The Nation Newspaper

Tag: defy

  • Anambra doctors defy strike

    The nationwide strike embarked upon by the medical doctors was not complied with yesterday in Anambra State.

    At the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching hospital in Awka, doctors were seen attending to patients.

    When The Nation visited the hospital, patients were receiving medical attention while at the Out Patient Department (OPD), few patients were also waiting for their turns to see doctors.

    One of the nurses, who spoke with The Nation in one of the hospital’s consulting rooms yesterday, said the resident doctors were on duty.

    “There is no strike here in Amaku. As you can see, the doctors are both in the consultation rooms attending to patients,” the nurse said.

    The hospital was busy as people were going about their normal businesses with patients in the wards.

    When contacted, the hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), who refused to mention his name, said Anambra State had peculiar issue, which according to him, they were being handled.

    According to him, “that is the reason why we are not joining the strike.”

    But the case was different at the General Hospital in Onitsha yesterday when the resident doctors were not on duty.

    Though patients were seen at the OPD Department, there was no doctor on seat to attend to them.

    One of the patients, Mrs. Ekwutosi Omasi, told The Nation yesterday that she had been in the hospital since 10am with her sick mother to see the doctor only to be told that doctors were on strike.

  • ENYIMBA 2-0 FC Ifeanyi Ubah Osadaiye: We defy all odds to record maximum points

    ENYIMBA 2-0 FC Ifeanyi Ubah Osadaiye: We defy all odds to record maximum points

    Enyimba striker, Joseph Osadaiye has stressed that the People’s Elephant’s players and coaches worked harder to ensure that they returned to winning ways yesterday against FC Ifeanyiubah in a rescheduled league tie after two successive home draws with Shooting Stars and MFM. Osadaiye disclosed that they were urged on by the coaches and the management to defy all odds and tried to turn whatever hindrance that could hinder them around to ensure that they seal the maximum points against the Anambra Warriors.

    The former Warri Wolves’ forward netted the opener in the 32nd minute before the skipper of the side, Mfon Udoh scored the insurance goal in the 88th minute for his fifth goal of the season.

    The win has lifted Enyimba to eighth on the log with 18 points from 13 games and they are on the road to ABS in Ilorin in a NPFL Match Day 14 tie this weekend.

  • Constitution amendments: Senators, Reps plot to defy Supreme Court

    Constitution amendments: Senators, Reps plot to defy Supreme Court

    The  National Assembly appears poised to defy the Supreme Court on its order stopping the legislative arm from overriding President Goodluck Jonathan’s veto of the  amendments to the 1999 Constitution.

    Members  are furious that the N4 billion tax payers’ money spent on the constitution amendment project may go down the drain if the apex court’s ruling handed down on Thursday stands.

    The Constitution Review Committee of the National Assembly, headed by the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, may  meet on Tuesday to decide  on the next line of action, The Nation gathered yesterday.

    The Presidency, on its part, is said to be poised to  resist any recourse to “subterfuge” by the National Assembly.

    Investigation showed  that all attempts by the National Assembly to reach a  political solution with the executive arm  on the  constitution amendments have failed.

    Sources said some National Assembly members launched  desperate efforts to convince President  Jonathan to reconsider his stance  on the amendments all to no avail.

    At the last session, a female Senator pointedly told the President that the Minister of Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed  Adoke (SAN), was acting the script of the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    The said Senator demanded the immediate removal of the AGF.

    But Jonathan shocked the National Assembly team by insisting that the Judiciary should be left to decide on who was right or wrong between the Executive and the Legislature.

    Jonathan consequently  overruled the female Senator and maintained his position that the amendments could not  be assented to as passed  by the National Assembly.

    It was also learnt that at the session, the Executive made the National Assembly to realise that  of the  70 amendments to the constitution, 45 proposals were pure errors.

    Following the stalemate, the National Assembly Constitution Review Committee is likely to  meet on Tuesday to consider  whether to override the President’s veto or not.

    A highly-placed source said: “Members of the National Assembly are pushing for the defiance of the ruling of the Supreme Court asking all parties to maintain the status quo.

    “Members are unhappy that the apex court on Thursday did not take cognizance of the fact that N4 billion taxpayers’ money spent on the constitution amendments has been wasted.”

    The constitution amendments were carried out  over a period of  two years with each of the chambers of the National Assembly allocated N2 billion for the project.

    The federal lawmakers are of the view that   the Supreme Court “ought to have looked at the exigency of the suit before adjourning the matter to June 17 when the two chambers of the 7th National Assembly would have been dissolved.”

    The source added: “I think the Senators and Representatives are worried that the suit on the  constitution amendments would become a  mere academic exercise  as from June 17.”

    A member of the Constitution Review Committee said: “We are holding a session on Tuesday on how to manage the ruling of the Supreme Court.

    “We are also expected to have a robust meeting because even some senators are claiming that the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review accounted for the flaws in the amendments to the 1999 Constitution, which were spotted by the Presidency.

    “Most members of the National Assembly Committee on Constitution Review are trying to explore a window to avoid the order of the Supreme Court on status quo.”

    It was gathered  that the Presidency will resist any move by the National Assembly to defy the Supreme Court.

    A source said: “The Presidency will resist any move by the National Assembly Constitution Review Committee to defy the Supreme Court. This will amount to subterfuge and undermining of the Judiciary. We will not be a party to any plot to desecrate the Judiciary.

    “We are keeping  tab on the Constitution Review Committee to see whether they will respect or disrespect the court. It is normal in a democracy to allow a third party (the Judiciary) to resolve constitutional and legal matters.

    “As I am talking to you, the Executive spotted 45 errors in the 70 amendments passed into law by the National Assembly.

    “Yet, the Executive is not even talking of the outrageous Pension Scheme for some leaders of the National Assembly. There is no where in the world where such perks are enjoyed by legislators.

    “Some of those expected to benefit from pension for life are already earning pensions either as former governors or retired public officers. We will end up with a situation where some principal officers of the National Assembly will be earning three to four pensions in a month.

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The President has made his position known to Ekweremadu and his team.

    “Although a female Senator tried to accuse AGF Adoke of working for the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, President Goodluck Jonathan overruled her. He said he won’t be a party to amendments which will strip his successor of executive powers. It was later discovered that the same female Senator is also closer to the President-elect.”

    Another source added: “The issues raised by the Executive were even found germane by some Senators who believe that they did not do a thorough job.

    “In fact, some Senators admitted that they were misled by some members of the House of Representatives on some of the amendments passed into law.

    “It has been discovered too that most of the consultants engaged by the Constitution Review Committee were inexperienced, going by the amendments passed into law. There was no touch of legal finesse at all.

    “This is not a case of personal attack on the AGF or any official in the Presidency. The AGF has no choice but to fulfill his constitutional role of advising the President on issues, including such amendments.

    “What the Presidency is saying is to ask the National Assembly to revisit the amendments and follow due process.”

    Jonathan had vetoed the amendments to the constitution in a seven-page letter to the President of the Senate, Chief David Mark, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives,  Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

    The President listed some errors noticeable in the amendments to the Constitution by the Senate and the House of Representatives as follows:

    •Non-compliance with the threshold specified in Section 9(3) of the 1999 Constitution on amendments

    •Alteration to constitution cannot be valid with mere voice votes unless supported by the votes of not less than four-fifths majority of all members of National Assembly and two-thirds of all the 36 State Houses of Assembly.

    •Right to free basic education and primary and maternal care services imposed on private institutions

    •Flagrant violation of the doctrine of separation of powers

    •Unjustified whittling down of the Executive powers of the Federation vested in the President by virtue of Section 5(1) of the 1999 Constitution

    •30 days allowed for assent of the President

    •Limiting expenditure in default of appropriation from six months to three months

    •Creation of the Office of Accountant-General of the Federation distinct from the Accountant General of the Federal Government

    •Empowering National Economic Council to appoint the Accountant-General of the Federation instead of the President

    •Allowing NJC to now appoint the Attorney-General of the Federation rather than the President

    •Unwittingly whittling down the discretionary powers of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

  • Celebrating APC members defy curfew in Ado-Ekiti

    Celebrating APC members defy curfew in Ado-Ekiti

    HUNDREDS of All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Ekiti State yesterday took to the streets of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, to celebrate the victory of their presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    The APC loyalists, who were shouting “Sai Buhari”; “Sai Baba”; “APC…Change”, held brooms and Buhari’s posters.

    They sang victory songs and gave thanks to God for giving their party, what they called “the coveted presidential crown”.

    The members defied the curfew imposed by Governor Ayo Fayose on Monday. They trooped out about 5.30 am and were joined by commercial motorcyclists, artisans, youths and residents.

    They danced to Ajilosun, Irona, Ijigbo, Fajuyi, Ilawe Road, Odo Ado, Okesa, Old Garage, Okeyinmi, Oke Ila, among others.

    Commercial vehicles and motorcycles were decorated with APC posters, with their occupants joining in chants of Sai Buhari.

    One of the celebrators, Okunola Olumide, said no law in Nigeria forbids people from rejoicing legitimate accomplishments, such as naming ceremony, promotion and electoral victory.

    “There is no law that bans us from celebrating the victory of our candidate. This curfew cannot stop us. This is our finest hour and we will continue to savour it for years to come,” Olumide said.

    Another APC member, Mrs. Wuraola Ogunyemi, said the celebration of Buhari’s victory was a national exercise, and wondered why Fayose would hurriedly issue out orders stopping that of Ekiti State.

    The APC members advised the governor to allow APC lawmakers perform their duties or “risk another round of impeachment”.

    “Ordinarily, we do not have problems with Fayose as a governor as long as he allows our lawmakers perform their duties and stop attacks on our secretariat.

    “Fayose had written those of us in APC off, in the political arrangement of Ekiti State, because he said a few days ago that his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would win all the Assembly seats, we shall see how he will achieve that now.”

    Though they praised him for being the first governor to congratulate Buhari, the members said his latest actions were belated and self-serving.

    Throughout the period of the road show, policemen provided cover for jubilating APC members and controled the traffic.

  • Eagles defy rains for Stallions

    After a hectic trip from Faro, Portugal, through Lisbon and from there to Johannesburg, South Africa, before arriving at their Nations Cup 2013 first round base in Nelspruit, last Thursday evening, the Super Eagles have quickly settled down with four training sessions so far at the lush green pitch of Ingwenyama Sports and Resort Centre.

    The workout session supervised by Head Coach, Stephen Keshi first started at 8am local time and 7am in Nigeria on Friday. Keshi took the players on regaining the physicality after a long trip and told them that there would be another training session later in the evening at 7:30pm, which will be 6:30 in Nigeria. The training sessions have since been done once daily in the evenings at about 7:30pm, which is one hour less in Nigerian time.

    Not even the heavy downpour of Saturday and Sunday could prevent the Nigerian side from having their training sessions as they prepare for their opening game today against Burkina Faso. “We can’t take chances whether it rains or not”, Chelsea’s John Mikel Obi said when asked about the readiness of the team.

    All the players responded very well and the team is injury-free, with skipper Joseph Yobo saying it was good to be back in the bright sunny weather of Africa. “It’s been good since we got here and I think the players are gradually getting used to being together and I know we will have a beautiful tournament”, the Nigeria captain declared.

    The national team held a media parley with the international press at 3:30pm local time on Sunday evening and trained later in the evening at 7:30pm for their game against their West African neigbhours. The training held in Ngwenyama because of the rains in South Africa to avoid the pitch of the Mbombela Stadium from being in poor state before the game.

    The cheery news was the return to full training by goalkeeper, Austin Ejide. Ejide had copped an injury in one of the team’s international friendlies against Cape Verde in Portugal. “I feel real good and ready; I am taking it easy as the medics have advised but am feeling real good”, he declared. On Saturday evening, goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu, took Ejide on a special training session with Ejide turning out impressive dives, punches and general conditioning of a good goalkeeper. He should at least be good for the bench in today’s game.

  • PDP chieftains, supporters defy rain for Oke

    PDP chieftains, supporters defy rain for Oke

    Despite the downpour in Akure yesterday that nearly marred the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Chief Olusola Oke’s campaign mega rally, chieftains and supporters of the party defied the rain and trooped out for the event.

    The politicians, clad in yellow vests and fez caps, chanted Oke’s name and sang political songs in the heavy rain which lasted for about three hours.

    Some PDP chieftains became prayer warriors at the rally held at the Akure Democracy Park. They sought God’s intervention and asked him to stop the rain.

    Oke and his running mate, Saka Lawal, who led Vice-President Namadi Sambo, the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and other chieftains to the podium, were moved by the commitment of the chieftains and members who defied the rain and waited for them.

    The PDP standard bearer in the October 20 poll and his running mate later joined the chieftains and members of the party in the rain for the rally.

    Sambo hailed the supporters. He said they have shown that the PDP is ready to reclaim the state.

    The Vice-President said the Ondo people are agitating for a change and want the PDP to reclaim the state.

    Sambo expressed the commitment of the presidency to a free and fair election, saying the President Goodluck Jonathan administration would provide the machinery that would ensure the One Man, One Vote Philosophy.