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Aregbesola swears in 389 new councillors

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Wednesday conducted the swearing-in ceremony for 389 newly elected councillors in the state.

The News men reports that the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) had on Jan. 27 conducted parliamentary local government election in the state.

The newsmen also reports that the commission on Jan. 28 announced that all the 389 candidates of APC won the councillorship election.

OSIEC further stated that elected councillors would be running a parliamentary administrative system at the local government tier, with the councillors electing the chairmen among themselves.

Aregbesola, while performing the swearing-in ceremony in Osogbo, said that his administration adopted the parliamentary system of government in fulfillment of the wishes of the people.

The governor said it was the overwhelming wish of the people as stated in a report of the committee on political reforms that parliamentary system of government be adopted.

He averred that the experience in the First Republic would attest to the fact that parliamentary system deepens democracy and offers far greater political representation than any other system.

The governor argued that the decision to adopt parliamentary system of government was also in fulfilment of Section 7 (1) of the Nigerian constitution.

Aregbesola said adopting a new system was not against the constitution or contrary to the tenets of democracy but rather helps to galvanise good governance and effective representation.

Read Also: ‘Key into Aregbesola ’s vision for youth development’

“In a parliamentary system, decisions are taken collectively and must be agreed upon by the majority in the house.

“This system saves campaign cost and reduces the impetus for corruption in that a candidate only needs to campaign in his or her constituency.

” This is unlike in the executive system where a presidential candidate must tour the whole country and a governorship candidate must tour the whole state while a chairmanship candidate must tour the entire local council,’’ he said.

Aregbesola, however, charged the councillors to be change agents that would transform governance in their local communities and deepen democratic practice with quality representation.

“You must therefore listen to your people and give them access. Your status has placed you in a position of leadership, but not in a position of supremacy and tyranny over the people,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Hon. ‎ Najeem Folasayo Salam, said the adoption of parliamentary system was strictly in line with the constitution of Nigeria.

Salaam said the House approved the parliamentary system to govern the people at the grassroots, having considered its numerous advantages over other systems of government.

NAN

February 7, 2018
Security: Ambode pledges support for military operations

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday said his administration would continue to support operations of the Nigerian Army against kidnapping, illegal oil bunkering and other security challenges in the state.

Ambode spoke at the Lagos House, Alausa, when he received the new General Officer Commanding, 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.- Gen. Enebong Udoh, on a courtesy visit.

He said a lot had been achieved in securing the state in the last 32 months.

The governor said the State Government would always support military operations designed to ensure residents go about their social and economic activities without let or hindrance.

He said as a government, security had been the major pillar of his administration, upon which the economic growth of the state was built.

Ambode said he remained committed to sustaining the successes recorded so far.

“I want to also say that I am going to scale up the activities of ‘Operation Mesa’ and I welcome the idea to set up new Army units that tackle issues that relate to kidnapping, smuggling and all the vices that we have.

“I am also very excited that we will soon have the presence of the Army in most of those areas that we are having troubles, such as Ikorodu, Epe, among others, so that we take security down to the people,” he said.

Read Also: Ambode praised over elevation of 3 obas

The governor said it was gratifying that Udoh was coming at a very significant time in the state, being an election year.

According to him, this calls for security to be kept 24 hours daily, considering the cosmopolitan nature of the state.

He expressed optimism that the new army chief would immediately join in the efforts to build on past successes and enhance security in the state.

Ambode commended all the security agencies in the state, and restated his commitment to support them to ensure security of lives and property.

Earlier, Udoh commended the governor for the massive support extended to security agencies, and in particular the Nigerian Army.

He said the development had greatly facilitated their operations in preventing and combating crimes in the state.

Udoh also thanked the State Government for swiftly responding to the ocean surge which affected Bonny Cantonment recently.

He sought further assistance of the governor in areas of operational vehicles, facelift for military formations in the state and support for special teams set up to combat illegal oil bunkering, kidnapping, among others.

NAN

February 7, 2018
Ondo APC preaches unity among members

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has urged members to continue to coexist in unity and harmony in other to prevent internal crisis within the party.

This was the resolution of the party leaders in Akure North and environs at a ‘Unity Meeting’ organised by the Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Mr Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, on Wednesday in Akure.

Yusuf-Ogunleye, while speaking at the meeting, said the forum followed the directive of the governor to ensure that all those that defected were welcomed back by leaders in each ward.

“As a sitting commissioner representing Akure North, I have to organise the meeting and to make my people to know the achievements of the governor and what he intends to do for the people in the area,” he said.

Also speaking with newsmen after the meeting, a Second Republic senator, Olorunimbe Farukanmi, said the forum was crucial to the development of the party in the local government as elections were approaching.

Read Also:Tinubu gets Presidential mandate to reconcile APC members

Farukanmi praised the commissioner for deeming it fit to organise such a meeting to foster unity among members.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Ifedayo Abegunde, said he was impressed as the forum provided an opportunity to meet many people he had known when he was in the Peoples Democratic Party.

He urged members to continue to support the Akreredolu-led government in other to move the state forward.

The Chairman of the party in the local government, Joshua Eleti, received some defectors from the Alliance for Democracy into the party.

Eleti promised that there would be equal opportunity for everybody, irrespective of the time they joined the party.

Former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Kenneth Olawale, and former AD Chairman in the state, Makinde Oguntona, were among dignitaries at the meeting.

Others were Mrs Omowumi Edet, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Yemisi Aladesaye, former Chairman of the defunct ANPP, and Mrs Funke Adu, Iyaloja of APC in Ondo State.

NAN

February 7, 2018
Union commends Buhari for signing of executive order on local content

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing Executive Order 5 to improve local content in public procurement with science, engineering and technology components.

The General Secretary of NAAPE, Mr Aba Ocheme, told the News mens on Wednesday in Lagos that the move was a welcome development.

Ocheme said that no fewer than 500 young Nigerian pilots and engineers, who studied at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, and Kaduna State and in other countries, were currently unemployed.

“For us, it is a most welcome development vis-à-vis our campaigns over the recent past on issue of foreigners taking over jobs that Nigerians are amply qualified for.

Also, the failure of government apparatus to enforce the expatriate quota law.

“So, the executive order is not on its own, a new instrument to curtail this malfeasance. It only indicates a refocusing of government’s attention in that direction.

“If will continue to do it the way we have been doing it, obviously we are not going to make a headway,” Ocheme said.

He said the union was desirous of working with the Ministry of Interior to weed out expatriates who were not needed and also ensuring that the law on expatriate quota was fully implemented.

Read Also: 2019: Group urges Nigerians to support President Buhari

“Without the involvement of NAAPE, the Ministry of Interior does not possess the capacity to understand how the aviation industry runs. They have no personnel who are specially trained in these areas.

“We think our involvement is the only guarantee that what is needed to be done will actually be done.

“Because, we know what is going on and we are in the best position to advise government appropriately,” Ocheme added.

The news men reports that the executive order signed by the president on Monday is expected to promote the application of science, technology and innovation toward achieving the nation’s development goals across all sectors of the economy.

The president, pursuant to the authority vested in him by the constitution, ordered that all ‘‘procuring authorities shall give preference to Nigerian companies and firms in the award of contracts in line with the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

The executive order also prohibits the Ministry of Interior from giving visas to foreign workers whose skills are readily available in Nigeria.

NAN

February 7, 2018
Rufai urges Nigerians to give Super Eagles’ goalkeepers time

The Super Eagles ex-Goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, on Wednesday rose to the defence of the team’s goalkeepers, saying they need more playing time to gain experience.

Rufai made the submission in an interview with the News men in Lagos while assessing the performance of the Nigerian goalkeepers in readiness for the World Cup.

The veteran goalkeeper said goalkeeping unlike other department in football needed more playing time and could not be assessed or judged by a single match.

“There is no problem as far as I am concerned with the goalkeeping department of the Super Eagles, what they need right now is support and more exposure.

“Goalkeepers get better with time and matches and if one is not performing well such can be replaced for a better option. We are blessed with abundance of good goalkeepers in Nigeria.

“If someone is driving a four wheel vehicle and one wheel is not good enough, then you change the one that is bad and not discarding all the wheels that is the same situation with goalkeepers.

“The goalkeepers we still have can serve us better, so, we need not panic about the goalkeepers. As I have said the goalkeepers need exposure, and playing time to get better,’’ he told the newsmen.

Read Also: 2018 World Cup: Nigeria Breweries promise to sponsor Super Eagles in Russia

Rufai, a member of the USA 94 team, said that the technical crew should search for good goalkeepers among the existing ones and also give them time to express themselves.

“The technical crew which I don’t belong to must get their onions right by searching for goalkeepers that can give them what they want.

“It is a question of maybe having weakness or lapses in any of the goalkeepers, and finding a way of correcting it that is the reason we have the technical crew.

“There are lots of goalkeepers but they must be given equal opportunity to play and express themselves. I will be wrong to suggest any goalkeeper to them.

“Football is almost a science now, so we need to experiment on what we have at hand and get the best out of it. The goalkeepers need platform and experience,’’ he said.

NAN

February 7, 2018
Venezuelan President wants stronger ties with Nigeria

President Nicolas Maduro of the Republic of Venezuela has called for stronger bilateral ties between that country and Nigeria.

Maduro said this when the new Nigerian Ambassador to Venezuela, Amb. Martin Cobham presented his Letters of Credence to the President in Caracas.

A statement from the Nigerian Embassy in Caracas made available to the News men in Abuja said, Maduro also called for sustained interaction with Africa.

He further urged for increased South-South co-operation in the various international fora.

Maduro called for the opening of new vistas in areas of mutual benefits for the development of the two countries.

Read Also: Trump to hold Maduro responsible for detained opposition leaders

Cobham in his response conveyed the fraternal greetings from President Muhammadu Buhari to Maduro.

The envoy pledged to collaborate with the relevant officials of the country to sustain the existing bilateral ties and further deepen partnership as spelt out in various MOUs and Agreements of the two countries.

He also solicited for supports from his host to enable him succeed in assignment.

Cobham, served as Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa.

The news men reports that Venezuela established diplomatic relations with Nigeria in 1965.

Both countries are members of OPEC.

NAN

February 7, 2018
2019: Group urges Nigerians to support President Buhari

A group, Christians and Muslims for Peace, Progressive Change and Unity Initiative, ( CMPPCUI ), has urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his effort to move the country forward.

The Association’s National President, Amb. Blessing Sunday, made the call on Wednesday while speaking with newsmen in Mararaba, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

“We are calling on Nigerians to support President Buhari beyond 2019 that is why we are saying 4 plus 4 to Baba Buhari to enable him continue with the good work he has been doing in the interest of development.

“This NGO was formed in order to preach peace, unity among Nigerians and to let people know that peace is priceless and non-negotiable.

“Peace is the necessary requirement for the development of any nation.

“We are commending APC-led government of President Buhari and Gov. Al-makura administration for embarking on projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the people of the state and we called for its sustenance.

Read Also: Buhari: herdsmen, bandits attacks won’t be tolerated

“We wish Mr President good health, more strength, greater wisdom and many more years of fruitful service to our fatherland and humanity.

“Above all, we wish him God’s protection, guidance, and I urge Nigerians to emulate his leadership quality,” she said.

She said that President Buhari deserved second term considering his achievements in the area of security, corruption, agriculture, youths and women empowerment among others.

She stressed that all Nigerian leaders needed for greater success was continued prayers and support from well-meaning citizens.

“Sustained prayers by the adherents of the two major religions in the country will definitely assist the president, other elected and appointed leaders to overcome both economic and security challenges hindering the growth and speedy development of the country,” she said.

The national president also urged the people of the state and Nigerians to respect constituted authorities, shun all social vices and live in peace with one another irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliations.

She restated the commitment of the association to the promotion of peace and other programmes aimed at improving the living condition of Nigerians.

NAN

February 7, 2018
NUT appeals to Enugu State to pay teachers’ gratuity arrears

The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), on Wednesday, appealed to the Enugu State Government to pay teachers’ gratuity arrears that had spanned over three years.

The Chairman of NUT Enugu State Wing, Mr Paul Ozor, made the appeal while speaking with News men in Enugu.

Ozor noted that the payment of the arrears would help to alleviate the challenges being faced by teachers after retirement.

‘‘Since 2015, no gratuity payment for primary school teachers in the state and our retired senior citizens, who have served the state meritoriously are not happy with the development.

‘‘I appeal that the gratuity arrears should be cleared in order to bring relief to our retired teachers and senior citizens,’’ he said.

Read Also: NUT threatens strike over arrears, infrastructural decay

Ozor also revealed that the pension payment for retired teachers was paid last in September, 2017.

He, however, commended the state government for an up-to-date and prompt payment of teachers’ salaries in the state.

‘‘I must confess, the state government is always prompt and regular with teachers’ salaries, especially Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration,’’ he said.

The chairman also urged the state government to donate buses to primary schools as done to each secondary school in the state.

‘‘I believe that when buses are donated to schools at the primary level; just as the state government had done in secondary school, it will go a long way to motivate and further enhance productivity at the primary school level,’’ he said.

NAN

February 7, 2018
ECOWAS imposes sanctions on Guinea-Bissau politicians

ECOWAS has imposed sanctions on 20 Guinea-Bissau politicians and businessmen, including travel bans and asset freezes, accusing them of undermining efforts to resolve a prolonged political crisis.

The decision followed the nomination by President Jose Vaz to the post of prime minister late January, in violation of a 2016 ECOWAS-brokered deal.

Among those targeted by the sanctions were members of Vaz’s parliamentary faction as well have his son, Emerson Goudiaby Vaz.

“The Conakry Accord has not been implemented and as a consequence it is appropriate to apply sanctions to those falling short,” ECOWAS said in a statement.

For over two years, Vaz has been embroiled in a bitter dispute within his own ruling African Party of the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde that has hobbled the government.

The impasse has sparked regular protest marches and raised fears of instability that diplomats fear could be exploited by drug traffickers, who have long used the turbulent nation as a transit point for shipments between South America and Europe.

Read Also: Boko Haram: ECOWAS parliament ends 3-day visit to North-East

Under the ECOWAS deal aimed at ending the impasse, Vaz had been meant to name a prime minister agreed in consensus with the rival faction, which is headed by former Prime Minister Domingo Pereira.

Pereira’s supporters have rejected Silva’s nomination.

the news men reports that on Dec. 17, 2017, at a meeting Nigeria’s capital, Abuja West African leaders threatened to slap Guinea-Bissau with sanctions unless the country’s grinding political crisis was resolved within two months.

In a summit in Nigeria, the Ecowas said it was “disappointed with the absence of progress in the peace process” in the tiny West African state, which has been in the grip of a power struggle since August 2015.

The crisis erupted when President Vaz sacked then Prime Minister Domingo Simoes Pereira.

Talks mediated by Guinean President Alpha Conde and Togolese counterpart Faure Gnassingbe in October 2016 had envisaged naming a new prime minister and assembling a unity government.

Ecowas called on Conde and Gnassingbe “to continue consultation within the next two months without which collective and individual sanctions will be handed down against all those who constitute themselves into an obstacle”.

Vaz had proposed fresh talks to find a way out of the crisis but opposition parties objected to the plan.

Guinea-Bissau has been plagued by military coups and instability since its independence from Portugal in 1974.

NAN

February 7, 2018
El-Rufai worries over rising security challenges in Northern region

Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State has described insecurity in the northern region as a major challenge that requires the involvement of the region’s leaders for solution.

He said this on Tuesday while receiving an entourage of the Zamfara Council of Chiefs on a courtesy call in his office.

The delegation was led by its Chairman, the Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad.

El-Rufai described the prevailing insecurity in the region as a menace that required a combined effort to solve with active involvement of traditional rulers.

The Kaduna governor also called on journalists to continue to be objective and ethical in their reportage of events in the region, as well as shun reports that fan the embers of hate in the country.

Read Also: El-Rufai orders supply of drug for malnourished children

Ahmad who led the delegation had in an address lamented over incessant cases of kidnappings, cattle rustling, banditry among others in Zamfara and the entire northern region.

He said there was need to re-strategise security agencies’ efforts toward fighting the menace.

The Emir appealed to the governor to fully involve royal fathers in the security council of the state to curtail the menace.

He said their convergence on Kaduna was for a conference aimed at finding lasting solution to the security threat bedeviling the entire region and pleaded for support from northern governors.

NAN

February 7, 2018