The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Gov Suntai to be flown to Germany for treatment

    Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba has been flown to Abuja preparatory to being moved to Germany for further treatment.

    A medical source at the Specialist Hospital, Yola, where the governor was receiving treatment following his plane crash in a bush along Yola-Numan road on Thursday night, disclosed this on Friday.

    The source, who pleaded anonymity, however said that the governor was in stable condition, adding that: “He sustained a fracture on his right hand and some bruises on his head.’’

    Suntai was driven in an ambulance belonging to Federal Medical Center Yola around 11.30 a.m. to Yola International airport to board an air ambulance to Abuja in a long convoy of well wishers and sympathisers.

    Meanwhile, men of Accident Investigation Bureau of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria from Abuja have arrived at  the scene of the plane crash for investigations.

    A NAN correspondent, who visited the scene, reports that the officials could be seen gathering parts of the plane while mobile security men are preventing people from loitering around the spot.

    In a related development, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Malam Hassan Mijinyawa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the governor’s condition was stable.

    He said the condition of the ADC and CSO to the governor, who were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, was critical because they both had multiple fractures on their legs and hands. (NAN)

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Nigerians pray for peace, security

    Eid-el-Kabir: Nigerians pray for peace, security

    Nigerians have focused prayers on peace, stability and security as Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    From Kaduna came the report that Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State on Friday stressed the need for prayers to tackle the security challenges in the country.

    Yakowa, represented by his deputy, Alhaji Muhktar Yero, made this remark after the Raka’at prayers led by Malam Muhammed Dan-Zaria at Murtala Square in Kaduna.

    He said the current security challenges could be overcome with fervent and sustained faithful prayers, patriotism and assisting security agents with information.

    Yakowa stressed the need for the Muslims to renew their faith in peace just as he described the fear of insecurity among the residents as disturbing.

    The governor also urged them to use the occasion for sober reflection, emulate the Holy Prophet of Islam by extending love and hands of friendship to the less privileged, non Muslims and others in the society.

    Dan-Zaria in his sermon, cautioned the Muslims to be just, fair and have faith in God in all their activities.

    In Ilorin, thousands of Muslim worshipers joined their counterparts all over the world in celebrating Eid-el-Kabir with prayers.

    The Chief Imam of llorin, Alhaji Muhamm Bashir, in his sermon, urged Nigerians to allow love, patience, peace and other good virtures be their watchword in all their endevours.

    In his remark, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, the Emir of llorin, thanked security agencies in the state for ensuring provision of adequate security before, during and after the prayer.

    He also called on Nigerians to eschew bitterness, rancour and acrimony which could retard the progress of the country.

    Also, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun in his message, urged the Muslims to imbibe the lessons and values of Eid-el-Kabir by sustaining peaceful co-existence across the country.

    He appealed to them to abstain from worldly things and engage in more acts of worship that would earn them abundant rewards from God.

    Mr Akintunde Adegboye, the Deputy Speaker of Osun House of Assembly, urged the Muslims faithful to use the lesson of the festival to leave in peace with their neighbours.
    Adegboye said that Muslims should be generous to the less privilege during and after Eid-el-Kabir.

    A traditional ruler in Omu-Aran, Kwara, Oba Charles Ibitoye, in his message to his subjects, urged religious leaders to intercede on behalf of the country through special prayers for adequate security, progress and development.

    Ibitoye made the call on Friday while receiving Muslim faithful in his palace led by the Chief Imam of Omu-Aran, Alhaji Sodiq Afolayan.

    “Only divine intervention through prayers could save the country from his socio-economic problems.

    “Our present leaders in all tiers of government are not magicians, they are human being like us, it is when we support and pray for them that they can lead us well.

    “I am using this opportunity of the Sallah celebration to appeal to our religion leaders, irrespective of their affiliations, to continue to pray for unity, progress and peaceful co-existence,’’ he said.

    In his remark, Afolayan urged Muslims to always be truthful and learn to honour agreement in their dealings and transactions with fellow humans.

    “A lot of negative happenings today, more importantly high profile killings and assassinations are as a result of party’s failure to honour agreements.

    “A Muslim whether as a civil servant, businessman, politicians and other professions, must not say or promise what is beyond is capability; Allah loves those who are truthful, honest and trustworthy,” he said.

    In Benue, the Chief Imam of Watada Mosque in Makurdi, Malam Sanusi Burhanudeen, urged Muslims faithful to shun all acts of violence for the peace and unity of the nation.

    He gave the charge on Friday during the Eid-el-Kabir prayers, calling on Muslims to emulate the faith of Abraham by living exemplary lifestyles that promoted peaceful co-existence.

    Sanusi also prayed for peace in the country and appealed to the Muslims to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir with humble hearts and seek forgiveness from Allah.

    He appealed to the Federal Government to find lasting solution to the growing cases of insecurity in the country. (NAN)

  • Those who wished me dead need God`s forgiveness—Awujale

    Those who wished me dead need God`s forgiveness—Awujale

    Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, on Friday said those who rumoured his death while he was on medical trip abroad should ask God for forgiveness.

    Oba Adetona, who stated this during his Eid-el-Kabir message at Idobi praying ground in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun, said despite the rumour, God saved his life.

    It would be recalled that Adetona was flown abroad in June for medical treatment and returned on Oct. 22 to Ijebu-Ode.

    During his sojourn abroad, there was rumour of his death.

    The Awujale said he wondered why people were in hurry for him to die before his time.

    Adetona, who explained that he was rushed abroad after he fell in his residence in Lagos, said the prayers of those who loved him saved his life.

    “Many people spread the news of my death while I was abroad for medical treatment, but I thank God that I am alive.

    “I wonder why people are in a hurry for me to die. Those who spread the news should go and ask God for forgiveness.

    “It is only God that can determine when a man will die. Moreover, I don’t fear death because death is a debt that everybody must pay.

    “I thank God that I am hale and healthy“.

    On the forthcoming Ojude-Ode festival, Awujale said it would be the best ever celebrated.

    Oba Adetona added that Senate President, David mark would be the special guest of honour.

    Earlier in his message, Alhaji Abdulrasak Salaudeen, the deputy Chief Imam of Ijebu-Ode central mosque, appealed to government to improve health care delivery in the country.

    Salaudeen said that most of the hospitals in the country were in bad shape with no modern equipment to work with and attributed it as the reason for mass exodus of people abroad for treatment.

    The Imam also urged government to create jobs for the youth and improve security in the country.

    Also speaking, Mr Rasak Daddah, the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode local government, said the people of Ijebuland were happy that the Oba was alive to celebrate sallah with them.

    “Awujale is a symbol of authority and culture for the Ijebus and for the country at large and we are happy that he came back from his medical trip. (NAN)

  • U.S-based Nigerians seek probe of Boko Haram’s funding

    United States-based Nigerians are calling for a national and international probe that will uncover the sources of funding of Boko Haram, especially on how the group gets its deadly arms and weapons.

    In a chat with Empowered Newswire after addressing an international press conference in Washington DC, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, Dr. James Fadele, said it is now imperative for concerned governments, international agencies, global bodies and think tanks to carry out a probe on how the Boko Haram are able to get deadly weapons to carry out their mayhem in Nigeria.

    The CANAN leader spoke just as the association formed last month in New York launched its regional chapter in Maryland.

    The launching took place at an event in Jesus House DC, located in Silver Spring, Maryland, and was attended by members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Gospel Faith Missions, Jubilee Christian Church International and Christ Apostolic Church, among others.

    Speaking earlier at a press conference on Tuesday, Dr. Fadele, observed that “Boko Haram is sustained by the procurement of unbelievable amounts of heavy arms and weapons, clearly transported from country to country and certainly funded by some fat pockets.”

    He for a critical investigation into the likely backers of the sect within and outside Nigeria.

    “CANAN also frowned at the fact that while a number of top politicians have been linked with Boko Haram, a conclusive investigation and trial had not been carried out.

    “Only last week, it was reported that the Joint Task Force, announced that it has caught a Boko Haram commander in the house of a national politician in Borno State,” the CANAN leader said.

     

  • Eid el- Kabir: Tambuwal urges Nigerians to be law abiding

    Eid el- Kabir: Tambuwal urges Nigerians to be law abiding

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has urged Nigerians to be law abiding at all times and restore the virtues of good neighbourliness.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

    Tambuwal said for Nigeria to make the necessary progress it desired, the citizenry at all levels must be their brother’s keepers and be more sensitive to the well-being of one another.

    According to him, all Nigerians must show commitment and readiness to make sacrifice toward the development of the nation.

    He said that making sacrifice for Nigeria had become imperative now more than ever before, considering the numerous challenges confronting the nation.

    The speaker added that while every nation on earth had peculiar challenges confronting its people, the determination to tackle those challenges at times sets some of them apart.

    “We must face our problems with more commitment, determination, unity of purpose and the best of intentions,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Speaker as saying in the statement.

    He enjoined Muslim faithful to use the occasion to reflect on their spiritual lives.

    “Let me use this opportunity to urge Nigerians, especially adherents of the Islamic faith, to use the occasion to reflect on our spiritual life as individuals and how we can contribute more meaningfully towards making Nigeria the great nation envisioned by its founding fathers,’’ Tambuwal counseled.

     

  • Flooding, insecurity delay MTN’s Network up-grade

    Flooding, insecurity delay MTN’s Network up-grade

    Telecom services provider, MTN has appealed for understanding from its customers and other key stakeholders as it continues its Network Modernization and swap-out exercise.

    The company’s Corporate Services Executive, Mr. Wale Goodluck at a press briefing on Tuesday in Lagos said the various activities related to MTN’s Network Modernization are progressing steadily. but noted that it was being affected by recent flood nationwide and insecurity.

    “We regret, however, that the pace of work has been considerably challenged by the spate of insecurity coupled with the unprecedented flooding being experienced in many parts of the country,” Goodluck stated.

    The network optimization exercise will affect over 4,000 base stations out of over 10, 000 across the country.

    According to Goodluck “the task that we are undertaking is tantamount to building a new network .We are seeking to replicate what we achieved over a six year period in nine months”.

    He explained that considerable progress has been recorded with regards to the ongoing network improvement plans adding that several swap-outs have reached very advanced stages of completion.

    “The entire network modernization process is a very logistic-intensive one and the problem of insecurity has seriously affected the pace of work in some parts of the country.”
    In at least 13 states, Goodluck added that flooding has created additional logistic impediments such that the pace of the ongoing network modernization efforts has slowed down.

    While acknowledging that MTN’s customers have been experiencing some disruption over the last few weeks, the Corporate Service Executive said as much as possible, the company would stick to its original plan of carrying out the network procedures only at night, in order to minimize disruptions to services.

    MTN’s current network modernization and swap-out exercise which began in July 2012 is expected to cover the entire country and was originally expected to span a period of nine months.
    Its objectives are to considerably enhance capacity on the MTN Network and improve service quality. Under the project, which is being implemented by a combined team of MTN engineers and technical partners that include Ericsson, Huawei and ZTE, key network components are being swapped with the latest upgrades in the industry. Current power systems are also being replaced with hybrid power systems which are more environment-friendly.

  • Ondo: Commissioner, LG Chairman arrested – ACN

    The Action Congress of Nigeria has alleged the arrest of a Commissioner and Local Government Chairman in Ondo State and other irregularities during the governorship election holding in the state today.

    According to a statement by the CAN National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the two state government officials were arrested and stripped naked after they were found with six AK-47 guns in the early hours of Saturday.

    They have been whisked to Akure for interrogation.

    The party also stated that ACN agents in several polling units, including Mr. Kolawole Babawale of Ondo West, Ward 4 Unit 6, are being barred from the polling units because INEC allegedly made a mistake by not inserting ‘ACN’ in the agents’ tags it issued to him. Mr. Babawale is now being threatened with arrest.

     

    On the absence of materials and Insecurity, the CAN stated that at Units 13 and 14, Apoi III in Ese Odo Local Government there were no election materials and no polling clerk as at 9.50 a.m.,

     

    “At Ugbo Ward I, Ilaje – No voting has commenced as at 9.58 a.m. as no materials have been brought to the ward

    “At Idanre ward 1, Aladura polling unit – A notorious thug known as AJAJA is on rampage and he is perpetrating violence in and around the polling unit and the entire Local Government

    “At Irele ward 7, Units 4, 6, 17 and 18 – No security agents and no form EC60M are available in all the polling units of the ward.

    “At Ese Odo LG ward 1 Unit 11 – Election materials are yet to be brought and no election officials as at 10. 45 am.

    “At Okitipupa LG, Ayeka Ward Unit 6 – INEC personnel are nowhere to be seen.

    “At Akoko North-east Edo Ward Unit 4 – An LP supporter came with photo copied voters’ card to be accredited.

    “At Okitipupa LG Ward 2 Unit 6 – ACN members are being denied accreditation.

     

    “At Iramuje Commander Village of Idanre local government – Suspected political thugs have attacked and chased away all the electorates in and a guy was also shot by the hoodlums.

    “At odi olowo in Akure – No voting materials and there are long queues” Mohammed stated.

     

  • Tight security as voting begins in Ondo

    Tight security as voting begins in Ondo

    There was tight security in Ondo North Senatorial District as voting began by 12 noon.

    Police and Air Force helicopters mounted air surveillance in Owo, Oba-Akoko, Akungba, Ikare, Oka, among others.

    As early as 6am, armed soldiers, anti-riot policemen and Department of State Security (DSS) operatives were seen patrolling all major roads.

    Roadblocks were also mounted as vehicles coming Okene, Benin and Abuja axis were stopped at the Ondo State boarder.

    In the towns, vehicles on election duty, including those conveying journalists, were stopped and searched.

    They were only allowed to pass only when they had indentified themselves by their INEC tags.

    In some polling units, security agents were seen scanning voters before being let in.

    Police officers and DSS agents were seen on guard in polling units.

    In Unit 10, Ward V, Afulu in Oka Akoko where Senator Ajayi Boroffice registered, two regular policewomen were on ground.

    Speaking to journalists, Borroffice, who was one of the governorship aspirants on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), complained about inadequate security personnel in his unit.

    He expressed fears that some people had threatened to disrupt voting there.

    However, he said soldiers who mounted guard about 500 meters away gave assurance that they would respond when called upon.

     

  • Voters’ accreditation begins in Ondo

    Voters’ accreditation begins in Ondo

    …Significant turnout in Ondo Central 

    Voters’ accreditation has commenced across Ondo State for today’s gubernatorial election.

    In various polling booths voters turned out early and were being attended to by electoral officers.

    At the Ondo North Senatorial District, there was a significant turnout of voters.

    It was observed that as early as 6.30am, voters were already at the various polling units waiting for materials to arrive.

    In some units, voting materials arrived at exactly 7am.

    Accreditation began in some units promptly by 8am. In others, it began at about 9am.

    In Unit 8, Ward 6, Ayegunle, Oka-Akoko, Akungba, voters were being accredited as at 8am.

    At the polling units were agents of the three major political parties – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    At Unit O4, in Ward II, the Presiding Officer was calling out names of registered voters as at 9am for accreditation.

    Old women, elderly men and youths gathered at the unit on Victory College, by Jubilee Market, Ugbe-Abuja Road.

    Accreditation was peaceful in the unit, but a Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO), Oladele Adebisi, who was monitoring activities in Akoko North East, said some of the Presiding Officers did not turn up.

    He said he was trying to send more officers to units with large number of voters.

    “The people are complying, and we’re working hard to meet up with time and finish with accreditation on schedule.

    “The only challenge we have is a shortage of hands in some units. So right now I am looking for more hands for units where there are more people.

    “There is supposed to be an Assistant Poling Officer (APO), APO I and APO II in each unit. But the people we would have used are not available,” he said.

    At Unit 05, Ward 1, CAC Primary School, the Ofua of Ikareland, High Chief Alfred Omotola, described the turnout of voters as impressive.

    He said: “We are peace-loving people. We are orderly here. There is no problem at all. I have come here to do my accreditation and I have been accredited.

    “No one will be forced to vote for a party when voting begins. Everyone will vote for a party of their choice,” he said.

     

  • Ondo Election: Commissioner, LG Chairman arrested

    Ondo Election: Commissioner, LG Chairman arrested

    A Commissioner in Ondo State and Local Government   Caretaker Committee in Ondo North Senatorial District have been arrested with some weapons  by soldiers at a road block.

    The have been reportedly driven to an unknown destination by the soldiers monitoring the gubernatorial election in the state today.