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Tag: defend

  • Mark urges people to defend their votes

    Ex-Senate President David Mark has urged Benue South people to defend the votes given him on March 28.

    He said the annulment of his election by the Benue Appeal Tribunal on account of disagreement in the date signed by the returning officer for no fault of his, was a challenge to them to come out en masse and demonstrate that they did not make a mistake in electing him.

    A statement by Paul Mumeh, the media assistant to Senator Mark, said he addressed the people at the weekend at his Otukpo country home.

    The statement said the senator stressed that the unfolding development was a call on his people to fight for their freedom from external forces.

    He advised them to go to the polling booths and prove doubting Thomases wrong, saying: “Attempts to jump ship on account of the challenges will amount to cowardice and bowing to evil forces.”

    The statement quoted Mark as saying: “For me, this is a battle for our future and survival. I will protect and defend the interest of the Idoma nation whether as a senator or as an ordinary man on the street.

    “What I will resist is for outsiders to dictate to us who should or should not represent us. At least, not in my life. We must take our destinies in our hands.”

    It said the senator listed the projects he had brought to his senatorial district to include the multi-billion naira Otobi water dam project, creation of jobs, the multi-billion naira Oweto bridge, which would facilitate the movement of goods to other parts of the country and establishment of cottage industries in nine local governments.

    The statement said he noted that it was on record that under the David Mark Scholarship Foundation (DMSF), he ran the biggest scholarship scheme from which about 20,000 graduates benefited since inception in 2005.

    Senator Mark said he built and donated the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Otukpo study centre in 2008.

    Said he: “I will invest in quality education for our people. I believe if we give them the best education, we will liberate them from ignorance, poverty and disease.”

    The former Senate president listed the schools and health care centres he built in the councils and challenged anybody in doubt to tour the senatorial zone to verify his claim.

    He noted that he was not discouraged by critics, who alleged he had not done much, saying: “I have my record of achievements. History will judge.”

  • Council secretaries defend Ambode’s integrity

    Council secretaries defend Ambode’s integrity

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is not deducting 80 per cent of funds accruing to local councils, the Conference of Local Government Executive Secretaries has said.

    The group denied the allegation of former Minister of Works and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adeseye Ogunlewe, that Ambode was causing under-development in the grassroots.

    The executive secretaries, at a briefing yesterday, described the allegation as “blatant falsehood, which is nothing short of an act of gross irresponsibility and a clear evidence of desperation of a man, whose political diminution has inflicted an advanced state of abnormal behaviour”.

    Executive Secretary of Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and the group’s Chairman, Alabi Kolade David, wondered where the former minister “suddenly and mischievously discovered his love for Lagosians so much that he felt it was his responsibility to raise false alarm”.

    David said: “It is on record that in 1999, the people of Lagos East voted for Senator Seye Ogunlewe on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy. He crossed to the  PDP and became the minister of Works.

    “As minister, he  conspired with other PDP members to withhold the funds due to local governments for 23 months.

    “Through the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, he (Ogunlewe) unleashed mayhem on Lagos motorists and engaged our State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) in a war.”

    The executive secretaries said in the last five months they had worked with the governor, his passion for council autonomy  was immeasurable.

    They urged the public to disregard the allegation, saying rather than deduct from the funds, Ambode elected to empower the 20 councils and 37 LCDAs.

    “Ambode has resolved to promote, protect and propagate the autonomy of local governments and local council development areas.

    “For instance, his insistence that local governments and their management must take charge of the construction of two roads per local government is an eloquent testimony to this ideology,” David said.

  • ‘Every military man must be prepared to defend Nigeria’

    •Command college to graduate 70 war commanders

    The Commandant of Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) Jaji in Kaduna, Air Vice Marshal John Chris Ifemeje, has emphasised the need for every military man to be prepared to lay down his life in defence of the country.

    AVM Ifemeje spoke at the final bush exercise for “70 Junior War Commanders” trained for five months by the college.

    The war commanders will graduate in a couple of weeks, he said.

    The commandant, who was represented by his deputy, Rear Admiral Sylvanus Agada Abbah, said Nigeria has invested so much on its military, hence the reason why every military man must be ready to lay down his life.

    Apparently reacting to the recent experiences where soldiers abscond from war front, he told officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces: “Nigeria has spent so much on the military, and that is the reason why every military man must be ready to lay down his life in defence of this country.”

    The exercise code named “Ubiak Isin” (meaning “Waste Pain” in Efik language) is the routine final exercise for officers of the Nigerian Army undergoing Junior Course in AFCSC.

    The exercise, AVM Ifemeje said, is a practical application of what the student officers had learnt in the classroom, which he said centres around commanding wars.

    In his words: “The essence of the exercise is to prepare the student officers on how to plan and advance troops at the battle ground to attack the enemies.

    “The exercise is a routine final bush exercise for land warfare students of junior course. But as a result of the contemporary security challenges facing the country, counter-insurgency training has been added to the exercise.

    “The exercise is so significant because, no matter the level of air bombardment and attack on enemies from the air, we need professional soldiers to man the war on the ground.”

    The highlights of the exercise was demonstration of a war situation, where the student officers were sharing intelligence and issuing out commands to their troops on their planned night attack to flush out imaginary enemies who invaded their country.

    t was gathered that many of the officers would be drafted into the ongoing “Operation Zaman Lafiya” in the Northeast after their course in the college.

  • ‘The Military has what it takes to defend Nigeria’

    ‘The Military has what it takes to defend Nigeria’

    Former Chief of Training and Operations in the Defence Headquarters, Major General Joseph Shoboiki (Rtd), yesterday said the military has the capacity to defend the nation with the right leadership and equipment.

    He spoke during the pulling-out service for 34 retired infantry Generals of the Nigerian Army at Jaji Military Cantonment, Kaduna State.

    Shoboiki, who was the reviewing officer at the parade pull-out, assured that the military can always count on them as the anti-terror war rages.

    He said:  “Let me also assure you that even though we are retiring home, you can always count on our support as you go through these trying times.

    “We remain committed and ever willing to continue to contribute to the progress and development of our dear nation whenever it is required of us.”

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah, said it is regimental in the Army when officers attain the highest level and are retired to pull them out formally.

    Represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major General Kenneth Osuji, the COAS urged the ex-service men to continue to support the military, which he said is their primary constituency.

    Asked if the pulling out of the 34 Generals had created a vacuum in the military, Minimah said: Three is no vacuum left by the officers because they did not retire on the same day.

    “Some of the officers we are pulling out retired years back and it’s just that there is a backload of all the officers from 2005 to date.

    “So, there is no vacuum left. We are still recruiting, we are still commissioning and we are still retiring.”

     

  • TUC urges workers to defend democracy

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has tasked   workers to defend the nation’s democracy by collectively making necessary sacrifice to ensure that the forthcoming general elections hold as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) without chaos.

    The Congress also called on Nigerians to resist the temptation of exchanging their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) for money as some politicians are said to be buying PVCs as a way of disenfranchising  them.

    TUC’s President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama spoke during an interactive session with reporters in his office while sensitising workers on the need to participate in the coming rescheduled general elections  by INEC.

    He said: “We call on Nigerian workers to do everything possible to defend the nation’s democracy by collectively making necessary sacrifice to support  the government  to ensure the coming general  elections hold as scheduled by INEC without chaos.

    “We use this opportunity to call on Nigerians to resist the temptation of exchanging their PVCs for money as some politicians are said to be buying PVCs as a way of denying them their right to vote,” the TUC chief said.

    In a related development, TUC has appealed to the Federal Government and the military authority to temper justice with mercy on the soldiers that were condemned to death by a military court marshal.

    In a statement, its President, Comrade Kaigama and Secretary General, Comrade Musa Lawal, said:  “Justice, they say, serves a better societal purpose when tempered with  mercy. And indeed, the quality of mercy is not strained. It is twice blessed. It blesses he that gives and he that takes.”

    The Congress also commended the Nigerian Army for its recent victory in reclaiming the country’s soil from the Islamic terrorists group, Boko Haram.

    The Congress, however, charged the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Kenneth Minimah, to  reward soldiers as promised during his recent visit to Baga town in Kukawa Local Government Area of Bornu State.

  • Sokari: We won’t defend against Gabon

    Sokari: We won’t defend against Gabon

    Nigeria’s under-23 Olympic team attacking midfielder Kingsley Sokari has said his side will not defend the 4-1 win in Libreville against the Gabonese under-23 Olympic side.

    The nation’s campaigners will host the West African foes on Saturday in Abuja in the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville reverse qualifying match.

    Sokari said his side are determined to have a repeat performance when both sides clash on Sunday in Abuja.

    “We’ve prepared adequately and are quite set for the clash against the Gabonese side on Saturday in Abuja. Of course, we’re not going to defend the 4-1 win in Libreville but will be going all out for a repeat performance.

    “For us, winning the clash convincingly is key as it’ll further boost our confidence in subsequent matches. We’ve not reached the set target which is the qualification ticket for the All Africa Games and Olympics so we won’t entertain any form of complacency.

    “The mood among my teammates is quite high and waiting for match day to unleash their full weight on the Gabonese. Everybody has worked very hard for the encounter and it’s going to be a sweet weekend for Nigerians,” said the Enyimba goal poacher to supersport.com.

    Nigeria did not qualify for the football event of the 2011 All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique.

     

  • Ighalo: I’ll defend Watford’s jersey

    Ighalo: I’ll defend Watford’s jersey

    Former Nigeria U-20 striker, Odion Ighalo is positive he’ll help Watford achieve their set goals this season.

    Ighalo, who played for the Flying Eagles in 2009 and also played between 2005-2007 for both Prime FC of Osogbo and Julius Berger FC, told hornetsplayer.co.uk that he has been so happy since he got a call from the club’s president and he sees this opportunity to help Watford gain promotion to the Premier League.

    “I am happy, since I first got the call from the president I’ve been very happy. It’s a good opportunity to help the team gain promotion to the Premier League,” he said.

    Ighalo will relate easily with his team mates at Watford considering that Watford, Udinese and Granada share the same owner, he is familiar with most of the players having played at both Udinese and Granada.

    The Nigerian, who joined the Championship side, Watford on a year loan, seems to have been following Watford long before now.

    “Two seasons ago I watched the Play-Offs when they almost gained promotion, and I was following Watford because it’s the same owner as Granada and Udinese, Ighalo told hornetsplayer.co.uk.

    “Even last season, I’ve been watching their games a lot and they’re a good team. I’m here to help the team, to do my best and make sure we work hard and gain promotion.

    Ighalo, who left Nigeria for Norwegian club, Lyn in 2007 has also played for Italian club, Udinese in 2008 and he has been on loan to different clubs since 2009. He joined Granada on loan in 2009 then moved to Italian club, Cesena in 2010 and in 2011 he joined Granada before securing another loan move to Watford in 2014.

    Odion Ighalo stated that his main aim is to defend the Watford jersey until the very last minute.

    “I’m here to put on a Watford shirt now. I have to defend this jersey until the last minute and until we get our promotion,” said Ighalo.

  • I’m ready to defend N6bn debt allegation, says Nyako

    I’m ready to defend N6bn debt allegation, says Nyako

    Three die as youths protest plot to sack Nasarawa governor

    Former Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako remained defiant yesterday, saying he is ready to defend his integrity.

    Security agencies and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are after Nyako, who was impeached in hazy circumstances on Tuesday, but he remains in high spirits, according to an aide.

    Nyako is accused by Acting Governor Umaru Fintiri of plunging the state into a N6billion debt.

    He said the loans he took, including the controversial N6billion, were approved by the House of Assembly.

    Also yesterday, The Nation learnt that former Deputy Governor Bala James Ngillari was under pressure to go to court to seek his reinstatement as acting governor “because he was forced to resign”.

    Nyako, who spoke through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Ahmad Sajoh, said he had nothing to hide on his tenure.

    He said: “Admiral Murtala Nyako is ready to defend himself on any allegation in an open court and under a fair system.

    “But he said in a system where impunity is the order of the day, he cannot get a fair hearing. How do you expect a goat to get fair hearing in a court presided over by wolves?”

    On the alleged N6billion debt left behind by Nyako administration, Nyako’s spokesman said: “The Acting Governor has not even settled down; he has not been briefed by those in charge and he is declaring debts of about N6billion.

    “This shows that the Acting Governor is acting a script. We knew the script was written long ago; they will release sleaze materials to vilify Nyako. That is why they have sent security agents and EFCC operatives after him to cast aspersion on Admiral Nyako.

    “If Nyako left N6billion debt, all the loans or debts were approved by the House of Assembly, which was presided over by the Acting Governor in his capacity as the Speaker. So, you can see that they are acting a script.

    “The whole thing borders on what Nyako said about how President Goodluck Jonathan is tackling the insurgency in the country. They were not happy and they decided to remove him from office. But is he not being vindicated now?”

    Ngillari’s plan to go to court is believed to have the backing of

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief, including some National Assembly members.

    The plot will lead to Fintiri’s removal.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that some stakeholders were unhappy that Ngilari was forced to resign without following the provision of the 1999 Constitution. A source said: “Ngillari was either forced or frightened to write the resignation letter by members of the House of Assembly.

    “But they shot themselves in the foot when they asked him to write the resignation letter to the Speaker, instead of the governor.

    “What happened was that Ngillari, on Tuesday, wrote the governor on his resignation from office.

    “But in their desperation to remove the former governor, the House of Assembly asked Ngilari to write the Speaker directly because Nyako was in Abuja and it would take time for him to communicate Ngillari’s decision to the Assembly.

    “Ngilari withdrew the resignation letter he sent to the governor and wrote a fresh one to the Speaker, which was a violation of Section 306(5) of 1999 Constitution.”

    Sajoh had in a statement said: “We wish to state categorically that Section 306 (5) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended requires that the deputy resign not to the House of Assembly but to the Governor. As at the time the supposed resignation was said to have been tendered in the House, Murtala H. Nyako was the governor of Adamawa State.

    “No such was written to him, none was received by him and none was approved by him. It should, therefore, be known that in the eyes of the law, the deputy governor has not resigned. Barrister Bala James Ngillari is still the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State.

    “This clarification is necessary to avert another subversion of the constitution, since the order processes relating to the impeachment saga have all been in contravention of the constitution and the law. We wish to observe that the continued abuse of the constitution and the law of the land will spell doom for our democracy.”

  • 10 legal giants to defend governors’ defection to APC

    10 legal giants to defend governors’ defection to APC

    An epic legal battle will begin on January 27 between five All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over their constitutional right to defect from the party on which platform they were elected.

    The governors have raised a 10-man legal team to defend their right to political association.

    Mr. Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja division, fixed the date for the hearing of the PDP’s application seeking to declare the governors’ seats vacant.

    Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) defected last month after a protracted crisis in the PDP. The governors and the leadership of the PDP, led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, disagreed over the running of the party. The schism led to the split in the party, with the emergence of the New PDP, led by Alhaji Kawu Baraje.

    Apart from the governors, other PDP leaders, such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senator Bukola Saraki, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, among others, joined the New PDP. Many of these leaders joined the governors to move over to the APC.

    The PDP, however, urged the court to declare vacant the governors’ seats, following their defection.

    The APC governors’ legal team is being coordinated by Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

    Others in the defence team are Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN); Yusuf Ali (SAN); John Bayeshea (SAN); Ahmed Raji (SAN) and the Attorneys-General of the five states.

    More legal giants are expected to join the team.

    One lawyer confirmed last night the January 27 hearing notice. He said: “The PDP is just playing to the gallery; we are battle ready for them. I can tell you that they cannot go far because this is a case with precedent.

    “When ex-Governor Mahmud Shinkafi defected from the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to the PDP, there was a judgment in his favour by the same Federal High Court.

    “In line with its respect for the Judiciary, the ANPP did not go to the Court of Appeal. But since the PDP believes that might is right, they are banking on incumbency factor to embark on a wild goose chase.

    “What of the case of ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who defected to the former Action Congress (AC) to contest the presidential election in 2007? Did the PDP not go to court to stop him? Atiku won.

    “Since they want to hunt in legal wilderness, the five governors will give them a fight for their money and influence.

    “They are only seeking to intimidate the five governors who have decided to pitch tent with the desire for change.”

    The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said yesterday: “We are in court to test the law because the five governors had no basis for their defection. Our party is not in crisis.

    “We are a law-abiding party, we believe their defection has raised a constitutional issue and we have gone to court.

    “We have not made noise about the suit; we want the Judiciary to decide whether it was right or wrong for the governors to have defected.”

    Asked why PDP was crying out when it had received defecting governors from other parties in the past, Metuh added: “Those parties did not test the law at that time. It is not our fault for any party to have slept on its right. We are not to defend that.

    “We know that we are not in crisis. The governors should not have left the PDP.”

    The party is seeking a declaration or an order of the court on the the Houses of Assembly of the affected states to remove the governors.

    The party is seeking a declaration that:

    • by the combined provisions of Section 177(c), 221 and 222(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the 2nd – 6th defendants who were elected on the platform of the plaintiff cannot continue to enjoy the mandate given to the plaintiff by the people/electorate of the states as the 2nd – 6th defendants have defected to the APC;

    •in the absence of any division known and recognised by law in the plaintiff, the 2nd – 6th defendants who were elected under the plaintiff’s platform have vacated or forfeited their seats forthwith upon their defection to APC;

    • having combined provisions of Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2011 (as amended), Sections 177(c), 221 and 222(c) of the Constitution (as amended) the 2nd – 6th defendants’ defection from the plaintiff to the APC, the offices of the 2nd – 6th defendants have reverted to the plaintiff;

    • by combined provisions of Sections 177(c), 221 and 222(c) of the Constitution upon the defection of the 2nd – 6th defendants from the plaintiff to the APC, the mandate reverts to the deputy governor or speaker of the Houses of Assembly of the states or any officer next in rank who is still a member of the plaintiff to function and assume the office of the governor of the states in question; and

    •a declaration that by the combined provisions of Sections 177(c), 221 and 222(c) of the Constitution the act of defection by the 2nd – 6th defendants from the PDP under whose platform they were elected to APC amounts to gross misconduct.

  • We ‘ll defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity, says Army Chief

    We ‘ll defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity, says Army Chief

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Azubuike Ihejirika has said the Army is ever ready to protect and defend the country’s territory integrity, the current security challenges not withstanding.

    Ihejirika gave the assurance yesterday when he received members of the Senate Committee on Defence and Army at the Army Headquarters.

    The Army chief told the committee of the establishment of a Nigerian Army language school where French is being taught.

    According to him, the fact that Nigeria is surrounded by Francophone countries in many of its borders necessitated the establishment of the school, in view of the current security challenges.

    Ihejirika also informed the lawmakers that the Nigerian Army was denied the leadership of the United Nations Intervention Force in Mali on the ground that qualified officers of the Nigerian Army could not speak French.

    He added that the school would teach French and Arabic to enable officers and men avail themselves the opportunity to learn other languages outside the English language.

    The Army chief hinted that in the near future, one of the considerations for appointments in the Army would be proficiency in one other language besides English.

    He observed that the inability of officers and men to understand French and other major foreign language has adversely affected cooperation with neighbouring countries.

    Ihejirika lamented that lack of funds had slowed down the execution of various projects in the Army, assuring however, that the projects would be embarked upon as soon as funds are made available.

    He told the lawmakers that the newly established 7 Division of the Army was tailored towards counter insurgency operations in the northeastern states.

    According to him, there were constraints in moving troops from Jos, Plateau State to troubled areas in the northeast, particularly Maiduguri, Borno State, which he said is bigger in size than some African countries.

    Chairman of the Senate committee, Senator George Sekibo said his committee would a tour of the various project sites of the Army to ascertain theblevelmof performance.