The Nation Newspaper

Tag: new

  • New office, new car

    Why Senate President Bukola Saraki needs new cars to go with his new position needs to be explained to a sceptical public. In a statement on December 13, Senate spokesperson Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi said:  ”With respect to the official vehicles of the Senate president, it should be noted that the majority of the vehicles in his convoy are his personal vehicles, while some of the vehicles that he inherited, including his official vehicles and the backup car, are so old that they are developing fault and not fit for long journeys. We can recall that on several occasions, his official car broke down. Three instances will suffice here. I remember on a visit to Nasarawa State for a wedding of the daughter of a colleague. Other occasions were at the National Mosque three weeks ago and at the Abuja airport.”

    If Saraki’s official cars keep breaking down, as Abdullahi claimed, it raises the question whether the cars also performed poorly when they were being used by the former Senate president, Senator David Mark. If so, why did Mark not make changes? Or is it that the cars were good enough for Mark?

    Abdullahi continued: “The implication is that the vehicles in his official convoy are so old that they are causing embarrassment for the Senate. The media should know that a man of his antecedent will not at this point be excited with new cars. His official cars are overdue for replacement.”

    He also said of the move to buy new cars for the Senate’s committees: “For those who may want to find out what happened to the ones bought in the past, we cannot expect that after four years, the vehicles will still be in the condition to effectively serve the present committees. The best practice in government institutions and even private organisations is for official vehicles allocated to top officials after four years of use to be sold at the depreciated value.”

    What must be done must be done, Abdullahi argued. It didn’t matter what getting new cars for Saraki and others would cost the country. That is the cost of high office. According to him, “we have been very frugal, responsive and responsible in our spending.  We have also cut down on several expenses. However, there are certain expenses and purchases that are normal in government and any organisation. The legislature is not an exception.”

    When “expenses and purchases” considered “normal” in government appear abnormal to the public, then it is time to reconsider the social contract. Insensitivity to the public’s idea of normalcy is not a legislative virtue.

  • Vetiva Fund Managers lists three new ETFs

    Vetiva Fund Managers Limited will list the three new Vetiva Sector Series Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) today following the successful completion of the initial offerings for the ETFs.

    The three new ETFs included Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund (VB ETF), Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund (VCG ETF) and Vetiva Industrials Exchange Traded Fund (VI ETF).

    The listing of the ETFs based on the NSE Banking Index, NSE Consumer Goods Index and NSE Industrial Index on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today was sequel to final approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Vetiva Fund Managers, which is registered by SEC as fund and portfolio manager, had listed the first equity Exchange Traded Fund-The Vetiva Griffin 30 ETF, which tracks the performance of the NSE 30 Index, on the NSE in March 2014.

    ETF is a security that tracks the performance of a specified security or other assets including stocks, basket of assets, indices, commodity prices, foreign currency rates, and derivatives among others. An ETF combines the valuation feature of a mutual fund or unit investment trust, which can be bought or sold at the end of each trading day for its net asset value, with the tradability feature of a closed-end fund, which trades throughout the trading day at prices that may be more or less than its net asset value.

    ETF may be attractive as investment because of its low cost, tax efficiency, and stock-like features. By owning an ETF, the holder get the diversification of an index fund as well as the ability to sell short, buy on margin and purchase as little as one share. Meanwhile, ETF does not sell individual shares directly to investors as only authorised dealers and investors are allowed to buy the usually large blocks of shares known as “creation units”. Index-based ETF, like index fund, tracks specified market index.

  • VC counsels new students on time management

    Newly-admitted students of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State have been advised to use their time wisely to fulfill their purpose of study.

    Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University, Prof. Kunle Oloyede, gave the advice while addressing the students at an orientation programme organised by the Student Affairs Unit.

    He cautioned that if they failed to use their time judiciously, they would find it difficult to achieve academic excellence.

    Oloyede urged them to think creatively, plan and implement with the guidance of their lecturers and other members of staff ready to assist them.

    The VC, who described them as drivers of their destiny, enjoined them to drop any “passenger” that would not allow them to arrive at their desired destinations.

    Also speaking, the Registrar, Mr. Omololu Adegbenro, advised the students to always adhere to school rules and regulations. He warned that the University would not hesitate to sanction any student found wanting in morals.

    Adegbenro encouraged them to always seek advice from their mentors and the Counseling Unit of the university on matters bordering on their academic and personal lives.

     

  • Monarch celebrates new yam

    Monarch celebrates new yam

    The traditional ruler of Nike Kingdom in Enugu State, Igwe Julius Nnaji has celebrated the New Yam festival with fanfare. It was an occasion which attracted dignitaries in the state including Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

    Also in attendance were members of the Enugu State executive council, local government chairmen, security chiefs, members of the state and National Assembly as well as other traditional leaders from within and outside Enugu.

    There were as well different dancing troupes and orchestra bands in place to entertain the large turnout of crowd that trooped to witness the occasion.

    Igwe Nnaji was assisted by members of his community to perform the rituals associated with New Yam festivals with his wife by his side.

    The Igbo refer to the wife of their Igwe or Eze as Lolo, but the Nike community and indeed entire Nkanu prefer them to be called Ugoeze. And Igwe Nnaji insisted on this during the yam feast.

    The ceremony was flagged off with the Ugoeze accompanied by women of the community bringing out several tubers of yam and presenting them to the Igwe and members of his cabinet. That aspect was actually a solemn occasion as the women tenderly carried the yams as they were carrying eggs.

    After the presentation, the Igwe significantly gave out to the Ugoeze, a tuber of yam and one cock to prepare for him. That done, freshly roasted yams were brought to the Igwe with palm oil sauce prepared with Ugba (oil bean seed).

    The Igwe cut a piece and dipped into the palm oil sauce and did justice to it. There was applause. The ceremony kicked off. There was a lot of yam to eat. Mention it. Roasted, boiled, fried, pounded, porridge etc were distributed to all and sundry at the occasion.

    There were other delicacies and various types of traditional Igbo soups. Drinks were inexhaustible using them to wash down varieties of the bush meat served.

    All the dignitaries that graced the occasion were each presented with two tubers of yam and a live cock.

    Igwe Nnaji told the gathering that yam regarded as the king of the crops in Igboland is being celebrated yearly not only in his community but the entire communities in Igboland.

    Giving an insight of how yam is regarded in his community, the Igwe said if anybody matches on yam in the community, that person has to perform some rituals to appease the gods and cleanse himself from the “abomination”.

    He urged Ndigbo never to allow “this tradition to go the way of others.” He thanked the Governor Ugwuanyi for “squeezing out time in his tight schedule to grace the occasion”, adding, “this shows you love my family and the entire Nike community.”

    The chairman of Enugu East local council where Nike community falls into, Hon. Cornelius  Nnaji, who is the younger brother of the traditional ruler expressed gratitude to God that the event went well as planned.

    He thanked the governor for “gracing the occasion with almost the entire members of the executive council.”

    The local council boss who is also the Enugu state ALGON chairman promised that the next yam festival of the community would improve on this and thanked all and sundry that made it a success.

     

  • Innjoo launches two new smartphones

    Innjoo, the fastest, growing smartphone brand in Middle East and Africa has launched two large battery Smartphone halo and fire plus. 5.0 inch halo comes with a 3,200mah battery while 5.5-inch fire plus is equipped with 3,600 mAh battery and enables fast charge. Both Smartphone are customized for Nigerian with longer battery usage.

    Speaking at the launch, the firm’s Managing Director, Robert Liang said: “To provide the most competitive product with considering the market requirement in the best time is the core of our strategy to establish leadership in a market.” With only 40percent of the Nigerian population connected to the energy grid, the challenge to constantly recharge phones has caused troubles to the Smartphone user and has influenced the decision to introduce these phones. Innjoo halo is equipped by 3,200mah long-lasting battery and powered by high energy density technology. It can keep the Smartphone under one-day full operation, 15 hours phone call, even for 300 hours stand-by time. The 5 inch HD IPS display, plus a 5mp rear and 2 mp front camera, it ensures a stunning display and bowsing effect as well as clear angle for capturing.

    Halo is equipped with a built-in 1GB RAM and internal storage of 8GB which can be further expanded to 32GB via microSD card. The built-in InnUI runs under the 1.2GHz Quad-core Processor, also ensures longer usage with its power saving settings, which allow users the comfort to enjoy browsing the Internet, playing games watching videos, listening to music and talking on the phone for longer periods.

    Another new model from Fire series, the 5.5inch 5.7mm thickness Fire Plus is coming soon with the large battery. The 3,600mAh battery ensures more than 24 hours of music playing, 22 hours phone call, 10 hours video playback and 330 hours stand-by, which is pretty average and lasts more than a day for moderate users. With the fast charge technology, it can be breezily feed up in just 2 hours.

    Liang said: “People are making the switch from feature phones to Smartphones while they now have to charge their phones once or twice a day, instead of once a week.

    “But InnJoo Halo and Fire Plus will give it a change.”

  • PDP in search of new beginning

    PDP in search of new beginning

    After being in charge of the country in the last 16 years, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) went into the last general elections poorly prepared, but it threw everything at its disposal to win the contest. Its rejection at the March 28 polls was shocking for the party, which had vowed to rule the country for 60 years. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI examines its recent efforts to reposition itself for the new role of opposition.

    Since the March 28 presidential election, when Nigerians overwhelmingly voted for change, the former ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has been trying to grapple with the reality of the verdict and has been making efforts to live up to its new role as the main opposition party. In recent times, chieftains of the party have been taking stock of what led to its failure during the recent general elections. They have also vowed to set the machinery into motion to rebuild the party before the next general elections in 2019.

    Some of the names being touted to replace Muazu include a former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili; immediate past Cross River State Governor, Mr. Liyel Imoke; and his Delta State counterpart, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. Some observers have, however, cautioned the party not to think of replacing the former National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, with a chieftain from the Southsouth, otherwise it would reduce the PDP to a regional party.

    In this regard, the Director-General of the party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation in the last election, Mr. Femi Olukayode, has suggested that it would be in the best interest of the party to appoint the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, as its national chairman. Olukayode (former Fani-Kayode; he changed his name to Olu-Kayode following his acquittal for money-laundering charges), said: “The best thing that our party, the PDP, can do now is to draft in Nuhu Ribadu as our national chairman. We need credibility and strength.” Ribadu and Muazu, who resigned on May 20 amidst calls that he should quit, are both from Bauchi State. Former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus, has been acting since Muazu resigned.

    Secondus is from the Southsouth, where the party controls five of the six states in the region. Like in the Southeast, the party produced almost all the National Assembly members in the Southsouth. On the contrary, the party controls only three of the 19 states in the North. The states are Taraba, Gombe and Kogi. In the Southwest, the PDP is at the helm of affairs in Ondo and Ekiti, out of the six states in the region.

    But, other observers argue that it would be better for a Southsouth person to occupy the chairmanship to pave the way for a Northerner to emerge as the Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman. This is against the backdrop of the fact that the party may likely field a Northern candidate in the 2019 presidential elections, to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari, if he decides to re-contest. The BOT chairmanship was vacated by Chief Tony Anenih, from the Southsouth, ostensibly for former President Jonathan to take over. All the issues pertaining to the reorganisation of the party would be settled next month, when the party holds its next national convention.

    But, according to observers, the PDP leadership has a long way to go in its effort to reposition the party to provide an alternative platform to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Enugu-based lawyer Mr. Enechi Onyia believes the PDP is not prepared to be an opposition party. He said: “The mere fact that it wants to be relevant in government has disqualified it. For instance, it allowed its member, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, to become the Deputy Senate President. With this, the party has become part of government. That is not very good for a healthy democracy, because I don’t think there is going to be a viable opposition.”

    Onyia, who was involved in politics during the Second Republic, said the PDP must first of all study Nigeria’s position in the world, vis-à-vis where it ought to be and fashion out its programmes and policies, if it wants to become a virile opposition. He added: “Secondly, it must try to align itself with what Nigerians want: Nigerians want a government of service, not a government of sharing. These are the issues; it not a question of whether one is an Ibo, Yoruba or Hausa. It should be able to position Nigeria in world affairs, as the country with largest population of blacks.

    “You do not build a nation by sharing its wealth, rather than increasing the wealth of the nation. I have not seen the indication that suggests that it wants to turn a new leaf. I have not seen signs that it wants to enthrone internal democracy.”

    The Enugu-based lawyer said the current situation in Nigeria shows that youths and intellectuals are forging ahead to align themselves with the dynamics of democracy. So, I believe an opposition would emerge very soon.

    To the National Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, it is a welcome development that the PDP is doing something to come back to reckoning. “Some of us have been doing it for a long time. But, it would take a long time for Nigerians to begin to look at them differently,” he said, adding: “Nigerians expect them to play the role of providing an alternative government. But, it must not forget that it gave Nigeria nightmares for 16 years and no matter the level of reorganization, if it thinks it can return to power after four years, it must be day-dreaming.”

    To be able to get it right, elder statesman and Second Republic politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, is of the view that the PDP should go round the country, if possible state by state, to find out why it failed during the recent general elections. He added: “Thereafter, the party should summon an emergency meeting, to dissolve its executives from top to bottom and then appoint caretaker committees to run its affairs. The caretaker committee should be given a time-span to reposition the party, by inviting more Nigerians to join the party.

    “This would help to inject fresh blood into the party. This should be followed by the election of officers from the bottom to the top in its chapters across the country. They should try to appoint a national chairman and reconstitute the board of trustees, by bringing in more people.

    “Also, they should start looking for genuine party supporters who can contribute generously to the success of the party from the ward to the national level. The problem of the party is from top to bottom, so the reorganization should be holistic.”

    A finance and investment consultant, Mr. Akintunde Maberu, equally said the PDP must sit back and look at where it failed in the last 16 years, if it wants to succeed in its new found role of becoming a viable opposition party, adding that it is still indulging in the blame game.

    To get its acts together, Maberu said in the first instance, the party has to rewrite its rules, refocus their objectives and now come up with constructive criticisms. He said: “It must take up specific areas of the economy and provide an alternative viewpoint to whatever the government in power is doing. As an opposition party, it must thrive on objectivity, for it to galvanise knowledgeable Nigerians into believing what it is saying.”

    Since the party was formed in 1998, it has been faced with one internal crisis or the other. The crisis started after the party’s Jos Convention in 1998 where Chief Olusegun Obasanjo emerged the party’s presidential candidate, at the expense of the former Vice President Chief Alex Ekwueme. Many of the party’s founding fathers were not comfortable with Obasanjo’s emergence, saying it was a coup by powerful individuals in the North, who were behind the candidacy of the retired general.

    Thus, right from the outset, there was no attempt to enthrone internal democracy in the party. As a former military dictator, Obasanjo’s approach to governance did not brook any contradiction; he was highhanded. Under his administration, the party was always moving from one crisis to the other. During this dispensation, members of the party indulged in all sorts of undemocratic practices. Terms like adoption, imposition, consensus, affirmation and proclamation were very common in the party’s political lexicon; indeed, they found their way into the party’s constitution.

    Owing to the fact that the opposition was fragmented and weak, party chieftains did not see the need to imbibe democratic tenets and processes. Political godfatherism and the do-or-die brand of politics were the order of the day. Political jobbers had a field day; founding fathers of the party like Ekwueme were either sidelined or expelled. In this state of affairs, governors under the party’s platform were demigods, who could do no wrong.

    Nevertheless, the major crisis that caused the downfall of the party was the one that preceded the 2015 general elections. After Jonathan succeeded the late Umaru Yar’Adua, the North was initially opposed to his bid to contest the presidential election in 2011. The argument was that the North had only done one term and that a candidate of Northern extraction should be allowed to complete the remaining four years. But, former the President Jonathan allegedly pacified stakeholders from the region by agreeing to do only one term.

    Indeed, a chieftain of the PDP, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh said the recent general election was a battle between the North and the South and that the one-term pact allegedly entered into between Jonathan, supported by former President Olusegun Obasanjo then, and the Northern bloc within the party was the major issue that decided the outcome of the election.

    Ojougboh, who is the PDP’s Vice Chairman (Southsouth), lamented recently that if Jonathan had kept to his promise to do only one term, the party would not have lost the recent general election. He said even the Christian North turned against the former President in the 2015 polls because of the “injustice” of reneging on his promise.

    Jonathan had denied entering such a pact and challenged his accusers to provide evidence. But, Ojougboh maintained that Jonathan did make the promise after succeeding the late Yar’Adua, who passed away after spending about three years in office.

    Ojougboh said: “Jonathan himself said he will do only four years. Emirs, leaders and stakeholders in the country accepted that Jonathan will do only four years so that power can shift to the North. When the time came, a lot of macabre dance started. People started putting pressure here and there, and people started encouraging Jonathan to contest. Unfortunately, Jonathan didn’t have the nerve to say, no.”

    Thus, despite the vigorous and unprecedented campaign mounted by the PDP, Jonathan lost the contest to President Muhammad Buhari. PDP also lost massively in governorship and National Assembly elections. While the APC has taken control of 22 states, the PDP is in charge of 14 states now.

  • Al-Makura: The making of a new Nasarawa

    Al-Makura: The making of a new Nasarawa

    The “Change Revolution,” which jolted the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, in the recent general elections across the country had its roots in the sudden change of leadership in Nasarawa State when the government of Aliyu Akwe Doma was kicked out of office after four years on May 29, 2011. This development literally brought to an end twelve years when the “largest party” in Africa held sway in the state. Events in the last elections further confirmed wisdom in that decision and action of the electorates in the choice of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC which later fused with other parties to form the mega All Progressive Congress, APC thereby ending sixteen years “misrule” by the PDP now turned into an opposition party. Nasarawa State is the Achilles’ heel of the PDP and eventual assumption of opposition status.

    For the people of Nasarawa State, it was a situation of “sit down look” when that change decision was taken in 2011. This is premised on the fact that this was the only state that embraced the CPC ideology and its leader to the extent of voters queuing behind the ballot boxes to entrust their future into the hand of its flag bearer, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura. It now became a departure  in the North Central Zone where the PDP reigned from 1999.

    It also marked out Nasarawa as the only state that the CPC won in the country as even Katsina, the home state of General Buhari did not foresee the revolution of 2015.

    Four fruitful years have now passed by with Almakura into his second tenure which has make Nasarawa State standing tall amongst the comity of states in the North Central Zone, and the entire country for making the right decision and at the right time.

    One of the most pressing issues when he took over was the spate of disharmony between government and the workforce in the state resulting in strike actions by medical personnel, lecturers in tertiary institutions and the complete sagging of morale in the civil service.

    The case of civil servants in the state is worth further mention as the bone of contention, minimum wage debacle, which the previous regime shrieked its implementation took centre stage. Nasarawa State is noted to one of the first to have embraced the policy, implement same and even go beyond the minimum wage to peg hers at N18,900. Since the state commenced implementation of the policy, no month has passed by without payment even when neighbouring states remained indebted to between for months. This has largely been responsible for the cordial working relationship between organised labour and government

    Minimal disagreements have been recorded and even when they occur, they are easily resolved.

    This is in addition to allocating the 500 Houses located along Doma road which were uncompleted and abandoned by the previous administration to civil servants who have occupied same.

    Realizing that roads are routes to civilisation, Al-Makura embarked on massive urban and rural road construction. Lafia, the state capital and all Local Government headquarters are beneficiaries of the urban roads programme. These include the NADP-Makurdi road; Lafia East –Government House-  Shendam road; New market-Makurdi road; Super cinema –new market road; Ministry of Information- GRA road; Specialist Hospital-Jos road; Agwai Hotel junction- Ungwan Mangu road; UAC-Tudun Gwandara road; Ungwan Mangu-Kwandere-College of Agriculture road, Bukan Sidi-Bukan Ari-Shendam road.

    Others are Johnbosco -Guest House road in Doma; Diamond Bank-Jos road loop and Wamba bye pass- Central Primary School Akwanga; State University road network in Keffi , Awe town road, Andaha- Angwan Zaria, Agyragu- Kwara, Sisimbaki- Kwarra in Wamba LGA, the Tudun Wada- Karshi in Karu LGA, the Garaku-Dari-Amba-Bassa, the Agwada-Udege, Lafia –B.A.D roads. The Angwan Jaba, Angwan Maina as well as Bukan Sidi-Kurikyo roads are currently being constructed.

    Since the coming of Al-Makura’s administration, education, which is the bedrock of socio-economic development and growth received much attention. This confirms the trained and professional teacher that the Governor is. Where classes were held either under trees with dilapidated structures threatening the safety of pupils and teachers as well as pupils sitting on bare floors for lack of furniture, Al-Makura changed the situation. Out-going President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by his Vice, Namadi Sambo showered encomiums on the state for effective and efficient utilization of the scarce resources available when he came to commission one of the storey building structures (Ta’al Model Schools) constructed by the government to house pupils in primary schools. For the first time in the history of the state, each local government in the state has two primary schools with upstairs serving as classrooms.

    The task before Almakura however, is to is to complete almost all of these projects and make them functional as he assumes the second leg of the race whether road, hospitals, education and others.

    One inhibiting challenge the Al-Makura administration was confronted with is the communal unrest among a hitherto peace loving citizenry. This “monster” which claimed many lives and property worth millions of naira, had devastating consequences on the psychic of the people in addition to draining the state’s meager resources  which were channeled to maintaining security personnel and providing succor for the displaced victims.  Sadly, the once serene state turned into a theatre of war and violence with innocent people caught up in the senseless cross fire that was unleashed while the crises lasted.

    That Al-Makura inherited these spates of crisis among communities constituted the greatest setback for the attainment of developmental projects and programmes in the state.

    As Governor Al-Makura squares up for the second leg of his administration, there is no gain saying that he has exhibited great leadership qualities in the last four years in the midst of daunting challenges. It is expected that this last lap will witness completion of projects started by his administration so as to avoid the “abandoned project” syndrome. Luckily, with the introduction of Nasarawa Geographic Information Service (NAGIS) which has facilitated easy processing of land acquisition papers and increased revenue for development of the state, investors will find the state a safe haven for operations. Traditional, religious and opinion leaders in the state have no choice than mobilise the citizenry into supporting this leadership for optimal achievements in the next four years.

  • The beginning of a new beginning

    The elections of last Saturday, particularly the presidential election won by the candidate of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, were a watershed in the annals of democratic elections in Nigeria.

    The election of Alhaji Buhari as president is the culmination of the struggle for the enthronement of a people-driven democratic governance in this country. It is also the fulfillment of the prophetic insight of Chief Obafemi Awolowo who in 1983 predicted that the progressive elements in the North and South would come together for the liberation of this country.

    Indeed, the progressives have always wanted to come together but their march had always been stopped by cruel fate. The coming together of the progressives under the United Progressives Grand Alliance (UPGA) in the First Republic was cut short by military rule in 1966. The Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) was also brought to an end by the military in 1983. The progressive tendency of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) produced the Chief Moshood Abiola presidential election of 1993. It was also brought to an abrupt end by the military after the election was annulled. The APC however, is an idea whose time has come and there can be no stopping the match of history. It is significant that Chief Awolowo was instrumental to the formation of UPGA and PPA. Awoists formed the bulk of SDP in the South West. Also, the dominant party in the South West that became a major partner in APC was an offshoot of Awolowo’s Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). I congratulate you all for being part of the making of history.

    It is greatly significant how the election went in Osun. Your enthusiastic response, determination, orderly procession and conduct, peaceful disposition and commitment to the defence of democracy all shone through.

    We saw the various categories of people, young, old, men, women, the aged and the physically challenged, all trouped to the various polling stations to perform their civic duties. Because of vehicular restriction, many had to trek for long distances to get to their polling stations, in order to vote.

    You all willingly sacrificed a whole day to be able to cast your votes to elect the president and federal lawmakers, in order to help shape the direction of the governance of our nation in the next four years. You voted and stood by your votes until they were counted and defended the integrity of the election. Your enthusiasm did not wane, even where voting started late and continued till the next day.

    The pattern of the election was consistent with what obtained since our coming to office, first, during the 2011 general elections and secondly in last year’s governorship election. In 2011, you enthusiastically supported our candidates. Then, our presidential candidate won convincingly in Osun. You did the same this time again. This is in spite of the divisive campaign of ethnicity, religion and regionalism embarked upon by our opponents. You have demonstrated the same consistency in your support of the progressive cause since the days of the Action Group and have been passionate about us as you were about Chief Obafemi Awolowo. You have our profound gratitude for this uncommon love and support you have shown us.

    There were reports of pockets of violence and attempted manipulation of votes in some parts of the state. These are the handiwork of agents of destabilisation and political brigandage. The security agencies are looking into this and will stop at nothing in order to bring the perpetrators to book. Popular participation and freedom of choice are the essence of democracy and are guaranteed by the constitution and protected by our law. We affirm every man’s right to have these. However, criminality, disruption of voting, political violence and denial of other citizens their right to political choice will not be tolerated. You have my assurance that whoever wants to disrupt the peace of Osun will have the mighty force of the law to contend with. We shall defend democracy and the right of all to participate in politics and freely make a choice.

    In spite of the efforts of these outlaws, however, you refused to be provoked and you let peace reign. Local and international observers noted your commitment to peace and determination to deepen democracy. I am very proud of you.

    Indeed, we are well pleased with the exercise in Osun and especially the mammoth support we have received from voters all over the country that led to the election of our presidential candidate. Given what we witnessed on Saturday, we have a measure of assurance that political power is now returning to the people through the democratic process. We must build on this; defend and guide it jealously. We should now gird our loins and give total support to the government of the people in order to have the life more abundant that we all earnestly hope for.

    I must express my profound gratitude to all the people who voted for our candidates in the other elections into the National Assembly. The officers so elected will, in the best tradition of progressive leadership, provide the best representation to their constituencies.  We want to assure you all, however, that irrespective of the political party you voted for, our mandate to govern covers every inch of our soil and covers all the people, irrespective of ideological and political affiliation, ethnic and religious identity and colour of skin. We shall continue to serve to the best of our ability, to provide leadership, defend your interest with all our might and bring life more abundant to you all.

    I will like to thank all the people who made the elections a huge success in our state, beginning with all the political parties, women and their groups, market women, traders, artisans, workers, civil servants, teachers, students, transporters, drivers, commercial motorcyclists, employers of labour, organised private sector, the business community, non-governmental organisations, community based organisations, youth organisations, traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, security agencies, the international community, Nigerians in the Diaspora, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all people of goodwill.

    I must not fail to commend the leadership of the legacy parties especially my mentor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the master-mind and chief strategist of this great victory of the progressives, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, Chief Ogbonaya Onu, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, my colleagues in the Progressive Governors Forum and a host of other leaders too numerous to mention. I thank you all.

     

    • Text of the broadcast by the Governor of the State of Osun and the South West Coordinator of Buhari-Oshibajo Presidential Campaign, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to the people of the state, on the outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, on Wednesday April 1, 2015.
  • The new generation beggars

    The new generation beggars

    For ages, the universe has thrived amid its flurry of illusion and fantasies which sharply contrast reality. The delusion stares one in the face when you walk on the clumsy streets only to be horrified by the sight of agile souls buried in their singsongs just to get a morsel of food or money.  It pinches the soul when these elements dance and twirl around from dawn to twilight; yet trapped within the enclave of stark poverty. Had nature remained sacred and just, destitutes would have rode on beautiful horses. But for their punctured destiny and sorry fate, they end up romancing the nights with assortment of failed prospects, unfulfilled promises, among other personal adversities.

    Beyond the figment of our own imagination, providence has really betrayed their mission on earth. Yet, they succumbed to the catchy tunes of nature, navigating the slippery roads with shoeless feet and tainted identities. In their ever-flowing garb of disdain, they catch the pity of gazing eyes with their impoverished mien. These sets of strayed bones are everywhere, in the nooks and cranny. They are everywhere. They are products of dysfunctional homes, psychological confusion, stunted finances in a highly volatile economy and some other misfortunes, which coincidentally reshaped their presupposed bright destiny. In spite of this natural complex, they still remain the new set of discoveries the world never evolved in recent time.

    Unlike their fellows in the middle and top echelons of the society, these individuals remain undaunted by the circumstances that envelope their fate. They do not yield easily to the verbiage of a hypocritical society. They just don’t allow their dreams to die, it seems. They just have to survive or nothing. Armed with this mantra, they take to the streets, appealing to the conscience of generous souls.  Though apparently homeless and bandwagons of pervert hands, they pretend to show reverence for potential pay masters just to scout the few coins in their pockets. The contentment and camaraderie enjoyed at wilful disposal inundate the whole game with bond of undiluted trusts.

    As days run into nights, they serenade the streets with songs of valour, all in effort to grant poverty a befitting burial. Yet they are deluded. Henceforth, the street becomes the stage for their restive soldiery as each decked in tattered camouflage and armed with a begging bow. As dictate of nature, they live for the day and just wont hesitate to squander all that they have gathered in a manner akin to sheer profligacy. At night, the ubiquitous breeze is at their beck and calls while the warm atmosphere nurtures their souls with soul-stirring tunes. In what looks like a rhapsody of pleasure, the ill-fated realities of yesternights are quickly forgotten as the morning flourishes their dream with unfettered hope. Hence, they are homeless not hopeless.

     

    •Toyin, 300-Level Law, UNILORIN

  • Fear of new polls shift rises

    Fear of new polls shift rises

    APC seeks sanction for PDP leaders

    NGOs rise for Jegaa

    There are fears that the March 28 and April 11 elections may be shifted.

    The elections were originally slated for February 14 and 28. They were shifted because the Service Chiefs told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that they could not guarantee security. They asked for six weeks to defeat the Boko Haram insurgents troubling the Northeast.

    “The same reason is likely to be advanced in making a case for another postponement,” a source said last night.

    The Service Chiefs, The Nation learnt, will tender the military’s recent gains in the war against Boko Haram to make the case for another postponement.

    The military says it has made much progress in the anti-terrorism war, retaking towns captured by the terrorists and making arrests.

    But, the popular thinking, particularly  in the camp of the opposition, is that another shift will allow the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to perfect its strategies to stay put in office by manipulating the elections.

    The strategies include:

    •the sudden push for the removal of INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega and;

    •the campaign against the use of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) and the Card Reader – two key elements of a fraud–free election, according to INEC.

    The PDP insists that many would-be voters are yet to get their cards. Besides, the party says the Card Reader may go faulty.

    Almost 80% of would-be voters have got their cards. INEC says there are spare card readers, should some suddenly go faulty.

    Some civil society organisations have stepped up their campaign that the elections should hold as scheduled.

    The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said there were fears that another postponement was in the smithy.

    Nigerians United for Democracy (NUD) held a rally in Lagos on Saturday to insist on the sanctity of the election dates and the guarantee of INEC’s independence and the security of its chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega’s tenure.

    The group also expressed their rejection of military rule or any Interim Government in whatever form.

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and a group of civil society Organisations under the aegis of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room) urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to ensure that the elections hold as rescheduled.

    They frowned at moves by some individuals to discredit the leadership of the National Electoral Commission (INEC) and urged the government to ensure the protection of the commission’s “independence, impartiality and credibility.”

    They said the measures were required in “protecting and defending the credibility of the electoral system.”

    This was part of conclusions by both bodies after a meeting to examine the “Pre-Election Report and Advisory on Violence in Nigeria’s 2015 General Elections,” issued by the NHRC as a measure to forestall election-related violence, protect human rights and bring accountability to bear for violations of human rights during the general elections.

    NHRC and the CSOs stressed the need for the “protection of the independence, impartiality and credibility of the INEC as the body constitutionally entrusted with responsibility for   organising elections in Nigeria.”

    They expressed their commitment to ensuring the prevention and mitigation of violence, including the need to ensure   the existence of a credible capability to address election-related violence and hate speech.

    In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, NHRC, Chidi Odinkalu and Head, the Situation Room, Clement Nwankwo, both bodies have agreed to establish a joint Technical Working Group to work together in developing clear Rules of Engagement together with protocols for monitoring compliance by security agencies (including the police, military, internal security or para-military units) that may be deployed for election duties in 2015 General elections. The Working Group shall report not later than the 10 March 2015.

    “The Situation Room and the NHRC called for politicians from across the political divide to close ranks in protecting and defending the credibility of the electoral system.”

    The APC said the PDP was scheming to shift the elections because it planned to perfect a rigging plan. It called for sanctions against the party’s leaders, should the elections be moved.