The Nation Newspaper

Tag: dump

  • Ex-Minister Tallen, others dump PDP for APC

    Ex-Minister Tallen, others dump PDP for APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential campaign train stormed Jos, Plateau State yesterday with the flag bearer, General Muhammadu Buhari(Rtd.), declaring that the much expected positive change in the country is around the corner.

    Buhari promised that the positive change would affect all aspects of the country once he wins the February 14 election.

    The presidential hopeful who received several PDP stalwarts who decamped to the APC said: “PDP government has caused a lot of damage to this country with bad governance. PDP has been ruling us with impunity.

    “But APC has come to change all that and give freedom and dividends of democracy to all Nigerians.

    “So, I encourage Nigerians to troop out on February 14th, vote PDP out and vote in APC. APC is ready to institute leadership that will promote transparency that would be acceptable to all Nigerians.

    “Specifically, I will lay more emphasis on the education sector and create jobs for our unemployed youths.

    “Schools in Nigeria no longer turn out competent graduates, infrastructure is gone, salaries of teachers are no longer paid regularly and the best we can do for this generation is to put in the best in our educational system. When we give our youths the best education, they can take care of themselves.”

    The campaign organisation’s Director General, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, asked the people of the state to “join the moving train of change that is moving across the country so that they will be in the mainstream of government affairs as from May 29th.”

    Amaechi urged the people to take a bold step to enforce the change they have been yearning for.

    The National Chairman of the APC, Chief  John  Odigie-Oyegun, presented the party’s flag to the state governorship candidate, Simon Lalong, who said the wave for change was now effectively on its way in Plateau state.

    Former Minister of State for Science and Technology, Pauline Tallen led former PDP chieftains who left the PDP for the APC at the rally.

    Others who switched camps were Professor Sambo Wapmuk and Prof Sunny Tyoden and thousands of their supporters.

    Tallen, who served as deputy governor of the state, said the PDP has failed Nigeria.

    Buhari assured them of equal rights in their new party.

  • Eight Ogun Assembly members to dump PDP

    Eight Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the Ogun State House of Assembly are set to leave the party, following the controversies trailing its primaries.

    The eight lawmakers were said to have decided to leave the party for “greener pastures” after the party released a list as its authentic list for the election.

    One of the aggrieved lawmakers, who pleaded for anonymity, wondered why the National Working Committee (NWC) would ‘hand over the fate of aspirants to one man’.

    The lawmaker said: “They called off the primaries on the pretext that the national body would meet and communicate to the aspirants the way forward.

    “We were still expecting this to be done when they said three leaders of the party – a former Minister of Industries, Chief Jubril Martins Kuye; former Governor Gbenga Daniel and Chairman, Membership and Mobilisation Committee in the Southwest Buruji Kashamu – were asked to meet in Abuja to draw up a list of candidates at all levels.

    “From the list they had submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), only Kashamu drew up the list.

    The state Chairman, Bayo Dayo, relied on Kashamu’s wide connections in Abuja to conduct the governorship primary on December 8, despite a directive from the NWC, stopping the primary.

    “But from what had transpired, the national body, which said it would not recognise the governorship primary, where only three aspirants contested and nine boycotted, has accepted the result because Gboyega Isiaka is Kashamu’s candidate. Other names follow the same pattern, coming from one person.

    “That is not the beauty of democracy. They should have allowed us to contest against one another and allow the delegates to choose who they want, not asking one man to handpick his acolytes to stand for election.

    “So, if we are not needed in the PDP, the exit door is still open; eight of us in the House of Assembly have decided to move to another party where we are needed.”

  • Keshi should dump Eagles, says Erico

    Keshi should dump Eagles, says Erico

    Joe Erico, another veteran football coach has said the present predicament of the embattled coach of Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, was Keshi’s own making.

    The former Super Eagles’ coach who voiced his opinion on megasport, a radio programme has said Keshi should have candidly resigned his position as Super Eagles’ Head Coach after his victorious outing in South Africa 2013, a tournament which brought back Nigeria’s Pride in African football after 19 long years of waiting to emerge as the AFCON Champion.

    In his opinion, Eriko said he would have resigned if he were to be in the ‘Big bosses’ shoes as it is advisable to leave when the ovation is high :

    “ Keshi has stayed too late as far as I am concerned, I was asked this question sometimes ago, that if it was to be Erico ? And I answered that I would have left immediately after the Nations Cup, probably I will extend it to the World Cup, but at the end of the World Cup I would have left. I told Keshi to leave at that time because you have to leave when the ovation is high.”

    When Erico was reminded during the interview that Coach  Keshi was not sticking around on his own, but had the Presidential call and backing, Eriko responded that: “The President is a human being, He will leave there one day, He is serving, Keshi is also serving. If you are satisfied you stay, if you are not satisfied you leave. Keshi has done very very well, He should just leave the stage now as far as I am concerned,” Erico said.

  • Makarfi denies ‘plan’ to dump PDP

    Makarfi denies ‘plan’ to dump PDP

    Senator Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna North) yesterday denied rumours that he was planning to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Makarfi spoke at the PDP secretariat in Kaduna while submitting his nomination form to seek another term in the Senate.

    He said: “I am among the founding fathers of the PDP and I have no intention to dump the party for any emerging political party. I am here to submit my form, and I don’t believe in making noise. It is not in the party office that one should show his or her strength; it is in the ballot box that we should show that we have people.

    “We will do our best to ensure victory for our party; I will run again in our party for the Kaduna North Senatorial District seat. We should work together; I am a founding member of PDP and will remain here. I have no intention to dump the party.”

    Answering a question on whether the All Progressives Congress (APC) was a threat to the PDP, Makarfi said: “It depends on what you mean by threat; it is not a one man party and I consider all parties contesting against PDP as threats. It is a threat that we should do more to win and ensure victory.”

    The former governor is the first PDP senatorial aspirant in the state to submit his nomination form.

  • Agencies indict Agip for toxic waste dump

    Agencies indict Agip for toxic waste dump

    The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) have indicted the Nigeria Agip Oil Company over alleged toxic waste dumped in some communities in Delta State on June 10, last year.

    The toxic waste was allegedly dumped in Ndokwa East Local Government Area by a waste management company, Allman Global Services, which was under Agip’s employment.

    The DPR, in its submission presented to the Uche Ekwunife-led House of Representatives’ Committee on Environment yesterday by a Deputy Director, A.A  Balogun, , recommended that Agip should “clean up and remediate the impacted sites accordingly and with immediate effect”.

    The resumed investigative hearing was on the alleged dumping of 469 tonnes of toxic waste by Agip on Agbor Road in Ndokwa East Local Government Area.

    DPR also said Agip should forward to it the details of the contractor to enable it take appropriate sanctions, including charging the contractor to court.

    NOSDRA said the allegation of waste dumping has been confirmed.

    “There were conspicuous signs of indiscriminate dumping of materials suspected to be drilling wastes in various locations at Obikwele, Umueleke- Ossissa, Ola- Ossissa, Isheagu and Oloh- Ogwashi in Delta State,” DPR said.

    It added: “The DPR views the above pieces of circumstantial evidence as strong enough to make Agip and Allman Global Services liable for the dumped wastes.

    “The firms have violated DPR regulations. Consequently, the DPR is considering appropriate sanctions to impose on Agip and Allman Global Services Limited.”

    NAOC’s lawyer Chidozie Okafor said: “Investigations are still on to assess the activities of other companies in the area.

    “My company cannot be accused of dumping the toxic waste as there are five other oil companies in the region.”

    But NOSDRA’s representative Musa Idris said evidence showed that Agip was responsible for the dumping.

    Mrs. Ekwunife said the committee would go back with its submissions to the House, adding: “It is clear, clean and open that we have enough evidence to conclude this investigation.”

    According to her, the Delta State Commissioner for Environment, NOSDRA, DPR, and the communities have all made submissions and that the committee’s recommendations would be on the presentations.

    She said the people are suffering because of exposure to the toxic waste.

  • Kehinde Fatai may dump Romanian club

    Kehinde Fatai may dump Romanian club

    Former Nigeria Under 20 and Under 23 striker Kehinde Fatai has resumed pre-season with Romanian side Astra Giurgiu, but has told AfricanFootball.com he is open to another move after he rejected an extension of his loan spell at Belgian team Club Brugge.

    “I am in pre-season with my club Astra Giurgiu. Let’s see what happens. It has been a good one since we resumed,” Fatai told AfricanFootball.com

    However, the former JUTH FC of Jos striker said he would not rule out a summer move as there was interest for him across Europe.

    “This is football where anything can happen. The summer transfer window is still open and with a good offer I may move,” he said.

    “One of my representatives informed me of interest from teams in Ukraine, Greece and Russia. I am waiting for them to make a concrete offer, then we’ll see what is next.”

  • Baton dump Gombe Utd out of Federation Cup

    Baton dump Gombe Utd out of Federation Cup

    • The Owerri team win 2-1 in Ilorin

    Baton of Owerri have created an upset at the 2014 Federation Cup after the non league side beat Gombe United 2-1 in the Round of 64 played at the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin.

    The Desert Scorpions were responsible for the elimination of another Imo State representative, Bussdor FC last year after they beat the Nationwide League side 9-1 at the same stage but this term Baton FC formerly known as Police Machine FC got a pound of flesh and defeated the troubled Gombe United.

  • Investors dump Computer Warehouse Group over low yield

    Investors sent the bears after Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) yesterday as the information and communication technology (ICT) company announced a dividend recommendation of 8.0 kobo.

    CWG’s share price dropped by 4.96 per cent at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as the news on the dividend recommendation filtered to the investing public. CWG lost 29 kobo to close at N5.56 per share. The overall market position had indicated a bullish market situation with average return of 0.35 per cent.

    Market analysts said the negative response to CWG’s dividend recommendation was due to the low return on investment, considering the listing and current market value of the stock. At today’s opening price of N5.56 per share, the dividend recommendation of 8.0 kobo represents a dividend yield of 1.43 per cent, a yield that is significantly lower than returns by other stocks with similar price range. Skye Bank and Sterling Bank, which trade at lower prices, carry dividend yields of between seven and nine per cent.

    An analyst noted that even if CWG had distributed its entire earnings per share of 24 kobo, it would still not compare favourably to other active stocks within the price range. At current market price, CWG’s earnings per share indicates earnings yield of 4.3 per cent.

    Meanwhile, audited report and accounts of CWG for the year ended December 31, 2013 showed that turnover rose from N18.76 billion in 2012 to N20.67 billion in 2013. Gross profit increased from N3.75 billion to N3.91 billion. Profit before tax rose to N618.46 million as against N339.23 million while profit after tax increased from N339.23 million to N612.85 million.

    CWG had late last year listed its entire share capital of 2.5 billion ordinary shares on the NSE. CWG was incorporated in February 2005 as a holding company for CWL Systems Limited, DCC Networks Limited and ExpertEdge Software Limited.

  • Fed Govt won’t dump Ribadu report, says Okupe

    The Federal Government has no intention of dumping the Nuhu Ribadu report, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe has said.

    In a statement yesterday, Okupe said the Federal Government would look at the recommendations and verify the data in the report.

    According to the President’s aide, the fact that government has decided to verify the contents of the report as recommended does not mean the report would be thrown away.

    Okupe said since the cover letter on the report stated that the government must verify the facts before any action is taken, it would be wrong for it to do otherwise.

    According to him, at no time did he or any official suggest that the report would be dumped.

    “There are several issues raised by the committee that would never be swept under the carpet by the Jonathan administration.

    “Anyone found wanting shall be punished and all loopholes for corruption blocked.

    “An obvious disclaimer issued by the committee on the report makes it impossible under our laws to indict or punish anybody except and until the Federal Government verifies and reconciles the facts as recommended by the committee”.

    Okupe said because the report was hurriedly put together and submitted, the government would waste time and money to verify it before a White Paper is issued.

    “ I must assure Nigerians that this administration is serious about fighting corruption through the prosecution and institutional reforms.

    “Any person or organisation found wanting by the report after verification would be made to face the law,” he added.

  • No plan to dump APGA, says Okorocha

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said his relationship with the National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, is intact.

    He debunked insinuations in some quarters that he had dumped Umeh.

    It was reported that Okorocha had been meeting secretly with a Northern counterpart and was planning to dump APGA before the 2015 general elections.

    He was said to have directed his commissioners and political associates to avoid Umeh.

    In a statement at the weekend, Okorocha’s media aide, Mr. Ebere Uzoukwa, said the governor has no plans of leaving APGA.

    Uzoukwa said: “The rumours being peddled are the handiwork of political detractors and mischief makers, who seek to destroy APGA and cause disaffection between Okorocha and Umeh.

    “Okorocha remains loyal to APGA and its leadership at all levels, including the Umeh-led National Working Committee (NWC). He remain, committed to making the party a formidable platform in the quest to provide good governance to Imo people and Nigerians, through well-articulated people-oriented programmes.

    “It is however noteworthy to mention that Okorocha neither discussed APGA and Umeh with any northern governor, nor directed his commissioners and political associates to keep away from the National Chairman.”