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Tag: endorses

  • Oshiomhole endorses Edo monthly walk for life

    Oshiomhole endorses Edo monthly walk for life

    EDO State governor, comrade Adams Oshiomhole yesterday assured that the Edo walk for life exercise will be a monthly affair.

    The governor, who flagged off the exercise at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, said the exercise was designed to help improve on the health status of participants.

    The maiden edition of the road walk covered major roads in the state capital and including Akenzua, Plymouth road, Ring road through Akpakpava to Ramat park and terminated at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium.

    “The walk for life road walk is an initiative of the state’s ministry for sports to encourage our parents, citizens of Edo, sportsmen and women to remain healthy. The reason for this exercise is to arrest the menace of sudden deaths, especially through slumping in our society today where people cannot even walk half a kilometre without grasping for breath.

    “I am glad to see all of you participate in this maiden edition and I expect that it will be a monthly affairs even though you don’t see government officials in this number. It is always good to be healthy and remain healthy and in other to remain healthy is to continue to exercise,” Oshiomole said.

  • 2015: Southern Taraba endorses Kente for governorship

    2015: Southern Taraba endorses Kente for governorship

    Southern Taraba stakeholders have endorsed the Chairman of DSK Foundation, Chief David Sabo Kente, as their consensus candidate for the governorship election.

    The businessman was presented to reporter in Wukari, Taraba State, after the resolution on consensus candidacy passed by the leaders of the Southern Taraba National Congress. The groups’s spokesman, Chief Jibrin Anfani, said Kente was chosen after a careful examination of all aspirants from the zone.

    Anfani, who is also the Wukari Traditional Council’s spokesman, urged the stakeholders to eschew bitterness and support the zone in its bid to produce the governor.

    He said that since the North and Central districts have produced the governors 10 and eight years, power should shift to the South District next year.

    Anfani said: “That was why the elders and youth groups from the Southern Taraba came together at Wukari to pick the aspirant that best represents their collective interest, aspiration and vision, and at the end of a rigorous process that lasted several hours where all aspirants who had shown interest in the office were all grilled, one of them, Chief David Sabo Kente, an industrialist, and philanthropist was chosen to lead all Southern Taraba at the polls.”

    He added: “I therefore, urge all Tarabans to eschew bitterness and support the choice of their friends and brothers from the southern part of the state in the interest of peace, unity, justice and fairness.”

    Anfani described Kente, who retired as a Deputy Director in the National Assembly Commission, as a consummate public servant, politician and a detribalised Nigerian, who is ready to move the state forward. He assured that the aspirant will unite the three zones and protect the interest of the state.

    Anfani said that Kente’s emergence as the candidate will calm political tension triggered by the power tussle between Governor Dambaba Suntai and his deputy, Alhaji Garba Umar.

    He said Kente has no blemish, adding that his records as a public servant, businessman and community leader are clean.

    Anfani described the selection as a watershed in the annals of Southern Taraba politics. He said the zone has always lost out to other zones due to lack of unity among its diverse tribes and warring elders.

    Anfani urged Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd) and other notable elders to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the people’s choice is adopted by the Presidency as the PDP flag bearer in the next year’s election.

    He added: “The southern part of the state is the only region that has never tasted power, since the creation of Taraba State 25 years ago and it is believed that, in the interest of justice equity and fairplay, other zones should support his candidature as he is the one that has been chosen to represent the zone.”

    Anfani commended Acting Governor Alhaji Umar for keeping faith with the policies and programmes of his boss. He urged him to take this to the logical conclusion by supporting ailing Suntai’s gentleman’s agreement to transfer power to the South District in 2015.

  • Akwa Ibom Pdp endorses President for second term

    Akwa Ibom Pdp endorses President for second term

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State has dissociated itself from calls for the removal of the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

    Its Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo, said that the party only met to pass a vote of confidence on Governor Godswill Akpabio and endorse President Gooodluck Jonathan for a second term.

    He maintained that, during the meeting, following a motion by Senator Ita Enang from Uyo Senatorial District and seconded by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Elder Udo Kerian, the party passed a vote of confidence on Akpabio for his outstanding performance.

    Ekpo said: “We want President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, having creditably led this country, improved the economy, diversified economy from oil into agriculture, successfully privatised the power sector and unified the country, successfully handled the security challenges and brought Nigeria to the eye of the international community through diplomacy, to contest the 2015 election as the candidate.

    He dismissed the allegation that the National Deputy Chairman of the Party, Chief Uche Secondus, who witnessed the meeting, was in the state for a sinister motive.

    The purpose of the invitation, Ekpo maintained, “was to enable Chief Secondus meet our members and have a feel of our togetherness as a party in the State”.

    Ekpo said: “The invitation paid off, as Chief Secondus commended the stakeholders for the high level of organisation and loyalty to the leadership of the party.

    The chairman, who thanked members for their steadfastness and loyalty, stressed that the unity among the faithful was commendable and a major requirement for winning elections. He assured that the PDP in the state will stand tall in the 2015 elections.

  • Abia Central endorses Orji for Senate

    The people of Umunne Ato Ngwa in Abia Central, Abia State, have endorsed Governor Theodore Orji for the 2015 senatorial election, if the governor wishes to contest the poll.

    They spoke at the weekend in Aba at a civic reception in honour of the governor at Ngwa High School, Aba.

    Umunne Ato comprises three local governments; Osisioma Ngwa, Isiala Ngwa North and Isiala Ngwa South. The councils are considered strongholds of Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, who represents the area. She was absent at the event.

    Elder Adindu Nwokeukwu, who spoke on behalf of Umunne Ato Ngwa, said they preferred the governor because of his achievements.

    Nwokeukwu said: “In economic empowerment, the Orji administration has impacted on the lives of our people, especially youths. His youth economic empowerment programme, articulated and packaged on the fulcrum of entrepreneurial development for self-determination, has benefited close to a thousand youths.

    “It is for these reasons that the NDI NGWA in Abia Central, otherwise called Umunne Ato Ngwa, have invited Governor Orji (Ochendo) to give him more work by adopting him as our candidate for the Abia Central seat in 2015.”

    He added: “It is therefore our conviction and belief that he will also excel if he is called to serve his people, even at the federal level.”

    Elder John Nwangborogwu, a one-time commissioner, moved a motion for the adoption of the governor as the candidate and it was seconded by a former Head of Service, Godfrey Kanu, followed by an affirmative voice vote by the people.

    Governor Orji thanked the people, describing the offer as tempting.

    Orji said he would consult before making a statement on the offer, stressing that he would focus on solidifying the legacy projects across the state.

    The governor restated his commitment to hand over power to an Ngwa person in 2015.

    The people of Umunne Ato Ngwa presented him gifts.

  • Ogun endorses Amosun for second term

    The people of Ifo Local Government, Ogun State yesterday turned out en masse to endorse Governor Ibikunle Amosun for a second term in office.

    The governor, to the residents, should run for another four-year term to complete the good work he began over three years ago.

    The ceremony, which held at the NUD Primary School, Agbado, was attended by a huge crowd comprising supporters, interest groups, Community Development Associations (CDAs) and traditional rulers.

    Besides the indigenous Yoruba, the ceremony was also attended by the Igbo community and other ethnic nationalities.

    The rally was jointly organised by Ifo Local Government Area and Unity Youth Forum, in celebrating the ‘Ogun Standard’ for Amosun’s continuity mission to continue rebuilding the state.

    Amosun, who was represented by the Chairman of the occasion and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Muyiwa Olajide, said the administration’s achievements were enough evidence to enable it get another term.

    Olajide said: “The people are feeling the impact of the government. The achievements of the government are of international standard. The scorecards show he has done marvellously well. Thus, the people want him to continue so that he can complete the good job he has started.”

    The Chairman of Ifo Local Government Area Chief Olumide Enilolobo said the occasion was a celebration of development and newness of things in the state.

    He said: “All over the towns of the state, the hand of the governor is there in infrastructural development, health and education and local government administration. Even within the confines of nothing, the government is doing its best. So, it is not too early or too late to endorse him. If all the legislative councils of all the local governments and also individuals have done that, then so be it.”

  • Senate endorses sack of 3, 000 NIMC workers

    Senate endorses sack of 3, 000 NIMC workers

    The Senate yesterday endorsed the sack of 3,000 National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) workers.

    The upper chamber also directed NIMC to reinstate 96 disengaged officials of the commission.

    This directive followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the Joint Committee that considered the petition by 4,029 disengaged members of staff.

    The lawmakers agreed that each disengaged person be paid one year salary as take-home severance allowance using the same formula that produced the earlier approved package. The package will now stand at N621,953.00 as the lowest and N1,441,735.60 as the highest.

    The committee noted that some of the dismissed workers falsified their records. Others were dismissed for being absent from work for months.

    It said that those that were not satisfied with their dismissal could seek redress in a law court as most of the allegations centered on criminality.

    The NIMC management, according to the committee, said that the number of disengaged officials was 3,099 in the first instance and not 4,099 as stated by the petitioners. The staff strength currently is 1,891.

    The committee, according to the management of the commission said the disengagement was done across the 36 states and Abuja and no state was specially targeted in the exercise.

    The committee said it found out that the Governing Board of NIMC approved HND and B.Sc as the new minimum entry level qualifications for the Commission.

    It said that “the economic and security situation in the country make the disengagement of over 3,000 employees from one establishment inadvisable, hence the secretariat of the Committee undertook a rigorous certificate verification and screening where the certificate of employees were examined.”

    It said that while 218 persons listed their names as having additional qualifications, 96 were found to have actually acquired the new minimum qualifications of HND and B.Sc as at the end of last year.

  • SON endorses Conoil’s lubricants

    SON endorses Conoil’s lubricants

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has certified four of Conoil’s lubricant brands as high performance engine oils that provide maximum benefits to the users of modern vehicles and machinery.

    A statement from Conoil said the correct use of these lubricants ensures prolonged and trouble-free vehicle and machine operation.

    The lubricants – Golden Super Motor Oil SAE 40, Tro Tro Golden Super Motor Oil SAE 40, Golden Super Diesel SAE 40 and Quatro Heavy Duty Generator Oil 15W40 – met the specific requirement of relevant Nigerian industrial standards after series of rigorous and extensive tests of their content and production procedures.

    Golden Super Motor Oil gives adequate engine protection to older petrol engines, with good detergent and adequate viscosity retention with temperature. Golden Super Diesel engine oil is top quality diesel engine oil specially formulated to give reliable all-year-round service in light and medium duty, naturally aspirated engines.

    Infused with a comprehensive additive package and good anti-wear properties, Quatro Heavy Duty Generator Oil is the ideal choice for generating sets.

    Tro-Tro Golden Super Motor Oil is a quality multi-grade lubricant suitable for major light and medium duty vehicles that are fuelled by petrol or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

    Conoil described the latest SON certification as an attestation to its relentless effort to adhere to global best practices, produce high quality lubricants comparable to international standards and to provide excellent service that meet consumer satisfaction, in line with its objective of becoming the preferred marketer of lubricants in Nigeria and the West Coast.

    SON had previously certified Conoil’s lubricants, Quatro HDX, Okada Golden Super 20w50w and Quatro Ultra 20w50, confirming their status as world-class quality lubricant brands.

    Conoil boasts of highly skilled and experienced engineers capable of developing high quality lubricant products, innovatively, using modern technology.

    The company’s major lubricant plant in Apapa, Lagos is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for testing lubricants, greases as well as upgrading existing products on continuous basis.

     

  • Group endorses Obiogbolu for governor in Anambra

    Group endorses Obiogbolu for governor in Anambra

    The Old Aguata political class, an umbrella organisation for the Old Aguata Union (OAU), comprising three local governments of Aguata, Orumba North and South in Anambra State, has endorsed Dr. Alex Obiogbolu for the state number one job.

    The governorship aspirant recently visited the organisation to intimate them of his aspiration. In his welcome address, the chairman of the organisation, Chief Iwuejina Igbokwe, popularly known as Agbalanze, declared the aspirant as a good man who can be trusted with responsibilities without apprehension of getting disappointed.

    Agbalanze described Obiogbolu as an astute politician whose consistency and transparency have become a bench mark for the political class, irrespective of one’s political leaning.

    In his own remark, Chief Joe Ifediobi revealed that he met the former boss of the state Local Government Service Commission about 15 years ago and recounted how over 3000 people were gainfully employed by the commission headed by the aspirant.

    The President-General of Achina, Hon. Osy Mbajekwe, added that time has come to put sentiments aside and allow the best person do the job. “If power is given, we would have gladly surrendered it to Obiogbolu because he knows what to do when he gets it,” he remarked.

    A spokesperson for the women in the Old Aguata political class urged the governorship aspirant not to forget the womenfolk when he gets to the Promised Land.

     

     

     

  • Senate endorses death sentence for acts of terrorism

    Senate endorses death sentence for acts of terrorism

    The Senate yesterday endorsed death sentence for terrorists.

    It adopted the conference report on a Bill for an Act to amend the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and for other related matters.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence and National Intelligence, Senator Mohammed Magoro, presented the report to senators.

    The report was earlier stepped down because some senators opposed the designation of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to co-ordinate counter terrorism.

    Some of the lawmakers had argued that the Office of the NSA is not known to the Constitution.

    But yesterday, the Clause was retained as part of the Act.

    The report stated that Clause 2 amended Section 1 of the Principal Act, which dealt with “prohibition of acts of terrorism” in general.

    It said that the Senate version prescribed life imprisonment for offences under the Clause while the House of Representatives’ version prescribed death penalty.

    The report said after deliberation, the House’s version of death penalty for acts of terrorism was adopted.

    It prohibit “all acts of terrorism and financing of terrorism”.

    It said: “A person or body corporate who knowingly in or outside Nigeria directly or indirectly willingly; does, attempts or threatens any act of terrorism or commits an act preparatory to or in furtherance of an act of terrorism; or omits to do anything that is reasonably necessary to prevent an act of terrorism or assists or facilitates the activities of persons engaged in an act of terrorism or is an accessory to any offence under this Act or participates as an accomplice in or contributes to offences under the Act, assists, facilitates, organises or directs the activities of persons or organisation engaged in any act of terrorism or is an accessory to any act of terrorism; incites, promises or induces any other person by any means whatsoever to commit any act of terrorism or any of the offences referred to in this Act commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction to maximum of death sentence.”

    The Act also made the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) the coordinating body for all security and enforcement agencies under the Act.

    The report said the provision deals with national coordinating bodies in counter terrorism offences and designates specific institutions and vests specific powers and functions on the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Attorney General of the Federation and relevant law enforcement and security agencies.

    It said that law enforcement agencies shall be responsible for the gathering of intelligence and investigation of offences provided in the Act.

    Section 30 of the Act states: “Any person (a) without reasonable excuse fails to comply with the requirement of a detention Order; or (b) intentionally obstructs or hinders any person acting in accordance with subsection 2 of this section, commits an offence under this Act and shall on conviction be liable to a fine of N5m or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years.

    “Subsection 2 of the Act deals with a person or body corporate who knowingly in or outside Nigeria directly or indirectly willingly does, attempts of threatens any act of terrorism, among others.”

    Senate President David Mark said Nigerians who attend conferences on counter terrorism should be proud to tell their colleagues that Nigeria has passed the Terrorism Prevention Act.

  • C21 committee endorses merger of parties

    The Central Executive Committee of the C21 group, the socio-politcal umbrella of Southeast progressive democrats and mainstreem All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) party faithful have endorsed what they called “the eventual triumph of alliance politics that culminated in the formation of All Progresive Congress (APC).

    Rising from two sepearte meetings in Abuja and Owerri, the group said: “We are more than satisfied with the dynamic roles played by our august members, Governor Rochas Okorocha and Senator Annie Okonkwo, in the thorough and exhaustive engagements by major political parties that saw the emergence of All Progressive Congress (APC), and hereby place on record our total commitment to this redemption movement for our dear country”.

    The group noted that having endured the festering national decadence that has become increasingly degenerative, a radical rescue mission for our country has become not only imperative, but must be pursued by unfettered clear thinkers, immune to the savage cake-sharing and imposed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration that has remained the same for 14 years.

    The C21 remarked: “It is this naked gluttony without the slightest pretence of good conscience for change, that has left the Southeast a conquered territory of political greed, grief and deceit in misgovernance.”.

    “Having been aware of the lamentable conspiracy of a section of the PDP and APGA reactionaries to bleed our chosen political plaform -APGA to death through judicial contrivance and trade its casket as fair game to their PDP masters, they have taken the well-considered step to protect the effeverscent spirit of APGA in an assembly of non-toxic democrats where our unyielding quest for a Nigerian president of Igbo extaction will receive accelerated attention on merit and not deception.”

    The group called on every progressive APGA member, sympathisers and admirer, to be patient and faithful because this programmed intrigue from PDP tradesmen in APGA will soon unravel, because the beginning of their end has started with the formation of APC.

    Members of the C21 confirmed that consultations amongst the ranks of their teeming members have not been exhaustive, a fact not driven by the mischief of reactionaries, but by the honest expediency to secure the ground before laying the mat.

    “We’ll soon embark on nationwide consultation, mobilisation and mediation to cure this defect, inflicted anyway, by the confessed and confused APGA apostates who never wanted our party to stand tall and be accorded its total respects,” it said