The Nation Newspaper

Tag: KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR

  • 2018: Ekiti indigenes strategise to take over Government House

    2018: Ekiti indigenes strategise to take over Government House

    Indigenes of Ekiti South Senatorial District of Ekiti State, South West Nigeria are making serious arrangements to ensure that one of their own takes charge at the Government house come 2018.

    Speaking on the plans, a governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) party, Dr. Makanjuola Akindele Owolabi stated that in the 21 years of Ekiti State’s existence, it has never had any son or daughter of Ekiti South Senatorial Zone as governor, despite having more local governments than any of the other zones.

    Dr. Owolabi from Aisegba, Gboyin Local Government while addressing journalists at the weekend at the Lagos Airport said Ekiti South Senatorial Zone has six local governments while the others comprising of Ekiti North and Central zones have five each, noting that the Central part of the state has ruled the State on four different occasions while Ekiti North has also ruled on three different occasions.

    Owolabi lamented that Ekiti South has never been in the saddle of power till date whereas non-indigenes from other States have administered Ekiti State for three years and four months in total.

    “Ekiti South Senatorial Zone is not an outcast. We are not helpless. We do not have to wait for power to be transferred to us. We have all it takes to rule Ekiti State through constitutional, electoral, judicious, justifiable, legal and fair means. We are being made to believe that power can only be bequeathed to us. Are we incompetent or incapable? Are we created to be perpetual spare tyres?” the APC chieftain stated.

    According to Owolabi, under natural justice, the Southern part of the state should have been competing for its third or fourth chance in power by now, stressing that as at 2015 INEC voters’ register, the State has a total of 815,406 spread across the senatorial zones while Ekiti South has the highest number of Senatorial Zones with the second highest number of registered voters of 277,757 which constitutes 34.05%.

    He said that from the total of 416 delegates from all the Local Governments 26 executives from each Local Government, Ekiti Senatorial Zone has 156 delegates representing 37.5%.

    He said: “We have 29 State Excos and 1 national delegate. These delegates cannot take away the superiority of delegates from Ekiti South since the 29 State Excos will have a proportionate number from South too. Ekiti South Senatorial Zone is, therefore, the ‘queen damsel’ of the state politics most especially in deciding who clinches the governorship ticket to become the flag bearer of any political party at the primaries”.

    According to Owolabi, Ekiti South Senatorial Zone with all its politically intimidating statistics and electoral strength both in determining a candidate and a winner has not been fairly and justifiably carried along in the power play of Ekiti State in the past 21 years.

    “We, therefore, pleaded, in the spirit of fairness, equity, justice and democratic principle of power rotation ,amongst confederating entities, that it is only fair and just for the sons and daughters of Ekiti South Senatorial zone to be maximally supported for the governorship of the State for the first time in 21 years.

    “We have been brothers in progress. We have been supportive of our brothers in the North and Central Zones all these years. We are of the same origin. We are all descendants of Oduduwa who is well known for fairness and justice. What we have in abundance for our brothers from the other Senatorial Zones are love and trust. We look forward to the support of our brothers from North and Central just as we have always been doing to them this past twenty-one (21) years”, Dr Owolabi said.

  • Ethnic, tribal threats not healthy for Nigeria – Ex-Ghanaian President

    Ethnic, tribal threats not healthy for Nigeria – Ex-Ghanaian President

    Former President of the Federal Republic of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings has advised Nigerians to stop threatening one another on tribal and ethnic grounds, saying such amounted to the invitation of warfare which is not only unhealthy for the country but a disincentive for national political development.

    Rawlings said given Nigeria’s multi ethic and tribal configuration, tribal or ethnic threats were a recipe for social disharmony.

    Expressing his disdain for the build up of such threats, Rawlings said he is not comfortable with such negative development, rearing its ugly head in Nigeria urging agitators hiding under tribal and ethnic considerations to forthwith desist from such practices.

    Rawlings spoke on Wednesday in Lagos after attending the 12th Annual Lecture organised by the University of Ibadan Alumni Association (UIAA), Ekiti State branch.

    He urged Nigerians to stop the ethnic war and help one another so as to foster harmonious co-existence.

    Rawlings advised Nigerians to consider electing people with leadership integrity into public offices.

    He said as much as Nigerians desire performance based leadership, the people could sustain good leadership if they vote rightly.

    Rawlings said the challenge of governance in Africa borders on leadership without character.

    He said: “ By character, I mean distinctive qualities that overcome the challenges we have as constituencies and organisations. Let’s learn to be gracious. I am sad over the mean behaviour of my fellow black man. African countries are plagued with several challenges such as agriculture, deforestation, bad economy, governance, education amongst others.”

    He also said he is worried by the classification of Nigeria and Ghana in terms of high rate of corruption by Transparency International (TI).

    Rawlings said: “Transparency International shows that countries in the South South region of Africa failed to address corruption and that Ghana and Nigeria rate high in corruption indices. However, some leaders have the will but not the character to fight corruption. The fight against corruption in Nigeria calls for integrity and wise approach so that it will not conflict with the lives of the people”.

    He said when Nigeria fights corruption rightly, it will not only do well for Nigeria but Africa and the world generally, because of its population.

    “Nigeria has the pride and integrity. Most African countries cannot meddle with you people”, Rawlings said.

    In his speech, the Guest Lecturer, Dr. Makanjuola Owolabi said Nigeria’s past till now can best be summarized as one of bad leadership with mediocrity.

    Mediocre leadership, he said is the exact opposite of what Nigeria needs to urgently drive her progress and development.

    Owolabi said: “Leadership with Character” recommends active participation in Nigerian politics especially at the grassroots levels by all those who graduated from Nigerian Universities and Polytechnics.

    “We must also change our attitude to politics and governance of winner takes it all, of revenge, vendetta, vengeance, exclusion, extreme partisanship, wickedness and sadism which have been excluding close to 80 per cent of Nigerians in government activities and expenditures at all levels.”

    He said: “Instead, we need urgently a political class in greater numbers of good leaders with the right characters and attitudes who are ready to serve and work passionately for peace, progress and prosperity of Nigeria”.

    The event was well attended by all members of UIAA, Ekiti branch including: the National President, UIAA, Kemi Emina, Chairman UIAA; Bishop, Ekiti Diocese, Anglican Communion, The Rt. Rev Christopher Omotunde; Provost College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, Prof Mojisola Oyarekua; Ekiti Branch Chairman, Dr. Adeniyi Adedoyin and other alumnus and alumnae.

  • Air Force personnel stabs NDLEA official at Lagos Airport 

    Air Force personnel stabs NDLEA official at Lagos Airport 

    An official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was on Thursday stabbed by Nigeria Air Force (NAF) officer over attempt by the latter to force the former  to close before the 7pm deadline agreed by stakeholders at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

    The Nation gathered that trouble started when the NAF officer was trying to enforce the 7:00pm close time agreed by stakeholders .

    The NAF officers did not wait for 7:00pm, but decided to chase out workers, including agents and NDLEA officials out of the area, a situation which the NDLEA official resisted.

    It was gathered that the NDLEA asked the NAF officer to wait till the agreed time before asking him out of the area.

    The narcotic officer reminded the NAF officer that as a government security agency personnel, he should not harass him the way clearing agents are harassed.

    A source told The Nation that the resistance, further infuriated the NAF officer, who questioned the audacity of the NDLEA officer to challenge him.

    The source added that it was at that point, the NAF officer slapped the NDLEA officer.

    In no time, NDLEA officer, in turn retaliated occasioning exchange of punches, where the narcotic officer had the upper hand.

    Another eyewitness noted that as these government personnel were exchanging punches, another NAF officer joined in the fray to stab the narcotic officer.

    The NDLEA officer, the source said fell , bleeding profusely while  others engaged in a free for all.

    The source explained that as bystanders started shouting that  the NDLEA officer might  die if not given medical attention, he was consequently taken to hospital.

    Contacted, the spokesman for NDLEA, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju confirmed the incident, but added that it was a minor disagreement.

    He also added that the issue has been resolved.

  • N15b debt: Prosecute airlines – Aviation union tells EFCC

    N15b debt: Prosecute airlines – Aviation union tells EFCC

    Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) on Thursday called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and prosecute all debtor airline operators in the country for the  N15 billion debt profile of the ticket and cargo sales Charge (TSC and CSC).

    Speaking to aviation reporters in Lagos, the secretary general of ANAP Comrade Abdulrasaq Saidu described the airline’s action as an economic offence that left unchecked has grown into an entitlement for the perpetrators which is killing the industry.

    Saidu called on the EFCC to wade into the matter, investigate arrest those responsible for this historical debt which was amassed when there was little or no accountability from government.

    Reacting to the events of the past few days, General secretary of ANAP, Comrade  Saidu described what was happening as stealing by a trick of public funds as the monies the Airline Operators were unwilling to let go off did not belong to them but the government.

    “This money they are owing it is stealing by trick of public funds, air travellers pay that 5%, that money has never been a tax to any airline as some of them will erroneously lead people to believe. The money is a charge on passengers the airlines only collect it on behalf of government to allow facilitation, imagine the chaos at the airport where people are travelling if that money is collected as you intend to travel and the fraud that would happen.”

    “These payments’ were being made until Arik entered the fray and due to the impunity of the former managers the indebtedness started and so other airlines joined suit stating that if Arik was not remitting the charges why should they? Even at those times, some unions would take action and then an order from Abuja would override whatever they have done and the debt would continue to rise.”

    “In the past Minister, Fidelia Njeze intervened with the pay as you go technic but same airline scuttled it.”

    According to saidu ANAP is ready to go the extra mile to help the agencies and service providers recover their debt through every legal means as according to him, the N15billion was a de; librately orchestrated debt.

    “We are calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) because this is their purview. They need to wade in as this anomaly is killing the industry.

    “We disagree with the airlines who are trying to justify their criminal acts and impunity, spending public funds and we are calling the EFCC to come in because the money they are talking about never belonged to them in the first place. The money is for aviation development and so when unremitted how do they have justification to complain about regulation? Or training at NCAT? Or the pace of investigations at AIB? Or even infrastructure for that matter?”

    ANAP is supporting the Federal Government through the NCAA and is demanding immediate remittance of those funds.

    On the unions objective and why it was interested in these matters, Comrade Saidu stated: “ These are the kinds of things the unions should be agitating over mostly to get enough of the agencies funds so as to ensure salaries of staff and others are met.”

    “Besides apart from that, everyone says aviation is global business and we tout that here every time but globalization must come in all ramifications because as you know here there is no globalization in remuneration and ANAP aims at improving the working conditions in the industry that is why we came to being as a union.”

    He also stated that the union aims to engage government through constructive criticisms to ensure that government takes the right path on the journey to grow the industry.

  • Nigeria ranks fourth position in  global sales of soft drinks 

    Nigeria ranks fourth position in  global sales of soft drinks 

    Nigeria ranked fourth globally in total volume sales of soft drinks in 2016, statistics from Euromonitor International, global market intelligence research publishers has revealed.

    The statistics showed that 38.68 million litres of soft drinks were sold in the country in 2016, putting it behind only the United States (114.75), China (88.18) and Mexico (45.30) in top markets ranking.

    Mrs Martina Claus,  Head of Market Development, German Engineering Federation, made this known while speaking at the ongoing Third International Trade Exhibition on Agrofood, Plastics, Printing and Packaging in Lagos.

    Claus said 1.98 million litres of alcohol was also sold in Nigeria in 2016, while total volume sales of drinking milk products were 147 tonnes.

    She said: “Nigeria’s fast-growing population brings with it a continuing demand for soft drinks, especially as the climate is quite hot.

    “Urbanisation also drives demand for ready to drink soft drinks amongst busy, on the go consumers, whilst the lack of potable water is largely responsible for the consumption of 36.08 million litres of bottled water in 2016.”

    According to her, the Nigerian food and beverage market remains viable for investment despite the challenges of high energy cost and volatile raw material prices.

    Claus said one of the avenues for attracting prospective investors was the Drinktec Trade Fair for the beverage and liquid food industry which would take place in Munich, Germany from Sept. 11 to Sept. 15.

    She said the event was expected to attract around 1,600 exhibitors from over 70 countries and more than 70,000 trade visitors from all over the world.

    Also speaking, Mr Ahmed Omar, Executive Director, Nigeria Institute of Packaging,  said there was the need for Nigerians to take advantage of the huge opportunities provided by the food and beverage industry.

    Omar urged small and medium scale businesses to collaborate on how to source, package and supply raw materials to big players in the global market in order to maximise their gains.

  • Kalu to Buhari: listen to your doctors, take your medication

    Kalu to Buhari: listen to your doctors, take your medication

    • Counsels President to work less, focus on economic team

    Former Abia State Governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to listen to his doctors and take his medication if any was prescribed by his doctors.
    He said as much as he is excited over the return of Buhari to Nigeria, the president should work less and direct efforts to the economic team to fix the country.

    Kalu spoke to reporters at the weekend at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on his way to Washington.

    He said  Nigerians were happy that the president was back to continue his good works.

    He said: “Now that the president is back, I am very happy. We have been praying. Both Christians and Muslims have been praying because the country have been so polarised that the fabrics of our nation have been eaten by  tribalism and religion.

    “So I  am very happy that the president is back and the president should listen to his doctors and continue to take his medication if any.

    “He should work less and put more effort on the economic team so that the economic team will be able to address the issue of the Nigerian economy. This is very important to the Nigerian people and I guess; if Nigeria economy is good, the president himself will also be happy.

    “Well, I think we Nigerians should be very happy that the president is back. It is only in Nigeria where you find people wishing their leaders to die no matter what any leader has done to anybody.

    “I know that the president has done so well in the area of defence and pursuing Boko Haram. I congratulate him as Commander in Chief;  I also praise the service chiefs, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and the Inspector General of Police as well as the Director of the DSS for their back up operation on Boko Haram. It is a collective effort.

    “Now that the president is back, I am very happy. We have been praying. Both Christians and Muslims have been praying because the country has been so polarised that the fabrics of our nation have been eaten with tribalism and religion.

    “When he took over when there was a lot of doubts on the economy, he took over when the oil prices went down very sharply and whenever your expenditure is more than your income, then there is already a recession. So I am not sure that recession is just going to end so soon. They need to put up a very strong strategy that will bring back Nigeria to where we are supposed to be.”

    He urged the Buhari-led administration to focus more on the economy in order to turn the fortunes of the country around.

    “I believe now that the president is back, he should be able to fine-tune the economic team and put some recovery policies in place.

    “The team should be very serious. The team should also be very out looking. They should not take anything for granted.

    “The most important thing government should look into is the issue of electricity and internal security because internal security is very important.

    “Internal security and electricity are the engine room that drives development, that drives the future of any country and I believe these things can be done,” Kalu said.

    The All Progressives Party (APC) chieftain said the government had made a lot of progress in the war against the Boko Haram sect.

    He said: “I know that the president has done so well in the area of defence and pursuing Boko Haram. I congratulate him as Commander in Chief

    “I also praise the service chiefs, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and the Inspector General of Police as well as the Director of the DSS for their backup operation on Boko Haram. It is a collective effort.”

    He also commiserated with the families of Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo,  former governor of the Old Western Region and Brig.- Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia, former governor of the defunct Bendel State, who passed on recently.

    Kalu said: “Well, both men were great statesmen. Like Gen. Adebayo, he is my colleague’s father, Niyi Adebayo and may his soul rest in peace.

    “I am sure that the polity of them maintaining what they stood for and what they believed in; God will rest their soul in peace.  Gen. Ogbemudia was not only a good general but I don’t know why these two generals should be buried at the same time because Nigeria needed them more now for their experience and what we are going through.

    “I believe it is God’s time and God’s own time, nobody can stop it. So I send my condolences to the families, especially to Niyi Adebayo.

    “I made effort to call him but unfortunately his phone is not going through but I will surely visit. I thank God for the soul of the departed. God will bless their souls and they will rest in peace.”

  • Vacancy: Imo Air operated by Dana begins recruitment

    Imo Air operated by Dana Air has commenced recruitment of indigenes of the state to occupy various positions in the airline as promised by Governor Rochas Okorocha, during the launch of the airline on 24 of January 2017.

    During the interview which commenced in the first week of February, over 400 Imo indigenes participated in the process even as the airline prepares to hit the ground running with a number of initiatives to better impact the indigenes of the state and the South East at large.

    According to the Accountable Manager of Imo Air operated by Dana Air, Mr Obi Mbanzuo, “we have commenced recruitment of Imo state indigenes to occupy various positions in the airline and the process will be in batches.  

    We intend keeping to the promise of the Governor and at the same time; we are trying not to over bloat our workforce.  As you may be aware, Dana Air was selected to manage Imo Air as a result of our consistency, on-time performance, world-class in-flight service, and shrewd managerial style and we intend sticking to this style just so we can match-up to the operational challenges in the industry.’’

    ‘Definitely, all qualified candidates will be absorbed and as an airline committed to giving back to the society; we are already looking at other areas to impact and contribute our quota to increasing the traffic to Imo state, to make the state an investment and tourism hub in the south-east.’’

    Governor Okorocha while reacting to the news of the recruitment said ‘the exercise is just a confirmation of the promises we made during the launch of Imo Air. I am happy about this, as people thought we were joking about this well thought-out idea. 

    ”The truth is, we want people to visit Imo State for both business and pleasure and going into an airline business was just a perfect business decision, considering that Imo state is the fastest developing city in Nigeria at the moment. And as you know, tourism and aviation are a perfect combination, one cannot work without the other.”

    “We are also monitoring the progress of work at the Cargo International Airport and hopefully in April or May, we will receive the first Cargo plane in Imo State. Imolites should expect more Imo-centric initiatives and very soon, the 10% discount for Imo indigenes will also be unveiled.  We are still working out the modalities and we want to prove to the world that this administration walks the talk and doesn’t just pay lip service to projects.”

    ”Let me also mention here that, Dana Air the operator of Imo Air; is part of a massive conglomerate which spans Automobile, Aviation, Pharmaceutical, Steel, Plastics, Water, Chemical, Banking, and Real Estate. And the idea is to have them invest in various areas in Imo state, particularly in Agriculture. This is our plan as we believe creating a favourable business environment for local investors will bring forth foreign investments and investors’.’ 

    Dana Air having flown a record 4.5 million passengers in the last eight years of its operation, entered into an airline partnership with the Imo State Government to boost tourism, business activities and employment opportunities in the state.

  • Olateru seeks AIB’s staff cooperation to reposition agency

    Olateru seeks AIB’s staff cooperation to reposition agency

    Newly appointed Commissioner of Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Engr. Akin Olateru has appealed to management and staff to cooperate with him in order to move the agency forward.

    This is just as he said that his vision for the agency is to make it the biggest in the sector.

    Olateru stated this during the handing-over ceremony at the agency’s headquarters at Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA.

    He commended the immediate past Commissioner, Dr Felix Abali for improving the parastatal from where he met it and keeping it together over the years despite the challenges.

    He also promised to make training a priority for staff, stressing that through this, their technical know-how would improve.

    “I thank you for keeping this place together despite the missiles. I have heard a lot about AIB. I know it is the smallest in the ministry, but, before the end of my tenure, I will ensure that the agency becomes the biggest of all. That’s my mission.

    “However, for that to happen, I will require the maximum cooperation of all staff. I can’t do it alone, but we are here to make it happen. It is for the benefit of all staff of AIB if we can make this organisation to work. It’s not about size sometimes, but about efficiency and effectiveness.

    “This is a new dawn and I am begging everyone to give this new administration a chance. Whatever that has happened in the past, let it be in the past. Aviation is highly technical, very expensive and the most regulated in the world. At the end of the day, we are all going to be happy because everyone will go on training and more opportunities would be given to people.”

    Earlier, Abali commended the entire staff for their support towards him as the Commissioner of the agency and called on them to support the new administration.

    He, however, appealed to some of the disgruntled elements in the system to sheath their sword for the growth of the organisation.

    “I thank the management and staff for their supports for me through thick and thin. And for those who were bent on destroying the agency, I don’t know what else to tell them to change their minds. I’ve spoken with them, but all to no avail,” he said.

  • Runway: Aviation professionals endorse closure of Abuja Airport

    Runway: Aviation professionals endorse closure of Abuja Airport

  • Airport closure is best safety options for Abuja – Allied Air boss

    Airport closure is best safety options for Abuja – Allied Air boss