The Nation Newspaper

Tag: distracted

  • NDDC won’t be distracted, says agency

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) yesterday said it will not be distracted from performing its functions.

    It said in spite of spirited efforts to pull down its leasdership, the organisation would continue to deliver on its mandate.

    In a statement yesterday by Abosede Ibitoye, its director of corporate affairs, the NDDC accused the Akwa Ibom State Government of commisioning “some hatchet-men who operate under the guise of questionable NGOs to throw mud at, and spread malicious lies about the NDDC, its executives and the APC- led Federal Government.”

    The statement said:  “a photoshopped image of a road project, which had been circulating online for months, was fraudulently and falsely represented as an NDDC project, in a bid to create the impression that the Commission’s road projects are executed without recourse to basic project standards.

    “Since the current Governing Board and Executive Management assumed duties in November 2016, we have received the most sustained and unwarranted attacks from Akwa Ibom State.

    “While we encourage scrutiny and objective criticism, geared towards ensuring that we offer the best service to the Niger Delta region, these constant, vicious and virulent attacks, deliberate distortions, falsehood and open confrontation, driven by political scheming, have become distractions that the region and our people cannot afford at this time. “

    The organisation said as an intervention agency, it is not in competition with any of the nine state governments of the Niger Delta region, adding: “Our mandates are different, but equally important and desperately urgent.

    “We ask that the Commission and its representatives be allowed to focus on the onerous responsibility of developing the region. We believe that there is no reason to poison the chalice, because our people drink from it.

    “The entire Niger Delta region is in dire need of rapid, even and sustainable development. That is our core Mandate. That is our primary focus. That is why we are more concerned about governance, which impacts positively on the people, than divisive and fraudulent politicking.

    “Through our structures, we have extended our hands of cooperation and partnership to all the nine Niger Delta States.

    “Our footprints in Akwa Ibom State are obvious in keeping with the mandate of the current Board to ensure that the state enjoys the largest share of NDDC projects as the leading oil producing state in Nigeria.

    “We have extended our hand of friendship to the Akwa Ibom State Government on many occasions, as we have done with other State Governments. Indeed, our partnership with other State Governments has yielded important projects, such as the construction of the 50-kilometre Akodo-Araromi/Ibeju-Lekki Road, connecting Ondo and Lagos States, being funded by the Commission and Ondo State Government. We do hope that Akwa Ibom Government will see reason why it must open the door to NDDC as a credible development partner, rather than continue to demonize it.”

    The statement adde that there is a lot that Akwa Ibom State could benefit from working with the NDDC as partners, “We have reached out in many ways to the State Government to support its programmes for the benefit of its people. Ignoring such opportunities remains a major loss to the State.”

  • Siasia cries out: I’m distracted by my mum’s abduction

    Siasia cries out: I’m distracted by my mum’s abduction

    Chief Coach of Nigeria’s U-23 Dream Team, Samson Siasia has cried out to Nigerians that the abduction of his aged mother, Mrs Beauty Ogere Siasia, is distracting his attention as the country begins its campaign in the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal 2015 which kicks off this weekend.

    The 72-year-old woman was abducted recently in the village of Odoni, southern Bayelsa State, by three men on a motorbike.

    Since then efforts to rescue the woman by a combined team of security operatives in the state have been futile.

    Siasia, whose team arrived Senegal on Thursday ahead of their first match of the tournament on Sunday against Mali, said it was so sad that this was happening at a time he was saddled with a national responsibility of leading Nigeria to African qualifying championship for  the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

    He disclosed in an interview on a Lagos-based radio station on Friday that the psychological trauma he was passing through was a complete distraction.

    The former Nigerian international said that he felt sad that the search for his mother who was abducted two weeks ago was taking too long, adding that the reality was that nobody in his family knows if the woman was still alive.

    Speaking on the issue on Friday, Public Relations Officer of the Bayelsa State Police Police Command, Anisim Butswat, said investigation is ongoing, but disclosed not too good news, saying he could not confirm whether Mrs. Siasia was alive or dead.

    “We are hoping that she is alive. We’ll not relent in our efforts to see that we rescue her alive, ” Butswat said.

    Meanwhile, Siasia’s younger brother, Dennis said the security agents in Bayelsa were intensifying efforts to rescue their mother.

    He added that the family had been negotiating with the kidnappers on the ransom they demanded.

  • ‘Akwa Ibom governor won’t be distracted by propaganda‘

    ‘Akwa Ibom governor won’t be distracted by propaganda‘

    Former Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information Aniekan Umanah has been re-appointed by Governor Udom Emmanuel. He spoke with Kazeem Ibrahym on the challenges before the administration and other issues.

    Would you shed light on the controversy surrounding the list of commissioner-nominees in Akwa Ibom State?

    When former Governor Akpabio came on board in 2007, a large chunk of people who started with him were also people who worked together with him in the Attah administration. For instance, the deputy governor, Mr Patrick Ekpotu, was a commissioner in Attah’s administration; the SSG, Obong Umanah Okon Umanah, was the Commissioner for Finance in Attah’s administration; Dr Chris Ekong was a commissioner; Dr Ebebe Ukpong was a commissioner and many others. Government is a continuum; no matter how you look at it. The nominations, Governor Udom Emmanuel made are in order because, out of the 22 persons – normally, exco should be about 24 –about 10 were those he worked with when he was the Secretary to Government. These are people he had dealt with; worked with and understood their capacities. He needs to set up his administration and take off properly and also ensure that he runs sustainability plan towards broadening the economic fortunes of Akwa Ibom State. So, you don’t just call in green horns 100 per cent. It doesn’t happen that way; you can’t take off that way. You take off gradually and then you consolidate. So, I don’t know why the fury; there is nothing new. I can give examples even from other states; from 1999, there are people who served as commissioners from 1999 and today are secretary to government. So, you are talking of 16 years. You don’t fry experience and knowledge. And Dr Akpabio has always said that he would never sacrifice experience and knowledge on the altar of politics. So, Governor Udom Emmanuel is on the right track; he wants to succeed; so he has programmed his administration so that he takes off and consolidate properly, that is how I see it.

    It is expected that the governing style of the Governor Emmanuel will be different from that of former Governor Akpabio. How will you manage the switch?

    No two people are the same, even twins from the same womb. No two people are the same, in terms of the way they approach their own things. The question of switch or no switch is not even an issue; the issue there is pursuing set goals and objectives. If you have a job to do, you get the job done. For instance, if you need to clear a mess at Nwaniba street, the idea is to clear the mess. Whether you have to trek or run there, you have a deadline to clear the mess and that deadline, you want to make sure that that mess is cleared. I do not really see any issue here because clearly, it is about getting things done. Governor Udom Emmanuel also worked with the former governor and his style cannot be new to some of us that had the opportunity of working with him as the Secretary to the Government. We understand that he is a result-oriented man, a focused man, and he stays on target. Those are the same attributes that former Governor Godswill Akpabio also has because when he wants something, he makes sure he gets results. So, you see, Akwa Ibom will continue to progress. Governor Udom Emmanuel has started well.

    The APC has said that he governor is recycling old commissioners to consolidate Akpabio’s regime…

    No, they are not right. I totally disagree and fault the APC on this claim because the APC is one party that runs on a consolidation method. So, how can they blame governor Udom Emmanuel for nominating competent people, who also served in the previous administration? Such statement is inconsequential and makes no sense. It shows the ineptitude and the lack of knowledge or how bereft they are. If the APC wants to blame Governor Emmanuel for making nominations, they should completely blame the totality of the APC administration everywhere in Nigeria because we have people who served as commissioners since 1999 and today, they are Secretary to Government. They are people who moved from cabinet and became governors in some states. They are the ones who have moved from one cabinet to another and gone to the National Assembly and they continue to broaden and consolidate their coast. We will not allow the APC to thwart the PDP consolidation process in Akwa Ibom State. We will maintain our consolidation method, we will support Gov. Emmanuel to take off properly and consolidate, we will strengthen the political process and, of course, the administrative machineries to enable him succeed as a governor. For me, the statement by the APC is a rabble.

    The state was also described by the APC 2as a ship without a captain. What is your take on this?

    It is totally faulty. How can you say it is a ship without a captain? There is a governor in place and government is not about one person; you have an arrow head, but you have stakeholders, you have people who work around government to make things happen everywhere in the world. As far as I am concerned, the APC had thought that the PDP administration in Akwa Ibom will come with what they call neophytes so that they will begin the process of shredding the administration into pieces. No serious administration sacrifices experience because you must ride on it and continue to consolidate, expand, add and broaden. That is how it works.

    We are not ready to allow the PDP wobble; we will hold it and hold it strong, irrespective of what anybody is saying. But, coming back to your issue, how can they blame Gov. Udom Emmanuel for pronouncing the stadium in honour of former Governor Akpabio? It was the Akwa Ibom state house of assembly that passed the resolution, naming that stadium so. What the governor did was a pronouncement of the resolution of the representative of the 4.9m people of Akwa Ibom State. The governor acted in order because he couldn’t have acted against the position of the 4.9m people of the state represented by their representatives in the house of assembly from the various state constituencies. So the statement of the APC holds no water. I think they should just sit down and lick the wounds election failures and allow the PDP government in Akwa Ibom State to consolidate and move forward.

    People believe that  Akpabio is still in control of the state…

    As a former governor and a PDP stakeholder and stalwart in the country and a senator of the PDP, why should he should not be interested in the governance of his state that he just left and he should not also be interested in the success of the administration that succeeded him? It would be foolhardy for one to think that a former governor should not be interested in the success of his successor. So for me, the role Akpabio should be seen to be playing is supporting and ensuring the success and the consolidation of the PDP administration in Akwa Ibom State under Governor Udom Emmanuel. That is what I think is right. That is what he should do and that is what every stakeholder should do and so on. In 2007, even when there was no succession, and you all know that the former governor did not support him to become his successor but people from the cabinet of Obong Victor Attah were the same set of people that started the administration of Godswill Akpabio. Have we forgotten so soon; Akwa Ibom people, why have we forgotten so soon? This is how to move. You do not expect a government to get up and then, you get up from the blues. You have projects that you must pursue and complete, you have ideas that you must consolidate and continue to pursue.

  • Flying Eagles not distracted by Iheanacho’s absence

    Flying Eagles not distracted by Iheanacho’s absence

    Flying Eagles’ assistant coach, Nduka Ugbade, says they are not distracted by the imminent absence of midfielders, Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali from the team to the Africa Youth Championship (AYC) in Senegal.

    The U-20’s are presently fine-tuning preparations for the tournament in Kaduna, but were dealt a huge blow when it was confirmed by English champions, Manchester City that they would not be releasing the duo of Iheanacho and Nwakali for the Africa Youth Championship.

    But despite the seeming setback, Ugbade says he and the other coaches of the team are focused on the task at hand, which is to win the championship, and are not distracted by the impending absence of Nwakali and Iheanacho.

    “We are not distracted by anything; we are focused on the challenge at hand. The target is to win the Africa Youth Championship and that is what we are working on at the moment. Iheanacho and Nwakali are good players but we have enough cover here and I don’t think their absence should be any problem,” Ugbade said.

    However, despite the setback, the team is about to get a boost, with the imminent arrivals of Chidera Ezeh and Musa Yahaya from FC Porto and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.

  • Don’t be distracted, group urges Aregbesola

    A socio-cultural group within the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Osun State, the Oranmiyan Worldwide, has urged Governor Rauf Aregbesola to forge ahead with his efforts to make the state a model for others.

    In a statement by its President, Prince Felix Awofisayo, the group urged the governor to remain focused on improving the life of the common man and not be distracted by the “plot” to derail his administration.

    The group condemned the allegation that Aregbesola was planning to Islamise the state. It said a governor who allows Christians, Muslims and traditionalists to pray at public functions and treats them equally would never pursue such an agenda.

    It warned mischief makers against causing religious crisis and urged religious leaders to teach the people to be tolerant.

    Oranmiyan Worldwide said: “No one should read a negative meaning to the visit of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, to Osun State. His visit was not in anyway different from the ones paid by many Christian leaders, such as Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo of the Kingsway Ministries, to Aregbesola lately.

    “Considering the high number of Christians holding political positions in the Aregbesola administration, it would be absurd to see the governor as pursuing an Islamic agenda.

    “It is important that all Muslims, Christians and traditionalists support the unprecedented development and reconstruction going on in Osun, which will be for the public good.”

     

  • Don’t be distracted, Edo market women urge Oshiomhole over 5 Junction

    Edo State Market Women Association has expressed anger over ownership claim by the Federal Government to the building of the popular Benin City 5 Junction

    “Governor Adams Oshiomhole must remain focussed and committed to the completion of several projects he has embarked upo, the women group said in Benin yesterday.

    At its Oba Market Secretariat, the women expressed disappointment over the action of the Minister, Mr. Mike Onolomenme over 5 Junction. through their Secretary, Mrs. Blaacky Omoregie said: “What is the big deal about 5 Junction that the Federal Government is claiming? Where were they when Oshiomhole worked on Akpakpava Road, Sapele Road, Airport road, Ekenwan road and other Federal highways in the state.

    “We know who is working. We must encourage Oshiomhole to do more because, we have seen ministers shedding crocodiles tears on Shagamu/Benin/Ore Expressway without achieving nothing before leaving office. But today, they are working there haphazardly and the same people are here claiming ownership of a project we all know Oshiomhole is doing.

    Besides, if we must ask, where were they when Oshiomhole, on a daily basis inspected the 5 Junction project?

    “Edo people are no fools, the minister must be told. They should stop seeing us in Edo State as political tools. President Goodluck Jonathan should come to the state to compare the qualities of federal and state projects ; you cannot compare them.

    The quality of work done in 5 Junction is the signature of Edo State government. They are like that within Benin City metropolis and the state at large. Edo people are the beneficiary and so, we want to encourage Oshiomhole to continue and never be discouraged by the antics of these known persons.”

  • 2015: ‘Jonathan won’t be distracted’

    laims that he signed a single term pact with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors will not distract President Goodluck Jonathan from transforming the country, his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe said yesterday.

    According to him, the President would not allow such considerations to derail him from improving the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians.

    He was reacting to the row generated by the revelation of Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu that Jonathan signed an agreement not to seek a second term.

    The Nation had learnt that all PDP governors have copies of the agreement, which was allegedly signed before the presidential primaries in January, 2011.

    A source said the agreement accounted for why the Northern governors dumped former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who lost the PDP ticket to Jonathan at the presidential primaries.

    It was learnt that Jonathan entered into the agreement “to appease the North”.

    The agreement was said to have been reached at an emergency meeting of the governors with the then PDP National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, ahead of a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

    Twenty of the 27 governors of the party were said to have attended the meeting held on December 16, 2010.

    The pan-Northern socio-political organisation-the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has asked President Jonathan to abide by the “agreement” to vacate office after his current tenure.

    The ACF said Aliyu’s revelation was not new, and that Jonathan’s eligibility to participate in the 2015 election was not a constitutional matter “but of honour, trust and confidence.”

    Speaking in a television programme, Focus Nigeria on Africa Independent Television (AIT) on Tuesday, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, challenged those who claimed that President Jonathan signed the agreement to produce the document.

    He said nobody could intimidate the President to drop from the 2015 presidential race.

    Gulak said: “I’m telling you without any iota of doubt and with all sense of responsibility that there has never been any agreement or pact signed by the President that he is going to run for only one term.

    “He has never told me about it and I have never heard about it. The governors said they have the agreement, let them bring it. I know as of fact that there is no such agreement”.

    Okupe, in a statement, said Jonathan would not lose focus from the work at hand “by premature comments concerning whether or not he will seek re-election in 2015.”

    The statement reads: “While the Presidency had noted the story currently circulating in the media and social networks to the effect that President Jonathan allegedly signed an agreement with some PDP Governors prior to the Presidential primaries in 2011, the President would not allow such considerations to distract him from his determination to improve the economic and social well being of the Nigerian people.

    “From time immemorial, for every major event or contest in the world, there is always a time and a season apportioned. We wish to state categorically that this is neither the time nor the season to begin electioneering campaign or related discourse for the 2015 presidential elections and so President Goodluck Jonathan will not jump the gun.

    “Mr. President will therefore stoutly resist any disguised or open attempt to drag him into debates, arguments or political discussions relating to a presidential election in 2015.

    “The president considers this as an invidious attempt to sway him from his chosen pursuit of the set out constituents of the transformation agenda which form the basis upon which Nigerians overwhelmingly elected him to steer the ship of the nation in 2011.”

    The presidential aide said Nigerians had elected President Jonathan to fix Nigeria and that is what he is determined to do.

    “For the purpose of emphasis, the present focus of President Jonathan include: completion of ongoing projects in the power sector to ensure that Nigerians enjoy steady power supply for domestic and industrial purposes; ensuring remarkable improvement of infrastructure in road, rail and air transportation in every part of Nigeria through speedy completion of major ongoing road projects, construction and rehabilitation of rail lines as well as rehabilitation and modernisation of our airports.”

    Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam said Nigerians will be guided by the Constitution which he described as the grand norm in taking decision regarding the second term bid of the President.

    He spoke with reporters after inspecting ongoing projects in Makurdi ahead of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) billed for the state capital.

    Suswam noted that wether there was an agreement on single term for President Jonathan or not, at the end of the day, the Constitution is a grand norm on which Nigerians will be guided. So, whatever is outside the Constitution is illegal, null and void.

    The governor who refused to be dragged into the single term controversy, noted it was too early to begin to talk of 2015.

    He said: “I think it is too early for us to begin to worry ourselves about 2015, when we are still in 2013. Once you begin to talk of 2015 election, there will be no more governance and people will distract elected office holders with meeting, so let us wait until we get to the bridge before we decide how to cross it.”

  • Ekpo urges Keshi not to be distracted

    Ekpo urges Keshi not to be distracted

    Friday Ekpo, a former Super Eagles midfielder, on Saturday urged Coach Stephen Keshi to remain focused on the forthcoming 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) assignment and not get distracted by criticisms.

    Ekpo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Keshi needed to stand firm in his task of assembling a formidable squad for the AFCON in South Africa.

    He said the Super Eagles coach should pick a squad that would be able to execute his match plans in the field of play in the competition, which would open on Jan. 19.

    “Keshi has the right to select whoever he feels should be invited for the Nations Cup. People should stop disturbing him over his choice of players for the team, he should stand his ground in any decision he takes,” he said.

    Ekpo, who was a member of the Super Eagles squad that won a bronze medal at the 1992 edition, urged stakeholders to refrain from making unguarded utterances.

    “We should not allow this row over players that are supposed to be selected or not selected affect our preparation and performance in South Africa,” he said.

    The 2013 AFCON is slated to hold from Jan.19, 2013 to Feb. 10, 2013 in South Africa.