The Nation Newspaper

Tag: condemns

  • ACN condemns ‘poor handling’ of Chime’s illness

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)yesterday condemned what it called the poor handling of the reported illness of Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime, saying it fits into the growing pattern of shrouding the health problems of elected officials in secrecy.

    The party said: It calls to the need to do things properly to advance the nation’s democracy rather than personal interests.

    In a statement in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Ahaji Lai Mohammed, the party also criticised the choreographed visit to Chime in London by a delegation of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), which was apparently designed to reinforce the line being peddled by Chime’s supporters rather than keep the people of the state better informed of the true situation of things.

    It said there is no doubt that the reason behind all the shenanigans is the desperation by public office holders to hold on to power at all costs, even when it is clear that their health has failed to such a level that they are better off stepping down so they can attend to their health problems.

    ‘’We do not have details of what is wrong with Chime and honestly that is not the reason behind our intervention. Our concern is that the conspiracy of silence being perpetrated by the state governors who are reported to have taken ill and abandoned their duty posts, as well as their supporters especially the NGF, does not serve the interest of our democracy.

    The party said:’’In the case of Chime, how can a man who is purportedly on vacation disappear for over 135 days and the people who voted him into office are not expected to ask questions? Does the Constitution provide for such a long ‘vacation’ without consequences? Is Chime’s deputy, whom he reportedly handed over to, given enough latitude to adequately preside over the affairs of the state. If not, how has this affected governance in the state? And to what extent have the people been denied the dividends of democracy by this unnecessary controversy?

    The party went on: ‘’These are the issues that should be of interest to all lovers of democracy, not the antics of some Governors who are frittering away taxpayers money by gallivanting to London to see Chime and thereafter releasing a picture showing a ‘hale and hearty’ Chime, dressed-up like a Soviet-era spook, which has now generated even more controversy.

    ‘’The governors said Chime is recovering well but did not say from what illness. They say he is in good shape but has not said why he has been away from his duty post for so long. If he is so hale and hearty as they claim, let him come home and end the endless controversy over his illness. In any case, who made the governors the spokespersons for the people of Enugu state? Are they the ones who voted him into office? Do they really care how this whole controversy has affected governance in Enugu state? Is this the way democracy is run in other climes?’’ ACN queried. The party said since any human being can take ill anytime, no one, especially public office holders, should be ashamed to admit his or her illness through a full disclosure and, if necessary, cede full power to those constitutionally empowered to take over.

    ‘’Nigeria and its democracy have yet to recover from the secrecy thrown around the illness of late President Umaru

    Yar’Adua and the anti-democratic antics of his ‘kitchen cabinet’. It is time we stopped this practice that only serves the purpose of those who are hell bent on clinging to power, not considering the interest of the people who voted them into office,’’ it said.

  • Alaafin condemns attack on Ado Bayero

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has said the absence of a “clear-cut planning” for the education policy is responsible for the rising crime rate in the Country.

    The Alaafin spoke with reporters yesterday after receiving three prominent traditional rulers from Ondo State, who visited to sympathise with him on the fire that gutted 21 rooms in his palace.

    The traditional rulers are the Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida; the Olowo of Owo, Oba Dr. Olateru Olagbeji III CFR and the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Dr. Adesimbo KIladejo.

    Oba Adeyemi said policy makers evolve good educational programmes but fail to provide corresponding job intake to cope with the large turn out of graduates from tertiary institutions.

    He said: “Several thousands of our able-bodied youths receive admissions into various institutions of higher learning, but at the end of their academic pursuance, search for jobs that are not forthcoming. This leads to idleness, which eventually leads to criminal acts.”

    Describing the attack on the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, as disturbing Alaafin said the paramount ruler is neither controversial nor fundamentalist, but committed to the well-being of his people.

    He said: “So, what then is the basis for the attack? It clearly portends the state of insecurity in the country, which must be tackled headlong by the government.

    “For a traditional ruler of that status to be attacked in his domain shows that no where is safe in the country. We pray God to grant quick recovery to the emir’s two sons and others injure in the attack.”

    Opposing any dialogue with the Boko Haram sect, the Alaafin said: “How can you dialogue with a faceless group? Their origin and base are not known. Their mission is unknown but they continue to snuff life out of defenceless people.

    “A leader of the sect, who was said to have been arrested sometime ago by security agents, was traced to Mali. Also, former President Olusegun Obasanjo visited one of their leaders sometimes ago for amicable solution. Rather than allowing that peaceful resolution to take place, the leader of the Boko Haram was killed the following day the former president visited him.

    “The best solution is the one applied by Obasanjo in the Niger Delta. Our national security must be strengthened and be made more effective through efficient and proactive surveillance system.”

    The Ondo traditional rulers delivered Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s condolence message to the Alaafin. They said the governor travelled abroad for an award ceremony.

  • Monarch condemns destructive criticism

    Chairman of the Council of Obas in Ekiti State and the Owa Ooye of Okemesi Ekiti, Oba Adedeji Gbadebo has described those behind the “destructive criticism” of the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration as “enemies of progress”.

    The monarch warned indigenes against joining any plan to “pull down the Fayemi administration”, saying “it was ordained by God because Fayemi is doing the will of the people and that of God.”

    He said: “If anyone wants to criticise the Fayemi administration, it should not be someone from Okemesi Ekiti because what he has done for us in this town in terms of appointment and physical development is unprecedented in the history of any government in Ekiti State.

    “There is no town in Ekiti that the government has not touched.”

    The monarch debunked the rumour that the governor shares the state’s allocation with him.

    He urged the people to be patient and support the governor’s efforts to rebuild the state.

  • Chime: Bishop condemns death wishes

    The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Callistus Onaga, has faulted those making uncomplimentary remarks on the absence of Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime.

    The bishop, who spoke yesterday in Enugu, noted that it is morally wrong for some people to wish a fellow being dead.

    Bishop Onaga urged the people to be patient and wait for the governor to return to his desk.

    He congratulated Acting Governor Sunday Onyebuchi and his team for effectively piloting the affairs of the state in the absence of the governor.

    Bishop Onaga said: “We miss the fact that Governor Chime is not around. But there are many reasons why a chief executive of a state can travel outside…”

     

     

     

  • PDP condemns sack of Ondo Varsity workers

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State yesterday condemned the sack of over 60 workers at the state-owned Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU), Akungba-Akoko.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Wale Ozogoro, PDP said: “Most of these workers, who are accused of being involved in partisan politics, openly supported Governor Olusegun Mimiko against Dr. Olusegun Agagu in the 2007 election and never experienced what they are going through now.

    “These workers, under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other affiliated unions organised rallies at the Democracy Park and wore vests and other materials with the insignia of the Labour Party (LP).

    “At that time, Mimiko paraded himself as a dependable friend of workers. It is sad that AAU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko, acting under the instruction of his brother (the governor) has become vindictive.

    “About six families were adversely affected, as the husbands and wives were sacked for trumped up charges. They were not queried or invited to face any disciplinary committee to determine whether they were culpable or otherwise.

    “They were summarily dismissed without recourse to rules guiding the public service. This brings to mind the draconian rule of the military era, when decrees and fiats were the order of the day.

    “We condemn this act of wickedness and remind the Mimiko administration that several eminent individuals had governed this state without making life unbearable for the people.

    “Residents are groaning under the present administration and the university community has had its share of the government’s Christmas gift.

    “In a state where the government is paying lip service to youth employment and infrastructural development, many more are being thrown into the saturated labour market.

    “We urge the people to take solace in the fact that we will soon recover our stolen mandate at the election petition tribunal.”

    The university’s spokesman, Mr. Sola Imoru, said there was no mass sack. He said the management reorganised, as a result of which 60 employees were disengaged with full entitlements.

  • ACN condemns sack of varsity workers

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State has condemned the sack of 63 workers of the Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU), Akungba Akoko.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Agbede, ACN said: “It is ironic that this is coming barely two months after the purported victory of the Labour Party (LP) in the October 20 governorship poll and one cannot but marvel about this unique way of saying thank you to the people by relieving them of their means of livelihood.

    “That this termination of appointment was carried out at this period, when every family is looking up to a joyous celebration in this Yuletide season, aptly shows that the character ruling this state has no human feeling.

    “It is not surprising that Governor Olusegun Mimiko; his brother and AAU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Femi Mimiko and Dan Nwanyanwu, the Chairman of AAU Council, have become cruel.

    “Having failed to secure the foreign loan, which was stopped by the National Assembly, the governor decided to recoup the money he spent during the last election by downsizing the workforce, starting with AAU.”

    CPC urged Ondo people and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to come to the aid of the sacked workers.

  • Group condemns Plateau over workers’ strike

    Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has condemned Governor Jonah Jang’s alleged refusal to pay Plateau workers the N18,000 minimum wage structure, which has forced workers to embark on indefinite strike.

    In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Bosah, the body said it is illegal for any government to refuse to implement the N18,000 minimum Wage since it has been passed into law.

    It stated that the government should rather be working towards a new minimum wage that takes care of the rising inflation trend.

    “Plateau State Government claimed it has no capacity to pay the N18,000 due to unavailability of funds. This has been the sing-song of many of the state governments who daily engage in waste of public resources and outright looting of public treasury.

    “Is it not contradictory for the same Jang to be constructing another government house/palace costing more than N4 billion whereas a paltry N18,000 minimum wage structure cannot be paid to workers.

    “Besides, the same government is paying idle top political office unjustified huge salaries and allowances while workers do not deserve what is obviously a poverty wage. “

    CDWR, therefore, demands that the state government open its books to the public and to be scrutinised by an elected committee of workers to ascertain how the state’s funds have been utilised and the true state of accounts.

    “We demand that Jonah Jang-led administration pay all backlog of salaries still owed to workers on the N18,000 minimum wage structure and to work out a basis for periodic increment in line with the rate of inflation. We reject and urge workers to stoutly oppose any plans by government to downsize,rightsize or retrench the workforce as a basis to pay the new wage.

    “We also call the trade union leaders to engage workers in more mass actions as a means of sustaining the ongoing strike. CDWR has always urged the trade union movement not to believe for a moment that state governments would comply with the Minimum Wage Act without struggle and not to rely on trade union diplomacy alone as a means to bringing about the full implementation of the Wage Act.

    It warned that it will require the continuous mass struggle of workers to force the state governments to implement the minimum wage act and to get more concessions from the government.

    “Fundamentally, every government that subscribes to neo-liberal capitalist policies, which only guarantee the privilege and profit of a few at the expense of the working masses will do everything to undermine workers’ welfare. It is fool hardy to expect that anti-poor political parties and politicians can guarantee workers interest. Hence, it is high time workers and the organised labour movement began the building of a new mass working class political party armed with socialist policies of creating jobs, payment of living wage and sustained infrastructural development under working class democratic control and management,” it urged

     

     

     

  • Eastern Bar Forum condemns Aluu killings

    Eastern Bar Forum condemns Aluu killings

    THE Eastern Forum (EBF) at its meeting in Enugu, at the

    weekend, condemned the killing of four students of the University of Port Harcourt in Aluu, Rivers State.

    It strongly condemned the killings, urging the government to fish out the perpetrators of the act and bring them to book. The forum described the loss of the four students as irreparable and called on the government to intervene immediately to alleviate the sufferings of their families through monetary compensation and award of scholarships to their family members. It stated that money cannot buy life and no life can be quantified in monetary terms.

    The forum observed a minute silence in honour of the Aluu four and those who lost their lives in the various floods across the country.

    Unfortunately, while presiding over the meeting, the EBF chairman and NBA former legal adviser, Kemasuode Wodu received a massage that flood had taken over his house in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

    He urged governments to take steps to stem flooding, which has claimed many lives and property.

    Wodu said the floods have wreaked havoc on many including him.

    Said he: “It took me more than 14 hours to travel from Yenagoa to Enugu for the EBF meeting .

    “I left Yenagoa at 9.am, travelling through Ndiama in Bayelsa State on the East West Road to Ahoada, Elele, Okigwe to Enugu. I did not get to Enugu until 11 p.m. The roads were terribly bad, there was flood everywhere. At a point, we had to divert and take to bush paths and had to face the threat of armed robbery. It was, indeed, terrible and tortuous.”

    The EBF set up three committees as follows: A committee to resolve the persistent and lingering crisis between the government of Abia State and Aba branch of the NBA. Governor of Abia State Chief Theodore Orji had pointed this unhealthy state of affairs out when the EBF visited him during its last meeting in Umuahia.

    The committee has Chief Joe Agi (SAN) as chairman; Chief Arthur Obi Okafor (SAN) – member; Arthur Chukwuma of Oji River is the secretary.

    The committee has 30 days to complete its assignment and report back to the forum.

    The second committee is to look into the crisis rocking the Awka branch of the NBA. The committee was mandated to resolve the problems and report back to the Forum within 14 days.

    It has former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Imo State, Ken Njemanze, as chairman; former NBA Uyo branch chairman Essien Essien – member and the immediate past chairman, NBA Enugu branch, Nnenna Uko, -secretary.

    The governing council of the forum was mandated to constitute a committee of independent- minded members to look into, investigate and recommend appropriate sanctions for members who disobeyed, betrayed and failed to abide by the resolutions of the forum at the last NBA elections.

    There were reported cases of disloyalty among EFF members which almost threatened the victory of its adopted candidates in the last election. The forum is bent on addressing this and sanction all involved to serve as a deterrent to others.

    The meeting, which held at Osuoby Centre, Enugu, was attended by members of the forum including NBA President Okey Wali (SAN), Chief Anthony Mugbo (SAN), National Treasurer of NBA Joyce Oduah; Second Assistant Secretary U.F.O Nnaemeke and National Publicity Secretary Afam Obi, among others.