The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Onyedi Ojiabor

  • Recession: Mark seeks synergy

    Recession: Mark seeks synergy

    Former Senate President, Senator David Mark has called for a synergy between government at all levels and corporate organisations to work out practical solutions that could empower citizens and address the challenges of the economic recession.
    This is contained in a statement issued by the Media Assistant to Senator Mark, Paul Mumeh on Wednesday in which the Senator noted     that the current economic challenges required the cooperation of all stakeholders in order to overcome all its adverse effects.
    He made this known at the presentation of skill and empowerment tools to graduates of his Wife’s (Mrs. Helen Mark) Women Skills Development Support Initiative (WSDSI) programme in Otukpo, Benue state.
    The former Senate President noted that the tools would add value to the lives of the beneficiaries and make the society a better place.
    Speaking through a member of Benue State House of Assembly Hon. Egli Johnson Ahubi, Mark said he was deeply touched by the initiative of his wife to compliment his efforts at bringing dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of his constituents.
    Mark promised to continue to give a quality representation that would facilitate the delivery of the dividend of democracy to his constituents, as about 100 women including 57 who completed training in Computer, hairdressing, fashion design and garri processing, were given equipment worth millions of Naira to start their trades.
    According to the statement, only last week, Senator Mark awarded scholarships worth N50million to 2,196 students of tertiary institutions in Benue state under his David Mark Scholarships Foundation ( DMSF) for 2015/2016 academic session.
    “Since its inception in 2005, the DMSF has awarded over N500million scholarships to over 20,000 students.
    It noted that distributing the items to beneficiaries from Obi, Oju, Okpokwu, Ado, Ohimini, Agatu, Apa, Ogbadibo and OtuKpo local government areas making the  Benue South Senatorial district , Mrs . Helen Mark said she was fulfilled that the graduates successfully completed their training program and collected their equipment to start businesses.
    “Mrs. Mark assured that WSDSI will continue to support girls and women in the area to make life much more meaningful,” the statement said.
    The traditional ruler of Otukpo HRH, Och’ Otukpo Odu John Eimonye expressed appreciation on behalf of his subjects and urged the initiator to sustain the  programme  so that more people would benefit to reduce poverty in the land.
  • Jonathan’s minister backs arrest of judges

    Jonathan’s minister backs arrest of judges

    •  Warns PDP to steer clear case
    • Says criminal must not be allowed to take over Nigeria
    Former Minister of State for Education, Olorungun Kenneth Gbagi, on Monday, said that the operation of Department of State Service (DSS) that led to the arrest of some judges was commendable.
    Gbagi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, labeled those criticizing the arrest of the judges as “the real enemies of the country.”
    The former minister also told reporters in Abuja that he was particularly irked by the statement of the PDP condemning the action of the DSS.
    He reminded the party that the issues which led to the arrest of the judges were not a party affair.
    The DSS, he said, has made the country proud and should be commended by all lovers of the country.
    He insisted that “with all respect, I do not believe that the DSS could have done anything better than they did.”
    Criminal elements, he said, must not be allowed to take over the country under any guise.
    He said, “Some judges have people whose job as lawyers is to get money to bribe judges. We must deal with the judiciary. Once we can deal with the judiciary 40 per cent of our problem is solved.
    “I want to thank the Director General of the DSS. He has come to act in line with the responsibility the constitution bestowed on him. I congratulate him. The law gives him the power to break into any house for the purposes of effecting arrest. It does not matter whether it is Saturday or Sunday.
    “Most Nigerians lack the courage and commitment to say how the nation should be run. Criminals have taken over the country and bought over everybody. Everything must be done to chase and pursue the criminals.
    “A judge is the richest man in his village; his children are attending the best of schools outside the shores of this country; he has the biggest estate in town. Yet he does not sell nor do any business. What do you call that?”
    Gbagi noted that some people were talking as if the arrest of alleged corrupt judges had not happened any where in the world.
    He said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested nine judges in the United States of America in 2013 for miscarriage of justice.
    He added that in India many judges were also arrested for the same offence while some other judges were arrested in Ghana for corruption charges.
    He noted that it had been confirmed that the arrested judges were invited by the DSS before the operation “but the judges have lawyers who wanted to go to court to obtain obnoxious injunctions to stop the DSS from carrying out its constitutional obligation.”
    He said” “We were told that the judges wanted to delay till Monday to go and get injunctions from the court but the DSS acted faster and swooped on them.”
    The former minister insisted that the DSS acted in line with the laws of the land warning that “we must not use technicalities to delay the course of justice.”
    Asked how he will feel if the same treatment was meted to him when he was minister, Gbagi said that “those who live in glass house do not throw stone.”
    He said: “I have served this country to the best of my ability, a thief is a thief. Those who have skeleton are those who are afraid. We must enthrone probity and accountability in this country. The DSS DG should be encouraged to ensure that he pursued the arrests to the logical conclusion. The DSS should do more work, deploy more professionals to tidy up the system.”
  • Teachers’ Day: Saraki makes case for teacher’s welfare

    Teachers’ Day: Saraki makes case for teacher’s welfare

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday urged governments at all levels to prioritise the payment of salaries and general welfare of teachers in order to secure the future of the country.

    Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, to mark this year’s Teachers’ Day, congratulated Nigerian teachers and their counterparts the world over for their sacrificial contribution to the advancement of knowledge and by extension, world civilization and development.

    Saraki reiterated his earlier call that teacher’s salaries should be included as an item in the capital vote of the budget to enable them receive their salaries and allowances as at when due.

    Saraki said: “There is an overarching need to prioritize teacher’s welfare so as to enable them continue to discharge their duties creditably and effectively particularly in this age of knowledge. It is only by doing that that we eliminate a situation where people either reluctantly go into the profession or go into it as a last option

    “It is a well established fact that teachers occupy a pristine place in our drive towards progress and development as a nation. Moreover, Teachers are the custodians of the repository of knowledge and as such should be seen as an integral partner towards an enduring development of our educational sector.

    “Issues of capacity building, training and re-training of teachers across the various tiers of our education architecture must form a fundamental aspect of our policies and national strategic plans. We must make deliberate and concise effort to boost teachers’ confidence and welfare. Every teacher must be assured of a minimum safety net during their pre and post retirement life.

    “Our teachers must be effectively protected by the existing pension schemes irrespective of their level of engagements i.e. Federal, State and at Local Government levels. Our teachers remain critical to the change we most earnestly desire in our educational sector in particular and the nation in general. We cannot afford to treat them any less,” he stated.

    He also called on teachers to rededicate themselves to their all important duty of spreading knowledge and banishing ignorance.

    “Our teachers must possess the necessary wherewithal for effective discharge of their assignment,” he said.

  • Senate opposes MTN plan to sack Nigerian workers

    Senate opposes MTN plan to sack Nigerian workers

     The Senate on Tuesday declared as unacceptable a situation where Nigerians working in the telecommunications industry would be indiscriminately relieved of their positions without recourse to the global labour rules and practices.
    Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Gilbert Nnaji stated this in Abuja while reacting to report that MTN Nigeria Limited recently sacked over five hundred staff. 
    The committee chairman insisted that “As the representatives of the people we cannot fold our arms and watch our constituents being relieved of their jobs indiscriminately by employers of labour. 
    “We cannot in any way tolerate such. At the same time, we shall also ensure that our foreign investors are not unduly threatened. 
    “When my attention was drawn to this ugly development I immediately contacted the Managing Director of the company. 
    “Although he said that facts were somehow misrepresented in the report he still admitted that it was only the short-term contract staff who work in the call centres that were affected. 
    “I then let him know that it would be proper for him to review the action especially in view of the biting economic situation in the country. 
    “It is only when that option fails that the committee and by extension, Senate, would take a position to protect our people.”
    MTN has since denied the reported sack of its workers. This is the second time in one week that the South African telecoms giant is making public denial. 
    Just last Wednesday it denied an allegation that it had illegally repatriated 13.92 billion dollars from Nigeria, saying the claim was without merit.
    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”MTN” count=”6″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

  • We’ve evidence of Kuku’s Amnesty FYD loan – Nwuche

    The Foundation for Youth Development (FYD), on Monday said that it has full evidence of the former Special Adviser, Kingsley Kuku’s Amnesty, Office loan from the Foundation.

     

    On Monday Kuku through his attorney as reported by some national dailies denied receiving any loan from FYD as claimed by its Chairman, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche.

     

    A statement by the Media Adviser to FYD, Ike Anyaduba, in Abuja said that the Foundation has “read with amusement the denial from Kingsley Kuku that he never requested and collected loans of N2.8bn from FYD to purportedly pay stipends to ex-militants and stakeholders during his tenure as Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs.

     

    It noted that “with the plethora of proof of these requests and payments it is hard to attempt to deny so blatantly and rather accuse FYD Chairman Hon. Chibudom Nwuche of owing the Amnesty Programme the said sums.

     

    It said that FYD has sued for the full recovery of these moneys from Kuku, as “it later learned that he may have indeed diverted the loans to personal use and escaped the country without proper handover of these and other liabilities he may have incurred whilst serving as SA.”

     

    It also said that several other contractors, “as we now realize, were allegedly duped in similar fashion but are too afraid to come out to the open.”

     

    It said that prior to “these last contracts, FYD had successfully executed several projects for the Amnesty programme without a hitch.”

     

    The statement added, “We have our Chairman’s full support to prosecute this matter to its logical conclusion as he has nothing to hide, and to fully support the anti-corruption war of the Federal Government and expose persons who use their official positions to defraud innocent contractors and service providers, believing there will be no evidence against them.

     

    Hon. Nwuche has had a distinguished and unblemished career in both the public and private sectors.

     

    “Why would an organization he chairs lie against Kingsley Kuku and the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme?

     

    “It is now obvious that FYD made a grave mistake in trusting and believing that Kuku was as committed, as we were, to resolving the Niger Delta crisis and assisting in whatever way possible to stabilize the region, hence our granting the loans.

     

    “We challenge Kuku to return to Nigeria to answer to the various cases of fraud and embezzlement currently hanging on his neck. FYD would not have bothered to respond to the ranting of a fugitive but we need to put the records straight for the benefit of the public.”

  • Gender equity bill scales second reading in Senate

    Gender equity bill scales second reading in Senate

    The controversial gender equity and equal opportunities Bill scaled second reading in the Senate on Thursday.
    The Bill for an Act to incorporate and enforce certain provisions of the United Nations convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, the protocol to the African charter on human and people’s rights on the rights of women in Africa and other matters connected therewith, was sponsored by Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South).
    The Bill is co-sponsored by 22 other Senators who expressed strong sympathy for the immediate passage of the proposed legislation,
    Olujimi, representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, in her lead debate, noted that “Gender and equal opportunities Bill” were exhaustively debated during the last session and was negatived as a result of certain observations raised in the course of the debate.
    She noted that Section four of the bill dealt with the prohibition of discrimination and provides that no person, organ or agency of government, public or private institution, commercial or corporate body, community, or other entity, or any representatives of such organ or agency… shall either through words spoken, acts, inactions, omissions, laws regulations, administrative procedures, policy, guideline, rules, customs or practices discriminate against any person on the ground of gender, age or disability.
    The Senator added that the proposed law seeks to promote equality, development and advancement of all persons in the country.
    Olujimi said that the bill also proposes to prohibit all forms of violence against women.
    She said: “All forms of violence against women are prohibited, whether the violence takes place in private, family or public sphere, including unwanted or forced sex, or traditional, religious or cultural practices harmful to health, well-being and integrity of the woman.
    “All form of violence against elderly women including sexual abuse and discrimination based on age are prohibited. All forms of violence against women with disabilities including sexual abuse and discrimination based on disability are prohibited…
    “All forms of trafficking in women and children, abuse and exploitation of women and children in any manner or way, and medical experiments on women without their informed consent, or on children without the informed consent of their parents or legal guardian, are prohibited.”
     Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) who supported the bill appealed to her colleagues to ensure its quick passage.
    Senator Tinubu said that the contributions of women to the development of the country are to glaring for every body to see.
    The lawmaker noted that the proposed Bill is really for the interest of future generation of Nigerian women.
    She used the intimidating number of men against the number of women in the chamber to buttress the necessity for the Bill.
    Senator Tinubu said: “I rise to support this bill and I also request my colleagues should do the same because we have come to a time in our nation that we have to really compensate our women.”
    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who also supported the Bill described the bill as critical in view and experience of the women folk in the country.
    Ekweremadu said that whatever should be done to protect them should be done.
    He suggested that when this bill goes to the committee and possibly for public hearing “we need to do a proper interrogation of this bill to be sure that it is not in conflict with some of our existing legislations.”
    He quoted Section 42 (1)(b) of the Constitution which provides against discrimination on bases of gender.
    “I think that what we need to do is to look at the bill itself and make sure that conflicts are eliminated at the time it is being processed by the committee so that we will be able leave the best of the bill that is served and consistent with our legislation,” he said.
    But Senate Chief Whip, Olusola Adeyeye who is a co-sponsor of the Bill, saw no conflict in the proposed law.
    Adeyeye said, “I support every thing in the bill. The Senate is fair minded. We do not want discrimination against any Nigerian. Of all kinds of discrimination, the worst is gender discrimination. The society that looks for equity must be fair. If we ask for 35 per cent for women it is fair.”
    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki noted that the Senate is strongly in support of gender equality.
    He gave the committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters two weeks to work on the bill.
  • Breaking News: Dariye defects to APC

    Breaking News: Dariye defects to APC

    The Senator representing Plateau Central, Joshua Dariye, on Thursday announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki read the letter of the Senator’s defection on the floor of the Senate.
    Dariye who moved from the PDP to the Labour Party and back to PDP and now APC said that his decision to leave the PDP was informed by the protracted division at the national level of PDP.
    His words: “After due consultation with my constituency, I write to notify you of my intention to cross over from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
    “My decision is informed by the protracted division at the national level of the PDP that led to the massive movement of my supporters to APC. Arising from this, I therefore write to formerly inform you of my decision to go along with my supporters. I thank you for your understanding”
    With the defection of Dariye, APC now has 59 senators, PDP has 43 senators while Labour Party has one.
    Elated Saraki commended Dariye for his action to leave the PDP.
  • Edo poll: PDP’ll resist rigging, manipulation – Senator Ordia 

    Edo poll: PDP’ll resist rigging, manipulation – Senator Ordia 

    Ahead of the September 28, 2016 rescheduled governorship election in Edo State, Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Clifford Ordia, has called for free and fair polls in the state.
    He warned that any form of rigging or manipulation of the election would not be in the interest of the state.
    Ordia who spoke to reporters in Abuja, noted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was fully prepared to win the governorship election.
    He said that no amount of intimidation will distract the party from winning the election.
    He said: “In my Senatorial District, All Progressives Congress (APC) has no chance. We have put everything in place to checkmate plans by APC to rig. We will resist it. We know that the APC is desperate and they are doing everything to frustrate voters, but it will not work.
    “The APC knew they were going to lose the election and they decided to shift the election. Even if they want to shift it by another one year, PDP will still win. APC has no chance in Edo state. Edo is a PDP state and we will prove that during the election.”
    The lawmaker who urged Edo people to come out en mass and vote for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, insisted that “no amount of intimidation should deter them from exercising their voting right.”
    Ordia also warned security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to make themselves willing tools in the hands of desperate politicians.
    “I want to also call on INEC and security agencies to maintain neutrality during the election. They should not allow themselves to be used. They must now ensure that voters are not harassed or beaten up.
    “I want to equally caution security agencies not to be used to snatch ballot boxes. I am making this call because we have seen or heard cases in the past where security agencies reportedly connived with INEC officials to deny Nigerians their voting rights.
    “I want to urge President Buhari not to allow Oshiomhole’s personal greed to throw Edo state into chaos. Mr. President must caution INEC not be used to rig the election in favour of APC.
    “The values of one man, one vote, which brought Oshiomhole to power have been abandoned. He is now desperate to impose his candidate on Edo people and we have rejected that. Edo people have rejected Oshiomhole and his candidate.”

  • Melaye: Women protesters storm National Assembly

    Protest over the unwarranted attack on the person of Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) shifted to Abuja on Wednesday.
    Women numbering over 100 stormed the National Assembly to protest against uncomplimentary and indecent utterances of Senator Dino Melaye against Senator Tinubu (Lagos Central).
    Melaye attacked Senator Tinubu during a closed door session on Tuesday July 12, 2016 using indecent words against the Lagos Central lawmaker.
    The Kogi West senator was said to have threatened to beat up Senator Tinubu during the session.
    The protesters wore T-shirts with inscriptions such as “No to impunity for gender based violence.”
    The protester were heard chanting, “Stop violence against women”
    They also carried placards that reads: “Support gender equality opportunity bill”, “A Senator is a Senator, women are not threat object”, Senate Leadership silence in the face of violence against women is conspiracy”, “Say no to impunity.”
    Leader of the protesters Mrs. Kemi Nelson, in her address noted that “enough is enough.”
    She asked the Senate to immediately take a disciplinary action against Melaye in the interest of justice.
    She said, “This is impunity and it has to be stopped, we must be accorded our right.”
    Senator Tinubu had already petitioned Acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun alleging threat to her life.

  • Rivers State killings: Group seeks President Buhari’s action

    A group, Ekpeye Patriotic Front, Rivers State on Tuesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately take steps to end the orgy of senseless killings of innocent and law abiding citizens in the state especially in Ekpeye Kingdom.
    The group said that its appeal became necessary following the sustained killings in Ekpeye Kingdom especially the killing of over 20 persons in Ula-Upata and Edeoha town on Saturday, April 30th 2016.
    The group claimed that it has become obvious that the Nyesom Wike led Rivers State Government is keeping quiet over the killings because it is allegedly benefiting from the increase in the crime rate in the state.
    President of the group, Mr. Udhuluma Okpara, in a statement made available to our reporter in Abuja, lamented that since 2015 over 200 Ekpeye citizens comprising Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas have been killed by sponsored cultists.
    Okpara recalled that “on 19th of January 2016, the assassins led by the notorious criminal stormed Ula -Upata and killed 17 persons, including a serving Police Corporal and the mother of another Police officer.
    He noted that “since then there is no day the group do not kill at least two persons on the average leaving many families in pains and agony.
    He said that “because of the daily and deadly activities of this group, many Ekpeye communities have been deserted for fear of attacks by these boys, which they carry out freely without any hindrance by the security agencies.”
    Okpara said “the worst of it happened again on 30th of April 2016, when same criminal and his gang stormed Ula-Upata and killed over 20 persons before proceeding to Edeoha community to kill another seven persons including a herbalist Mr Uwuma Ichocho and beheaded them and dumped their heads on the main road while they set ablaze their lifeless bodies.”
    The Rivers State Government and the security agencies, he claimed, have abandoned Ekpeye people to their fate.
    He said that they have written severally to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase and Commissioner of Police in the state on the spate of killings in Ekpeye and “the urgent need to arrest these known hoodlums and to beef up security in Ekpeye and save the lives of Ekpeye people who are daily being killed by these hoodlums.”
    He also claimed that some highly placed security operatives in the state were aiding the hoodlums to perpetrate their killing spree.
    Okpara urged the media and the Rivers State Police command not to play down on the actual nature of crime in Ekpeye by deliberately not telling the public the actual number of persons killed.
    He noted that reports credited to the police that only four persons were killed and the attacks being painted as cult clash is most unfortunate.
    He said that the four members of the Nwoka family of Ula Upata killed last Saturday were innocent persons shot by the hoodlums right in front of their house along the road.
    “The five killed at Edeoha are innocent persons as well,” he said.
    He urged the Police to carry out a thorough investigation and arrest these hoodlums while calling on the President to immediately declare a state of emergency in Rivers State to avert total collapse of security.
    The group listed those killed on 30th April 2015 at Ula-Upata
    1.     Mr. Ihemnachor Esordi
    2.     Mr. Fredrick Martins
    3.     Mr. Gospel Nwoka
    4.     Mr. Akor Aham Nwoka
    5.     Mrs. Aham Nwoka
    6.     Mrs. Aligbo Nwoka
    7.     Mr. Nwadu Nwati
    8.     Three Okada riders
    9.     A meat (suya) seller
    10.   A boy from Ogbo village
    11.   A man from Ula-Ehuda community.
    Those killed at Edeoha town and beheaded
    1.     Mr Uwuma Ichocho
    2.     Master Egbuluka Uwuma
    3.     Chisom Elleh
    4.     Chisanim Okoro
    5.     A visitor from Anakpor village.