The Nation Newspaper

Tag: calls

  • Nwosu calls Comets lucky

    Nwosu calls Comets lucky

    Gateway United head coach, Henry Nwosu has said visiting Abia Comets were lucky to have escaped heavy defeat.

    The Abeokuta-based side pipped Abia Comets 1-0 in the Nigeria National League (NNL) match day 6 encounter on Saturday at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

    Midfielder, Olufemi Opeoluwa scored the match winner in the first half of the hotly contested duel to give his side the three points at stake.

    Nwosu said the rain that fell in the second half put his side in a disadvantaged position to increase the goal margin.

    “The downpour in the second half with strong wind saw us playing against the wind and it thoroughly put us in a disadvantaged position to go ahead to score more goals.

    “Aside the wind in the second part of the encounter we, too have our own blame for wasting several chances at goal.

    “That’s not to say they didn’t perform well but we’ve more work to do to be able to maximise the scoring opportunities that come on our way.

    “Abia Comets were not a bad side, a slim 1-0 win showed the game was hotly contested for by both sides.

    “We had the upperhand and ably deserved to win. The key right now is the three points in our pocket. There is hope that very soon we’ll end the search for away points,” said the former Golden Eaglets coach to supersport.com.

    The hard-earned victory against the Umuahia-based side has upped Gateway United’s points haul to eight from a possible 18 points in the six-week old Nigeria secondary league.

    Gateway United will still play host to First Bank FC in the NNL Division B match day 7 tie at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

  • Danjuma calls Umar deputy governor

    Former Defence Minister General Theophilus Danjuma at the weekend addressed Garba Umar as the deputy governor of Taraba State (not acting governor).

    His reference sent a loud and clear message that he was not in support of the deputy governor’s alleged scheme to consolidate his hold on power.

    General Danjuma was at the palace of the Gara Donga, Danjuma Stephen Banyonga, where the Chamba people conferred on him the title of Gam Gbaro, which means war field marshal.

    While acknowledging dignitaries at the event, Danjuma said he acknowledged “the representative of the deputy governor of Taraba State.”

    There is a power struggle between Governor Danbaba Suntai and Umar, his deputy. Since the governor returned from his medical trip abroad, Umar has refused to revert to the position of deputy governor, alleging that “a cabal” was trying to hijack the machinery of government.

    Danjuma is also not in support of Umar, whose bid is allegedly to become the substantive governor. Relationship between the duo has been frosty.

    Umar was absent at the coronation of the ex-minister, who is also an illustrious son of the state.

    Analysts said it was a slight for Umar to be represented by the Speaker, Josiah Sabo Kente, when the event had the presence of dignitaries like former Heads of State, General Muhammadu Buhari and General Yakubu Gowon.

    Gen. Danjuma, who spoke on the importance of peace to the nation’s growth, stressed that the only justice could guarantee peace.

    ”We need justice from our rulers, politicians and everybody, for if there is no justice there can ever be peace.

    “If anybody is aggrieved he should seek redress from the law court; he should not take up arms to avenge the perceived wrong doing he is complaining of,” he said.

  • N255m armoured car: Activist calls for Oduah’s resignation

    N255m armoured car: Activist calls for Oduah’s resignation

    The Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor, has urged the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, to resign immediately, following the scandal that greeted the purchase of two cars worth N255 million for her official use.

    Ugolor urged relevant authorities to probe the purchase of the cars.

    He said it was annoying that the minister spent such money for her personal comfort at a time the country was faced with several problems and the government was claiming that there was no money.

    In a statement yesterday in Benin, the Edo State capital, the activist said the minister was insincere because she had told Nigerians during the National Assembly public hearing on the grounding of the Rivers State Government airplane that she did not control the operations of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    Ugolor said it was sad that the resources wasted on the cars should have been used to secure the Nigeria airspace.

    The activist advised President Goodluck Jonathan to check the excesses of his cabinet members, following the emerging trend of their alleged financial mismanagement and undue interference in the operations of the agencies under their ministries.

    The statement reads: “The ANEEJ condemns the Minister of Aviation for the profligacy and alleged corrupt use of public funds to purchase two BMW armoured cars. It presents the minister as Janus, the Italian god of wine with double-faced, speaking with two mouths.

    “We are shocked at the level of provocative extravagance of Princess Stella Oduah, who described the two major air crashes, which occurred under her watchful eyes recently, as ‘inevitable acts of God’. “We deplore a situation where energy and resources, which ought to have been used to secure the Nigeria airspace, as being canvassed by all stakeholders, is being unwittingly deployed for self-service and preservation by the minister.

    “Nigerians are obviously worried by an emerging trend where serving ministers financially strangulate and unduly interfere in the smooth operations and efficient running of agencies under their ministries. This scenario is also playing out between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources without necessary checks by the Presidency or the National Assembly. It is detestable that the government keeps shielding these officials as sacred cows while corruption flourishes under their nose.

    “Now that the wind has blown open and the rot in the aviation sector exposed, we call on the Presidency and the National Assembly, which are statutorily charged with oversight duties, to bring all those involved in the car scandal to justice.”

    A civil society group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sell the cars and spend its proceeds to settle the families of the victims of recent air crashes.

    In a statement by its Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, SERAP suggested that another “part of the funds to set up a trust fund to jump-start genuine reform of the aviation industry.”

  • Moses calls for total focus

    Moses calls for total focus

    Victor Moses has warned Nigerians not to celebrate their 2014 World Cup ticket until the qualifier against the Walyas Antelope of Ethiopia is concluded.

    According to him, the journey to the World Cup is still far, and until the two-legged matches are won, Nigerians should not count their chicks before they are hatched. “We are looking very strong at the moment. We got the right players and everyone is well prepared for the task ahead, and hopefully we would get a win. The Ethiopians are a good side, they move the ball around, they got good talents, but not to disrespect them, because we beat them at the Nations Cup, we can also go there and get a win on Sunday.

    “But it’s not going to be an easy game. We are all professionals, we should not care about the altitude problem, nor the pitch, but to go there and enjoy our football. As professional we need to go there and win the game for Nigerians. We don’t need to over celebrate until we have been able to pick victory in all the matches. We are not at the World Cup yet, until the task have been accomplished.”

  • Obama calls Mandela a ‘personal hero’

    Obama calls Mandela a ‘personal hero’

    President Barack Obama, whose tour of Africa this week includes a stop in South Africa, yesterday said his thoughts were with the nation’s citizens as anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela remains critically ill.

    “He is a personal hero, but I’m not unique in that regard,” Obama told CNN Chief White House Correspondent Jessica Yellin in Dakar, Senegal, the first stop of his African tour.

    “I think he’s a hero for the world and if/when he passes, we know his legacy will linger on throughout the ages,” the president said.

    Obama’s visit to South Africa on Saturday will include a visit to Robben Island, where Mandela spent a majority of his prison term. The White House schedule does not include a visit with the anti-apartheid icon.

    After South Africa, Obama heads to Tanzania, his last stop before he heads back to Washington.

  • Oyerinde: TUC calls for justice

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) yesterday called on the National Assembly to probe the death of the Private Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde.

    It also called for an investigation into the role of the police.

    In a communiqué at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Benin City signed by its National President and Secretary, Peter Esele and Musa Lawal, NEC-in-session praised the perseverance of the suspect who was arrested for the crime, Comrade David Ugolor.

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole has concluded plans to attend Wednesday’s public hearing of the petition filed by civil society groups in the state against the alleged shoddy investigation by the police.

    A source said the governor would clarify his statement on how the police not only bungled the murder investigation but were also trying to cover up the crime by ‘framing’ Ugolor.

    The TUC called on the Federal Government to stop the proposed N4billion First Lady’s Mission House.

    It said the project is another drain pipe on the nation’s economy and advised that such fund should be applied to create jobs for the youth.

    The TUC said it was criminal for anybody to suspend the debate on local government autonomy and observed that states opposed to local government autonomy were doing harm to Nigeria’s democracy.

  • N232b subsidy scam: Kwara NBA calls for trial

    The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch, has said the oil marketers involved in the alleged illegal collection of N232 billion fuel subsidy must not go unpunished.

    Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala recently said 50 oil marketers illegally collected N232 billion.

    The Chairman of the Ilorin chapter of the NBA, Rafiu Balogun, who spoke at the association’s annual dinner and award night, urged the Federal Government to discard increasing the pump prices of petroleum products as it would incur the wrath of Nigerians.

    He said the recovery of N29 billion by debt swap from the illegally-collected N232 billion as stated by Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala was not satisfactory and called for the blacklisting of the marketers, in addition to their prosecution.

    Balogun hailed the government’s efforts to sanitise the oil sector and enjoined it to ensure there is no sacred crowd.

    He said: “Corruption in the oil sector is another vexing issue of national importance, which must be tackled by the Federal Government. The subsidy scam and the huge amount lost are worrisome and sad.

    “We praise the government for the efforts made to sanitise the sector. The prosecution of the individuals and companies involved is commendable. We, however, warn that there must not be sacred cows. Government must be as transparent as possible.

    “This takes us to the Ribadu Report. The Federal Government should not jettison the report as it could still be useful in the investigations into the fraud and the perpetrators. The recent revelation by the Finance Minister that a whopping N232 billion was illegally collected by 50 oil marketers and Federal Government has only succeeded in recovering N29 billion through debt swap is disheartening.

    “It is in the light of the above that we call on the Federal Government not to make any attempt to increase the pump price of petroleum products. If it does, it will stir the anger of Nigerians. They will resist the increase because the subsidy issue has turned out to be tainted with corruption and fraud.”

    The state Chief Judge, Justice Olatunji Bamigbola, described legal justice as the mainstay of the country’s democracy and hailed the NBA for its contribution towards the sustenance of justice.

    He also praised the NBA for inculcating in its members discipline and ethics of the legal profession.

  • Achebe’s book: Ohanaeze calls for ceasefire

    The umbrella Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called for a ceasefire in the debate on Prof Chinua Achebe’s latest book: There was a country.

    The organisation cautioned the people of the Southeast and Southwest to ensure that the issue does not erode the goodwill the late Dim Emeka Odumegu-Ojukwu and Chief Obafemi Awolowo promoted with their famous “handshake across the Niger”.

    The Enugu State CD Chairman, Chief O. A. U. Onyema, told The Nation yesterday that “these unwarranted exchanges of venomous views can erode the existing good relationship between the two progressive groups – Ndigbo and Yoruba”.

    He added: “We strongly advise that we have to be careful not to allow the altercations to create bad blood between the two ethnic groups. The civil war has come and gone, and we are talking about one Nigeria. Therefore, issues of the past should form history for study and guide against future recurrence. It should not be resurrected to apportion blames and cause divisions.”

    The CD chairman noted that Achebe has expressed his views, adding that they are not error-proof.

    According to him, no one can claim absolute knowledge of all that transpired during the war period.

    Onyema said: “Anyone who has a better view or information can come up with his or her own academic materials rather than be an armchair philosopher on a critical issue.

    “Please, our elders, whose utterances are unpalatable for and against this book, should watch their steps and desist from updating the current generation with unwarranted altercations. We need more books on issues of this nature so that we can appreciate our mistakes and make corrections for tomorrow.

    “Honestly, I urge every well-meaning Nigerian from any ethnic group to desist from issues that can create bias in the minds of our youths. This is because Abraham Lincoln once said: ‘Tell me the prevailing sentiments in the minds of your youth and I will tell you the character of the next generation’. Wrong sentiments should not be impacted into our youths, please.”

  • Obi calls for prayers

    Obi calls for prayers

    Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has said this year’s celebration offers Muslims another opportunity to re flect on their spiritual lives, pray for themselves, others and the nation.

    In a statement, Obi said: “As the celebration goes on, it reminds us to always reflect on the ideals of good living, which all religions preach; this abhors violence, but rather promotes peace and fraternity among men.

    “Most importantly, may this period remind us all to be faithful to the Almighty and live according to His dictates, especially in our world that has been gravely wounded by vices of all types.”