The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Group adopts Rivers PDP governorship candidate

    Group adopts Rivers PDP governorship candidate

    A group, New Era has adopted the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Siminialayi Fubara for the March 18 governorship and other candidates for the house of assembly election.

    The group said it would be mobilizing support for Fubara and all PDP candidates for the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    President of the group, Barr Innocent Edi said this during a visit to former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche at his Ochigba country home in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    Edi said the group, being a non-governmental organization, was an advocacy group that is focused on good governance and sustainable development.

    He said as part of the group’s activities, especially during this electioneering period, it has after very careful examination of the candidates of all the political parties for the March 18 election, thrown its support for all PDP candidates in Rivers State.

    According to Barr Edi, the decision of the group was based on the excellent performance of Governor Nyesom Wike-led PDP government in Rivers State for the past eight years which has witnessed tremendous development across the entire state in terms of infrastructure, human capacity development, health, education, security, agriculture, and other sectors.

    He noted that in keeping with the group’s campaign for sustainable development, the only person that is fit and capable of consolidating and furthering the landmark achievements of Governor Wike was Fubara.

    Edi urged voters in the state to cast their votes for PDP as anything contrary will amount to a waste of votes, saying the group after arriving at this decision thought it wise to communicate the same to Nwuche as their mentor and grand patron.

    Responding, Nwuche thanked the group for the visit and commended their decision to mobilize support for Fubara and all PDP candidates in the forthcoming elections.

    According to Nwuche, the group’s decision is in the right direction as all indications point to the fact that Fubara will make a good governor, especially as a mentee of governor Wike who has raised the bar of governance and set unprecedented standards in the governance of the state.

    He said a vote for PDP was a vote for sustainable deployment in the state and urged them to demonstrate their decision by taking their campaigns to all the nooks and crannies of the state to preach the Fubara consolidation agenda for Rivers State.

  • You can’t intimidate judiciary, INEC, pro-democracy group tells Atiku, Obi

    You can’t intimidate judiciary, INEC, pro-democracy group tells Atiku, Obi

    A pro-democracy group, The Natives, has cautioned opposition presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, against the intimidating the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over their grievances on the outcome of February 25 presidential election.

    Atiku and Obi rejected declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President-elect.

    The opposition parties have challenged the declaration at the Presidential Election Tribunal and their leaders, members and supporters have embarked on a protest in Abuja to the INEC headquarters demanding the resignation of the Chairman of the electoral body and the outright cancellation of the election.

    But in a peaceful solidarity walk in Abuja, the Natives said the supporters of APC and the President-elect will no longer take lightly the intimidation by the supporters of Peter Obi (Obidients) and Atiku Abubakar (Articulates).

    Led by their Supreme Leader, Hon. Smart Edwards in a “Thank-you walk” to President Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential Villa, Monday in Abuja, the group warned the two presidential candidates to caution their supporters from overheating the polity.

    The group argued that if the parties and their candidates have grievances against the results as declared by the INEC they should go to court instead of threatening the peace of the country and its democratic process.

    Edwards said: “The Obidients should understand that Asiwaju is a political juggernaut and election strategist. They were all part of the plan because the candidature of Peter Obi was an asset to the APC. The Obidients made Tinubu’s victory easy, they all made it possible, it should have been Obi or Tinubu. Tinubu was not in the best position to steal the election but he planned well and worked vigorously for victory.

    “We also have a message for the PDP candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; it is your time to test the court and not intimidate the court. It is your time to retreat and retire or reset and re-contest again if your party is not tired of you.

    “Your inability to be consistent in a party like Bola Ahmed Tinubu shows it is all about you alone. No sir, the Supreme Court is not about you, the Appeal Court is not about you, even the Tribunal is not about you, it is about rule of law.

    “So, today we are putting the Nation on notice that no one will be allowed to intimidate the Nigerian Judiciary any longer, we will not entertain it. These judges and the judiciary are the most crucial party of the hope that democracy holds.

    “We want to say categorically that Bola Ahmed Tinubu of APC won the election. The Lagos state he lost should have been a taboo but the Democrat in him publicly accepted the outcome without calling for anybody’s head.”

    Commending the electoral body for conducting a free and fair election, the leader of the group noted that no election all over the world is devoid of itches.

    He alleged that some PDP elements made efforts to bribe some INEC officials without success.

    “INEC must be allowed to do their work without molestation. Nobody is talking about the recorded voices of the PDP players which went viral recently where they were scheming to bribe or corner the INEC officials.

    “To INEC, therefore, you have done well. Please go ahead with the conduct of Saturday’s governorship election as we look forward to a large turnout rather than the apathy we witnessed during the presidential election.”

    Kudos was equally extended to President Muhammadu Buhari for allowing a free, fair and credible election that produced the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

    Edwards, while appealing for cooperation to move Nigeria forward, also called on all Nigerians to give the President-elect Tinubu a chance to reset the country in a way that will benefit all and sundry.

    The rally had representatives of the National Association of the Nigeria Students (NANS) and other various youths groups in attendance temporarily paralysing the moment of vehicles Federal Secretariat to the Presidential Villa on Monday.

  • ‘We must address challenges in agric’

    ‘We must address challenges in agric’

    FORMER Commissioner for Agriculture in Ekiti State, Dr. Bode Adetoyi, has urged president-elect, Bola Tinubu, to address challenges in the agricultural sector.

    Adetoyi, addressing reporters, said farm mechanisation must take the lead, as Nigeria has only 7,000 tractors as against 2.5 million tractors needed for full mechanisation.

    “Issues surrounding mechanisation must be addressed as most farmers still use crude implements. Another challenge is poor variety of seeds and seedlings/yield gap. Farmers need to use high yielding seedlings to enhance production and raise profits.

    “Most of the state don’t have agricultural extension agents whose role cannot be silenced as they advise and update farmers on technologies, high yielding crop varieties and train farmers on best practices.

    “Other areas Tinubu must look into are absence of storage/processing facilities, and land tenure system whereby Land Use Act of 1978 must be removed. This system does not make land available for investors. Nigeria has 33 million hectares of arable land, but how many are available for commercial purpose?”

  • US authorities close Signature Bank over systemic risk

    US authorities close Signature Bank over systemic risk

    US financial authorities were busy behind the scenes for the weekend, as it was announced yesterday that New York regulators have shut down Signature Bank (SBNY) in the country.

    Also, $118 billion of the bank’s assets was seized by the country’s Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), making it the third largest bank failure in US  history, right behind the  Silicon Valley Bank and Washington Mutual bank failure.

    Signature Bank (SBNY) ranks third in the list of largest US bank failures in history with $118 billion  in assets at the time of failure this year, Silicon Valley Bank rankeds second with $209 billion in assets this year, and Washington Mutual ranks first with $307 billion in assets in 2008.

    In a joint statement,  US Treasury, Federal Reserve, and FDIC, New York-based Signature Bank was closed due to systemic risks in the current economic climate. The bank is the third US bank to be shut down this week, after the Silvergate and Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapse.

    However, the joint statement announced that US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has approved exceptions to both Signature Bank (SBNY) and Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) today that allow the banks’ depositors to receive more than the 250,000 USD insured amount promised by FDIC.

    The statement announces that depositors will have access to all of their money, including the uninsured amounts above the 250k limit, starting Monday, March 13 in the country.

    It should be noted that the banks’ shareholders and certain unsecured debt holders will not be protected. Senior management of both banks has also been removed. Any losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund to support uninsured depositors will be recovered by a special assessment on banks, as required by US federal law.

    On a closing note, the US government has announced that “the U.S. banking system remains resilient and on a solid foundation, in large part due to reforms that were made after the financial crisis that ensured better safeguards for the banking industry.”

  • Fed Govt takes over Yobe Cargo Airport

    Fed Govt takes over Yobe Cargo Airport

    The Federal Government has taken over the recently-inaugurated Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport, Damaturu, Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, said yesterday.

    He said at the launch of a book entitled: “Gov. Buni’s 1,500 projects” written by Alhaji Mustapha Mohammed that the take-over followed a request by the state government.

    He noted that the airport would boost socio-economic activities in the state.

    “I am happy to tell you that last week, the Federal Government took over the ownership of the newly-inaugurated Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport, Damaturu.

    “It is indeed a good story for the state because we were able to execute the project in line with the required standard.

    “Our administration will forever remain focused in formulating and executing people-oriented projects for the benefit of the common man,” he said.

    The governor commended Mohammed for finding various projects executed by his administration worthy of documentation.

    Yobe’s Commissioner for Transportation and Energy, Alhaji Abdullahi Kukuwa, had recently told reporters that the state spent more than N18 billion on the airport project initiated in 2017.

    In his remarks, Mohammed said the 134-page book detailed the projects executed by Buni’s administration and their locations across the state.

    “Letting the public know about the governor’s projects is my own contribution to good governance,” he said.

  • Prosperity after austerity

    Prosperity after austerity

    • Text: “… the sons of God came … and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.” Job 2:1

    By Venerable Henry O. Adelegan

    Are you having issues with your education, finances, challenge of acute paucity of cash or marital hiccups? Are your children not doing well as you would have loved, are you experiencing perennial sicknesses in your family, avoidable errors at work, delay in marriage, unfruitfulness after marriage, intractable marital squabbles over nothing tangible, thoughts of divorce or separation, no employment etc?, it is surely not over with you. There is a moment of joy after season of struggles. In ancient days, most Yorubas considered Offa, a town in Kwara State, to be very far so they would say that “Offa jin amo Oje tun jina ju Offa lo”, meaning that Offa (a defunct town after Offa), is far but Oje is farther than Ofa. As they moved beyond Oje however, they discovered many more towns and lands such that they could not cover everything so the elders changed their words to “Ohun ti n mbe leyin Offa o ju Oje lo”, meaning that the things and places that are farther from Ofa are more Oje. What this proverb means contextually is that there is more to life than knowledge, that there is more to a matter than what is seen or known or that things aren’t always what they seem.

    One of the challenges that believers face in this spiritual world is with the devil and his agents, his companions or his recruits. The enemies are people we engage daily at our places of work, spaces of our commissions and area of our assignments. The devil recruits people daily and places them on assignments to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10a). Ephesians 6:12 says that we are in a battlefield and the warfare is not against any human being but with the devil and his agents, who operates as principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places (Psalms 56:1,2,5,6). Not only that, 1 Peter 5:8 says that the devil is the adversary of believers and he walks about as a roaring lion in daily search of whom to devour. In Revelation 12:10, Jesus Christ revealed himself as the accuser of the brethren who is always looking for offenses.

    From our text, we are faced with an upright man called Job, a man who was uploaded with the nice things of life by God but was offloaded of all by the devil. It is unfortunate that the destinies of lots of believers. particularly children of great glory, are being destroyed and offloaded on a daily basis. It no wonder that Solomon said that I have seen servants on horses and princes walking on the ground. Following the first accusation by the devil, the hedge of Job was removed and he became defenseless. Consequently, and in one day, Job lost his oxen, donkeys and servants to the Sabeans, fire burnt his sheep and servants, and the Chaldeans who were hobnobbers of the devil, took away his camels and killed his servants and that same day, a great wind, an accomplice of the devil, came from the wilderness and snuffed life from his sons and daughters.

    Despite the severe travails of Job, in Job 19:25, he exclaimed that “I know that my Lord lives”, and in Chapter 42, the devil removed his hands from his life and he was restored double – Halleluyah! Beloved in Christ, please note that it is for such austere and bad times that Jesus Christ, the son of man, was made manifest in other to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Psalm 30:5 says that ‘weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning’. I congratulate you because this is the advent and morning of your Mega miracles. It doesn’t matter how adverse things are with you today, please be assured that there is a silver lining at the end of the dark tunnel, the austere times of today shall bow to your time of prosperity tomorrow. For every destiny destroyer, you have a God who is the destiny restorer. His name is Jesus Christ. He is the Captain of your salvation, He is your shield and our Buckler, He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the Great One of Shekinah glory. I have a good news for you from above. Your season of rejoicing is here. Enough of complaining and weeping, this is your season of joy. You are going to arise and shine. The glory of God shall be seen upon you. As the Lord lives, that Prince of Persia in your father’s house and mother’s house shall let go of your blessings and your joy shall be restored in the name of Jesus Christ.

    What you need to do is to surrender your life to Jesus and renounce all association with the devil and his agents, be spiritually vigilant and put off carnal works of darkness (I Peter 5:8), cry to God for help (Psalm 56: 9), put on the full armor of God (Proverbs 21:31), resist the devil (James 4:7) and avoid negative thoughts (Proverbs 4:23). Please note that this season of Lent is the kickoff of your victory over the devil, his agents and their plans. There is therefore no plan of hell and there is no scheme of men that can and shall be able to abort your divine plan and purpose in the name of Jesus

    Prayer: Lord, deliver me from the manipulations and control of the devil, and restore my lost grounds, in the name of Jesus.

  • ‘Anti-graft factsheet to curb vote-trading’

    ‘Anti-graft factsheet to curb vote-trading’

    HUMAN Rights Advancement, Development and Advocacy Centre (HURIDAC) has backed its voters’ anti-corruption factsheet to help curb vote trading and corrupt practices.

    Executive Director, Ayodele Ameen said the factsheet, launched last week in Lagos, contains a channel for voters to report such occurrences and follow up on their report.

    This, Ameen noted, is  important because it, among others, boosts voters enthusiasm to participate in strengthening the electoral process.

    HURIDAC convened a one-day capacity-building workshop on anti-corruption guidelines for media coverage of Lagos State governorship and House of Assembly elections and launch of voters anti-corruption factsheet.

    It was for journalists under aegis of Lagos State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    HURIDAC is a regional non-governmental organisation in West Africa, whose interventions focus on rule of law, elections, human rights; and protection of the environment.

    Established in 2014, the organisation operates in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.

    Ameen said the voter anti-corruption factsheet is crucial ahead of Saturday’s poll as it will aid the electorate to checkmate “the menace of vote trading, vote buying and corrupt partnership between presiding officers and party agents.”

    He added: “We are in an election period and we know vote trading and buying are topical. There are other issues as well, such as people abusing powers at polling units.

    “So, we want the voter to be  identify corruption incidents and report same. We have, thus, provided them with a channel to report such occurrences through this fact sheet and a means to follow it up. That is going to be important.”

    Ameen unveiled the factsheet with Chairman of Lagos State Council of NUJ, Adeleye Ajayi.

    The NUJ chair said guidelines for voter education would check corruption.

    He thanked HURIDAC for the collaboration and hoped the relationship is sustained.

    The centre urged the media to always demand politicians’ anti-corruption plan.

    Project Manager, Mfon Enoidem, said media roles in electioneering includes raising awareness on anti-corruption, engagement with parties and voter education.

    “… the media is a vital part of our society with power to inform, educate, entertain, and shape opinion,” Enoidem said.

    She added the media should also acknowledge parties or candidates’ steps in tackling corruption, in addition to availing the public of information on any party or candidate.

  • Northeast youths tackle civil society over ultimatum on NEDC chair

    Northeast youths tackle civil society over ultimatum on NEDC chair

    Northeast Progressives Youth Forum has faulted the ultimatum given by a civil society to Managing Director of Northeast Development Commission, Mohammed Alkali, to respond to allegations of mismanagement.

    The societies: Al-Mushahid Initiative for Transparency and Accountability, and the People’s Advocacy for Transparency and Accountability said Alkali should respond to allegations of mismanagement of allocations, amounting to N146,191,606,649.25.

    But in a statement by forum Chair, Mohammed Grema, Northeast youths said the letters from the societies are aimed at blackmailing NEDC into negotiation for their gain.

    “It is our opinion that repeated letters emanating from the CSOs and a final resort to media trial of NEDC are aimed at blackmailing them into negotiation for pecuniary gains.

    “We noticed that in their statement, there is nowhere they made specific allegations against the commission …” the statement said.

    “As youths from the region, who have buried loved ones, watching our parents, brothers, and sisters sleep in Internally Displaced persons camps, we won’t allow “Toronto CDOs” blackmail head of the commission giving hope to our people through laudable interventions in shelter, water, schools, etc and massage their ego and greed.

    “We call on security agencies to close in on these professional blackmailers to deter them from distracting the commission from delivering on its mandate.”

    “Where they chose to continue in this only pathway, we would occupy their office to put an end to these shenanigans. We have resolved to pass a vote of confidence in the management of NEDC. We are urging them to continue guiding our region to recover from the setback caused by Boko Haram terrorist elements.”

  • Oyo pensioners root for Makinde’s re-election

    Oyo pensioners root for Makinde’s re-election

    Senior citizens and pensioners in Oyo State have expressed confidence in the Governor Seyi Makinde-led government, saying they believe their well-being will be improved if he is re-elected for a second term.

    This was the recommendation of about 1,000 senior citizens and pensioners that benefited from the medical outreach organised by a group, Omituntun Initiative in Diaspora (OID) in support of  Makinde, at Oyo State Pensioners House, Onireke, Ibadan.

    Commissioner for Works, Prof Daud Sangodoyin, thanked beneficiaries for putting their trust in the government and appreciated the support of pensioners.

    Sangodoyin urged the people to  vote Makinde, adding  more people-oriented policies are being prepared in his Omituntun 2.0 government.

    Outreach physician, Dr Olufemi Olowookere, hailed the care administered to the senior citizens during the programme.

    He said more of such outreach is needed o alleviate the suffering of the aged.

    Olowookere said: ‘’We are here to render assistance to our community, especially older people because they do not have access to social security and this is what our governor, Seyi Makinde, is doing through Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) and building of primary health centres.

    Vice Chairman of Oyo State Union of Pensioners, James Ayoade, appreciated the organisers and described Makinde as a promise keeper who kept the promises made to pensioners and improved their standard of living.

    A beneficiary, Shina Oyelakin, applauded the governor and hailed the Omituntun Initiative in the diaspora for putting such a medical intervention in place.

    ‘’I have stopped disturbing people, including my daughter, for financial assistance for the past three years, as my pension and gratuity entitlements are paid regularly by Seyi Makinde, he said.

    Another beneficiary, Madam Annah Arowolo, says pensioners are behind Makinde and are ready to give him their votes again next Saturday.

    Senior citizens were given attention with medications, and dental treatment, including eye glasses free of charge.

    Cases attended to include eye care and checks, sugar level check for diabetics, blood pressure checks, and general consultations.

    The OID medical outreach beneficiaries promise to vote for Makinde again on Saturday.

    At the event were Dr Olasunmbo Savage, Dr Bayo Adigun, Mrs Adediran, Mrs Yemisi Ologunja, Mrs Funke Mosebolatan, Mr Ayomide Ogundeji, Mr Ajiboye, Pastor (Mrs) Aderibigbe, Mr Adeniyi Thomas, Mr Adedeji Badejo, Dr Adefila, Dr Adekanmbi, Dr Olakojo, Mrs Agatha Abiola, Mrs Victora Bolarinwa, Mrs Catherine Ayegboyin, Dr Mrs O. Oni, Dr E. Alayo, Mrs Temitope Ogunyemi, Abiodun  Olajumoke, Victoria Emilade, among others.

  • Why Tinubu won, says coordinator

    Why Tinubu won, says coordinator

    Coordinator of Tinubu Shettima Independent Campaign Council in Ondo State, Tayo Oluwatuyi, has said Bola Tinubu won the February 25 presidential poll based on door to door campaign by groups.

    Oluwatuyi said the campaign worked across all strata, including using criers with megaphone at junctions, local eateries, drinking joints, vendors and newspapers.

    The purpose, he said, was to ensure a unique, persistent and methodology of convincing and informing people of the intentions of Tinubu and Kashim Shettima Presidency.

    Oluwatuyi said the strategy convinced voters that Tinubu has the pedigree, mileage, achievements, antecedents in fiscal, human development, societal transformation and political testimonials.

    “In his first 100 days, I want him to focus on security to reassure Nigerians that a new Nigeria is achievable, resolve the unfriendly cash crunch, establish a high powered agency to address unemployment and come up with a master policy plan to improve the energy sector.

    “Asiwaju is strong and healthy and in good shape to handle affairs of state. Worst things were said about the medical condition of President Muhammad Buhari in 2015.

    ‘’Yet, he is still alive and kicking today.

    ‘’I am not aware of any medical record showing Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is suffering from one ailment or the other.

    ‘’Don’t forget we are human beings and there is no one immune from sickness.

    “Tinubu Shettima Grassroot Independent Campaign Council in Ondo State is here to stay. It is a structure we will love to build and consolidate upon for future political activities and think-tank discourse platform.”