The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Omatseye

  • Omatseye urges end to impunity in oil sector

    Omatseye urges end to impunity in oil sector

    THE Nation Editorial Board Chairman, Mr. Sam Omatseye, has advocated  a strong commitment to the rule of law to curb impunity in the oil sector, especially in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    He spoke at the Seventh Wole Soyinka Centre Media Lecture Series with the theme: “Nigeria and the Oil Misfortune” in Abuja on Monday.

     Omatseye, who was against Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s call for NNPC to be scrapped, said: “If you say that you want to dissolve NNPC, you should be careful not to end up creating other forms of NNPC because the problem is not NNPC, the problem is Nigeria. NNPC did not create itself, Nigeria created NNPC; corruption in Nigeria created NNPC.

    “If NNPC took 38 years to become a monster, some child monsters in the movies do not take up to two years before they become big problems.

    “What we need is the institution of the rule of law. That is what the President Muhammadu Buhari administration should take up and drop every other thing. When you have rule of law, when you have a fidelity to the conscience of the law, every other thing falls into place.

    “You cannot have an NNPC spending more on costs than it gives in profits because everything may have to be written down and codified in laws because some people see NNPC as Nigeria’s ATM machine.

    “So, the question we have to ask ourselves is how do we institute a nation of laws? When you have a nation of laws, even the President will have to be accountable. But when you condone impunity and you create other forms of NNPC, it would still become monster.”

    He added that unlike what obtains presently, there were no salary delays in states when the price of crude oil was less than $13 per barrel.

    El-Rufai, at the event, emphasised that the steps for  dissolving NNPC must now be considered, arguing that it was inevitable.

    The governor  noted that “NNPC must die” because of the shenanigans in the oil sector.

    But Omatseye stressed the need for the rule of law as a strategy towards curbing impunity and corruption in the  sector.

    Chevron Nigeria Plc’s General Manager (Policy, Government and Public Affairs), Mr. Deji Haastrup noted that international  oil companies operating in Nigeria would appreciate greater transparency in the oil sector.

    But to Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund, Mrs. Adefunke Kasali, “the oil sector has suffered from gross mismanagement over the years”.

    The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Hajia Zainab Ahmed, lamented that huge resources from oil and gas, mining and even funds meant for the development of natural resources had been frittered away without any sense of accountability.

  • Omatseye donates books to LASU

    The Nation Editorial Board Chairman, Sam Omatseye, has donated some books to the students of the Lagos State University (LASU).

    The donation was made to students of the Adebola Adegunwa School of Communication at the school campus.

    Adedeji Badejo, who represented the columnist, said the books were Omatseye’s contribution to enhance the reading culture of students.

    Badejo said: “Out of the benevolence of Sam Omateseye, he is donating 150 copies of his book, In Touch, to LASU students.

    “The book comprises articles of his column on the back page of The Nation.”

    The Dean of the faculty, Dr Rotimi Olatunji, thanked the donor and promised to use the books to enhance learning and performance.

     

  • Fanaticism has taken over Nigeria, says Omatseye

    Fanaticism has taken over Nigeria, says Omatseye

    The Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation, Mr Sam Omatseye, has said the increasing religious fanaticism in the country has led to endless killings.

    The award-winning columnist and author spoke last night at the MUSON Centre in Onikan, Lagos, where he staged a play, titled: The Siege. It was in honour of Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka on his 80th birthday.

    Omatseye decried the inability of Christians and Muslims to find the right language to communicate because of religious differences.

    Addressing reporters on the play, he said: “We are beginning to talk in terms of religion rather than in terms of humanity. So, the book seeks to bring into focus the humanity of our differences.

    “The book is about a clash of beliefs and the lack of fidelity to country and land, forgetting that beneath all of this, there is a very decent humanity.

    “This play is a classic story that lives with us today because we are in a world where we are gradually slipping into fanatical phthisis.”

    The play is based on historical events with their tragedy, egotism and the pains of their cruel wisdom, he added.

     

  • Omatseye advises aspiring journalists against stereotypes

    Omatseye advises aspiring journalists against stereotypes

    Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation newspapers, Mr. Sam Omatseye, has advised young aspiring journalists to avoid stereotype and always tell the truth in defence of justice, fairness and equity.

    Omatseye made this appeal at the fifth edition of Student Acquiring Media Skills (SAMS) organised by African Foundation for Peace and Love Initiatives in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Education and Metro Fm, Lagos, held recently at Metro Fm, Broadcasting House, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The programme tagged, ‘Peace Education for the Growth of Inter-religious, Inter-ethnic Dialogue in the Media’ brought together over 150 students, teachers and schedule officials from six education districts in Lagos and featured talks and practical sessions on newspaper publishing, radio and television presentation skills and radio production.

    Omatseye also said that the need for fair and balanced reporting of news and events in the media is apt, timely and germane for peace and sustainable development in Nigeria. He cited the Spanish-American war and the Nigerian civil war as examples of crisis that were orchestrated by media practitioners who were biased and one sided in their report on issues, opinion and views.

    Earlier, the founding president of the foundation, Rev Titus Oyeyemi, called on Nigerians and the aggrieved insurgency group to toe the path of mutual dialogue and put an end to the ongoing violence ravaging the country.

    He said: “I am calling on the group to release everyone in their captivity including our girls.”

    He applauded the efforts of the international community for sympathising with Nigeria at this time, while cautioning everyone to be mindful “not to escalate the troubles but instead to use your maturity and advanced technology to benefit the victimised at every strata of the affected society.”

    He also warned against retaliation or paying evil with evil.

    The Head of Department of Mass Communication, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Mr. Jide Johnson, advised media owners to put in place greater safety measures for journalists, and their families against hazards. He also appealed to journalists to perform their duty with all sense of responsibility.

  • Re: Omatseye’s ‘From spirit to flesh’

    Re: Omatseye’s ‘From spirit to flesh’

    SIR: Thank you Sam for your piece in The Nation of March 18. The Bible, its history and origins is reflective of the Church of Christ in many ways. First and most important is its divine inspiration. This applies as much to the Bible as to the Church. The Bible was made for the church and by the church- under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. We recall that no book was found and called Bible. Rather diverse manuscripts authored by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit were found, compiled or even censored by other men far removed from the original authors by centuries, location and culture.

    During this compilation, there were often disagreement as to which manuscript should be accepted as inspired or not. The book of James drew such contention because of its assertion that “faith without works is dead”. This was perceived to be in direct opposition to the Pauline assertion that “salvation is by faith not by works lest any man should boast”.

    Now, if we believe that the Bible so compiled is without error- it follows that both the authors and the serial compilers- for this compilation was a product of more than one council- were all under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

    These compiling councils were of men of the church- at a time the church was just one. In sum, centuries after their authors had died, ‘select’ manuscripts were compiled into a Bible under the guidance of the Holy Spirit by the church.

    That same Holy Spirit continues to inspire the Church of God. So flows the concept of infallibility- that the Holy Spirit-inspired church will not fall into error- the gates of hell will not prevail against it…” The Head of this church is Christ- who Himself created a visible head in Peter upon which rock He built His Church under the bewildering promise (in spite of Peter’s many weaknesses) that the gates of hell will not prevail.

    I hope the concept of infallibility – once a man (in spite of his weaknesses) assumes the Petrine office is clearer.

    Did you say celibacy is not biblical? Kindly refer to 1 Corinthians chapter 7. Recall too that Christ at the start of His ministry was 30years old and completed same at 33. This was well beyond the traditional marriage age of the time and people. So we conclude that Christ’s celibacy was deliberate and to a purpose. The versed apostle Paul chose to emulate Him in the celibate life and goes on to say; “if you marry, it is good, if you do not marry it is even better…”

    Thank you again for this bold piece.

     

    • Dr Martins

    Jos

  • Winners emerge in The Nation ‘Buy and Win’ promo

    Winners emerge in The Nation ‘Buy and Win’ promo

    The duo of Messers Samuel Daramola and Ganiyu Adeleke on Thursday emerged the star prize winners in the “Buy The Nation and Sporting Life and Win Brand New Cars” promotion.

    The duo were picked by the former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu and former president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ejike Asiegbu, at a colourful ceremony held within the company’s Corporate Headquarters in Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos.

    Aside the new salon cars, other lucky winners went home with consolation prizes which include LCDs, home theatres, refrigerators, electric pressing irons, radios and microwave ovens.

    The event was anchored by the Chairman of The Nation Editorial Board, Mr. Sam Omatseye.

    Omatseye on behalf of the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Victor Ifijeh, delivered the welcome address.

    He lauded the “openness” of the promo, saying that officials of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission were invited to ensure that the exercise was transparent.

    He later invited Kanu and Asiegbu to pick the star prize winners.

     

  • Omatseye, Okediran honoured at OAU

    The La Charla Editorial Club of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has honoured the Chairman of The Nation’s Editorial Board, Mr Sam Omatseye, with an award of excellence. It was at the second edition of the late Prof Isaac Akinjoghin Lecture.

    Also honoured at the event, which was held at the Corporative Building, was the guest speaker, Dr Wale Okediran, who is a former member of the House of Representatives and a writer, whose book Tenets of the House won the Wole Soyinka Prize in Literature.

    The event also witnessed the presentation of prizes to winners of the essay competition organised by the club. The topic of the essay, Terrorism: In pursuit of permanent solutions was also the theme of the lecture.

    The Director, Institute of Public Health, OAU, Prof Segun Fatusin, admonished the participating students on the need to be passionate about their vision.

    Omatseye, speaking through Mr Taiwo Ogundipe, an Associate Editor with The Nation, appreciated the club for the honour, while promising more support for the editorial crew in the future.

    Mr Gbenga Akinjogbin, son of the honouree, expressed gratitude to the organisers and the sponsor of the essay contest for preserving the legacies of the late scholar. Observed that La Charla members were mostly from the College of Health Sciences, he challenged students and lecturers from History department where his late father taught to also do something to promote the virtues of excellence and brilliance which the honouree stood for.