The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ike Ekweremadu

  • Promote nation’s diversity for prosperity, Tinubu urges NASS

    Promote nation’s diversity for prosperity, Tinubu urges NASS

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Sen. Bola Tinubu, has advised federal lawmakers to come up with legislation that would help in promoting the country’s diversity for prosperity.

    Tinubu made the call when the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu led Senate and House of Representatives Committee on the review of 1999 Constitution on a visit at his residence in Lagos on Saturday.

    The Senators visited him on the sidelines of their annual retreat on the review of the 1999 Constitution in Lagos.

    He commended the legislators for the efforts on ways to properly amend the country’s constitution.

    “I urged you to continue to work for the unity of the nation for our diversity to be meaningful. I promise to be available to render any assistance by providing suggestions and ideas that can foster a greater Nigeria.

    “Do not allow excuses turn you to the house-of-do-nothing.The country is not in a panic mode because of the way you have given effect to the executive constitutional requests,’’ he said.

    Tinubu also urged the legislators to take another look at some of the items in the exclusive federal list, which he described as too loaded.

    According to him, this will pave the way for the practice of true federalism in the country.

    Speaking earlier, Ekweremadu said the visit was to honour Tinubu as a prominent leader and a former Senator. The deputy president of the Senate described him as a man of great expertise in the art of governance and law-making.

    He said the lawmakers would always be ready to learn from his wealth of knowledge.

  • South East leaders reiterate commitment to united Nigeria

    South East leaders reiterate commitment to united Nigeria

    South East leaders and stakeholders have reiterated their commitment to a united Nigeria where peace, fairness and equality of opportunities are paramount to citizens irrespective of ethnicity or political affiliation.

    The leaders also threw their weight behind the call for full restructuring of the country on the platform of fairness and equity.

    The Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, Gov. Dave Umahi announced in the early hours of Sunday in Enugu while addressing newsmen on the outcome of an interactive forum of stakeholders.

    Umahi, who is the governor of Ebonyi, said that leaders from the zone condemn all manner of hate speeches from any segment of the country.

    He said that they were in consultation with leaders from other parts of the country with a view to engaging the Federal Government in a meaningful dialogue.

    He said that the region was in full support of the 2014 National Conference report and urged the Federal Government to set up structures for implementing same within a reasonable time.

    “We are also in full support of the clamour for the restructure of the country and call on the Federal Government to start a dialogue with Nigerians on the modalities for achieving it,” he said.

    The governor said that the governors’ forum and South East National Assembly caucus would constitute the official organ that would speak for the people of the area.

    Umahi appealed to the Federal Government to take steps that would ensure safety of the people of the area wherever they lived in the country “just as we have guaranteed the safety of those in our domain”.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor of Enugu State, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had in an address of welcome charged the people of the area to forge a common front.

    Ugwuanyi said that moment like that called for love among the people.

    The governor said that nothing would please residents of the state than to remember that Enugu was the venue where the people of the zone gathered to resolve their differences.

    NAN further reports that the meeting which held at the Nike Lake Resort had all governors of the zone in attendance.

    Former Senate Presidents Chief Ken Nnamani and Chief Adolph Wabara as well as the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu was also in attendance.

    Other prominent leaders in attendance included, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, Sen. Gil Nnaji, Sen. Chukwuka Utazi and several members of the House of Representatives from the zone.

    Members of the clergy, traditional rulers and the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo was also represented.

  • FG too large, should be adjusted – Ekweremadu

    FG too large, should be adjusted – Ekweremadu

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, said the functions of the Federal Government as currently constituted are too much and should be adjusted.

    He stated this during chat with journalists in Abuja on Monday.

    Ekweremadu said the federal government as currently constituted was too large and difficult to operate.

    According to him, the states have little roles to perform whereas the federal government is over burdened with responsibilities.

    He said: “We believe that the federal government as presently constituted is too big and we need to adjust it.

    “In a situation where you have in the concurrent list only about 16 items, most of the other things are in the exclusive list.

    “It doesn’t make sense, so we need to find a way of trimming the federal government to the benefit of the component states.

    “So that some of these issues don’t become federal issues and that is the idea of federalism.

    “We are looking at that, things like arbitration, agriculture, environment and such issues. Some of these things should go to the concurrent list and even the police.”

    The deputy president of the senate noted that the solution to Nigeria’s security challenges was the decentralisation of the police and allowing state governments to have their police.

    He pointed out that each state varied in the kind of security challenges and the kind of policing required.

    On the fear that state governments could hijack the force in their states, he said there should be a commission to oversee the state police just like the National Judicial Council (NJC) oversees the judiciary.

    “We cannot decentralise the police now because some people are still opposed to it,” Ekweremadu added.

    NAN

     

  • Saraki’s acquittal: Ekweremadu, Fayose, senators happy

    Saraki’s acquittal: Ekweremadu, Fayose, senators happy

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose and senators yesterday described as “victory for democracy” the discharge and acquittal of Senate President Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    Ekweremadu said it did not come to him as a surprise given that, “like the trumped up forgery and conspiracy charges slammed against him and Saraki which was later withdrawn by the Federal Government, the CCT trial was hatched in the coven of evil politics and was, therefore, bound to fall like a pack of cards.”

    Some senators yesterday hailed the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for clearing their president, Bukola Saraki, of false assets declaration charge.

    Senator Ibn Na Allah told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that it was obvious that the case against Saraki was a distraction to governance.

    “The case was diversionary and unhelpful to the government of the day and now, he has been vindicated.

    “Those who erroneously believed that they can mislead the government into doing a wrong thing should know that they have not been helpful to the government,” he said.

    Senate Chief Whip Olusola Adeyeye said the judgement indicated that the judiciary is independent.

    “It shows that the judiciary does not act based on what the executive wants or based on what the legislature wants.”

    Senator Bukar Ibrahim (APC-Yobe) said : “It’s my pleasure as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and an admirer of the President of the Senate to congratulate him over his success in the CCT case.”

    Fayose said Saraki’s victory at CCT was another fulfilment of one of the predictions he released earlier in the year saying: “There is nothing that people like us say with our mouth that would not come to pass.”

    Speaking with reporters in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, Fayose said the CCT verdict was “another lesson for the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Federal Government that criminal cases are not won on the pages of newspapers.”

  • Senate passes Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Bill

    Senate passes Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Bill

    The Senate on Thursday passed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Bill, 2017, the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports.

    The bill was passed following the adoption of a report of the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment on the Bill.

    Presenting the report, Chairman of the committee, Sen. Fatima Raji-Rasaki, said the bill would help to develop businesses in Nigeria.

    She said that when assented to, the bill would promote fair, efficient and competitive markets in the country.

    “This bill seeks to facilitate access by all citizens to safe products and secure the protection of rights for all consumers in Nigeria,” she said.

    In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at the plenary, thanked the lawmakers for ensuring the passage of the bill.

    Ekweremadu said that the bill would assist in the ease of doing business in the country.

    He said that Nigeria appeared to have been found wanting in the area of business, adding that the bill would help to set some records straight.

    “When assented to, the bill will protect all patented products, protect employees and ensure that consumers have access to products made to the highest standards.

    “Consumers will also have compensation for faulty purchases or transactions,” he said.

  • Sen. Ekweremadu advises IPOB, MASSOB on sit-at-home order

    Sen. Ekweremadu advises IPOB, MASSOB on sit-at-home order

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has advised that the sit-at-home order declared by some right groups in South-East for May 30 should be optional.

    The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra had called on citizens of South-East to stay at home on May 30 to observe their anniversary.

    Ekweremmadu gave the advice on Sunday at an Inter-denominational church service at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Abakaliki, to commemorate 2017 Democracy Day and Gov. David Umahi’s second year in office.

    He noted that while the agitation and concerns of the groups are genuine, they should not be pursued with force or other forms of armed struggle.

    “Individuals who operate private businesses and want to stay-at-home on that day should stay, while those who want to operate their businesses should be allowed to do so.

    “I believe that civil and public workers should be ready to go to work on that day as I appeal that no group should force people to stay at home against their wishes,” he added.

    The deputy senate president called on the agitators to embrace dialogue and constructive engagement in pursuing their agitation; not coercion or other forms of armed struggle.

    “The struggles and concerns are genuine but with the collaboration of all and constructive engagement, we will surely get to our destination no matter how long it takes.

    “Black Americans agitated for a long time before Barack Obama became president in 2008, likewise in India, it took constructive engagement for the people to actualise their agitation.

    “South Africa despite racial disturbances and black oppression, employed constructive engagement and intervention of the western world and African interests such as Nigeria’s, to dismantle apartheid,” he said.

    Ekweremadu congratulated the people of Ebonyi on the second year in office of their governor.

    He noted that the state had matured politically and socially, adding that any indigene could aspire for any political office in the state.

    In his remark, Umahi noted that no individual or group would force the citizens of the state to stay-at-home on May 30.

    “I have met the leadership of these groups on various occasions and discovered that most of their agitations are correct but the ways they seek to actualise them can be faulted.

    “I have also met the leadership of market unions in the state and we resolved that markets would be open on that day and no trader or any other individual will be molested,” he said.

    The governor said that the case of Ebonyi was different as the state had suffered untold marginalisation right from its days in old Anambra, Imo, Enugu and Abia states.

    “The deputy senate president is fighting marginalisation of the Igbos at the federal level; when this is addressed, we will start our own agitation of marginalisation as a state.

    “Ebonyi does not believe in regional government because we will continue suffering deprivation but believe in the restructuring of the country to address all imbalances,” he said.

    In his homily, Rev. Fr Abraham Nwali urged political and economic leaders in the state to build industries instead of embarking on ‘non-direct-impact’ projects such as hotels.

    “The governor should be supported in his desire to ensure that sachet water companies are constructed in the three senatorial zones of the state,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prayers were said by officiating ministers of the Presbyterian Church for the unity of the country and peace in Ebonyi.

  • Police search Ekweremadu’s Abuja guest house

    Police search Ekweremadu’s Abuja guest house

    The police on Friday conducted a search on the official guest house of the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu. The guest house is located in the highbrow Maitama District, Abuja.

    Ekweremadu’s Special Adviser, Mr. Uche Anichukwu who confirmed the search on the guest house, said police did not inform the senator or any of his aides before the search was conducted.

    Anichukwu further said that only the senator’s steward was present when the police team arrived at the property, adding that nothing incriminating was found in the premises.

    According to him, the policemen were said to have told the steward that they were detailed by the Force Headquarters to carry out the search.

    When our correspondent called the Force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood for comments, his mobile telephone indicated that his line was switched off.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Senate had, a few weeks ago, raised the alarm, saying that security report at its disposal indicated that the security agencies were planning to invade Ekweremadu’s residence either in Abuja or Enugu.

    According to the spokesman of the caucus, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe who addressed journalists on the matter, the raid was to be carried out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Abaribe said the plot was to plant incriminating items; either a huge amount in foreign currencies or guns in Ekweremadu’s targeted residence and then arrest him for money laundry or gun running.

    The caucus stated that the motive behind the alleged plot was to put the Deputy President of the Senate out of circulation by arresting and detaining him on trumped up charges.

  • Buhari’s $5.815bn Chinese loan faces hurdles in Senate

    …Summons Amaechi for explanation

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for the National Assembly’s endorsement of $5,815 billion loan suffered setback Tuesday in the Senate.

    The Federal Government planned to raise the loan from China Exim Bank to execute the modernization of Lagos-Kano, Kano-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan and Lagos-Calabar rail lines.

    Following a motion by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), the Senate resolved to invite Minister of Transportation to explain why South East corridor rail line was omitted in the areas covered by the proposed loan.

    The upper chamber however rejected a prayer that urged the Senate to suspend consideration of the loan request pending until correction of the apparent oversight of the eastern parts of the country is made.

    The motion entitled “Outright Omission of Eastern Corridor Rail Line in the request for approval of Federal Government 2016-2015 External Borrowing (Rolling Plan)” was hotly debated on the floor of the Senate.

    Abaribe in his lead debate recalled that on 26th of April, 2017 the Federal Government laid before the National Assembly a request seeking an approval for a loan of $5,851 billion from China Exim Bank to execute the modernization of Lagos-Kano, Kano-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan and Lagos-Calabar rail segment;

    He observed with dismay, that the above sections of the rail line that the loan was being sought for covers only a section of the country, the western corridor or sections;

    The Abia South lawmaker noted that the Eastern section of the rail segment, which has a link between the South Eastern to North Eastern parts of the rail line is completely excluded from the request;

    He further noted that the loan being a Federal Government borrowing would be paid for by all SECTIONS of the country; therefore every section of the country should be taken into consideration;

    He said that he is aware that there is a Railway Master Plan developed by the Ministry of Transport and of which such plan has not being referred to in the current borrowing plan;

    Abaribe also said that he is aware that for the railway projects to have a meaningful impact on the development of the country; it should cover all parts of Nigeria.

    He expressed concern that the complete exclusion of the Eastern section that links the four zones of South-South, South-East, North-Central and North East and the key cities such as Port Harcourt, Aba, Enugu, Makurdi, Lafia, Gudi, Jos, Bauchi and Maiduguri is inexplicable,

    He prayed that Senate to suspend consideration of the loan request of any guise until the correction of this apparent oversight of the eastern parts of the country.

    He also urged that Senate to invite the Minister of Transport to appear and explain the reasons for the exclusion of the Eastern Corridor of Nigeria’s Rail Lines from the proposed loan from China Exim bank.

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who seconded the motion said that the Senate should see injustice done to any section of the country as injustice to all.

    Ekweremadu said that it is on record that the Federal Government had been rehabilitating rail lines in the country with the exception of the rail lines in the South East.

    He noted that the promise of the government that the rail line in the South East would be accommodated in future is doubtful.

    Ekweremadu said that no section of the country should be excluded in development projects.

    But Senator Gbenga Ashafa, (Lagos East) described the information in the motion as “inadequate and inaccurate.”

    Ashafa who is also Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, said that the Lagos-Kano and Lagos-Calabar rail lines covered the areas listed in the motion.

    He said that Onitsha and Aba areas are also covered in the plan of the rail line.

    He urged the Senate to look at the issue dispassionately insisting that the loan should be secured for the development of the country.

    Ashafa added that government is a continuum.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki said that leadership of the National Assembly took up the issue with President Buhari.

    Saraki said that the meeting of the National Assembly leadership with the executive informed the second letter of the President on the issue.

    He said that the second letter of President Buhari specified that every section of the country would be covered by the loan.

    Saraki said that if the report of the Senate committee on Local and Foreign Debts failed to cover the South East, the Senate would resolve how to deal with the loan.

     

  • We will win future elections – PDP

    We will win future elections – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State on Sunday expressed optimism that it would win all future elections in the state.

    Some chieftains of the party in the state said at a zonal meeting in Awgu for Enugu West that the party would continue to control the state in spite of recent political realignments in the state.

    The Deputy Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Chief Donatus Uzogbado, said that the party was not envisaging any challenge from any of the opposition parties in the state.

    Uzogbado said that the faithful needed not fret over recent events where some members defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that PDP was “still on ground”.

    “The APC challenge is no challenge to us. In fact, the 2019 elections is going to be the easiest for our party in the state,” he said.

    Also, the Chairman of Aninri Local Government Area, Mr. Chidi Ekwe, said that the unprecedented peace and unity in the party would be the tonic for its successful outing of the party in future polls.

    Ekwe hailed the exemplary relationship between Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, saying that the state had not had it so good.

    “We at the local government are trying to replicate the good works of the governor in our various councils,” Ekwe said.

    The Commissioner for Water Resources, Chief Charles Egungbe, said that the PDP had a well-thought out secession plan which could not be thwarted by any of the opposition parties.

    Egungbe said that there was nothing to fear as the PDP was synonymous with the state, adding that the second term of the governor was assured.

    He, however, urged the party faithful not to rest on their oars or remain indifferent if the PDP must be successful.

    “Our loyalty is with Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and we shall keep supporting him,” Egungbe said.

    The member representing Aninri constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Toby Okechukwu, said that Enugu West was a no-go area for the opposition parties.

    Okechukwu said that politicians in the area were so focused that even without a political party they could decide where their allegiance stood and would not waiver.

    “However, we will do our best to make sure that the party continues to prosper. Our support for the governor is not in vain. We are with him because of what he is doing,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the party leadership in the zone received some members of opposition parties in the state who defected to it at the event.

    One of them, from All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mrs. Ijeoma Chukwu, said that her decision to join PDP was borne out of conviction that it was the party of the moment in the state.

    Chukwu, who was APGA’s candidate for the Enugu West senatorial election in 2015, said that her former party was dying.

    “We have decided to join the PDP because of some reasons. I love my former party, APGA, but it is unfortunate the party is gradually dying,” she said.

     

  • Senate: Bill for 75% payment of retirees’ contributions scales second reading

    Senate: Bill for 75% payment of retirees’ contributions scales second reading

    The Bill for an Act to amend the Pension Reform Act to provide for definite percentage a retiree can withdraw from his Retirement Savings Account passed second reading at the Senate on Wednesday.

    The Bill is sponsored by Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto)

    Leading debate on the bill, Wamakko said that the bill was meant to ameliorate the sufferings of retirees who found it difficult to withdraw their benefits after retirement.

    He said it would enable retirees to withdraw 75 per cent of their benefits as lump sum after retirement rather than the current provision which allowed for withdrawal of only 25 per cent.

    He added that the amendment would also hasten the period of payment as against present practice where retirees waited endlessly to access their benefits.

    “Rather than enjoy retirement after selflessly serving their father land, they continue to remain in misery, pain, sickness and even death.

    “The relevance of the amendment cannot be overemphasized.

    “It seeks to provide succour to retirees in the delay and other difficulties encountered in withdrawing from their retirement savings account.

    “It equally provides for definite and reasonable percentage that the pensioner can withdraw from such account,’’ he said.

    Supporting the bill, Sen. Adamu Aliero (APC-Kebbi) said the bill came at a time when so many retirees went through much hurdle to access their retirement benefit.

    He said it was for a similar reason that the old pension scheme was abolished for a new one in 2004.

    Aliero said, “this is one of the most important bills that seek to radically address the present problem that retirees are facing.

    “When we moved to contributory pension, even after retirement, you have to wait for a given period before you have access to this fund.

    “The issue is, nobody questions how you eat and how you pay your children’s fees. I think that is what this bill seeks to address.’’

    Aliero commended Wamakko for intervening to ensure that retirees received their benefits as at when due.

    Lawmakers present unanimously voted for the passage of the bill to the next level.

    In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at the day’s session, assured that the Senate would continue to pass laws that would contribute positively to the wellbeing of all Nigerians.

    While commending Wamakko for coming up with the bill, Ekweremadu said “I am sure the retirees will be happy with you and indeed the Senate’’.

    He referred the bill to the Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters and directed that it should be returned to plenary in four weeks.