The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Monday

  • Friday, Monday are public holidays for Easter

    Friday, Monday are public holidays for Easter

    THE Federal Government has declared Friday and Monday as public holidays to mark this year’s Good Friday and Easter Monday celebrations.

    The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government.

    In a statement by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Abubakar Magaji, the minister enjoined all Christians and Nigerians to extend the spiritual benefits of Easter celebrations, which are love, peace, justice and kindness to their daily living.

    Wishing Nigerians happy celebrations, the minister urged them to use the occasion to pray for the country’s peace and unity.

  • The Monday after

    Hardball is no sorcerer; neither does he have a crystal ball. Indeed, much of what he has is intellectual rascality and what he likes to call ‘embedment’ – the art of sneaking into the ‘minds’ of issues, events and people. Now, articulating this piece before the Saturday, March 28 presidential polls, Hardball seeks to embed (or fast-forward) into Monday, March 30, 2015. Here we go:

    It’s morning of Monday morning, say about 7am to 8am; the news is abroad. The big news which was speculative yesterday Sunday is now definitive and bold. You know the news of course: it is proclaimed loud and bold. The newspaper headlines are particularly creative in a crazy way; each paper seeking to outdo the other in its projection of the BIG NEWS!

    Yesterday as the last of the numbers trickled in, the picture was being formed. Results from city centres had been in almost immediately showing pointers to winners and losers. But the far north, the riverine areas and the uplands are still being collated. But on Monday, the result must be called! If the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) would not do so, the media would broach it and that is what the headlines have done.

    What would the headlines look like? Who can hazard a guess? Well Hardball cannot because that would be pre-emptive; it would flout the electoral laws and principles of good faith. But you would sure see something like: “Lagbaja floors Tamedun!” “It’s a sham!”, says XYZ party. Would there be skirmishes and scuffles from some parts of the country? Surely, but what part would depend on which party wins.

    We do not expect any upheavals even to the magnitude we had in 2011 post-election because we expect to have learnt from that episode. Secondly, the whole world is not only watching the process minute-by-minute through all sorts of online streaming devices, the critical world audience have their observers on ground taking notes and filing reports. There are also the diplomatic corps doing their own monitoring of the polls and post-poll manifestations in all its ramifications.

    Most remarkably, we have also learnt that the US and some of her allies have kept some rapid response forces all around us to intervene at a snap of the finger if need be. There is therefore, enough checks and deterrence for trouble makers and people who want to win by wading through the blood on innocent citizens if that is required.

    INEC must be allowed to do its work to a logical conclusion and whoever is aggrieved must resort to the courts and not the streets. This election may well present to Nigeria’s democratic process, its next big leap in which case, we all would be winners. How do I mean: if perchance, the party in power (for 16 years) loses, that would be the first time in the electoral history of Nigeria. That would open an entirely new democratic vista for us all. And the loser may well turn out the victorious if he manages it well.

    How is it for you today, dear reader?

  • Warri Wolves’ mgt, coaches for crucial talks on Monday

    Warri Wolves’ mgt, coaches for crucial talks on Monday

    Warri Wolves’ management will on Monday meet with the technical crew of the Seasiders where crucial matters pertaining to the club’s activities in the CAF Confederation Cup, premier league and others next year.

    Wolves ended last season in third position with 61 points from 38 matches and this ensured their qualification for the Confederation Cup for the third straight season.

    The Seasiders have failed to get to the group stages of the second tier African club competition in their last two year’s participation and a top official of the club revealed to NationSport that the club would make adequate preparations for the 2015 outing.

    The official noted that top of the agenda would be for the coaches to submit their plans for the new season and to also prune down on the 37 players  under the payroll of the Seasiders.

    He also added that at least 10 players would be shown the exit doors while quality players  spotted from Sunshine Stars, Dolphins and northern clubs would be brought in to fill the void left by those departing.

    The source said:” We are going to meet on Monday to deliberate on the way forward. The coaches have been invited to submit their programmes and they have been told to prune down on the list of players we presently have. Imagine some players that didn’t play up to two games for the club last season still want the club to retain them for the new season.

    “The club has been told in clear terms that if they fail to perform on the continent next year, no one will take them seriously and that they will be considered just like the politicians that change parties every year because of what they would get.

    “It is the sole reason we have decided to hold a meeting where many issues would be unearthed for us to have a good season in the league and also on the continent,”the source said.

  • Impeachment: Al-Makura waives immunity, to appear before panel Monday

    Impeachment: Al-Makura waives immunity, to appear before panel Monday

    •Lawmakers jittery of stunning revelations at panel’s sitting

    Determined to prove his innocence, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, has offered to waive off his immunity to appear before the seven-man investigative panel on alleged mismanagement of state funds.

    But it was learnt yesterday that members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly have become jittery following likely stunning revelations about their financial demands.

    Some of the disclosures might include certain documents already before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that in spite of the setting up of a nine-man legal team to defend the 16 allegations against him, Governor Al-Makura has waived off his right to immunity in Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution to testify before the panel.

    Barring last minute change of mind, the governor may testify before the panel on Monday.

    A highly-placed source said: “The panel will begin the public sitting on Monday; all parties have been notified, including the House of Assembly.

    “We learnt the Assembly might boycott the open session because it has rejected two out of the seven members of the panel.

    “But the most surprising is the decision of the governor to appear before the committee to respond to issues and place all facts before the committee on the allegations against him.

    “The governor is determined to set a record to account for his stewardship and to prove to the people of the state that he did not steal their money.

    “This is a governor who declared over N20billion assets and cash to the Code of Conduct Bureau when he assumed office. The records are there, anyone can apply for his Assets Declaration Form.

    “For two or three months when he took over, the state could not afford to pay workers’ salaries and he used his personal money to offset some bills of the state.

    “The governor has been saying that in what way could he have sacrificed for the state. The people of the state will hear a lot.

    “As I talk to you, the governor does not begrudge the lawmakers. He is ready to meet with them in order to move the state forward.”

    Contacted yesterday, Governor Al-Makura simply said: “I think I will make first appearance on Monday, and then my counsel can thereafter take over.

    “I hope my counsel will allow me to have the first shot before they go ahead with the legal representation.”

    He refused to talk further insisting that he has tremendous respect for the House of Assembly and constitutional guidelines on the ongoing impeachment proceedings against him.

    Section 308 of the constitution says: “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Constitution, but subject to subsection (2) of this section –

    (a) no civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against a person to whom this section applies during his period of office;

    (b) a person to whom this section applies shall not be arrested or imprisoned during that period either on pursuance of the process of any court or otherwise; and

    (c) no process of any court requiring of compelling the appearance of a person to whom this section applies, shall be applied for or issued;

    “Provided that in ascertaining whether any period of limitation has expired for the purposes of any proceedings against a person to whom this section apples, no account shall be taken of his period of office.

    “The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to civil proceedings against a person to whom this section applies in his official capacity or to civil or criminal proceedings in which such a person is only a nominal party.

    “This section applies to a person holding the office of President or Vice-President, Governor or Deputy Governor; and the reference in this section to “period of office – is a reference to the period during which the person holding such office is required to perform the functions of the office.”

    Meanwhile, members of the Nasarawa House of Assembly were said to be jittery about the likely stunning revelations on their financial demands and expenditures which might be presented to the panel by the government and stakeholders.

    Another source added: “Everyone is excited about the decision of the panel to subject the sitting to public hearing. All the facts and documents will be laid on the table for the people of the state to judge.

    “At least people will have the knowledge of what comes to the state monthly; how it is disbursed and the projects already carried out by the government.

    “The breakdown of funds, including extra-budgetary cash, spent on the lawmakers will also be known to the public.”

  • Oyegun, APC leaders storm Osun Monday

    Oyegun, APC leaders storm Osun Monday

    As part of the final leg of the preparations for the governorship poll in Osun State, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and top leaders of the party will from Monday relocate to Osogbo, the state capital

    Also, the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) yesterday said it had withdrawn Mr. Oludare Timothy Akinola as its governorship candidate for the poll.

    The relocation of APC leaders was contained in a statement in Abuja by the APC National Chairman, Odigie-Oyegun.

    The statement said: “This is to inform the general public and millions of our dear members and supporters that as from August 4, the National Secretariat of our great party, the APC, will relocate to Osogbo, Osun State, until after the August 9 gubernatorial election.

    “The relocation to Osogbo is in deference to an ancient African proverb which states that rats cannot eat the fish of the man who is awake and watchful. Hence the APC leadership wishes to reassure our millions of members, supporters and compatriots that we shall keep awake to guide and protect our mandate.

    “This also serves as notice to all state chairmen of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to attend the final public rally of the APC in Osogbo on August 5 and the subsequent meeting with the National Working Committee on August 6.

    “I use this opportunity to salute the courage of the good people of Osun State for their courage and steadfastness in the face of intimidation and militarization of the state.

    “I appeal to our dear compatriots in the state to ignore all manner of provocation and turn out massively to vote for Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to continue his good work and clean government in his second term.

    On its part, the PDM in a statement by its National Chairman, Dr. Oluwole Akinwumi, said it had dropped Mr. Oludare Timothy Akinola as its candidate for the governorship poll.

  • Edo tribunal to begin sitting on Monday

    The Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal will begin fresh hearing on the petition filed by Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday.

    Airhiavbere is challenging Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s re-election.

    The reconstituted tribunal is headed by Justice Muhammed. A. Pindiga.

    The members are Justices Olotoregun Ishola and A. I. Kutigi.

    The members of the dissolved panel were Justices Suleiman Ambrusa, Esor Teetito and Danlami Senchi .

    The Justice Ambrusa-led panel was dissolved following a petition to the Nigerian Judicial Commission (NJC) by Counsel to Airhiavbere, Efe Akpofure.

    Akpofure alleged that the panel had been compromised.

    Justice Ambrusa on September 27 ruled that Airhiavbere’s petition as regards Oshiomhole’s academic qualification was a pre-election matter.

    He struck out several paragraphs in the petition and left only paragraph 8, which dealt with the allegation of irregularities and rigging during the conduct of the election.

    Airhiavbere appealed against the tribunal’s ruling.