The Nation Newspaper

Tag: leaders’

  • PDP crisis: Southwest leaders list peace terms for Anenih

    PDP crisis: Southwest leaders list peace terms for Anenih

    Ahead of another reconciliation shuttle to the Southwest by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, leaders of the party have listed terms for peace.

    The terms include National Chairman Bamanga Tukur’s readiness to ensure fairness and justice in the party, reinstatement of sacked National working Committee (NWC) members from the Southwest and protection of the party’s constitution.

    All seems set for a reconciliatory meeting between ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and a delegation of the Board of Trustees of the PDP to be led by Anenih.

    It was unclear last night if Obasanjo will meet with the delegation.

    But there were indications that besides how to reclaim the Southwest in 2014-2015, the fate of the sacked National Secretary of PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Chief Segun Oni (ex-National Vice-Chairman, Southwest) and former National Auditor Chief Bode Mustapha will not be discussed.

    A source said: “The BoT is going to beg Obasanjo because the party’s target is how to reclaim the Southwest from the opposition in 2014 and 2015. But the lingering crisis in the party, especially in Ogun State, is a big headache.

    “The crisis in Ogun has grounded the party’s machinery in the Southwest. It has also led to the removal of three NWC members by Tukur. So, you can see why they are passionate to see Obasanjo.

    “The reconciliatory agenda will certainly focus on how to avert the dwindling fortunes of PDP in the Southwest and the fate of Oyinlola and others.”

    But the PDP leadership has been warned by leaders in the Southwest “not to encourage the implementation of contentious court rulings” on Oyinlola and others.

    It was learnt that the Southwest leaders of the PDP have given conditions for the return of peace to the party.

    A document obtained by our correspondent said: “ More importantly, it is pleasing that the national leader of the PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan has decided to wade into the matter, which has assumed a dangerous proportion. We pray that God will give Dr. Jonathan the courage to see that there is the need for positive change to correct the so many ills that have plagued the PDP and impeded progress in the last one year in office of the current NWC.

    “ As a first step, President Jonathan is advised to prevail on the National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, to regard himself as the father of all and refrain from acts that could lead to further disintegration of the party, ensuring that PDP constitution is not violated and rules and regulations are not side-tracked.

    “In addition, Tukur should be made to realise that PDP would grow stronger with teamwork in which all members of the NWC would agree to swim or sink together and, therefore, do away with the numerous hangers-on who misadvise him as members of the parallel working committee’.

    “The national leader of the PDP is enjoined to act dispassionately to get the PDP on course again; and digest all the reports of the Chief Tony Anenih Committee which is touring all states as a neutral party, in realisation of the fact that without the cooperation of all key stakeholders, PDP could be dislodged from its prominent position by opposition parties which are strategising on how to win future elections in this country.”

    The position paper also sought the reinstatement of all officials sacked from the National Working Committee.

    It added: “Justice Abdu Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja had on January 11, 2013 ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh zonal congress to replace Prince Oyinlola as National Secretary.

    “Similarly, Justice Abang of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in his ruling of April 9, 2013, ruled that the PDP should swear in the ag National Secretary, Onwe Solomon Onwe after putting in place a caretaker committee whose members are to be selected by five officials of the National Working Committee of the PDP.”

  • Amnesty: Northern leaders seek OIC, others’ help

    Amnesty: Northern leaders seek OIC, others’ help

    NORTHERN leaders are exploring the option of enlisting the support of some Islamic countries and organisations to persuade the leadership of Boko Haram to accept the amnesty offer from the federal government.

    Sequel to last week’s rejection of the amnesty offer by the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau, a committee of respected clerics and traditional rulers from the north is to be constituted to reach out to sympathetic Islamic countries and organisations to convince the militants to allow for peace.

    Top on the list of countries and organisations under consideration for the peace initiative are: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Brotherhood in the Maghreb (IBM), Shia Itna-Asheri Islamic Jamaat.

    The membership of the committee, which is expected to commence its assignment immediately, is currently being fine tuned in line with suggestions at the stakeholders’ meeting.

    The Nation gathered that as soon as Boko Haram rejected the amnesty offer, influential northern leaders launched into series of meetings to salvage the situation.

    It was at one of such meetings that the idea of enlisting the support of some Islamic countries/organisations was mooted.

    A source close to the group said: “We are of the belief that everything must be done to ensure the success of the amnesty project. It is worrisome that after all the efforts to get the amnesty offer from the federal government, the leadership of the Islamic sect has been misled into rejecting it.

    “As part of effort to salvage the deal, we are now going to talk to fellow Muslims to help us appeal to Boko Haram to give peace a chance. The idea is that since theirs is an Islamic agitation, it should not be difficult for them to listen to our religious leaders from various parts of the world.

    “We are putting together a committee which will go round and get Islamic organisations involved in appealing to the leaders of Boko Haram to take another look at the amnesty offer.

    “We are doing this because all efforts to make them embrace the deal by our leaders here in the north did not yield any fruit. Otherwise the sect would not announce its rejection of the offer at a time we were still rejoicing over our success at getting the federal government to proffer the deal.

    “We have identified a lot of organisations. We are talking to every organisation and institution that can help us with this difficult assignment of bringing the sect back to the table so as to talk about the amnesty offer. It is not good for us to fold our hands and watch the project fail even before starting.

    “We are also going to be imploring some leading Islamic countries like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to make official statements in favour of the deal. We want Boko Haram to get assurance from fellow Muslims outside Nigeria that the amnesty deal is workable.

    “Perhaps, this will help them to retrace their step and take another look at the offer in order for peace to return to our region. We are very optimistic that with the calibre of people expected as members of the committee, we will get more and more people and institutions to help in appealing to the sect to give peace a chance.”

    The Nation gathered that the move is the brainchild of a group of northern elders with membership from the Northern Union, Northern Elders Forum, Arewa Consultative Forum and the Northern States Governors Forum.

    The source added: “This is beyond a particular organisation. The rejection of the amnesty offer by the sect jolted the entire north. We were already hopeful that peace will return with the amnesty announcement. The rejection got everybody talking about the way forward and that gave birth to the stakeholders’ meeting in Kaduna on Friday.

    “Attendance cuts across all groups and interests in the north. Leading groups like the Northern Union, Northern Elders Forum, Arewa Consultative Forum and the Northern States Governors Forum were ably represented. Traditional rulers and the Jamaatu Nasril Islam were also represented. They all endorsed the move.”

    Meanwhile, it has emerged that Boko Haram’s decision to reject the amnesty deal might not be unconnected with the refusal of the federal government to discuss the modalities for the peace deal.

    According to an inside source, the group had demanded that exhaustive dialogue on the pros and cons of the deal between it and the federal government should precede the announcement of amnesty.

    “Though we had thought we would be able to prevail on the sect to accept the amnesty the way the federal government went about it, it should however, be stated clearly, that the sect had made it clear that it would want to discuss the terms of the deal before it was announced.

    “But the federal government put the cart before the horse by announcing the amnesty offer before discussing with the sect. This is one reason why the leadership of the sect is wary of the deal. They feel they cannot trust the federal government to respect agreements.

    “We are optimistic that we will get them to change their mind. We are just hoping that if we get another opportunity, the horse will come before the cart for peace to reign.”

     

  • Leaders, justice and legacies

    Leaders, justice and legacies

    I use anecdotes and personalities to dilate on the topic of today. I start with the premise that leaders in what ever walks of life must aim to be just and fair in whatever endeavour they pursue, and their legacies must be measured by that immutable yard stick, at all times and in all seasons. Let me state that the death of the Iron Lady of Britain Baroness Margaret Thatcher this week provided the prodding for a topic of this nature. Secondly an interview I read about former Commonwealth Secretary General Emeka Anyaoku who turned 80 recently provided another impetus. Thirdly a lecture I attended last Tuesday at the prestigious Island Club, given by the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, together with the news of the cleaning of the Augean stable of our judiciary by the helmsman of the system, the Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Mariam Alooma Mouktar came in to complete the jigsaw puzzle on this topic. My approach to this analysis will include making passing comments and in some cases leaving hanging statements to enable readers to reach their own conclusions.

    Starting with Baroness Margaret Thatcher – 1925 – 2013 – there is no doubt that a great woman of substance has passed on. The time of her death however deserves some comments even more than her legacies, which are monumental and historical. She has died during the tenure of her party -the Conservative Party, leading a coalition government, and as such British PM David Cameron will be the best chief mourner Thatcher could have wished for. Thatcher’s main legacy economically was that her policies on privatisation, free market economy and cutting the powers of trade unions on strikes were not changed but adopted by her successor opposition Labour Party government under Tony Blair. In diplomacy her main achievement was in collaborating with Ronald Reagan in bringing down the communist rule and hegemony of the former USSR under Gorbachev. Thatcher visited the Soviet Union and declared that she could ‘do business’ with the new Soviet leader and that business was giving freedom to the 15 former Soviet States to go their separate ways .In this regard Eastern Europeans loved her just as Argentines hated her for launching an armada across the world to defeat the Argentina over the Falklands Islands . For her feat, the Argentines tried and sent to jail the military president who led them during the Falklands war – General Galtieri for taking Argentina to war unprepared . Although one could say Thatcher could not have died at a better time some, would say she couldn’t have died at a worse time. If you saw in recent times, the riots in European capitals in the euro zone, offshoots of the adoption of Thatcherism in these European nations –Portugal, Ireland. Greece and Spain – the PIGS nations of the EU- then you could say that Thatcher has died while her legacy of Thatcherism is in tatters in Europe and has led to the London riots in recent times.

    That would explain why some people were reportedly celebrating her death in Glasgow, Bristol and London and were reported to have said rather cruelly that she should be buried in private, but they would like to know her grave, so that they can go and dance on it. In addition, the Argentines may have had the last laugh as the new Pope in the Vatican is one of them and Pope Francis has already used the word Malvinas, Argentina’s name for the Falklands, to refer to the Falklands, much to the chagrin and consternation of the British who have not invited Argentina’s President Katherine Katchener to Thatcher’s elaborate burial on April 17. All the same, I think Thatcher has earned her ceremonial burial and her chequered place in British history and this is shown by the fact that the Queen will be attending the funeral, only the second of such Her Majesty will be attending, since the funeral of the great Winston Churchill, Britain’s war time PM. Personally, even though I disagree with some of Thatcher’s anti welfare policies I cannot but admire her leadership credentials of firmness, focus, guts and grit no matter how grudgingly I give that admiration or salute. May her great soul rest in peace Amen.

    As I was pondering on the Emeka Anyaoku interview, I heard the radio news that the Lagos State government of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola has named a new housing estat, the Millenium Estate after the former Commonwealth DG. Really I do not think that has stolen my thunder on the contents of that interview. In the interview Chief Anyaoku narrated how he was able to remain the Commonwealth DG after Nigeria was suspended when the late General Sanni Abacha killed Tsaro Wiwa and co in spite of late appeals from world leaders including the great Nelson Mandela. He was also able to show how he resigned from the Nigerian diplomatic service during the civil war in protest against the pogrom during the civil war and he was still able to keep his job as a Nigerian diplomat working at the Commonwealth Secretariat. After the civil war he came over to the Nigerian side to help with the Gowon’s post war 3Rs of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation and again he was able when asked why he did not support the Nigeria war effort to insist that he could not do so because of the pogrom against his people.

    I state these events to show the leadership virtues of fairness, justice and respect for human dignity inherent in this distinguished diplomat’s actions while in office in spite of great constraints and challenges of his posting and office In addition Chief Anyaoku identified the present problems facing Nigeria as first the high cost of running our government involving 36 states, 36 bureaucracies and 36 legislatures leading to our spending 75% of our resources and revenue as running costs. The second he called negative politics in which people go to politics not to serve but to enrich themselves. The third problem he traced to the failure of our federal system due to military intervention and the foistering or imposition of the military’s unitary command structure and line of command on our federal constitution.

    To me what the distinguished Nigerian diplomat is saying is that we have been running a federation with weak states and a strong center which is more like a unitary state and is anything but a federal system which can not lead to growth and prosperity of the federating units. This however is in sharp contrast to the position taken by the Oyo State Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi in his brilliant Business Lecture at the Island Club last Tuesday . The Governor held the view that the 36 states provide opportunities for development and investment at the grassroots for the three tiers of government. This to me tallied with what the Governor of Oshun State Ogbeni Aregbesola said at a different forum that the ACN states will use the needs of the people they govern to drive economic growth. Governor Ajimobi went on to say that the ACN states are driven by efficiency and effectiveness in contrast to the large and unwieldy size of the ruling party which lacked both virtues. The Oyo State governor then highlighted the challenges of state development in our federalism which included the lopsided revenue allocation formula which gives the FGN 52.8 % of revenue and the 36 states 26.72% and 774 local governments share 20%; the delineation of responsibilities in the Concurrent and Legislative Lists. According to the governor, the FGN controls 68 legislative items under the Exclusive List and shares 24 with State governments on the Concurrent List; and the issue of security being ceded to the FGN as well as agriculture and the Land Use Act which he criticized.

    However it was in the manner of the delivery of his lecture that the Oyo State governor stole the heart of his audience. He displayed great mastery of the subject and even during the Question and Answer session that I anchored, he was witty, and quite knowledgeable in the simple and disarming way he answered questions . Indeed when the question was put that Nigerian politicians are lawless he was able to react that the masses benefit more from politicians than soldiers in that politicians distribute the largesse of office, whilst soldiers in government hoard the national patrimony to their family. He blamed Military intervention for the pervading culture of corruption in the nation and noted that the politicians must keep shouting wolf when even there is none at least to keep the military at bay and avert military intervention by all means. He then went on to market the achievements of his government in Oyo State which was quite easy and effortless on his part as he was an oil Marketing Guru before he went into politics.

    Lastly the news that Nigeria’s first female Chief Justice has given the red card to fraudulent judges has shown that the Nigerian judicial system is determined to play its role as expected in our constitution. Indeed I recall that the statue of justice is that of a blindfolded woman wielding a sword to show that justice will be done blindly and without favors, no matter whose horse is gored. To me Justice Alooma Mouktar is a ‘Daniel Come to Judgement ‘as in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, when the young lady lawyer asked the wicked Shylock to take his pound of flesh without the loss of any pint of Blood from his hapless debtor. The Nigerian CJN has reportedly said that any judge found to have given a biased judgement will face the full wrath of the law. Already she has set up 23 Committees to investigate allegations of judicial malfeseance against as many judges. She has said that judges will be judged on their performance by the report of the Performance and Evaluation Report set up by the National Judicial Council. Especially, judges who are found guilty of selling judgements will be shown the exit, disgracefully from the judiciary.

    What this boils down to is that Nigeria is now about to experience real rule of law. For when judges dispense justice impartially, according to the law, the citizens feel safe and confident to seek redress from the courts as expected in an effective democracy where the courts are the final arbiter in any disputes in the polity. This has a way of stabilizing any political system and Nigeria cannot afford to be an exception. In a nation being terrorized in the North by Boko Haram for whom the Northern leaders have asked for amnesty – which the leadership of Boko Haram has rejected, saying it has done nothing wrong and that it should be asked to give pardon instead to the Nigerian state for killing its members, a just and honest judiciary is an urgent and much needed institutional relief to adjudicate on issues of amnesty and terrorism and give direction to avert the present trend and drift towards political mischief, confusion and anarchy in our governance structure. Justice Alooma Mouktar has my support and admiration and she reminds me again of the late Margaret Thatcher and I wish her all the best in the daunting and salutary goal she has set herself of purging corruption in our temple of justice as the Iron Lady of the Nigerian judiciary. For the sake of the Nigerian nation and all of us I say – Best of luck, Iron Lady , God Speed and Protection Amen.

  • Police detain four journalists over report on opposition leaders

    Police detain four journalists over report on opposition leaders

    What appears to be an era of media intolerance is gradually creeping in. The police yesterday detained four journalists with a national daily – Leadership.

    They are being detained at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, over their refusal to disclose the source of information in respect of a published story entitled: “Outrage trails presidential directive on Tinubu and APC”.

    The story and a bromide containing the said presidential directive on leading opposition leaders in the country were recently published by the paper.

    Troubled by the story, which it had denied, the Presidency, it was learnt. prompted the police to invite the authors.

    Mrs. Chinyere Fred-Adebulugbe, Tony Amokeodo, Chibuzor Ukaibe and Chuks Ohuegbe reported at the Force Headquarters yesterday morning to honour the police’s invitation.

    In a statement yesterday, the Group Managing Director, Leadership Group Limited, Azubuike Ishiekwene, confirmed the detention of the reporters.

    The newspaper said it was standing by its story and urged the government to go to court if it was uncomfortable with the report.

    It also said its officials, being trained journalists, would not betray the ethics of their profession by disclosing the source of their information, as being sought by the government.

    The statement reads: “The Director, Human Capital and former Leadership Sunday Editor, Mrs. Fred-Adegbulugbe, who led the journalists, said, ‘After the journalists finished writing statements, DIG Peter Gana suddenly excused himself on a call from IGP Mohammed Abubakar.

    “We were later told that we would not be allowed to leave, except we produced the source of the story. It was clear that this was not the call of the police. It is from President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “We told them that it would be unethical to disclose our source and asked them to charge us to court, if they wanted.

    “They said they wanted to have the document. We said the bromide had been published and wondered why they were making such a fuss, since they said the document was a work of fiction.

    “They have made it clear that we would not be released, except we give them the document. We can’t get out. I was escorted to use the toilet after begging.

    “This is a calculated and brazen affront on press freedom; we are bereft that a supposedly elected government will come this low.

    “We demand the unconditional and immediate release of our journalists – Mrs. Chinyere Fred-Adebulugbe (Director, Human Capital); Chuks Ohuegbe (Managing Editor); Tony Amokeodo (Group News Editor); and ChibuzorUkaibe (a Politics Reporter).

    “President Jonathan and his handlers need to tell Nigerians and the civilised world why they have suddenly moved from describing the document as ‘fiction,’ to a do-or-die obsession with knowing the source; they need to tell Nigerians most of who now live in mortal fear of their personal safety and security, if clamping down on the press has now become a priority sport.

    “On our part, we wish to restate our resolve to continue to hold the government to account as enshrined in Chapter 22 of the Constitution and to remain resolute in championing the course of press freedom and the right of the people to know.

    “We stand by our story and will neither be cowed nor intimidated by the strong-arm tactics of President Jonathan nor by the puerile attempts by his spokesmen – Doyin Okupe and Dr. Reuben Abati – to tarnish our report.”

    One of the detained journalists told The Nation by 5pm yesterday that: “We were being kept by three officers from the Office of the DIG Gana on the 7th Floor. Three officers asked Chibuzor and I to write statement. We told them that they could not compel us because we honoured their invitation.

    “I simply wrote that I received the document in the course of my duties. I also wrote that when the Presidency said the story was false, we published the bromide to authenticate the story.

    “When they said that I must disclose the source of the bromide, I replied that the ethics of the profession did not permit me to do so. Based on our insistence on this, they are still keeping us.”

    The police had, by a letter dated April 7, 2013, signed by Danmallam Mohammed, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Admin) for the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP), ‘D’ Department, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja, invited the journalists.

    The company was, by the letter addressed to its chairman, requested to release the journalists “to interview the Deputy Inspector General of Police, D’ Department, FCID on Monday, April 8, 2013 at 1000hrs through the undersigned”.

    The letter urged the company to “note that it is your civic and corporate responsibility to assist police investigation by honouring its invitation in the interest of justice and due process”.

  • Varsity swears in union leaders

    Varsity swears in union leaders

    The University of Ibadan (UI) has sworn in leaders of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), who were elected in February. The Registrar, Prof O.I. Olukoya, administered the oath on them at a ceremony witnessed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Isaac Adewole; Dean of Students’ Afairs, Prof R.A. Alade and some principal officers.

    In his address, Prof Adewole praised the candidates that lost at the poll, praising the electoral body for the peaceful conduct of the election. He promised to work with the incoming leaders and advised them to be effective in delivering their promises to the students.

    The outgoing president, Ekator Edosa, advised the incoming executive to fight for what they believe in and ensure it employed truth to administer the affairs of students.

    Responding, the SUG president, Babatunde Badmus, 300-Level Theatre Arts, promised to improve on the achievements of his predecessor.

    Members of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) were also inaugurated during the ceremony. They were advised not to allow their personal interest override interest of students, who they represent in the parliament. Deputy Registrar, Dr Stella Soola gave the vote of thanks at the end of the ceremony.

    Other members of the union’s executive council include Oluwaseun Adebiyi, Vice President, Olaoluwa Adaramodu, Treasurer, Ugo Nwaoike, Public Relations Officer, Ayomide Adeboye, Assistant General Secretary, Ayokanmi Akinbuluma, General Secretary, Anitie Williams, Parliament Secretary and Opeyemi Akindele, Sport Secretary.

  • Fellowship gets leaders

    The Joint Christian Campus Fellowship (JCCF), University of Calabar (UNICAL), has held its hand-over service to usher in a new set of leaders that will pilot its affairs for a year.

    The programme, which was held at the International Conference Centre, UNICAL, was graced by members of the fellowship from various faculties.

    During the programme, Daniel’s Generation, an arm of the fellowship, held a leadership training with the theme: The change of academy. This was followed by drama presentations by The Reconciliation Theatre, and song ministration among others.

    The guest minister, Pastor Kelechi Chibuzor, in his sermon taken from Psalm 48 tagged The city of our God, said many Christians were travelling on terrible road, an indication that they had deviated from the word of God.

    He said some of the evidence of human sins against their creator included the Bill on same-sex marriage, which he said was gradually being adopted by some churches. He further advised members of the fellowship to follow Christianity with holiness, saying the “city of God is not for anyone without holiness.”

    Highpoint of the event was the presentation and inauguration of the new leaders. The JCCF is the apex and regulatory body of all Christian fellowships on campus.

     

  • Cleric advises church leaders

    Cleric advises church leaders

    The General Overseer of Christian Pentecostal Mission (CPM) International, Dr Obiorah Ezekiel, has urged church leaders to seek virtues of divine nature and look beyond their born-again experience. This, according to him, will make them function more effectively in their calling and win more souls for God.

    Ezekiel spoke during the recent Back to Bible Conference of the church entitled: Glorious Divine Nature, at its Ajao Estate, International headquarters in Lagos

    Back to Bible Conference is a yearly programme aimed at imparting ministers with the glorious divine nature. Through it, God removes all impediments to His work in lives and re-ignites the fire of Pentecost in Christians.

    He regretted that the church is deteriorating in divine nature and love, the purpose for which Christ came, suffered and died. He said it is a crime for churches to remain in the old nature, adding: “The time has come for the church to grow and glow in grace for revelations to manifest.”

    The cleric reminded church leaders that many Christians are hungry and thirsty for undiluted words of God.

    This, he said, they must give without minding the consequences of hatred, malice, unguarded comments and even death.

    He described Christians as the moon that must shine always, adding that miracles are good when Jesus is involved but some Christians are just miracle seekers.

    “When leaders speak or preach, devil is supposed to bow or tremble , but alas! the reverse is the case today, all because of the pursuit of materialism.

    He advised the Pastors to crave for the divine virtues the multi-coloured garment of Joseph garment represents. They are the gifts of the spirit- peace Joy, love, humility and meekness which cannot be bought with materialism.

  • G-20 to Northern leaders: stop Boko Haram

    G-20 to Northern leaders: stop Boko Haram

    NORTH’s leaders got a wake-up call yesterday on the worsening security situation in their domain.

    They were urged by the Northern Political Summit Group (also known as G-20) to pool resources to end the Boko Haram menace and restore peace to the region.

    The call came on a day the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) reassured the Federal Government of collaboration in the battle against terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering.

    It also came on a day 900 corps members sought redeployment from Kano for their mandatory one-year national youth service scheme.

    The Prof. Jerry Gana-led G-20 urged genuine and trustworthy Northern leaders to come forward and dialogue with the Federal Government on how to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

    The G-20 was unveiling plans to hold its 2nd Northern Economic Summit as from June 6 in Kaduna.

    At the session were Senator Barnabas Gemade, Ibrahim Ida, former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Abba Gana, woman-activist, Ene Ede among others

    Speaking in Abuja at a press conference, Prof. Gana called on Northern leaders and governors to use all their resources to end the menace and restore desired peace to the North.

    He said: “Since the security and the welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government, we urge both the federal and state governments to pay greater attention to the resolution of security challenges facing the North. Since our people live in communities, we call for the restoration of community governance and genuine dialogue for peace and harmony.

    “As was in the case in the resolution of the Niger Delta crisis, we urge trust-worthy elders to initiate reliable contacts with leaders of militant groups in the North with a view to achieving peace conferences and negotiations with government.

    “The emergence of authentic leaders will greatly facilitate meaningful dialogue towards the granting of Amnesty and eventual peace.

    “The offers being made for a peaceful resolution through dialogue and amnesty should be taken seriously by government. However, for the proposed dialogue sessions to produce concrete results, trustworthy elders must take bold steps to bring both sides together.”

    Restating that amnesty cannot be given to faceless group, the former information minister explained: “Amnesty cannot be given in absentia. There should be transparency so that other groups do not emerge later. We are in touch with Northern youths and religious leaders, we are constantly in touch with security agencies, peace must return to the North.”

    On the forthcoming Economic Summit, Gana said the summit aims to bring together experts, professionals, investors and stakeholders to examine the investment potentials and business opportunities of Northern Nigeria.

    Gana gave “Building Strategic Partnership for Peace and Economic Development” as the theme of the summit.

    INTERPOL President Mrs. Mireille Ballestrazzi led a team of operatives on a visit to Force Headquarters in Abuja yesterday. She identified terrorism, money laundering and drug trafficking as some of the global challenges being tackled by the organisation.

    She warned that terrorism, money laundering and drug trafficking pose a serious threat to global peace and said the scourge had spread to local communities the world over.

    Mrs. Ballestrazzi identified Columbia as a major flash point in drug-related crimes, noting that the bug had caught up with many poor and developing countries in Africa and Asia.

    The INTERPOL chief said the organisation would continue to collaborate with the Nigeria police in areas of intelligence gathering and information sharing on these and other trans-border crimes.

    According to her, INTERPOL has been working with the police authorities in the fight against terrorism and kidnapping.

    She, however, declined to entertain specific questions on the matter.

    Mrs. Ballestrazzi assured that INTERPOL would strengthen its assistance to the Nigerian government in tracking down fugitives, especially when the crime involved money laundering and terrorism.

    Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Investigation, Mr. Peter Gana, who stood in for IGP Mohammed Abubakar, expressed appreciation to the visiting INTERPOL team.

    He assured that the police will always collaborate and cooperate with the INTERPOL whenever their assistance of the sought in any operation.

  • Fashola: Nigeria has enough leaders to tackle its problems

    Fashola: Nigeria has enough leaders to tackle its problems

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has said Nigeria has the human capital to deal with its problems.

    He said the impression that Nigeria has leadership problem is a myth, adding that the country has produced many exceptional leaders.

    The governor spoke on Monday at the Courtesy Call Room of the Lagos House, Ikeja, while receiving the management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin.

    The governor, an alumnus of UNIBEN, said the university has produced many leaders.

    He said: “UNIBEN produced me, Mr. Shodipo, the Attorney-General of Delta State, Obayuwana, Patrick Obahiagbon in Edo State and so many others that have exploded the myth that there is a leadership problem. There isn’t.

    “The issue is how the country has been able to deploy its human capacity and how it can keep the production line well oiled. They key is how well peopled and well funded the production line is.”

    Fashola acknowledged UNIBEN’s impact on him, saying the institution is committed to academic, sporting and medical excellence.

    He pledged to continue to support his alma mater

    Oshodin said Fashola’s performance as governor has made UNIBEN proud and thanked him for assisting the institution’s Faculty of Law.

    He said their visit was to inform the governor of the inauguration of an UNIBEN Endowment Fund slated for April 6.

    Others on the UNIBEN team include the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Obehi Okojie; the Registrar, Mrs. Gladys Ogbohodo; the Overseer of Ekenwan Campus and Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof. Victor Omazuwa as well as the Acting Librarian, Mrs. Grace Sanni.

     

  • INEC to meet party leaders

    INEC to meet party leaders

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to meet political party leaders today.

    It is part of plans by the commission to entrench democracy in the country and to plug lapses in election monitoring.

    The parties will discuss the modalities on how to enhance their election monitoring abilities and create civic awareness.

    After the meeting, the parties are expected to train their agents on the best practices involved in conducting elections.

    The Nation learnt that the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) is excluded from the meeting owing to the leadership crisis engulfing the party.

    There are three factions laying claims to the leadership of the party.

    An Enugu State High Court recently sacked Sir Victor Umeh as the National Chairman of APGA.

    Shortly after, a stakeholders meeting convened by Anambra Governor Peter Obi appointed Maxi Okwu as the National Chairman.

    Former Deputy National Chairman Sadeeq Masalla is also contesting that the National Executive Council (NEC) had adopted him as the National Chairman in the wake of the crisis that consumed Umeh.

    A source told our correspondent in confidence yesterday that “APGA will not be part of the meeting because it is currently engulfed in leadership crisis.

    “There is no clear National Chairman for now because the party is yet to convene a national convention to elect its new leaders. INEC will not want to have a hand in the crisis.”