The Nation Newspaper

Category: News

  • PDP ’ll win Osun poll, says Sambo

    Vice President Namadi Sambo has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will win the August 9 governorship election in Osun State.

    Sambo, who spoke in Abuja yesterday in his capacity as chairman of the party’s governorship campaign committee, maintained that the election in Osun would follow the Ekiti State’s trend where the PDP won the poll.

    According to him, the Federal Government will ensure a peaceful, free and fair election in Osun, adding that the mandate was taken through the “back door” by the sitting governor.

    “We are looking forward to have a peaceful election in Osun State and I want to assure you that the mandate that was taken through the back door will come back to the PDP as it was seen after the election in Ekiti State.

    “The people of Osun will now have the chance to choose for themselves where they belong and they belong to the PDP,” he added.

  • Indigenes, others in U.S. support Aregbesola’s reelection bid

    OSUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has received praises as Nigerians in United States (U.S.) gathered at the Radisson Hotel, New York to support his re-election bid.

    The event, which was organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-USA, New York Chapter, was attended by Osun indigenes and Nigerian residents in the U.S.

    The gathering was addressed by Mr. Dele Alade, Mr. Tony Isama, Alhaja Adenike Oyejide, Prof. Adesegun Labinjo, Alhaji Hammed Famuyide and Princess Titi Arojojoye.

    Others are Mr. Henry Adesanya, Mr. Kehinde Kolawole, Ambassador Denis Antoine, a personal friend of the governor and many others.

    The speakers outlined the achievements of Aregbesola in office and praised his exceptional love for the Osun people, the Yoruba and Nigeria.

    Aregbesola was hailed for his education policy, the building of world-class schools and provision of learning materials and equipment in the schools, including laptops for pupils.

    On agriculture, the speakers, including Ambassador Antoine, testified to the massive large-scale mechanised farming going on in Osun State in collaboration with international partners to make Osun the major food producer and supplier for consumers not only in Nigeria but also in the West African region.

    Also, speakers including Alhaji Famuyide, Prof. Labinjo, Princess Arojojoye and Alhaja Oyejide, testified to the good roads with drainage systems constructed by the state government.

    Aregbesola was also praised for youth employment by giving jobs to tens of thousands of youths, which in turn reduced unemployment and crimes. He was also hailed for his magnanimity in working with people of Osun State irrespective of their political inclinations for the progress of the state.

    The speakers alluded to the peace that has reigned in the state since the governor took over, banishing the days of politically motivated killings. The governor’s empowerment, health and safe environment programmes were also highly praised.

    Aregbesola was described by Alade as a man who has the fear of God and has tremendous love for his people. He likened Aregbesola to Chief Obafemi Awolowo that the governor is a disciplined and down to earth man who is working almost 24 hours a day to see how he can make life better for his people.

    He said Aregbesola is not in the category of Nigeria politicians that expend most of their time in pursuing women of easy virtues.

    He urged the people of Osun to massively vote for Aregbesola on August 9 so that he can continue the great work he is doing.

    He said the people cannot afford to allow the enemies of progress and people of questionable characters to take over the government in Osun.

  • Senate confirms Chidoka, don as ministers

    Senate confirms Chidoka, don as ministers

    The Senate yesterday approved the nomination of Federal Road Safety Corps’ (FRSC’s) Corps Marshall Osita Chidoka and a University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) don, Dr. Abubakar Olerenwaju Sulieman, as ministers.

    Both candidates will represent Anambra and Kwara states in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    Senate President David Mark urged them to bring their youthful vim, vigour and new ideas to bear in discharging their assignments.

    Mark said: “I urge these two confirmed nominees that as young men, they should bring new ideas on board. They should not go there and just fall in line and not perform.

    “We expect that they will perform, because before us, they have performed very well. So, we hope that when they go there, they would perform very well too.”

    The Senate endorsed the two ministerial nominees by President Goodluck Jonathan after grilling them on their experiences and plans for their new assignments.

    On the values he brought to the FRSC in the last seven years, Chidoka said he expanded and opened the organisation to the world through personnel, infrastructure, training, facilities and operational vehicles.

    He said: “From 11,000 workers, 170 patrol cars, 17 ambulances and a budget of N6.5 billion in 2007, today, we have 800 patrol cars, 20,000 personnel, N30 billion budget and 375 V-Sat equipment connecting all units of the FRSC across the country to the headquarters.”

    The former FRSC chief explained that with the automation of the agency’s operations, it could provide statistics on the number of deaths resulting from accidents and the states with the highest road crashes and fatalities.

    He said the FRSC had become data and knowledge-driven adding that this made some West African countries, such as Ghana and Sierra Leone, to seek its help to set up similar outfits.

  • ‘Why robust policy on reproductive health is necessary’

    Governance can improve greatly if policy makers take into cognisance issues relating to security and health of women and children, Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget Ben Akabueze has said.

    He said government at all levels should pay greater attention to reproductive health problems of the people which is a leading cause of ill-health and death in pregnant women.

    Akabueze spoke at the commemoration of the World Population Day by the Lagos State Government held at the Public Service Staff Development Centre, Magodo on the theme: “A time to reflect on Population Trends & Related Issues”.

    The commissioner who was represented by the permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Bayo Sodade, said over 100 million women in the world today who are interested in spacing or limiting their pregnancies, lack knowledge of, or access to family planning.

    Head , Lagos office , United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Dr.Omolaso Omosehin , in his paper titled “Investing in Young People” said healthy, educated, productive and fully engaged young people could help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty because they are and are more resilient facing societal challenges.

    He advised on the importance of investing more in young girls noting that for millions of young people around the world, puberty brings not only changes to their bodies, but also new vulnerabilities to human rights abuses, particularly in the areas of sexuality, marriage and child bearing.

    He regretted that millions of girls were coerced into unwanted sex or marriage, increasing the risks of unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, as well as death or disability due to child birth.

  • ‘Okorocha’s APC membership is blessing’

    ‘Okorocha’s APC membership is blessing’

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha’s membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been described as a blessing to the party.

    The Special Assistant to the Imo State Governor/Lagos Liaison Officer, Alfred Ononugbo, who spoke on Tuesday in Lagos, said: “Okorocha is a blessing not only to Imo State but also Nigeria”.

    He said the defection of the governor from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the APC would not affect his electoral fortunes “because he is not serving the indigenes (Imolites) as a party, he is serving them as a person, but on the platform of a party.”

    Ononugbo said APGA was nothing when Okorocha joined the party in Imo State.

    “But he took them to electoral victory. He has a robust style of leadership and I think that is what has endeared him to the people.

  • Baptists partner firm

    The Department of Youth and Student Ministries of the Nigeria Baptist Convention (NBC) has partnered a United Kingdom (UK) firm, AHEAD Strategies, to curb unemployment.

    NBC and the firm are organising a two-day workshop from today at the Bowen University, Iwo in Osun State, with the theme: “The practical intervention for solving youth unemployment”.

    Addressing reporters at the convention’s headquarters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the Director of the Department of Youth and Student Ministries, Rev. Samuel Olaleye, said unemployment is of concern to the NBC, adding that it cannot keep quiet while the ugly trend continues.

  • Amaechi: I remain committed to the people

    Amaechi: I remain committed to the people

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving the living standard of people in the rural areas.

    The governor said his administration is determined to finish strong.

    Amaechi spoke at his “Meet-the-People tour” of seven communities in Ikwerre Local Government Area.

    The communities visited were Igwuruta, Ipo, Omademe, Ozuaha, Omuanwa, Ubima and Omerelu.

    The tour, according to him, is in furtherance of the administration’s open-government policy.

    He said: “As we enter the last lap of our administration, it is imperative that we go round to see what governance gaps remain in our quest to guarantee the lives of present and future generations.

    “This is a non-partisan and non-political tour. We want all parties, persons and interests to please join us in this critical interaction, as we make our final push to complete our mandate and deliver on our promises to the Rivers people.”

    The governor condemned the attack on his supporters and their property at Igwuruta by thugs sponsored by the leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The thugs destroyed vehicles owned by Amaechi’s supporters, before men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SAS) chased them away.

    The car of one of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chidi Wihioka, was damaged by the “frustrated” attackers.

    At Igwuruta, the governor said the visit was to bring government closer to the people and discuss ways to ensure more development impact on rural dwellers.

    He announced the building of two more model primary schools in the area and unveiled plans for empowerment programmes.

    Amaechi urged the people to participate in the voter registration and vote for the APC.

    “Permanent voter registration will soon commence. I urge you to register and wait for next February, when you will vote to elect credible leaders of your choice. If politicians know that your votes count, they will give you anything you need from them. That power of governance is in the hands of the electorate. Don’t sell your votes,” Amaechi advised.

    At Ipo, the governor promised to ensure the building of the Airport-Ipo-Omademe road and to give scholarship awards.

    Also, at Omademe, Ozuoha and Omuanwa communities, the governor pledged to facilitate the completion of on-going internal roads, construction of a model Health Centre at Omuanwa and empowerment of the people to reduce poverty in the area.

  • Shell raises alarm on oil theft in Bayelsa

    Shell raises alarm on oil theft in Bayelsa

    Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) raised the alarm yesterday on rising crude oil theft in Okordia/Ikarama, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    Its Media Relations Manager, Precious Okolobo, lamented that the communities had become notorious for illegal bunkering and other forms of oil theft.

    He said 11 crude thefts occurred in Ikarama and Okordia  this year.

    Okolobo said the latest incident, which happened on June 11, resulted in the spillage of 600 barrels of oil into the environment.

    Explaining how the incident occurred, he said: “The Joint Investigation Visit (JIV), comprising representatives of the community, government regulators and security agents, government and SPDC officials established that unknown persons removed a valve at the manifold, causing a spill of about 600 barrels of oil.

    “SPDC is concerned about rising crude theft activities in Okordia/Ikarama. The SPDC JV is concerned at the increasing trend of oil spills caused by third party activities in Okordia and Ikarama axis of Bayelsa State, where 11 sabotage and crude theft incidents have been recorded so far this year.”

  • Confusion in Adamawa: Ex- Deputy Governor denies resignation

    There was a twist to the Adamawa State  crisis yesterday following denial of resignation by ex-Deputy Governor Bala Ngilari.

    Ngilari claimed that he was forced to send a letter to the ex- Speaker of the House of Assembly, Umaru Fintiri, who is now the acting Governor.

    There were indications last night that some forces in Abuja and Adamawa  State were pushing for the inauguration of Ngilari as the Acting Governor instead of Fintiri, who was sworn in on Tuesday.

    The sacked Governor Murtala Nyako last night said Ngilari had not resigned and should be made acting Governor.

    Ngliari reportedly opened up on how  the deputy speaker now the acting Speaker,  Kwamoti Laori invaded his official residence with a group of soldiers and ordered him to tender his resignation letter as “directed  from above.”

    The embattled Deputy Governor was quoted as saying: “The truth is that I have not sent any letter of resignation to the governor up till now because the representative of the House of Assembly  only came to my house yesterday asking me to tender my resignation and he asked me to address the letter to the speaker of the Assembly which I did.

    “When  the lawmakers led by the deputy speaker met and asked me to write the resignation, I wrote it to the governor but later on they came and said that I should change it and addressed it to the speaker.

    The sacked  Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, demanded the reinstatement of his deputy as the authentic acting governor of the state.

    Nyako made the demand in a statement in Yola through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Ahmad Sajoh

    The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to the purported resignation of the deputy governor of Adamawa state, Barrister Bala James Ngillari which was supposedly read on the floor of the State House of Assembly.

    “We wish to state categorically that Section 306 (5) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended requires that the deputy resigned not to the House of Assembly but tothe Governor. As at the time the supposed resignation was said to have been tendered in the House, Murtala H Nyako was the governor of Adamawa state.

    “No such was written to him, none was received by him and none was approved by him. It should therefore be known that in the eyes of the law, the deputy governor has not resigned. Barrister Bala James Ngillari is still the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State.

    “This clarification is necessary to avert another subversion of the constitution, since the order processes relating to the impeachment saga have all been in contravention of the constitution and the law.We wish to observe that the continued abuse of the constitution and the law of the land will spell doom for our democracy.”

     

  • Appeal Court sets aside Offa monarch judgment

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, yesterday set aside the 2012 judgment of the high court dismissing the counter-claim of one of the claimants to the Olofa of Offa stool.

    In its cross appeal, the Anilelerin ruling house  approached the court, praying it to declare that there is no rotation to Olofa’s stool; a declaration that only Anilelerin ruling house exists and a declaration that the State Gazette of 1970 is not statute-barred.

    The Court of Appeal also declined to comment further on the matter as it is before the Supreme Court.

    The appellate court affirmed the existence of two ruling houses in the ancient town.

    The two ruling houses are Anilelerin and Olugbense.

    The appellate court in July, last year declared the selection and installation of the Anilelerin candidate, Alhaji Mohammed Mufutau Gbadamosi, as the Olofa of Offa as illegal.

    The state High Court sitting in Offa in 2012 dismissed the counter-claim of Anilelerin ruling house as statute-barred, though the trial court had declared legal Gbadamosi’s selection and installation.

    Mr. Justice Suleiman Akanbi of the High Court said: “The people of Offa and honest kingmakers, guided by their conscience, are to determine the Olofa of Offa.

    “The gazette, which gives room for the two ruling houses to exist, was ominously silent on rotation.

    “What then is the business of the court to do otherwise?”

    But in a unanimous judgment, the three-man panel, led by Justice A. G Mshelia, said the “manner in which the judge handled the counter-claim was inequitable and perverse”.

    Other members of the panel include Justice A Jauro and Justice R.N Pemu.

    The judgment, which was read by Justice Pemu, added:  “The aspect of the judgment that says the counter-claim is statue-barred is hereby set aside”.

    On the gazette (Exhibit J), which was made by the military government of Kwara State in 1970, the appellate court said it was decided in the earlier judgment of this same court, adding that that  is covered by issue estoppels.

    The court added “that the issue is now before the Supreme Court in the appeals by the deposed Oba and that  by kingmakers.

    “That issue is the paramount issue and the court can no longer decide on it.”