The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Okorocha to Ihedioha: Leave me alone, face governance

    By Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri

     

    Former governor of Imo State and member representing Imo West in the Senate, Senator Rochas Okorocha has advised his successor, Chief Emeka Ihedioha to leave him alone and face governance.

    Okorocha’s advice followed Ihedioha’s comments during the 2019 Ahiajioku Lecture on Saturday that the former governor’s eight years tenure was ‘years of locust’ because he had shunned the Ahiajioku Lecture, which was the Igbo intellectual harvest for the period he governed the state.

    Ihedioha had also described Okorocha as a man “who rode on the popularity of an essentially Igbo party to beguile Imo people but who turned out to despise everything the Igbo hold dear, a man who limped into Douglas House Owerri on a lie of the garb, and never held the lecture; instead, the name of Ahiajoku Centre was changed and anything that could amount to an intellectual journey of discovery for the Igbo was shunned”.

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    But, Okorocha, who reacted to that statement, advised Governor Ihedioha to face governance and stop abusing him, saying that the whole thing was becoming nauseating.

    The former governor, whose statement was issued by his media adviser, Sam Onwuemeodo, said the reason Ihedioha was always complaining about his administration was because “Ihedioha is governing Imo State with a stolen mandate. Since then, he has never slept with his two eyes closed. He has remained haunted by that electoral mishap.

    “What happened in Owerri on Saturday was not Ahiajoku Lecture but a get-together by the PDP bigwigs and they were assembled by Governor Ihedioha to abuse the former governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, the APC and the Party’s leadership at all levels.

    “All those who attended the event including Fani Kayode, Chief Chidoka, Chief Peter Obi, Prof. M. Echeruo, Governor Udom Emmanuel etal, are all PDP chieftains. So, it was the first get-together of the Party after the elections, in the South-East. And they did nothing else than to abuse Okorocha, APC and other leaders”.

    According to Okorocha, Ihedioha’s major achievement in the past seven months was the constant abuse of himself (Okorocha) “because he is cowed or intimidated by Okorocha’s existing achievements. He can’t cope and has no other option than to resort to abuses”.

  • Oshiomhole: APC UK wants party to focus on delivering mandate

    Agency Reporter

    The United Kingdom chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised all elected officials of the party to focus on delivering their mandates.

    It called for less attention to issue concerning the sack of its National Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole.

    Mr Ade Omole, leader of the chapter said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja while reacting to the bickering in the party.

    Omole said that the recent wrangling within the party’s hierarchy and the call by some of its members that Oshiomhole be sacked was not in the best interest of the party.

    “This is a rallying call to all APC leaders and members at home and abroad to unite behind comrade Oshiomhole and focus on the mandate willingly given to us by the Nigerian electorate,” Omole said.

    He advised that no gang up within or outside the party should be allowed to derail Oshiomole’s leadership in providing positive leadership for the party.

    Omole said that the party had continued to grow successively stronger and more united nationwide because of Oshiomole’s leadership style.

    He described those calling for Oshiomole’s sack as the fifth columnists who left the party ahead of the 2015 general elections and were now hell bent on bringing it down.

    “Oshiomhole is the Moses of the party, who led it across the red sea during the rebellion of the fifth columnists prior to 2019 general elections,” Omole said.

    Read Also: APC Govs’ forum rates GANDUJE highest among states

    He stressed that this was not the time to call for Oshiomhole’s sack if the party must remain united as one big family to continue winning elections.

    Omole said the party’s recent electoral victory in Kogi and Bayelsa states was a master stroke made possible by the smooth working relationship between its leadership and government under Oshiomhole.

    “With Oshiomhole at the helm of affairs of the APC, there will be apprehension in the camp of the opposition because of his doggedness and no nonsense approach to issues,” the APC UK leader said.

    This, he said, was the reason members of the opposition were doing everything possible to get him out of office using some APC members.

    According to Omole, the discipline, love and unity within the APC is made possible by Oshiomole’s leadership style and should not be truncated.

    He noted that such character could not be said about the party before Oshiomhole became its national chairman.

    Omole further noted that Oshiomhole may not be perfect, because as humans, nobody is perfect, but had been passionate and committed to the advancement of the country and the party.

    “This is the time to support him in moving the country and the party to the next level of progress and economic development.

    “I am appealing to those who may feel wronged or offended by the perceived party building actions of Oshiomhole to sheathe their swords.

    “They should join hands with the party’s leadership and utilise the reconciliation process headed by President Muhammadu Buhari to articulate their grievances,” Omole said.

    NAN reports that some APC governors and chieftains had recently called for Oshiomole’s sack, accusing him of high-handedness. (NAN)

  • DHQ denies recruitment of ex-Boko Haram fighters into the Army

    By Okodili Ndidi, Abuja

    The Defence Headquarters has described as unfounded, reports that repented Boko Haram fighters are being recruited into the Nigerian Army.

    It said that apart from de-radicalization, rehabilitation and reintegration of the ex-Boko Haram insurgents, which is under the auspices of Operation Safe Corridor as a non- kinetic operation, there was no such plan of recruting repented Boko Haram fighters.

    The Defence Headquarters also disclosed that it is only the 250 Boko Haram fighters who willingly surrendered to government troops that have been de-radicalized and reintegrated into the society “and are doing well in their respective communities”.

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    According to a statement signed by the Acting Director Defence Information, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu , “the Defence Headquarters has been notified of false information peddled in some online media, insinuating that deradicalized Boko Haram ex- fighters are being absorbed into the Nigerian military. One of such insinuations is contained in a trending video footage published by Roots TV, where one Balhatu Musa Ezekiel claimed the Nigeria Army had recruited de-redicalized Boko Haram Ex-fighters into the Army and was therefore recycling insurgency.

    “The Defence Headquarters wishes to unambiguously state that Balhatu’s claims are not only bereft of truth, but laced with mediocrity emanating from poorly researched and uninformed position”.

    It continued that, “contrary to his claims , no Boko Haram ex- fighter has been recruited into the Nigerian military and no such plan is in the offing.

    “The de-radicalization, rehabilitation and reintegration program is a Federal Government program conducted under the auspices of Operation Safe Corridor as a non- kinetic operation.

    “Nigeria’s De-radicalization model is a very effective one, targeted at low risk combatants and has become a classical example in the Lake Chad Basin Region and West Africa.

    Over 250 repentant insurgents who willingly abandoned their struggle and surrendered to Federal troops have been de-radicalized, rehabilitated and re-integrated into the society by their respective state governments in conjunction with traditional and religious institutions”.

    It added further that, “Nigeria’s De-radicalization model is therefore not new in the global community, as such model exists in Algeria, Colombia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, where persons involved in violent extremism have been de-radicalized and rehabilitated . This process is therefore an internationally acceptable practice now.

    “So far in Nigeria, the de-radicalized ex-fighters are doing well in their respective communities, as no adverse report has been recorded against the de-radicalized repentant ex fighters by Operation Safe Corridor’s monitoring unit. There has not been report of molestation or harassment of any sort against them by members of the communities, where they are resettled. As a matter of verifiable fact, the reintegrated ex- fighters are doing well in their various endeavours and are positively impacting on their respective communities.

    “It is also expedient to state, that the Federal Government of Nigeria has continued to prosecute BHT/ISWAP suspects in courts of competent jurisdiction and over 500 terrorists have so far been convicted. Meanwhile, the next round of prosecution of another batch of terrorism suspects is due to commence shortly.

    “Members of the public are therefore enjoined to please discountenance the misinformation and misguided views peddled by Balhatu Musa Ezekiel, as it constitutes outright aberration of extant recruitment procedures and practice of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

    “The Defence Headquarters reiterates its commitment to ensuring a well motivated, trained and equipped Armed Forces that is professionally responsive to national security commitments.
    Please disseminate this information through your news medium.
    Thank you for your cooperation”.

  • Olanipekun to NASS: Withdraw Hate speech bill now

    John Austin Unachukwu

    A former President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has advised the National Assembly (NASS) not to pass the Hate Speech Bill.

    Olanipekun warned that the bill could create bad blood and disunity among Nigerians.

    He said it was not only counterproductive but also conflicts with the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.

    He lamented that such a bill could emanate from the NASS and expressed fear that those pushing for the bill now may soon fall victim to it.

    Olanipekun spoke at the weekend in Ekiti State, during the Wole Olanipekun Foundation’s annual scholarship awards for over a hundred indigent but brilliant students.

    The former NBA President enjoined legislators to rather than initiate problematic pieces of legislation like the Hate Speech bill, concentrate on sponsoring bills that would cushion the effects of “insecurity, poor education, hardship and bad roads” that plague the country.

    Read Also: The hate speech bill: Evidence of legislative idleness

    He said: “Let me, first of all, say this that I am happy to note that it is not an Executive bill. You know you can have an Executive bill, Members’ Bill or Private bill. This bill is being initiated from or by the NASS. I am happy because the bill didn’t originate from the Presidency. I think we are mixing a lot of things up. People are commenting that Buhari wants to gag the press, I do not agree with them because the bill did not come from the Presidency. But it is unfortunate that it is coming from the NASS

    “We have a lot of problems in Nigeria that we need laws to cushion their effect; we need laws that will cushion the effect of hardship, poverty, education, insecurity, bad roads and all of that.

    “As an elder statesman, let me advise the NASS to be more productive, let us stop chasing vanity and things that are counterproductive. To me as a lawyer, as an elder, this bill will be counterproductive. The bill will bring disunity even among family members. We should not bring disunity. Wife and husband disagree, and if such happens, will you report your spouse for Hate Speech?

    “Others are moving forward, we are stuck here. In other climes, people are thinking of how to transform their countries in 100 years’ time. I was in Britain a couple of weeks ago, and in a newspaper article it was reported that what [Former Labour Party Prime Minister Tony] Blair had put up some 20 years ago had begun to materialise. And what was it? The Labour government under Blair came to the realisation that the enrollment of young people in school had gone below 20% and the government initiated an idea of getting young men in school by making their major priority education, and now 20 years after, the percentage has risen to 57. That is the kind of thing we should celebrate, not some laws that are counterproductive.

    “My little knowledge of law will not open my eyes to the definition of Hate Speech. In the law of defamation, we have libel and slander and vulgar abuse. And they would tell you vulgar abuse is not actionable, we are all human beings, we all have emotions, everyman has his own lull moment,” Olanipekun explained.

    “Sociology makes us to understand that everyone has a moment of momentary madness, an insane period of man. It might even be a transferred aggression.

    “Let us caution ourselves in this country, and my fear is that those who make the law might become victims of such law. It is going to be a vicious cycle. The politicians, what do they do at the soap boxes, they engage in Hate Speech and abuse themselves irrespective of their political alliances. They should rather tell us what would benefit Nigerians in the soap box not spreading Hate Speech. They are the purveyors of Hate Speech.

    “We have gotten to a stage where in Nigeria we have to speak to ourselves. Even God says to humanity: ‘come let us reason together We must be cautious. Where do we start, where do we progress? What exactly is Hate Speech? It is something that will have a beginning but will not have an end. First, they were proposing capital punishment, goodness me! Such punishment is outdated, how many governors have been able to sign the documents of many people in death sentence? I was Attorney general in old Ondo State and even in Ekiti, none of the governors could sign death [sentences] we them even though we had many on such row. You see chief judges of various states going to release prisoners and you are talking of death sentence?

    “Please, they should respect the sanctity of human life. Nigeria is not in the stone age. We have laws that have taken care of all offences in Nigeria. Rights are inalienable, you can’t take rights away. It is not a question of adjustment but a question of, we are all human beings we can err. It is only God that is perfect. Let them withdraw the bill.

    “Whether they amend it or not, it will conflict with the principles of fundamental human rights.

    “No review, no amendment, but they should withdraw it out rightly. We will forgive them if they show that they err. We will understand that they are also human beings who can also err. Many governors have condemned the bill, and that is civilization. Everybody knows what is good. Everybody also values the sanctity of life. It is not a question of if it is All Progressives Congress (APC) the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) , All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), it is a question of what is not good is not good. I am shocked that the NASS even gave it a thought in the first place.”

  • We’ll continue to pursue peace, Obaseki insists

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has said his administration will continue to explore all avenue in resolving the crisis rocking the state chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    The governor said this while responding to the call by the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria and Archbishop of Benin Archdiocese, Most Rev Dr. Augustine Akubeze, who in a homily, urged the governor to settle grievances with his predecessor and National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    On Sunday, Governor Obaseki joined other well-wishers and dignitaries to celebrate with the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu during Comrade Shaibu’s 50th birthday thanksgiving at St Paul’s Catholic Church, in Benin City.

    Obaseki said he had in the past heeded to the call by the Archbishop to make peace with the APC National Chairman, noting, “The last time I was in this church was during the 80th birthday of our elder statesman, Chief John Odigie and the priest raised certain concerns. To tell you how seriously we take your views, I went to Iyamoh with members of my cabinet and political party to pursue peace. I want to assure you that we will continue to pursue peace.”

    Read Also: Oshiomhole, Obaseki reconciliation move dead on arrival

    “We have been in this situation for more than six months and it is very difficult to change people’s views. One of my Commissioner said, ‘you can only have a current champion and you cannot have a permanent Champion,” the governor said.

    He added that it was difficult for members of the Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to accept that godfatherism is good for the Nigerian politics, noting, “If we said 12 years ago that godfatherism is not good for our politics, 12 years after, it is difficult for us to change and accept that godfatherism is now good.

    “These are some of the challenges we face. But we will continue to pray and seek peace,” he said.

    Obaseki implored the church to appeal to the members of the Edo State House of Assembly who were yet to resume their duties to do so.

    Earlier in his homily, Archbishop Augustine Akubeze urged for an end to the political crises rocking the Edo State chapter of the APC, adding that the crisis does not benefit political leaders and the masses.

    He appealed to Governor Obaseki and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to bring down the walls of divisions and work together for the people of the state, noting, “Let there be an end to the fractions and suspension of leaders in the APC. Few selfish people benefit from conflicts. Overheating of the political space have to stop.”

    He also urged Christians to continue with their righteous deeds and renounce all forms of evil.

    In their remarks, the Deputy Governor and Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq. urged the church to continue to pray for peace in the state.

  • Adamawa Assembly pushes for 25 cottage hospitals

    From Onimisi Alao, Yola

    The Adamawa State House of Assembly is pushing for the establishment of a cottage hospital for secondary health care in every constituency.

    Adamawa State is structured into 25 legislative constituencies with a representative in the state House of Assembly.

    The Assembly which recently passed a resolution asking the state executive council to build a cottage hospital in every constituency that does not have it, said during an event at the Assembly complex in Yola that it will ensure the 2020 budget makes provision for the cottage hospitals.

    The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt Hon Aminu Iya Abbas, who spoke through the member representing Shelleng, Hon Abubakar Isa, said at a Stakeholders Engagement on Health Bills, organised by the International Republican Institute (IRI), said health delivery in suburban and rural settlements is appalling and some progress will be made if cottage hospitals are located in state constituencies where they do not exist.

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    Primary health centres are already fairly well spread, offering primary health care in communities around Adamawa State, but the Assembly contends that more facilities such as cottage hospitals are needed to offer higher level medical attention and to complement the five general hospitals around the state.

    “We’ve passed a resolution asking that every House of Assembly constituency in the state ithat does not have a cottage hospital should have one. We’ve just received the 2020 budget proposal. We’ll look at it with a view to providing sufficient funding for the project,” Hon Abubakar Isa said.

    The Stakeholders Engagement on Health Bills which meeting the lawmaker declared open at the House of Assembly Complex in Yola on behalf of the speaker, is an intervention of the IRI in which it offers technical assistance as a partner nongovernmental organisation.

    The Resident Programme Director of the IRI in Nigeria, Angela Wambugu, who spoke at the event, said the NGO is committed to providing technical support for improved service delivery.

    As part of the support, a consultant of the IRI, Dr Samuel Ogwuche, did at the event a critique of two health bills that the Assembly is working on, namely Adamawa State Health Insurance Amendment Bill, and Minimum Standard Bill (a bill which seeks to provide for quality assurance in health delivery.)

    The critique which incorporated recommendations, was meant to improve the contents of the bills, a fulfilment of IRI’s undertaking to partner the House of Assembly for effective legislation.

  • Residents killed two suspected armed robbers in Bayelsa

    Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

    Two suspected armed robbers have been killed by a mob at the Yenizuegene area, a suburb of Yenagoa, the capital city of Bayelsa State.

    It was gathered that the robbers, who specialized in robbing commuters on commercial tricycles popularly called Keke were accosted and killed at Erepa junction, an area dominated by northerners.

    A source, who witnessed the incident, said the victims on the tricycle raised the alarm while they were being robbed by the assailants.

    “The Keke was heading for Erepa junction close to Otiotio when it came under attack by the robbers. The occupants of the Keke raised the alarm that attracted passers-by and other residents. The mob killed two of the robbers while two others escaped “, he said.

    Read Also: Two killed, scores injured as gunmen invade bank in Ekiti

    The source further corrected the impression that the suspected robbers were killed by the northerners resident in the area.

    “It is not true that only the northerners killed them. It was a mob action involving everybody around the area. We are disturbed that those bad boys reorganized themselves in strategic places stopping Keke and demanding to know their identities. We are calling on the police to take deliberate steps to stop reprisals”, the source said.

    But the Police Public Relations Officer, Butswat Asinim, who confirmed the development said a patrol van of the police had been sent to the area.

  • Kogi West: Bello congratulates Adeyemi, says victory restoration of popular mandate

    From James Azania, Lokoja

    Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Sunday, congratulated Senator Smart Adeyemi, on his victory in the just concluded Kogi West Senatorial District poll.

    Adeyemi was declared winner in the Court of Appeal ordered rerun, polling 88, 373 votes to unseat Senator Dino Melaye’s, who polled 62, 133 votes.

    Adeyemi was on Saturday declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the conclusion of the supplementary.

    The governor on Sunday in a statement issued, in Lokoja, by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Onogwu Muhammed, described the victory as a collective manifestation of intellectual, moral and cultural virtues, and mandate given by the good people of Kogi West.

    Read Also: Kogi West: APC’s Adeyemi wins

     

    He said that the victory was a testament to the decision of the people of the area to move away from ineffective representation of the immediate past, for a progressive and development oriented one.

    He commended the supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and the people of Kogi West for exercising their civic rights in a peaceful manner, “notwithstanding the pockets of unrest recorded in some locations on November 16, which prompted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the election inconclusive.

    He applauded INEC officisls and security agencies for doing their best within the ambit of the law to ensure a free, fair and credible elections in the re-run.

    He restated his commitment to use his second term for groundbreaking developmental strides in all parts of the state.

    The governor expressed his gratitude to the people for their support for his administration.

    According to him: ”The APC as a party is particularly grateful to the people of Kogi West for their peaceful conduct at the polls and embracing the promise of the party to work assiduously to ensure development of the area and the state in general.

    “Now that we are having all three APC senators representing Kogi at the National Assembly, my administration will work in synergy with them and other APC lawmakers to attract more projects to our state; to make life more meaningful for its citizens.”

  • Border Closure: Endure pains in national interest, Babalola Tells Nigerians

    Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado Ekiti

    The Founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) has implored Nigerians to endure the economic hardship brought by the partial closure of land borders in the country’s interest.

    Babalola said the Federal Government’s initiative was in the best security and economic interest to revamp the nation’s industries and give local entrepreneurs hopes of survival in the country.

    He spoke on Sunday during the closing ceremony of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) project training for youths in Oyo and Ekiti states under the Youth Employment in Agri-business and Sustainable Agriculture (YEASA).

    The foremost legal icon commended President Muhammadu Buhari over the closure of the country’s border with Benin Republic and other neighbouring countries to tackle persistent smuggling which has crippled the country’s economy.

    He described the initiative of Buhari-led administration as a right step in the right direction, noting border closure had continued to yield positive results in improving food production and invariably impacting on the country’s economy.

    Read Also: Obasanjo backs Buhari on Border closure

     

    He said that the policy apart from helping to checkmate influx of illicit arms and ammunitions which fueled insecurity, it has forced many Nigerians to go back to agriculture and local production improving markedly.

    “It is imperative that we continue to support the Federal Government on border closure and endure its attendant effect to ensure that Nigeria regains its lost glory in that all-import realm and in the best economic and security interest of the country.

    “They should not open it in the best interest of the economy. The closure of border is helpful to the farmer. I see farming as the mainstay of this country. We just have to maintain it. And the only way is to close the border.

    “Nigerians might not understand this now, may be because of the little pains it has brought; but I believe there is light at the end of the tunnel as the positive and long term effects that will soon follow will make Nigerians happy.

    Babalola noted that agriculture remained the only viable launch pad to economic growth and development, saying Nigeria must invest in the sector to attain food sufficiency, over-concentration of industrialisation, improved foreign exchange earnings and employment generation.

    Babalola said Nigeria can overcome poverty, hunger and unemployment ravaging the country, if governments invest in agriculture, which he said holds a better promise than white collar jobs.

    He, however, called on government at all levels in the to create enabling environment through implementation of policy frameworks in enduring farmers have unfettered access to credit facilities, modern implements, improved seed varieties and fertiliser.

    This, he, said, would lure youths which are regarded as the virile segment of the population to embrace farming, stressing that farming with cutlasses and hoes will dissuade them from embracing the occupation.

  • ICPC kick start Constituency projects

    By Uja Emmanuel , makurdi

    The Independent Corruption Practices and other related offences Commission ( ICPC) has kick start verification of constituency projects in Benue state.

    The exercise tagged ‘ My constituency , my Projects is meant to tracked all projects budget in 2015 appropriation by the ICPC officials .

    An assistant commissioner in ICPC who led the delegation of Constituency projects Monitoring Group ( CPMG) to Benue Mr.Jimoh Sulahiman told The Nation that the federal government has spent huge sums of money on constituency projects and desire to see result so that people in the rural areas can benefit from government intervention .

    Read Also: Surveyors, ICPC working to track constituency projects

     

    Mr .Sulahiman #tated further that some of the projects are some times poorly executed , not Completed or even abandoned after collected money , hence , the ICPC is tracking and verifying the projects .

    He said at the end of the verification exercise those found wanting would be made to return the money or both face the law .

    The Constituency Projects Monitoring Group ( CPMG) of the ICPC verified projects in Aliade and Ikpyongo town in Gwer east local Government area and another water projects in Augustian community in Kanshio and New GRA all in Makurdi local government area of Benue and expressed satisfaction with quality of work done .

    At Aliade gigantic water work with capacity of 120, 000 litres the traditional rural of Igyohov ( Mue Ter) Chief John Wunde commended Senator George AkUme who attracted the projects to his community which he said had been of great help in the water need of hiss subjects.

    The ICPC team on their charged the communities to guard the projects jealously now that the person who attracted them is no longer there in he senate .

    Chief Wunde assured that his community has set up machinery to guard against vandals and commended the ICPC officials for the visit which he said has put some contractors on their toes