The Nation Newspaper

Tag: disruption

  • Lawmaker, commissioner bicker over disruption of project

    The lawmaker representing Remo in the House of Representatives, Ladi Adebutu, has lamented the disruption of his constituency water project.

    Adebutu accused the Ogun State government of disrupting the project at Lugoke in Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area.

    The lawmaker, who spoke with reporters at the weekend, alleged that Commissioner for Finance Wale Osinowo, masterminded the disruption.

    He said Osinowo, who hails from the area, led thugs to stop construction at the site.

    Adebutu, who is the chairman of the Committee on Rural Development, explained that the project was part of the goodwill of the Federal Government towards providing clean, potable and safe water.

    “Unfortunately, what we are seeing now is that the government is denying its people the opportunity to get safe water for reasons other than good sense. It is really sad and quite unfortunate,” he said.

    According to him, the incident has been reported to the leadership of the National Assembly.

    The leader of Lugoke community, Aliu Fatoye, appealed to the government to allow the community host the project.

    But Osinowo denied the allegation.

    The commissioner said: “How can I invade the site? Am I a politician? My mother lives in the area where the project is sited and I only went there to visit her. Is there a crime in that?

    “When I got there, there was disorderliness and I tried to settle the matter. What I saw was that the project  supervisor was very rude.”

  • Agents of disruption

    It is a cause for concern that members of the Newspapers Distributors Association of Nigeria (NDAN) are using their platform to cause disruption.  A March 30 report said: “For the second day running, members of the Newspapers Distributors Association of Nigeria (NDAN) yesterday prevented the distribution of The Nation, The Sun and Vanguard newspapers at major points in Lagos and Abuja…the distributors vow to frustrate the three newspapers.”

    They are reportedly fighting for increased commission following cover price increment by some national dailies. Their method is unacceptable and condemnable. The report said: “At Kakawa, a major distribution point on Lagos Island, agents threatened to pour acid on employees of The Nation who were distributing the newspaper. They were also threatened in Ikeja and Maryland distribution points.”  Does this mean that a newspaper company has no right to review its distribution method and employ direct distribution in the face of an unresolved disagreement with the NDAN members?

    The report further said: “An agent at the Kakawa distribution point was quoted as saying: “You people don’t want to negotiate. You think you can do it yourselves. An agent from Kakawa was yesterday monitoring vendors in Maryland to ensure they were not selling the three newspapers. In Abuja, distributors seized newspapers from vendors who were ready to sell the products. The agents vowed to continue to disturb the media houses until they agree to part with more commission from the N200 cover price.”

    By trying to force the affected newspaper companies to make a concession in their favour, the NDAN members violated a basic principle of mutual convenience, which should be the basis of a business relationship. Their wild action is not only uncivilised but also uncultured. It is the height of self-centredness that they displayed an unwillingness to show consideration for the other party in the business relationship.

    Perhaps more importantly, this aggression by the newspaper agents must not be encouraged by the law enforcement agents. It is good news that The Punch has reportedly “taken some agents before a court in Garki, Abuja for seizing their copies from direct salesmen”.  Also, the report said: “The newspaper houses have written to the Police Commissioner, seeking protection for their business and workers.” This is an appropriate move on the part of the newspaper companies.

    It is pertinent to ask whether the NDAN has a proper leadership.  Why have the association’s leaders failed to demonstrate responsible leadership?

  • TCN: snake caused power disruption

    TCN: snake caused power disruption

    The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said power supply disruption experienced in parts of Benin City and environs was because a two meter snake tripped off transformer T23 at the Benin switchyard.

    It said this put Nekpennekpen, Ikpoba dam and Akoko feeders out of power supply.

    A statement by TCN Public Affairs Manager, Rufus Imafidon, said power supply has been restored to the affected areas. He apologised for the inconveniences.

  • Tragedy of parliamentary disruption

    Tragedy of parliamentary disruption

    The uproar in the Rivers State House of Assembly has rekindled the memory of the disruption of the parliament in the earlier dispensations. Whenever it occurred, democracy was usually under strains.It started in the House of Representatives in the First Republic. Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa proposed the Anglo-Nigerian Defence Pact to the 312-member parliament. It generated controversy nation-wide. The radical segment of the newly independent Nigeria perceived it as re-colonialism through the back door. The supporters of the bill, mainly from the ruling Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) advised the Head of Government to forge ahead.

    However, students from the universities of Ibadan and Lagos stormed the Parliament at Onikan, Lagos during the plenary session and drove the legislators out of the chamber. They claimed that they did it in the national interest. Among the legislators in the House that day were the proponents and antagonists of the controversial pact. They included Balewa, the Leader of Opposition, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Mohammadu Ribadu, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief Theophilus Benson, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Ayotunde Rosiji, Alhaji Shettima Ali Mongonu, Chief Babatunde Akin-Olugbade, Chief Jaja Nwachukwu and others. Many of the legislators took to their heels. On that note, Balewa dropped the idea.

    Following the split in the Action Group (AG), the Western Regional House of Assembly was enveloped in tension. Pro-Awolowo and Chief Ladoke Akintola’s supporters turned the chamber in Ibadan into a theatre of war. AG legislators claimed that Chief Akintola had been removed as the Premier, adding that Chief Dauda Adegbenro had been nominated to fill the vacuum. Akintola and his supporters rejected the directive of the governor, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, that he should vacate the State House, Agodi. He insisted that a proper vote of confidence or otherwise should be taken in the chambers.

    But hell was let loose on that fateful day in the parliament. A legislator from Ogbomoso Constituency, Akintola’s birthplace, Hon. Oke, suddenly jumped up from his seat, threw his chair at Akintola; shouting ‘fire on the mountain’. Some parliamentarians started throwing their seats in a pre-determined manner. Many of legislators were injured. Among the regional legislators present at that rancorous sessions were the Speaker, Chief Adeleke Adedoyin, Chief Oduola Osuntokun, Chief Olu Ogunniran, Oba Claudius Akran, Abraham Adesanya, Ehinafe Babatola, Remi Fani-Kayode, Adegbenro, Jonathan Odebiyi, and Joseph Odunjo. The members were later tear-gassed by the policemen, who invaded the chamber. The legislators dispersed. The chains of events that followed led to the declaration of a state of emergency in the region.

    The House of Representatives was also a House of commotion between 2007 and 2011. Legislators converted the plenary sessions into boxing ring. It was a self-inflicted tragedy. Decorum was thrown away and democracy was mocked.

    The war in the Rivers Assembly has only echoed the past unruly behaviours of parliamentarians in the country.