The Nation Newspaper

Tag: northern governors

  • Gowon a promoter of national unity – Northern governors

    Gowon a promoter of national unity – Northern governors

    The Northern States Governors Forum has hailed former military head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, as a true Nigerian who spent many of his years in the cause of promoting national unity, nation building, national integration and conflict resolution through dialogue.

    Gowon turns 79 on Saturday.

    The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, in a goodwill message to the former head of state described him as a symbol of statesmanship, patriotism, vision and courage which are some of the excellent leadership qualities that have guided him throughout his years of active public service life.

    The governor said that although Gowon got into leadership position at a rather young age, he found the ability to rally distinguished political leaders and technocrats to work with him for the preservation of the nation’s unity.

    The governors commended the former head of state for his “ingenuity in coupling back the constituent regions which make up Nigeria in the wake of a tragic civil war, using the slogan “GO ON WITH ONE NIGERIA” (coined from the name GOWON),” and noted that in and out of offices, the former military leader has continued to display amazing degree of charisma, charm, uncommon patriotism and has continuously rendered himself to the common man.

    They asked God to grant him excellent health, courage and many more years of selfless service to God and mankind.

     

  • Northern governors extol Etsu Nupe’s leadership qualities

    The Northern States Governors Forum on Wednesday described the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, as a man of peace.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Minna and signed by Danladi Ndayebo, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Babangida Aliyu, the Chairman of the forum.

    The forum said the Etsu Nupe’s 10 years on the throne had brought tremendous progress and development to the Nupe Kingdom.

    The northern governors described the monarch as a rare patriot, who had ensured religious tolerance and unity amongst the people.

    “It is worthy of note that Etsu Yahaya is a man of peace and a rare patriot, an accomplished Army General and consummate administrator

    “The monarch has been playing a leading role in ensuring peace, unity and tolerance amongst the diverse tendencies that co-habit his domain and even beyond, ” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governors as saying in the statement.

    The governors noted that since Abubakar’s coronation in 2003, violence, whether sectarian or otherwise had been a rare occurrence in the kingdom.

    “The Etsu Nupe has been building bridges across ethnic, religious and socio-cultural divides, helping to bring together his people, irrespective of their political differences.”

    They prayed to Allah to grant him good health, courage and many more years of selfless service to Nigeria and humanity

     

  • Northern Governors extol Sultan’s leadership qualities

    Northern Governors extol Sultan’s leadership qualities

    The Northern States Governors Forum has congratulated the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, who attained 57 years of age at the weekend.

    In a statement issued on Sunday in Minna by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, described the sultan as a bridge builder and a man of peace.

    He said the sultan’s reign had ensured progress and modernisation to the caliphate as well as the length and breadth of the nation.

    “The Sultan ensured that crisis whether sectarian or otherwise, is a rare occurrence in the Caliphate and even beyond, owing to his fatherly role,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governor Aliyu as saying in the statement.

    It stated that Sultan Sa’ad’s enviable stature as a bridge builder had helped to bring together his people irrespective of their differences, thereby advancing the course of peace, unity and positive development in all parts of the country.

    The forum prayed God to grant the Sultan excellent health, courage and many more years of selfless service to Nigeria and humanity.

     

  • Northern governors greet Babangida at 72

    Northern governors greet Babangida at 72

    The Northern States’ Governors Forum has felicitated with former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), as he turns 72 on Saturday.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Minna by the Chairman of the forum, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Aliyu commended IBB’s untiring efforts at preserving the unity of the nation.

    He said Babangida’s life symbolised statesmanship, patriotism, vision and courage which were some of the excellent leadership virtues that had guided him through his years of active public service.

    According to the statement, Babangida has excelled in his chosen profession and showed rare vision, courage and exemplary leadership during his leadership of the country.

    It said the former military ruler had consistently remained on the path of promoting national unity, integration and development with his influential networks cutting across the length and breadth of Nigeria and beyond.

    It stated that the history of Nigeria would be incomplete without paying tribute to “IBB’s contributions and achievements to the socio-economic and political development of our country.”

     

     

  • Northern governors console Fashola over father’s death

    The Northern States Governors Forum on Tuesday commiserated with Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State over the death of his father, Alhaji Ibrahim Ademola Fashola.

    The Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, said on Tuesday in Minna in a condolence message signed by his spokesman, Mr. Danladi Ndayebo, that the death of Pa Fashola was a big loss to the governor and the people of Lagos State.

    The statement said the death of the governor’s father came at a critical time when his advice and guidance were required to address the myriad of problems confronting the nation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Forum urged Governor Fashola to be consoled by the fact that his late father lived a life of service to God and humanity.

    It advised the governor not to be discouraged by his father’s death, but should forge ahead with the enormous task of repositioning Lagos State.

     

  • Northern governors mourn Odunewu

    Northern governors mourn Odunewu

    The Northern States Governors Forum has commiserated with the family of the late veteran journalist, Alhaji Alade Odunewu, who died on Thursday at the age of 85 years.

    Chairman of the forum and Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, in a statement, described the deceased as a thorough bred journalist who touched the lives of many in a positive way.

    “His death is a great loss to the journalism profession and humanity in general, “ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governor as saying in a statement signed by his press secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo.

    “As a newspaper columnist, through his membership of the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), to his appointment as the Chairman of the Nigerian Press Council, Odunewu remained with the people,’’ it said.

    The statement expressed the hope that journalists who benefited from his immense knowledge and managerial acumen would keep the flag flying.

     

     

  • Jonathan, Northern governors meet Obasanjo

    Jonathan, Northern governors meet Obasanjo

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday morning paid an emergency visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his home in Abeokuta, Ogun State for a closed- door meeting.

    The President and his retinue of convoy arrived at exactly 11:52am and drove into Obasanjo’s expanse compound and the gate was immediately closed on other visitors while security was also beefed up outside and along the windy road leading to the ex-president’s home.

    Jonathan was originally billed to visit Dr. Reuben Abati, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in Asero area of Abeokuta to identify with him over the death of the mother, Madam Maria Taiwo Abati, but decided to see the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees.

    The Nation gathered that the northern governors were already in Abeokuta and locked in a closed- door meeting with Obasanjo when Jonathan entered the compound.

     

  • Workers to Northern governors: pay our entitlements

    Workers to Northern governors: pay our entitlements

    The National Union of Textiles, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria and workers of the New Nigeria Newspapers yesterday took their plight to the northern governors, appealing to them to settle the entitlements of their workers without further delay.

    While the New Nigeria Workers embarked on a peaceful demonstration in front of the General Hassan Usman Katsina House, venue of the Northern State Governors Forum meeting, the textile workers union wrote a three-page memo to the governors appealing for the payment of the entitlement of their members.

    In a letter entitled “Save the lives of KTL workers; pay their entitlements without further delay,” and signed by the General Secretary, Issa Aremu, the textile workers drew attention of the governors to a 2005 judgement against which the court asked the governors to settle the workers N687 million entitlement.

    Aremu noted that rather than pay the workers, the 19 northern states have remained insensitive to their plight in spite of repeated appeals, prayers, rallies and protests by the union.

    He noted that sustainable development in any country or state lies in industrialisation and mass job creation.

    He said: “it is against this background that the union is disturbed by the continuous closure of Kaduna Textiles Limited since 2002. Even more worrisome is the continuous delay in settlement of the entitlements of KTL workers by its owner-19 Northern States of the Federation. KTL workers are suffering untold hardship due to non-payment of their benefits since the unilateral closure of the factory in 2002.

    “The union since September 2005 obtained a court judgment for settlement of the entitlements of the workers amounting to N687,073,346.00. Unfortunately, the management and owners of the company (19 Northern States) have remained insensitive to the plight of these workers in spite of repeated appeals, prayers, rallies and protests by the union.

  • Kontagora’s death, a monumental loss – Northern governors

    Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) on Thursday described the death of the Deputy Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Major General Mamman Tsoho Kontagora (rtd), as a monumental loss to the country and Niger State, his place of birth.

    The Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, expressed shock and sadness at the death of the former minister of Works, who died in Abuja on Thursday at the age of 69.

    He died at the National Hospital, Abuja after a protracted illness.

    The Forum described the late Kontagora as a patriot who died in the service of his fatherland.

    The governors said they were pained by the demise of Kontagora, but takes solace in the fact that he lived an exemplary and purposeful life with remarkable achievements as a military officer, administrator, community leader and a dedicated family man.

    The forum said the former Presidential aspirant during the 2003 general election was a rare gem and will be missed for his immeasurable contributions towards the development of the country as a soldier and leader.

    The statement reads, “He was an uncommon statesman, a dependable ally, a devout Muslim, a great military officer, a highly disciplined gentleman and a respected mentor of his subordinate officers.”

    The Forum then prayed God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest and his immediate family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

     

  • 2015: Northern governors can’t stop Jonathan – Clark

    2015: Northern governors can’t stop Jonathan – Clark

     

    Prominent leader of the South-South, Chief Edwin Clark, on Tuesday inferred that President Goodluck Jonathan remains the sole candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and cannot be stopped by the Northern Governors Forum.

    Recalling the practice in the United States of America, he said “an incumbent remains the sole candidate of a political party if he or she is willing to contest for a second term.”

    Clark spoke at his residence in Abuja where he addressed Journalists on the open letter to Niger State Governor and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Babangida Aliyu.

    The elder statesman lambasted Aliyu for insisting that Jonathan entered an agreement with the north governors to serve for only one term.

    He also said he was embarrassed by Aliyu’s interview published in some national dailies that it is only him (Clark) and those who will benefit that are campaigning for Jonathan to contest in 2015.

    The octogenarian said the remarks against him “are most unfortunate and ridiculous.”

    Recalling the pedigree of the governor as an accomplished civil servant before retiring into politics, he cautioned the governor against making “inflammatory and provocative statements” that can divide the country.

    Expressing belief in one Nigeria, Clark said no group will allow itself to be subjected to a cause by another.

    “What do they expect me to explain to my own child; that you have no right to aspire to the highest post even if you have the qualification.”

    Responding to a question, the Second Republic Minister of Information said Jonathan would make his position on the 2015 election known next year.

    He recalled that the president had embargoed campaign for 2015 adding, “it will be stupid of me to ask him if he would contest now.”