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Tag: convention

  • Buhari’s health condition delayed APC’s Convention

    Buhari’s health condition delayed APC’s Convention

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed that the health condition  of President Muhammadu Buhari has largely been responsible for the inability of the party to hold its constitutionally mandated mid-term non elective convention, but assured that processes leading to the programme will begin on Saturday, July 29.

    The party also said it has set up a nine member committee headed by Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir elRufai to define and work out a “shared understanding” of what it meant by restructuring as contained in its manifesto in other to give a clearer understanding of the issue.

    Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum and Zamfara state governor who addressed newsmen at the end of a meeting between the governors elected on the platform of the party and the National Working Committee however said that the the party has decided to meet with the Acting President to discuss the issue and fix a suitable date  for the convention.

    When reminded of an earlier promise to meet with the Acting President after their meeting in May, Yari said even though the President is supposed to be present at the convention as leader of the party, they will still meet with the Acting President to decide on a date.

    He  however noted that they were conscious of the fact the Acting President is playing a double role of he at the moment and therefore has a very busy schedule.

    He explained that in view of the relationship between the executive and the legislature and the need to forge a cordial relationship within the hierarchy of the party, they decided that principal officers of the National Assembly will henceforth be part of the regular meeting with the leadership of the party.

    In his opening remarks, National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said the turn out of the governors for the meeting was a clear indication that it was becoming an avenue to mobilize opinion towards the smooth running of the party.

    Governors at the meeting include Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar of Zamfara, Nasir elRufai of Kaduna, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa, Yahaya Bello of Kogi and Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano, while the deputy governors of Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger and Borneo represented their governors.

    Governors of Ondo, Sokoto, Bauchi, Yobe, Adamawa, Kwara, Edo, Oyo and Katsina states were not present at the meeting and were not represented.

  • APC slams PDP as opposition party plans convention

    APC slams PDP as opposition party plans convention

    •Dickson seeks true reconciliation

    In spite of the euphoria trailing the restoration of the Ahmed Makarfi-leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the opposition party as a badly-damaged brand.

    It also cautioned against opposition party members gloating over the state of health of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The APC urged Nigerians to hold it accountable for its promise as contained in its manifesto, but appealed for fairness because “a manifesto is not a four-year programme”.

    In a statement by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, the party condemned what it described as the penchant of members of the PDP to mock Buhari over his condition of health.

    “It is un-African, if not ungodly, to continue to taunt a man and even challenge him to a fight at his moment of weakness,” the APC said.

    Reacting to the boast by the PDP to take back power in 2019 Abdullahi said it was obvious that If the PDP had fully implemented its manifesto in the 16 years that it was in power, Nigerians would not have been attracted to the APC’s promise of change in 2015, because there would have been little left to promise.

    The statement reads: “In recent past, the PDP brand of opposition politics had been characterized mainly by allegation mongering and open incitements of separatist agitations across the country. It appears however that the outcome of Wednesday ruling is beginning to set them on a different course. We are therefore delighted that the PDP is beginning to talk about holding the APC accountable for the promises in our manifesto.

    “We want Nigerians, not just the PDP, to hold us accountable for every promise contained in our manifesto. We only urge them to be fair. A manifesto is not a four-year programme. If PDP had fully implemented its manifesto in the 16 years that it was in power, Nigerians would not have been attracted to the APC promise of change in 2015, because there would have been little left to promise.”

    “These few good men and women left in the PDP would do well to listen to ex-stalwarts of the party like the former Akwa Ibom governor, Obong Victor Attah who has advised that the party needs an urgent change of name because the PDP brand is already damaged beyond repair.

    “But Nigerians know that even with a change of name, it is not the cowl that makes the monk. Therefore, like Attah asked, “Now that they have resolved their crisis, what is left of the PDP?”  Senator Makarfi and his supporters should take a break from their victory dance to attend to this question.”

    He also said the media report quoted the un-namable minister as comparing the PDP and the APC to a tale of two wives, saying that Nigerians have tried the two and had seen who was better.

    He said: “We find this metaphor quite interesting. We need to point out however that APC is the new wife that is busy working at the kitchen that has been looted empty by the former wife who had made away with the entire foodstuff and even the kitchen utensils. Nigerians know this.

    “If the food is a little late in coming, they understand the circumstance. But if that other thieving wife now begins to argue that she was a better cook and should be brought back into the kitchen because the new wife is a slow cook, then that should pass for hypocrisy.

    “No matter the temporary hardship that we may be experiencing, Nigerians know better than to bring PDP back to power so soon for fear that this time, they might disappear with the kitchen itself.

    “We also note with regret, PDP’s penchant to mock President Muhammadu Buhari with his health situation. We admit that the health of a president is every citizen’s business. However, it is un-African, if not ungodly, to continue to taunt a man and even challenge him to a fight at his moment of weakness.

    “We have seen in the last few days, some members of the PDP who have boasted to defeat President Buhari in 2019. We urge Nigerians to Google the names of these individuals and see what comes up. It is however understandable, even if not acceptable, that when the lion is enfeebled, even a rabbit would grow the temerity to tweak its tail.

    “We urge Nigerians to remain resolute in support of the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari.  We are confident that whatever difficulty we are going through at the moment is only a passing phase.”

  • Dickson, Wike caution as PDP plans convention

    Dickson, Wike caution as PDP plans convention

    As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) begins the process that will lead to its elective convention, two of its governors have given tips on the way forward.

    The party last week regained its voice after the Supreme Court restored Ahmed Makarfi’s leadership.

    Between today and tomorrow in Abuja, the party will hold its enlarged caucus meeting and the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting where decisions on the convention is expected to be taken.

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson called for a true reconciliation. His Rivers State counterpart Nyesom Wike urged vigilance during reconciliation.

    In a statement at the weekend, Dickson urged sacked chairman Ali Modu Sheriff to support Makarfi.

    He said true reconciliation and a national unity convention would build confidence in the party and “endear Nigerians to PDP and persuade those who had defected from our great party to return to PDP ahead of 2019.’’

    Dickson said the judiciary only adjudicates on matters but never reconciles contending parties.

    “Now that the Supreme Court has delivered the much expected judgment, the PDP must now reconcile and truly put its house in order to effectively play its role as the leading opposition party in Nigeria”, he said.

    The governor added: ‘‘I call on Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his supporters and all contending parties in our great party, PDP to respect the verdict of the Supreme Court as the final arbiter.

    “Without such support, genuine reconciliation cannot take place; without such support, the Caretaker Committee will have a herculean task organizing an acceptable convention, without genuine reconciliation, the party cannot move forward.’’

    Wike, speaking at an inter-denominational thanksgiving service, said the Supreme Court judgment saved Nigeria.

    “While we are reconciling, we must be vigilant. Nobody will take me unawares. Satan will never sleep. Satan will always find ways to cause havoc.  Sheriff  is an agent of the APC.  Woe betides any person who is a mole of the deadly party.”

    He said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)  after winning elections have resorted to excuses and blame game instead of fulfilling  the promises they made  to Nigerians.

    “Two years after the mandate what is the situation? Excuses and blames without delivery. Look at how individuals took it upon themselves to destroy the party that gave them life.

    “PDP is the only party that is a household name in Nigeria.  There is no unit in the country without  a member of the PDP”.

    The governor said Rivers State  must get  return on its contributions  to the PDP.

    “As we help you, you help us. If you don’t help us, we won’t help  you. All of us must rise from our unit, ward and local government area to mobilise people”.

    He added: “God saved PDP because of Rivers State.  We don’t have plan B. Every other state had plan B. Our enemies will be put to shame from time to time. Rivers State is the strongest PDP state.”

    The thanksgiving service attracted PDP leaders from the 23 local government areas.

  • Akeredolu wins as Ondo students elect leaders at 10th convention

    Members of the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS) have elected leaders who will oversee the association’s affairs for one year.

    The election took place during the 10th convention of the body  on Saturday in Akure, the Ondo State capital. The electoral process was conducted under close supervision of independent observers and security agents.

    About 105 delegates from 55 recognised tertiary institutions nationwide were accredited to elect the leaders.

    The electoral committee chairman, Oluwatobi Ebiwonjumi, while announcing the results, declared Comrade Emmanuel Akeredolu as president-elect after polling 87 votes of the 104 total votes cast. Emmanuel defeated Ayomipo Oloyede, who got 10 votes, and Wealth Akerele, who got six votes. A vote was voided.

    Ebiwonjumi described the election as peaceful and credible, thanking the candidates for displaying maturity during and after the election.

    The outgoing president, Charles Iwakun, congratulated his successor, noting that his determination to conduct free and fair election was achieved. According to him, the outgoing administration set good pace for the development of the association, advising Akeredolu to consulate on his achievement. He urged his successor to be magnanimous in victory by extending a hand of fellowship to his opponents.

    Akeredolu, a student of Ekiti State University (EKSU), thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in him. He promised to bring positive change to the association, pledging to work with his opponents.

    Mr Alex Gbologe, an observer from the National Orientation Agency (NOA), who spoke on behalf of the independent observers, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election. He said the process was devoid of rancour, fighting and abusive words.

    Other elected include Vice President, Omotayo Olibamoyo, General Secretary, Gbenga Ogunderu, Public Relations Officer, Alex Adesuyi, Treasurer, Oluwagbenga Ogunji, Director of Special Duties, Oluwaseun Aruwajoye, Financial Secretary, Opemipo Amusa, and Social Director, John Daudu.

    Others are Sports Director, Temitope Menawonu, Assistant General Secretary, Janet Akinyuwa, Senate President, Lawrence Oguniyi, Deputy Senate President, Tony Odimayo, Chief Whip, Excel Oloriegbe and Clerk, Oluwafemi Omolaja.

  • Campus writers elect leaders at maiden convention

    Members of the National Union of Campus Journalists (NUCJ) – the umbrella body for student-writers – converged on the University of Ibadan (UI) for their maiden national convention. The convention was attended by delegates from some tertiary institutions.

    Delivering a keynote speech titled: Student advocacy: The dawn of a new age, Mr Oluwatope Alabi, a journalist with the Osun State branch of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Osogbo, said the activities of student-journalists had boosted campus advocacy in the last eight years, which exposed cases of injustice suffered by students.

    He said pressure groups, such as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), had failed in fighting for the rights and welfare of students across campuses, adding that students now look up to campus journalists whenever their rights are trampled upon.

    He said: “As the last hope of your colleagues, posterity will not forgive you when they suffer injustice and you don’t write about it. You must speak for others and let their welfare be your happiness. In doing so, intimidations will come from the authorities, but a committed journalist will always have his way.”

    Urging the NUCJ members to unite and forge a common front in achieving their goals, Alabi said: “Remove all barriers that can prevent you from collaborating among yourselves and speak with one voice. Face the objective of serving students everywhere; spread your tentacles to private and faith-based institutions. Build a formidable partnership with Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other relevant bodies. You will be a force to reckon with across tertiary institutions.”

    Other speakers at the event included Mr Salaudeen Kamorudeen of the Fountain University, and Mr James Peter, publisher of  The Biographer.

    The convention featured election into the executive and legislative arms of the union. Ibrahim Alamode, a UI student, was elected president, while Aisha Shittu of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) became the Vice President, and Mubarak AbdulHameed of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) is National Secretary.

    Also, Hammad Obanaye of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, was elected the Publicity Secretary, Folarin Kolawole of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State became the Southwest Zonal Secretary, Muhammed Akinyemi of UNILORIN is North Central Secretary, and Victor Ifegwu of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Southeast Secretary.

    Ifeoluwa Adediran of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, defeated two male candidates to become the Senate President. Other principal officers of the legislative arm are the Deputy Senate President, Ifedayo Ogunyemi (MAPOLY), Chief Whip, Ifedayo Olorunfemi of the Federal School of Statistics.

    Ibrahim, in his acceptance speech, promised to make the union effective and strong, while calling for members’ support.

  • Sheriff won’t contest at PDP convention, says Dickson

    Sheriff won’t contest at PDP convention, says Dickson

    The Chairman of the National Reconciliation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Governor Seriake Dickson, yesterday said his committee had proposed a negotiated National Unity convention to hold next quarter.

    He also said court-backed National Chairman  Ali Modu Sheriff, had agreed not to seek election at the convention.

    He said members of the convention committee comprise seven governors, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, seven governors, past presiding officers at the National Assembly, Senators, ex-ministers and members of the Board of Trustees, among others.

    The Bayelsa State governor faulted Chairman of the Caretaker Committee Sen. Ahmed Makarfi for attacking him.

    Dickson, who unfolded the new peace template in Abuja, said the reconciliation committee had been consulting with all stakeholders.

    He said: The reconciliation committee met to review our position in the light of the court of appeal judgment and we said look, let us formulate a realistic, practical and strategic response to that reality because in the end it is only about strategy.

    “The template we are proposing will lead to a negotiated National Unity convention because the inability to hold a unity convention or a successful convention at all is at the heart of the crisis. And that was why when that failed to happen, we appointed Makarfi caretaker, to midwife another convention, the second one too failed.

    “We are consulting and in the next couple of days and weeks it would be very clear. But let me also say there are issues before you have a convention, there are crises, some developments in states and some zones; so what we expect is that various teams will go and resolve some of those issues before we move to the stage of the convention.”

    He  gave a breakdown of the proposed National  Unity Convention Committee.

    Dickson said: “This convention committee should not be done like the other one. Our template says that there should be seven governors, people to be nominated should be nominated from the key institutions of the party and by the way all these key institutions are with Makarfi not Sheriff. This is why I  cannot understand what Makarfi’s problem is, unless he sees himself and his role as either that of, not of a caretaker but a landlord or even an undertaker of PDP.

    “Otherwise all the people we have suggested in the template are all institutions working as we speak with Makarfi; of close to hundred he has almost 80  something. Because of that we then put 12 names to be nominated by Sheriff even that one we said with consultation with stakeholders because we thought Sheriff would say no. We actually expected Sheriff to say no, not Makarfi to shout. Sheriff has accepted all of them.

    “This is the convention committee members’ template; seven Governors, seven Senators led by the Deputy Senate President who is the head of the caucus;  12 House of Reps members led by the House Minority Leader. BoT is to nominate six members at one per zone;  former ministers to nominate six  at one per zone; and all former presiding officers of the National Assembly who are still with us to be automatic members and a number of them are with Makarfi. And the national vice chairmen of every zone of the party, all six of them and all these people are with Makarfi. And then we said the chapter chairmen, three of them per zone should be there, making 18 of them. And then we said six prominent women leaders, six prominent youth leaders and so on and so forth. All these institutions are with Makarfi.

    “So what we are designing was a ringed fence that Sheriff if we all work together will be unable to, so that his role will be in accordance with the laws of the party to convene and preside. After he makes his speech we move a motion to dissolve and with that dissolution all these arguments would have ended and then we go into the election. That is what we thought is the quickest way out of this crisis.

    “And when I consulted Makarfi, but I didn’t consult Sheriff; I left committee meetings to brief Makarfi that this is what the committee is doing, there is urgency now and I had intelligence about the time table that INEC was to release, that this is the time to put our party together. I am fast tracking this process, this is what I am proposing.

    “Makarfi drew my attention that some persons are saying that their tenure had not elapsed and they might take us to court. I say yes, thanks for drawing that to my attention, I will include it in the template that those people must resign, so that all offices must be vacant to give the party a fresh beginning and I included it in the template. Sheriff and his people have accepted it, everything.”

    Asked of the attitude of the two factional leaders of the party to the convention, Dickson added:  “As we speak we have a situation where Sheriff said a convention as soon as possible, a convention that he will not contest and we are waiting for these institutions to send in their names and Makarfi is the one now saying no. He wants PDP crisis to fester and playing one game or the other and attacking my person.”

    Dickson added: “Sheriff, after the Court of Appeal judgment  has said he would be prepared for quick national convention. We thought that was a victory for PDP. He has also said he will not contest at that convention; that is victory for the PDP.

    “But the challenge however is that a number of people said they cannot trust him; well I said that is valid but you need to engage more and ring fence the convention, how? This is when the template comes in.

    “I take exceptions to some of the public statements that Makarfi and some of his supporters have been making, I don’t want to join issues with anybody because I am for peace, I am for reconciliation.

    “ All I want to remind Makarfi and his supporters that whereas it is good for him Makarfi that in every state because of this crisis, you have a so-called Makarfi group and a Sheriff group, the party is polarized down the line, it may be good for him, he may be enjoying it but this party is big”

  • Obasanjo speaks on corruption at convention

    Obasanjo speaks on corruption at convention

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo will on April 8 speak at a special seminar during the annual convention of Victory Life Bible Church (VLBC) in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State.

    He is expected to be the lead speaker at the seminar with the theme role of the church in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

    Time is 10am and venue is Victory life Bible Church, Km 9 Olabisi Onabanjo Way, opposite OGTV, Ajebo, Abeokuta.

    The seminar is part of the church’s convention slated for April 2-9.

    Guest speakers include Dr Felix Omobude, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, Rev. Kunle Adesina and Bishop Tim Gbasha.

    The convention holds by 9am and 5pm daily.

  • Convention proffers ways of saving Nigeria

    THE search for a permanent solution to the seemingly unending fierce struggles for central power in Nigeria, do or die elections, unviable 36 states, regional divisions, ethnic and religious hatred, militancy and agitation for cessation has been long and tortuous. So far, all efforts made to resolve the issues and save Nigeria have remained ineffective as the country continues to groan under these vises.

    But the 18th Annual Convention of the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM), with the Theme: “How To Resolve The Crises of Nigeria as a Nation State,” held in Enugu on Thursday, 19th January 2017 has, after a month-long after convention deliberations and consultations come out with what it considered as the lasting solution to the vices that have left Nigeria further divided and weak.

    The communique, released on Thursday, February 24, 2017, said “the convention is of the considered opinion that the rupture of the 1963 Constitution, which truncated the federalism Nigeria practiced in the First Republic, is at the root of our misery today. That the political crisis of Western Nigeria of the early 1960s, which began with the imprisonment of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the violent elections in the region, which came to a head with the Operation Wetie of 1965, coupled with the Tiv Riots of the same season, inspired the military coup of January 1966.”

    It noted that “the change of the nomenclature of the regions to group of provinces by Decree 34 of May 1966, the horrendous three wave pogrom of 1966, the failure to implement the Aburi Accord of 4th and 5th January 1967, and the sudden creation of 12 states on 26th May 1967, had plunged Nigeria into a 30 month internecine war that cost over 3 million lives with the victors falsely believing that, altering the sustainable true federal structure built on fiscal federalism for a quasi-unitary structure, created entirely by unelected military regimes could create an enduring nation state. Facts have since shown that only a truly federal structure anchored on true fiscal federalism can sustain Nigeria.”

    According to the statement, signed by Evang. Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko the Convener of the convention and Founder/President, Igbo Youth Movement (IYM, “having struggled fruitlessly for five (5) decades, to sustain the unitary structure, it has become self-evident that only an early return to six or eight regions in a new federal constitution, fashioned along the lines of the 1963 Constitution, can save Nigeria now.”

    Ugochukwu-Uko explained on Friday that “the euphoria, fear and misplaced hangover that characterized all the military regimes, from 1966  1999, has evaporated suddenly, as we are faced with the stark reality of the attendant fallouts of the faulty unitary structure which has overwhelmed the nation, thereby making an early return to true fiscal federalism inevitable, if Nigeria is to survive.

    “Such fallouts, such as, fierce struggle for central power, do or die elections, corruption and sleaze, unviable 36 States, regional divisions, ethnic hatred, religious bigotry, impunity, nepotism, militancy, agitation for cessation and absolute loss of faith in Nigeria as presently constituted will only get worse, if we don’t restructure now.”

    According to him, “the convention agreed that the current crisis ravaging the land today (herdsmen rampage, militancy, agitations for cessation, nearly comatose economy, all sorts of militancy, etc) point to the undeniable fact, that the artificial peace built on a faulty unitary structure in January 1970, made possible by the use of Russian Jets, Egyptian Pilots and British Military Advisers has lost its hold on the almost 200 million Nigerians from more than 300 ethnic nationalities.”

    He explained further that at the Convention, they considered all the previous attempts starting from 1951 at Ibadan to the latest Conference at Abuja in 2014, all aimed to restructure Nigeria into a sustainable federation of the over 300 ethnic Nationalities comprised of Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Igbira, Itshekiri, Birom, Kanuri, Fulani, Ibibio, Tiv, Edo, Nupe, Ijaw, etc.

    After all the deliberations and consultations, the convention, whose attendance included distinguished guests from the North, the West and other parts of the country, concluded the country’s current socio-political and economic problems would be resolved by:

     making the Federal Government a Coordinating Center of Common Services rather than a Controlling Center, but with exclusive responsibility for the Common national services such as the Armed Forces, National Police, Citizenship, Customs, Central Banking and Currency, Immigration, Foreign Affairs including foreign trade, National Education Standards, National Industrial goods standards and National Scientific Research Standards, respectively,

                    making the Federating Regions (which should reflect the interests and aspirations of respective various ethnic nationalities, (large and small), and other relevant Stakeholders) have primary control and responsibility over their land and natural resources, education institutions (at primary, secondary and tertiary levels), agriculture, industries and economic production, internal (State or Regional) security, internal economic supporting development infrastructure of electricity supply (leaving Federal with the National Electricity Grid), internal roads and internal economic development supporting infrastructures among other specific internal infrastructures,

                    sharing National Revenue among all the tiers of Governments based strictly on mutually agreed ratio of derivation and in proportion to what each Federating Unit contributes to the sustenance of the Nigerian Federation to ensure healthy competition among the Federating Regions in economic and industrial production activities,

                    organising an all embracing national dialogue or conference of all the true representatives, (not individuals on their own merit) of the ethnic nationalities (large and small) comprised in Nigeria and other relevant stake holders as happened under British Colonial administration in 1951 at Ibadan, (where Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, respectively led Northern, Eastern and Western ethnic Nationalities, respectively  to resolve Nigeria’s constitutional problems sincerely, equitably and by consensus/ agreement of all the concerned ethnic Nationalities of Nigeria, and

    Participants at the convention concluded that Nigeria will resolve its current problems, “not by demonizing or denigrating any of Nigeria’s constituent ethnic Nationality as the Devil, as it is clear from Nigeria’s history from 1914 to 2015, that all the ethnic Nationalities comprised in Nigeria (be they large and or small), have all contributed equally to what now divides Nigeria, no ethnic nationality can be said to be guiltier than any other in what has divided and bedeviled Nigeria since Nigeria’s Amalgamation in 1914.

    It would be recalled that in his paper, read at the convention, Second Republic Governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, warned that Nigeria should return to regional structure in order to foster unity and development of the country.

     “As presently constituted, the states are virtually unviable entities, which are incapable of continuing to exist as viable constituent units of a true federal structure.

    “Secondly, reverting to, say, a six regional structure would reduce the competitive pressure for power at the centre and redirect more attention to regional political competencies,” he said.

    The Convention was attended by various youth, women, students, traders and religious organisations from the old Eastern region. Delegates and guests from all the regions of Nigeria were also in attendance. In all, seven papers were delivered on the theme.

    Other distinguished speakers at the event who shared the same sentiment with Musa included physicist, Prof. Felix Oragwu, who explained why Nigeria must be restructured to six regions, former Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nduka Eya, Head of Department of Political Science of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof. Obasi Igwe, Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, who said Nigerians are the ones who will restructure Nigeria in order to save Nigeria and historian, Prof. Banji Akintoye, who advised Igbo youths to come together and partner with youths from other zones in order to pass the message across, that only a restructured Nigeria will make Nigeria great.

  • Mercury Convention for September

    the First Conference of the Parties (COP1) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury will take place on September 25, this year in Geneva, Switzerland, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has said.

    This is coming even as Costa Rica became the 36th Future Party to the Minamata Convention. On January 19, this year, the Government of Costa Rica deposited its instrument of accession for the convention.

    The Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty aimed at protecting human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury, was agreed at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) in Geneva, Switzerland on Saturday,  January 19, 2013.

    Nigeria is one of the 128 signatories to the global treaty, but she is yet to ratify it. Ratification by Nigeria automatically makes her a Party to the Convention with the duty to domesticate its content.

    A minimum of 50 nations are required to ratify the Minamata Convention to make it legally binding.

    Charles Brown, president of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry (WAMFD), said that the treaty’s emergence entailed a process of international meetings or INCs that held in 2010 – Stockholm, Sweden; 2011 – Chiba, Japan; 2011 – Nairobi, Kenya; 2012 – Punta del Este, Uruguay; 2013 – Geneva, Switzerland; 2014 – Bangkok, Thailand; and 2015 – Jordan. In 2013, a Diplomatic Conference held in Kumamoto, Japan.

    While acknowledging the role of the Africa region towards making the Convention a reality, Brown opined that ratifying the treaty is a “great” opportunity for Nigeria to lead, even though several other African nations are already Parties to the Convention.

    Leslie Adogame, the Executive Director of SRADev Nigeria, said: “Nigeria has signed the treaty. But, by signing, it merely shows that you are part of the process and you stand by it. Ratification however means that you are now a Party and ready to domesticate it by, for example, making local legislations.”

    According to him, Nigeria became a signatory to the Convention on October 10, 2013. “The Convention highlights actions to reduce mercury emissions to the air from identified sources, reduce the use of mercury in products and industrial processes, and to address mercury supply and trade. In addition, it contains provisions to address the severe and growing problem of mercury use in artisanal gold mining,” he added.

    Adogame pointed out that the signing of the Convention would enable Nigeria to: Develop a National Implementation Strategy (NIS)/Action Plan to holistically address challenges relating to the reduction and elimination of Mercury.

    Undertake a comprehensive inventory as a basis to develop and implement a more robust Mercury preventive programme which will include the identification and location, contaminated sites and extent of contamination, storage, handling and disposal to ensure that mercury related activities do not result in further damage to health and the environment;

    Enhance national capacities with respect to human resources development and institutional strengthening, towards addressing concerns about the long-term effects of Mercury on both human health and the environment and also to ensure the effective domestication of the instrument that will be implementable at national level; Sensitise the populace and policy makers on the hazards of mercury; Develop and implement Mercury Release Minimisation Projects; and Control mercury supply and trade.

    Nations that have ratified the Convention include: Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Chad, China, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Ecuador, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Gayana, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali and Mauritania.

    Others are Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay and Zambia.

    Major highlights of the Minamata Convention include a ban on new mercury mines, the phase-out of existing ones, the phase out and phase down of mercury use in a number of products and processes, control measures on emissions to air and on releases to land and water, and the regulation of the informal sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining. The Convention also addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury as well as health issues.

  • Group holds convention in Benin Republic

    A group, the Guild of Muslim Professionals (GMP), will take over 200 Muslim professionals to Benin Republic as part of activities of its fourth yearly convention.

    The four-day event will hold between Saturday and Tuesday at Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo, Badagry, Lagos.

    The delegates will leave for Port Novo in Benin Republic on Monday.

    This year’s theme is Economic diversification: Opportunities for Muslim professionals.

    A statement by GMP Board of Trustees Chairman Hakeem Oyewale said the convention is aimed at providing an ideal platform for relaxation and networking, learning and reflecting on how to use professionalism to impact nation building.

    The forum, he said, would also provide first-hand information on the corporate world, finding new business contacts on all business opportunities and upgrading career strategies for the upcoming years.

    “Business owners and government have come to acknowledge the fact that there is economic recession and it is a known fact that Nigeria has solely rely on oil to plan its budget but the current administration is taking bold steps towards non oil sector, hence the theme.

    “The Guild of Muslim Professionals believes that a major factor that would help, is strategic learning and networking, hence the fulcrum for this year convention,” he said.

    According to Oyewale, there are eight different engaging sessions within the four day convention, with each session being strategically planned to bring out innate ability of individual participant towards other stream of incomes, adding that a team of well experienced facilitators have been listed to ensure quality interactive experiences.

    He said: “The programme will also take participants out of the shore of the country to experience practical wealth generation via waste at Shongai Centre in Port Novo.

    “Our organisation focuses on developing programmes that improves the quality of life, expression of true professionalism in the ideal Islamic perspective, realisation of balance and integration of career, spirituality and family.”