Some people over react irrationally to some issues that need to be settled amicably. When the man is angry, what is expected of the wife is to be quiet and vice versa because two mad people cannot build a house.
     Multi-party peacemaker
    Since there is bound to be disagreement in the home, the best thing to do is to settle it amicably in the four corners of the house and not calling on outsiders or members of the extended family because it will not always work out that way. The best way is to settle it between yourself.

  • Ex- NDDC MD, monarchs escape militia attack

    *Dozens of cars damaged, burnt

    The Peoples Democratic Party senatorial candidate, Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo and two first clash traditional rulers escaped death by the whiskers Friday  morning as armed youths of Kokori town suspected to be members of the criminal gang led by Kelvin Oniarah, opened fire on them in Kokori, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.
    The Ovie of Agbon, HRM Ogurimerime Ukori 1 and his ‎Abraka counterpart, HRM Majoroh were receiving Aguariavwodo’s team when the armed hoodlum struck.
    At least 20 vehicles, including two Toyota Hilux vans, were set ablaze  by the hoodlums, who struck at about 10:30am
    It was gathered that Aguariavwodo, the two kings and over 100 others were held hostage by the gunmen – reported to be over 30 – before the Commanding Officer of 222 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Lt Col VC Ibeh led a rescue mission that freed them.
    A source in the PDP’s aspirant team said, “It was traumatic. We got there a few minutes late and the meeting was just commencing with the traditional presentation of kola nuts when we heard heavy report of gunfire.”
    The incident was the second of its nature in about a week since the most notorious kidnap suspect, Kelvin Oniarah was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Security last Wednesday.

  • Nigeria’s killings shown disregard for life, education – Amnesty

    The rights group Amnesty International said the killing of school children in Nigeria shown an absolute disregard for the right to life and education.

    In a report it said hundreds have been killed in attacks by militants and thousands have been forced from school.

    On Sunday up to 50 students died when militants attacked an agricultural college in Yobe State.

    The Boko Haram sect, which means “western education is forbidden,” has targeted many schools recently.

    Nigerian authorities were urged to “provide better protection” for schools.

    In the wake of the college attack earlier this week, officials told the BBC the government and military would work to increase protection in schools.

    On Thursday, the authorities said they had bombed Boko Haram camps in response to the latest attacks, killing “many” militants.

    An army spokesman said 15 people had been arrested.

    Amnesty has calculated that in 2013, scores of pupils and 70 teachers have been slaughtered.

    Some 50 schools have been also burnt or damaged and more than 60 others have been forced to close.

    In some cases students have been murdered in their sleep, and in others, burnt alive in locked dormitories.

    BBC World Service Africa says the report represents a catalogue of horror.

    In May, Nigeria declared a state of emergency in three north-eastern states: Yobe, Borno and Adamawa.

    Authorities launched a military offensive aimed at crushing the Islamists. Casualty figures vary widely but reports suggested hundreds of people have been killed.

    Amnesty said it is not aware of anyone being prosecuted by the Nigerian government in connection with the school attacks.