The Nation Newspaper

Tag: disagree

  • Ekiti PDP chieftains disagree on planned defection

    Two chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Emure-Ekiti, Ekiti State yesterday said the planned mass defection from rival parties into the PDP was “a ruse”.

    In a statement, Mr. Ayo Peters and Mrs. Omolola Osund, a chief said “The purported plan to receive over 1,000 new members into the party in Emure-Ekiti is a grand deceit”.

    They said the arrowhead of the purported defection parade, Chief Dele Okeya, had allegedly lost his credibility in the party for his past roles.

    They said: “How then can he come round now and say he has gathered a thousand people who would be joining our party? In February, 2008, Okeya, a former Commissioner and Special Adviser, begrudged the then Governor, Chief Segun Oni, and struck an accord with the main opposition party in the state.

    “Despite his antics of double dealing politics, PDP won all the contested seats at the ward and local government levels in Emure. He however did not stop there.

    “We urge genuine leaders not to be fooled by the cowardly and spineless Okeya into attending the so-called carnival. It is bound to be a show of shame.”

    Okeya debunked the allegation, stressing that “a person of his standing” could not be planning to deceive the people.

    He said: “Let them wait and see what will happen. The taste of the pudding is in the eating. They will all see tomorrow (today).”

  • Senate, minister disagree on foreign missions

    Senate, minister disagree on foreign missions

    The Senate and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, yesterday disagreed on the closing of some foreign missions.

    The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs said some embassies should be shut due to lack of adequate funding, but the minister noted that such a measure would create enemies for the country.

    Instead of outright closure of the missions, Ashiru said the staff strength could be reduced to save funds.

    He spoke when defending the ministry’s 2012 budget performance and the 2013 budget proposal before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.

    Members of the committee had earlier bemoaned the poor state of Nigerian embassies, saying they had become a source of embarrassment to the country.

    Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba said the car the Nigerian Ambassador to Rome used many years ago when he (Ndoma-Egba) visited is the one still in use at the embassy.

    “For an embassy as strategic as the one in Rome, it does not speak well of the country that the ambassador has been using the same car for over 15 years,” he said.

    Ashiru attributed the paucity of funds to the “envelope” policy of the Ministry of Finance and inadequate fund releases.

    The minister said the 2012 budget releases to the foreign missions ranged from 36 per cent to 39 per cent.

    He urged the Senate to take up inadequate releases with the relevant ministry and ensure that once funds are appropriated, they should be fully released.

    The Chairman of the committee, Senator Matthew Nwagwu, said the Federal Government should reduce the number of embassies abroad to concentrate on a few strategic ones.

    He said: “Instead of spreading so thin and at the end of the day they are not properly funded, I think the Federal Government should consider closing down some embassies and ensure that provision is made for the remaining ones.

    “Some of our embassies are becoming an embarrassment to the country as a result of poor funding.”

    The minister said the proposal was tried before and it did not work.

    Said he: “You will only succeed in creating enemies for the country, if you close any embassy or consulate. We did it before, but it did not work.

    “What I can suggest, which some countries have been doing, is to reduce the staff strength of the embassies. If an embassy has six workers, you can either reduce them to four or two. So the ambassador will be left with one or two workers.

    “This is what many countries are doing and by doing that you will have the ambassador to maintain the country’s presence there.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Osun Govt, PDP disagree on demolition

    The Osun State Government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have disagreed on the ongoing demolition of structures in some parts of the state.

    The state government is demolishing structures on the Obafemi Awolowo Way; Igbona, Ayetoro, Okefia and Ring roads in Osogbo to beautify the state capital.

    Commissioner for Information and Strategy Sunday Akere said the administration is in the process of renewing major towns in the state. He said shops were demolished on Ring Road and the East by-pass to make way for the planting of flowers on both sides of the roads.

    Explaining that the shop owners were notified before the demolition, Akere said: “The shops had been marked for demolition for over six months now and the government waited for a long time to allow the shop owners look for an alternative.

    “The immediate-past government was there for seven and a half years without anything to show for it. We got there in less than two years and are giving the state a face lift.”

    PDP Publicity Secretary Prince Bola Ajao said: “We are not saying there should not be development, but the development must be within the economic viability of the people. Aregbesola’s action was not only unfair; it was wicked, callous and unfortunate.”

  • Govt, Amnesty disagree over rights abuses

    Govt, Amnesty disagree over rights abuses

    Government yesterday rejected the report by global rights watchdog Amnesty International (AI), which accused it of engaging in grave human rights violations in dealing with the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Foreign Affairs Minister Olugbenga Ashiru and Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar, queried the mode of the survey conducted by the group.

    In the report entitled: “Nigeria: Trapped in the cycle of violence”, the group claimed that the atrocities carried out by Boko Haram were worsened by the response of security forces, which violated the rights of some Nigerians.

    The report was presented in Abuja by AI’s Secretary-General, Salil Shetty.

    Stressing that grave human rights violations have been committed by Boko Haram including murder, burning down of schools and churches and attacks on media houses and journalists, it noted that security operations targeting Boko Haram have been conducted with little regard for the rule of law or human rights.

    He said hundreds of people accused of having links to Boko Haram have been arbitrarily detained by a combination of the Joint Task Force- a combined forces group commissioned by the President to restore law and order in areas affected by Boko Haram-the

    State Security Service and the Police.

    The AI kicked against lengthy detentions without charge or trial, without proper notification of family members, without being brought before any judicial authority, and without access to lawyers or the outside world, said: “A significant number have been extra-judicially executed.”

    Shetty said: “The cycle of attack and counter-attack has been marked by unlawful violence on both sides, with devastating consequences for human rights of those trapped in the middle.

    “People are living in a climate of fear and insecurity, vulnerable to attack from Boko Haram and facing human rights violations at the hands of the very state security forces which should be protecting them.” He stated

    “Every injustice carried out in the name of security only fuels more terrorism, creating a vicious circle of murder and destruction.” He added

    The Amnesty report includes claims of killings, house burnings and rapes carried out by security forces, allegations that have trailed the government’s response to Boko Haram for months. Amnesty estimates that more than 200 suspected Boko Haram members are being held at a barracks in Maiduguri, while more than 100 others are being held at a police station in Abuja. Dozens of others probably are being held at the headquarters of the State Security Service, Nigeria’s secret police, and others elsewhere, Amnesty said.

    Ashiru told the AI delegation led by Shetty at his office that to tackle terrorism, the Federal Government has adopted a multiple-track approach, anchored on robust law enforcement, military strategy, indirect dialogue, including constructive engagement with religious leaders as well as the implementation of the Transformation Agenda particularly aimed at poverty reduction and job creation.

    “The minister while faulting AI for not engaging  the ministry before the publication of its  report, stoutly denied allegations of mass extra-judicial killings , arguing that the security forces have been very restrained in their response to the complex challenge posed by the insurgents, many of who remained faceless and brutal in their tactics.

    “He recalled that members of Nigeria’s security forces had fallen victims to the Boko Haram sect in the course of carrying out their lawful duties and urged AI to be more circumspect, nuanced and balanced in their assessment of the situation in the country.

    “He called on AI to demonstrate greater objectivity and openness in it’s reports on Nigeria and expressed the hope that these observations would be adequately reflected in it’s next report.

    Abubakar in a statement by Deputy Force spokesman Frank Mba yesterday expressed concerns over research methodology adopted by Amnesty International in compiling its report.

    “The fact that most of the sources of the content of the report are not named and thus not open to confirmation or reconciliation puts the authenticity, credibility and legitimacy of the report to question.

    “ Consequently, the police authority has begun a comprehensive and critical study of the report with a view to establishing its veracity and relevance vis-à-vis our contemporary security challenges and needs.

    “As a responsible law enforcement agency, the Nigeria Police Force takes all criticisms against its organisation seriously, bearing in mind that the Force has no monopoly of knowledge.

    “The Police High Command, on the strength of the Report, will not hesitate to accept honest and factual recommendations (if any) contained therein and initiate appropriate reforms where necessary”, the statement added.

  • Osun PDP, ACN disagree on state police

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Osun State have disagreed on the creation of state police.

    The PDP, in a statement by its Director of Media and Strategy, Prince Diran Odeyemi, said Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s call for state police was for political reasons.

    It alleged that the governor wants absolute power.

    The PDP said: “Why is Aregbesola calling for state police? What does he intend to use it for? What is wrong with the existing central police?

    “We urge the Federal Government to be wary of Aregbesola’s antics. He wants absolute power he can use in the next governorship election and this is unacceptable.

    “Aregbesola should learn to believe in people. The Nigerian Police has been in existence for long and we were all part of the system. Even though it may not be perfect, it is better than introducing a state police that will become a tool in the hand of politicians.”

    The ACN faulted the PDP’s reasoning, adding that, after all, Aregbesola is not the only Nigerian or governor agitating for the establishment of state police.

    ACN Publicity Director Kunle Oyatomi, in a statement, said: “Many PDP governors are also agitating for the establishment of state police and there is no ulterior motive behind the agitation as claimed by the PDP.

    “The question we need to ask ourselves is: Does the Nigerian Police, as presently constituted, have the capability to secure Nigeria? If the Nigerian Police had that ability, we would not have security challenges and threat occasioned by the Boko Haram sect.

    “If we are not mistaken, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) had been changed for the third time because of the activities of the Boko Haram sect. The PDP should find something useful to do, instead of engaging in unfounded accusations.

    “Aregbesola is not just singing the songs other people are singing; he is a visionary leader and thinks well for his people. He knows what is good for the people and is doing all within his power and the state’s resources to improve the state.

    “Our aim is to capture the entire Nigeria and improve the lives of the people. The PDP has failed to render good governance.”

  • Mark, Chukwumerije disagree over state of the nation

    Mark, Chukwumerije disagree over state of the nation

    Senate President David Mark yesterday disagreed with Senator Uche Chukwumerije over the latter’s declaration that Nigeria is a failed state.

    Mark noted that contrary to Chukwumerije’s claim, the country has a lot of things to be proud of.

    Chukwumerije, in his contribution to a motion entitled: “Congratulations to Nigeria and Nigerians on her 52nd Independence Anniversary” described Nigeria as either a failed state or on the verge of failure.

    The motion was sponsored by Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom North East) and 108 others.

    Enang said the Senate should note that on Monday, October 1, Nigeria marked her 52nd Independence Day anniversary, having attained freedom from Britain on October 1, 1960.

    He said that “steadily and gradually, the nation is developing its domestic production capacity as an independent nation.

    Enang said the country has become a big player in international affairs within the comity of nations.

    He urged the Senate to congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan and the people on the nation’s 52nd Independence Day anniversary.

    Chwukwumerije said: “I want to draw attention to the scanty way the mover of the motion summarised the achievements of the nation before moving on to congratulations.

    “That scanty way in itself says a lot.

    “In three dry sentences, he summarised what he saw as Nigeria ’s achievements. In saying that, I want to draw attention to what we can say in a more blunt way.

    “Before putting it in a more blunt way, let me first refer to the very first speaker here, Senator Abaribe (Enyinnaya), who used the analogy of a human being who is 52 years old and gave the impression of someone that has gone beyond even maturity.

    “But I think he is being very generous to Nigeria . To make my point on this, I want to draw the attention of my colleagues to a general view of international affairs.

    “In Turkey , it took Gen. Atatuk 21 years to transform Turkey from a feudal state to highly modernised state that has remained till today.

    “South-East Asia countries, it took them 30 years to move from undeveloped ex-British colonies to what they are today, Asian Tigers.

    “One of them took our own palm produce and turned it into an export market.

    “It took South Korea 18 years to move from a very dependent country to one of the world’s top today.

    “It took China exactly 48 years to move from a slum status derided by the West as the begging bowl of Asia to a super power.

    “Taking the development of this country into consideration for the last 52 years, you will come to understand why I said the first speaker was being very generous when he compared us with a 52 year old human being.

    “If a country that took ordinary palm nuts from us some years back has turned it into its main export product, how will you describe the country from which it was taken that is today importing all those things.

    “I can only describe that country in one word: that Nigeria is either a failed state or on the verge of being a failed state.

    “You will agree with me that a country that cannot meet the basic expectations of her people has failed in every way in meeting the basis of a social contract.

    “So, we must start therefore by accepting that objective reality that as of today Nigeria is a failed state or nearly a failed state.

    But Mark disagreed with Chukwumerije.

    He noted that rather than describe the country as a failed state, Nigerians should congratulate themselves for still being one united nation “that one alone is an achievement.”

    He said: “There is no gain saying that we are not where we would love to be, certainly, we are not there but that is not to say that we have not made progress at all.

    “We have made some considerable achievement and for that, we need to show gratitude to God.

    “We need to pray and work, not just pray, prayer alone will not solve the problem we need to combine both of them.

    “Unless we are determined to politically pursue the decision we have taken that are of benefit to this country, we will still be where we are in another 20, 30 years because the political will is lacking in so many areas.

    “We have challenges, there is no doubt about that, but I believe that with political will, we will meet those challenges.

    “It is at every level. Most times, when we are going on the road and there is traffic, people will drive by the foot path, is that a failure of leadership?

    “Every Nigerian has something to do. When people do the wrong thing and they are not caught and dealt with according to the law, they continue to do it.

    “At every level, we must know that we have leadership role to play.

    “When things begin to go wrong, we must have the courage to speak out before it gets too far.”

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu joined other senators in congratulating Nigeria on her independence.

    He said, “ Nigeria at 52 is relatively a young country. I don’t think that hope is lost.

    “There is hope for us as a nation. All we need do is to be patriotic and nationalistic.

    “We can do it if we can shun greed and corruption.

    Senator Abaribe said at 52, Nigerians should be grateful to God.

    He said: “When we continue talking about our problems, Nigerians are tired of hearing that.

    “We should focus more on the solutions.

     

  • Abia PDP, ACN disagree

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has condemned a statement credited to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that the state government has achieved nothing since it came into power five years ago.

    It said ACN was being insincere.

    Speaking with The Nation in Umuahia, PDP Publicity Secretary Uchechi Ogbuka said: “That fact that the ACN has failed to acknowledge the government’s achievements and projects shows that it is only out to denigrate the good work of Governor Theodore Orji.

    “The current infrastructure put in place by the Orji-led PDP government does not require propaganda for the world to see and feel it. The state government has improved the health and education sectors, ensured steady electricity supply through its partnership with the Federal Government and resuscitated comatose industries.

    “Orji has transformed the Judiciary and improved security. He will remain focused on the basic needs of Abia people.”

    ACN Publicity Secretary Offor Okorie said Orji is surrounded by sycophants, who are not allowing him to be productive.

    Okorie said: “The ACN will not be distracted from the arduous task of calling on the government, which is squandering our commonwealth, to wake up and deliver, instead of resorting to cheap abuse and empty propaganda.

    “We advise Abia PDP, whose members are equally suffering and complaining in hushed voices about the government’s wastefulness, to allow him improve the state’s dilapidated infrastructure.”