The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria newspaper

  • Cross River Assembly unable to reconvene from recess over lack of funds

    Cross River State House of Assembly has not reconvened after one month of recess and there are strong indications that lack of funds hindered the resumption earlier fixed for September 10.

    The Speaker of the State Legislature, Hon. Eteng Williams did not respond to calls and text messages sent to his phone but a member and former information committee chairman, Hon. Mathew Olory told our correspondent on phone that members are waiting for the speaker to reconvene the House.

    He confirmed that the House was scheduled to resume last week after one month of recess. “We are waiting for the speaker to reconvene us,” he said.

    A reliable source disclosed that lack of funds is the main reason the Assembly has been unable to reconvene and members have been lamenting over the treatment they get from the executive arm of government.

    “The State Governor has not agreed to a request for a formal meeting with the legislators since after the inauguration. No take-off grant, no official vehicles available to members to help them function effectively and non-payment of their statutory finances. In fact, no entitlement of legislature has been paid since inauguration, last June,” our source disclosed.

    At the Assembly complex on Monday, few members sighted were unwilling to comment on their inability to reconvene and there were no indications that they are resuming this week.

  • ‘Abe must be expelled from APC to end Rivers crisis’

    To ensure peace and unity in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State chapter, a call has been made for expulsion from the party of the representative of Rivers Southeast Senatorial District in the 7th and 8th Senate, Magnus Abe.

    The call was made on Monday in Port Harcourt by a chieftain of APC in the Southsouth zone, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze.

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of APC, led by a former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adam’s Oshiomhole, last week set plans in motion for the conduct of fresh ward, local government and state congresses of the party in Rivers, between September 17 (today) and 28, while also inaugurating the Isaac Ogbobula-led five-member caretaker committee of the party in Rivers state, in order to move to the next level.

    Last Thursday, Abe and his supporters, however, obtained an order from Rivers High Court, Port Harcourt, stopping the congresses and declared the caretaker committee as illegal.

    Efforts were made yesterday to get the senator’s reaction to the call for his expulsion from APC, through his Spokesperson, Parry Benson, but he declined to respond.

    Eze said: “The personal attacks on the National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, by Abe, is an attempt at destroying the party at the national level, after dismantling the APC’s structure in Rivers State.

    “Abe decided to turn the heat on the NWC of APC, even while continuing to make moves to ensure the party in Rivers State never gets out of the incapacitation he foisted on it.

    Read Also: Obasanjo writes Buthelezi, says attacks will cripple investment in South Africa

    “The sin of Comrade Oshiomhole and why he must be destroyed and ridiculed is the resolve of the NWC of APC to restore sanity and unity to the Rivers State APC, by setting up a caretaker committee that will conduct the congresses.

    “Abe is on a mission to destroy APC in Rivers State and to dismantle the party at the national level. The continued presence of the former senator and his followers in the party is dangerous. It is left to the national leadership of the party to do the needful by expelling Abe, in order not to weaken APC ahead of the 2023 general elections.”

    The APC chieftain also stated that he was glad that the Chairman of Abe’s faction of the party in Rivers, Chief Peter Odike, had abandoned the senator and returned to the mainstream APC, led by Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi.

    He also congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his tribunal victory, while calling on all Nigerians to continue to support the focused administration.

    Eze asked the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to ignore the enemies of democracy, who were urging him to challenge the tribunal’s judgment at the Supreme Court, while declaring that nothing would come out of the appeal and that the former Vice-President would end up wasting his money, time and energy.

  • Obasanjo writes Buthelezi, says attacks will cripple investment in South Africa

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday said it was a “fallacy” for South Africa to believe that xenophobia would make more jobs available to its citizens.

    Obasanjo, in a letter to the Leader of South-Africa’s Inkatha Freedom Party, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, said that such attitude would rather cripple investment in the country.

    “As it is being touted that xenophobia will give South Africans more jobs, I dare say, it is fallacy.

    “Xenophobia will make investment in South Africa more difficult, which will lead to lack of job creation and loss of existing jobs,” Obasanjo said in condemning the recent xenophobic attack against Nigerians in South-Africa.

    Obasanjo noted that Nigerians had played great roles in the liberation of different peoples in different parts of Africa, including fighting against the apartheid regime in South Africa.

    He said such kind gestures were not motivated by praises or positions but by sense of duty and obligation as Africans towards fellow Africans.

    The former president condemned what he described as “incompetence or collusion” on the part of South African Police for standing aloof watching miscreants and criminals committing crimes against fellow human beings in the country.

    “This was experienced in South Africa in recent times and it shows either incompetence or collusion on the part of the police.

    “We believe that Africans living in any other part of Africa must be treated as brothers and friends.

    “If they commit any crime, they should be treated like citizens of that country will be treated when they commit crime which will mean applying judicial process,” he said.

    He advised South African government to send emissaries to the countries concerned to explain, apologise and agree on the way forward for mutual understanding, accommodation, reconciliation to promote brotherhood in Africa.

    “Repatriation of Nigerians from South- Africa is obviously not a permanent solution. At best, it is palliative because the hurt will still remain for some time and revenge is also not the desirable solution.

    “Mutual understanding and acknowledgement of what needs to be done on all sides is imperative and getting down to doing them is the solution that will serve Nigeria and South Africa and indeed Africa, particularly in this era of Africa Continental Free Trade Area opportunities.

    Read Also: Xenophobic attacks: Returnees relive ordeal, demand revenge against South Africa

     

    “In the final analysis, if South- Africa fails to initiate appropriate and satisfactory steps to deal with the issues to pacify affected victims and work for reconciliation, the countries concerned should come together to table appropriate motions at the African Union level first and consider other measures if the situation is allowed to continue,” he said.

    He said that most migrants did not migrate to other countries with total emptiness, adding that some had education, skills, experience, expertise, entrepreneurship which could help economies of host countries.

    “What has helped most developed countries in the world is openness and receiving migrants with open hands and open minds.

    “In any case, all of us in the world are migrants, no matter where we live, depending only on how far back you want to go,” he said.

    Obasanjo urged African countries to develop programmes that would provide livelihood for its
    terming youth population.

    He noted that such measure would discourage the youths from embarking on hazardous journeys to places where their lives would be endangered.

     

    (NAN)

  • ‘10,000 Nigerian girls forced into prostitution in Burkina Faso’

    The Nigerian Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Ramatu Ahmed says no fewer than 10,000 Nigerian girls are forced into prostitution in Burkina Faso.

    Ahmed disclosed this in an Interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) in Ouagadougou on Monday

    She said the victims of sex-trade were mainly underage girls kept in appalling conditions in Ouagadougou and in mining camps across the West African country.

    Ahmed who had been in Burkina Faso since August 2017, said that over 200 Nigerian girls had been voluntarily repatriated this year.

    According to the Ambassador, many of the girls who were promised jobs in the country and Europe by the human traffickers are not willing to return home.

    “The spate of human trafficking here in Burkina Faso is a big concern to the embassy because at present, we have nothing less than 10,00 Nigerian girls who have been trafficked into Burkina Faso as commercial sex workers and most of these girls are underage, most left school and are roaming about doing commercial sex work in Burkina Faso.

    “This apart from been a dent to our country, it is also a sort of concern as far as their health is concerned, This is very serious to us and most of the girls who wants to go back as a result this voluntary repatriation do it because they were tricked, they did not know the condition there are going to found themselves here.

    “For every Nigerian girl that escapes and wants to go back, there are more than 10 in the bush that are willing to carry on.

    Read Also: Ogun tops list of South African returnees

    She said the Embassy is partnering with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) office in Ouagadougou to assist in the voluntary repatriation of some of the victims of human trafficking.

    “200 girls have been repatriated to Nigeria by the embassy, this is apart from the ones that run to the churches, some to other Civil society Organisations(CSOs) and the International Organisations on Migration (IOM).

    In fact, the IOM is complaining to the embassy that most its money meant for West Africa is used to repatriate Nigerian girls back home and they are complaining that with time, they would not be able to cope with the number.

    “So if the embassy alone has repatriated 200 girls, you can imagine how many girls the IOM has repatriated and the reason they are complaining.

    Ahmed also appealed to Nigerian parents and guardians to monitor their children and wards more closely and not to be swayed by promises of greener pastures abroad.

    “I am pleading with Nigerian parents that they should know what their children are doing, most of the girls said that their parents don’t know what they are here and some will tell us that their parents know and some will say that they were sent by either their father, mother, Uncle.

    “This is a problem that emanates from the family, for the girls, I wish to tell them that anybody they see that comes to tell them that he is taking then to somewhere, either employed as hairdressers or work in the shop, these are human traffickers.

    Anybody that will tell them not work in Nigeria but to move outside is simply a human trafficker and they should be wary of such persons. she said

    It will be recalled that the U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report (TIR) 2019, Burkina Faso is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking.

    NAN reports that the Director-General of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP), Julie Okah Donlie while briefing the ECOWAS Parliament on the spate of trafficking in West Africa in December 2018 said that 500 girls were trafficked from Nigeria on daily basis.

    She added that a whopping 20,000 Nigerians girls were also discovered in Mali.

     

    NAN

  • Gunmen kidnap rescuers of Bayelsa accident victims in Rivers

    Gunmen at the weekend abducted four travelers, who rushed to an accident scene in Elele, Rivers State, to rescue the victims.

    It was learnt that victims of the accident were persons from Bayelsa State, who were returning from a traditional wedding in Mbaise, Imo State.

    They were reportedly traveling on a Toyota Sienna car when the vehicle crashed into another in a head on collision.

    A popular Ijaw youth and social media activist Prince Elayo Ekete and the driver of the Sienna car were said to have died on the spot.

    Other travelers from Bayelsa, who witnessed the accident were said to have rushed to the scene to rescue the victims, when kidnappers seized them and took them away.

    But another source said the kidnapped victims were abducted after they had successfully rushed other victims of the accident to a hospital.

    A source, who witnessed the incidents said the youth community in Bayelsa was thrown into mourning and wondered why the kidnappers worsened the situation in the state.

    The source, who spoke in confidence said: “The wedding was attended by most social media activists from Bayelsa across political party lines. Ekete and seven others were returning from the occasion and they got to Elele when their vehicle had a head-on collision.

    “Ekete and the driver died on the spot. But five others were rushed to a hospital in the area. But four of the rescuers were abducted by kidnappers.

    Read Also; Police arraign fake herbalist for allegedly cheating housewife of N13m

    “The kidnappers went to the accident scene, recovered personal effects of some of the victims and called one of the rescuers asking him to come to a particular place to collect them. When they got there, the gunmen seized them”.

    One of the injured victims of the accident, Dina Adiva, confirmed that some persons, who came to rescue them were kidnapped by unknown gunmen and prayed for their freedom.

    Adiva, who was said to be recuperating in an unknown hospital said: “I also pray for those that were kidnapped while trying to make arrangements to moves us from Madonna University, Elele to Yenagoa, that they come out unhurt.

    “This is a trying time for me and I know it will pass. I appreciate all your love and support, I’m yet to seat upright and walk, it will take me some time. Ebinebo Stample and others too are recuperating well”.

    In honour of Ekete, the social media activists in Bayelsa decided to suspend posting of all political materials on social media for 24 hours.

     

  • Buhari, South Africa special envoys meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with the special envoy from President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa.

    The three envoys arrived the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja around 2.13pm in company with Acting South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Bobby Monroe.

    The envoys are in Abuja over the increasing xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans living in South Africa.

    Apart from many Nigerians losing their lives in the country due the attacks, the first batch of 189 Nigerians returned to Nigeria from South Africa last week Wednesday.

    Read Also: Zikist-Buharist movement greets Buhari

    Many more Nigerians are being expected back to the country on Tuesday.

    Due to the continued attacks, many Nigerians have been expecting the Nigerian government to take far reaching decisions over the matter.

    But to ward off diplomatic row over the matter, Ramaphosa had dispatched three special envoys to Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, Senegal, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, to deliver messages of pan-African unity and solidarity.

    The envoys are expected to deliver messages on the violence that erupted in some parts of South Africa resulting in attacks on foreign nationals and destruction of properties.

    They are in Abuja to reassure President Buhari and Nigerians that South Africa is committed to the ideals of pan-African unity and solidarity.

    At the meeting, they are also expected to reaffirm South Africa’s commitment to the rule of law.

    They will also brief Buhari on the steps that the South African government is taking to bring a stop to the attacks as well as to hold the perpetrators to account.

    Xenophobia attacks in South Africa have been on the rise as foreigners were accused of taking up employment that should have been for locals.

    As a result of the attacks on Nigerians, President Buhari had a fortnight ago also sent a special envoy led by the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Abubakar Rufai, to Ramaphosa.

    Rufia had submitted his report to President Buhari on his return to Nigeria.

    The meeting of the South African special envoy with President Buhari was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • BREAKING: South African envoys arrive Abuja

    Special envoys sent by South Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa to President Muhammadu Buhari have arrived Abuja.

    The envoys, led by the Acting South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Bobby Monroe, arrived at the Villa at 2.15pm to meet with the president.

    The meetings are part of efforts to end the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.

    Details shortly…

  • Nigerian artist, Bankulli speaks on writing for Beyoncé

    Nigerian artist and talent manager, Bankulli Osha has revealed details of his work with Beyoncé on ‘Lion King: The Gift’.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the music heavyweight announced his appearance in the upcoming documentary for the album on Monday.

    On his Instagram page @bankulli, he posted a preview of the documentary and captioned it, “Watch me on the making of The GIFT album with Beyoncé.

    “Find your way back and the other side, watch on ABC Network. Beyonce presents ‘Making The Gift’,” he said.

    NAN reports that in July, Beyonce enlisted Bankulli alongside other Nigerian music superstars Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Burna Boy, Tekno and Mr Eazi in new ‘Lion King’ album.

    Bankulli had taken to his twitter handle @bankulli to announce that he contributed vocals and writing on three songs on the album.

    He wrote, “Three songs CC @Beyonce THE LION KING : THE GIFT.”

    READ ALSO: ‘Beyonce needs Nigerian artistes than we need her’

    Bankulli was responsible for the subtle ode to fuji music on ‘Find Your Way Back’ and provided spiritual outro on ‘OTHERSIDE’.

    He sang in Yoruba with the lyrics, “Sokale o Oluwa, wa wonu okan mi lo” (“Descend from the heavens, Lord and take over my soul”).

    The lines, which are a recognisable staple of Nigerian pentecostal church music, elevated the song in ‘Lion King: The Gift’ album.

    NAN reports that Bankulli has been making waves in the Nigerian music scene for a long while, before expanding to the international scene.

    He was one of the first members of the Mo’ Hits team and introduced D’banj to Kanye West thus kicking off the G.O.O.D Music/Mo’ Hits relationship.

    (NAN)

  • Alleged Misconduct: Kogi SSG testifies against deputy governor

    The Secretary to the (Kogi) State Government (SSG), Mrs. Folashade Ayoade-Arike, on Monday, entered the witness box to testify at the panel hearing investigating allegations of gross misconduct against the deputy governor of the state, Elder Simon Achuba.

    Others that testified at the panel sitting at the state High Court, Lokoja, included the Acting Director (Treasury), Office of the Accountant General, Mr. Elijah Ebinemi, who presented before the panel, evidence of alleged salaries/allowances payment, to the embattled deputy governor.

    The certified true copies of said payment was said to have covered between 2016 and 2017.

    Also testifying was Saliu Hassan Itopa, Cashier, Office of the Deputy Governor.

    The Chief Judge (CJ) of Kogi State, Justice Nasir Ajanah had on August 23, constituted a seven-man panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct raised by the state House of Assembly against the Deputy Governor.

    Members of the panel are: Mr. John Baiyeshea (SAN) (Chairman), Hajia Bilikisu Abdulmalik Basher, Mr. William A. Aliwo, Canon Z. A. Asun, Alhaji Isa Adeboye, Mr. Muhammed A. Aikoye and Mr. Ada Shaibu. Mr. Bamidele Aina, while the Deputy Court Registrar (DCR), Special Duties at the High Court will serve as secretary to the panel.

    The SSG under cross examination by lead counsel to Achuba, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), among others, alleged that the state deputy governor last attended the weekly state executive council meeting, in August 2018.

    She said that she was incompetent to issue query to the deputy governor, the latter being her boss.

    She stated that while it is not under the schedule of the Office of the SSG to pay the salary of the deputy governor, all workers of the state, including the deputy governor and his aides, have however been paid “up-to-date”.

    She said that her office is responsible for the payment of salary to political office holders.

    Under cross examination by Mr. Anthony Adeniyi, lead counsel to state government, Itopa, the cashier in the office of the deputy governor, explained that allowances and other monies, including impress are paid direct into the bank accounts of those concerned.

  • Appeal Court dismisses petition against Ondo PDP Senator

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo state capital on Monday dismissed the petition of the United People’s Congress Party (UPCP) filed to nullify the victory of Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, representing the Senatorial District of Ondo South at the Senate.

    The UPCP filed an appeal having dissatisfied with the judgment of the Federal High Court in Akure, on July 5, 2019, which dismissed the application filed by the Candidate of Action Alliance (AA), Mr. Olatunji Felder.

    Felder prayed the court to nullify the victory of the Senator over the conduct of supplementary election of March 9, 2019 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) in Ondo South, on the ground that the electoral umpire did not write officially to inform necessary parties before embarking on the said rerun election.

    In a unanimous judgement delivered by the trio of Justices M.A Danjuma, R.M Abdullahi and P.A Mahmood, the Court of Appeal, dismissed the petition of the UPCP for lack of merit.

    Read Also: Ondo CP orders probe into alleged stabbing at Akure Night club

    The court also awarded the sum of N300,000 cost against UPCP.

    Two lawyers,A.A Ojopagogo and A .Kuku who were defence counsels to Tofowomo and INEC respectively, described the judgment as victory for democracy.

    Tofowomo had polled 79,036 to defeat his closest rival, the incumbent Senator, Yele Omogunwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 51,993, while Felder of the AA came third.

    The poll was however declared inconclusive because the victory margin was less than the total votes cancelled in 56 polling units of four councils estimated at 28,300 votes.which necessitated the supplementary election by INEC.

    After the supplementary election, INEC Returning Officer for the district, Prof. Kayode Onifade, declared Tofowomo winner with 81,892 votes against Omogunwa’s 55,610 and Felder with 27,150 votes.