The Nation Newspaper

Tag: crises

  • Stop inciting communal crises, activist warns Delta govt

    •Allegations laughable, says govt

    The Delta State government has been accused of encouraging communal crises in anticipation of electoral gains in the 2019 general election.

    The warning, by human rights activist and constitutional lawyer, Oghenejabor Ikimi, came against the backdrop of similar allegations following crisis in Odimodi, Ugborodo and Ogbe-Ijoh/Aladja in Burutu, Warri Southwest, Udu local government areas of the state.

    Ikimi, in a statement in Warri yesterday urged the government to disband the Ugborodo Community Management Committee, which it allegedly instituted against the wish of the people.

    But Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Charles Aniagu, said the government was working to restore peace in the communities, noting that the allegation was laughable.

    Ikimi, who regretted the loss of lives and destruction of property, called on the government to release the White Paper of the report of the panel that looked into the Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh crisis.

    According to the activist, the communities could have continued living in peace, if the government did not instigate crisis, as is the case with Ugborodo, or refused to foster peaceful and harmonious living, as is the case with Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh.

    “The age-long communal boundary dispute between Aladja in Udu Local Government Area and Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South West Local Government Area is a case in point.

    “The Delta State government set up a panel, headed by Professor Abednego Ekoko last year, on the Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh communal crises. The panel submitted its report months ago. But the government is yet to issue a White Paper, while a cold war, tacitly fuelled by the government ahead of the 2019 general election, is escalating between them.

    “The intra-Ugborodo crisis  began when the last surviving trustee of the community died in March, 2015, and to avoid a vacuum, the Ugborodo Administrative Committee was inaugurated on May 13, 2017, to manage its internal affairs.

    “Rather than evolve confidence-building measures to promote peace in Ugborodo, the state government on the May 30, 2017, in collaboration with some multinationals, inaugurated a parallel Ugborodo management committee at the Government House Annex in Warri outside Ugborodo to run the community.

    “Finally, I call on the government to release and implement the White Paper on the Professor Ekoko-led Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh panel. I also call on the government to dismantle the parallel executives it set up on May 30, 2017, at the Government House Annex in Warri”, the statement said.

    Reacting to the allegation, Aniagu said the state cannot profit from communal crises, adding that the administration is sorting out the two cases.

    “It is laughable for anybody to say communal crises can be used for electoral gains, on the other hand, communal crises reduces electoral gains because No. 1, the money you need for the development of the people is what you will now deploy to quelling crises and when there are crises, we lose our people.

    “The governor is pained by what is happening in the two cases you mentioned and we are taking steps to address them. In the case of the Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh crisis, the governor has set up a committee, which submitted its report, but we cannot jump into action to produce a White Paper, it has to be studied. The tendencies that may likely deepen such crises will have to be dealt with.

    “In the case of Ugborodo, we are taking steps to ensure they live in peace. Such peace enables us to bring development to them, just as it enables us to have people who will support the government, and  key into government programmes”, Aniagu said.

  • Rolling back man-made crises in Nigeria, others

    Rolling back man-made crises in Nigeria, others

    On Saturday, the U.S. Government announced a nearly 639 million dollars in additional humanitarian assistance to the millions of people affected by food insecurity and violence in South Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen. Tens of millions of people are in need of humanitarian assistance as a result of the man-made crises in South Sudan, Nigeria, and Yemen, all of which are driven by violent conflicts, and in Somalia, where ongoing conflict is exasperating the effects of severe and prolonged drought. Despite the influx of aid that has helped to alleviate famine in some areas of South Sudan, and has so far prevented famine in Yemen and Somalia, the overall food security situation is worsening, and life-threatening hunger continues to spread in both scope and in scale.

    Through this additional funding that we’re announcing, the United States can provide additional emergency food and nutrition assistance, life-saving medical care, improved sanitation, safe drinking water, emergency shelter, protection for civilians who’ve been affected by conflict, and support hygiene and health programs to treat and prevent disease outbreaks for all four crises. This additional funding brings the total U.S. contribution to over 1.8 billion dollars in humanitarian assistance for the four famine crises since the beginning of fiscal year 2017.

    The United States is one of the largest donors of humanitarian assistance in all four crises and is the largest single donor of humanitarian assistance in the world. The aid we provide represents the best of America’s generosity and goodwill. We will continue to work with our international and local partners to provide this life-saving aid needed to avert famine and to support communities impacted by these crises.

    The situation in southern Ethiopia is deteriorating, and it might be catastrophic without additional interventions. The UN is warning that emergency food supplies and nutrition commodities in Ethiopia are running dry, with both the World Food Programme and the Ethiopia government anticipating partial pipeline breaks beginning by the end of June, with perhaps complete breaks by September. Now, during last year’s El Niño drought, the government of Ethiopia demonstrated its growing capacity to lead a robust and timely response, which supported over 10 million people with food, nutrition, water, and agricultural assistance. The government of Ethiopia must build on their progress and continue to provide the resources and leadership necessary to combat this year’s ongoing humanitarian crisis. And while this announcement is limited just to the four crises outlined earlier, that does not mean we are [correction] forgetting about Ethiopia and aren’t deeply concerned in Ethiopia and what’s happening there.

    The United States remains the largest humanitarian donor in Ethiopia, and we plan to continue ramping up our assistance, and strongly encourage additional contributions from the government of Ethiopia and other donors to meet the forecasted gap in funding required to address the needs of people there. So far this year, we have already provided 225 million dollars for humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia, and, just to restate, we continue and plan to intend to ramp up our assistance.

    So far this year we have provided over 22 million dollars in humanitarian assistance to Kenya, and, as you mentioned, the United States has been a partner of the Kenyan people for many years and we have a very robust program there, for not just humanitarian assistance but also our development work, particularly, right now, as Kenya prepares for elections and deals especially in its north with the same drought that is affecting Somalia. One of the things about Kenya in recent years has been the ability of us to partner with the Kenyan government and partners there on resiliency programs, which have really gone to help aid the resilience of communities and get agricultural production up in areas where it’s needed most. We have studies that have shown that for every dollar that we spend in those resilience programs, we save almost three dollars in humanitarian assistance needs. So Kenya is very much on our mind, we continue to work there, we will continue to ramp up efforts as needed.

    The United States government’s budgeting process can often seem very complicated. So the funding that we are announcing today, much of it was part of the appropriation we received several months ago, with the final FY17 budget agreement in Congress. So we’re very happy and thankful for Congress’s generous support for these humanitarian assistance programs, and the additional funding they’ve provided this year, which is the largest amount of humanitarian assistance funding in our nation’s history. The way our funding works is “no year money,” so we are continually assessing, analyzing, and then funding needs throughout the year, regardless of where we are in the budget cycle. And we pride ourselves on having perhaps the world’s fastest ability to fund emergencies and redirect funding if need be, and put assistance directly where it needs to be, as fast as possible.

    No amount of humanitarian assistance will ever solve these problems. These problems are a manifestation and symptom of the conflicts that are going on in all four countries. Somalia is also grappling with drought, but the conflict there, like the conflict in South Sudan, like the conflict in Yemen, like the conflicts in Northern Nigeria, it’s really the conflict that is causing these problems. So the United States is involved in all four countries with our diplomatic efforts and the efforts that we do engaging with the rest of the international community.

    While these four countries are grappling with a food insecurity crisis, that is just one of the many important issues that Africa is dealing with right now and will continue to deal with, unfortunately, for some time to come. And that’s why the U.S. remains a friend and a partner to Africa, and we remain the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance in Africa, including South Sudan, the horn of Africa, and the Lake Chad Basin.

    We hold it as a sacred trust when we are spending United States taxpayer dollars, and we put a huge priority on making sure, in many multiple ways, that we track all of this assistance. No diversion at all is acceptable, and we require all of our partners to have their own monitoring and evaluation plans, and they all have strict audit guidelines that they must fulfill on an annual basis so that they are constantly tracking where the assistance goes. Separate to that, we also have third party monitoring mechanisms that track and make sure that deliveries take place, and we require our partners to report directly and immediately to us and our Inspector General anytime there’s any diversion or any loss of assistance.

    Now, all of these countries provide very difficult work environments, very dangerous work environments; in fact, there are humanitarian workers in all four countries risking their life every day, and what they’re risking their life to do is to see that the assistance gets to who it needs to get to, and they do an extremely good job of that.

    We, along with the rest of the international community, use collective organizations who can independently track, monitor, and verify the situation on the ground. One of those groups is the Famine Early Warning System, or the FEWS Network, which we fund and created, but is also funded by other donors, and that helps us give a non-political, non-governmental, true assessment based on science and real data on what the conditions are in certain countries. Then it’s up to us and our diplomats and others in the international community, other donors, to work with that government to help them come to grips with the situation that they’re dealing with, and to be as transparent and open as possible.

     

    • Excerpts from a briefing by Jenkins, Acting Assistant Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development’s  Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance
  • Confab report ‘ll settle Southern Kaduna, other crises, says Jonathan

    Confab report ‘ll settle Southern Kaduna, other crises, says Jonathan

    The implementation of the report of the 2014 national conference and an end to impunity will end etnoc religious crises such as the Southern Kaduna killings, former President Goodlcuk Jonathan has said.

    He spoke in a address delivered to the United States Congress House Sub Committee on Africa.

    According to statement by the former president’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan spoke in his capacity as the promoter of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation.

    He was quoted as saying: “That promise was fulfilled on the 20th of December 2013 when Kabiru Umar, aka Kabiru Sokoto, was sentenced to life imprisonment after my administration investigated that crime, identified him as the mastermind, arrested him and diligently prosecuted him and some of his associates.”

    He called for the implementation of the report of the conference which his regime organised and the setting up of an independent Religious Equity Commission to be set up to apprehend and arrest perpetrators of ethnic and religious violence.

    He also called for the use of true and fiscal federalism as the way out of agitations in the region and in other parts of Nigeria.

  • Why NLC leadership crises persist

    Why NLC leadership crises persist

    For many workers, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) remains an avenue for achieving a decent wage and ensure that their welfare is not undermined by their employers. However, after its National Delegates Conference in March 2015, a major crack emerged in the leadership of the Congress. This has led to the emergence of a new Labour Centre. In this Interview with TONY AKOWE, NLC President  Comrade Ayuba Wabba speaks on the new centre and what it portends for the labour movement in the country, demand for a new minimum wage for workers, among other issues.

    A new Labour Centre has been launched. What is  its implication to organised labour, particularly the NLC?

    Let me assure you that we will do everything possible to preserve the unity of the labour movement, not only with them, but also with our colleagues in the  Trade Union Congress (TUC). Essentially, we have done everything possible to try and ensure that the issue of reconciliation after the 2015 conference is addressed. You are also aware that our veterans have put in their best, especially the founding President, Comrade Hassan Summonu. But it is unfortunate when people try to occupy positions at all cost. You are also aware that at a time, they declared themselves President and Deputy President, particularly the gladiators in this whole thing, Joe Ajaero and Igwe Achese. The facts are quite obvious because you all participated in the conference. This is a conference that was adjudged free, fair and credible by all organisations, including the International Labour Organisation ( ILO), the Federal Ministry of Labour and the International Trade Union Confederation, which actually participated in the process. With all these, it is very obvious that people just want to insist that they must occupy positions at all cost. The joy we have is that we are connected with our people because the formation of a centre is something that has to do with the rank and file. The strength of every centre is in the rank and file and it is very clear and you have seen how we have been able to engage issues in the states, even in their states. The joy we have is that we are connected with the people and we will do everything to address the issue, but that will not deter us because it is about the people. The process of forming a labour centre entails that all the components will have to go to their delegates conference to get mandate and we are all aware that that mandate has not been obtained by any of them. But that is not to say that it is not an issue. Of course, it is an issue and that is why I have issued a formal statement which captured all the approach to be taken.

    There are claims of about 28 affiliates. Could these be from those we know with the NLC or other unions? Also, does the law allow the formation of another labour centre?

    Those are issues we will take up. But I think this is part of the misinformation because if you have this number, you ought to have listed them so that people can interrogate all of them. But this is not the issue we are approaching now. We are approaching it from the perspective that it is an issue and we are going to respond to it through our organs. You, as journalists, are supposed to interrogate these issues because if I tell you that I have 10 children, you will ask me what is their names. Different interest groups have quoted different figures and if you remember, through out the period of the challenge, a lot of figures have been quoted at different times and this is part of it.

    We will not dissipate energy to try to look at the number and the people. But if you look at the figures, they quoted some from TUC and some from NLC, but the list has jot been made very clear. The issue however is that we are committed to defending the interest of the workers. In their communique, the raised the issue of the challenge of payment of salaries and I don’t know what engagement they have done in respect of that. Even where we went to organise joint approaches to respond to those issues, even in their own states, they went under.

    That is to tell you that it is the unity of the movement that can salvage some of those issues. We are committed to that, but the list of those union has not been listed. But I am aware that the issue of registration of trade unions has become a matter of cash and carry. When you pay money people try to register you overnight. We are going to interrogate the law, get the details and make sure that where the laws are not respected, we respond to them effectively. But we will follow all due processes to ensure that the unity is restored.

    Do you agree that the reconciliation process has not yielded any  result?

    I will not agree with you because in a process of reconciliation, the two groups must be really committed. If you remember, the process of reconciliation has been on and when we held the lady meeting in March, everything was agreed upon, including the fact that only one leadership of the NLC is recognised and that the conference that brought us in is sacrosanct. Hassan Summonu has spoken on this and to our dismay, they issued a letter trying to castigate him. What I am saying is that right from the beginning, you can see that people were not actually committed to the process of reconciliation. But our elders have been committed and we have been committed. But that does not mean that the process of reconciliation has no meaning. Essentially, whatever challenges that occurred in organisations can best be resolved through reconciliation or through a round table. We have remain committed to that and we have played our role effectively. But it takes two to tangle for those issues to be resolved.

    Both parties in this dispute   pledged their commitment to the reconciliation, but nobody has said what the grey areas are and why what was agreed upon has not been implemented. What are their demands?

    During the reconciliation meetings, we agreed that the my leadership of the NLC is recognised by all. We also agreed that in the course of the lifespan of this administration, if there is any vacancy that arose either from retirement or any other course, those position will be filled by NEC and they will be given consideration. All the details in that agreement will be driven by the National Executive Council and that we should have a joint May Day.This was signed by all parties. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole signed the document, I signed it, Ajaero signed it and Hassan Summonu also signed it. That is why I keep saying that we have remained very consistent and committed.

    What  role for Ministry of Labour and Employment in all these, especially the Trade Union Department?

    The information at our disposal is still very sketchy because we don’t know their roles. As you are aware, all these things require processes. If you are forming a union, it is also required that you put an advertorial where all parties that need to respond can do so especially where it has to do with law and where members interest must be carried along. Those members must be able to interrogate the process and raise objection or agreement where they exist. I am not sure all of these have taken places because if it had taken place, you would have followed the process. We will try to follow all the details, including getting our members who are affiliate of any union that has been so mentioned to actually follow up the process. As I said earlier, in most of our constitutions, in joining a labour centre, you must go to your delegates conference to get mandate and we are all aware that none of them has gotten that mandate. Right now, it is merely about individuals trying to occupy positions at all cost after a very successful conference. Those are issues that we are very familiar with. Those are the issues and as members of the press, you can also interrogate the process, including the Federal Ministry of Labour who ought to have made the whole process very transparent and open if there is any process at all. So, these are the details we have for now and we will follow up these details and consult with our organs and when we do that, we can then give very credible information. For now, I want to assure you that we remain committed to the ideals of a united labour movement.

    What is delaying committee work on minimum wage?

    Let me make this point very clear. The issue of minimum wage remains very sacrosanct, the review is due and I have said we cannot guarantee industrial peace any longer if necessary steps are not taken by government to resolve this issue before the next May Day. We have sent formal notice of demand as required by law to the government to try and constitute the committee. As we speak, the Minimum Wage Committee has not been constituted. What we have in place is the committee working on the palliatives. I am aware that part of what they have considered is the structure of  the minimum wage committee. But the committee to discuss and negotiate minimum wage has not been set up till date. So, we are mixing two issues. The committee set up to look into the palliatives is what we are all,referring to as minimum wage committee and I think that committee is about to round up whatever recommendations they have after which the joint committee of government and the two labour Centres will meet to loom at their recommendations. But essentially, the committee to dialogue and negotiate the minimum wage which is supposed to be tripartite has jot been set up. If it has been set up, you would have been aware of the membership and terms of reference as well as the timeline to dispose off this issue. It is a very sensitive issues because a lot of our members have been subjected to lots of difficulties because their purchasing power has been reduced to nothing because of inflation in the system as a result of the free fall of the naira. Mist workers cannot meet up with their daily needs and this has been compounded by the fact that cost of goods and services has gone up. Put side by side with the fight against corruption is that a worker has to be paid a decent wage for him to have a meaningful living. I want emphatically say that the committee has not been set up and so, when I hear that government will be increasing wages, I wonder from which perspective because usually, the issue of minimum wage is done through a tripartite arrangement of government, employers and organised labour. Once you don’t have the platform put the process in place, I don’t think you will be expecting results. This is the obvious fact at outrdisposal which we are working with and I think that those issues are very explicit and it is one issue that we are very passionate about. It is one process that we have continued to ask government to do everything possible to drive to a logical completion. What we are waiting for right now is the submission of the report of the palliative committee because the urgency which is required is also stated in that report and I am aware they have completed their assignments what remains is for them to adopt the report before bringing it before the attention of the house.

    Many people  feel the organised labour does not serve its purpose.  The naira has been so devalued and labour has done nothing. Why?

    If you look at our anti indents and the struggle we have led particularly on the right of workers and decent work, despite the challenges that tried to undermine our strength, you must commend us. You must understand how the minimum wage work. Labour will have to make a presentation which we have done in consultation with TUC. You are also aware that before this issue was included on the agenda of the palliative committee, it was because of the action that we did. You also realised that even with that, we have remained very consistent on the issue of the minimum wage. You must also understand that the issue of the minimum wage is an issue that has featured at every of our meeting prominently because you must follow the processes and the states. The stage we are is because if the fact that the palliatives committee need to conclude their assignment and then, we drive the process from there. I want to assure you that we remain very committed to that. But it is an issue that we all need to be on the same page.

    Is it logical for labour to request for an increase in minimum wage at a time like this?

    The issue of paucity of fund is an excuse that is worn out. The problem of Nigeria is not lack of money, but mismanagement which all of us have come to agree. If you look at the resources that accrue to Nigerian states for the past six or seven years, and we have not planned adequately to take care of the rainy days when the resources will dwindle, points to the fact that the developmental challenges of Nigeria is not about resources, but about mismanagement. Therefore, let us situate all of this in a proper context to understand them. If there is the will, there will be the way and you can also realise that even in the midle of recession in the United States (U.S,), they increase the minimum wage because of the fact that you need to empower the people to have the means to continue to purchase so that the process of manufacturing can continue. We have argued that point long before now and therefore, let us not be under any illusion that any government, at any point in time, will say we have enough. It is about demands and contestations as well as our priorities. Where do we situate our priorities? We still have states where bogus contracts are still being awarded even when they have no direct bearing on the lives of the citizens. Those are the arguments. So, let us not hide under any illusion to think that the situation will remain the way it is. Our prayer is that after this quarter, we should be able to get out of recession. We must be able to make progress and therefore, we must not, as citizens continue to hide under recession and put a lot of things in abeyance. We must, through a process of constructive approach, try to make sure that the economy gets started and part of it is to put money in the hands of citizens so that they will be able to have a meaningful life and economic activities can pick up. If you don’t have wealth distributed among citizens, then the situation will continue the way it is and we will continue to lament. That is not our approach. Our approach is, how do we even kick start the economy. You do that by having money in the hands of the people where businesses and manufacturing can take place.

  • Niger Delta crises: ‘MEND has no confidence in Buhari’s govt’

    Niger Delta crises: ‘MEND has no confidence in Buhari’s govt’

    The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has “categorically and unequivocally” passed a vote of no confidence in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly not handling the Niger Delta crisis well.

    In an online statement yesterday by its spokesperson Jomo Gbomo, MEND said its decision was without prejudice to the pre-presidential election endorsement, freely and voluntarily given to President Buhari on January 6, 2015.

    The statement said: “Prior to and after his (President Buhari’s) reluctant meeting with the traditional rulers, opinion leaders and stakeholders of the Niger Delta region, under the auspices of Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) on November 1, 2016, President Buhari has been carrying on arrogantly and making controversial, prejudicial, conflicting and contradictory statements about the politics and economy of the oil-rich region.

    “Since he assumed the reins, President Buhari has always, for reasons best known to him, held the Niger Delta region in contempt, while accusing and/or blackmailing the leadership of the region of not being ready for dialogue, whereas it is the Federal Government that is not ready or willing to name a team to dialogue with the people.

    “Prior to the inauguration of PANDEF, several sessions of dialogue held between representatives of MEND, on the one hand, and those of the Federal Government, on the other hand, where concessions were secured for the release of the Okah brothers and several other political detainees and prisoners of conscience, were deceptive on the part of the Federal Government.

    “After the MEND/Federal Government dialogue, which was publicly confirmed by no less than President Buhari in his farewell remarks to Mr. Michael Zinner, the outgoing German ambassador to Nigeria, the President reneged on the agreements reached at the dialogue.

    “Following on the heels of the breach of the agreements, President Buhari personally wrote and signed a damaging and prejudicial letter to the Government of South Africa, in an attempt to wilfully truncate the ongoing peace process in Nigeria, sabotage the legal options open to Henry Okah and simultaneously influence the ongoing trial of Charles Okah and others at the Federal High Court in Abuja in favour of the Federal Government.

    “Based on the foregoing, we hereby demand that President Buhari must stop his cunning, crafty and un-statesman-like rhetoric about the Niger Delta region, as they have only served the purpose of jeopardising the fragile peace in the region and consequently direct the relevant agency of government to immediately begin dialogue with the Niger Delta region, as duly and ably represented by PANDEF.”

    MEND also told the Federal Government that all Niger Delta militant commanders and/or individuals who were tracked and arrested during a ceasefire, ahead of talks with the Federal Government, be treated well.

    The militant group also said the suspects should be allowed access to their lawyers, the International Red Cross and a delegation from PANDEF to ascertain their wellbeing and ensure they had not been tortured or killed through extra-judicial means.

  • Southwest PDP torn apart by crises

    Southwest PDP torn apart by crises

    The Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been grappling with crises fuelled by stiff competition for the control of the party structure. The state chapters are in chaos, owing to the absence of a strong crisis resolution mechanism. LEKE SALAUDEEN examines how internal strife has hampered the party’s prospect in the zone.

    For almost 10 years, the Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been embroiled in intractable crises. The party is factionalised across the six states in the zone. It went into last year’s general elections as a divided house. The result was its dismal performance in the zone. Before the elections, party leaders tried in vain to resolve the crises.

    Ten months after the election, the party in turmoil. The reason being that the “Abuja oxygen” that used to provide a lifeline for the party has been deflated, following the exit of former President Goodluck Jonathan from the seat of power. When he was in office, Dr. Jonathan always mediated in the crises in the Southwest.

    Besides, its major financier, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has decided to lie low on political matters affecting the zone since his extradition issue started. He has been very careful in his actions, so as not to be seen as being confrontational by the Federal Government.  Kashamu has not been vocal as he used to be before the general elections.

    The acrimony climaxed when the former National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur,  appointed the financier as the Chairman, Zonal Contact and Mobilisation Committee. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, under whose leadership the PDP rose to prominence in the Southwest lost control over the party machinery even in his native Ogun State. Under Obasanjo, the PDP won in five out of six states in the Southwest. Analysts believe that the imposition of Kashamu was intended to spite the former President and reduce his political influence in the zone. Obasanjo vowed not to recognise Kashamu who was allegedly wanted in the United States for drug offences. Initially, he withdrew from the affairs of the party and subsequently resigned his membership by tearing his membership card in public.

    Prior to the development, chieftains from the six state chapters converged on Osogbo, Osun State capital, in 2012 for the zonal congress. It was learnt that aggrieved stalwarts were bent on whittling down Obasanjo’s influence on the party. A faction of the PDP from Ogun State led by Kashamu alleged exclusion from the exercise. The aggrieved members, who claimed they were denied participation, went to court to challenge the validity of the congress. The court ruled that it was wrong to exclude the Kashamu group. Therefore, the court nullified the congress and ordered that a new congress should hold in the Southwest. The judgment provided a caveat for the Bamanga Tukur-led National Executive Committee to disband the Southwest executive  and remove Obasanjo’s men,  including Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who was the PDP National Secretary from the National Executive Committee. To date, the Southwest Congress has not been held.

    Since then, efforts to resolve the crises have not been successful, given the division within the ranks of party leaders. The divergent interests prompted the national headquarters to set up the integration committee headed by the former Senate President, David Mark, to bring warring factions together, in the build up towards the general elections.

    With the exit of Obasanjo and his supporters, the party still remained polarised. The discontent is such that virtually all state chapters are grappling with crises. The internal struggle for political offices, particularly the squabble over the party’s governorship tickets last year, had created more divisions in the fold. Below is the state of the PDP in each state that makes up the Southwest.

     

    Lagos

     The crisis in Lagos State chapter is deep. The warring factions are not prepared to sheath their swords. The Musiliu Obanikoro group and the Chief Bode George camp are still at logger heads. The last year’s governorship primary provided another opportunity for the two groups to rekindle the fight over the party’s soul. Ahead of the exercise, there was tension in the troubled chapter. George, who had the support of former President Jonathan, drafted Mr Jimi Agbaje to contest against Obanikoro  for the party’s ticket.

    The bitter struggle underscored the personality crisis and ego war between Obanikoro and George. The former Minister of State for Defence said George was his rival at the primary and not Agbaje, who he described as a foreigner in the chapter. Obanikoro boasted he would win the primary without George’s support. The exercise was held amid fire exchange and stone throwing by the supporters of the two leading candidates. Agbaje was declared winner. Obanikoro rejected the result, which he said was manipulated by George and other party leaders in favour of Agbaje. Obanikoro engaged in a war of words with Agbaje and George. He also sued the party for failing to address a petition he wrote over the conduct of the primary.

    The controversy was resolved with the intervention of Jonathan. Obanikoro was compensated with ministerial appointment to restore peace in the Lagos chapter, ahead of the elections. Analysts described the reconciliation as a mere window dressing because Obanikoro supporters had vowed not to vote for Agbaje. The threat was real as neither Obanikoro nor his supporters attended Agbaje’s campaign rallies. Agbaje lost the election.

    The post-election crisis manifested when the Chairman, Mr Tunji Shelle, was sacked by 34 members of the State Working Committee. He was replaced by Mr Kamaldeen Olorunoje. The executive members suspected to be Obanikoro’s loyalists accused Shelle of mismanaging election campaign funds and manipulating the primary, which ultimately led to the defeat of the PDP at the polls. The PDP secretary, Alhaji Wahab Owokoniran, said the decision was arrived to protest the way the party was being run. He said: “We members of exco have all agreed that the way the way the party is being run should not be allowed. There is need for restructuring. If we want restructuring, there is no way the chairman can continue in office.

    But, Shelle, who is believed to be Gerge’s protégée, described the sack as null and void. The party leadership described Shelle’s purported sack as “laughable, null and void”. It called on the members to discountenance the sack while also admonishing the brains behind the preposterous action to retrace their steps and allow peace to reign in the party. There are two executives in the Lagos PDP.

     

    Oyo

     In Oyo State, the intra-party crisis is very pronounced. The party leaders have not been able to resolve the dispute, which cropped up before, during and after last year’s general elections. The supporters of the governorship candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin, are bitter with the role played by prominent leaders of the party. It was alleged that they worked against the party, which, according to them, was responsible for Folarin’s defeat at the poll. They insisted, such people should be suspended from the party.

    Immediately after the election, leaders suspected to be involved in anti-party activities, including former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide and Chief Saka Balogun, former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and their supporters, were suspended. A PDP chieftain, Chief Yekini Adeojo,  led the campaign for the suspension. At a meeting chaired by Adeojo , Akinjide and Balogun were suspended without being given the opportunity to defend themselves. The aggrieved members faulted their suspension, claiming that those who suspended them had no right to do so. They argued that no panel found them guilty of the offence they were alleged to have committed. The issue has further divided the party.

    The party was in deep crisis before the election over the governorship primary that produced Folarin. It led to exit of Alao Akala and Seyi Makinde, who contested the governorship election on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) respectively.

    Ahead of the elections,  former Minister of Power and Steel Elder Wale Oyelese said the party was sharply divided.  He said: “As things are now in the state, the PDP has four groups. The groups are championed by former Governor Alao-Akala,  Ms Akinjide, Senator Folarin and the neutral group led by me”.

     

    Ogun

     The fight over the soul of the party in Ogun State is between the Mandate Group led by Kashamu and and the Jubril Kuye Martins-Kuye (JMK) faction. The JMK camp backed the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, governorship ticket. The group also called for the dissolution of the party executive, which was installed by Kashamu. The Mandate Group, on the other hand, accused the JMK of anti-party activities in a petition submitted to the David Mark Integration Committee. It drew the attention of the committee “to the activities of the members of JMK Group who are moving around to decive the panel to do their bidding in order to satisfy their selfish interests.”

    The Mandate Group stated further: “This late hour scheme is meant to cause a fresh round of crises after the party has been stabilised and it is now functioning very well. We wish to state that this is not the time for anyone to start using the names of the President, the Senate President and/ the National Chairman to cause disaffection and further any selfish interest.

    “Even, if they want to foist the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole on the party and give him automatic ticket for the governorship election, they should not throw away the baby with bath water. Any attempt to do so will cause more grievous harm than it was meant to resolve.”

    It reminded those behind “Dimeji Bankole Must Be Governor” campaign that it was the same Bankole, who lost his re-election bid for the Abeokuta South Federal Constituency which is made up of just only one local government.

    Dr. Jonathan had endorsed Bankole, a development that didn’t go down well with Kashamu, the sole financier of the chapter. A source recalled that Kashamu had warned Bankole to go through normal process to realise his ambition.

    Amidst this controversy, former Governor Gbenga Daniel returned from the Labour Party to the PDP. It was a source of worry for the state chapter. Jonathan and former National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu facilitated his return. The duo prevailed on Daniel to collapse the LP structure into the PDP, to strengthen it for the general elections. The development did not go down well with Kashamu. It would be recalled that Daniel was stampeded out of the PDP when Kashamu took over the party’s structure.

    The old rivalry between the two gladiators was rekindled. Their personal ambition nearly rocked the party’s boat, ahead of the general elections. Daniel was interested in the Ogun East Senatorial ticket, which had been reserved for Kashamu. However, a deal was struck. While Kashamu was given the senatorial ticket, Daniel was allowed to produce the governorship candidate. Kashamu won, but Daniel’s lackey, Gboyega Isiaka, lost the governorship election.

    Daniel seems to have lost out in the party. But, his group is strategising to take over the party structure in next month, when the state congress is expected to hold.

     

    Ondo

     The defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko from the Labour Party has destabilised theparty. The fear that the national leadership of the PDP would hand over the party structure to Mimiko has become a reality. The state executive of the party was dissolved. The old members are not happy with this development. All entreaties to make the national headquarters reverse the decision fell on deaf ears. It marked the beginning of mass defection of PDP members to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    More disturbing was the dissolution of the state executive and the setting up of a caretaker committee by the National Working Committee (NWC) without the knowledge of the state executive members. The caretaker committee members were cronies of Mimiko. In its reaction to the dissolution, the state executive said: “To say the least, this action is a clear intention that those we expect to safeguard the interest of the party are intent on beheading it. We also consider this action a disappointment, particularly in view of the fact there is a subsisting court order, baring the NWC from taking this action. We want to remind Abuja that it is by choice that we are party members and that the party is not a prison yard where we are inmates who are bereft of liberties and rights”.

    A chieftain, Benson Enikuomehin, predicted that the NWC action would mar the chances of Jonathan and the PDP in Ondo State in last year’s general elections. His prediction became real; Jonathan lost in Ondo and the PDP also lost federal seats in the election.

    Prominent members of the PDP in Ondo that have dumped the party include former Deputy  Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, former PDP National Legal Adviser, Chief Nathaniel Oke (SAN) and Chief Isaac Kekemeke who is now the state Chairman of the APC. They also include former commissioners, special advisers, legislators, council chairmen and councillors.

    A woman activist, Mrs Idowu Aribisala, described the entry of Mimiko into the PDP as a great misfortune for the party. We foresaw what is happening now, we warned Abuja against the likely consequences.  She said: “We know Mimiko very well. He is not a team player. He prefers to surround himself with cronies. The result of the last general elections is just a tip of an iceberg.  The governorship election holding this year will prove to you that the PDP is dead in Ondo State. Tell me how many credible politicians are in the PDP today? They have all left because we in Ondo have realised that the party does not have the interest of the people at heart.”

     

    Ekiti

     The governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, runs the party like a sole administrator. Whatever he says is final. He unilaterally picked candidates for the state and National Assembly elections. To justify his action, he said as the leader of the party, he is in a better position to decide who is qualified for positions.

    Since he emerged as governor in 2014, others who contested the governorship ticket with him have kept a distance from the party. Notable among them are former Police Affairs Minister Caleb Olubolade, Senator Ayo Arise and Senator Gbenga Aluko, who has defected to APC.

    Fayose was said to have masterminded the removal of the former Southwest PDP Caretaker Chairman, Chief Ishola Filani, from office. The removal of Filani, an indigene of Ekiti, according to party sources, was because Fayose prefered someone that would be loyal to him.

    Many PDP stalwarts and their supporters in Ekiti have dumped the party in protest against Fayose’s leadership style.

     

    Osun

     The crisis stirred by the governorship primary has not been resolved. Those who contested the ticket with Iyiola Omisore have not come to terms with him. The contestants who have distanced themselves from the party are Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, Hon. Wole Oke, and Chief Fatai Akinbade. They believe the process through which Omisore emerged as the candidate was not transparent.

    A party stalwart who spoke in confidence, said Omisore was imposed on the chapter by Abuja. “We told them that for the PDP to dislodge APC in the state, the party should field a non-controversial candidate. That is why some contestants were very bitter and doing things differently.

  • Lalong’s wife thrills child-victims of crises

    Lalong’s wife thrills child-victims of crises

    Wife of Plateau State Governor, Mrs Regina Lalong chose the nation’s 55th anniversary to share an unforgettable moment with needy children. YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU reports

    Many of the needy children she visited lost their parents during the intermittent battles in Plateau State. In some communities, raiders swooped on sleeping residents, nearly wiping out the settlements. In some cases, couples and their children were cut down. In some other cases, some children survived, though their parents did not. Some of those child-survivors have ended up in orphanages, one of which Mrs. Regina Lalong, wife of Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, visited in Kangan village in Jos South Local Government of the state.

    The visit was significant because it cheered up the children, who for the most part are often forgotten by the larger society. The call on the orphanage was equally remarkable for other reasons. Mrs Lalong could have chosen to do the usual, observe schoolchildren marching in the stadium or even take the salute as they filed past. After all, it was the country’s 55th independence anniversary.

    Clapai Orphanage which she visited is managed by a couple Mr and Mrs Nyabam. There are at least 350 orphans there. Most of the boys and girls at the centre were made orphans in the course of the protracted civil unrest in the state.

    In visiting the orphanage, Mrs Regina Lalong accompanied by wife of the state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Abigail Tyoden went with a truck-load of assorted items required for the use of the children. The items included mattresses, blankets, laundry soaps, toilet soaps, sanitary items etc. The truck also contained food items like bags of rice, beans, cartons of noodles, carton of biscuits etc. it also contained assorted brands of beverages and chocolate foods.

    While presenting the items to the children, Mrs Regina said, “I decided to be with these children on this special day of Nigeria independent and share little love with them. As wife of the state governor, I consider myself as the mother of these children. I also believe that these children are not orphans, they are Nigerian children and they should be catered for by Nigerian government.

    “The government of All Progressive Congress (APC) is a government for all segments of society on the Plateau. It is our duty to provide for all citizens of the state including these children in special care home. So today I came with my a little within my disposal to offer as a gift to my children. We are still new in government and I have little to offer. I feel that it is not when I have enough, even the little I have I should be able to extend to my children, nothing is too small and something is always better than nothing at all.

    “But then I have to express my appreciation to the manager of this centre for taking the initiative to create a centre for these less privilege children. If you had not done this, I would have not been able to locate them for a visit. These are children of God and God in Heaven will reward you abundantly for taking care of them on behalf of God. I want to use this opportunity to call on all spirited individuals and Organisations to come and assist those who are providing care for these children. The population of the children is much and they require assistance of every Nigeria for their daily upkeep.

    While receiving the items, Mrs. Nyabam, coordinator of the orphanage said, “We never expected this visit from the state First Lady, because no First Lady has ever visited us in this manner on Nigerian Independence anniversary. As you can see the children are so happy and elated over your presence in their midst. We have nothing to say other to pray that God will replenish your pocket in thousands fold. We will continued to pray for the success of the APC administration in the state and may the hands that give never dry.

    Mrs Lalong also visited Plateau state specialists hospital to show love to patients on admission in the hospital. The governor’s wife went round all the wards of the hospital and presented hand-pack containing assorted items. The gift items also include envelope containing an undisclosed sum of money. Accompanied by the Chief Medical Director of the Specialists Hospital Dr. Philemon Golwa, Mrs Lalong told the patients that, “Please accept my widow’s might, I decided to share this challenging moment with you on this historic day, I know if you are in your various homes, you will join millions of Nigeria to celebrate this day, but you are here because of health challenge which I know is temporal. So don’t be discouraged, remain hopeful because God is with you and is aware of the moment you are passing through. So, get well soon and go home, the hospital is not your home,” said Mrs Lalong.

     

  • Taraba: Ten killed in Fulani/Tiv fresh crisis

    Taraba: Ten killed in Fulani/Tiv fresh crisis

    No fewer than ten persons were Tuesday killed in a fresh communal clash between Fulani and Tiv indigenes of Taraba state.

    Three people were also reported missing in the resurgence of violence which took place in Serkin Gudu, Ibi local government area.

    Hostilities started when the body of a Fulani man who had been declared missing by his relatives was found dead in a bush between Serkin Gudu and Dooshima villages of Ibi.

    A Fulani source accused Tiv of being responsible for the death of their kinsman, whose corpse was recovered by the Nigerian army personnel posted to quell communal uprisings in the area.

    The source added that the “gory sight” of the deceased Fulani man infuriated the Fulani community who went for a reprisal attack on the Tiv community killing nine in separate attacks.

    Taraba State Police spokesman Joseph Kwaji, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the violence to The Nation, saying nine Tiv persons were killed in a retaliatory attack by an unidentified Fulani man.

    Kwaji said: “The information I have here is that, a Fulani man was killed when his cows feasted on farm crops belonging to a Tiv man.

    “An unidentified Fulani man, in a reprisal, killed nine Tivs.”

    He said police were deployed to the area to maintain law and order, while making efforts to arrest the culprit.

    But the Chairman of Tiv Culture and Social Organization in Ibi, Mkavga Orhembaga, an eye-witness, said among the nine killed, eight were Tiv while one an origin of Plateau state.

    “Eight Tiv persons were attacked and massacred in the afternoon while working on their farms.

    “Another person, a teacher from Plateau State who teaches in one of the primary schools in the troubled village was also killed by Fulani,” the Tiv Culture leader said.

    “It was reported that a Fulani man was missing. So the army and his brothers went out to search for his whereabouts.

    “Soon his body was found laying dead in the bush. The development angered the brothers of the deceased Fulani and the entire Fulani community.

    “Angry with the Tiv people in the area, they picked up arms against them. It was in the afternoon when Tiv people were in their farms that they attacked them and killed eight in the process.

    “As I speak to you, three Tiv persons are still missing. We don’t know whether they are laying dead in the thick bushes or whether they are on the run.”

    Tuesday killings were said to have baffled Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku, coming shortly after he had inaugurated a committee to return all crisis displaced persons, particularly Tiv, to their homes.

    The governor also directed traditional rulers to keep watch on their subjects to avoid reoccurrence of any communal offensive within their respective domains.

    Ishaku also said, in search of peace, he had held; “collaborative meetings with the governors of neighbouring Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states, on the incessant inter-state border community clashes, spate of armed robbery and the clandestine ethnic killings.”

  • ‘Sickle cell crises are preventable’

    ‘Sickle cell crises are preventable’

    People living with sickle cell disease have been advised to take diets rich in protein, fruits, and vegetables.

    According to an integrative medicine consultant, Dr Emmanso Umobong, taking a required diet can help to alleviate the crises of sickle cell disorder (SCD) patients.

    Umobong, who is the director of Emm-mongs Sickle Cell Outreach Programme, urged victims to avoid refined sugars, white flour meals, cholesterol diets, fats and salt intake.

    He said they should take supplements with vitamin C, calcium, zinc, magnesium and vitamin D3 and amino acids which are good for SCD patients.

    “They should drink enough water because it is important to maintain adequate hydration. As adults, they should take between three and four litres of water on a daily. SCD patients should be exposed to moderate heat in the environment. A steady room temperature must be maintained. They should watch the use of air conditioners,” he said.

    Umobong cautioned against malaria and respiratory tracts infections, adding that these can make them more susceptible to crises.

    He advised them to avoid drugs, which adversely affect the liver, especially paracetamol used excessively.

    “They should not abuse alcohol or inhale harmful chemicals, such as chloroform. Many persevered foods or colored foods contain harmful chemicals,” he said.

    He urged them to sleep in well ventilated environment, adding that they must wear warm clothing in cold weather.

    Umobong recommended an integrative medicine approach for SCD treatment.

    This, he said, involves the use of proven or evidence based modalities whether from the world of orthodox (biomedical in Nigeria) medicines, complementary, traditional or alternative medicines, in a well integrated manner to ensure the health of the patient.

    He said sickening of red blood cells under certain conditions is responsible for sickle cell crises.

    “Sickle cells are rigid and their shapes obstruct free movement of blood through blood vessels. The condition causes clumping, and as such, blocks those vessels, thus depriving the organs involved from getting adequate oxygen and nutrient supply.

    “The result is acute pain in the organs. The pain is nothing other than a warning signal that all is not well with the organ. People can have bone pain crises, abdominal pain crises, acute chest pain crises (acute chest syndrome) and priapism, to mention a few.

    He said attention should be paid to conditions, which promote sickle cell crises.

    “They are low oxygen tension in the blood. Low available oxygen in the air breathed in could occur in high attitudes, such as mountain tops or flying at great heights, overcrowded environment, poorly ventilated rooms and polluted air,” he said.

    He spoke of the need to increased viscosity or thickness of the blood.

    “High cholesterol level, increased white/red blood cells, high level of circulating immune substances, high blood sugar levels and moderate to severe dehydration, are required by an SCD patient,” he said.

    He also identified poor oxygenation of haemoglobin as another problem. “In red blood cells, this is a condition in which the capacity of the haemoglobin to carry oxygen is interfered with. So many factors can contribute to this. We should note in this circumstance that the air we breathe is rich in oxygen and it will dissolve in the blood as it passes through the lungs yet the haemoglobin cannot take it up.

    “There is a substance in red blood cells called glutathione. It is an antioxidant responsible for keeping haemoglobin in the best state to mop up oxygen. When it is low in concentration, the haemoglobin’s ability to carry oxygen is greatly reduced.”

    He said there are conditions, which make blood acidic, and as such reduce the oxygen carrying capacity of haemoglobin and predispose people to sickle cell crises.

    “Poor health of the liver or spleen: Sickle cells are very vulnerable to severe damage as they pass through these two organs in the body. That is because of their basic structure, in which the cells are arranged more like the gills in the head of a fish. They break the sickle cell into fragment seen as target cells in slides and generate haemoglobin, which may elevate the viscosity of the blood,” he added.

  • Jonathan handing over nation in deep crises, says APC

    Jonathan handing over nation in deep crises, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said President Goodluck Jonathan is handing over a nation in a deep crisis. It alleged that the administration continues to contrive more crises without making any effort to solve any of them.

    In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party urged Nigerians not to lose hope, despite the daunting challenges they are facing in this atmosphere of contrived chaos, saying “help is on the way”.

    ‘’In a few days’ time, President Jonathan will hand over to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari. Never in the history of our country has any government handed over to another a more distressed country: No electricity, no fuel, workers are on strike, billions are owed to state and federal workers, 60 billion dollars are owed in national debt and the economy is virtually grounded.

    ‘’Today, Nigerians are roaming the streets, jerry cans in hand, searching for everything from kerosene to fuel to diesel to power their homes, keep their vehicles on the road and keep their businesses going. They are paying as much as N300 per litre for fuel, if at all they can get it. Yet their government is not saying a word about the situation,’’ it said.

    APC said while the Jonathan Administration had arrogantly told Nigerians that it remains in office and in power till May 29, all it has been doing is sacking people and making new appointments as if it had been deprived of the opportunity to do so in the past six years.

    ‘’They are not interested in how to end the fuel scarcity that has paralysed the socio-economic lives of Nigerians, they are not interested in how to raise electricity production from its unprecedentedly-low level of 1,327 megawatts, they are not doing anything to end the strike by blue and while collar oil workers, or to stop the impending one.

    ‘’They say they are in office till May 29th, but they do not care how workers in 18 states, who are owed a total of N300 billion in salaries under their watch, or federal workers who are owed N400 billion, will be paid. Yet they are running a budget of N1 trillion deficit.

    ‘’They have deliberately stopped meeting their obligations to oil marketers, which is now around 200 billion Naira, hence no one is lifting petroleum products anymore. If the current energy crisis is not solved soonest, the telecommunications sector could even be grounded in a matter of days as service providers will have neither electricity nor fuel to power their base stations. Of course the aviation sector has already been left comatose by the fuel crisis. The whole scenario reeks of sabotage!,’’ the party said.

    APC said before PDP’s and Jonathan Administration’s spin doctors distort its message, it is important to let Nigerians know that the party (APC) is not engaging in lamentations but simply keeping the citizenry informed of the situation on the ground, with just five days to handover date.

    ‘’If we thought the nation was being well managed and there was no problem, we would not have embarked on a campaign of change. While we are ready, willing and able to begin to address the mammoth challenges facing us as a nation as soon as we assume office at the centre in a few days’ time, we will not hesitate for a second to keep Nigerians informed of how we have been brought to this sorry pass, with a view to avoiding such a tragic turn in the future,’’ the party said.

    It expressed sadness that the nation has been on auto pilot for the past several weeks, as the outgoing administration has shown neither the capacity nor the willingness to resolve any of the crises it has contrived and foisted on the nation.

    ‘’This is the most vivid manifestation of the old saying that literally translates to a departing office holder defecating on the chair he is vacating,’’ APC said.