The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gilbert Nnaji

  • Ekweremadu condoles with Sen. Nnaji on wife’s death

    Ekweremadu condoles with Sen. Nnaji on wife’s death

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has expressed sadness over the death of Mrs Ann Nnaji, the wife of Sen. Gilbert Nnaji.

    Ekweremadu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Uche Anichukwu, described the late Mrs Nnaji as “a gentlewoman, who led a pious life of service to God and humanity’’.

    “I received with deep sense of grief the passing on of this Amazon.

    “She was a virtuous woman, an organiser and a dependable wife, who stood by her husband in thick and thin.
    “She was kindness personified and served God and humanity till her last breath. She will be sorely missed.

    “I, therefore, send my heartfelt condolences to my brother and friend, Sen. Gilbert Nnaji, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications.

    “My condolences also go to the good people of Enugu East Senatorial District in particular, and Enugu State in general on this sad loss,’’ Ekweremadu said.

    He prayed God to grant the deceased a peaceful repose and her family and the people of Enugu State the strength to bear the irreparable loss.

  • Senate opposes MTN plan to sack Nigerian workers

    Senate opposes MTN plan to sack Nigerian workers

     The Senate on Tuesday declared as unacceptable a situation where Nigerians working in the telecommunications industry would be indiscriminately relieved of their positions without recourse to the global labour rules and practices.
    Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Gilbert Nnaji stated this in Abuja while reacting to report that MTN Nigeria Limited recently sacked over five hundred staff. 
    The committee chairman insisted that “As the representatives of the people we cannot fold our arms and watch our constituents being relieved of their jobs indiscriminately by employers of labour. 
    “We cannot in any way tolerate such. At the same time, we shall also ensure that our foreign investors are not unduly threatened. 
    “When my attention was drawn to this ugly development I immediately contacted the Managing Director of the company. 
    “Although he said that facts were somehow misrepresented in the report he still admitted that it was only the short-term contract staff who work in the call centres that were affected. 
    “I then let him know that it would be proper for him to review the action especially in view of the biting economic situation in the country. 
    “It is only when that option fails that the committee and by extension, Senate, would take a position to protect our people.”
    MTN has since denied the reported sack of its workers. This is the second time in one week that the South African telecoms giant is making public denial. 
    Just last Wednesday it denied an allegation that it had illegally repatriated 13.92 billion dollars from Nigeria, saying the claim was without merit.
    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”MTN” count=”6″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

  • Tribunal nullifies PDP’s Senator’s election in Enugu

    The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu on Thursday nullified the election of the senator representing Enugu East Senatorial District, Gilbert Nnaji, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).

    It ordered that fresh election be conducted in the senatorial district within ninety days.

    The tribunal held that the election did not comply with the 2010 Electoral Act as it was marred by irregularities.

    Delivering judgment on the petition, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Matthew Adewara, said allegations of alteration of results, mutilations and cancellation were proven by the petitioners and nullified the result.

    Relying heavily on the evidence of the forensic expert, who testified on behalf of Nnamani, the tribunal held that irregularities alleged in the conduct of the election were “gross and fundamental.”

     

    The tribunal pointed out that the election did not comply with the rule on accreditation of voters and with proven cases of multiple voting, ballot box snuffing and over voting.

    Nnamani, a former governor of Enugu State, had filed the petition at the tribunal, challenging the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nnaji as winner in the election.

    He alleged that there were widespread irregularities, malpractices and corruption in the conduct of the election.

    He also alleged, in the petition, that the conduct of the election was not in substantial compliance of the 2010 Electoral Act.

    He said that his agents in some polling units in Isi Uzo Local Government were intimidated, while there were cases of voting rigging, ballot box snuffing and mutilation of result sheets.

    He prayed the tribunal to nullify the result of the election and declare him winner.

    Nnamani contested on the platform of People for Democratic Change (PDC).

    Speaking after the tribunal’s judgment, counsel to Nnamani, Olusegun Jolawo, expressed satisfaction with the judgment, but said their team would have been happier if his client had been returned as winner.

    Counsel to INEC, Mr Wilfred Nwabude, said the commission would look into the judgment and know its next line of action.

  • ‘Don’t stop Nnamani from returning to PDP’

    ‘Don’t stop Nnamani from returning to PDP’

    A lawmaker, Senator Gilbert Nnaji, has condemned the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) move to stop former Enugu State Governor Chimaroke Nnamani from returning to the party.

    Nnaji, in a statement yesterday, said: “I decry Enugu State government’s and PDP’s move to stop Nnamani from returning to the party. His return is a welcome development.

    “PDP’s umbrella is big enough to accommodate the old, returning and new members. If Nnamani is readmitted, it shows the party is repositioning to continue as the ruling party in the country and Enugu cannot be an exception.

    “PDP’s door is open for anybody who cares to enter. Nnamani’s re-entry is an asset to the party because as an ex-governor and a former senator, he has much to offer to ensure the party’s success in next year’s elections.”

  • Senator seeks re-election

    THE senator representing Enugu East, Gilbert Nnaji, is seeking re-election.

    The legislator, who chairs Committee on Communications, said: “Since the people I represent are satisfied with my performance and have been asking me to serve them again, I have accepted to offer myself for a mandate renewal. “Do not forget that the positions I have held were through elections, including the one I am occupying. So, in the same tradition, I have offered myself to the party and the people for a re-assessment of my stewardship, which by the grace of God and the sincere judgement of humanity, is impressive and enough to take me further. But for now, I am still exercising the mandate given me to the best of my ability and to the glory of God.

    “You know that governance and politics are different things that should not be combined if our democracy must grow. There is time for everything.”

    Nnaji debunked the insinuation that there was an agreement that any elected senator from Enugu East shall go for a term.

    He said: “It’s not true. No person can contemplate such a backward idea. What then is the essence of calling democracy a government of the people, by the people, if it is one person or a few individuals, who determine the fate of the people?

    “I think it is the figment of the imagination of the people, who are afraid to face the court of public opinion and who have made up their minds to fail the people if given the opportunity to serve.

    “For instance, if such an agreement exists, then once one is elected, one should not even bother to deliver since one must vacate office whether or not one performs. But because such is non-existent, I have deployed efforts to make sure that Enugu East is not left out in the dividends of democracy.”