The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • PDP’s breakaway members have genuine grievances – Anenih

    PDP’s breakaway members have genuine grievances – Anenih

    The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, has admitted that some chieftains of the party that broke away from the party on Saturday have genuine grievances for their action.

    In a statement he circulated in Abuja on Tuesday, Anenih however expressed the optimism that their grievances would soon be addressed and that the chieftains would return to the fold.

    He said: “I believe some of them have genuine grievances; but I have hope that once the grievances are addressed, they will come back. I am happy that the PDP has an internal mechanism for effective conflict resolution, and at the end of the day, the problems will be addressed and the PDP will come out of the crisis stronger.”

    The BoT chair said the ongoing peace talks with the factional members had been postponed till next Tuesday, on the request of the aggrieved governors in the breakaway group. The talks were initially scheduled to continue today (Tuesday).

    He stated that the aggrieved governors had told the Presidency and the PDP leadership that they needed more time to make wider consultations, a request which he said the Presidency and the leadership of the party were not averse to.

    “The Presidency and PDP leadership would take advantage of the postponement to also consult widely on how to amicably resolve the crisis, “Anenih added.

    According to him, selected party leaders would meet with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday as part of the wider consultations demanded by parties to the crisis.

    “Part of the wider consultations is the meeting of selected party leaders with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday morning and thereafter, we will meet with the governors on Tuesday, next week.”

    Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, seven governors elected on the PDP platform, last Saturday, stormed out of the party’s convention ground to announce a breakaway faction of the party.

    The seven Governors in the faction are – Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Musa Kwankwaso (Kano); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara).

    A former national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, was named chairman of the faction, while the embattled former national secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola was made the secretary.

     

  • CLO to Bayelsa: Account for flood money

    CLO to Bayelsa: Account for flood money

    Environmental rights activist and Bayelsa State’s Chairman of Civil Liberties Organisation, Mr. Nengi James, on Tuesday called on the state government to render an account of flood money.

    James insisted that the government in the spirits of transparency should tell the people of the state the amount of money it had so far received from various sources including the Federal Government in the name of flood management.

    He said such accounts should include individual and corporate sources and cash it withdrew from the state’s Compulsory Savings Account after the approvals of the State House of Assembly.

    James, who spoke in Yenagoa, the state capital, asked the government to give details of how it expended the money, the projects it invested the money on and individuals it gave cash grants to.

    His reaction came shortly after The Nation published reports of how victims of the 2012 flood disaster were still counting their losses despite huge amount of money received from different sources by various states.

    The activist observed that corporate organisations, individuals and Federal Government donated cash and relief materials to the state.

    But he said transparency which the government preaches demands that details of the cash receipts and expenditures are made public.

    He noted that such action would make the people take the government serious in its flood management programmes.

    According to him, flood victims deserve to know what happened to their funds especially in the face of allegations that the government had done nothing to alleviate their suffering.

     

     

     

  • FG begins audit of N100b constituency projects

    The Federal Government has commenced the audit of executed constituency projects in parts of the country, the Minister Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, has said.

    The minister, who stated this at a press conference in Abuja, said that the audit of the projects was in line with the Federal Government directive.

    The Federal Government voted the sum of N100 billion for constituency projects of members of the National Assembly in this year’s budget.

    Turaki said that the verification of executed constituency projects was informed by the need to pay for the projects.

    He noted that in its determination to ensure effective execution of the constituency projects of members of the National Assembly, the government has mandated his ministry to verify and recommend for payment, all constituency projects executed by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.

    The minister said that he had summoned a forum of federal MDAs involved in the implementation of National Assembly constituency projects to brief stakeholders on the critical and expected roles of all MDAs in actualizing the successful implementation of constituency projects.

    He added that the forum would also afford him the opportunity to interact with stakeholders and MDAs on issues emanating from the implementation of constituency projects including the roles of the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs in the realization of the Government’s policy on constituency projects.

     

     

     

  • PDP group asks INEC to deregister party

    PDP group asks INEC to deregister party

    . . . Insists Tukur must go

    The intra party crisis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new twist with a group within the party calling for its deregistration.

    The group, PDP Stakeholders Forum, at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, also said it has approached a Federal High Court seeking to nullify last Saturday’s convention of the party.

    Similarly, the group said it’s also seeking an order of the court for the removal of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the national chairman of the PDP.

    Controversial PDP youth activist, Ugochinyere Ikenga, who addressed the conference accused the party and Tukur of series of constitutional and procedural breaches in the conduct of the last convention.

    “In view of these, we have successfully instituted a law suit at the Federal High Court here in Abuja seeking an order of the court to among other things nullify the 2013 convention of the PDP, nullify the continued stay in office of Bamanga Tukur in view of his ineligibility to be chairman of our party by virtue of his non-membership of the party since his expulsion in 2001.

    “Tukur did not apply for, nor obtain the requisite waiver by the National Executive Committee of the party before offering himself for election into the office of national chairman in 2012.

    “The legal effect of the foregoing is that with an utterly flawed and incurably defective membership, the nomination, subsequent election and continued stay in office of Bamanga Tukur as chairman is fraudulent, illegal and unconstitutional.

    “Consequently, the non-membership of the PDP by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur had cast a very serious legal burden on his competence to vie for, hold and continued occupation of the office of national chairman of the PDP, and his refusal to call for a NEC meeting since 2012 amounts to a grave and unpardonable violation of the constitution of the PDP, ” Ikenga stated.

     

  • I thought my son was kidnapped – Stowaway boy’s father

    Father of Daniel, Osaigbovo, on Tuesday made a surprise appearance at the Edo State Government House shortly after his son and wife were taken inside.

    He was not invited to join in the meeting.

    Osaigbovo said he was a commercial bus driver and that he was just informed about the scholarship offer by his wife.

    The father, who was accompanied by some of his relatives, denied allegations that they turned up because of the scholarship offer.

    He said he has been taking care of his children contrary to the uncaring attitude by his wife.

    Osaigbovo aged 44 said he had a problem with the wife whom he married over 20 years ago.

    He displayed a photograph of him and two of his children having a nice time out.

    He said, “We quarreled last year. I did not leave my home. I invited my wife to join me but she said where I was staying was too far and she decided to stay apart. It is false and a lie that I have not been taking care of my four children.”

    On why he has been quite about his son’s predicament, Osaigbovo said his wife asked him to calm down that she would take care of everything.

    “I went with her to the police station but she said I should keep quiet.

    “I was shocked when I hear the news. Initially, I thought my son was kidnapped but I thank God he is alive. I am here to make sure my son is really alive.”

    “My son likes movies. He is quiet and easy going,” Osaigbovo stated.

     

  • PDP committee affirms Umar as Taraba Ag. governor

    PDP committee affirms Umar as Taraba Ag. governor

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Fact-Finding Committee on the health condition of Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba has affirmed Alhaji Garba Umar as the Acting Governor of the state.

    Briefing Journalists after about a two-hour close door meeting, the committee Chairman, Sen. Hope Uzodima, stated that the impasse had been resolved with all stakeholders including Suntai’s wife, Hauwa.

    He said the acting governor should from time-to-time for consultation with Suntai on major political issues in the state, while he (Suntai) recuperates.

    The committee chairman further stressed that the issue was a purely PDP in-house problem which, as a family, could be sorted out amicably.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Suntai returned to the state on August 25, after 10 months of medical treatment abroad, following his involvement in a plane crash in October 2012.

    Uzodima’s committee, which was received at the Jalingo airport by the acting governor and many top government functionaries, visited Suntai briefly in his official residence.

    NAN also reports that two parallel organs of governments were being run in the state before Tuesday’s resolution as three commissioners had complied with the purported dissolution of the State Executive Council.

    The three commissioners had handed over their offices to the permanent secretaries of the ministries while four commissioners did not comply.

     

  • New Offa council chairman sworn in

    Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of  Kwara on Tuesday conducted the swearing- in ceremony for Mr Abdulwaheed Olanipekun, the newly elected Chairman of Offa Local Government at the Government House, Ilorin.

    Ahmed urged Olanipekun to ensure he implemented people-friendly programmes to restore  faith in democratic governance.

    The News Agency of  Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PDP flag bearer  was declared winner of Saturday’s  local government election.

    “You must endeavour to provide transformational leadership and create shared prosperity to your people.

    “You must make yourself accessible, execute faithfully all electioneering campaign promises and carry along all stakeholders in your activities,” the governor said.

    Ahmed said it was a thing of joy that the exercise, which recorded a massive turn-out of voters, was adjudged free, fair and credible.

    He charged Olanipekun and the council’s 12 councilors to see their victory as an indication of the people’s confidence in their capabilities to offer  good governance.

    In his response, Olanipekun promised to add  value to local government administration by ensuring politics of inclusion.  (NAN).

  • ‘APGA may not field candidate for Anambra poll’

    ‘APGA may not field candidate for Anambra poll’

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance may not participate in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State despite the emergence of Dr. Willy Obianor as the party’s candidate, a chieftain of the party has warned.

    The party’s Publicity Secretary, Bernerd Akoma ,in a statement on Tuesday in Abakaliki said Dr. Obaino could be disqualified as the party’s flag bearer by the court if the National Chairman and Secretary of the party, Victor Umeh and Sanni Shinkaffi endorse his candidature.

    According to him, Umeh was not properly elected while Shinkaffi’s tenure, according to the party’s constitution has elapsed.

    The statement reads, “Despite the emergence of Dr. Obiano as the Victor Umeh/Peter Obi led APGA candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State, the party may afterall not contest the governorship race in the state.

    “The sharp division in the party notwithstanding, should Umeh led APGA faction goes ahead to endorse any candidate for the election, such candidate stands to be disqualified if his candidature is challenged in any court of law.

    “APGA constitution states that a person is entitled to occupy any position in the party for a maximum of two tenures of four years each. The current national secretary of APGA, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi was elected the secretary of the party January, 10, 2003. By August 2013, Shinkafi will be spending his 10th year and seven months in the same position as the secretary of the party.”

     

     

  • DANA air mishap: Land owners get N20m compensation

    DANA air mishap: Land owners get N20m compensation

    Lagos State government has disbursed over N20 million compensation to five landlords whose lands were acquired by the state government after the June 3, 2012 Dana Air Crash in Iju-Ishaga area of the state.

    The affected victims who received their cheques on Tuesday in Alausa, are – Mr. Isaac Aduroja, Pastor Daniel Omowumi, Alhaja Ramota Akinwusi, Pastor Ezekiel Akin-Jesu and Alhaji Wahab Oshinaya.

    The Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, said between N4 million to N5 million was paid per plot of land, in accordance with fair market value, adding that only those with genuine landed documents were compensated.

    Muri-Okunola, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, Lands Bureau and Acting Permanent Secretary, Aina Salami, said after the Dana Air crash, the damaged buildings had to be demolished because they were no longer safe for human habitation.

    He stated that Governor Babatunde Fashola approved that a cenotaph and epitaph be erected on the crash site in memory of the the departed souls, adding that the monument would also serve as a place where relations, friends and loved ones could visit to relieve pains and agony associated with the mishap.

     

  • Diko is new ICRC chief

    President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed Mr. Aminu Diko as Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

    This is contained in a statement issued in Lagos by the Acting Head, Communication Department, ICRC, Mrs. Deborah Okafor.

    The statement said that Diko had since assumed office.

    “Diko, a seasoned corporate lawyer, was formerly the Executive Director, Contract Compliance Centre of the commission.

    “His experience and expertise, spanning over a period of 30 years, will be critical in steering the commission towards ensuring successes in using the Public Private Partnership (PPP) as a modern procurement option.

    “This will be predicated upon a proactive regulatory regime that will require strategic stakeholder engagement to engender the development of critical national infrastructure,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Okafor as saying in the statement.