The Nation Newspaper

Category: News Update

  • LP wants FG to tackle corruption

    LP wants FG to tackle corruption

    The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, has called on the Federal Government to tackle corruption in the country.

    Nwanyanwu made the call in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

    He suggested that government should treat cases of corruption as “crimes against humanity” while advocating for separate courts to try the offenders.

    “Until we have strong laws that will put people to check and question them on what they did while in office, we will not develop the Nigerian society,’’ he said.

    He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to tackle election fraud to ensure that the peoples’ votes count.

    “There should be a very good electoral law because if a candidate is elected by the people, he will work for their welfare because he will need their mandate to return.’’

    He stressed the need for politicians to eschew `godfatherism’ in Nigerian politics, saying that politics should never be seen as “a do or die affair.”

    Nwanyanwu urged the government and political stakeholders to find ways to eradicate poverty and unemployment in order to improve on the nation’s workforce.

     

  • Muslims protest ‘anti-Islam’ film in Kaduna

    Muslims protest ‘anti-Islam’ film in Kaduna

    Muslims in Kaduna trooped out on Monday morning to join their counterparts in other parts of the world in protesting against the “anti-Islamic” film released in America with a message that they were prepared to defend the name and personality of the Prophet Mohammed with the last drop of their blood.

    The peaceful demonstration which was organised by Islamic Movement in Nigeria (Shiites) covered about four kilometres and was conducted under the watchful eyes of men of the Kaduna State police command who accompanied them to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order.

    Members of the movement were adorned in their traditional attires with the men wearing all white attire while the women were dressed in all black outfits and were joined by other Muslims and a group of Christians.

    The protesters carried placards with the inscriptions such as – “death to America”, “Death to Israel”, “No to blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad, “ with men, women and children chanting the same slogans.

    They said in a leaflet they distributed that “a great catastrophe has befallen the world when some people from the United States and an Israeli were allowed to produce an anti-Islam film that mocked and ridiculed Islam, Prophet Muhammad and followers of this great religion.”

    “The film, apart from outward mockery on tenets and beliefs of Islam, presented Prophet Muhammad in a display of an unspeakable immoral manner and personality.

    “Similarly, the release of this movie at this material time, was a move to institutionalize September 11 event as an annual ritual to portray Islam as a religion of terrorists.”

    “We are aware of the covert operations of agents of America in Nigeria, who are bent on defending American interests at all cost, “the protesters said.

     

  • Jonathan tasks SGF, SSGs on service delivery

    Jonathan tasks SGF, SSGs on service delivery

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday advised secretaries to state governments to ensure good governance, accountability, due process and rule of law for effective service delivery.

    He gave the advice at the Presidential Retreat for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Secretaries to State Governments at Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, the president urged state governments to partner with the Federal Government to promote democracy, constitutionalism, national development and transformation.

    “As secretaries to governments in our dear country, you are at the epicentre in implementing, monitoring and delivery of good governance to our citizens.

    “Thus, for effective discharge of your responsibilities, there must be effective application of sound governance practices involving the exercise of due diligence, high standards of integrity and transparency in the handling of the affairs of your offices.

    “This is in line with the current administration’s zero tolerance for corruption and the deepening of the Rule of Law principle in the conduct of government business.

    “No tier of government can afford to be an island unto itself. There must be cooperation between and amongst all tiers of government for overall national development,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the president as saying at the retreat.

    According to him, at the federal level the philosophy of governance is one of consultation, consensus building and cooperation for positive action to transform the country.

    He, therefore, reiterated the determination of the government to facilitate and participate in programmes to advance good governance and sound inter-governmental relations.

    Jonathan tasked the participants to always insist on excellence, fairness and the overall good of the people in their actions in and outside government.

    In his remark, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Anyim Pius Anyim, noted that the Presidential Retreat which was instituted in 2007 was meant to promote and strengthen inter-governmental relation between the Federal and State Governments.

     

  • Hold Bauchi government liable for blast – CAN

    Hold Bauchi government liable for blast – CAN

    The Christian Association of Nigeria on Monday blamed the Bauchi State government for Sunday’s suicide bomb attack on a Catholic Church in the state.

    It would be recalled that a suicide bomber attacked Saint John’s Catholic Church in Bauchi, killing two people and injured several others.

    The attack was the third in two weeks.

    The first occurred a week ago where nine people were killed in Zango village by unknown gunmen and the killing last week Monday of former Comptroller General of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Ibrahim Jarma, who was shot dead together with his orderly after he came out from the mosque near his house in Azare.

    CAN blame the attacks, which it said is targeted at Christians on the state government.

    A statement issued in Abuja by CAN’s National General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Musa Asake, said the body received the news of the bombing with a mixture of shock and sadness.

    The statement reads:

    “The Christian Association of Nigeria received with shock the bomb explosion at the St. John’s Catholic Cathedral in Bauchi which killed four people when an explosives-packed car reportedly rammed into the line of worshippers waiting to be screened before entering the Church.

    “The government has failed to take precautionary measures and compliment the efforts of Christians in the state. As it is, the state government seems to be unfazed by the calamities happening to Christians.

    “It is sad that after several attacks on Christians in the state we are still unable to put our fingers on the government’s ability to secure the lives, property of Christians and their Churches.”

     

     

  • Judge’s transfer stalls Bankole’s trial

    Judge’s transfer stalls Bankole’s trial

    The N894 million contract inflation case the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission preferred against the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, could not hold in Abuja on Monday.

    This followed the recent transfer to Taraba of Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court who had been handling the case.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the case file has since been returned to the Registrar of the court to be re-assigned by the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta.

    The EFCC had in June 2011 filed a 16-count charge of contract inflation against the ex-speaker.

    Bankole has denied any wrong doing, saying the charges were politically motivated.

    Meanwhile, Bankole has written to the chief judge requesting that Okorowo be allowed to continue with the case even while in Taraba.

    According to him, the progress recorded in the matter will amount to naught if the judge is not allowed to continue with it.

     

  • Gunmen kill driver, abduct two children in Edo

    Gunmen kill driver, abduct two children in Edo

    Two children of a Benin- based businessman were on Monday abducted by unknown gunmen while going to school.

    The gunmen shot dead the driver conveying the children to school.

    It was gathered that the incident occurred between 7:30am and 8am at Iguosa along Benin-Lagos expressway.

    Eyewitnesses said they came out when they heard the gunshots and saw the gunmen dragging the children away into their vehicle.

    The driver died before he could get to the hospital.

    Father of the kidnapped children, Juande Iyamu, popularly known as ‘Yaweh water’ was visibly shocked but declined comments on the incident.

    Edo Police image maker, Anthony Airhuoyo, said he was yet to be briefed by the Ekiadolor police station on the incident.

     

  • N1.89tr investments require for power sector – FG

    N1.89tr investments require for power sector – FG

    The Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, on Monday said about N1.89 trillion worth of investments would be required to completely revamp the power sector.

    Sali spoke at the launch of the National Power Training Institute graduate skill development programmein Abuja

    According to him, the fund is expected to cover investments in four major areas of power- generation, transmission, distribution and alternative energy.

    He added that the expenditure aims at increasing generation, transmission and distribution capacity, in order to provide adequate and sustainable power for industrial growth and national development; intensifying rural electrification efforts in a more efficient manner and achieving optimal mix using the most appropriate technology.

    To achieve these objectives, the HOS said the Federal Government would create a deregulated and competitive electric power sector to attract foreign and local investments.

    He noted that with these objectives, only the best would be attracted to work in the sector.

    Sali submitted that the possession of practical skills and proven track record would be the requisite qualification for those expected to operate in the rejuvenated power sector.

     

  • Look beyond tenure, TUC tells leaders

    Look beyond tenure, TUC tells leaders

    The Trade Union Congress on Monday advised Nigerian leaders to look beyond their term of office as that would help them to provide credible leadership for the people.

    The President of the congress, Mr. Peter Esele, gave the advice in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Monday.

    He said that Nigerian leaders always failed to implement policies that would benefit the people while in office but would always urge their successors to do same.

    He urged the elite not to be shortsighted on national issues but to be responsible and shun all acts that could portray them as manipulators of the masses.

    He advised President Goodluck Jonathan not to fall into such class after his tenure.

    “My advice to the president is, president you may also fall into their class tomorrow. Now you are the Commander in Chief, the Peoples Democratic Party has two-third to pass anything it needs to pass.

    “So, what it needs to do is to look at Nigeria and see what is not working in this country.

    “When you now look at it then we will all now sit down and say, let us now do things that will make things work.

    “That would make the Nigerian youths to dream, live in this country and achieve their dreams,’’ Esele told NAN.

    He noted that the fight for the 2015 presidency was not in the interest of Nigerians, but for selfish reasons.

     

  • Edo releases N100m for flood victims

    Edo releases N100m for flood victims

    Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has ordered the immediate release of N100 million to provide relief materials to flood victims in Edo Central and Edo North Senatorial Districts.

    The money was released to cushion the effects of the flood on some communities in the areas, the News Agency of Nigeria reports, quoting a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Peter Okiria, on Monday.

    He said that some communities in Esan-South East Local Government Area in Edo Central Senatorial District, also affected by the flood, would benefit from the largesse.

    The statement quoted Oshiomole as assuring the people that the government would embark on a long-term solution to avoid the recurrence of the disaster.

    The governor, who visited the displaced persons, said the government would liaise with the Federal Government to ensure that relief materials reached them.

    He attributed the cause of the flood in which property worth billions of naira were lost, to the River Niger overflowing its banks.

    “What has happened is an act of God and no one can challenge the will of God.

    “In other parts of the country, we have heard of the loss of lives, but so far, we have not recorded any death.

    “Let us pray that the river goes back to its boundary.

    “The government we will try as much as possible to reduce the hardship suffered by the people by providing relief materials.

    “What we cannot change we will bear; President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Government are concerned about this calamity,” Okiria quoted the governor as saying.

    Oshimole urged the victims to be patient, saying that the calamity would soon be over and they would be able to return to their father land.

     

  • Egypt sentences 14 to death over Sinai attacks

    Egypt sentences 14 to death over Sinai attacks

    An Egyptian court on Monday sentenced 14 militant Islamists to death by hanging and four to life imprisonment over attacks on army and police forces in the Sinai Peninsula last year.

    The men, members of a militant group called Tawheed and Jihad, were charged by the prosecutor with killing three police officers, an army officer and a civilian in attacks carried out in June and July, 2011.

    Eight of the 14 death sentences were in absentia, court sources told Reuters.

    The verdicts were met with cries from the accused against President Mohamed Mursi, the Islamist head of state elected this year and who the defendants blamed for the court’s decision.

    “Mursi is an infidel and those who follow him are infidels,” shouted one defendant.

    Others cried “God is Great” as they listened to the judge from inside the metal cage in which they stood during trial sessions.

    Egypt’s Sinai has suffered from faltering security since President Hosni Mubarak was swept from power in a popular uprising in February 2011.

    Egypt’s army and police launched a sweep after a raid that killed 16 Egyptian border guards in August.