The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Jonathan to meet Obama in New York

    Jonathan to meet Obama in New York

    President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to hold five bilateral meetings, including one with United States President Barack Obama at the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

    According to the Nigerian Mission, the meetings will cover the European Union, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Lebanon as well as Trinidad and Tobago.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Jonathan is also expected to present Nigeria’s achievements under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

    He will also identify the parameters of the post-2015 development agenda in his address to the 193-member state body, where scores of Heads of State would take to the podium next week in the annual general debate.

    Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Joy Ogwu, who was represented by a senior official at the mission, Mr. Anthony Bosah, told journalists that during the bilateral meetings, the president would touch on agriculture, infrastructure, power and solid minerals.

    Bosah said Jonathan would also intensify the country’s campaign for admission into the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member, on his arrival on Saturday.

    “Nigeria is hopeful that the campaign for a non-permanent seat is going to yield fruits with the African Union and ECOWAS giving their nod, with an exception of Gambia which is trying to split Nigeria’s votes.

    “The Central African Republic on whose ticket Chad Republic is campaigning for is no issue,’’ he said.

    According to him, Nigeria’s peacekeeping operations have track records with the UN in Mali, Guinea Bissau and Liberia, notwithstanding the opposition of those who are not giving the country their votes on account of withdrawal of Nigeria’s troops from Mali.

    “Nigeria’s domestic and foreign policies as well as democracy dividends, eminently qualify her for that seat at the Security Council,’’ Bosah added.

     

     

     

  • Australian new PM sworn in

    Tony Abbott has been sworn in as Australia’s prime minister, days after his Liberal-National coalition ended six years of Labor government.

    Mr. Abbott, 55, took the oath at Government House in Canberra in front of Governor-General Quentin Bryce.

    His conservative coalition won a comfortable lower house majority in the September 7 polls.

    BBC reports that it plans to scrap a tax on carbon emissions introduced by Labor and further toughen asylum policy.

    Ahead of Wednesday’s ceremony, Mr. Abbott said his government would get to work immediately.

    “Today is not just a ceremonial day, it’s an action day,” he said. “The Australian people expect us to get straight down to business and that’s exactly what this government will do.”

    The new ministers were also being sworn in during the day. His 19-member cabinet line-up has caused debate because it contains only one woman, new Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

    Mr. Abbott, however, says his cabinet is “one of the most experienced incoming ministries in our history.”

    The new prime minister said on Tuesday that the carbon tax would be his first task.

     

     

  • Power outage ruins Abuja Stadium reopening party

    Power outage ruins Abuja Stadium reopening party

    Public power outage almost ruined the reopening party for the Abuja National Stadium on Tuesday night.

    Organisers were left embarrassed after the friendly match between the Golden Eaglets and Amakson Academy was stopped for more than 15 minutes because of the power outage, which sparked fans’ protest as they started chanting against top government officials.

    However, the standby generator at the 60,000-capacity stadium was put on for the match to be completed, MTNFottball.com reports.

    The heavy downpour during the event did not help matters as the refurbished pitch was for long periods water logged with questions being asked about the drainage system around the field.

    Overall, it was a disjointed reopening party with musical and sporting performances running into each other after it began far behind the scheduled 4pm kick-off.

    Top sports ministry officials led by Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi along with Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials attended the event.

     

     

     

  • Anambra poll: Court voids Nwoye’s candidacy

    The crisis over who flies the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State has taken a new twist.

    A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has voided the candidacy of Mr. Tony Nwoye who emerged winner of the August 14 primary election conducted by the Ken Emeakayi- led faction of the Anambra PDP.

    The suit was filed by one of the governorship aspirants of the PDP for the Anambra election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/296/2013 on August 28.

    Ukachukwu, through his lead counsel, Mr. Rickey Tarfa SAN, had sought the leave of the court to void Nwoye’s candidature as declared by the PDP and accepted by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    In judgment delivered by Jusice S. A Aliyu on Tuesday, the court held that Nwoye was not eligible to participate in the August 24 primary election conducted under the supervision of Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State.

    The judge declared Ukachukwu the candidate of the PDP for the election on the ground that he was the only qualified aspirant in the said primary election.

    According to Justice Aliyu, Ukachukwu scored the highest number of votes cast at the election. He restrained Nwoye from parading himself as the candidate of the PDP for the election.

    The judge also restrained the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, leadership of the party and the INEC from presenting Nwoye as candidate for the poll.

    “It is hereby declared that based on the dictates of paragraph 4(a) of Part IV of the Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections 2010 of the Peoples Democratic Party, the first defendant (Tony Nwoye) was not eligible to participate and or take part in the gubernatorial primary election conducted on the 24th day of August 2013 by the 2nd defendant (PDP) for the selection of its candidate for the Anambra State governorship election scheduled to hold on November 16, 2013 or another date.

    “An order of mandatory injunction is hereby made compelling the 4th defendant (INEC) to recognise, screen the plaintiff (Ukachukwu), publish and put his name on the ballot paper as the authentic candidate of the 2nd defendant (PDP) for the Anambra State governorship election scheduled to take place on November 16, 2013 or any other date,” Justice Aliyu ruled.

     

  • Presidency to NASS: Hold fast to your contract with Nigerians

    The Presidency on Tuesday urged members of the National Assembly to hold fast tenaciously to their social contract with Nigerians to deliver on good governance.

    It also said that President Goodluck Jonathan is ever committed to his promise to ensure that budget estimates are submitted and passed early with the target of implementation commencing right from the beginning of the New Year.

    The Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Affairs, Senator Joy Emodi, stated this in a statement to welcome Senators and members of the House of Representatives back to the National Assembly after about eight week recess.

    Emodi said, “Importantly, Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members should hold fast to their mindset that they have a social contract with Nigerians to deliver on good governance and partner with Mr. President to transform Nigeria and is right on track.

    “This social contract transcends partisanship. Therefore, party politics and intrigues should not be allowed to creep in to blemish the great work they have done so far.

    “Party platforms and intra-party interests may differ, but their social contract with the Nigerian people remains the same.

    “It is a contract that overrides party politics. The total loyalty and commitment of members of the National Assembly should as always, reside with the Constitution and the Nigerian people who elected them in the first place.

    “Party lines must be blurred, while the overall national interest must be accentuated.”

    The Presidential aide noted “with displeasure the mischief of those bent on overheating the polity by flying kites of imminent crises in the National Assembly and looming squabbles between the Executive and the National Assembly.”

    “I want to state categorically that such only exist in the realms of the imaginations of the peddlers. The stories are unfounded, fictitious, and fabricated to heat up the polity,” she said.

    According to her, “Such vendors of instability and disaffection are certainly not in tune with the overwhelming mutual support and efforts of the Executive and Legislative arms towards the speedy actualization of President Goodluck Jonathan Administration’s Transformation Agenda to give Nigerians a better deal for their votes and the nation’s immense resources.”

     

     

  • I am not a spent force at 78 – Tukur

    I am not a spent force at 78 – Tukur

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has said that despite his advanced age, he is not s spent force yet. He turned 78 last Sunday.

    Contrary to insinuations in certain quarters that age induced senility may have been taking a toll on him, Tukur said he remained a force to reckon with in partisan politics.

    In a statement issued by his media aide, Oliver Okpala, on Tuesday, the PDP chairman enjoined younger politicians to show older ones the deserved respect.

    “We, the older politicians should not be written off yet, or regarded as spent political forces. We are still relevant to the nation and the younger politicians will benefit from our experience, wise counsel, guidance and discipline.

    “At my age, I feel obliged at this point to give back to society the benefit of my experience. Experience, they say, is the best teacher and experience is a commodity of inherently high value.

    “Our country will progress more rapidly with the right blend of old and young politicians. This will facilitate cross-fertilization of ideas and frank exchange of views on how to move the country forward. No young generation that treats her old and experienced statesmen without respect and decorum ever succeeds,” Tukur admonished.

    In a subtle admonishment to the nation’s politicians, the chairman said they should see politics as an avenue and opportunity to offer selfless and meaningful services to the people.

    He urged them to conduct themselves responsibly and be discrete in their actions and utterances so as not to overheat the polity.

    Politics, Tukur said, is a noble process and that it would be nobler if politicians play the game in line with the rules, party constitutions and the country’s constitution.

    “Discipline is a sine qua non to party politics. Any organisation which lacks the capacity or the moral authority to instill discipline in its members is doomed. The need for politicians to be disciplined cannot be overemphasized.

    “We cannot expect Nigerians to entrust their destiny into the hands of politicians if the politicians do not believe in themselves. Like Caesar’s wife, a politician must be above board in all ramifications,” Tukur stated.

     

  • Collapsed building kills one in Ebonyi

    A three storey building under construction collapsed on Tuesday in Amasiri, Afikpo North local government area of Ebonyi State, killing one person.

    The victim of the collapsed building, whose identity could not been ascertained at press time, was said to be working in the building when it caved in at about 8.35am.

    The Spokesman of the state police command, DSP Sylvester Igbo, confirmed the incident to our reporter in Abakaliki, the state capital.

    He said the police received the information about the collapsed building and quickly mobilised a team of policemen to the scene to ensure safety of the people.

    But all efforts to rescue the trapped person, who was alive when the police first arrived at the scene of the incident, proved abortive due to lack of effective rescue equipment.

    Igbo also revealed that the assistant site engineer was arrested while the police had declared a manhunt for the site engineer as investigations commenced into the cause of the incident.

     

     

  • Senate backs convocation of national conference

    Senate backs convocation of national conference

    … Wants ASUU back in class

    The quest for the convocation of a national conference got a boost on Tuesday as the Senate said that steps should be taken to convene a national conference of ethnic nationalities.

    The upper chamber also lamented that those it described as political jobbers, sycophants, and hustlers have seized the country’s political space, and are being allowed to set the tone of national discourse ahead of 2015 general elections.

    Senate President, David Mark, stated this in an address to flag off a new session for the Senate.

    Though he counseled that Nigerians should make haste slowly and operate strictly within the parameters of the Constitution in discussion of the national question, Mark agreed that time has come for the country to meet to confront alleged structural distortions in the polity.

    Such a conference, he said, can find accommodation in the extant provisions of the 1999 Constitution which guarantee freedom of expression, and association.

    The only no go area at the conference, the Senate President noted, should be talk about dismemberment of the country.

    He, however, cautioned that it would be unconstitutional to clothe such a conference with constituent or sovereign powers.

    He said, “We live in very precarious times, and in a world increasingly made fluid and toxic by strange ideologies and violent tendencies, all of which presently conspire to question the very idea of the nation state.

    “But that is not to say that the nation should, like the proverbial ostrich, continue to bury its head in the sand and refuse to confront the perceived or alleged structural distortions which have bred discontentment and alienation in some quarters.

    “This sense of discontentment and alienation has fueled extremism, apathy and even predictions of catastrophy for our dear nation.

    ”A conference of Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities, called to foster frank and open discussions of the national question, can certainly find accommodation in the extant provisions of the 1999 Constitution which guarantee freedom of expression, and of association.

    “To that extent, it is welcome. Nonetheless, the idea of a National Conference is not without inherent and fundamental difficulties.

    “Problems of its structure and composition will stretch the letters and spirit of the Constitution and severely task the ingenuity of our constitutionalists.”

    On the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senate President urged the lawmakers to spare a thought “for the plight of our youths who are idling away because of the closure of universities due to the ASUU strike.

    He said, “The morass in the education sector is deeply troubling not only because it is retarding the educational progress of millions of our children, but also because it arrests the intellectual development of our nation, with grave consequences for the future.

    “While appreciating the tremendous merit in the case put forth by ASUU we call on its leaders to return to class, while pragmatic negotiations to address their grievances continue.

    “The Senate will invest the full weight of its moral and constitutional authority to nudge both the Federal Government and ASUU towards a comprehensive settlement that addresses, in a realistic manner, the problems afflicting tertiary education in our country.”

     

     

  • Grandpa commits suicide in Ibadan

    A 70 -year -old driver, Pa Ogunmodede Ojo, committed suicide in Ibadan on Friday.

    The Nation gathered that the deceased had decided last Tuesday to hang himself with a rope made of cloth on the ceiling in his room at Yemetu Aladorin, Ibadan.

    The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Ilobanafor, confirmed that the deceased took his life last Friday, saying police detectives led by Inspector Egom Ekpan had visited the scene of the incident.

    According to her, the deceased’s brother, Retired SP Ola Azeez, who was at the scene promised to remove the corpse for burial since no foul play was suspected.

    In a related development, two suspected kidnappers have been arrested by policemen in the state.

    The PPRO, who confirmed the arrest in Ibadan on Tuesday, said the suspects were arrested while trying to collect the N50, 000 ransom demanded for the release of a victim.

    She gave the names of the suspect as Kehinde Adegoke Yinus (20) and Jimoh Idowu (20).

    She said the suspects have been transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Bureau for further investigation.

     

     

  • We must stop celebrating ill-gotten wealth – Jonathan

    We must stop celebrating ill-gotten wealth – Jonathan

    To reduce the incidence of corruption in Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan has advocated that Nigerians must stop celebrating ill-gotten wealth.

    The President spoke at the 54th annual conference of the Nigeria Economic Society in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He said, “For us to bring corruption down in the country, we should not just blame the government or the police but all individual must frown at people who have what they are not supposed to have, who live in houses they are not supposed to live in; who drives cars they are not supposed to drive and who wear suits that are more expensive.

    “Until we stop that, I don’t think we will get to where we want to go.

    “If a young man who just started a job and within six months or a year comes up with a car of N7million to N15million and you clap for him, then you are rewarding corruption.”

    “However, if all Nigerians collectively refuse to reward corruption and frown at it people would not be attracted to corrupt practices. But when we all reward corruption, then of course we will be tempted to go in that direction.”

    The President said he desires a Nigerian society where all of us will frown against people who come up with what they are not supposed to have.

    His administration’s approach to fighting corruption, according to him, has also been to focus on building institutions that have the capacity to overcome corrupt influences.

    “This approach uses the rule of law as a framework to fight corruption,” he said.