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Tag: fail

  • Kumuyi: Buhari must not fail Nigerians

    Kumuyi: Buhari must not fail Nigerians

    The General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, has urged Gen. Muhammadu Buhari not to fail Nigerians.

    He said so much is expected of the president-elect as regards tackling corruption, poverty and insecurity.

    Kumuyi said Buhari’s victory at the polls and President Goodluck Jonathan’s concession of defeat were possible through divine intervention.

    He spoke at a media briefing during the church’s National Easter Retreat. He was represented by the Church Secretary Pastor Jerry Asemota.

    According to him, the fact there were no bloodshed following the election as widely feared was a reason to thank God.

    Kumuyi warned that Gen. Buhari should not be expected to perform miracles once he assumes office, saying Nigerians must be patient.

    “We need to realise that he needs time. It’s not something that will happen overnight. We believe that as we pray and he dedicates himself to that cause, that we’ll begin to see results,” he said.

    He attributed the peace experienced after the polls to prayers, saying: “God’s children were praying and today the nation is at peace with itself. Our international counterparts never imagined it would be this way.

    “We wish him (Buhari) well. The nation expects so much from him. We’ll continue to pray for the incoming president so that God will grant him the wisdom to steer the country’s affairs aright.

    “The church will continue to push for peace within the country,” Pastor Kumuyi.

    According to Kumuyi, Nigerians cannot wait to have lasting peace and a reduction of corruption which he said had “plagued” the country.

    “It is the desire of everyone that we get rid of those things that have plagued us in the past. Incidentally, the president-elect has identified corruption and insecurity as two key areas he will work on,” Pastor Kumuyi said.

    He said since God knows the end from the beginning, there was no doubt that he would use Buhari for the country’s good.

    He praised President Jonathan for being one of the few African leaders, who would lose an election while in government and yet congratulate his opponent, describing it as “significant”.

    According to him, Jonathan’s action, which he described as a sacrifice, was worthy of commendation considering that people see election as a do-or-die affair in Nigeria.

    “We have seen signs that the transition from one democratic dispensation to another will be smooth. There is no acrimony or infighting.

    “For any leader who would build a nation, sacrifice and love are very important. We expect that he (Buhari) would lift this nation beyond the level we are now.

    “The nation we know has been plagued by many problems. The church’s responsibility is to continue praying.

    “No doubt, President Jonathan had an assignment that God wanted him to fulfill. The new president, I believe, also has a specific assignment from God.”

  • ‘PDP’s machinations in Southwest ‘ll fail’

    ‘PDP’s machinations in Southwest ‘ll fail’

    Peter Ajayi is the National Coordinator of the Salvage Group, which comprises professionals in the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI, he speaks on the general elections and the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) attempt to woo Southwest voters. 

    Why did your group call for the resignation of Lagos APC spokesman Joe Igbokwe?

    We called for his resignation because he has been unable to use his office as publicity secretary to mobilise the Igbos for the party. It is obvious that most Igbos in Lagos are not for the APC. They have vowed to vote for the PDP in the coming elections. Is it not very strange in a state that has been very fair to them? We have a lot of them occupying both appointive and elective positions at local and state governments. As a matter of fact, Igbokwe doubles as the publicity secretary of APC and the general manager of Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance Regulatory Agency (LASMIRA). As general manager of LASMIRA, he is a very busy person. So, adding the job of the publicity secretary of the APC has overburdened him. The job of publicity secretary requires full attention and concentration. Personally, I don’t have anything against him. Our call for his resignation, which was published in some national newspapers, is to save our party. The position of publicity secretary is one of the most sensitive offices within the party. He is shouldered with the responsibility of giving information, representing and speaking on behalf of the party. At this critical moment, our party does not need someone who is not accessible; who does not have time to discuss issues of our party with members. Our position still remains that Joe Igbokwe should either resign as publicity secretary for lack of competence or as LASMIRA general manager.

    What impact would the polls shift make on the March 28 and April 11 general elections?

    I believe Nigerians are resolute in their quest for change. They want to see and feel the effects of good governance. They have realised the great havoc corruption is causing in Nigeria. They know stealing is part of corruption. No amount of money can buy their conscience. We are not looking at the short term, but the long term gains of our desire for change. We are not unaware of the billions of naira and dollars being spent by President Jonathan and members of his party in their desperate attempt to woo people to vote for him. Our people are happy to have their share of the national cake. The postponement of the election for six weeks would not have any negative impact on our party’s chances; rather we see it as an opportunity to further engage our supporters and prospective voters. Their attempt to weaken us is making us stronger and more acceptable by the populace.

    There are allegations that some aggrieved governorship aspirants who lost to Ambode are secretly supporting Agbaje. What do you make of this allegation?

    This is the story purportedly formulated by the PDP. The governorship aspirants knew all along that only one of them would get the ticket. Before the primary, they reached a decision to support whoever becomes the candidate. Our party is a one big family. Immediately after the primary, all the aspirants met with the governor, the candidate and leadership of the party and resolved to work for the party that have given them opportunities to excel in life. Other aspirants at different levels, such as the Lagos House of Assembly, the Senate, the House of Representatives, those who lost out in the primary have also met and resolved to work for the interest of the party.

    Do you think the recent successes of the military against the Boko Haram terrorist group would influence the general elections?

    Our soldiers have always performed excellently well. They have always performed well at international peacekeeping operations. What our soldiers need is encouragement, motivation and a free hand to work. They will always excel. They were intentionally made to be morally, emotionally and financially handicapped to score some political cheap points in the past. We are all aware that Ministry of Defense has the highest chunk of the national budget, but the question is, why the sabotage? Who are the saboteurs? Why the sudden decision to fight Boko Haram within six weeks? After they have been allowed to cause havoc for years.  Why did the President suddenly awake from its slumber to do what ordinarily Nigerians had expected him to do for the past years? It is too late; peoples minds are made up already

    President Jonathan has been coming frequently to the Southwest in recent times, to canvass for support for his re-election. What impact would this have on the election? President Goodluck Jonathan has been coming to the Southwest to share the national cake to equally corrupt, hungry and selfish people in the region. I refuse to refer to them as leaders because they are not representing the common interest of the people. Are you aware that the power station the President commissioned in Ogun State has previously been commissioned by former President Olusegun Obasanjo before he left office? We are now begining to have a clearer picture as to why the elections were postponed. It was just to further convince some gullible Nigerians through deceitful outings and projects, more especially in the Southwest. The question is, why has he not visited the region for the past six years? President Jonathan is acting a script written by Doyin Okupe, Ayodele Fayose, Reuben Abati, Obanikoro, Femi Fani-Kayode and others. One of their gimmicks was to come to deceive some gullible people in the Southwest having seen the region as a stronghold of the APC. Our people cannot be bought over.

  • Why PDP ‘ll fail in Lagos, by APC chieftain

    Why PDP ‘ll fail in Lagos, by APC chieftain

    The Lagos State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been advised to work towards getting one or two seats in the House of Assembly instead of dissipating its energy and resources on the governorship election.

    All Progressives Congress chieftain Hon. Nicholas Ajayi, who gave this advice, said such a strategy would help the party to build structures in the state.

    The APC chieftain also urged the PDP to form a formidable and constructive opposition that would help the APC government deliver more services to the people.

    Ajayi said the people of Lagos State will vote massively for the APC, adding that the party will win with over 70 per cent of votes in the governorship election.

    “There’s no doubt about it. Lagos is an APC state; the people of Lagos believe in the APC and they are going to vote massively for the party. I am not excited about the victory, I am more concerned about what comes after the victory, how do we really accomplish our promises to the people because this is what we would be judged in 2019,” he said.

    Ajayi said there is no way the PDP would win the governorship, because the party does not even have a counselor or a local government chairman.

    He said: “The party does not have a member of the state House of Assembly, a member of the Federal House of Representatives and a senator. It does not have the required structures.

    “That I am good in character and indeed, do not have a place in electoral votes, there must be a platform. The reality is that there’s no PDP in Lagos State. The PDP exists only in time of elections; I advise them to strategise properly to become relevant. They are not relevant; they don’t exist.”

    Ajayi said the APC has set a very high standard, adding that at this point in time, there is no need to experiment. He said what is required is consolidation on the achievements that have been made so far.

    Ajayi said that the Babatunde Raji Fashola administration has set a very high standard that today many governors in the country, including the PDP governors, are emulating such standards.

    He added: “Before this time there was no index for measuring the performance of governors in the country, but today, governors are measured by the number of schools they build, roads, hospitals and other infrastructural and developmental facilities.

    “These are the things that the APC government has brought into the Nigerian polity as dividends of democracy. I doubt if a PDP government in Lagos State can deliver such because for a very long time they have not come into governance.”

    He said that the candidacy of Akinwunmi Ambode, the APC governorship candidate, has a lot of practical experience that would help take the state to the next level.

    According to Ajayi, the standard which the present administration has set is so high that it would be expected that the next governor would try to outdo and deliver the dividends of democracy and good governance better than what the predecessor had done. He added that Ambode is coming to consolidate what has been actualised by Governor Fashola

  • Tornadoes fail to renew Uwua’s contract

    Tornadoes fail to renew Uwua’s contract

    Niger Tornadoes FC will not renew the services of Coach Godwin Uwua as its Technical Adviser for the 2014/2015 Nigeria National League (NNL) campaign.

    Chairman of the club, Datijo Aliyu, disclosed this after Tornadoes’ management reached a unanimous decision on bringing in a new technical adviser to put more bite into the desire of the club, its fans and the Niger State government to see the veteran club return to the elite division.

    Aliyu said that the tactician was given a one-year contract with the mandate to regain promotion for Tornadoes to the Glo Premier League, but failed to do so.

    “We employed him with a mandate of taking us back to Premier League; since the mandate was not reached we are not renewing his contract.

    “In a few days’ time we are going to announce the new technical adviser as the technical committee is already working on it,” he said.

    Aliyu added that Uwua was given a free hand without any interference and he could not see any reason for Tornadoes’ failure to gain promotion.

    Meanwhile, the camp of the club will open on Monday as players are expected to report back and commence preparation for the 2014/2015 league season.

    The club will go into closed camping with old and new players respectively, all aimed at ensuring that the team gains the much needed promotion that has eluded the Minna Landlords for three seasons.

    Despite their inability to earn promotion last season, die-hard supporters of the club have remained optimistic that the succor will come eventually.

    The best seasons for the club which was formed in 1977, were in 2001 and 2010 respectively when they reached the quarter finals of the CAF Cup Winners Cup and WAFU Club Championship respectively

  • Efforts to save Enugu deputy governor fail

    Efforts to save Enugu deputy governor fail

    Efforts to save embattled Enugu state Deputy Governor Sunday Onyebuchi from impeachment hit the rocks at the weekend. The state PDP caucus failed to get him a soft landing.

    The caucus which met on Saturday at the Governor’s Lodge reportedly advised the embattled Onyebuchi to resign or await the House of the Assembly is action after its investigations.

    The House in the penultimate week, moved a motion for the deputy governor to be served with an impeachment notice. He was accused of gross misconduct.

    The members of the PDP caucus were bitter that Onyebuchi allowed his relationship with the governor to degenerate to the level that the House had to intervene.

    A source at the meeting said prominent members of the caucus, particularly Senator Ken Nnamani, Amb. Fidel Ayogu and Mr. Dubem Onyia, were not happy after listening to Governor Sullivan Chime narrate his experience with his deputy in the last seven years.

    Senator Nnamani told the caucus members that the deputy governor ran to him to Abuja where he told him to return home to resign or wait for the House to complete its investigation the source said.

    Onyia and Ayogu also were said to have took the line of Nnanami for the deputy governor to bow out since Chime told the caucus meeting that he was not prepared to work with Onyebuchi for any day longer.

    However, the source said Senator Gil Nnaji and Peace Nnaji representing Nkanu East and West in the House of Representatives, pleaded with Chime to pardon his deputy.

    The source said Senator Nnaji praised Chime for the good work he was doing in the state and urged him to give his deputy a second chance.

    But Chime was said to have told Senator Nnaji that his plea was belated since his deputy came to him in Abuja and he did not deem it fit to call him until he was invited to the caucus meeting.

    The source said majority of the caucus members were of the opinion that it would be futile to try to save the deputy governor since his boss said he could no longer work with him.

    Besides the source said the caucus said asking the House to jettison the impeachment process would amount to “ridiculing democratic practice in the state”.

    Chime was also said to have insisted at the meeting that members of the National Assembly from the state who had served for  two or more terms should return home to serve in other capacities.

    The majority of the caucus members who were not in the National Assembly had asked the members of the National Assembly who were all at the meeting except Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, to speak their mind but none opposed the governor.

    The caucus advised the lawmakers to abide by the gentleman agreement reached in 2011 and consider running for other positions other than the ones they have occupied for more than two terms.

    The House of Assembly had last Thursday advised its clerk to paste the impeachment notice on the known addresses of the deputy governor since he could not be physically served and it adjourned till Thursday.

  • Why National Conference must not fail, by Anglican Bishop

    Why National Conference must not fail, by Anglican Bishop

    The Bishop, Diocese of the Lagos West, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion,  the Rt. Rev. James Odedeji, has urged delegates to the National Conference not to fail the nation.

    He described the conference as the last hope.

    Addressing reporters yesterday during the collation of archdeacons of the Anglican Communion, at Church of the Pentecost, Festac, Lagos, Rev Odedeji said the conference must find a solution to the country’s problems.

    He said: “I am afraid if this conference fails, this country will enter into another year of difficulties. It is expected to find solution to unemployment, insecurity, unity and harnessing the resources of the country.”

    The Bishop, who spoke against the backdrop of the division between the North and South over resources control and other issues.

    He said the people have invested so much on the conference, explaining that anything short of solution would be counterproductive.

    “We expect the conference to tackle issues of our children roaming the streets.”

    He urged the government to expose Boko Haram sponsors.

    The cleric said government should expedite action on the release of the Chibok girls, who have been in captivity for 90 days, adding that if negotiation with the group will bring back the girls, it should do that.

    “If releasing the relations of Boko Haram in prison will back our children, government should do that.  The parents are already dying of hypertension.

    The Bishop of Ijebu West,Rt. Rev. Babatunde Ogunbanwo in his sermon, urged politicians to better the lots of their people and charged the archdeacons to focus on winning converts to God.

    The newly collated archdeacons are Rev. Canon Babatunde Adegoroye, Rev. Godwin Danniel, Rev. Humphery Chjindu, Rev. Emmanuel Dosumu, Rev. Canon Ebenezer Adedipe and Rev. Canon Solomon Okeowo.

  • Confederation Cup fallout: Bayelsa Utd fail to pay hotel bills

    Confederation Cup fallout: Bayelsa Utd fail to pay hotel bills

    Bayelsa United’s CAF Confederation Cup victory over FC Kondzo of Congo on Saturday, suffered major behind-the-scenes embarrassment when hotel authorities confiscated personal items belonging to officials appointed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), because the home team failed to pay the hotel bills incurred by the match officials.

    Before that incident, onfield wrangling over match officials’ allowances meant the match, scheduled for 3pm, did not start until 4:15pm.

    The trouble began when the match officials from Guinea Bissua told the Chairman of Bayelsa United, Akpofini Odogwu and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials that until their indemnities were paid the match would not start.

    The situation forced Odogwu to rush back to Bayelsa to meet his kinsman the governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, for help.

    However, an inside source alleged to SportingLife that the governor through his commissioner for sports had earlier released 25million naira to the club for the prosecution of the team’s home and away Confederation Cup matches.

    Nevertheless, the Guineans were eventually persuaded to officiate and and Bayelsa United thrashed FC Kondzo 2-0 to progress to the next round on a 2-0 aggregate.

    However, things took a turn for the worse yesterday morning when the officials’ personal belongings were confiscated by the Acropolis Hotel authorities, who threatened that until all the expenses incurred by the team were settled, the match officials would not leave with their stuff.

    The situation forced respected CAF instructor, Paul Bassey to withdraw money from his bank account via an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), with which he settled the bills before the officials were allowed to leave with their belongings.

    Of the N25m, according to SportingLife’s source, N15m was to be spent on away and 10million on home matches.

    SportingLife further learnt that there is a raging controversy sorrounding how the entire N25m was expended before Saturday’s second leg encounter.

  • $4,095 SEC ‘fraud’: Hembe, Azubogu fail to stop trial

    $4,095 SEC ‘fraud’: Hembe, Azubogu fail to stop trial

    A former Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Capital Market, Herman Hembe, and his erstwhile deputy, Chris Azubogu, yesterday lost the bid to stop their trial.

    Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Abuja High Court refused their prayers that the charges against them be dismissed for lacking in merit.

    The judge, in a ruling, held that the prosecution sufficiently made a prima facie case against them.

    They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for $4,095 alleged estacode scam.

    They are accused of allegedly converting the money given to them as estacode to personal use, instead of attending a conference in Dominica Republic.

    The accused also allegedly failed to attend the conference, an offence the EFCC said is contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1990.

    Their lawyers, J. S. Okutepa (SAN) and Onyenchi Ikpeazu (SAN), who argued that the case was without merit, averred that an estacode is money meant for a public servant who travels overseas.

    They said once the money is approved and the officer embarks on the journey, the money becomes his.

    The lawyers wondered how a man can misappropriate what belongs to him. They prayed the court to dismiss the charge preferred against their client because it is lacking in merit.

    Prosecution lawyer Chile Okoroma urged the court to discountenance the argument of the defence lawyers.

    He averred that the fundamental issue for determination in the case is whether or not the prosecution has established a prima facie case against the defendants to warrant an explanation from them.

    He adjourned proceedings till October 21.

  • ‘Lagos PDP will fail in 2015’

    ‘Lagos PDP will fail in 2015’

    The Chairman of the Lagos State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Henry Ajomale, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will build on its electoral failure in the next general elections.

    He urged Nigerians to support the All Progressive Party (APC) in its bid to dislodge the party at the centre and offer a credible leadership to the country.

    Ajomale, who spoke in Lagos, said the PDP had destroyed crippled the economy and extended the national lean years.

    The party leader said that God had heard the voice of the masses who are struggling to overcome poverty, adding that they would be liberated by the APC in 2015.

    Ajomale said: “The Poverty Development Party will fizzle out. They have misused the wealth of the nation. Nigerians are tired of the PDP. That is why they are waiting to support APC in the future elections. PDP is already jittery because the masses have accepted APC. The end of the PDP is near”.

    The politician described the Jonathan Administration as a national burden, pointing out that its transformation agenda has collapsed.

    Ajomale added: “It is time for all Nigerians to support the APC to send PDP out of the Nigeria in the 2015 elections. PDP has failed Nigerians and they should be sent parking. They cannot intimidate any of us. They are just spreading lies all around.Whether they like it or not, APC has been accepted by the people and people continue to troop in everyday.

    “ People are tired of the PDP and they are ready to get involved. We must rededicate ourselves to the task of liberating ourselves from the PDP, which has destroyed our economy and increased poverty in the land”.

  • Why APC can’t fail, by Ogbeh

    Why APC can’t fail, by Ogbeh

    A Chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Audu Ogbeh has explained why promoters of the proposed All Progressives Congress ( APC) cannot afford to fail in their bid to give Nigerians who yearn for an alternative in the 2015 general election an opportunity.

    Speaking to The Nation yzesterday in an exclusive interview, Ogbeh said the promoters owe it a duty both to Nigerians, democracy and indeed Africa, a duty to ensure that the move is successful.

    Three major opposition parties, the ACN, the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA ) recently announced the plan to coalesce into the APC.

    “We owe it a duty to Nigerians and democracy and Africa to ensure that it is successful. It will even be good for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) itself and good for what we are trying to do in Nigeria, which is to build two very strong ideological blocs and then Nigerians should be the deciding factor, to decide whether they want what we are offering or prefer to be where they are.

    “And in that case, we would have done our duty by saying to them, you now have an alternative if you don’t like where you are. And we are saying to them also, we are making new commitments and promises, if we are unable to perform, kick us out, if we perform, stay with us. But from now, politics is set to be politics of issues and programmes, not politics of election manipulation or the distortion of facts just to remain in office”, he said.

    On his part, Ogbeh said he has very high hopes that the APC would be a reality. He said his optimism was borne out of the fact that the PDP of today was formed at inception from an amalgam of 16 political associations or groups.

    “As for me, I have very high hopes because, at inception, the PDP that we see today came from an amalgamation of 16 different political associations, so, if they were able to found theirs, and they think it is impossible for us, I find it quite funny”, Ogbeh said.

    Giving an appraisal of the progress so far made, he said the plan has exceeded the expectation of even the most optimistic among the promoters.

    “We are making very good progress, we have made more progress than even our biggest optimists expected us to make and the opposition thought it could never happen.”

    He said the APC is looking forward to forming the next government and controlling the majority of the states of the federation.