Googleâs new conglomerate trademark Alphabet has stirred a controversy. With a report saying the name has already been trademarked by BMW, the German auto maker, will Google go ahead to use the name as the parent company for its brands? Adedeji Ademigbuji writes.
A trademark is any word, name, symbol or design, or any combination thereof, used in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods of one manufacturer or seller from others, and to indicate the source of the goods.
It is a property that companies guard jealously and do not toy with if their right of ownership is infringed on. However, the latest announcement of a new conglomerate name, Alphabet, by Google, appears to have toyed with BMWâs trademark for one of its businesses, and it has generated a disagreement. The last has not been heard on the controversy.
Last week, Google co-founder Larry Page announced that the conglomerate would adopt a new name – Alphabet – in an attempt to make the company more accountable and cleaner having dragged over one billion users across the world.
âOur company is operating well today, but we think we can make it cleaner and more accountable. Google is not a conventional company. We do not intend to become one. We did a lot of things that seemed crazy at the time. Many of those crazy things now have over a billion users, like Google Maps, YouTube, Chrome, and Android. So we are creating a new company, called Alphabet,â said Page.
While the viral community received the news when it was still fresh, a media report said Googleâs chosen name has already been trademarked by BMW.
The surprise formation of Alphabet, a holding company headed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin of which Google is now a part, may have impressed investors, but brand analysts believe BMW is evidently not pleased.
Itâs apparently an issue of nomenclature: the German auto maker owns the trademark Alphabet and domain name alphabet.com, and has no interest in selling either of them. The Nation gathered from BMW Alphabet website that the auto giantâs Alphabet company engages in businesses of funding solutions for operational lease, financial lease, sales and leaseback, motivational lease; fleet management services and advanced mobility solutions for auto users.
BMW describes its Alphabet subsidiary, which provides vehicle leasing and management packages to corporations, as a âvery activeâ part of its operations, and says it wasnât informed of Googleâs reorganisation plans ahead of last weekâs announcement. Furthermore, it was gathered that the car maker hasnât so far received any offers for the trademark or domain name, a spokesperson told The New York Times. But in the light of this, BMW said itâs in the process of determining whether infringement has taken place.
Meanwhile Googleâs spokesman in Nigeria said why he could not comment on the trademark controversy was because everything Google would say has been published on https://abc.xyz/.
When The Nation visited the site, it was apparent that Googleâs Alphabet has different arrears of business concerns, hence, might not compete with BMWâs Alphabet, a situation believed would make Google escape any legal sanction for trademark infringement.
Googleâs Alphabet President Sergey said Alphabet is mostly a collection of companies, âthe largest of which, of course, is Google.â He said with the new conglomerate name, âGoogle is a bit slimmed down, with the companies that are pretty far afield of our main internet products contained in Alphabet insteadâ.
Page also described Alphabet as businesses prospering through strong leaders and independence. âAlphabet Inc. will replace Google Inc. as the publicly-traded entity and all shares of Google will automatically convert into the same number of shares of Alphabet, with all of the same rights. Google will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alphabet. We liked the name Alphabet because it means a collection of letters that represent language, one of humanityâs most important innovations, and is the core of how we index with Google search! We also like that because it means alpha bet (Alpha is investment return above benchmark), which we strive for! I should add that we are not intending for this to be a big consumer brand with related productsâthe whole point is that Alphabet companies should have independence and develop their own brands,â he said.
But there are concerns that Googleâs domain name, abc.xyz, is a different story could also get BMW some misdirected traffic opportunities and tough times. âGoogle appears to have worked around BMWâs ownership by securing abc.xyz. That hasnât prevented Chinese authorities from blocking it, nor has it prevented BMWâs Alphabet webpage from receiving an overwhelming influx of misdirected traffic, but Alphabet deserves some slack Alphabetâs had a rough time on Twitter, too â the handles @alphabet, @AlphabetINC (account suspended), @abcxyz, and @abc were taken as of yesterday,â says an analyst.
In the light of this, an article by IT ProPortal report that a BMW spokeswoman stated that neither Larry Page nor anyone else on behalf of Google has contacted them prior to the Alphabet announcement to acquire the trademark or the domain name. BMW is not intending to sell the trademark either.
Legal experts, however, believe instituting a legal action might not yield any result as both companies are not into similar business.
Googleâs new conglomerate trademark Alphabet has stirred a controversy. With a report saying the name has already been trademarked by BMW, the German auto maker, will Google go ahead to use the name as the parent company for its brands? Adedeji Ademigbuji writes.
A trademark is any word, name, symbol or design, or any combination thereof, used in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods of one manufacturer or seller from others, and to indicate the source of the goods. It is a property that companies guard jealously and do not toy with if their right of ownership is infringed on. However, the latest announcement of a new conglomerate name, Alphabet, by Google, appears to have toyed with BMWâs trademark for one of its businesses, and it has generated a disagreement. Currently, the last has not been heard on the controversy.
Last week, Google co-founder Larry Page announced that the conglomerate would adopt a new name – Alphabet – in an attempt to make the company more accountable and cleaner having dragged over one billion users across the world.
âOur company is operating well today, but we think we can make it cleaner and more accountable. Google is not a conventional company. We do not intend to become one. We did a lot of things that seemed crazy at the time. Many of those crazy things now have over a billion users, like Google Maps, YouTube, Chrome, and Android. So we are creating a new company, called Alphabet,â said Page.
While the viral community received the news when it was still fresh, a media report said Googleâs chosen name has already been trademarked by BMW.
The surprise formation of Alphabet, a holding company headed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin of which Google is now a part, may have impressed investors, but brand analysts believe BMW is evidently not pleased.
Itâs apparently an issue of nomenclature: the German auto maker owns the trademark Alphabet and domain name alphabet.com, and has no interest in selling either of them. The Nation gathered from BMW Alphabet website that the auto giantâs Alphabet company engages in businesses of funding solutions for operational lease, financial lease, sales and leaseback, motivational lease; fleet management services and advanced mobility solutions for auto users.
BMW describes its Alphabet subsidiary, which provides vehicle leasing and management packages to corporations, as a âvery activeâ part of its operations, and says it wasnât informed of Googleâs reorganisation plans ahead of last weekâs announcement. Furthermore, it was gathered that the car maker hasnât so far received any offers for the trademark or domain name, a spokesperson told The New York Times. But in the light of this, BMW said itâs in the process of determining whether infringement has taken place.
Meanwhile Googleâs spokesman in Nigeria said why he could not comment on the trademark controversy was because everything Google would say has been published on https://abc.xyz/.
When The Nation visited the site, it was apparent that Googleâs Alphabet has different arrears of business concerns, hence, might not compete with BMWâs Alphabet, a situation believed would make Google escape any legal sanction for trademark infringement.
Googleâs Alphabet President Sergey said Alphabet is mostly a collection of companies, âthe largest of which, of course, is Google.â He said with the new conglomerate name, âGoogle is a bit slimmed down, with the companies that are pretty far afield of our main internet products contained in Alphabet insteadâ.
Page also described Alphabet as businesses prospering through strong leaders and independence. âAlphabet Inc. will replace Google Inc. as the publicly-traded entity and all shares of Google will automatically convert into the same number of shares of Alphabet, with all of the same rights. Google will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alphabet. We liked the name Alphabet because it means a collection of letters that represent language, one of humanityâs most important innovations, and is the core of how we index with Google search! We also like that because it means alpha bet (Alpha is investment return above benchmark), which we strive for! I should add that we are not intending for this to be a big consumer brand with related productsâthe whole point is that Alphabet companies should have independence and develop their own brands,â he said.
But there are concerns that Googleâs domain name, abc.xyz, is a different story could also get BMW some misdirected traffic opportunities and tough times. âGoogle appears to have worked around BMWâs ownership by securing abc.xyz. That hasnât prevented Chinese authorities from blocking it, nor has it prevented BMWâs Alphabet webpage from receiving an overwhelming influx of misdirected traffic, but Alphabet deserves some slack Alphabetâs had a rough time on Twitter, too â the handles @alphabet, @AlphabetINC (account suspended), @abcxyz, and @abc were taken as of yesterday,â says an analyst.
In the light of this, an article by IT ProPortal report that a BMW spokeswoman stated that neither Larry Page nor anyone else on behalf of Google has contacted them prior to the Alphabet announcement to acquire the trademark or the domain name. BMW is not intending to sell the trademark either.
Legal experts, however, believe instituting a legal action might not yield any result as both companies are not into similar business.
The circumstances surrounding the death of a medical student of the Benue State University (BSU), Nicholas Idoko Ejugwu, have given room for speculations. Some students believe the late Nicholas may have committed suicide, having spent 10 years in the medical college, unable to pass the professional examinations. His family has debunked the suicide story, saying his death was natural. MSONTER ANZAA (400-Level Medicine) and JOSHUA OBELLE (300-Level Mass Communication) report.
What caused the road accident that killed Nicholas Idoko Ejugwu? The 400-Level Medicine and Surgery student of the Benue State University (BSU) reportedly committed suicide after he failed several times to pass his professional examinations. But, his friends and family are not happy with the theory, claiming the studentâs death was an accident.
It was widely reported that the late Nicholas resorted to suicide having been withdrawn from the medical school after 10 years in the college. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the late Nicholas was disturbed by results of pathology and pharmacology professional examinations released on July 22. He and three other students were advised to withdraw from the college, having exhausted the number of times a student can sit for the exams.
Students dumped the body at the Vice-Chancellorâs Office. But, the family dismissed the speculation, saying Nicholasâ death was natural.
Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, Michael Ejugwu, the deceasedâs father, said the accident was caused by a stationary truck.
He said: âOur son did not committ suicide. He was driving on Abu King Shuluwa Road on high speed, without knowing that a truck had broken down in the middle of the road. When he saw the truck, he tried to manouvre but was faced by the road divider. Because he did not have his seat belt on, he was flung out and died on the spot. A passerby was crushed by the tossing car.â
Adams Ocheme, the late Nicholasâ friend, who was with him a few minutes before the accident, also debunked the suicide story. He said: âWe were four students, who went to see the Dean of Pre-clinical Science, Prof John Ibu, on Friday, July 24, to interact with him on our results, which were released two days earlier. But as the school was on strike, we did not meet the dean; so, we all returned to my off-campus hostel.
âFrom there, we called the dean and he answered. It was Nicholas, who spoke to him. He told the dean we would like to meet him for advice on the outcome of the examination. Prof Ibu said lecturers were on strike but added that the results were provisional and we could make our complaints whenever the school resumed.
âBefore Nicholas left, we ate egg and bread together. We told him to stay around till Monday when we expected the lecturers would call off the strike. When he ate the food, I realised he was depressed. He told me he did not eat for two days because of the results. I went into my kitchen to cook more food and the rest of them played games together in my room.â
The late Nicholas, Adam said, stood up after the games to go home. He copied some movies from his friendâs laptop to keep his mind off the âbadâ results.
Adams added: âI prevailed on him to stay and use my laptop instead, but he said he also needed to take his bath and change clothes. We bade him goodbye only to get a call a few minutes later that he was lying dead on the roadside. He was going home with an intention to return in a short time. I donât believe the story that he killed himself over the bad results. There are several options outside the medical school, which he could benefit from.â
Andrew Iorkyaan, national president of Benue Medical Students Association (BEMSA), also debunked the suicide story, saying: âSuicide is completely out of the story. The late Nicholas could not have driven himself to death. It is unfortunate that the media reported suicide story.â
Andrew said the studentsâ reaction should not have been interpreted to mean he committed suicide, adding that the reaction was to express their frustration on the circumstances surrounding the death.
He went on: âBefore the accident, we held a congress and discussed the results. Some people were analysing the event and concluded it was suicide, but we have been with him for nine years. Nicholas was a person who advised students and encouraged them. It is unfair to accuse someone, who cannot defend himself, of committing suicide.â
President of Benue State University Medical Students Association (BESUMSA), Moses Agbulu, said it was wrong for people to conclude that Nicholas killed himself because of his withdrawal from the medical college.
It was gathered that, after a congress held by students to discuss the results, the news of Nicholasâ death hit the campus. In anger, the students mobilised to the morgue of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, where the body was being deposited and marched with a coffin to the Vice-Chancellorâs (VCâs) office. They spent a night at the office, demanding to see the VC.
The students demanded the suspension of the withdrawal until the medical college started to graduate its students; organisation of re-sit examinations and provision of a definite date for the final accreditation of the teaching hospital.
The VC, Prof Charity Angya, who met with students in front of her office, condoled with them, directing that the withdrawal be suspended. She also assured the students that the college would hold a graduation before the end of the year.
Since its inception more than 10 years ago, the medical college is yet to graduate doctors. This has led to accumulation of classes over the years. The final year students are due to complete their programmes in the next two months, the final accreditation of the medical school is required for their graduation.
Speaking at a requiem mass for the late Nicholas at the Good Shepherd Catholic Chaplaincy, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof Simeon Adebisi, said the strike by resident doctors was responsible for the shifting of accreditation dates earlier fixed. He said the management was in touch with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and was expecting a visit in the second or third week of this month.
The remains of the late Nicholas have since been buried in his hometown in OgbadiboLocal Government Area of Benue State. hat caused the road accident that killed Nicholas Idoko Ejugwu? The 400-Level Medicine and Surgery student of the Benue State University (BSU) reportedly committed suicide after he failed several times to pass his professional examinations. But, his friends and family are not happy with the theory, claiming the studentâs death was an accident.
It was widely reported that the late Nicholas resorted to suicide having been withdrawn from the medical school after 10 years in the college. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the late Nicholas was disturbed by results of pathology and pharmacology professional examinations released on July 22. He and three other students were advised to withdraw from the college, having exhausted the number of times a student can sit for the exams.
Students dumped the body at the Vice-Chancellorâs Office. But, the family dismissed the speculation, saying Nicholasâ death was natural.
Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, Michael Ejugwu, the deceasedâs father, said the accident was caused by a stationary truck.
He said: âOur son did not committ suicide. He was driving on Abu King Shuluwa Road on high speed, without knowing that a truck had broken down in the middle of the road. When he saw the truck, he tried to manouvre but was faced by the road divider. Because he did not have his seat belt on, he was flung out and died on the spot. A passerby was crushed by the tossing car.â
Adams Ocheme, the late Nicholasâ friend, who was with him a few minutes before the accident, also debunked the suicide story. He said: âWe were four students, who went to see the Dean of Pre-clinical Science, Prof John Ibu, on Friday, July 24, to interact with him on our results, which were released two days earlier. But as the school was on strike, we did not meet the dean; so, we all returned to my off-campus hostel.
âFrom there, we called the dean and he answered. It was Nicholas, who spoke to him. He told the dean we would like to meet him for advice on the outcome of the examination. Prof Ibu said lecturers were on strike but added that the results were provisional and we could make our complaints whenever the school resumed.
âBefore Nicholas left, we ate egg and bread together. We told him to stay around till Monday when we expected the lecturers would call off the strike. When he ate the food, I realised he was depressed. He told me he did not eat for two days because of the results. I went into my kitchen to cook more food and the rest of them played games together in my room.â
The late Nicholas, Adam said, stood up after the games to go home. He copied some movies from his friendâs laptop to keep his mind off the âbadâ results.
Adams added: âI prevailed on him to stay and use my laptop instead, but he said he also needed to take his bath and change clothes. We bade him goodbye only to get a call a few minutes later that he was lying dead on the roadside. He was going home with an intention to return in a short time. I donât believe the story that he killed himself over the bad results. There are several options outside the medical school, which he could benefit from.â
Andrew Iorkyaan, national president of Benue Medical Students Association (BEMSA), also debunked the suicide story, saying: âSuicide is completely out of the story. The late Nicholas could not have driven himself to death. It is unfortunate that the media reported suicide story.â
Andrew said the studentsâ reaction should not have been interpreted to mean he committed suicide, adding that the reaction was to express their frustration on the circumstances surrounding the death.
He went on: âBefore the accident, we held a congress and discussed the results. Some people were analysing the event and concluded it was suicide, but we have been with him for nine years. Nicholas was a person who advised students and encouraged them. It is unfair to accuse someone, who cannot defend himself, of committing suicide.â
President of Benue State University Medical Students Association (BESUMSA), Moses Agbulu, said it was wrong for people to conclude that Nicholas killed himself because of his withdrawal from the medical college.
It was gathered that, after a congress held by students to discuss the results, the news of Nicholasâ death hit the campus. In anger, the students mobilised to the morgue of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, where the body was being deposited and marched with a coffin to the Vice-Chancellorâs (VCâs) office. They spent a night at the office, demanding to see the VC.
The students demanded the suspension of the withdrawal until the medical college started to graduate its students; organisation of re-sit examinations and provision of a definite date for the final accreditation of the teaching hospital.
The VC, Prof Charity Angya, who met with students in front of her office, condoled with them, directing that the withdrawal be suspended. She also assured the students that the college would hold a graduation before the end of the year.
Since its inception more than 10 years ago, the medical college is yet to graduate doctors. This has led to accumulation of classes over the years. The final year students are due to complete their programmes in the next two months, the final accreditation of the medical school is required for their graduation.
Speaking at a requiem mass for the late Nicholas at the Good Shepherd Catholic Chaplaincy, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof Simeon Adebisi, said the strike by resident doctors was responsible for the shifting of accreditation dates earlier fixed. He said the management was in touch with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and was expecting a visit in the second or third week of this month.
The remains of the late Nicholas have since been buried in his hometown in OgbadiboLocal Government Area of Benue State.
Winning a business pitch in the public relations, media and advertising industry is not always a game of luck. So many things go into getting a business aside being a leading agency. In the last few months, some agencies have lost business while some have added to their portfolio. Controversy has also trailed the emergence of one of the firms. In all, it is different strokes for different folks, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.
Getting an agency to manage public relations, advertising, media or experiential marketing account is not always an easy task for brand owners. This is because it is a process that is cumbersome for both clients and agencies especially when an incumbent who understands the brand suspects that another agency might be hired. The agency will do whatever it could to retain the account.
Going out to the market place is full of several risks and costs are also involved as brand owners try to impress the prospective brand. At the end, when pitches are concluded and winners announced, losers go home disappointed considering the prospect of the account, investment in external costs such as consumer research, animatics (for creative agencies), external artwork and the likes put into presentations. In the Nigerian marketing communication system, every agency is afraid to tell the media that the clients refused to pay pitch fee for fear of being blacklisted.
These, perhaps, are the cases of losers and gainers in recent pitches in the last few months where some PR and advertising agencies have won and lost businesses as the winners commence work for the second half of the year.
For MTN accounts adjudged one of the most juicy accounts in the telecoms sector, sometimes in March decided to review its marketing communication businesses. The incumbent, MarketingMix Ideas Limited, had for 11 years managed the business, supporting the brand with various communication solutions against some of the telcoâs PR challenges in the country. Propelled by the need to reconfigure its PR strategy, the telco called for pitch early in the year and appointed new agencies-Brooks & Blakes and DKK Associates.
The two agencies emerged out of nine that presented their pitch for the account. The other agencies that competed for the account include JSP Communications, Mediacraft & Associates, Black House Media (BHM) and Lead Communications. Others are Soulcom Communications, a subsidiary of SO & U, and the incumbents âMarketing Mix and XLR8.
It was gathered that a week later, precisely on March 26 and 27, few hours before the presidential election, presentations were made by the various agencies. Participating agencies were told to expect result one month after in line with global practice.
Eventually, Brooks & Blakes and DKK Associates emerged winner. The emergence of these firms is still being debated by leading PR practitioners.
DKK is being queried for winning a PR business while it is not a registered PR agency. While the controversy over the agencyâs locusstandi to manage a PR business, the winners have commenced work.
Meanwhile, after losing the juicy MTN PR business, XLR8 is not stranded. The agency recently won Guinness Nigeria corporate brand account. Its emergence followed an extensive selection process that included an open pitch for credentials presentations followed by panel discussions. Taking over the account from The Quadrant Company (TQC), its Corporate Relations Director, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, said: âThroughout the selection process, we were impressed by XLR8âs industry and market knowledge and we feel confident that the organisation possesses the wherewithal to add value and provide support as we partner to achieve our business objectives.â
The Chief Executive Officer of XLR8, Calixthus Okoruwa said: âAny organisation that has been able to build a brand and sustain its iconic status for more than 250 years deserves all the respect and adulation it gets.
âWe are indeed, humbled by this opportunity to be of service to this formidable organisation and will continue to seek to justify the confidence which it has reposed in XLR8.â
The Guinness PR business is split into two-Corporate and Brands. While XLR8 manages the corporate Brooks & Blake will continue to handle the brands portfolio.
Etisalat Nigeria PR pitch result is yet to be announced. About six agencies are currently on the hot seat waiting for Etisalat to decide. The agencies are The Quadrant Company, the incumbent agency on the account, Chain Reactions, Brooks and Blake, XLR8, MediaCraft and C&F Potter Novelli. C&F.
C&F is the pioneer agency on the brand before the business moved to TQC three years ago.
âThe struggle for Etisalatâs PR account could be a straight fight between TQC and C & F. The two agencies parade robust profile and seem to understand the brand more than their counterparts,â one sector analyst said.
However, having won the MTN PR business, Brooks & Blakes appear to be making tactical withdrawal from the race.
Meanwhile, so much business has also moved in the advertising industry from one agency to the other. Releasing its pitch result recently, Airtel arrived at the agency of choice from a list of five agencies invited for the main pitch. After credential presentation, it was gathered that Insight Communications, Centrespread Advertising and Noahâs Ark Advertising were selected winners ahead of the pack of agencies that contested for the creative business. According to reports, the telco, however, arrived at the final two winners and would be custodians of the business, after the review entered into the financial stage. This warranted prospective handlers to submit and defend their financial requirements with a view to availing the client opportunity to align demands with its realistic budgets and financial projections. Airtel certified Centrespread and Noahâs Ark to manage the brandâs creative in Nigeria at least for the next two years.
In the same way, Centrespread is expected to use the business to improve its rating and pedigree in the industry especially after a lull occasioned by the loss of some senior hands. It was gathered that the agency has since commenced a reorganisation and repositioning aimed at creating a youthful brand out of the over three decades old agency.
Just few weeks ago, we were felicitating with four colleges of education upgraded to universities by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.  The workers and students were hoping that with the conversion the institutions would enjoy better recognition, attract more funding from the public and private sectors, as well as admit more students.
But it seems that the fine details of the conversion may not be so easy after all. Already, the chapters of the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) in the various institutions are beginning to kick against the way the vice chancellors were appointed.
They have a point. These are existing institutions, not brand new ones starting out from the scratch. At least one of them had a professor at the helm of affairs. His tenure just started in February. To name another person to replace him because of the upgrade, if not wrong, is awkward.
COEASU has also fought for its qualified academics to be allowed to run the colleges. Though not professors, the other provosts are no less qualified to be administrators. They should have been assessed for suitability and guided on how to run the former colleges as universities.
The template for running the institutions should be designed by the relevant regulatory bodies (National Universities Commission, and the National Commission for Colleges of Education) in collaboration with the managements of the institutions as well as the unions. That way, a smoother transition can be achieved.
â˘He had emergency engagement, says security source â˘NLC President warns NASS against booby trap for incoming govt
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday stayed away from this yearâs rally of the International Workersâ Day popularly known as May Day.
The rally was jointly organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Eagle Square in Abuja.
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, could not be reached for clarification yesterday on the Presidentâs absence at the rally, as he did not pick his telephone or reply to text messages sent to his telephone as at press time.
But security sources at the Presidency told our correspondent that Jonathanâs plan to attend the rally was cancelled because the President had an emergency engagement.
Although the nature of the emergency engagement was not disclosed, our correspondent gathered that the advance team which was already at the venue was ordered to leave as the President would not be sending a representative.
A security source dismissed claims that the President cancelled his plan to attend the event because he feared that he might be booed by workers.
The source said: âThe President has never been afraid of such things. The workers have no reason to do that anyway.
âHe had an emergency engagement and so had to call off his planned attendance of the labour event because it would take the whole day and he would not be able to attend to other engagements if he did.â
The President, who was said to have told the labour leaders earlier that he would come for the celebration at about 9 am, called off his appearance in the last minute, leaving them guessing on why he took the decision.
All the roads around the Eagle Square had been cordoned off as early as 8 am by presidential guards who took over security at the Eagle Square while the stage was also set for what would have been his last May Day celebration with Nigerian workers.
The President also did not send any address to the workers even though the Minister of Labour, Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya, who was present alongside his FCT counterpart, Senator Bala Mohammed, was said to be representing the President at the event.
The Nation gathered that the Presidentâs decision not to attend the event might have to do with the non-payment of salaries of federal workers and fears that they might boo him at the occasion.
Before the Presidentâs advance party was withdrawn, workers, especially those working with federal agencies were chanting âno salaries, no salariesâ, a development that might have caused the suspicion that the President might be booed.
One of the workers who expressed disappointed about the Presidentâs absence said: âI am surprised that the President is not here. It shows that he does not have respect for the Nigerian worker. Otherwise, this is an opportunity for him to bid the workers farewell. This should have been his last May Day celebration with the workers.
âIf Buhari had come here, they would have accused him of trying to form a parallel government. The President does not have good advisers and this is very disappointing.
âEven if they have not paid salaries, I donât think they would have booed him. If you listen to the address of the two labour leaders, they were full of commendation for him.
âFor us, he is a hero and I believe the workers would have cheered him if he had come. It is even more disappointing that he did not even consider it necessary to send an address or a message to the workers.â
An official of the NLC told The Nation that they were not informed about the Presidentâs last-minute change of heart after he had personally gave them his word that he would attend.
Another official said the President might not have been comfortable with the address to be presented by the leaders of the TUC and the NLC, an advance copy of which he was reportedly given.
In his address, the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, warned the National Assembly against setting booby traps for the incoming government in the area of fuel subsidy, describing such action as an ill wind that would blow no good.
Comrade Wabba said that information on the provision of fuel subsidy in the 2015 national budget was public knowledge, saying, âWe hope that this is not an attempt to plunge the country into unnecessary crisis.
He added: âThere is the need to go down memory lane and warn that the plan to reset the booby trapsthat was laid by predecessors of the Yarâadua administration in 2007 is an ill wind that blows no good.
âThe consequence of similar sinister mischief in 2007 was a national strike by organised labour within a month of the inauguration of the Yarâadua government.
âOur position of the need for internal refining of crude oil into various petroleum products is well known. As an oil producing country, we must have functional internal refining capacity so that we can, at the very least, meet our domestic petroleum consumption needs.
âGovernment has a responsibility to ensure that the existing refineries work and that new ones are set up. Modular refineries can be established within 24 months. The turnaround of our refining capacity will eliminate the need for petroleum subsidies and the inherent corruption.â
While reminding the incoming government that this was the time to build a new Nigeria, Comrade Wabba said the NLC would hold the Buhari-led government to account based on the promises he made to Nigerians generally and to the working class in particular
He called on the incoming government to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure the full implementation of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee Report, pointing out that its implementation would go a long way in strengthening the nationâs electoral process and deepening democracy in the country.
Also speaking, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bobboi Kaigama warned the Incoming government to be weary of politicians who are defecting to the All Progressives Congress now, adding that not all the defectors mean well for the country.
He said: âWe have watched with keen interest the flood of defections by some politicians from one party to another. True, the greatest beneficiary is the President-electâs party. But we caution him to beware because not all the defectors mean well for Nigeria.
âSome of them may be wolves in sheepâs clothing, coming to steal, kill and destroy his administration. And Nigerians would not hesitate to register their displeasure at the next polls if he fails to distinguish between the good, the bad and the ugly.
âDemocracy is growing in Nigeria and the days when people tolerated impunity and mediocrity in governance are numbered. Leadership is about people, the real owners of government. Nigerians therefore solicit that the incoming administration should hit the ground running and live up to the expectations of Nigerians.â
two Warri-based lawyers were killed about a year ago on their way to court in Ozoro, Delta State. No headway is being made to resolve the murder, writes BOLAJI OGUNDELEÂ
A year ago, two Warri-based lawyers, Horace Eguono Dafiaghor and Samuel Ekwuaghanju, were killed in cold blood by yet to be identified gunmen. They were representing a couple of kidnap suspects at a High Court in Ozoro, they were on their way to perform their duties in the case when they were trailed and killed along the road in Ozoro.
The incident, sad as it was, generated a lot of passion and reactions, especially from the Warri branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which then demanded in immediate investigation of the killing of its members. It should be pointed out that prior to their brutal murder, one of the two victims, Dafiaghor, had reported to his professional association that he was receiving threats and that when some of the phone lines being used were traced, they led to policemen. This singular claim prompted the NBA to particularly charge the police to do a sincere in depth investigation and and resist pressure to cover any liable person up.
At that time, both police and the state government promised to uncover the mystery surrounding the circumstances of the lawyersâ death. Police, under the former Commissioner of Police in the state, Ikechukwu Aduda, said it had tasked a crack team to investigate and unravel the killing. âThat while we deeply regret the gruesome Murder of the two ministers in the temple of Justice â a crack team of detectives led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police State CID Asaba had been constituted to unravelled the mystery behind the sordid act.
âFinally we want to reassure the good people of Delta State that the Command will never succumb to the temptations of extra judicial killing or be a party to same, but will rather remain undeterred or discouraged by any act of blackmail and will continue in our present efforts to ensure that the evil of kidnapping and violent crime is consistently fought head-on no matter whose ox is goredâ, Aduba had said.
However, one year after the sad incident, the case still remains unsolved and no culprit punished, hence the protest by members of the NBA decided to steer the stateâs police command into action by organising a protest to express their dissatisfaction over failure of the police to live up to its billings. During the protest, the NBA, led by its branch chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins, said it would not relent until the police does its work and bring the killers of its members to Justice.
Speaking during the protest, the chairman of the Warri branch of the NBA, Aikpokpo-Martins, said nothing had been heard or seen as a sincere effort from the police to bring the murderers of the slain lawyers to book.
âOn 27 April 2014, the NBA promptly made a petition directly to the Inspector General of Police (IG) in view of the suspected persons involved in this condemnable act wherein we made passionate call for comprehensive investigation into the murder of our colleagues.
âNothing has been heard thus far, giving the ominous belief that this is one murder the police is reluctant in investigating and bring the culprits to book in the circumstance in spite of the pressure made to bear on the policeâ, he said.
He said further that the body had again written to the IG to awaken the âsmothering coals of police investigation in the mattersâ, stressing that âwe are watching and at the right time we would declare a new line of action if the police remain reluctant. We shall not relent.â
The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has ordered traders to stop trading in classrooms and hostels and move into the newly completed shopping plaza. Some have moved; others wonât, alleging high rents and slow trading at the plaza. EMMANUEL SHEBBS (Graduate School) and IKECHUKWU OFILI (300-Level Public Administration) report.
It  was conceived as a solution to indiscriminate trading and hawking at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), but it is generating ripples.
The need to tackle the menace made the former Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Bassey Asuquo, to think of building a shopping plaza.
But, he could not complete the project before his tenure ended. His successor, Prof James Epoke, continued with the project.
Last month, the plaza, located close to the Halls of Residence, was opened but many traders refused to move in, alleging high rents.
Some of the traders, who initially occupied Malabo Complex, had wooden kiosks and shanties. Others used corroded zinc sheets, tainting the campusâ beauty. Those, who could not erect makeshift shops, stayed in hostelsâ corridors and walkways.
Before the plazaâs completion, Malabo area was a beehive. An old student, Gabriel Akam, said: âMalabo area was a noisy place. One could hardly read in the hostel because of market activities and the tradersâ noisy generators.â
Because of the belief that business booms there, some traders in off-campus location moved to the hostels. One of them, who simply identified himself as Chike, said: âMalabo is a good place to make sales. Students patronised us very well, especially during Christmas. There is no holiday here. I made quick turnover and big profits.â
On assuming duties, Epoke evacuated the traders from Malabo and the use of generators was controlled. The traders were not happy; they were forced to relocate to the plaza, which was then under construction.
They were allocated uncompleted shops but some of them rejected the allocation, citing low patronage. They preferred to hawk around the hostel corridors. Students also complained that the plaza is far from their hostels.
Despite the complaints, the management stuck to its guns.
It appears the traders have complied with the directive. When CAMPUSLIFE visited the plaza, activities were in full swing, with students doing their shopping.
A trader, who did not mention her name, said trading is booming contrary to the belief that studentsâ patronage would be low at the plaza. She said: âThe new environment has been favourable for business.â
Ms Archibong, who owns a grocery store, told our reporters: âCommercial activities have taken off competitively. The patronage has improved. Students have started coming in and this place is more comfortable than the former place.â
But, some complained that people come into the plaza to pilfer their wares when it is dark. Effiong does photocopy. He said his properties usually get missing.
âThe other day, I lost my generator. I left it in the corridor, but when I came back the next day, someone had cut the chain and taken it awayâ.
A barber said: âThe plaza is safe. The structure is constructed in a way that makes burglary impossible. Nobody can break into the wall and the metal doors.â
Yet, some traders are found around the hostel. Our reporters saw some of them selling pawpaw, oranges, pineapples and cucumber, among others. Some underage bread and groundnuts hawkers were also seen around the hostel. They came from outside.
One of them, who brought fruits, said the plaza is not fit for her kind of goods. âWhat I sell here are perishable food and fruits. They cannot be preserved. For instance, if these peeled oranges and pineapples are not sold today, I would be at a loss. I cannot go inside the plaza to display them. That place will not help me because students cannot see what you have until they locate you there. I pay for this place (the hostel corridor). I donât stay here free of charge.â
Prices of goods at the plaza are now expensive, John Okon, a final year Education student, said. âInitially, a plate of food is sold for N150. Previously, you could negotiate with the seller and go for âno-meatâ, which went for N100. The food vendors in kiosks sold cheaper food before moving to the plaza,â John said.
The high cost of goods and services in the plaza, Mr. Praise Mfonobong, a trader, said, may not be unconnected with the high rent. âWe pay higher rent in the plaza than when we were in kiosks. The management told to pay N60,000 per annum,â he offered.
Another trader, Mrs Lucy Eka, blamed the high prices on inflation. âThings are very expensive these days in the market. You cannot expect me to sell lower than my cost price. The problem is from the government and not our fault. I have my children in the university here. I will have to take care of them. Fuel and transport are costly. So I have to make profit to augment my investment,â she said.
A student in the Faculty of Management Science, Ben Ikashi, urged management to check high prices in the plaza. âThe management should not allow the traders to exploit students,â he said.
But a trader, who simply gave his name as Mr. Samuel, said: âIt is not the duty of the management to decide how we sell our goods. The school has collected its rent at its fixed rate; we must be allowed to sell at whatever price we wish. The students are buying and they are happy.â
The Director of Welfare of the Studentsâ Union Government (SUG), John Alawa, assured students the union would issue a pricing document before the expiration of its tenure. âWe will work with the campus Task Force to ensure prices of goods are controlled,â he said.
Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayoseâs plan to forcefully recover the official cars of some former public office holders in the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration is threatening the peace. The opposition says it is a ploy to take most of its leaders out of circulation to pave way for a clean sweep for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the general elections. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.
No fewer than 54 political office holders in Ekiti State who served in the administration of former Governor Kayode Fayemi, between October 2010 and October 2014, are locked in a battle with government, which plans to forcefully retrieve the official cars given to them while in office.
The former government officials including the immediate past Deputy Governor Professor Modupe Adelabu were given the cars by the Fayemi administration as part of perks of office but ordered to pay part of the cost over time to the government in line with its monetization policy.
While some have payment before the expiration of the tenure of Governor Fayemi, others who had not done so were expecting the remaining amount to be deducted from their final entitlement yet to be paid by the state government.
But the new administration of Governor Ayodele Fayose, in a move believed to be borne out of political vendetta, few months ago announced plans to recover the cars from the former political office holders forcefully, if need be, if they refused to pay the balance of the cost of the cars within a stipulated time or hand them over voluntarily within the same time frame.
The affected former government officials, most of who are members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State have however, kicked against the move by the government accusing Governor Fayose of planning to hide under the seizure of their cars to arrest and put them out of âcirculationâ in the run up to the general elections to allow him enjoy a free reign during the polls.
The standoff between the two parties has heightened political tension in the state in the midst of the general elections being fiercely contested by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). And the whole country is watching with a bated breath how the issue will be resolved.
The Fayose administration had begun moves to recover the cars from the officials of the previous government on January 30, 2015 when members of a task force it raised for the purpose raided the homes, offices and business centres of the former officials with the aim of recovering the vehicles.
On that day, four of them were arrested by the task force officials who were followed by armed security officers who took them to the state police command headquarters in a bid to retrieve the monetized officials vehicles from their custody
Those arrested and whisked to the police headquarters include the former Commissioner for Labour and Human Capital Development, Chief Oluwole Ariyo; former Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Jinadu Ayodele; former Special Adviser (Governorâs Office), Chief Biodun Akin-Fasae and former Chairman, Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Adebayo Orire.
They were at the state police headquarters for about three hours before they were allowed to go home.
former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Eniola Ajayi; former Special Adviser on MDGs and Multilateral Relations, Mrs. Bunmi Dipo-Salami and former Special Adviser on Parliamentary and Allied Matters, Mr. Dapo Karonwi were also raided by the task force.
While Dr. Ajayi and Mrs. Dipo-Salami were not at home, there was confrontation between Karonwi and government agents who failed to effect his arrest.
The Nation gathered that the cost of the cars was being deducted from the salaries of the officials until shortly before their last day I office when the administration came up with an arrangement that the remainder would be deducted from their severance package.
But the Fayose administration in a letter dated 20 November 2014 signed by Mr. Tajudeen Adejumo on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Modupe Alade stressed that no allowance (including severance and furniture allowance) should be used to pay for the outstanding.
The circular was addressed to all Permanent Secretaries, General Managers and Heads of Non-Ministerial Departments.
A letter from the office of the SSG addressed to Dr. Orire which was made available to The Nation reads: âI am to inform you that your outstanding indebtedness on monetized vehicle as at 30th October 2014 is N3, 281, 804.00.
âI am to add that His Excellency, Mr. Governor has directed that no allowance (including severance and furniture allowance) should be used to pay for the outstanding.
âConsequently, I am directed to kindly advise you to pay the sum of N3,281, 804.00 to the government monetized vehicles account or return the monetized vehicle with you to Ekiti State Government within the next 14 days.â
But Orire replied in a letter dated 25th November, 2014 said: âThanks for your letter received on 24/11/14 requesting the payment of outstanding N3, 281, 804.00 or return the official car within fourteen (14) days.
âI observe that the car was allocated to us as a matter of right of (the) positions we held; a mark of justifying our service to Ekiti State. We also had a term of payment ongoing; thus term may be reviewed and a new agreement reached for defraying the cost outstanding on the vehicles.
âWe are entitled to this honour as the present appointees are entitled to enjoy similar perquisites. I served Ekiti State honourably without blemish and I was not indebted to the government taking into consideration what the government owes me as per furniture allowance, severance pay, unpaid running grants, fuel allowances and terminal salary entitlement.
âWe should have a say in the modus operandi of payment of the remainder. It should be a contract everybody should have contributions in reaching a decision on. It should not be a unilateral decision of the government.
âIt is the same Ekiti State Government that we worked for that owes us, and if we are indebted to the same government, justice, fairness and equity require that we should not be short-changed, that our outstanding should have been used to defray our indebtedness.
âIn case we cannot pay this lump sum, is the government going to refund the previous deductions? The lease condition should have been re-spelt out, negotiated and respected.
âIt was a right we enjoyed as a result of good service to our fatherland; it will be unfair if we are denied this honour.
âEvery government appointee qualified to have vehicle allocation will have to suffer the same fate for this action to be justifiable. I am ready for negotiation on this matter but this present option is rather unfriendly.â
Of the four arrested former political office holders, it was only the monetized official car of Dr. Orire that was impounded with the Police giving Ariyo, Jinadu and Akin- Fasae one week to return cars in their custody.
Speaking shortly after he was released, Orire said their travails could be linked with the general elections arguing that they are still being owed September (2014) salaries, leave bonus, furniture allowance and severance allowance.
He vowed that the alleged harassment would never intimidate them but strengthen their resolve to fight against what he called civilian dictatorship and fascism alleged unleashed on the state by Fayose.
Dr. Orire said: âThis has to do with the coming election in a bid to harass us. Fayose was embarrassed and intimidated by the mammoth crowd that attended the APC presidential rally of January 24 and because of that he has become more dangerous in dealing with the opposition.
âRecently, he personally supervised the tearing of posters and destruction of billboards of APC candidates in all towns and communities in Ijero Local Government Area where I hail from and the residents were intimidated with firing of gunshots in broad daylight.
âFayose has vowed to withdraw all the monetized vehicles from the officials who served in the Fayemi administration but we are still being owed by the (state) government.
âI want Fayose to know that we cannot be intimidated, this experience will serve as a tonic for us to intensify our efforts to fight this dictatorship and fascism being unleashed on Ekiti people.â
The state chapter of the APC in its reaction condemned the arrest of the former political office holders over the monetized vehicles in their custody. A statement by the Partyâs Publicity Secretary in the state described their arrest and forceful confiscation of their official cars as âofficial harassment carried too far in the governorâs bid to take APC leaders out of circulation ahead of the general electionsâ.
Olatubosun said arresting them over alleged non-payment for the cars was just a smokescreen behind a larger agenda to take APC leaders out of circulation to enable the governor seize the field for domination and manipulation during the electionĂ˝.
Based on Fayemiâs policy on official carĂ˝, Olatubosun explained, there was no reason for Fayose to accuse the former officials of owing on the cars, stressing that on the contrary, it is government that is owing them.
Olatubosun explained that before the advent of Fayemiâs administration, the usual practice was that vehicles were procured centrally by the government and allocated to mebers of the State Executive Council (EXCO).
âThe usual practice before we came in was that upon leaving office by the respective State Executive Council Members, the vehicles are usually sold at a rebate to this category of the political office holders and any other (persons) subject to the approval of the governor while in line with the common practice, the Permanent Secretaries go with their vehicles without paying for themâ he explained.
Olatubosun added: âOn assumption of office by the Fayemi administration, most of the vehicles used by the erstwhile EXCO members were poorly maintained and in bad state and wereĂ˝ taken away without the respective political office holders paying fully for them.
âSome vehicles were retrieved in different locations across the country by the government at a very great cost through the setting up of recovery task force jointly with security agencies while a few of these vehicles subsequently retrieved were discovered to have been damaged thus requiring that the government would need to buy new vehicles for the newly appointed political office holders.
âAlso some political office holders took the government to court to stop retrieval of their vehicles.
âHowever, due to the need to put into effective use the available resources of the state and to address the problems associated with poor utilization of government properties, especially vehicles by public office holders, the (former) governor approved that EXCO members and other political appointees Ă˝should bear a certain percentage of the cost of the vehicles making them a part owner, to reduce the burden of the cost on the government, from inception of vehicle purchase rather than a sale at rebate on exit to the political office holder.
âGovernment also reasoned that officials Ă˝would be more careful in handling government properties, especially the vehicles, knowing full well that after four years or tenure of office, there is assurance that ownership will vest on the respective political appointees. Consequently, a decision was taken to procure the vehicles by the state government upon the following decisions:
âCost of the vehicle was agreed at 40 per cent and 60 per cent to government and EXCO member respectively after a flat discount of N1m was granted. Cost of the vehicles is to be paid monthly from salary of EXCO members as approved by EXCO.â
Olatubosun explained that the vehicle allocated was part of salaries and emoluments and allowances/perks of office due to political office holders, which political office holders shared with the government, which he described as commendable, making it a befitting model for other states across the country.
He added that it is a standard practice globally to offset the outstanding payment on the vehicles through severance allowance, outstanding leave bonus, unpaid salaries and allowances of a retiring employee.
âIt is on record that Governor Fayemi paid the severance allowances of office holders who served his predecessors including Governor Fayose during his first termâ, he said.
âIt is tyranny of the first order for Fayose not to pay all these to former office holders who have already paid more than half of the cost of their cars and yet the governor is still insisting on impounding theseĂ˝ cars and arresting their owners,â Olatubosun concluded.
But the Fayose administration in its determination to recover the vehicles upped the ante two weeks ago as it rolled out the names of no fewer than 54 officials who served under the Fayemi administration who, according to it, have defied the directive.
The PDP government alleged that the former political office holders are owing N109 million as debt on the monetized vehicles warning them to pay the money or risk arrest to recover the vehicle or the money owed.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Idowu Adelusi, the former political office holders must pay the money for their monetized vehicles without delay to avert a forceful recovery by the Police.
The government said all entreaties to the APC stalwart to pay the N109 million has remained abortive as letters written to them was never replied.
But former officials have described the threat to arrest them as another crude ploy by Fayose to harass and intimidate opposition members, especially those who served in the APC government.
They maintained that they had dragged Fayose and his government to an Ado-Ekiti High Court through a suit filed by the former Deputy Governor, Professor Adelabu and 34 others over the monetized vehicles.
The ex-officials blasted Fayose for grandstanding when he is yet to pay the severance allowance and sundry other allowances being owed them, despite completing their tenure, which qualifies them for the severance pay in line with the laws.
Reacting to the threat which was aired on state radio and circulated via press statements by the government, the former state officials in a statement made available to journalists, described the planned clampdown on them as a deliberate ploy by Fayose to keep them and other notable APC chieftains out of circulation ahead of the March 28 presidential election and subsequent elections.
The officials said that the planned clampdown would be the second attempt by Fayose and the PDP to get them out of circulation, having made a similar attempt to get many of them arrested in February before the presidential election which was originally scheduled for February 14 was postponed.
Explaining the circumstances surrounding the monetized cars, the ex-state officials said that it was a policy of the immediate past administrations in the state to monetize official cars to public office holders of certain categories.
They said: âUnder the arrangement, the officials are to pay 60 percent of the cost of the vehicles while the government would pay the remaining 40 percent.
âUnder the agreement, an agreed sum was deducted monthly from the officialsâ salaries while the outstanding balance would be deducted from their severance allowance at the end of their tenure.
âSeverance payment to public office holders is 300 per cent of their annual basic salary and is payable at the end of their tenure in line with the directive of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
âBy the time the Fayemi administration wound up on October 15, 2014, majority of the affected members were at various stages of completion of the repayment for the monetized cars, while government was also owing them some obligations including unpaid allowances, salaries and the severance allowance.
âA clearance letter stating the outstanding balance for each of the former officials was given to them as part of end of tenure formalities. The clearance letter indicated how much each member was owing (as outstanding balance on the cars) as well as how much the government was owing as par severance allowance.
âAs a matter of fact, the Ministry of Finance did a comprehensive document detailing the outstanding balance (payable by each official), the amount to be paid as severance by government and final entitlement (of each official) after the outstanding balance on the monetized cars is deducted.
âAll these documents were part of the handing over note to the incumbent administration and each of the officials was given copies. So it is mischievous and petty for the Fayose administration to claim ignorance of this simple administrative procedure.
âThe fact of the situation is that it is the state that is owing most of the officials their severance pay. Once the government pays the severance allowance, the outstanding balance of the cars would be automatically deducted at source as agreedâ.
The former state officials reminded Fayose and the State security agencies that the matter of the monetized vehicles is currently before the Ado- Ekiti High Court, in the case of Mrs Modupe Adelabu and 34 others Vs The Government of Ekiti State & 2 others (Suit NO: HAD/122/2004) filed on 15th December 2014 in which the former state officials are seeking the following reliefs:
â˘A Declaration that the Governor of Ekiti State cannot validly review and revoke the decision of the Executive Council and the approval of the erstwhile Governor of Ekiti State vis-a-vis the Political Office Holders monetized vehicles scheme.
â˘A Declaration that the Claimants are entitled to and are beneficial owners of the monetized vehicles by virtue of the clearance letter dated 8th October, 2014 and 10th October, 2014 and issued under the hand of the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Governor respectively.
â˘A Declaration that the Claimants are not indebted to the government of Ekiti State under the vehicle monetization scheme or any other scheme in any way whatsoever.
â˘An Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the government and governor of Ekiti State, their agents, privies, assigns or any person howsoever described from harassing, going after, tampering with or collecting the vehicles acquired by the Claimants as former political office holders and members of the erstwhile Ekiti State Executive Council by virtue of the Political Office Holders monetized vehicles scheme.
The matter is yet to be heard because of the industrial action embarked upon by judicial workers in the state.
âHaving served the state meritoriously, it is rather immoral, crude and irresponsible for the incumbent administration to continuously harass us and seek very dubious ways to tarnish our image over a state policy that was duly documented.
âWe maintain that this attempt to get us out of circulation, like the previous ones would fail. We challenge the state government to meet its obligation to former state officials. You cannot be harassing us over an amount that is less than what we are being owed by your government.â The statement concluded.
â˘Prof Adelabu
However, the immediate past Deputy Governor, Prof. Adelabu, accused the Fayose government of feeding the general public with lies on the controversy surrounding the monetized vehicles maintaining that she and many of those mentioned on the list paid for the vehicles allocated for their use when they were still in office.
Accusing the Fayose regime of mischief, Mrs. Adelabu revealed that the government denied her, her constitutional entitlement to two cars as parting gifts for being a former deputy governor.
According to her, Fayose and his henchmen are only playing to the gallery, saying that she, like some other officials, got clearance letters from the Ministry of Finance and got the go-ahead to change the vehicleâs ownership after paying for them.
Her words: âIt is an embarrassment. I do not owe as they claim and this applies to as many of us who served under the immediate past regime.
âOn the contrary, the governor is the one sitting on the entitlements of former political office holders. As a former deputy governor, I am constitutionally entitled to at least two cars but I was not given.
âSo, it is indecent and immoral of the present administration to portray the past officials in bad light before members of the public.â
To prove that she is no longer liable on payment of monetized vehicles debt, Mrs. Adelabu said the final payment of N691,791.00 she made on the ash coloured Toyota Camry with engine number: 2AR0570437 and chassis number: JTNBF4KX03003702 was paid into a government account number domiciled at the First City Monument Bank (FCMB).
Government had written a clearance letter to her through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance as the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). The letter was signed by Mr. Olagoke M.O.
She was subsequently issued with a further clearance signed by Mr. Femi Obaparusi, informing her that the ownership of the vehicle had been fully transferred to her.
Mrs. Adelabu wondered why and how the government turned around again to say she was owing N1, 393, 789.00.
âI am directed to inform you that your outstanding indebtedness on monetized vehicleâŚ. as at 30th September has been paid into the designated government bank account number 0147171011 in FCMB (EKSG Motor Vehicle Loan Political Office Holders) with Teller No. 0280538 representing the outstanding indebtedness.â
As both camps continue to fire verbal missiles on the controversy surrounding the monetized vehicles, members of the public are interested in unearthing the truth of the matter.
Although the affected officials have filed a legal action on the matter, the people of the state might wait longer to know the truth as the wheel of justice grinds slowly in this part of the world.
The Ekiti State Chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has embarked on an indefinite strike joining its counterparts in other states of the federation where funds for that arm of the government had not been made a first line charge.
It is only when the strike is over and the courts resume that the legal battle on the monetized cars would commence and give the people of the state a hope of a resolution of the dispute.
Controversy has trailed the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Imo State.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has called for the cancellation of the legislative elections over alleged irregularities.
Also rejecting the results, the Speaker of the House of Assembly and the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Imo North (Okigwe Senatorial Zone), Benjamin Uwajumogu, described the election as a âcomplete shamâ.
He said elections did not hold in the majority of the local governments, including Ehime Mbano, Isiala Mbano and Okigwe councils, but results were released in the local governments by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Calling for the cancellation of the election, Uwajumogu alleged that âat Ehime Mbano Local Government, for instance, ballot papers and other election materials meant for Imo West (Owerri Senatorial Zone) were brought to Okigwe Zone. On noticing the situation, INEC withdrew the ballot papers and this delayed the exercise.
âAbout 7pm, the electoral officer announced that it was late and shifted the election to the following day. We agreed to hold the election the next day, but after we left, the electoral officer and the PDP candidate wrote the results and took it to INEC and it was announced as the result from the zone.â
He went on: âThe results, which emanated from the purported senatorial election in Imo North, especially at the polling units of Ehime Mbano, Isiala Mbano, Onuimo, Okigwe and Ihitte/Uboma did not reflect the results of the party agents.
âI reject the results being circulated to have emanated from the March 28 Senatorial Election in the affected councils in Imo North. We will not accept the result. A fresh election should be conducted.â
The APGA Chairman, Peter Ezeobi, called for the cancellation of the election, alleging that it did not correspond with the votes cast.
Addressing reporters, Ezeobi, a lawyer, said election never took place in some wards in Orlu Local Government, such as Isu, Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema, Agwa, Asa Obirie and Obiti where he alleged ballot boxes were snatched by suspected PDP thugs.
He called for a fresh election in the senatorial zones and urged INEC to improve on the performance of the card readers.
Ezeobi said security agents should check the high incidence of thuggery, violence and ballot snatching, which marred the election.
