The Nation Newspaper

Tag: others

  • Obasanjo’s coalition selfish agenda—Arewa youths, Clark, others

    Obasanjo’s coalition selfish agenda—Arewa youths, Clark, others

    More verbal assaults came the way of former President Olusegun Obasanjo from across the country yesterday over his latest pet project, the Coalition for Nigeria, and call on President Muhammadu Buhari to reject seeking re-election next year.

    Ijaw National Leader and convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, warned Nigerians against heeding Obasanjo’s advice because “he is a major cause of Nigeria’s leadership crisis.”

    The immediate past governor of Edo State,Mr.Adams Oshiomhole,asked Obasanjo to allow Buhari make his own decision and reminded the former president that he (Obasanjo) is  not one of Buhari’s advisers,while influential Itsekiri leader, Sir Amorighoye S.Mene, dismissed the new movement as another gimmick by the former president to hijack the narrative of the country.

    The Arewa Youth Assembly said Obasanjo should leave Nigerians alone to “decide who governs us’.

    But,the former president has a supporter in the Secretary General of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mr. Anthony Sani,  who said the idea of the Coalition for Nigeria is far better than resort to violence or agitation for split by some Nigerians.

    Chief Clark told The Nation by the phone that the generality of Nigerians should not take what he called Obasanjo’s bait.

    The  way out of Nigeria’s leadership problem, according to Clark, is not going on massage Obasanjo’s ego.

    He said:”While we accept part of Obasanjo’s message, as far as it concerns the state of the nation, one won’t accept Obasanjo, the messenger, because it’s all pretence.

    “For him to say he’s going to champion the movement, he’s a failure already.

    “There’s nothing Obasanjo has to offer to Nigerians. He was the president of this country for eight years.

    “He was military head of state for about three  years. As a civilian president, he created corruption in Nigeria; he legalised corruption in Nigeria.

    “He’s just pretending. I wonder how Obasanjo would help with the new leadership. Nigerians should not follow him.

    “Who are they deceiving in Nigeria?

    “Let the message be a lesson for the APC, PDP and other Nigerians.

    “There are many other parties in Nigeria. We have over 68 parties in Nigeria. We don’t need any political force or a new party championed by Obasanjo.

    “It’s a deceit; it’s an insult to the people of Nigeria.”

    Also speaking, Sir Amorighoye, Secretary of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT), said: “The idea is to adopt an existing party which is Obasanjo’s specialty; go to a party and impose himself on the party.

    “It is not an answer to Nigeria’s leadership crisis. The permanent answer to our leadership crisis is restructuring. We need to go back to the foundation; we need to address the lies.”

    In its own reaction, the Arewa Youths Assembly in a statement signed by its Speaker, Mohammed Salihu, alleged that Nigeria’s democracy ,under Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007,was almost derailed because of his leadership style.

    The Arewa youths said:”In 2006 towards 2007, the powerful OBJ not satisfied with the eight-year tenure mandate given to him by Nigerians, decided to manipulate the constitution to pave the way for yet another term called Third Term.

    “Thank God  for notable Nigerians who resisted the plan and rendered it toothless. Since that time till date, even after handing over power to the late President Shehu Yar’Adua, OBJ has refused to lie  low as being demonstrated by his predecessors and others.

    “The Northern part of Nigeria which overwhelmingly supported OBJ despite his rejection by his Southwest home, later became the worst hit. The North was set against the North. Tribalism, religious sentiments, political hatred as a result of divide and rule principle became glaring. The North became divided against itself, all due to his selfish need to control political power in Nigeria.”

    However, the Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mr. Anthony N.  Sani, described the emergence of the Coalition for Nigeria as democracy in action.

    He said: “While there may be national consensus on problems of a nation, there is often no similar national consensus on methods of solution.

    “And that is why multiparty democracy allows political parties to present distinct methods of solving the national problems as contained in the party manifestos which are used to canvass for the needed mandate for implementation.

    “Those who disagree with the approaches and style of sitting governments are at liberty to join a party of their choice or form a party of their choice and campaign for electoral mandate instead of resorting to violence or ways to split the country.

    “We have seen the feats by some young men in France and Australia who worked hard by mobilizing the citizens and won the elections to become presidents. They never allowed frustrations from the challenges of living to becloud their judgements and resorted to violence.

    “If the Coalition for Nigeria would provide a viable alternative platform, so be it. That is democracy in action. After all, democracy without a viable opposition is a sham.”

    “If the Coalition for Nigeria will bring about the needed cultural renaissance into the polity, it will be a welcome idea. But whether the former president has what it takes to bring about such cultural renaissance in the polity is yet to be seen.”

    Mr. Oshiomhole, emerging from a meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday pledged his support for a second term for the president.

    He said: “I came to wish the President a happy new year and appreciate him for his leadership of the country. As an APC activist and loyalist, I’m to reassure him of my absolute and total support for his government and even for 2019.” He added: “Everything taken into account, I believe that every Nigerian who wants us to sustain some of the renewed vigour to deal with one of the most challenging problems that Nigeria has faced, namely corruption and things like that, you cannot but appreciate the president and all that has been done under his leadership this past two years and some months.”

    Asked if he was suggesting that  Buhari should not heed Obasanjo’s advice on next year’s election, Oshiomhole said: “I’m not sure when I see the list of the advisers that  Obasanjo is one of the advisers.

    “But I also recall with respect that the day Obasanjo was swearing  in some of his advisers, he did say that anybody who was his adviser could advise him, he would make his own decisions. And I think that principle still stands.”

    Calabar-based lawyer and Public Affairs Analyst, Leonard Anyogo,  is all for the coalition,saying: “It is a welcome development as our constitutional democracy allows for freedom of association and lawful aspirations.”

  • Obi, Rewane, others to speak at AKLS event

    Obi, Rewane, others to speak at AKLS event

    FORMER governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, will be speaking at this year’s Annual Kingdom Life Summit, organized by the New Estate Baptist Church, Surulere, Lagos.

    The event themed ‘Greater Grace’ according to the convener, Samson Adedokun, will take place between February 8 and 10. His words: “The morning sessions will focus on the economy and governance of our nation.

    The Economic Forum will hold on Thursday February 8, 2018 at New Estate Baptist Church. The theme for the session is Strategic Investment Opportunities in a Consolidating Economy.

    We will have Mr. Ayo Teriba, a seasoned economist giving us insight into the economy; Prof. Segun Ajibola, President of Chartered Institute of Bankers speaking on business and ethical issues; Ms. Patience Oniha, Director-General of the Debt Management Office bringing the Government Perspective; We are also expecting Mr. Bismarck Rewane to bring the investment perspective to bear.

    “The Governance Forum will hold on February 9, at the same venue. The theme is Politics, Governance and Leadership: Raising a New Generation of Leaders. We expect to have Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, a distinguished former senator, bringing the political perspective at this meeting. Dr. Joe Abah, former Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, speaking to governance issues; Dr. John Dara, a former presidential aspirant will be sharing his insight.

    The forum is expected to also have Dr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, bring us the leadership perspective. “The evening sessions will be our life transforming spiritual sessions.

    On Thursday night, we will privileged to have Rev. Victor Adeyemi of Global Harvest Church ministering and on Friday night and Saturday morning, we will welcome our father, Pastor J. T. Kalejaiye to bring the word and release greater grace. ‘’Nigeria is entering another cycle of elections.

    We consider that there is a need for all of us to become more concerned about the needless bloodletting, the mindless wastages, the purposeless policies, the unmitigated recklessness, the divisive speeches, and the unlimited corruption in the land.

    It is the reason why we need grace for our lives, grace for our livelihoods, and grace for our future.’’

  • Assembly clears commissioners, others

    Assembly clears commissioners, others

    Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday cleared those nominated as commissioners and special adviser by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The commissioners-designate are: Alhaji Hakeem Fahm  (Science and Technology), Ladi Lawanson – Transportation, Segun Banjo – Economic Planning and Budget and Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye – Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives.

    Suleiman Hakeem is  Special Adviser on Community and Communications; former  table tennis star, Mrs Toyin Okenla-Ojeaga is a member of Lagos State Sports Commission Governing Board.

    The screening was a formality. Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said before the exercise that the nominees should just show their faces and introduce themselves.

    Apart from Mrs Okenla-Ojeaga, who was asked a few questions, others were not grilled. They just introduced themselves, the schools they attended, their marital status and their working experience and left.

    Also, the House took the third readings of the following bills and passed them into laws :  Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, Lagos State Teaching Service Commission Law and Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission (LAHASCOM) Law.

    The amended LAHASCOM  law raises  the  number of Deputy Clerk to four – Deputy Clerk, Legislative, Deputy Clerk, Legislative Drafting, Deputy Clerk, Publication and Public Affairs, Deputy Clerk, Human Resource and Account.

  • Fed Govt ‘must’ stop violence in Benue, others

    Fed Govt ‘must’ stop violence in Benue, others

    The National President of Igbo Youth for Positive Change in Nigeria, Chinedu Obigwe, has condemned the killing of a monarch from Taraba State and 28 others by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    He said the Federal Government should stop the violence, to prevent Nigerians from resorting to self defence.

    Obigwe supported Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom’s demand that President Muhammadu Buhari should prosecute leaders of Miyetti Allah for failing to fish out the bad eggs among herdsmen.

    He said the failure had made Nigerians to see herdsmen as murderers.

    Obigwe said as the 2019 general election approaches, President Buhari should stop senseless killing by herdsmen, to prevent it from affecting his chances at the polls.

    He hailed the President for his efforts to better the lives of Nigerians, saying he should be supported because he meant well for Nigerians.

    Obigwe urged politicians to avoid heating up the polity ahead of the elections, noting that the country’s unity is a task for all Nigerians.

    He advised the leadership of Ohanaeze Youth Wing to regard Chief Nnia Nwodo as the leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

  • Akpabio, others pass vote of confidence in Emmanuel

    Akpabio, others pass vote of confidence in Emmanuel

    Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Governor Moses Ekpo, Speaker of House of Assembly Onofiok Luke, Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) National Legal Adviser Emmanuel Enoidem, National Assembly members of the party and other stakeholders have passed a vote of confidence in Governor Udom Emmanuel.

    At a caucus meeting at the weekend in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, they hailed the governor for his leadership qualities and achievements since assumption of office.

    In a communique at the end of the meeting, members were warned to desist from making inflammatory statements capable of heating up the polity.

    The meeting was chaired by the state Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo.

    A source told The Nation that issues were discussed.

    The bigwigs praised Emmanuel for what they described as “spectacular performances across all sectors of the polity, economy and socio-cultural at very trying times.’’

    They assured him of support for a second term to complete his projects and programmes.

  • Act fast on herdsmen menace, ACF, Northern Elders, Okogie, others tell FG

    Act fast on herdsmen menace, ACF, Northern Elders, Okogie, others tell FG

    Concerned about the killings credited to Fulani herdsmen around the country, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and retired Lagos State Catholic Archbishop, Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, yesterday asked the Fedral Government to act fast in finding a solution to the problem.

    While the ACF charged those vested with power to secure lives and properties to act before the crisis graduates to unmanageable level, the NEF asked the Federal Government to be proactive in handling the issue.

    On his part, Okogie, who spoke in an interview with one of our correspondents yesterday, warned that the challenge could spell doom for the country if the President fails to take proactive measures to address it.

    The Secretary-General of ACF, Mr. Anthony Sani, said that recent attacks by herdsmen on some communities across the country demand urgent attention from those vested with power to secure lives and properties before the crisis graduates to unmanageable level.

    He said Nigeria does not need a tsunami or hurricane to know that the country has serious security challenges at hand.

    The ACF Scribe however said that, the situation was not beyond redemption, once the measures that can be taken to bring about peaceful resolution of the crises are urgently considered.

    He said: “The recent attacks by herdsmen on some communities across the country have drawn the attention of the nation to security challenges which demand urgent attention from those vested with power and authority to secure the lives and properties of the citizens lest such challenges reach unmanageable level.

    “My advice is not only to the federal government and its agencies but also to the state governments as well as to all political, religious and traditional leaders, that they should all come together and think out the best way of overcoming the security challenges for larger interest.

    “I want to believe there are short term, medium term and long term measures that can be taken to bring about peaceful resolution of the crises at hand that are acceptable to all the parties concerned.

    “This is very necessary because peace is a precondition for any meaningful socio-economic development of any nation.

    “We do not need a tsunami or hurricane in order to know that Nigeria has serious security challenges which make the governments at all levels to need the support of all Nigerians as the nation grapples with them.

    “The situation is not beyond redemption.”

    Archbishop Okogie said it behoves the President to find a solution to the menace of herdsmen, adding that the ball was in the President’s court.

    He said: “The ball is in his court. He is the father of the nation, but have you heard him talk? If the President does nothing to solve the problem, your guess is as good as mine. You can feel it in the air.

    “I am not in support of giving lands to herdsmen. Let everybody keep to his zone.  This is why the Senate is against what is happening, since the President does not want to talk. His silence means consent.

    “The very first man that talked about herdsmen disturbing him in his farm was Chief Olu Falae, but they swept the thing off just like that.

    “Another case came up here in the West when a few people, looking like ruffians and pretended to be herdsmen with AK 47, were arrested. It was published in the newspapers, but nothing was done.

    “I wrote two articles on these things and nothing was done.

    “Look at what happened in Ilorin recently when small boys and girls went to churches and started damaging things. Up till today, nothing is done.

    “Let it be Christians that is doing that and you would see what will happen.”

    On his part, Prof. Abdullahi, who is the spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), called on federal and state governments to be more proactive in protecting of lives and property of citizens across the country.

    Abdullahi said there was need for the authorities to take more decisive steps to ensure the security of lives and property of citizens, especially those that were currently involved in herdsmen/farmer clashes in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Kaduna, Zamfara and other parts of the country.

    He also advised the federal security agencies to step up their statutory responsibility of protecting the nation’s integrity.

    While he commiserated with all families and communities that have lost members and property, the Northern Elder urged the citizens themselves to be more vigilant.

    He said: “Our forum recently met to review critical national developments, particularly as they relate to tension around national security punctuated by killings in many parts of the country, and we condemned it and called for seriousness on the part of the security agencies in tackling the matter.

    “We condole all the families and communities that have lost members and assets, and we demand the federal and state authorities to take more decisive steps to restore the security of lives and property of citizens.

    “Also, all leaders must observe restraint and responsibility in the manner they exercise their powers to shape opinion and determine the responses of the citizens.

    “All communities must maintain vigilance over their relations with each other, and seek solutions that do not involve conflicts which in the end leave all of us as losers.

    “We at the Northern Elders Forum will continue to seek all opportunities and avenues to engage leaders, governments and all stakeholders in the search for peace and security in the North and Nigeria.”

    Kano-based politician, Alhaji Faruk Umar, opined a change in the Constitution so that that every Nigerian can become a citizen in the state that he or she resides.

    This way, he said, an indigene of any state would treat others in the state like his brother or sister, and would do away with ethnic or religious dichotomy.

    Aba based Civil Rights activist, Prof. Charles Chinekezi, called for the establishment of state vigilance groups to check attacks by herdsmen.

    Recruits into such vigilance groups, according to him, must be “very well trained personnel who are chosen based on the background of decency and fairness.”

    He said the wave of killings in the country “has to be quickly addressed.”

    He wondered how herdsmen who “have been grazing their cattle in the past 2000 years suddenly became tools in the hands of dangerous politicians.”

    He kicked against the planned cattle colonies, saying: “They know it is criminal and intended to fuel dispassionate and tribal fireworks which some people want to push.”

    Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has doubts about the ability of the Yemi Osinbajo-led committee set up by the National Economic Council to resolve the herdsmen crisis to  achieve anything.

    “Committee to do what? To find out how many people have been killed? To establish that we have been this problem for more than five years and nobody is addressing this problem?” he asked.

    He advised the state governments to take advantage of the current situation by establishing ranches to provide the beef needs of their people.

    He said: “In 1951, we had the first ranch in Nigeria, in Calabar, Obudu cattle ranch. Now, it’s been converted to Obudu holiday resort.

    “The late Ahmadu Bello regime established the Mokwa ranch, the Obafemi Awolowo regime in the West, in the 50s, established the Akunnu ranch, now in Ondo State.

    “The late Governor Adekunle Ajasin of the old Ondo state established a dairy farm in Iko Ekiti. “What do you expect the government to do? Revive the dairy farm.

    “A pregnant woman was killed in Ekiti two days ago, it is a height of primitivity to kill a pregnant woman anywhere in the world. But you can be sure nobody will be brought to book. The point I’m trying to make is, it is not our culture, for people taking cattle round the country, it’s a recent phenomenon.

    “In the Southwest here, the late Obafemi Awolowo brought a specie of cattle from Argentina. They were locally bred and people had these animals.

    “Nobody destroyed anybody’s farm until recently. And if you are taking a cow from Sokoto to Benin or Enugu, the rearer has to be armed because of cattle rustlers. The animal has to feed on somebody’s farm and rape has to be committed since the rearer hasn’t seen his wife for two or three months. Nobody does this again anywhere in the world. African countries have solved these problems by establishing ranches.” Second Republic Senator, Chief Ayo Fasanmi advised the security operatives to be more vigilant and pro-active with a view to assuring Nigerians that they are capable of securing their lives and property.

    The Afenifere leader, who expressed dissatisfaction with creation of colonies for animals, maintained that establishing such is neo-colonialism, adding that cows are not human beings to enjoy an independent portion of territory within Nigeria. ”We must stand firm against what is not right. We are one nation with a common destiny. Nothing should be allowed to divide us. How could people not feel safe on their farms and land.” Fasanmi said he was confident that President Mohammadu Buhari would be able to stand up to the challenge posed by the menace, saying as “an outstanding retired military officer he must have seen as worst as this situation before.”

  • ‘Fed Govt must arrest, prosecute sponsors of Waney, others’

    Major stakeholders in Rivers State have called on the Federal Government to arrest and prosecute the sponsors of the killed notorious terrorist Johnson Igwedibia, aka ‘General’ Don Waney and other criminals for justice to take its course.

    They also declared that Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike’s ambition changed the peaceful ambience of Rivers state, especially in Orashi region, to one of daily and gruesome bloodletting, which they described as unfortunate and sad.

    The stakeholders, under the aegis of Civil Society Groups in Orashi Region and Orashi National Congress (ONC), spoke yesterday during at a news conference in Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA).

    President of ONC Emeni Ibe, who spke to reporters was with Chief Medical Director (CMD) of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Prof. Henry Ugboma, an indigene of Ndoni in ONELGA;  Chief Henry Odili; monarchs; leaders and eminent personalities from the area.

    The crude oil and gas-rich Orashi region comprises four Councils: Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ahoada East, Ahoada West and Abua/Odual.

    Orashi region is also host to multinational oil companies: Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Total Exploration and Production (E&P) Nigeria Limited and Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (NDPR), as well as many oil servicing companies.

    The president of ONC said: “We demand that the genocide and terrorism in Orashi region are highly condemnable, hence the perpetrators and sponsors be brought to book. Security of Orashi region should be improved to cleanse the area of criminal elements that still roam and terrorise people of the area.

    “There is growing suspicion that security agencies and operatives in Orashi region may have been compromised, hence their roles should be investigated. The multinational oil companies within Orashi region should desist from patronising criminals in their exploration and exploitation activities.

    “We call on the Federal Government, international community, donor agencies and other humanitarian agencies to urgently attend to the needs of the victims and displaced people of Orashi region. We are also calling on the youths of Orashi region to toe the path of peace and shun social vices that are inimical to the development of our region.

    “In view of the strategic economic contribution of Orashi region, the Federal Government should embark on people-oriented programmes that will ameliorate the suffering of the people and create massive employment for our teeming youths.”

    The Orashi stakeholders also reiterated that the region, by its cosmopolitan character, was not only strategic to the Nigerian nation, but also important to the international community.

    They noted that Orashi region, which used to be known for its hospitality, peace and good neighbourliness, had regrettably in recent years, especially during the build-up to the 2015 general elections, witnessed unprecedented violence of genocidal proportion.

    Speaking on the attacks and killings, the stakeholders said: “The number of persons brutally/politically murdered by these terrorist groups is as follows: ONELGA-2,060, Ahoada East LGA-1,100, Ahoada West-70 and Abua/Odual-200 persons. Every aspect of commercial endeavours was brought to a standstill. Women were deprived access to their farms,  as they were regularly raped, with some dying in the process. Commercial banks were forced to close for business.

    “The effect of the activities of the rampaging politically-sponsored criminals can only be compared with the situation in the Northeast of Nigeria, that is the Boko Haram insurgency. Even the Benue killings that have generated so much justifiable outrage would be viewed as a child’s play, compared with what happened in the Orashi region of Rivers State.

    “The situation degenerated so badly that on January 1, 2018, 23 worshippers returning from crossover service were gruesomely murdered, while so many injured people are presently receiving medical attention in various hospitals. President Muhammadu Buhari intervened through the security agencies, which led to the January 6 killing of Don Waney and two of his lieutenants: Ikechukwu Adiele and Lucky Ode, in Enugu by soldiers and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).”

    The Orashi stakeholders also urged the security agencies not to relent after killing Igwedibia and two of the members of his gang, insisting that there were still many criminals in Orashi region and other parts of Rivers state.

  • Dangote Cooperative to diversify into real estate, banking, others

    As part of efforts to raise its revenue profile the management and board of the Dangote Group Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited (DANCOOPS) has set machinery in motion to diversify into real estate, micro credit and loans, among other business ventures.

    Making this disclosure at the weekend was the President of the Society, Comrade Afolabi Kamoru. He spoke in Lagos at the Society’s 10th Annual General Meeting.

    Kamoru, while giving account of his stewardship in the last two years, said his executive team has been able to change the fortunes of its members thus far from a humble beginning.

    Specifically, he said: “As big as the Society is, we just secured, renovated and furnished an office space and within a short period we have been able to perfect a few things for the Society. Aside from that, we have a landed property in Mowe, with construction about to start.”

    At the end of the financial year, ended December 31st, 2016, the DANCOOPS boss said, “The Society closed its books with surplus figure of N122, 369, 545, 43, which represents an increase of 46.38% over the last year’s profit.’’

    Expatiating, he said: ‘’There was reduction in the interest rates to cushion the effects of the economic hardship on members, payment of unclaimed dividends as well as savings increased by N390m with both dividends and net surpluses increased by over 48%.’’

    He also hinted of plans by the Society to acquire properties in strategic areas for business purposes, adding: “Already we have sent business proposals are being discussed and finalised with the SBU’s to establish Sales points of all brands of Dangote products for members. The Society is also planning to delve into finance scheme in the next two years.

    “What we are looking forward now is from now to the next two years, we want to woo all Dangote staff to be members of the Cooperative. For a Society which started in 2004 with just 400 members and now 10, 000, our target is to grow it to about 15,000-20,000 members in the coming years,” he stressed.

    Echoing similar sentiments, Comrade Odetunde Oluwole, two time president of the Society, said plans are in top gear to commence construction at Obajana in Benue state, Move in Ogun, Lokoja in Kogi state respectively.

    “In Lagos state, we are planning to construct a housing estate, which we are about to commence. We already have Certificate of Occupancy, layout and approval. It’s just to move to site,” he said.

    DANCOOPS, according to Oluwole which is made up of the following federating units namely: Dangote Industries Limited (Holding company), Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Dangote Four Mills, Dangote Oil Refinery Company Limited, Dangote Fertilizer Company of Nigeria Plc, National Salt Company of Nigeria Plc (NASCON), Dangote Cement Plc, Dangote Agro Sacks Limited, Dansa Foods Limited, A.G Dangote, Dangote Sino Truk West Africa Ltd, is also determined to branched into microfinance banking and other businesses as part of efforts to invest in lucrative ventures for the benefit of its members.

    The highpoint of the occasion was the election of new executives to lead the affairs of the Society. Among those elected include, Afolabi Kamoru, who was re-elected as president, Olabode M Ojo, as Vice President, Lukmon O Yusuf, Treasurer, Bature Farman, as General Secretary, Chibueze Nwaeze, Assistant General Secretary.

    Others include: Blamoh Adewale, as Assistant Financial Secretary with Ex-Officio as follows: Alh Isa S Musa, Oladipupo O Funsho, Ashonibare Ade.

  • Senate panel to grill Kachikwu, Baru, others over subsidy payments

    Senate panel to grill Kachikwu, Baru, others over subsidy payments

    The Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) will on Thursday grill stakeholders in the Petroleum sector on subsidy payment being allegedly paid to some individuals and corporate bodies through the back door.

    Specifically, the Senate panel has picked holes in claims by Petroleum marketers and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, that the landing cost for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) is N171 while domestic pump price for the product is N145.

    Briefing newsmen at the National Assembly yesterday, the chairman of the Senate Downstream Petroleum committee, Senator Kabiru Marafa, raised questions on who pays the difference of the N26 in the landing cost of N171 against the pump price of N145.

    Marafa said there are indications that a subsidy of N26 is being paid on every litre of petrol sold in the country and wondered who has been paying the subsidy.

    Marafa said: “If there is subsidy payment, then who approved it and how much has been paid out as subsidy so far? If you want to provide subsidy, it should come through the National Assembly, but we have not received any request for subsidy payment from the executive arm.”

    Stating that about N10 trillion has been paid out as subsidy, Marafa lamented that stakeholders in the Petroluem industry, particularly the NNPC, have not been transparent in the running of the sector.

    Marafa said these are some of the issues the Minister of State for Petroluem Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Baru and others will be made to explain to Nigerians at the January 4 hearing.

    “We are going back to the same circle where only a few persons benefit from subsidy payment at the expense of the Nigerian people,” Senator Marafa said.

    The Senate committee chairman vowed to expose government officials involved in the illegal subsidy payment at the scheduled public hearing, stressing that there was never a time any request for subsidy payment was brought before the National Assembly for approval.

    Baru had, last week, announced that petrol is being subsidised to the tune of N26 per litre; a claim that was earlier made by petroleum product marketers.

    The NNPC boss had also claimed that the product was being smuggled across the country’s land borders owing to price disparity that exists between Nigeria and its neighbouring countries.

    According to him, insurance and freight price of PMS is $620 per metric ton, insisting that at N305 to a dollar for importers, the landing cost translated to N171 per litre.

    Marafa regretted that the same administration which claims to be fighting corruption in the oil industry is being seen to be involved questionable subsidy payments.

    Continuing, the lawmaker said: “This happened in the past and we fought against it. Why is it still happening now? We will look at the Direct Sale and Direct Purchase (DSDP) system introduced by this government to replace the swap system of the last administration.

    “The crisis associated with sourcing of foreign exchange by marketers will also be looked into during the open investigation.

    “The Senate believes that there is complacency by some people who should carry out some responsibilities. Hoarding would not have taken place if some of these officials did what they should do.

    “There are sharp practices in the sector that must be stopped. We don’t want to go back to subsidy regime again because it had made the nation to lose some N10 trillion in the past.

    “They want to take us back to the subsidy regime that has never been beneficial to ordinary Nigerians across the country. We cannot go back to such scam called subsidy regime, which robbed the country of N10 trillion between 2006 and 2016”.

     

  • Jonathan, NDI, others hail Liberians for peaceful, orderly polls

    Jonathan, NDI, others hail Liberians for peaceful, orderly polls

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is co-leading the National Democratic Institute Election Observer group to the Liberian Presidential election run-off election, and other leaders of the delegation have declared the Boxing Day poll in Liberia as peaceful, orderly and well-organised.

    The NDI made the disclosure in its preliminary statement issued in Monrovia on the December 26 Liberian Presidential run-off.

    The delegation, however, stressed that official election results were not yet complete. It called on “Liberian political parties and candidates to cooperate in good faith with the National Elections Commission and for the results to be expeditiously released.”

    Speaking of his experienced on the field,  former President Jonathan said: “I am proud of Liberians, who have come from crisis to democracy and have shown themselves to be a model of peace and stability in the region. Democracy goes beyond election day, and if Liberia succeeds, West Africa succeeds, Africa succeeds, and the world succeeds.”

    Speaking in the same vein, Kosovo’s former President Atifete Jahjaga said: “The NDI delegation would like to congratulate the people of Liberia for exercising their right to vote and for making a historic step towards the consolidation of democracy in their country. It is my hope that the positive trends that we have observed during this election will be sustained and further improved during future elections.”

    Stressing that voting was peaceful, orderly and well-organised, the preliminary statement also highlighted “aspects of voter participation, election administration, women and youth participation and security.”

    The NDI Liberia international election observer delegation included 36 political and civic leaders, elections experts and regional specialists from 18 countries across Africa, Europe and North America.

    In the delegation’s leadership are: Dr Jonathan;  Jahjaga; Hanna Tetteh (former Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister) and Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh (NDI’s Regional Director).

    The delegation’s preliminary statement offered recommendations to the government of Liberia, the National Elections Commission, political parties and candidates, security forces, civil society, the media, the international community, as well as other stakeholders.

    The recommendations’ focus was on reviewing legal framework, communicating timely and accurate information, promoting peace, improving women’s participation and continuing to engage citizens in the electoral process.

    The institute has been observing the Liberian electoral process since February. NDI is a non-profit, non-partisan organisation, dedicated to supporting and strengthening democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

    Over the last 25 years, NDI has conducted more than 150 election observation missions in 62 countries. NDI’s first assignment  in Liberia was in 1997.

    The Institute has maintained a permanent in-country office in Liberia since 2003.

    NDI’s programmes in Liberia, which include technical assistance for voter education, citizen election monitoring, women’s participation and poll watching for all political parties, are funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).