The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Lagos seeks fresh census in 14 LGAs

    Lagos seeks fresh census in 14 LGAs

    Lagos State Government has called on the National Population Commission to honour the recent Judgment the National Census Tribunal and conduct a fresh census in 14 affected local government areas in the state.

    The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, who briefed journalist on Friday in Alausa, said the judgment nullified the figures released by NPC and ordered a recount of the affected local councils.

    Ipaye’s counterparts in Ministries of Information and Works and Infrastructure Mr. Lateef Ibirogba and Obafemi Hamzat attended the briefing.

    He explained that the tribunal nullified the census figures released by the NPC in 14 local councils in the state on the ground that the counting was illegal and did not give the accurate censors figures of the state.

    He said, “In the final analysis, the official national census results for 14 old local government areas (now 40 LGAs and LCDAs) in Lagos State have been nullified. This vindicates the resolve of the state government to base its physical and economic plans on a projected population of 17,553,924 in 2006 and over 21,000,000 currently. We now expect that the National Population Commission will urgently announce plans for a recount as ordered by the tribunal.”

     

     

  • Suntai: Taraba NASS caucus, Speakers back state Assembly

    Suntai: Taraba NASS caucus, Speakers back state Assembly

    … Say, ‘Umar remains acting governor’

    The Taraba State caucus in the National Assembly and the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria on Friday affirmed the ailing Danbaba Suntai as the undisputed governor of the state.

    The two bodies, however, backed the decision of the state House of Assembly that Garba Umar should continue in his role as acting of the state.

    They described the decision of the state Assembly in that regard as constitutional.

    The lawmakers also warned external influences against exploiting the situation to the detriment of the people of the State.

    While addressing reporters at the House of Representatives on Friday, Senator Abubakar Tutare said the unfolding political melodrama in Taraba State is unfortunate, shameful and uncalled for.

    Tutare was flanked by the House of Representatives Majority Whip, Ishaka Bawa, Ibrahim El Sudi and Aminu Malle, while Jerry Manwe, Albert Sam-Tsokwa and two Senators missed the briefing.

    The state has nine members in the National Assembly – made up of three Senators and six in the lower legislative House.

    Five members signed the statement of the position of the caucus.

    Tutare said, “Rather than be concerned about bringing development to the state, we are busy politicking with the health of our amiable Governor His Excellency, Danbaba Suntai.

    “Rather than uniting our people who are peace loving, dynamic and enterprising, we are busy dividing them and creating unnecessary tension for selfish reasons.

    “Instead of praying for Governor Danbaba’s speedy recovery, we are busy scheming, out smarting and outwitting each other for selfish aggrandizement or the unknown 2015 agenda.

    “As concerned Tarabans in the National Assembly, we sat and deliberated over the negative media hype pervading the already charged political atmosphere in the country and hereby plead with the various political gladiators within and outside Taraba State to allow peace to prevail in the state.

    “Our position is that His Excellency, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai is and remains the undisputed Executive Governor of Taraba State.”

     

     

  • Man ‘hacks’ brother to death in Edo

    An Area Customary Court sitting in Agenebode has remanded one Suraju Muaju in prison for allegedly hacking his elder brother to death.

    Suraju reportedly committed the offence on August 25.

    He was alleged to have killed his brother in the night with a cutlass while the victim was asleep at their father’s residence in Imiegba clan, Estako East local government area of Edo State.

    The President of the court, Cyril Usifoh, ordered the suspect be remanded in prison and directed that the case file be taken to the Directorate of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

    Also, an 11- year old primary four pupil has told an Ikpoba-Okha Area Customary Court how a 71 year old man, Okunrobo Odia defiled her.

    But the suspect said it was the victim that beckoned on him to make love to her, adding that he only “touched her buttocks.”

    The victim while giving evidence told the court that the suspect came to buy N10 worth of local gin at her mother’s shop.

    According to the victim, the suspect followed her when she went to pick something inside the house and was surprised when he removed his shorts.

    She said the suspect removed her pants and inserted his manhood inside her despite crying for help.

    The President of the court, Princess Esther Eweka, adjourned the case to November 21 for further hearing.

     

  • Leaders must meet electorates’ expectations – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Thursday in Sokoto said it is duty of “God ordained leaders” to meet the expectations of those who elected them into office.

    He said while prayers should be offered for leaders, there was the need for prayers for followers too so as to ensure “balance off equation.”

    The former Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees chairman spoke at the commissioning of a N2.6 billion Asare 20 million gallons per day water project in Wamakko local government of Sokoto State.

    Obasanjo said as leaders they will continue to take up the responsibilities that God has placed on their shoulders.

    According to him, “when you have good leaders and bad followers, the country cannot forge ahead and when you have bad leaders and good followers, it is still not balance.

    “To ensure a balanced equation, we must have the two on positive platform to make a great country,” he said.

    Obasanjo, who holds the title of “Yallaban Sokoto” noted that water supply was relevant to man, animal and forms the nucleus of the general environment.”

     

     

  • WCQ: Kwambe replaces injured Ogude

    WCQ: Kwambe replaces injured Ogude

    Sunshine Stars defender, Solomon Kwambe, would replace injured Norway-based Fegor Ogude for Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Malawi.

    The African champions lead their qualifying group on nine points from five matches and would need only to avoid defeat against second-placed Malawi next week Saturday at home in Calabar to advance to final round of qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

    The Malawians are on seven points, while Namibia has five points and Kenya remains at the bottom with three points.

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, specially told MTNFootball.com that Fegor is out of the Calabar clash and would be replaced by Kwambe.

    “Fegor is out of the game against Malawi,” Keshi told MTNFootball.com

    “We were thinking that by now the injury which he sustained in South Africa would have healed, but unfortunately it hasn’t.

    “Sunshine Stars Solomon Kwambe has been drafted as a replacement for Fegor ahead of the Malawi game.”

    The inclusion of Kwambe takes the number of home-based players in the squad for the Malawi game to three following Godfrey Oboabona and Sunday Mba’s move to Turkey and France respectively.

    The players from the domestic league are goal keeper Chigozie Agbim, Azubike Egwuekwe and Solomon Kwambe.

    “You have all the names of the home-based players already, just add it to the invited foreign-based with the exemption Fegor and you have my list for the Malawi game,” Keshi said when asked about his final squad.

     

     

  • Suicide blast kills Afghan official

    A suicide bomber has killed a district governor and six others at a memorial service in the northern Afghan province of Kunduz, officials told the BBC.

    Sheikh Sadi, governor of Archi district, was killed along with one bodyguard and five civilians. Ten others were wounded.

    The group was attending the memorial service of a tribal elder.

    BBC says the region is volatile, with several areas under Taliban control.

    The BBC reports that Archi has also seen several violent confrontations between the Afghan army and insurgents. It is close to the border with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

    “Officials… were attending a prayer in a mosque when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives,” Enayatullah Khaliq, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said.

     

  • Pollution: 13 buildings sealed off in Lagos

    Pollution: 13 buildings sealed off in Lagos

    Lagos State Government has sealed off 13 buildings for discharging sewage into drainage channels.

    The buildings situated on Nnamdi Azikiwe Street on Lagos Island, were sealed off on Thursday by officials of the state Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), accompanied by officials of the Lagos State Taskforce.

    Leader of the enforcement team Mr. Kayode Bello, said the enforcement became necessary following incessant complaint from residents.

    He said the officials stormed the area before traders could get to the market to open their shops in the buildings.

    He said all the affected buildings were residential with the ground floor of some of them converted to stores and rented out to traders at Idumota.

    He also added that the environment in the area has been degraded and defaced with excreta by the traders and residents in some of the houses.

     

  • Taraba Speaker to Suntai: Go back to hospital

    Taraba Speaker to Suntai: Go back to hospital

    The Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa, on Thursday ordered Governor Danbaba Suntai to go back to the hospital for treatment until he is “capable of administering the state.”

    In a press release, signed by Tsokwa, the House said the Deputy Governor Garba Umar, remains acting governor.

    16, out of the 24-member House signed that Suntai should not resume on health grounds.

    Those for Umar include: Haruna Tsokwa (Takum I constituency), Tamko Adamu (Gassol I), Mohammed Gwampo (Yorro), Josiah Sabo Kente (Wukari I), Mohamed Umar (Gashaka), Ibrahim Imam (Jalingo I), Yahaya Abduraman (Gassol II) and Iratsi Daki (Ussa).

    Others are: Rashia Abdullahi (Ngoroje), Aminu Jalingo (Jalingo II), Emmanuel Dame (Ardo-Kola), John Bonzema (Zing), AA Jugulde (Gembu), Hamandama Abdullahi (Bali II), Abdulkarim Mohammed (Ibbi) and Edward Baraya (Karim II).

    Tsokwa said the House met with the governor on Tuesday, but the governor spoke in a manner that brought more doubt to his authorship of the letter purportedly transmitted to the House.

    The Speaker said: “it is no longer news that the Governor of Taraba State, Pharm. Danbaba Danfulani Suntai was involved in plane crash on October 25, 2012, whereof, he was flown to Germany for treatment in a condition that made him incapable of transmitting a letter to the Taraba State House of Assembly, informing it of his absence in office.

    “The House invoked the provisions of Section 190(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and transmitted power to his deputy to act the office of the governor of Taraba State.

    “We are all living witnesses to the way and manner the governor was brought into the state on Sunday, August 25.

    “The leadership of the Taraba State House of Assembly made several efforts to see him since his arrival, but till yesterday (Wednesday) August 28 that they were allowed access to the ailing governor. And their visit revealed that he spoke in a manner that brought more doubt to his authorship of the letter purportedly transmitted to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.”

     

     

     

  • ‘Grandpa’ rapes six-year-old girl in Ebonyi

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Ebonyi on Thursday arrested a 64 -year old man, Mr. Peter Edibgo for allegedly raping a six- year old girl, Nkwegu Chinwe, at Agbaenyim in Izzi Local government area of the state.

    Spokesman of NSCDC in the state, Emmanuel Nwali, said the suspect would have been lynched but for the timely intervention of the officers and men of Command.

    Nwali said after investigation, the suspect would be transferred to the appropriate agency responsible for handling such heinous crimes for possible prosecution.

    The suspect, he said, had been notorious for such acts as the village Head and other members of the community also confirmed the incident to the Corps.

    According to the command’s spokesman, the victim who felt a hard push into her legs, raised an alarm which attracted members of the community.

    “We are still investigating the case and after that we are going to hand over the case to the appropriate quarters because that is not one of our core mandates as NSCDC, “he stated.

     

  • 2015: PDM admits getting merger offers

    2015: PDM admits getting merger offers

    …Opts for alliances

    The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) on Thursday admitted that some parties have approached it for merger but it might consider alliances.

    The party, which has raised 10 Action Committees, also said it was not formed to promote the presidential ambition of ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

    It has also decided not to participate in the forthcoming governorship poll in Anambra State.

    The PDM made the disclosures in a statement issued in Abuja by Mr. Alaba Yusuf, who is the Media Advisor to its National Chairman.

    The disclosures were the outcome of the post-registration National Executive Committee meeting at the Party’s headquarters in Abuja.

    The statement said: “The Chairman, Mallam Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim disclosed that some parties have approached the PDM and proposed a merger but the party would not subsume its identity to any party, rather it will relate as equals.

    “He reiterated that PDM will not merge with any other party but there could be room for future alliances.

    “On whether the PDM was formed to actualise the presidential dream of former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the chairman said it is untrue and a mere rumour.

    “However, he said PDM belongs to all eligible Nigerians and all is welcome to join the party of light, security, equity and unity.”

    The PDM said it opted to transform into a political party because the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had “strayed like a lost child.”

    He said contrary to insinuations, the transformation of PDM into a party had the backing of the leaders of the group.