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Tag: hails

  • Ideye hails Eagles mentality : Promises more goals in finals

    Ideye hails Eagles mentality : Promises more goals in finals

    Dynamo Keiv of Ukrain forward, Brown Ideye has said that the Super Eagles have the right mentality that will secure the Africa Cup of Nations trophy in the finals slated for South Africa on Sunday.

    “I am very proud and happy with our mentality. We have shown the world that we are the team to beat in Africa. Nobody gave us a chance but we had to motivate ourselves. Because we are all professionals and we know the pride in winning a trophy. I am very much proud once again and I believe winning the trophy on Sunday is a new beginning for Nigerian football,” Ideye said.

    He added: “After our first game, we were totally condemned but we have shown that we are not failures. But I will still like to thank everybody because without those criticisms we might not have gotten to this stage but we are always on course to make the country proud.

    “It’s obviously a big challenge for us and I believe we will end it well.

    “It’s always an important time. We have shown the desire to win the trophy. The match against Ivory Coast and Mali have increased our confidence.”

  • CNPP hails Chime’s return

    The Enugu State chapter of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has expressed solidarity with the people of the state for the safe return of Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime.

    Rising from its monthly general meeting, the group, in a statement by its Chairman, Afam Nnaji, and Secretary, Pastor Frank Gold Ekwueme, also expressed gratitude to Acting Governor Sunday Onyebuchi, the State Executive Council (Exco), the House of Assembly and local government chairmen for their support and contributions in keeping Enugu working while the governor was away.

    The CNPP hailed the government for uplifting the masses as confirmed by the recent Good Governance tour, led by Information Minister Labaran Maku when the team visited the state.

    “We wish to commend the Enugu State Government, led by Sullivan Iheanacho Chime, for not only making the state to work again but also for being able to reshape the face of the old Eastern Region for good,” the group said.

  • Edo hails World Bank

    The Edo State Government yesterday hailed the World Bank for recognising that sustainable development is anchored on the provision of basic needs of the people.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said this during an interactive session with co-ordinators of World Bank assisted projects in the state.

    He said: “The World Bank having recognised the value of people over the years has shifted its focus from emphasising growth to holistic and sustainable development.

    “The World Bank has now become, in several ways, an agent of growth, development and good governance.

    “We are happy the World Bank has recognise the values of the people and that the projects are sustainable and would outlived the developers.

    “The government appreciates what the bank is doing and we expect they would triple their contribution to further deepen democracy, sustainable development and growth in the state.”

     

  • MOSOP hails judgment against Shell

    MOSOP hails judgment against Shell

    The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has hailed the Dutch Court for finding Shell guilty of oil spill.

    The umbrella body of the Ogoni said it shares in the disappointment of Niger Delta farmers on Wednesday’s judgment at the Netherlands’ court.

    It lauded the courageous Nigerian farmers from Goi in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Ikot Ada-Udo in Akwa Ibom State and Oruma in Bayelsa State, who took the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) to court in The Hague, Netherlands, for oil spills that contaminated their environment, including fish ponds and farmlands.

    MOSOP, through its President, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, hailed the court’s judgment in the case of the farmer from Ikot Ada-Udo, in which Shell was held liable for the oil spill that devastated his farmland and fish ponds.

    “MOSOP also shares the disappointment of three of the farmers, whose cases were dismissed by the court in the Netherlands. In our view, the court may have reached this conclusion based on its failure to compel Shell to provide necessary information regarding oil spills and its management in the Niger Delta, as requested by the litigants.

    “Courts of law are temples of justice and all parties to a suit are expected to provide all necessary evidence that would aid the court in arriving at a just conclusion.

    “MOSOP believes that the entire process that culminated in this decision by the court sets a precedent that would help rewrite the way multinational oil companies conduct businesses in the Niger Delta.

    “This case sets a global template for holding multinational oil corporations accountable for their impunity and atrocities in resource rich, but poor countries, especially in the global South.

    “It also provides alternative avenues for local communities to ventilate their grievances, considering that it takes on the average ten years in the first instance to conclude a case against oil multinational companies before Nigerian courts,” it said.

    MOSOP added that it stood in solidarity with local communities in the Niger Delta and would do everything within its powers, including collaborating with other groups, to support the farmers to appeal the judgment.

  • Remediation: Saraki hails Jonathan

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr Bukola Saraki, has hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for his interventionist funds for the re-mediation of Bagega community in Zamfara State.

    He said the President’s gesture would save the lives of over 1,500 children in the community.

    In a statement by his media aide, Bamikole Omishore, the senator said: “…The campaign to Save Bagega has been growing in recent weeks, and Senator Bukola Saraki had led calls from the Senate to the Federal Government for a swift re-mediation.

    “The Committee on the Environment had received a brief from a non-governmental organization (NGO), Medicin Sans Frontiere (Doctors Without Borders), on the need to take immediate action to avert further deaths of children.

    “Their report suggested that over 400 children had died as a result of lead poisoning and another 1,500 were at risk of death, due to the environmental damage arising from poor mining procedures.

    “The release of funds from the Federal Government for the environmental clean-up in Bagega is great news for the community as well as the thousands of people that added their voices to the campaign.”

    The former Kwara State governor noted that despite initial delays, the President and the ministry must have been working closely to fast-track the re-mediation process.

    He also expressed his support for the national Save Bagega campaign and urged the Federal Government to clean up the village before the next rainy season.

    The senator also at the weekend donated N500,000 to women who were affected by lead poisoning in Zamfara State.

    Saraki was in the state as part of his oversight activities.

    A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Bamikole Omishore, said the senator was in Bagega to “review how best to enable relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Environment and the Federal Government, to deal with the environmental challenge of lead poisoning currently ravaging Bagega”.

    The statement said Saraki was accompanied by Zamfara State Commissioner for Environment.

    It said the delegation visited the Emir of Zamfara to assure him that work would soon begin to remediate the land.

    The statement reads: “Early last December, the committee received a delegation from a non-governmental body MSF (Doctors Without Borders).

    “The MSF came to brief the committee on the state of affairs in the area and the need to take immediate action to avert further death of children. Their report suggested that over 400 children have died already and another 1500 are at risk of death due to the effects of lead poisoning.”

  • Yobo hails Omeruo, Oboabona

    Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo has hailed the performance of Kenneth Omeruo, who stepped into the breach left by his captain’s absence during the 1-1 Africa Cup of Nations draw against Zambia on Friday evening.

    Omeruo hardly put a foot wrong and formed a near-perfect partnership with Sunshine Stars captain Godfrey Oboabona.

    “He was very good and you have to give credit to the young lads. They played a good game. If not for a bad calls by the referee they would have kept a clean sheet,” says Yobo, who was left out after failing to recover fully from a knock in Nigeria’s opening game against Burkina Faso.

    “I strained my ankle a bit when I want for a tackle early in the game and the medical team felt I was not ready to come back. But I am working hard to get back to full fitness and be ready for our last game,” he added.

  • Ideye hails Emenike partnership

    Ideye hails Emenike partnership

    Super Eagles forward Brown Ideye has exclusively revealed that his partnership with Emmanuel Emenike in the Eagles attack against Burkina Faso in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is near perfect.

    Ideye, who plies his football trade with Dynamo Kiev, further stated that all they need is a longer time to blend and attack problem would be as good as over.

    The former Ocean Boys of Bayelsa prolific scorer it will be recalled provided the stylish pass that saw Emenike score the first goal in the opening match of their campaign in Group C of Africa’s most prestigious soccer fiesta.

    “It was a perfect team work between myself and Emenike,” said Ideye.

    “Emenike is truly a striker of repute, he has pace and he is rugged. I know what he can do with the ball because we play in the same league in Russia. .

    “He is strong in the air and I know I can complement his capabilities..

    “Having a lethal finisher like Emenike in this team is great; he can play with anybody and can also play in any team in the world.

    “With a goal to his name, I believe he will score more goals and his goals will lift the team.”

  • Obasanjo hails Orji on security

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has hailed Abia State Governor Theodore Orji for ensuring peace and security in the state.

    Obasanjo said a nation, state or community that has no security and peace is doomed because development would elude the people from such area.

    The former President spoke at Amokwo Item during this year’s annual Item Day.

    He noted that security is important to the development of any nation.

    Obasanjo was given the highest award of Ogbuzuo of Item.

    He said there was a time insecurity was the major challenge in the state.

    The frontline farmer hailed Orji for tackling the problem successfully.

    Obasanjo explained that his visit to Item afforded him the opportunity to learn more from the people.

    He said the people have done well and urged them to do more.

    According to him, no government at any level can provide all the people’s needs.

    Obasanjo said: “No government at any level can provide all their people’s needs. Therefore, the age grade system has been used by the people of Item to achieve and complement the efforts of the state government.”

    The former President noted that the community is the closest to the people and not the local or state government.

    He added: “They (communities) have a better reach to both outside and those around to attract development.

    “I am a rural man; in fact, a village man. But what I have seen here shows that there are people who are better than me in this aspect.”

    The President-General of Item Development Association (IDA), Bishop Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha, thanked Obasanjo for his love for Item people and urged him to come back again.

  • Governor hails ex-Chief of Defence staff Petinrin

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the weekend urged Nigerians to aspire to be the best wherever they find themselves.

    Aregbesola spoke in Ipetu-Ijesa at a reception in honour of the retired Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin.

    Describing Petinrin as a “worthy ambassador of the state, he said: “The man we are celebrating today is one of the finest officers Nigeria has produced. He is one of the best crops of men that have come out of Ijeshaland, the state and Nigeria.”

    Aregbesola urged those clamouring for the creation of more local governments to be prepared to work towards improving the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    He said more local governments would accelerate development in the state.

    Aregbesola said: “We would love to have more local governments and bring government closer to the people, but sadly, the IGR of the existing local governments is far cry.

    “Without the IGR, there is trouble in terms of administrative running cost for the sustenance of the existing and proposed local governments.”

    Petinrin urged the people to contribute to the society’s development, instead of waiting for the government to do everything for them.

  • Amosun hails Soyinka

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday congratulated Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka on his emergence as the first winner of the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership.

    In a statement by his media aide, Mrs. Funmi Wakama, Amosun described Soyinka as “an embodiment of integrity, credibility, courage, selflessness, accountability, tenacity of purpose, who deserves the award”.

    He said: “The winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature has spent his entire adult life leading the crusade for a just and united society founded on the sanctity of the rule of law and press freedom. Soyinka has continued to use the arts as a tool for social re-engineering.”

    Amosun congratulated the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation for instituting the biennial award, adding that his administration would continue to follow in the footsteps of the late Awolowo.

    He said: “With the single-minded commitment with which we are pursuing our mission to rebuild Ogun State, the landmark development witnessed in the old Western Region is within our reach in our dear state.”

    Amosun wished Soyinka many more years of meritorious service to the nation.