The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Nigerians say they have reasons to celebrate country at 59

    Many Benue residents say are grateful to God for sustaining the corporate existence of the country and guiding its leaders to navigate it through difficult times.

    A cross section of the residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Makurdi that they had many reasons to celebrate the country at 59 years of age.

    They, however, appealed for more patriotism from the citizens to help sustain its corporate existence and attain higher heights.

    They said that significant achievements were made in all sectors of the economy over the years but admitted that there was need to urgently address the challenges facing the country for rapid development.

    A don, Dr Aondoakaa Asambe, said there was every reason to celebrate Nigeria at 59 as there was no country in the world today without its own share of challenges to bear.

    “For the fact that Nigeria has been able to manage her affairs for those past years is enough reason to celebrate.

    “Those that see Nigeria as a sinking ship; it is time for them to realise that the country belongs to all of us and they have no other country they can call their own other than Nigeria.

    “This is the time for them to contribute in whatever little way they can to redeem their own image and that of the country.

    Read Also: Muslims offer prayers to mark Nigeria’s independence anniversary

    “For the irredentist secessionists and revolutionists, this is the time to reassess the Nigerians psyche and realise that Nigerians are not ready to commit any act of senseless and nonsensical killings in the name of secession and revolution,” he warned.

    For Mrs Mimi Orubibi, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Benue, ” it is time for the country to place more emphasis on vocational education rather than certificates”.

    According to her, having come such a long way, the country needs to emulate other nations by urgently developing the human capacity of her citizens as most certificate holders at the moment cannot defend them in the open market.

    She, however, lauded the country’s achievements in the communication sector, but expressed regret that it still faced infrastructure deficits.

    The former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav said the nation’s challenges were not religious, ethnic and restructuring but greed, selfishness and brazen criminality by a few powerful people across the country.

    “A few powerful people use ethnicity and religion to rape and milk Nigeria dry. They hypnotize the ordinary people with religion and ethnicity.

    “I don’t think we have started. We only seem to be moving fast but just to remain where we are. The rot is too much and has overwhelmed the anti -corruption fighters, “he said.

     

    (NAN)

  • You cannot waive your immunity for adjudication, Lawyer tells Osinbajo

    Dr Kayode Ajulo, a Constitutional Lawyer says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo cannot waive his constitutional immunity for adjudication of claims of libel and malicious falsehood against his person in the court

    Ajulo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja against the backdrop of an alleged falsehood peddled in a newspaper by Mr Timi Frank and Mr Katch Onanuju against Osinbajo.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that Osinbajo said he had instructed the commencement of a legal action against two individuals who put their names to the odious falsehood.

    Ajulo however said that the provisions of Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended frowns at it.

    According to him, the implication of the foregoing provision of the law is that the person holding the office does not have the right to waive the immunity.

    “Because any of such waivers is ineffective as the immunity is not that of the person holding the office but of that particular office he represents during the tenure of the office.

    Read Also: Yemi Osinbajo, ‘incestuous’ bullies and tumours

    The lawyer said that the position further found backing in the use of the word “shall” which was the operative word in the section which admitted no discretion whatsoever.

    He said that the immunity granted to Osinbaji prescribed an absolute prohibition on the courts from entertaining any proceedings and civil or criminal in respect of any claim or relief against him.

    According to him, no question of waiver of the relevant immunity by the incumbent of the office concerned or indeed by the courts may therefore arise.

    “The court has laid it down as a rule that the time a person spends in office will not be reckon with in the calculation of time for the purpose of statute of limitation,’’ he said.

    Ajulo said the immunity clause remained of great antiquity in Nigeria’s nascent constitutional law jurisprudence.

    He said that the vestige of the doctrine of immunity in favour of the occupier of offices had always been a consistent feature of each successive constitutions of Nigeria.

    Ajulo however said that the only option available to the vice president in his bid to waive his immunity was to resign, adding that “Nigeria is not yet tired of the services of Osinbajo’’.

    (NAN)

  • Rohr picks Azeez, Olayinka for Brazil game, as Omeruo, Abdullahi, Awaziem return

    Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has invited midfielder Ramon Azeez and forward Peter Olayinka into Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the Oct. 13 friendly with five-times world champions Brazil in Singapore on Sunday.

    Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), disclosed in a statement on Thursday that Rohr is also having defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Abdullahi Shehu and Chidozie Awaziem back from injury.

    “Otherwise, the squad is largely unchanged from the side that was forced to a 2-2 draw by Ukraine in Dnipro on Sept. 10,’’ he said.

    Olajire said goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Maduka Okoye were also retained in the squad.

    “But England-based Leon Balogun and Russia-based Bryan Idowu are however left out of those called up for the defence.’’

    The NFF spokesman said Azeez, a former under-20 national team captain now with Spanish La Liga side Granada was called up just as English side Leicester’s Kelechi Iheanacho was left out.

    “Girondins Bordeaux’s Joshua Maja will sit this one out, with his place taken by another new boy, Olayinka,’’ he said.

    Olajire disclosed further that England-based midfielder Wilfred Ndidi also returns after missing the Ukraine encounter with injury.

    “Alex Iwobi, Oghenekaro Etebo and Scotland-based Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, who scored on his debut against Ukraine, are all back in midfield, with Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu and Emmanuel Dennis all back in the frontline.

    “Substantive captain Ahmed Musa is still down with injury,’’ he added.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all invited players are expected to arrive in Singapore on Oct. 9.

    Read Also: Brazil good test for Super Eagles, says Rohr

     

    Nigeria and Brazil will face each other at the Singapore National Stadium at Kallang in Singapore on Oct. 13.

    The clash is coming 23 years after Nigeria, on their way to winning Africa’s first Olympic football gold medal, spanked Brazil 4-3 after extra time in the Atlanta Games’ semi-finals.

    The match was played at the Athens Stadium in the State of Georgia, U.S.

    THE INVITED PLAYERS

    Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); Emil Maduka Okoye (Fortuna Dusseldorf, Germany)

    Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Chidozie Awaziem (CD Leganes, Spain); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England)

    Midfielders: Alexander Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Anderson Esiti (PAOK Salonica, Greece); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Ramon Azeez (Granada FC, Spain)

    Forwards: Victor Osimhen (Lille OSC, France); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Emmanuel Dennis (Club Brugge, Belgium); Peter Olayinka (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic).

    (NAN)

  • France pays tribute to former president Jacques Chirac

    France’s National Assembly and Senate stood in silence on Thursday to mark the death of former president Jacques Chirac.

    Chirac, who ruled France from 1995 to 2007, “is now part of France’s history,” National Assembly president Richard Ferrand said in an official statement.

    The conservative Chirac was best known abroad for his staunch opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

    At home, perhaps his greatest legacy was his acknowledgement, for the first time, of the French state’s role in the wartime round-up and arrest of Jewish people to Nazi death camps.

    But he also knew many political setbacks, including the 2005 rejection by French voters of a proposed constitution for the EU.

    Later the same year, he suffered a minor stroke, and in the closing months of the year the country saw severe rioting by frustrated youths from minority backgrounds.

    In 2011, he received a two-year suspended sentence over allegations that, as mayor of Paris in the 1990s, he put party members on the city payroll without them actually working.

    Tributes to the former president came from left and right, with Ferrand also recalling his commitment to arts and the environment.

    Read Also: France’s inhumanity to Africans

    “Personally, I cannot forget the last message he addressed to us when he left power, in which he exhorted the French people never to compromise with extremism, racism, anti-
    Semitism, or the rejection of others,” Ferrand wrote.

    Interior Minister Christophe Castaner spoke of “the strong emotion that touches, at this moment, the French people.”

    European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was “devastated” to hear of the death of Chirac, whom he counted as a great friend, a spokeswoman said.

    The leader of the EU executive has “no words to express his grief,” according to commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva.

    Chirac, who suffered from severe memory problems, had disappeared from public life in recent years. His wife Bernadette, who survives him, has also faded from public view.

     

    (dpa/NAN)

  • Police kill two suspected kidnappers, destroy camp in Bauchi

    The Bauchi State police command said it had killed two suspected kidnappers/ armed robbers, destroyed their camp and recovered series of exhibits in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state.

    In a statement Wednesday, signed by its spokesperson, DSP Kamal Abubakar, command said the criminals were killed on Tuesday during an operation aimed at checking the menace of hoodlums in the State.

    “On Sept. 24, based on credible intelligence, the Command’s team attached to Operation Puff Adder, in collaboration with Danga security volunteers, trailed some kidnap/armed robbery suspects to their camp in Gali forest, in the said LGA.

    “On sighting the Police team, the suspects engaged them in a gun duel but were successfully overpowered.

    “Two of the suspects were gunned down, while the rest were believed to have escaped with bullets wounds.

    “The suspects were taken to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital for treatment but were later certified dead by medical doctor,’’ the command said.

    Read Also: Police confirm abduction of Sokoto businessman, Tukur Sabaru

    The command also said exhibits recovered during the operation included two AK-47 rifles, 11 rounds of live ammunition and four motorcycles.

    It said that the case was under investigation and assured the public that it would not rest in the ongoing operation to rid the state of all forms of crimes.

    The command urged the public to provide useful information to the Police and other security agencies on criminals and their hideouts in the State.

    (NAN)

  • Assembly tasks Sokoto State Govt. on IPSAS for 2020 budget

    The Sokoto State House of Assembly on Wednesday urged the State Government to adopt the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) in preparing the 2020 budget.

    The Chairman , House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Alhaji Malami Muhammad (PDP- Sokoto South II) made the call while briefing newsmen shortly after the committees’ inauguration .
    Muhammad said that the system of the state budget preparation has become archaic in the global financial standard.
    He said there is the need to modernise budget preparation to ease presentation and subsequent passage by the House.

    “It is high time that we change our copy and paste attitude in the system of budget preparation. We cannot be changing figures every year in appropriation.

    Read Also: Sokoto House of Assembly gets new clerk

    “We need keep pace with innovation in budget preparation to achieve the aim of modern government, especially in the financial engagement.

    “As such, we charge the ministries responsible to be IPSAS compliant in the 2020 budget preparation and beyond to ease presentation and scrutiny by members,” he said.

    The state’s Commissioner for Finance Alhaji Abdussamad Dasuki, restated the government commitment to ensure the best standard in budget preparation.

    “We will utilise our experience in ensuring the best financial standard in Sokoto state for the overall development of the people,” Dasuki said.

    Also, Alhaji Shehu Kakale, state’s Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, expressed further commitment to aid government desire in financial standard.

    According to Kakale, government will continue to explore ways that will aid budget preparation and implementation for overall development of the society.

    The ceremony was attended by officials of the state’s Ministry of Budget and Economic planning and the Finance Ministry.

    (NAN)

  • Police arraign lawyer for threatening to kill Sen. Kashamu, One other

    A 30-year-old lawyer, Bayo Adedokun, on Wednesday appeared in an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly threatening to kill Sen. Buruji Kashamu and Alhaji Muniru Ogunleyetwo over land disagreement.

    Adedokun, whose address was not given, is charged with four counts of conspiracy, attempted murder and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.

    He, however, pleaded not guilty.

    The Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Steven Molo, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in August at Ogombo village in Eti-Osa area of Lagos.

    Molo alleged that the defendant hired 10 thugs to kill the complainants claiming that a portion of land they were occupying belonged to his family.

    Read Also: Buruji Kashamu, Ben Murray-Bruce remain an issue on social circuit

    He said the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace.

    The offence, he said, contravenes the provisions of sections 56(a), 168(d), 230(1) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Magistrate O.O. Oshin admitted the defendant to bail on self recogintion and ordered him to deposit his certificate of Call to Bar to the court.

    Oshin adjourned the case until Nov. 14 for mention.

     

    (NAN)

  • Corps member donates 688 Sandals to primary school pupils in Lokoja

    A serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kogi, Miss Aderonke Adeoye, on Wednesday donated 688 sandals to less privileged primary school pupils in Lokoja to encourage them to go to school.

    Donating some of the sandals to the pupils of Lokongoma Primary School, Lokoja, Adeoye said the gesture was to make the children happy and encourage them to always go to school, as well as to enable them to realise the importance of education in life.

    Adeoye, who is an indigene of Ekiti State, said a total of six different primary schools in Lokoja would get the shoes.

    “Some of the children wear slippers to school while some wear spoilt sandals which make them to look very rough and dirty.

    “I want to make the children happy and encourage them to always go to school and to let them realise the importance of education in life,” she said.

    She enjoined fellow corps members to make impact on the lives of the less privileged children, saying, “it is part of what we were taught in our orientation camp – to serve our father land wholeheartedly”.

    She thanked the Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue for its support as well as other philanthropists in the state for their financial and moral support.

    Read Also: ‘I won NYSC award for catching thieves in camp’

    Speaking at the occasion, the state Commissioner for Education and Science, Rosemary Osikoya, advised the pupils to make good use of the sandals by wearing them to school.

    Osikoya, who was represented by Mr Femi Sunday, the Director, Education Support Service (ESS), advised parents not to sell the sandals but use them for the benefit of their children.

    He further urged the parents to pray for the corps member for putting smile on the faces of the children.

    “Giving to the less privileged is what I love doing and God is the only one that can reward givers,” she said.

    The benefiting schools are: Kabawa Nursery and Primary school 1and 2, Serikinoma Nursery and Primary school; Maadi Nursery and Primary school; Liwaul-HAMDI Nursery and Primary School; St. Mary’s L.G.E.A Nursery/Primary School 1, and Lokongoma L.G.E.A Nursery/Primary School, Lokoja.

    (NAN)

  • Book series published to show China’s achievements in past 70 years

    A book series on China’s development and achievements in the past 70 years was on Wednesday published to mark its 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

    According to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the first batch of 13 books has been made public by the China Social Sciences Press to embody the results of China’s research in multiple fields.

    Read Also: To Keep China One

    The books also include Marxism, the law, journalism, communication and finance.

    According to vice president of CASS, Cai Fang, the book series is expected to provide a detailed and accurate review and summary of the country’s achievements in politics, economy, and ecology in the past 70 years.

    (Xinhua/NAN)

  • Governors forum inaugurates committee to provide synergy between APC governors, lawmakers

    The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated a Legislative Programme Steering Committee to ensure seamless synergy of engagements between APC governors and lawmakers across the country.

    The Deputy Chairman of PGF, Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Philip Shaibu, said this at the inaugural meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obaseki is the chairman of the committee while Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State is co-chairman.

    Obaseki said that the committee was inaugurated to primarily provide PGF members with clear and concise contextual recommendations in terms of legal framework governing government processes and decisions.
    According to him, the committee should monitor ongoing government operations, identify issues suitable for legislative review, gather and evaluate information and recommend course of action to PGF.

    “It is also expected to promote and advocate the interest of the PGF member states regarding laws, regulations, socio-economic policies and other developments that may affect our states and the APC as a whole.

    Read Also: APC worse off under you, Progressives Govs Forum DG hits Oshiomhole

     

    “Further to this, is our recognition of the fact that the Legislature is the backbone of any democracy. No democracy can flourish except, and until its legislature is strong and progressively active.

    “Part of the objectives of the PGF Legislative programmes therefore, is to ensure cordial relations between our legislatures and those of us operating in the executive arm,” Obaseki said.
    According to him, our goal is to develop a good framework of engagement through initiating activities that would enable us to review emerging challenges regularly.

    “It will also seek to manage and regulate all emerging differences such that conflicts between the executive and the legislature at all levels where APC rules are minimised.
    “That does not mean that there would be no disagreements or conflicts any more in the future, because

    conflicts are inevitable outcomes of politics and political activities.

    “But through the regular engagement and interactions between the Executive and the legislature, we will take steps to ensure that all emerging conflicts are resolved,” he said.

    (NAN)