The Nation Newspaper

Category: Uncategorized

  • Kano withdraws from malaria control loan

    The Kano State Government may have withdrawn from the malaria control loan obtained by the previous administration.

    Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, it was learnt, has directed the Ministry of Health to work out modalities for exiting from a $27million (about N4.212billion) loan obtained from the World Bank for a malaria control project.

    The governor noted that the directive would enable the government have enough funds for its health programmes.

    Kwankwaso spoke when he exchanged views with the World Bank Country Director in Nigeria, Marie-Francoise Marie-Nelly, who visited him at the Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

    He said: “As a matter of policy, the state government is not taking any loan. What government is getting presently is enough to manage our health challenges.”

    The governor explained that exiting from the loan does not mean discarding the programme.

    He said if it is found worthy of continuation, the government would single-handedly fund it.

    Kwankwaso recalled that during his first tenure, his administration did not take any loan, saying as far as the government of Kano State is concerned, there is no compelling need to borrow money now.

  • ‘It was fun living with Tai Solarin’

    ‘It was fun living with Tai Solarin’

    On love

    It is very right and I guess it is proper. A woman is supposed to love everything about her husband. Love is not supposed to have any barrier.

    Tai was one man I cherished; we were not just a couple but good companions. We shared a lot and so, it was very easy for us to live together. He was a Nigerian and a proud one.

    When we met in England, he never gave the impression that he was not in love with his country.

    He was passionate about Nigeria and humanity generally; it is therefore difficult to dissociate him from this lovable country.

    I love everything about him and so, coming and living in Nigeria with him was to me no big deal but part of the deal. He loved my country and people too, so, no party is cheated.

    How she met her late husband

    We met at the University of Manchester; we were both students and colour or no colour, I was attracted to him for his hard work, simplicity and straightforwardness.

    He was down-to-earth, not a deceiver, good tempered, very honest and a good listener. Above all, he was fun to be with; he had this sense of humour that got you glued to him all the time.

    At the initial stage, my mother was reserved but when she met him, she liked him. We kept a family that was not bias about anyone whatever your skin colour or wherever you come from; it was easy for them to accept him. His own family accepted me and they were good to me.

    Life without Tai has been full of vacuum that nobody can fill. I miss him so much and all of the time but as we all know, even twins that are born the same day won’t die the same day, let alone people who were born on different days and at different times. He has been gone for 18 years now and here I am still breathing and alive.

    Attitude to religion and death

    Both of us are realists. We do things because we believe they are just right, not because people say so. We are both humanists and not church goers.

    I see no need to; likewise him. Many in one religion or the other do so because they are afraid of death.

    They are afraid of getting killed by people and some forces whereas death is an inevitable thing, it will come when it will. We will all die one day whether we run to church, mosque or any other place.

    Tai did not attach anything to death or the general belief of ceremonies after death, which is why he instructed before his death that he should be buried in his newly ploughed farm so that his body would be useful to the speedy growth of the plant, the vegetables. Many people were shocked and I did not know why. Human beings are to live to benefit others which is what the country is suffering from.

    Old age

    It’s fun and wonderful. I did not know I would live this long; I have lived a very busy and active life. Here I am, still living.

  • ‘Independence is our hallmark’

    Lagosians were reminded of the beauty of colour ‘white’ and the accessibility needs of the blind and visually-impaired persons.

    Members of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), marched on the streets of Lagos to protest against dependency and discrimination. The march was to commemorate this year’s International White Cane Day. It was their way of celebrating ‘independence’.

    The Publicity Secretary of the association, Fadeyi Michael, said: “Mobility as you know allows every man to seek a better life such as education, health services, recreation and employment. The ‘White Cane’ has enabled us to do all these without which our lives would have been more miserable. “In line with this year’s theme, White Cane, our mark of independence, the ‘White Cane’ is truly a symbol of independence for the visually-impaired because it enables us to move around with little or no help. The International White Cane Day, celebrated yearly on October 15, promotes the White Cane as a positive means of Independence and mobility for people who are blind or have visual problem and raises awareness on the access needs of this category of people.”

    NAB members marked the Day with a walk from Shoprite, Maroko to the Kings’ College annex, Adeyemo Alakija, Victoria Island.

    The chapter’s chairman, Akinola Opeolu, called for an enabling environment for the blind to operate. He said: “Blind Nigerians want to contribute to the development of our country. Disability is a reality and diversity in the human race of short, white, poor, or weak variations.

    “The independence of all human beings in an inter-dependent effort towards progress. Independence is our hallmark, inter-dependence is our goal. When we clamour for rights, we only ask for the opportunity to serve humanity. When our rights are denied, the entire society is robbed of 10 per cent manpower resources converted into 20 per cent deficit as we then become dependants on others. The physical and attitudinal changes we advocate for will benefit all citizens as a social insurance against accidents and the effects of ageing.”

    Opeolu called for constitutional admendment to discourage discrimination marginalisation of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

    While hailing the Lagos State government for passing the Special Peoples’ Law in 2011, he urged other states to follow suit so that the blind and the visually-impaired persons can enjoy the rights fundamentally due to them as human beings.

    He said: “The Senate President recently outlined the areas of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution that will be amended. He was silent on the discriminatory clauses that perpetuate the marginalisation of persons with disabilities despite repeated memoranda from our organisations pointing out those clauses.

    “Fortunately, the Lagos State government has demonstrated more clairvoyance by enacting various disability legislations, one of which is the Lagos State Special People’s Law 2011.”

  • Solarin’s widow Sheila is dead

    Solarin’s widow Sheila is dead

    Madam Sheila, co – founder of Mayflower School, Ikene, Ogun State and widow of the late social critic, Dr Tai Solarin, is dead.

    The foremost educationalist died Sunday evening at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Ilishan Remo, Ogun State.

    Sheila Solarin (nee Tuer) who was born in England May 31, 1924,was 88.

    She breathed her last about 4.30pm at BUTH on Sunday with her two children  at her hospital bedside.

    Her remains have reportedly been taken to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) morgue.

     

  • Violence mars Ondo guber election

    Violence mars Ondo guber election

    •Commissioner, council boss arrested over arms possession

    •Thugs on  rampage in Idanre, Okitipupa, Ido- Ani, others

     

    Promises by the security agencies to keep the peace during yesterday’s governorship election in Ondo State failed to materialise in many parts of the state just when it mattered most.

    Violence erupted in Idanre, Igbotako, Ilu-Titun, Okitipupa, Ido-Ani and Ifon to mar an election the authorities had touted as a model for future polls in the country.

    It was so bad at Okeluse that the result for the area had to be cancelled.

    Thugs believed to be working for the Labour Party (LP) went wild in those towns and the riverine areas hijacking ballot boxes and harassing supporters of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and People Democratic Party (PDP).

    Two key actors –Mr.Niran Sule, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Mr. Tunde Ojomo, chairman of the Owo Local Government-were arrested by security agents for being in possession of six AK 47 rifles.

    They were taken to Akure for interrogation.

    Anxiety filled the air last night in Ondo State as residents and stakeholders awaited the result of the election.

    Tension was particularly high at the Alagbaka, Akure secretariat of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the campaign offices of the three leading candidates in the poll-Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of the ACN, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of LP and Mr. Olusola Oke of PDP, as results began streaming in from the wards and local government areas.

    Yet to be confirmed reports showed that the ACN led in the North Senatorial District followed by LP and PDP, while LP led in the Central District with ACN second and PDP in the third position.

    PDP however, led in the South Senatorial District with ACN coming second and LP a distant third.

    All together ACN has reportedly won eight out of the 18 local government areas in the state–four in the north, two in central and two in the south. PDP on the other hand won five and LP five too.

    Although, the Central District has the largest number of votes, whatever edge the LP had there may not stand in view of its poor showing in the North and South.

    This holds out the possibility of the election being resolved through run-off polls.

    Turn out for the election was generally high across the state although electoral materials got to many polling units late.

    Despite assurances by the security agencies, thugs were unleashed by desperate politicians in many places to intimidate or scare away voters.

    Fifteen youths had earlier been arrested on Thursday at the Akure house of a chieftain of Afenifere for allegedly stuffing ballot boxes with thumb-printed ballot papers in favour of the Labour party.

    Six chieftains of the party in Ese-Odo Local Government area went under-ground on Friday after reports of their own thumb-printing leaked.

    As voting got underway yesterday, suspected thugs of Labour Party were said to have exploited the inadequate security to scare away ACN voters.

    In fact, Sunmonu Famoritiye, a chieftain of the ACN was said to have been arrested on the orders of Mimiko. As of the time of filing this report his whereabouts was unknown.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the armed thugs attacked his party’s agents and intimidated its supporters, especially in the rural areas.

    He said: ‘’If those saddled with the responsibility of providing adequate security are unable to do so, and many voters are disenfranchised because of that, then the election in the area cannot be adjudged free and fair. If thugs acting in support of the Labour Party are given a free rein and agents and voters of the ACN are scared away from the polling units, the election in the area cannot be adjudged to be credible, on the grounds of technical exclusion.”

    He also said ACN agents in several polling units were barred from the polling units because “INEC allegedly made a mistake by not inserting ‘ACN’ in the agents’ tags it issued to them.”

    Alhaji Mohammed also alleged inadequate security especially in Idanre and Okitipupa where thugs on motorcycles had a field day “harassing voters and agents of the opposition. There are also reports of stuffed ballot boxes being moved to polling booths with the protection of Labour Party thugs”.

    Security was relatively tight and the election was generally peaceful.

    Accreditation and voting began as scheduled in some parts of the state.

    As early as 6am, armed soldiers, anti-riot policemen and other security operatives had commenced patrolling major roads.

    Vehicle movement across the state was not allowed

    Intra city movement was also restricted as only vehicles on election duty, including those conveying journalists, were allowed to operate.

    Even then such vehicles and the occupants were searched .

    In some polling units, security agents were seen scanning voters before being let in.

    Police officers and DSS agents were seen on guard in polling units.

    In Unit 10, Ward V, Afulu in Oka Akoko where Senator Ajayi Boroffice registered, two regular policewomen were on ground.

    Speaking to journalists, Borroffice, who was one of the governorship aspirants on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), complained about inadequate security personnel in his unit.

    He expressed fears that some people had threatened to disrupt voting there.

    However, he said soldiers who mounted guard about 500 meters away gave assurance that they would respond when called upon.

    Voters trooped out eagerly in Akure North local government area.

    Accreditation and voting went well at Itaogbolu, Iju, Oba Ile, Igbatoro, Eleyowo-Bolorunduro and Ayede-Ogbese.

    However, a traditional ruler in the area reportedly threatened the people to vote for Labour Party or be dealt with.

    The election was also peaceful in Ondo North Senatorial District.

    Many voters got to the polling stations as early as 6.30am.

    Accreditation began in some units promptly by 8am. In others, it began at about 9am.

    In Unit 8, Ward 6, Ayegunle, Oka-Akoko, Akungba, voters were being accredited by 8am.

    At Unit O4, in Ward II, the Presiding Officer was calling out names of registered voters as at 9am for accreditation.

    Old women, elderly men and youths gathered at the unit on Victory College, by Jubilee Market, Ugbe-Abuja Road.

    Accreditation was peaceful in the unit, but a Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO) Oladele Adebisi, who was monitoring activities in Akoko North East, said some of the Presiding Officers did not turn up.

    He said he was trying to send more officers to units where there is a higher number of voters.

    “The people are complying, and we’re working hard to meet up with time and finish with accreditation on schedule.

    “The only challenge we have is a shortage of hands in some units. So right now I am looking for more hands for units where there are more people.

    “There is supposed to be an Assistant Poling Officer (APO), APO I and APO II in each unit. But the people we would have used are not available,” he said.

    At Unit 05, Ward 1, CAC Primary School, the Ofua of Ikareland, High Chief Alfred Omotola, described the turnout of voters as impressive.

    He said: “We are peace-loving people. We are orderly here. There is no problem at all.”

  • Igbos celebrate Ekwueme at 80 with demand for new state

    Igbos celebrate Ekwueme at 80 with demand for new state

    The demand for a new state in the South East yesterday dominated the grand carnival to mark the 80th birthday of the Second Republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, in Enugu.

    Speaker after speaker at the event where Dr. Ekwueme was elevated from his traditional chieftaincy status of Ide Aguata to Ide Ndigbo by Igbo traditional rulers said the creation of an additional state for the zone was overdue and coming now would be a befitting birthday gift for him.

    President Goodluck Jonathan in a goodwill message to the veteran politician called him a living symbol of the Igbo people.

    Leading the agitation for a new state was Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State who insisted that other zones should wait until the South East’s demand is met.

    He said “An additional state for Ndigbo should be created first to put us at par with other zones before talking of creating states in other zones.”

    The governor told Ndigbo to stop complaining about marginalization in the polity because as he put it, talking about has become obsolete.

    Describing Ekwueme as a rare gift to Nigeria and Ndigbo in particular, Okorocha said: “When I grow up, I will like to be like you (Ekwueme).”

    Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, took a cue from Okorocha and emphasized the need for unity in Igboland, saying: “God blessed us with Ekwueme. He is an all rounder who has excelled in his every endeavour.”

    Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State asked Ndigbo to use the occasion to unite and start speaking with one voice.

    “Igbo have not taken their rightful position in Nigeria. When Igbo take their position in Nigeria, the country will find its direction. All it requires is for the Igbo to organize themselves and work together,” Obi said.

    He described the Igbo as the pillars of Nigeria who spread out to other parts of the country to invest, build houses and live there with their families, while other Nigerians fail to come to Igboland to do likewise.

    Also speaking, the President of Ohanaeze Nd’Igbo, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, said of Ekwueme: “This man is a special gift to Igbo. His humility is exemplary. We want our youths to emulate him.”

    President Jonathan, in his goodwill message, eulogized Dr. Ekwueme as a living personification of the highest ideals of patriotism and selfless service.

    He lauded the celebrator’s contributions to national development over the years, saying that his “unassailable integrity and consummate diligence” have made him one of Nigeria’s most respected elder statesmen.

    He said: “On the occasion of your landmark 80th birthday anniversary, I join your family, friends, and well-wishers in thanking Almighty God for the richly fulfilled life He has blessed you with.

    “A thorough-bred professional, an accomplished administrator and leader of men, an epitome of the highest ideals of selfless service and unwavering patriotism, your unassailable integrity and consummate diligence have combined to make you one of our most respected national icons today.

    “Over the years, you have consistently invested the benefit of your inspiring attributes in dedicated service to our dear country, while continuing to avail our generation of leaders of your enduring wise counsel. It is my prayer that Almighty God continues to keep and prosper you even as He blesses you with robust health and a life of perpetual fulfilment,” President Jonathan wrote.

    He was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

    Former Senate president, Chief Ken Nnamani, former national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, former governor of the old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Senator Joy Emordi also spoke at the event.

    The chairman South East Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya on behalf of other traditional rulers in the zone announced the elevation of Dr. Ekwueme to the status of Ide Ndigbo .The formal conferment of the title will take place at a later date.

    In attendance were former Minister for Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji; deputy governors of Enugu and Ebonyi states, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, former governor of Central Bank, Dr. Charles Soludo as well as members of the National Assembly.

  • south south leaders warn north over violence threat

    south south leaders warn north over violence threat

    South South leaders under the auspices of Southern Mandate (SM) have lambasted former Governor of Yobe State, Senator Bukar Ibrahim, over his threat that there would be violence should President Goodluck Jonathan fail to increase budgetary allocation to the North East geo political zone.

    Senator Ibrahim, in an interview, deplored what he called the paltry allocation of N50billion to the North East in next year’s budget proposals.

    However, Southern Mandate, comprising political and business leaders from the South-East, South-south and South-West, after an emergency meeting in Effurun, Delta State, cautioned the former governor that such pattern of intimidation and harassment of President Jonathan would no longer be tolerated by the President’s kinsmen.

    They declared that no single region has a monopoly of violence.

    Dr. Godwin Omene, who addressed journalists after the meeting, said: “We note with dismay the recent threat issued by Senator Bukar Ibrahim that if President Goodluck Jonathan does not allocate more resources to the North East zone, a more violent insurgency than Boko Harm would be unleashed on Nigeria. We state that this has gone beyond mere agitation, intimidation and blackmail and has entered the domain of treasonable felony.

    “He (Senator Ibrahim) should note that the North East or any part of the North for that matter, does not have exclusive right to the use of violence.

    “We too, in the South and the Niger Delta in particular, are prepared to protect our son President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in this unenviable task of a nation building, transformation and national unification,” the group added.

    Omene said the group and other Niger Deltans would resist any attempt by the National Assembly and some northern leaders to impeach the president.

    “It is common knowledge that the Boko Haram insurgency was deliberately masterminded to create a scenario of insecurity and portray President Jonathan as incompetent to govern the country.

    “President Jonathan is today considered weak and impeachable on account of the Boko Haram insurgency, and non-implementable resolutions from a confused National Assembly, because he has not ordered the killing of innocent people and total destruction of a town in the north over the activities of a few misguided criminals as was the case in the past,” the group added.

    “We hereby state that in the face of relentless provocation by these elements of disunity, the Southern Mandate has reviewed its earlier stance of not responding to development in the interest of peace, stability and national unity. We affirm that henceforth, we shall take commensurate measures in response to any form of attack on the interest of the South and South-South in particular.”

     

  • Sacked Kogi Speaker, 12 others petition AGF

    Sacked Kogi Speaker, 12 others petition AGF

    Say: ‘We were impeached with fake mace’

     

    The sacked Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Bello and the 12 principal officers of the House who were removed recently have taken their battle for a return to office to the Federal Government.

    They are seeking the intervention of the central authorities in the crisis-torn assembly.

    The embattled lawmakers, in a petition to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) claimed that their purported impeachment was effected by those who removed them with a fake mace.

    The petitioners spoke of a “looming crisis engulfing Kogi State House of Assembly and by extension Kogi State.” They added: In line with the tradition of the Legislature, on 30th August, 2012, the State Assembly unanimously resolved to proceed on working recess to allow the various Standing Committees of the House to undertake a holistic appraisal of the year 2012 budget.

    “This is done routinely to prepare the Assembly for the laying and receipt of year 2013 Appropriation Bill which the Governor of Kogi State is expected to present late in the year.

    “To our surprise and dismay, 12 out of 25 members of the House broke into the Assembly with a fake maze where upon they were said to have issued a statement for the removal of all the seven (7) principal officers of the Kogi State House of Assembly.

    “It must be noted that though the members of the Assembly have the right to shorten their recess to reconvene, that can only be exercised by the Speaker of the House who shall issue an official proclamation in that regard. This I did not do to warrant them to sit at all.

    “Secondly, the removal of the Speaker and his Deputy requires two-thirds majority of the total members of the Assembly which when translated into the situation of the Kogi State House of Assembly with 25 members is 17 members.

    “However, only 12 members sat to carry out the purported removal of the principal officers. Kindly find attached a copy of the resolution of 13 members that passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of the House.”

     

  • Why there were no enough INEC officials

    The Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Akin Orebiyi yesterday explained why there were not enough electoral officers in some polling units.

    He told The Nation at the State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Akure, that the recent change of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from October 23 to October 18 caused the insufficient electoral presiding officers at the polling units.

    He said “Don’t forget that we have a MoU with NYSC and which is still ongoing and we are expecting that during the election we will have enough from batch A and batch B and batch C from the NYSC.

    “But the batch C of NYSC was originally meant to pass out on October 23, but somehow the date was changed to October 18, the implication was that the NYSC batch C was no longer in the care of the NYSC with that some of them refused to participate.

    “Not only this, majority of the tertiary institutions in the state are on holiday, we only manage to use some Adeyemi College of Education Students in Ondo town as presiding officers.

    Orebiyi commended the electorate for trooping out in large numbers to cast their votes for candidates of their choices.

    He assured that every vote would count, adding that the election has been fair.

    However, as at 10:50am election materials were yet to arrive at the INEC office in Akure from all the 18 local government areas in the state.

    According to Orebiyi, majority of the materials were still in the various collating centres in the various wards.

  • Gunmen kill family of seven, ex-customs chief

    Gunmen kill family of seven, ex-customs chief

    It was a black Saturday in Potiskum, Yobe State yesterday after gunmen suspected to be members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, killed an employee of Potiskum Local Government and his six children.

    They also abducted and killed a retired comptroller of Customs in Katsina State, Mr. Ajiya Waziri Golili.

    Killed along with him, according to the police, was his doctor son, Ibrahim.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Patrick Egbuniwe, also confirmed the killing by slaughtering, of a former police officer yesterday in Potiskum, the largest commercial city in Yobe State.

    The killings were the latest in a week marked by a bloody confrontation between the sect and the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the state between Thursday and Friday.

    It was gathered that the gunmen numbering 10 forced their way into the late Golili’s residence at Nahuta on Gombe Road at about 3am, ransacked all the rooms and carted away a large sum of money.

    “They came in a large number, broke the door and entered the house. They searched all the rooms in the house, collected money and his wives’ jewellery. They insisted on going away with the late Golili but his son Ibrahim resisted,” one source said.

    “They finally succeeded in overpowering the helpless son and tied him and his father, dragged them outside along Fika Road and shot them in cold blood.” Egbuniwe said: “The report I got from my DPO was that the retired customs officer was abducted with his son in the house and taken away and killed. His house was also burnt down.”

    Father and son were buried yesterday according to Islamic rites after prayers at the Central Mosque close to the Emir of Fika’s palace.

    Many described the late Ajiya as a simple, humble and easy going person who enjoyed assisting the less privileged. The Thursday attack left several public schools in Potiskum in ruins.

    These include Iqra and Al-Furqan, an Islamic School, Sabon Layi Primary School, Buraima Primary School, Chadi Primary School, FCE Staff School and Business and Engineering Skills Centre.

    Potiskum Local Government Secretariat including some residences were also burnt into ashes by the gunmen.

    Hospital officials in the town said the wave of attacks has left at least 23 people dead.

    The deaths resulted from a series of explosions and shootings that began on Thursday.

    Residents said several buildings were destroyed in the region, which has been targeted in previous attacks by the militant group.

    Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch said Boko Haram had committed “widespread and systematic murder and persecution” in attacks on government agents, Christians and moderate Muslims. However, the U.S.-based group also said the Nigerian government had engaged in abuses while fighting the militant group.

    The rights group called for the International Criminal Court to examine the actions of both sides in the conflict.