The Nation Newspaper

Tag: governor

  • Governors’ wives team up for widows

    Governors’ wives team up for widows

    WIDOWHOOD gloom may be about to lift in the Southeast and Southsouth. But that is because the wives of the state governors are pooling resources together to put women who lost their spouses out of despair.

    The wife of anambra State governor, Mrs Margaret Obi, her counterparts in Cross River, Mrs Obioma Liyel-Imoke, and Akwa Ibom, Mrs Ekaette Akpabio are collaborating to end widowhood misery.

    They met at a summit initiated by Mrs Liyel-Imoke who is also founder and board chair of Partnership Opportunities for Women Empowerment Realization (POWER).

    The summit was in commemoration of the International Widows’ Day.

    In 2011, the United Nations designated June 23 every year as the official date for the celebration.

    Mrs Akpabio hosted the event whose theme was “Louder Please, A call for Increased Advocacy Action and Interventions on Widows Rights in Nigeria”.

    The women drew attention to the indignities and injustices millions of widows’ experience in the country.

    The summit also advocated practical steps to curb obnoxious traditional practices widows are subjected to due to the death of their spouses.

    The roll call at the event was impressive as every segment of society was represented. The occasion was chaired by the House Committee Chairman on Women Affairs, Senator Helen Esuene, while the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Hajiya Zainab Maina delivered a keynote address.

    The Minister made it clear that improvement of the situation of Nigerian widows would largely depend on how Nigerians respond to their plight.

    Other distinguished personalities at the event included Speakers of state Houses of Assembly, Chief Judges of the representative states, Commissioners for Women Affairs and traditional rulers as well as representatives of widows associations from various states in the Southeast and Southsouth. Some delivered papers.

    The summit also provided opportunities for the governors’ wives to account for their stewardship in their widowhood interventionist activities in their states.

    Papers presented at the event, amongst many others included; “An Overview of Widowhood Issues in Nigeria” by the guest speaker, Mr. Hauwa Shekarau, National Vice President, FIDA, and “The Role of Traditional Institution in Upholding the Rights of Widows”, delivered by Dr Etim Okon Edet, paramount ruler of Bakassi and Chairman, Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council.

    Other papers included: ”The Role of the Church in Protection of Widows Rights”, “The Role of the Legislature in Advancing Widows Rights”, “The Role of The Judiciary in Ensuring Justice for Widows’ Rights Violation”.

    President of the widows’ association, Cross River Chapter, hoped the summit would restore the dignity of widows and thanked Mrs Liyel-Imoke for her Giving Life Options to Widows (GLOW) initiative.

    An 18-point communiqué was issued at the end of the two-day summit at which observations were made and palliatives recommended to ameliorate widows’ plight in the society.

    One of the highlights of the communique was that men should write wills that state clearly how their property should be shared in the event of death and also make effort to update their employment, insurance and other relevant records to reflect their spouse as their next-of-kin.

    They also urged the legislative arm of government to review the current laws protecting widows and make them more biting against offenders.

    Traditional rulers who are the custodians of our culture were also urged to review all traditional practices that subject widows to indignity.

    The called on all relevant stakeholders to join forces in addressing the issues of widowhood by putting in place a development intervention for widows, opportunities.

    The summit emphasised, among others, the need for the establishment of transit shelter for widows in crisis and other among others.

     

  • Ondo deputy governor seeking peace, unity

    The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, has urged Muslims to pray for peace and unity of the country.

    Olanusi enjoined the faithful to refrain from any act that could tarnish their image.

    “Peace is an essential ingredient of development and as such, we must all continue to ensure peaceful co-existence with our neighbours across the nation,” he said.

    He hoped that the nation would overcome all it security challenges.

    Olanusi assured that the state government would continue to provide a comfortable environment for all religious groups in the state.

  • Deputy Governor, party chair receive PDP defectors in Ekiti

    Deputy Governor, party chair receive PDP defectors in Ekiti

    SCORES of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members from Ise/Orun Local Government Area of Ekiti State yesterday defected to the local chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    The defectors, led by Mr. Kingsley Ogunbolude, said they were impressed by the performance of the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration, which they believed has delivered on its campaign promises.

    They were received by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu and the state Chairman of the party, Chief Jide Awe. The duo led political office holders from the area and party chieftains to receive the defectors.

    The Deputy Governor hailed Ogunbolude for leading his supporters to the ACN.

    She assured that the party would not disappoint them, urging others in Emure Local Government to join the winning train.

    Prof. Adelabu, whose mother was from Oraye Quarters in Ise-Ekiti, enjoined the people not to disappoint her as their representative in the government.

    Ogunbolude said the invitation to join ACN was offered him by the Deputy Governor.

    His words: “The Fayemi administration is doing it right more than any government in the past. I have abandoned the politics of arrogance, which I played in the PDP for the politics of truth and development.”

    He urged his friends and political associates in the PDP not to hesitate to defect to the ACN, which he described as a progressive party.

    Ogunbolude pledged to cooperate with the party leaders and government to foster harmony for the development of the state.

    Awe, who presented the defectors to the Deputy Governor, warned leaders against division in the ACN fold, which he said remained indivisible.

    The party restated that the incumbent governor remained the choice of the party for the 2014 election based on the landmarks of his administration in the past two years.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • 20 ACN council chairmen endorse governor

    Twenty Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) local government chairmen in Ogun State yesterday endorsed the Governor Ibikunle Amosun for a second term to ensure the progress and continuity of his transformation agenda.

    In a joint session in Abeokuta, they hinged their endorsement on his “achievements in infrastructural development, road construction, education development, building of model schools, provision of textbooks and writing materials, among others, in the last two years.”

    Addressing reporters at the end of the meeting attended by 14 of the 20 chairmen, the Secretary, Mr. Sunday Akinyemi, also said Amosun has created over 10,000 jobs, secured life and property, improved welfare of civil servants and provided potable water.

    He said: “In the light of this, we the ACN chairmen, Ogun State chapter, support the second term bid of Governor Amosun in the 2015 general election.”

    Akinyemi, who is the Yewa North ACN Chairman, said the governor has also improved the agricultural sector with the provision of tractors, heavy equipment as well as distribution of fertilisers and agro chemicals to farmers.

    The Chairman of the state Chairmen (ACN), Olalekan Adegun, said the decision taken by them in respect of the endorsement enjoyed the support of the party elders, youths, women groups and supporters.

    He added that what is of paramount importance to the people is who develops the state, hence the support by all for Amosun’s second term.

     

  • Taraba Acting Governor sacks SSG, five commissioners, two advisers

    Taraba State Acting Governor Garba Umar has sacked the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), five commissioners and two advisers.

    The decision, Umar said, followed a resolution of the House of Assembly which it passed at its sitting yesterday.

    Sacked are: Ambassador Emmanuel Unjiwa (SSG); Commissioner for Agriculture, Anthony Jeloson; Rebo Usman (Water Resources and Rural Development); Yakubu Agbaizo (Education); Jonah Agyo (Works); Charity Green (Women Affairs and Child Development); Speacial Adviser on Revenue Matters, Joshua Augustine and his Border Development counterpart, Manasseh Kaura.

    They were indicted by the Assembly for allegegedly failing to account for the N400 million Federal Government Intervention Fund for the 2012 flood disaster in the state.

    The Assembly said the flood fund was politicised and mismanaged. It alleged that the indicted public officers allgedly undermined the trust of their offices.

    The affected officials are to return the sums the allegedly misappropriated or face prosecution.

    Umar, in a statement by his Press Secretary, Kefas Sule, directed the officials to hand over to their Permanent Secreatries or the most senior officers in the ministries.

    The Commissioner for Health, Mustapha Hammangabbo, has resigned and his resignation was accepted by the acting governor.

  • Disabled persons protest in Delta

    Disabled persons protest in Delta

    •’We won’t leave until we see governor’

    Physically-challenged persons yesterday disrupted traffic on the ever-busy Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Delta State, following alleged unfulfilled promises by the Emmanuel Uduaghan-led administration.

    More than 200 persons barricaded both sides of the road singing war songs, causing a traffic snarl that stretched for kilometres.

    This forced many motorists to make a detour to the Ogwashi-Uku –Ughelli road and the Asaba-Okpanam road to reconnect to the Benin-Onitsha Expressway.

    The group’s leader, Obrutshe Isaac, vowed that his members would remain on the road to press home their demands, until the governor grants them audience.

    “The main reason why we are here is that we have been working hard to meet the governor but we have not been able to. Several issues affecting us have not been addressed.

    “The issues are free medical health care for persons with disabilities; a bill to establish a commission for persons with disabilities in the House of Assembly is unaddressed; we have the issue of SURE-P in which we were excluded at both the state and local government level.

    “As I speak to you, it is only the chairman of Ndokwa East Local Government who has released N1.5 million to empower our people. The remaining 24 councils have done nothing as regards the SURE-P.

    “Also, the Ministry of Health has not attended to applications from our members in the last two years and as a matter of fact we lost five of them last year.

    “There are some of them who have applied for medical attention but not granted. All efforts to meet with the Commissioner for Health have proved abortive.

    “In Lagos, issues of transportation for persons with disabilities have been addressed and they also have a scheme where persons with disabilities are employed. We also have members who are graduates.

    “Of course, we have confidence in the governor; no doubt he is a listening governor but the problem we have is that those who are representing us are not doing what they are supposed to do.

    “What do you make out of an able-bodied person being a Special Adviser to the governor on physically-challenge matters? The rehabilitation department of the Ministry of Women Affairs where we fall is under the management of someone who is not physically-challenged.

    “We have persons with disabilities in the civil service, will it be out of place if one of them is in charge of that office. All efforts to see that the issues are addressed have proved abortive. Countless letters seeking a meeting with the governor have not yielded fruit.

    “The only thing that would make leave this place is when the governor comes here to address us. We are going to remain here, even if his tenure elapse.”

     

     

  • Governor to opposition: sheathe your swords

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has described the judgment of the Court Appeal as the wish of the people.

    The Governor, who addressed reporters at the Government house yesterday, hailed the judges for standing by the truth.

    He said the judgment would spur him to work for the people.

    Mimiko, however, urged the opposition parties to sheathe their swords and work for the progress of the state.

    He said in any election there must be a winner, enjoining politicians to accept defeat.

  • Lawmaker urges Oni to support governor

    •Fayose: judgment won’t dampen our morale 

    The member representing Ekiti Central Constituency I in the House of Representatives, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, has congratulated Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi on his victory at the Supreme Court.

    Bamidele said the judgment “is a victory for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and a quantum leap for our legal process and the growth of our democracy”.

    He said: “I congratulate Fayemi on the outcome of the suit. No doubt, the judgment is a victory for the ACN and a quantum leap for our legal process and the growth of our democracy.

    “In the same vein, I commend Mr. Segun Oni for reposing his confidence in the judicial process as the credible alternative to street action and for his doggedness in pursuing his grievances to a logical conclusion.

    “Now that the highest court of the land has finally laid this matter to rest, my patriotic call to Oni, on behalf of well meaning Ekiti sons and daughters as well as stakeholders of our democracy, is for him to support the Fayemi administration in addressing the critical needs of Ekiti people through good governance, massive job creation, continued infrastructural development, quality education and health care services, agrarian revolution and the growth of the Ekiti economy, among others.

    “I urge Fayemi to jettison the idea of probing the Oni administration. As tempting as it might sound, it would be much more distracting than even the law suit. This is moreso when one realises that Ekiti politics in the last decade has been characterised by vindictiveness and retaliatory policies and attitudes that have ended up placing the state in a Barber’s chair that goes round and round ad infinitum without moving the state any inch forward.

    “The truth about Ekiti is that in the last 17 years of its creation, many things have happened and stunted its growth to the disappointment of the founding fathers and well meaning indigenes, many of who have become heart broken and frustrated.

    “Beyond rhetorics, this is definitely the time to bury the hatchet and ensure that all hands are on deck to save Ekiti from becoming a failed State. Regardless of our political affiliation and ideological divides, this is the time for all of us to work together to heal the broken hearts and create a new and united Ekiti. United we stand as a people, divided we fall. The time to heal Ekiti is now!”

    Also yesterday, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose said the judgment would not “dampen the morale” of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants.

    Fayose spoke at his campaign office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, at the inauguration of Mr. Owoseni Ajayi as the Director-General of his campaign organisation.

    Ajayi is a former Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ekiti chapter.

    Fayose, who is seeking the party’s governorship ticket, said: “The judgment would strengthen the party and our resolve.”

    He said the ongoing agitation for zoning by a section of the party would not work as far as the 2014 election is concerned.

    Fayose said: “It would be stupid for any aspirant to think I would step down for him in the name of zoning. There will be a free, fair and credible primary for every formidable candidate that can withstand the heat to emerge.”

    He promised to “organise free overseas medical care for pensioners and pay the 27.5 per cent salary increase demanded by teachers”, if elected.

    Ajayi urged Fayose’s supporters to work for his success. He said: “We must not just sit by and think victory would come our way. We must go out and work.”

     

  • CPC, ANPP, others kick as PDP suspends Rivers governor

    CPC, ANPP, others kick as PDP suspends Rivers governor

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday suspended Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi from the party.

    It said Ameachi was suspended for refusing to obey the “lawful directive” of the Rivers State Executive Committee asking him to rescind his dissolution of the elected executive council of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said it relied on Articles 57 (3), 59 (3), 59 (5) and 29 (2.b) for the action.

    By his action, the party said, Amaechi violated Articles 58 1 (b), (c), (h) and (m) of the PDP constitution.

    The statement by the party said: “The National Working Committee (NWC) at its emergency meeting on Monday, 27 May, 2013 considered the petition submitted by the PDP Rivers Executive Committee against His Excellency, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, for violating Articles 58 1 (b), (c ), (h) and (m) of the PDP Constitution following his refusal to obey the lawful directive of the Rivers State Executive Committee to rescind his decision dissolving the elected Executive Council of Obiokpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    “The National Working Committee, after preliminary hearing, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 57 (3), 59 (3), 59 (5) and 29 (2.b), hereby suspends the Executive Governor of River State, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as a member of the PDP and refers the matter to the appropriate disciplinary committee of the Party.

    “This is in furtherance of the determination of the leadership of the party to enforce discipline at all levels within the party.”

    Sections and Article quoted by Metuh from the PDP 2012 Constitution as amended reads, 58 1 (B) “subject to the provision of this constitution, the Party shall have power to discipline any member who says or does anything likely to bring the party into disrepute, hatred or contempt;

    “(c) disobeys or neglects to carry out lawful directives of the party or any organ or officer of the party;

    (h) engages in any conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of the party or is likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of party;

    (m) false, refuses or neglects to treat a petition, complaints or appeal timeously.

    “57 (3) The Working Committee, at any level of the party, and the Executive Committee (at the Ward Level) may, after preliminary hearings, suspend a member from the party for a period not exceeding one month, during which period the member so suspended shall lose his right to contest any elections, and shall be referred to the appropriate Disciplinary Committee.

    “59 (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this constitution relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level except the National Executive Committee shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Ambassadors, Special Advisers or member of any of the legislative houses.

    “(5) subject to the provisions of this constitution, the National Executive Committee shall have power to expel any member of the party for acts of indiscipline or misconduct which brings, or is likely to bring, the party into disrepute.

    “29 (2. b) in case of emergency, act on behalf of the National Executive Committee subject to ratification by the National Executive Committee.

    The party named Mr. Joe Gadzama SAN as chairman of an 11-member panel to investigate the matters connected with Amaechi’s suspension.

    Metuh, who announced the setting up of the panel, said the panel was expected to submit its recommendation to the party’s NWC.

    Metuh isolated the decision to suspend Amaechi from the crisis arising from the outcome of Friday’s election of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum won by Amaechi against the expectation of powerful stakeholders in the ruling party.

    He based Amaechi’ s suspension on his refusal to rescind the decision by the Rivers State House of Assembly suspending the executive council of the Obio/Akpor Local Government in Rivers State.

    According to him, it was incumbent on the governor to rescind the decision, as directed by a faction of the executive committee of the Rivers chapter of the PDP.

    “Going by the party’s constitution, the governor was expected to have rescinded the suspension order handed the executive council of the Obio/Akpor Local Government by the Rivers State Assembly,” Metuh added.

    Asked whether the suspension of the council was the first of its kind in PDP-controlled states, Metuh said it was the first under the Bamanga Tukur-led NWC.

    He stressed that the party was less concerned with similar suspension of councils in other states under previous leadership of the party.

    The PDP spokesman said the decision to suspend Amaechi was not meant to pull the governor down.

    “We did not take the decision to pull anyone down. We are not out to destroy or condemn the governor. We are not saying that Ameachi is wrong. When you are administering a party, you must ensure there is discipline in the party,” Metuh said.

    Asked whether as the national leader of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan was consulted before the decision to suspend Amaechi was taken, Metuh said the party did not have to consult the President before taking a decision.

    Other members of the Gadzama panel are: Victor Kwom, Inalegwu Onche, Friday Nwosu, Udorji Amedu, Ola Kukoyi and Wakil Mohammed.

    The list also include Yusuf Jangwe, Mrs. Bola Doherty, Tanimu Adamson and Anicho Okoro, who is to serve as secretary to the panel.

    Metuh did not give a time frame within which the panel is expected to submit its report to the leadership of the party.

    Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications Mrs Ibim Semenitari, in a statement, said: “We are concerned as we believe this is political witch hunt. It is worrisome. The reason given is the suspension of the Obio/Akpor council. This is puerile.”

  • Ekiti Assembly okays deputy governor-nominee

    Ekiti Assembly okays deputy governor-nominee

    •Adelabu: politics should unite us

     

    Ekiti State deputy governor-nominee Prof. Modupe Adelabu was yesterday screened by the House of Assembly.

    All the 26 members of the House were present at the screening, which held during a closed door special parliamentary session.

    Mrs. Adelabu was nominated last Friday by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

    She may be sworn in today at a special executive council meeting.

    Prof. Adelabu told reporters that “politics should be a tool for uniting people”.

    She urged “politicians to cooperate with the Fayemi administration to build an Ekiti that all indigenes would be proud of”.

    Prof. Adelabu said: “Irrespective of our political differences, this state belongs to all of us. We should forget our differences and come together to build a solid state, because whatever happens now, either good or bad, will affect all of us.

    “We are already in a new dawn in Ekiti under the Fayemi administration. We should work together for the state’s growth.”

    On the ideas she plans to introduce when she assumes office, Mrs. Adelabu said: “God plans for all of us. I will have to study the ground and know how to contribute my quota. I did not expect it. We all know that this position was not vacant until the unfortunate death of Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka. So, I never expected it.”

    Asked whether she was prepared for the position, she said: “My position as the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has prepared me for any position in government.

    “Though we already have a template, which is the eight-point agenda,

    I will contribute my quota. Nothing would be strange to me because I am part and parcel of this administration.”

    The Speaker, Adewale Omirin, said: “We conducted the screening at the parliament based on the lawmakers’ decision. We drilled the nominee for over 30 minutes and she did not let us down. She answered us intelligently and we did not expect anything less. Her performance did not disappoint us. The governor would not disappoint anyone in making such a critical appointment. The nominee is a round peg in a round hole.”