The Nation Newspaper

Tag: backs

  • AD candidate backs Buhari

    AD candidate backs Buhari

    Presidential candidate of Alliance for Democracy (AD) Rafiu Salau yesterday dumped his ambition, saying he was stepping down for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Salau told a news conference in Abuja that he was stepping down from the race and giving his support to Buhari to save the country’s democracy from one party system, which he said encourages dictatorship.

    According to him, “the PDP had been in power for 16 years, and it has tried its best. No matter how good the performance of PDP, you need to vote for another party before you can know that you always get a better performance when you create a competition among the parties.

    “One party system takes away democracy from the owners and denies them the right to use their democratic system to determine the level of the national development. No matter how good the performance of one party system, it cannot perform 10 per cent of a democratic system with at least two strong parties that make the people to have the opportunity to control their democracy.

    “It is your responsibility to  vote for another party that will also execute its programme. This is the only way the country can move forward like other democratic countries that have the control of their democracy. You need to create competition among the parties so they can always go back to their drawing board to redesign their programme for your benefits.

    “I urged all of you the 68 million voters, to vote for Gen. Buhari, the candidate of all the democrats who will bring change. Vote APC. Show the world that you are in control of your democracy.”

    The National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, praised the AD candidate for identifying with Buhari.

    He urged those who are yet to decide on whom to vote for to emulate Salau and support the APC presidential candidate.

    Odigie-Oyegun said: “By identifying with Buhari, it means that you must have look at our programmes and our candidate and judged that it is people-oriented and our candidate is more qualify to lead the country.

    “I am asking people to judge the administration of Jonathan whether they have really deserved any support of any kind. The PDP government has failed in every aspect. The main business of government today is corruption.”

  • Group backs Audu, says EFCC is desperate

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been accused of deliberate attempt to scuttle due process in the prosecution of former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu in an alleged embezzlement charge.

    The group cited an alleged refusal of EFCC witnesses to appear in court to testify against Audu, said to have been a a victim of serial attacks and arraignments by the anti-graft agency since 2006.

    The group, known as Prince Audu Support Group (PASU) said the unwarranted snapshot saga involving the former government and EFCC staff 10 days ago in an Abuja court room was a vindication of its assertion.

    It however expressed belief that Audu would be victorious from all the politically motivated attacks.

    The statement reads: “It was a dramatic irony that unfolded during last week’s re-opened hearing in the law suit instituted against Prince Abubakar Audu  by the Nigerian anti-graft agency, the EFCC when the so called principal prosecution witnesses declined appearance in the court to substantiate their interstellar supposed earlier submissions.

    “It will  be recalled that Prince Audu a former Governor of Kogi state was alleged to have embezzled over N10b of state funds and has since 2006 been a victim of serial attacks and arraignments by the EFCC.

    “The EFCC case against Audu is indeed a practical demonstration of forum-shopping for a guilty as charged verdict that must be had.

    “In the case believed to be set against the background of political motivation, prosecution has acted out its vested interest  in a desperate back and forth forum-shopping, ridiculous production of witnesses and irresponsible provocation of the person of Prince Audu as typified in an EFCC operative attempt to take an unwarranted shot of the man during the court session.

    “The attempt by the EFCC official to take a snapshot  of Audu led to a serious distraction of proceeding and it was a wise, decisive action by the presiding judge in the Abuja High court that got the situation under control.

    “Prince Audu, through pragmatism and uncommon political acumen has left indelible marks on Nigeria political space, giving the citizens of Kogi state a sort of halcyon days that they recall with nostalgia as the years go by.

    “He has built a warm image of achievement in the minds of the people, many of whom are yearning for his return to the Lugard House in Kogi once again.

    “The particularity of the timelines of the supposed lawful assault and the sordidness of the manner of the attack on Audu betrays the EFCC as working for the purpose of causing him political harm.

    “Following the confession of one of the prosecution witness, Iriye Fidelis and their subsequent refusal to attend sessions during recent sittings, prosecution in its desperation to ensnare Audu surfaced a new witness out of the blues, a scenario which amply showed a naked partisan lawsuit which can best be described as a judicially enforced political theatre.

    “Finally, while we remain confident that Prince Audu will eventually come out of this frivolous political stunt stronger, we hold a high opinion of our judicial system and trust that truth will prevail.

    “It is our earnest hope, therefore, that the EFCC will be able to impress upon itself such phrases as human rights, and the right to association”.

  • Lodz contract termination: Polish Federation backs Okachi

    Lodz contract termination: Polish Federation backs Okachi

    The Chamber for Dispute Resolution Sports of the Polish Federation has ruled in favour of Nigerian midfielder Princewill Okachi, authorizing him to cancel his contract with relegated Widzew Lodz.

    According to FIFA rules, a player can unilaterally terminate his contract with his employer if he is being owed wages for three consecutive months, and the position of the Polish Federation is not different from that of the governing body of football.

    Okachi resumed pre-season training late at Widzew Lodz,with the club claiming that the offense had earlier been repeated in the past.

    Thus, the 23 – year – old was ordered to undergo individual training, while he waited for a decision from the Federation.

    The former FC Midtjylland player appeared 83 times for Widzew Lodz in the topflight scoring 3 goals.

    His contract with the club was due to run out at the end of this season.

  • Niger Delta group backs regional autonomy

    The Niger Delta delegates to the National Conference should settle for a new constitution premised on required autonomy or confederation, a group, the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS) has said

    The group, a coalition of civil society and ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta, spoke after a meeting in Abuja, which was presided over by Prof Pat Utomi.

    The UNDEDSS statement said: “The Niger Delta will begin a restoration agenda that will trigger parallel non-violent actions to make it clear that all resources belong to it, though it is prepared to pay a tax (maybe up to 50 per cent to the centre).

    “A restoration agenda that rejects all obnoxious extant laws, such as the National Inland Waterways and Land Use Acts as they are presently promulgated.

    “A restoration agenda that will actively resist any attempts to dislodge duly elected authority using illegal, violent or regressive modus operandi.

    “ A restoration agenda that will not allow the Niger Delta be part of a Nigeria that is not premised on the justice, equity, peace, and progress of regional autonomy.”

    The group said“it is becoming clearer, observing the National Conference play out by the day that certain forces of feudalism and stagnation are fixated with perpetually entrenching this status quo of corruption, injustice, inequity, regression and murderousness on the Nigerian people”.

    “We the leaders and peoples of the Niger Delta hereby declare unequivocally that we will resist any attempt to bring about regime-change by any means outside the extant electoral laws of Nigeria, and will settle for nothing less than the creation of a new constitution for Nigeria, where confederalism/regional autonomy is enthroned,” UNDEDSS said.

    UNDEDSS’ Secretary  Tony Uranta added: “Apparently, some northern leaders, for example, do not believe in the genuineness of purpose on the part of the chief convener of the Conference; rather they have taken the view that it is a ploy by the President “to confiscate all revenue accruing from oil exploitations” for the Niger Delta without going through the process of constitution amendment; and, the North clearly believes that the present structure of quasi-federalism should remain. In other words, Nigeria should maintain the status quo.”

    Uranta, who was a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the National Conference, said: “But the Niger Delta knows that Mr. President has only altruistic objectives regarding the Conference, and, that Nigeria is in dire need of a holistic restructuring; just as the Niger Delta applauds a delegate, Ms. Annkio Briggs’, decision to distance herself from the Devolution Committee report that showed no progressive thought.

    “We hereby serve notice that we will reject in its totality any developmental policy or constitutional structure that would attempt to make states/zones/regions develop at the same pace, without due regard to their human, capital and resource attribution or aspirations.”

  • Bayelsa Pdp backs President for second term

    Bayelsa Pdp backs President for second term

    The Sagbama Local Government Area chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has passed a vote of confidence on President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State.

    Party chieftains who converged on Tungbo Town applauded the achievements of the two Bayelsa indigenes, urging them to keep the flag flying.

    The motion for the vote of confidence was moved by Mr. Timi Fanama, a former lawmaker, and seconded by Mrs. Ebizi Brown of the State Tourism Development Agency. They urged President Jonathan and Governor Dickson to remain focused, resolute and be committed to the implementation of the ‘Transformation Agenda’ at the federal level and the ‘Restoration Agenda’ in Bayelsa State.

    The Commissioner for Education and convener of the meeting, Chief Salo Adikumo, implored the indigenes of Sagbama support the two politicians at this critical time.

    He said Dickson has surpassed his predecessors, in terms of infrastructural development and equitable distribution of political appointments.

  • Ado-Ekiti PDP backs Famuyibo for governor

    Executives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area of Ekiti State have endorsed Otunba Reuben Famuyibo for governor in the next poll.

    The endorsement was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary, Mr. Bayo Awe, and other party executives in Ado-Ekiti Local Government.

    The statement, which was addressed to the state PDP chairman, reads: “The unfolding political scenario in our party, which favours the consensus arrangement to select a credible candidate in the governorship election informed our choice of Famuyibo by the PDP executives in Ado-Ekiti Local Government. We inform your office, the State Working Committee and the National Working Committee that Famuyibo should be considered for our party’s ticket because of some factors that would enable the PDP to win the election.”

    Giving reasons for the endorsement, they said Famuyibo hails from Ado-Ekiti, which has the highest number of registered voters (about 132,000) in the state.

    The executives said: “Famuyibo is an experienced grassroots politician, who has contributed to the progress of our party. He is an unassuming, brilliant and successful businessman. He was a member of the 1995 Constitutional Conference and the Power Devolution Committee.

  • Anambra poll: PDP backs Nwoye’s suit

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has restated the commitment of the National Working Committee (NWC) to abide by the laid-down electoral processes and the rule of law, which form the fulcrum of the party’s participation in elections.

    PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday said the NWC supports a suit filed by its candidate in the November 16 Anambra governorship election,

    Comrade Tony Nwoye, challenging the result of the poll.

    He described the candidate’s action as a “step in the right direction and an acceptance of the directive of the NWC earlier communicated to him to pursue the mandate in accordance with established democratic procedures and rules.”

    “PDP is committed to democracy and electoral processes as stipulated by the constitution and laws of our land. This explains why we remained steadfast to the processes outlined for the Anambra governorship election and the reason for our earlier stand and directive to our candidate and members to participate in the supplementary election as directed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “As a party committed to strengthening the institution of democracy, we believe that due process must be followed at all times to allow the laws and electoral rules run their full courses without any interruption. It is in this regard that we hail our candidate for conforming to the ideals of our great party in seeking redress at the right time and through the appropriate democratic channel,” the statement said.

    Expressing optimism that “justice will prevail at the end of the day”, the statement said PDP “remains impressed by Nwoye’s credible outing, resilience and grassroots appeal, which brought him to the forefront in the race despite having only two weeks to campaign.”

    It enjoined PDP members to close ranks and remain focused in supporting the party and the candidate.

  • NLC backs national conference

    NLC backs national conference

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday said it is not opposed to the proposal for a national conference by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Its Acting General Secretary Comrade Chris Uyot, said in a statement: “The Congress is not opposed to any form of national dialogue or conference or conversation as long as it is geared towards improving the quality of life of the Nigerian people, strengthen the bonds of unity, advance the cause of democracy, build our economy, create an enabling environment for the expression of our shared values and common heritage as well as defend our sovereignty.”

    The statement recalled that the labour movement has been part of national dialogue, from colonial times to post -colonial Nigeria.

    According to Uyot, it was part of the dialogue leading to the country’s independence and its acquisition of the status of a republic.

    The statement, said NLC played a leading role in the process and subsequent protests that culminated in the repudiation of the Anglo-Nigeria military pact that sought to make Nigeria an out-post of the British shortly after independence by way of establishing military bases in the country.

    Uyot added that the Congress was not only part of the national “conferences” or dialogue contrived by the military and even the civilian government of President Olusegun Obasanjo, but played a significant role, offering in the process alternative views or development agenda.

    He added that: “It has no reason to shy away from any conference now. For the avoidance of doubt, the Congress believes Nigerians should regularly talk to themselves as well as talk to one another. The constituent parts should as often as practicable sit down to talk, to address the ills that plague our politico-socio-economic well-being, not only at the federal level but right to the village square.”

  • Tukur’s group backs Jonathan

    The crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday threw darts at “renegade” members as it bemoaned the state of affairs in the ruling party.

    The Bamanga Tukur-led leadership also sued for peace in a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, which urged estranged members to fully utilise the window of dialogue and reconciliation offered by the party.

    “The on-going muted skirmishes and well-organised theatrics aimed at portraying the President in a bad light are not necessary because, as members of one big family, no challenge is insurmountable.

    “This tactic is antithetical to democracy but not an unfamiliar rule of engagement. However, it is important that we avoid over-stretching it and shutter not, glaring overtures to reason so as not to play into the waiting hands of the desperate, wishing to incite the people and destroy our common destiny,” Metuh said.

    According to him, the problem in the party was a challenge which could be resolved within the ambit of its existing crisis resolution mechanism.

    He regretted that cleavages within the party were being exaggerated by “some politicians” desperately looking for quick photo-ups through sensationalism in the media.

    “We wish to assure our members therefore that we are still capable of resolving our challenges and urge them to be more committed to our progress. We shall emerge stronger”, Metuh added diffidently.

    Reaffirming the support of the Bamanga Tukur- led PDP for President Goodluck Jonathan, the party spokesman said the President’s achievements were being under-reported by the media.

    In a veiled swipe at the media, Metuh said the administration’s weak points were being unnecessarily celebrated by those he described as detractors, just to gain prominence.

    He said: “While the inconsequential makes the banner, the essentials and the substantial in the consistent though quiet transformation of the nation are tucked away in obscure riders.

    “Very unfortunately, the easiest way to gain prominence today is to attack the President and the leadership of his party, not on issues of governance or on alternative direction of governance, but on the pedestrian that borders on sheer mudslinging.

    “The media is a critical building block of democracy and the Nigerian media has stood firm across the decades. It must not relent.

    “In all this, our firm support for the President as the leader and symbol of our party in government remains total. We shall neither waiver nor allow narrow sentiments stand in the way of the absolute resolve of our great party to better the lot of all Nigerians”.

    The statement added that the nation would benefit the more if detractors of the President pick him or his party on issues of development so as to enrich the practice of democracy.

  • NGO backs Aregbesola for second term

    A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Osun State, the People’s Welfare League (PWL), has said Governor Rauf Aregbesola deserves a second term.

    It said the Aregbesola administration has recorded “monumental achievements” in less than three years.

    In a statement, the NGO’s National Coordinator, Abiodun Agboola, said the administration’s policies and programmes have improved the standard of living.

    Agboola said: “We praise Aregbesola for creating a secure environment for residents to move about without fear of molestation as was witnessed in the past before his advent.

    “We also appreciate the massive road projects going on across the state. We have no doubt that with the standard and specification of the government, the roads will stand the test of time and compete favourably with what obtains in any civilised world.”