The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • I’m not interested in CBN’s job – Yero

    I’m not interested in CBN’s job – Yero

    Governor Mukthar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State said on Tuesday that he was satisfied with his current position as governor of the state and is therefore not interested in taking up appointment as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    In a statement made available to The Nation in Kaduna and signed by the Director- General, Media and Publicity, Ahmed Maiyaki, the goovernor said that his immediate concern was how to deliver on the mandate given to his government by the people of the state.

    While describing the recent rumour as mischevious and the handiwork of mischief makers, the governor said that he was completely devoted to delivering democracy dividends to the people of the state.

    The statement reads: “It has come to our notice that some miscreants are peddling rumour of a purported move to appoint His Excellency, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the expiration of the tenure of the current Governor of the apex bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

    “While we may have ignored this insinuation as another handiwork of mischief makers, it is pertinent to put the record straight in the interest of providing accurate information to the people of Kaduna State and beyond, to save them from falling gullible to falsehood.

    “We wish to state categorically that His Excellency is completely devoted to delivering democracy dividends to the people of Kaduna State, to justify the mandate giving to this administration by the people.

    “The Governor has no interest in taking up appointment at the CBN or any other institution. His Excellency, Alhaji (Dr) Mukhtar Ramalan Yero remains committed and focused towards providing purposeful leadership that will bring about rapid transformation of Kaduna State.”

     

  • Senate stands still for Super Eagles

    Senate stands still for Super Eagles

    The Senate on Tuesday stood still for the Super Eagles.

    This followed a motion on the superlative performance of the team at the just ended African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    The motion entitled: “Nigeria’s glorious outing at the AFCON 2013” was sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and 107 others.

    No Senator wanted to be left out of the success story of the Super Eagles in South Africa as players were singled out one after the other for praise.

    Besides, consideration of the motion was one rare moment when Senators threw politics overboard, and in one accord, poured encomium on the nation’s football ambassadors.

    As if praises were not enough, the lawmakers gave a standing ovation to the Super Eagles describing them as the new kings of African football.

    The lawmakers unanimously adopted a resolution urging Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi to rescind his reported resignation in the interest of the growth of the country’s sports.

    Other resolutions are – to commend and congratulate the Super Eagles for winning the trophy and making the nation proud.

    -To congratulate Coach Stephen Keshi and his technical team.

    -To commend and congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan for this achievement and for motivating the team.

    – Urge Mr. President and the Federal Government of Nigeria to reward the team handsomely materially and also by conferring befitting National Honours Awards on them.

    – Call on the managers of sports in Nigeria to sit up and return to the grassroots to develop the nation’s abundant sports talents to sustain this new dawn in the nation’s football and sports in general.

    – To urge Coach Stephen Keshi to rescind his resignation in the interest of growth of sports in Nigeria.”

    Ekweremadu in his lead debate said the AFCON trophy had eluded the country for the past 19 years since she last won it in 1994.

    He noted that until this year, the performance of the Super Eagles had been grossly dissatisfactory to the generality of Nigerians, while Nigerian football had nosedived abysmally.

    Ekweremadu urged the Senate to note with pleasure, “the splendid performance of the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Nigeria’s emergence as champion of Africa at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in South Africa.”

    The Senate, he added, should also note with “delight the tenacity of spirit, patriotic zeal as well as unity and team spirit displayed by players, coach, and entire team management.”

     

  • I had cancer, but fully okay now – Chime

    I had cancer, but fully okay now – Chime

    Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State on Tuesday opened up on his health condition, admitting to journalists that he had cancer of the nose.

    Chime, who returned to the country after almost four months stay in United Kingdom, was quick to add that he has been given a clean bill of health by the British doctors.

    “I have been completely cured and declared cancer free by the doctors,” he told journalists.

    Looking hale and hearty, the governor spoke at length on his sojourn abroad and the unfair publicity given his absence by the Nigerian press.

    “When I read in the papers how I died in India, we then turn Nigerian papers to entertainment forum. We read what they wrote about me and laughed. It became an amusement kind of thing,” he said of Nigerian papers.

    Chime, who has fully resumed duty said although cancer is a deadly disease, he was never admitted in the hospital as in-patient but was going for treatment from his apartment in London.

    According to him, the treatment took complete 12 weeks and the doctors advised that he should be out of work for at least six months to ensure full recovery.

    But the doctors were amazed at the speed of his recovery and declared him cancer free and completely cured on December 14.

    “I left London a healthy man. I went on my own and not on emergency, and insisted that the lump I noticed be removed. Cancer is curable once you discover it early,” the governor admonished.

    He thanked the people of Enugu for their prayers, patience and for “rebuffing those from outside who came to deceive them and cause confusion while he was away.”

    Chime declared: “I have fully resumed. There is no doubt about that. I’m back and I’m back. No regrets whatsoever for going for treatment while on my vacation. If I have the opportunity again, I will do it.”

     

  • We will monitor Edo LG polls – PDP

    Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has said it would monitor the local government elections scheduled to hold on April 20.

    It said its candidates were poised to bring transformation agenda to the grassroots.

    The state Secretary of the party, Mr. Felix Utubor who stated this in a chat with journalists said they would ensure that the results of the election are declared at the polling units and not at a “collation” centre in Benin City.

    Utubor noted that the party believed that Governor Adams Oshiomhole would stand by the one man one vote mantra.

    He said, “We are prepared for the elections. We have candidates in all the 192 wards and 18 local government chairmen’s seat.”

    “We are going to tell the people to vote for transformation. We want to bring the transformation agenda to them.”

     

  • CBN to execute school project in Dukku Emirate

    CBN to execute school project in Dukku Emirate

    The Central Bank of Nigeria on Monday said it would execute a project in one of the schools at Dukku Emirate in Gombe State as part of the bank’s intervention programmes on education.

    The CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido, disclosed this during a visit to the Emir of Dukku, Alhaji Haruna Rasheed in Dukku.

    Lamido told the Emir to identify the school where the bank would execute the project.

    “We have good news. The Central Bank of Nigeria is embarking on projects in schools this year.

    “We will like the Emir to name a school in Dukku so that we will embark on the project,” he said.

    Sanusi commiserated with the new Emir over the death of his father, Alhaji Abdulrasheed and congratulated him on his appointment.

    He said the appointment of the new Emir would bring peace and development in Dukku Emirate and Gombe as a whole.

    Responding, the Emir thanked the CBN governor, management and staff of the bank for identifying with him during the death of his father.

    Speaking with journalists after the visit, Sanusi said the project to be executed in Dukku was in line with the bank’s policy.

    “Usually CBN does interventions every year and what we said is that this year part of our interventions will be in Dukku because we do it in every zone of the country.

    “Last year, we did it in Borno State and this year, we will do it in Gombe State,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the CBN governor as saying to journalists.

     

  • Court rejects suspected pipeline vandals’ bail application

    Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court, Lagos, on Tuesday struck out an application for bail filed by four accused persons charged with pipeline vandalism.

    The accused are: Rueben Oluwole (60); John Isaiah (28); Timi Gunugunu (22) and Olisa Saheed (25).

    They are standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on pipeline vandalism and murder.

    Justice Idris struck out the affidavit in support of the bail application filed by Mr. George Iheanacho, the counsel to Oluwole, Isaiah and Saheed, as well as that filed by Mr. Charles Ovuru, the counsel to Timi Ogunugunu.

    Both counsel had on February 4, argued the affidavit in support of the bail application for their clients, stating that they had health challenges.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that they prayed the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.

    In his ruling, the judge held that some paragraphs of the affidavit in support of the bail application filed by both counsel, contravened the provisions of Sections 115 of the Evidence Act.

    Idris held that the defence counsel had failed to substantiate reasonable grounds in support of their argument for bail.

    He said that there was no reference as to the time or circumstances surrounding their arguments as to the “ill health of the accused which is a reasonable ground for securing their bail.”

    “In view of this error, the affidavit is struck out and the bail application becomes bare and must be equally struck out.

    “It is hereby struck out,” he said.

    He, therefore, ordered for an accelerated hearing into the case and adjourned trial to March 13 and March 14.

    NAN reports that the judge had ordered the remand of the accused in prison custody on November 29, last year after they were arraigned on allegations of oil pipeline vandalism and murder.

    They had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

     

  • Gunmen kill three farmers in Plateau

    Unidentified gunmen on Monday killed three persons on their farms at Kassa Village in the Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau.

    The Special Task Force maintaining peace in the troubled state, said in a statement in Jos that two of the suspected attackers were however, gunned down by STF troops who swiftly rushed to the scene.

    The statement, signed by the Media Officer of the STF, Capt. Salisu Mustapha, said the attackers invaded the farm at about 8:00am and opened fire on the farmers.

    “The STF quickly responded to the distress call from some of the fleeing victims but on sighting the troops, the gunmen opened fire on them.

    “This led to a gun duel that resulted to the killing of two of the suspected attackers.

    “STF personnel also arrested four of the gunmen who were injured in the process, while three AK 47 rifles and a locally made rifle were recovered from them.

    “Also recovered were 45 rounds of 7.62 (special) and 31 other cartridges,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the STF media officer as saying in the statement.

    The statement also disclosed that gunmen on Saturday attacked some cows while grazing at Kassa area of Ropp in the Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area.

     

  • Pope ‘will not interfere’ in choosing of successor

    Pope ‘will not interfere’ in choosing of successor

    … Catholics mark Ash Wednesday

    Pope Benedict XVI will not interfere in choosing his successor after his shock decision to resign at the end of the month, the pontiff’s brother has said.

    Georg Ratzinger told the BBC the Pope would only “make himself available” if he is needed.

    Benedict said on Monday he would resign after nearly eight years as the head of the Catholic Church because he was too old to continue at the age of 85.

    The Vatican now says it expects a new Pope to be elected before Easter.

    The unexpected development – the first papal resignation in nearly 600 years – surprised governments, Vatican-watchers and even Benedict’s closest aides.

    Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 after John Paul II’s death.

    The BBC says that in theory there has never been anything stopping Pope Benedict or any of his predecessors from stepping aside.

    Under the Catholic Church’s governing code, Canon Law, the only conditions for the validity of such a resignation are that it be made freely and be properly published.

    But resignation is extremely rare: the last Pope to step aside was Pope Gregory XII, who resigned in 1415 amid a schism within the Church.

    Meanwhile, Catholics all over the world will on February 13, mark this year’s Ash Wednesday, signifying the commencement of the 40-day Lenten season.

    Spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Msgr. Gabriel Osu, said this in a statement on Tuesday.

    According to him “Ash Wednesday ushers in the Lenten Season.

    “A forty-day period of penance, reflection and fasting prepares us for Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday.

    “It is a period of conversion, self- denial, renewal, reconciliation, change and growth; it is about denying self for the life of others,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Msgr. Osu as saying in the statement.

    He said that the hall mark of Ash Wednesday was the marking of the forehead of Catholic faithful with ashes, making the “sign of the cross” as a reminder of their sinful nature.

    Osu said that in the Archdiocese of Lagos, the Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins, would be expected to lead other clergies to celebrate the Holy Eucharist and administer ashes on the foreheads of the faithful.

     

  • Keshi withdraws resignation

    Keshi withdraws resignation

    Super Eagles coach , Stephen  Keshi, has changed his mind about resigning his position after leading the Nigerian team to win the African Cup of Nations in South Africa.
    Keshi, in a statement on Tuesday morning, said his decision to withdraw his resignation  followed a meeting he had with the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi.
    “My attention has been drawn to reports in the media that I have resigned my appointment as the Head Coach of Super Eagles of Nigeria.
    “While I have had cause to express my displeasure over some issues that happened in the course of our participation in the AFCON 2013, which my team won by the grace of God, especially concerning my relationship with the Nigerian Football Federation, I have since had opportunity to discuss the various issues with all concerned. I am therefore pleased to say that I have reconsidered my position and have decided to continue with my job.
    “I want to thank the Honourable Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, for his swift and kind intervention,” Keshi popularly known as the ‘big boss’ said in the statement.

  • Kardashian in Nigeria for Valentine concert

    Kardashian in Nigeria for Valentine concert

    World famous US TV personality, Kim Kardashian is expected to join Nigerian music sensation, Darey Art Alade who is organising a St. Valentine’s concert in Lagos.

    Kardashian, who will be visiting Nigeria for the first time, will co-host the show with Darey, and also partake in an exclusive VIP pre-event dinner to be attended by Platinum ticket holders at Eko Hotel & Suites on Sunday, February 17, 2013.

    Darey, fondly called Africa’s R&B king is staging a star-studded act he calls “Love…Like a Movie” concert. Music pundits say the show; an evening of music, dance and drama is planned as a big budget feat.
    Kardashian, who is admired worldwide for her role in E! Network’s reality TV series “Keeping up with the Kardashians” will join Darey, Soul Muzik acts; Zaina and Moeazy and other Nigerian music superstars like Psquare, 9ice, 2face Idibia, Flavour, Iyanya, Praiz, Timi Dakolo, Waje and Ice Prince for the show.

    South African group, Jozi which worked with Darey on the remix of the hit track ‘Asiko’ are also on the bill to celebrate love and lovers.
    Excited, Darey says: “I’m more than happy that Kim Kardashian is joining us for this first-of-its-kind concert.

    Millions of Nigerians follow Kim on her different shows, especially “Keeping up with the Kardashians”, and we thought it’d be a good idea to have her co-host “Love…Like a Movie” with me.”
    Produced by Soul Musik, the show, a theatrical valentine concert, has been described as an exhibition of performance varieties, using the interpretation of emotions, music, cross-culture dance and acrobatic performances, lights, moving images and customized sets. The concert is expected to also feature The KITONB Project, an extreme theatre company from Italy.
    The act will be directed by Angelo Bonello, who arrived Nigeria with a 40-man crew last week, and has since begun pre-production at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre.