The Nation Newspaper

Category: News

  • Rights group to Fed Govt: deploy military troops for poll

    Rights group to Fed Govt: deploy military troops for poll

    AN Osun State-based human rights group, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has urged President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the National Assembly to deploy military troops to provide security for the people’s lives and property” before, during and after the August 9 governorship  election.”

    CHRSJ Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, spoke in a statement in reaction to the suit filed before the Federal High Court, Lagos Division by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to restrain the Federal Government from deploying military personnel during the poll.

    Sulaiman maintained that the failure of the appropriate authority to provide adequate security during the governorship poll may spell doom for Osun.

    He described the action as misuse of judicial process that lacks moral justification, insisting that Nigerians were not ripe for non-deployment of military personnel during the elections because of the violence-related attitude of politicians during any poll.

    The group also made its position known against the alleged gun-stockpiling by the political players ahead of the poll slated for August 9, saying that the security agents must not take the allegation with levity.

    Sulaiman called on the Inspector-General of Police and Department of State Security Service (SSS) to probe the circumstances surrounding the alleged arrest of some thugs recently in Ilesha.

    It urged the security agents not to take the issue of security with lightness.

     

  • PDP plans to lure voters with expired rice, APC alleges

    PDP plans to lure voters with expired rice, APC alleges

    OSUN State All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned on alleged plan by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to lure the state’s residents and voters with expired bags of rice.

    The party said  PDP chieftains in collaboration with the Nigerian Customs warehouse in Ikeja, Lagos have loaded trailers filled with thousands of bags of expired rice confiscated several months ago from smugglers.

    The trailer loads of rice, according to APC Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, are meant for distribution to Osun voters.

    The party said competent sources from the Customs revealed that the bags of rice were unsuitable for human consumption.

    “Osun citizens should therefore be warned that their lives are at risk from PDP poisoned rice,” the party said.

    The party added that it had warned citizens earlier of PDP’s boast that they would win the election with a bag of rice and at least N10,000 to each voter.

    The APC noted that it was not clear what the PDP intended to do by bringing expired rice to repackage and distribute to Osun people.

    “Osun people are not hungry and they will not sell their birthrights for stolen public money which the PDP want to distribute in towns and villages of Osun.

    “Those who love their lives should be careful because the PDP will stop at nothing, including the distribution of poisoned rice to win election,” the statement added.

  • How SSS almost scuttled my London trip, by Ezekwesili

    How SSS almost scuttled my London trip, by Ezekwesili

    •Ex-minister checked like every other Nigerian, says SSS

    Former Education Minister, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, was delayed yesterday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, on her way to London.

    The leader of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign almost missed her flight, having been billed to appear today on the BBC Hard Talk programme.

    Her passport was temporarily seized by men of the State Security Service (SSS), but it was later released. As she waited for the release of her travel documents, she twitted continuously on her handle @obyezeks as follow:

    7.37am

    Is this a democracy? I am being detained by the SSS @ Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The SSS has refused to give my passport to me.

    7.41am

    On my way to London this morning for my @BBC HARDTalk appearance billed for tomorrow and the SSS has detained me by withholding my passport.

    8.03am

    SSS has released it. Just barely made the BA (British Airways) flight. Last to board @7.55am for an 8am flight that is now taxiing. Is this a democracy?

    8.04am

    No one can seize my democratic right. I refused to let the SSS get away with trampling on my constitutional right.

    But the Federal Government yesterday trivialised its alleged harassment of the former Education Minister.

    The government, through the spokesperson of the State Security Service (SSS), Ms Maryln Ogar, denied reports that Ezekwesili, who is also the Coordinator of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, was arrested in the morning at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja.

    Ogar said Ezekwesili went through the normal screening at the airport, like every other Nigerian.

    At the daily briefing at the National Information Centre (NIC), Ogar urged Nigerians to desist from trivialising security matters, which she said the alleged harassment was about.

    The SSS spokesperson said the former minister, who was on her way to London at the time of the briefing, was subjected to security checks, like any other person boarding the aircraft.

    She said: “I wonder where Ezekwesili is right now, because we don’t have such person in any of our detention facilities. Somebody has put same question during the Channel’s Sunrise Daily this morning (Monday) and they were clearly told that she is already on her way to the United Kingdom (UK).

    “I wouldn’t know how people are advocating for her. You know that statutorily the SSS clears all passengers who travel out of the country or coming into the country.

    “Let people stop to aggregate themselves unnecessary importance. When we have serious security challenges in our hands, security issues must not be short-changed for any reason.”

    Also, NIC Coordinator Mike Omeri said Ezekwesili’s action was tantamount to ridiculing the country before the international community.

    He said: “So, if you are going through this (security) process and because you have access to he social network, the next thing is to tweet that you have been detained by the Department of State Security (DSS). I think this kind of thing is wrong. It is deadly. Why are we ridiculing our country?” Omeri urged Nigerians to stop causing problems because they are out of government.

    He said: “Why is that people who have the opportunity to rule this country at the highest level will now subject this country to ridicule simply because they have matters to settle with people in government or presently are not in government?

    “If this Boko Haram thing is finished and Nigeria remains and they find themselves in government again, is this how they expect to be treated? Or, what would they do to the country they have so destroyed?”

     

     

     

     

  • Council distributes items to Muslims

    Caretaker chairman of Ido Local Government, Prof Adeniyi Olowofela has distributed food stuff to Muslims at the council Secretariat in Ibadan, Oyo state.

    Olowofela said the distribution was borne out of the state government desire to alleviate suffering of the people, adding that food has been considered as major need of the people in the society especially now Muslims are observing Ramadan fasting.

    Olowofela urged people in the council to continue to support the present administration in its effort at transforming the state.

    “This gesture is from the state Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi to identity with Muslim community for the month of Ramadan; the items will be distributed to 10 wards across the council areas.

    “Everyone is called to receive food especially Muslims who are observing Ramadan fasting. We have food for all irrespective of group or party affiliation,” he said.

    APC chairman in Ido local government, Pastor Samuel Akintokun described the program as a welcome initiative that gladdened the beneficiaries.

    Among the items distributed are 400 bags of Rice, 300 bags of garri and 150 bags of beans.

     

  • Don’t turn Nigeria into one-party state, group warns Jonathan, PDP

    Don’t turn Nigeria into one-party state, group warns Jonathan, PDP

    •‘Nasarawa residents should recall pro-impeachment lawmakers’

    Coalition of rights groups, the Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC), yesterday accused President Goodluck Jonathan of sponsoring the impeachment of opposition governors to turn the country into a one-party state.

    NHRC’s allegation came amid denials by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that neither President Jonathan nor the national leadership of the ruling party was involved in the impeachment of former Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako and the planned impeachment of Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Lagos, the group said it was against the impeachment of governors because the process was driven by the interest of the President to control all the states ahead of next year’s general elections.

    The leader of one of the groups and Coordinator of Journalists for Democratic Rights, Adewale Adeoye, said the President may be shooting himself in the foot with his recent political moves.

    The activist urged Jonathan to retrace his steps.

    He said: “There is nothing wrong when governors, who have been genuinely found to have abridged the laws, are removed within the confines of the constitution. It is a bonus for democracy and deepens democratic culture.

    “Our fear is that these removals were financially induced and not driven by the people but by the interest of a particular hegemony. The impeachments, as we have seen, are driven by the fact that somebody thinks he has to be in control of all the states of the country.

    “We think this move is unhealthy for democracy. It nozzles the pulse of the opposition and defeats the culture of vibrant democracy and could also be a way of the Presidency shooting itself in the foot without knowing it.”

    In a statement read at the event by Kehinde Adegbuyi, the NHRC urged the people of Nasarawa State to recall all the lawmakers found culpable in the plot to unseat Al-Makura for allowing themselves be used by Jonathan to impose the PDP leadership in the state.

    The statement reads: “The plot to remove the governor is part of the ongoing campaign to turn Nigeria into a one-party state and suppress the voices of dissent. We believe the allegation that 20 lawmakers have been bribed to remove Nasarawa State governor at all cost. The plot to remove him has nothing to do with justice or corruption. It is a clear case of desperation by the PDP to rule and probably ruin Nigeria.

    “Since this move, there have been protests in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, leading to the avoidable deaths of at least two people. Curiously enough, the impeachment move came three days after the visit of President Jonathan to inaugurate the Ola Rice Farm at Rukubi, Doma Local Government Area of the state.

    “We wonder why Al-Makura is being asked to go two years after he may have committed some of these alleged crimes. What were the lawmakers waiting for in the last two years?”

    The coalition noted that though Jonathan has the constitutional right to seek re-election during the general elections, he would be undermining democratic processes should he continue to destabilise and destroy the path he is expected to tread in his second term journey.

    NHRC said: “The attack on the opposition is a clear indication of an act of intolerance. The removal of Nyako and the planned removal of Nasarawa State governor (Al-Makura) is a reflection of corruption within the political class, naked abuse of power and presidential recklessness. These acts can spur political upheavals that may undermine the entire political process.

    “We stand by the ordinary people of Nasarawa State and urge them to rise up to the occasion by blacklisting lawmakers who have been bribed to impeach the governor. They should be immediately recalled by the voters in the affected constituencies in Nasarawa State.

    “We hereby launch the ‘Campaign Against Impunity and Dictatorship’ in Nigeria, using the Nasarawa State political situation as a launch pad.”

     

  • Jonathan lauds Oshiomhole for investments in Edo

    Jonathan lauds Oshiomhole for investments in Edo

    President  Goodluck Jonathan has praised Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole for attracting investments into the state, saying the governor is an investor’s delight.

    The President spoke yesterday at the inauguration of Presco BioGas Power Plant Project at Obayantor, Benin City.

    Represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, the President said: “For any form of investment, policies are critical, but the enabling environment is far more important.

    “I wish to praise the government, and in particular the governor, we heard his comments when they said they needed another 20,000 hectares of land, he said it is available, come and get it.

    “He is the kind of governor who investors want to work with.  A governor who is dynamic, a governor who understands the economics, understands the needs of the people, understands the importance of investments in his state.

    “I wish also to praise the people for providing the cordial atmosphere for Presco to operate all these years and to continue to invest in this state and in this country.

    “It is my hope that the cooperation that has sustained Presco will be extended to other industrial establishments in Edo State.”

    Aganga assured that the Federal Government will continue to partner with states, such as Edo, in its policy to bring about results which Nigerians expect from governance.

    He said: “I also want to say thank you to the governor for your kind support for Presco Company in boosting the agro-allied industry. It is a great honour for me to be here today for the formal commissioning of this Bio-Gas Plant.

    “It is important to note that 10,000 Nigerians are among the shareholders of this company. So every penny they make and the dividends they pay have a huge success in maintaining these Nigerians.”

    Oshiomhole said: “Part of the problem of our democracy is that we spend too much time talking politics and very little time discussing the economy, investment, wealth creation among others.

    “We need to do more to ensure that there is policy coherence beyond what we see in terms of what we do as government both at the federal and state levels. As you know, trade has never been free, nation-states must formulate policies that are informed by their enlightened self-interest.”

     

  • ‘Lawmaker committed’

    ‘Lawmaker committed’

    A member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, Jim Adun, is committed to the ideals of effective representation through dialogue and consultation with his constituency, his campaign organisation has said.

    A statement by the Publicity Secretary of the Jim Adun Campaign Organisation, Evans Aigbedion, said his many developmental projects have made life better for members of his Egor/Ikpoba/Okha constituency.

    It said rather than appreciate these people-oriented developmental efforts, some faceless characters had embarked on campaign of calumny to rubbish Adun’s achievements.

    The campaign organisation recalled that a group called “Edo Youth for Good Governance” displayed its ignorance when it asked Adun to mention the contracts he had awarded since he became a lawmaker.

    Adun explained to them that it is not the duty of legislators to award contracts but to make laws for the good governance of the country.

    “We therefore call on our supporters to beware and disregard the campaign of falsehood and other mischievous machinations by members of the “Edo Youth for Good Governance”, “Egor Youth Forum”, their faceless sponsors and co-travellers orchestrated against Edun,” the statement said.

  • ‘Do not be Ramadan Muslims’

    Acting Head of Insurance and Actuarial Science Department, University of Lagos, Dr Tajudeen Yusuf has urged Muslims to fully imbibe the spirit of Ramadan, stressing that it should be guide through the remaining months of the year.

    The Unilag don enjoined Muslims to take advantage of Ramadan to seek Allah’s mercies by increasing worship and not limit good deeds to Ramadan alone.

    He said: “In Ramadan, the gates of Paradise are open, that of Hell is closed and devils are chained. This is evident in the multitudes that strive towards righteousness, eagerness to please the other person, being nice to neighbours, doing good to people. Ramadan seeks to tame us, to teach us on how to pursue our life in other months. Let Ramadan penetrate you. Carry the spirit and extend it beyond Ramadan because Allah’s favour is with us throughout the year and not the month of Ramadan alone.”

    Yusuf enjoined Nigerians to imbibe the habit of speaking truth, noting that it will inadvertently make one to attain the level of righteousness needed to face Allah on the Day of Resurrection.

    He stated: “While being truthful at times might not be easy because Shaytan vowed to be there with us at every turn in our life but Allah is so caring for us. People through the promptings of Shaytan think there’s no manifestation of the Hereafter. For every event in this life, the Quran has already foretold it and that conflict will continue till the Last Day.

    “As Muslims, we should not get carried away by wealth and other frivolities of this world. The belief in the Hereafter should guide us. The belief makes us conscious and righteous on how to fulfil the divine’s injunctions. Life becomes meaningful when we have empathy. We should try to emulate the Prophet, who at the peak of his glory forgave his enemies and that made people troop to Islam. It shows the magnanimity of the Muslims. That is how Islam spread, it was not by sword.”

     

     

  • Nasarawa: CJ insists on due process

    Nasarawa: CJ insists on due process

    Moves by Nasarawa State lawmakers to impeach Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura appeared yesterday to have suffered a major setback, with the Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko, insisting on due process. The CJ is, by law, to set up a seven-man panel to investigate the governor.

    The lawmakers are mounting pressure on Justice Dikko through emissaries, including some bigwigs in the state, to raise a “biased” panel.

    But the CJ is said to have been avoiding being dragged into politics.

    Also, it was learnt that some of the lawmakers have been promised the state’s monthly allocation of N3bilion if they could remove Al-Makura.

    Deputy Governor Dameshi B. Luka has been fingered in the plot.

    Justice Dikko is sticking to due process – in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Besides, he would not be dragged into the “murky waters of politics”.

    It was also learnt that the CJ is adamant on “substantial compliance with the law” because about three months ago, some of the lawmakers wrote a petition against him which they sent to the National Judicial Council (NJC) .

    In the petition, they allegedly faulted the hearing of some matters relating to the conduct of local government elections in the state.

    A highly-placed source said: “There is pressure on the Chief Judge to constitute a panel to probe Governor Al-Makura, but unlike what happened in Adamawa State, the Justice Dikko is strictly applying the law.

    “He is insisting on substantial compliance with the 1999 Constitution and the law on service of impeachment notice and constitution of a seven-man investigative panel.

    “The lawmakers have been trying to sway the CJ to their side. They have also tried to dictate to the CJ who should serve on the investigative panel.

    “For instance, they have short-listed some well-known ‘political enemies’ of the governor as members of the investigative panel to make Al-Makura’s trial a fait accompli.”

    Some of the likely members of the panel are a former deputy governor, some permanent secretaries retired by Al-Makura and a former Head of a state parastatal who had an axe to grind with the governor.

    Section 188(5) of the 1999 says: “Within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing provisions of this section, the Chief Judge of the state shall at the request of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, appoint a panel of seven persons who in his opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party, to investigate the allegation as provided in this section.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “I think the lawmakers are jittery about the non-partisan attitude of the Chief Judge. Some of them have had cause to report the CJ to the NJC for entertaining some applications relating to the conduct of local government elections.

    “The CJ is a man of integrity and he is tough. He also cannot be intimidated by anybody. The lawmakers have found him a judge that cannot be used.”

    There were indications yesterday that some of the Assembly members were encouraged to go into the impeachment plot because of alleged promise of the state’s monthly allocation of N3billion as compensation.

    A top source said: “One of the brains behind the impeachment plot allegedly told some of the lawmakers that once Al-Makura is out, the next monthly allocation of N3billion meant for the state will be allocated to them to share.

    “This is the bait being offered some of the lawmakers. It is, however, impracticable to allocate the entire funds from the Federation Account to the state in one month to the lawmakers. Yet, some of the lawmakers believe in the mouth-watering offer.”

    Some of the lawmakers may have quit the plot because of “intervention” of some traditional rulers and opinion leaders, it was learnt.

    Another source said: “Some of the lawmakers have discovered that the impeachment process is unpopular. They have decided to accept the mediation of some traditional rulers and opinion leaders in the state.”

  • ‘Pastor’, six others arrested

    The police in Delta State have arrested seven persons, including a pastor, for alleged stealing aluminum roofing sheets valued at over N50 million.

    Police spokesperson Tina Kalu said the police acting on a tip-off stormed Omirigboma, a suburb of Asaba, and arrested a suspect, identified as Charles Ikebisi.

    Kalu said detectives got information that large quantities of aluminum sheets were discovered at Okwe community awaiting evacuation by buyers from Onitsha, Anambra State.

    She said six persons were arrested at the scene.

    Kalu identified the suspects as Egwu Sunday (24), Pastor Zephaniah Esiobu (54), Osita Uche (31).

    Others are Hyginus Dibor (24), David Chukwunyere (32) and Obiorah Okeke (38).

    Six hundred aluminum roofing sheets were recovered.