The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Outrage

  • OUTRAGE AS HOODLUMS KILL LUTH DOCTOR 24 HOURS AFTER GRADUATION

    Tempers rose and tears flowed freely yesterday following the death of a fresh medical doctor, barely 24 hours after graduating from the University of Lagos. He was stabbed on Thursday by suspected hoodlums but gave up the ghost  yesterday.

    The victim, Dr Stephen Urueye, was a house officer at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital(LUTH).

    Two suspects have already been arrested by the police in connection with the murder.

    Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), who described those arrested as “hoodlums,” said they were arrested at the spot where the late Urueye was stabbed.

    Urueye was among the 8,000 students who graduated at the 50th convocation ceremonies of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Wednesday.

    According to his colleagues at LUTH,he was the only child of his mother, who is a widow.

    Urueye, the house officers said, just got an alert of his first salary as house officer the day he was stabbed by the robbers.

    The Nation learnt that he was stabbed near the teaching hospital’s gate, Idi-Araba, Mushin, while returning to LUTH by armed robbers, who wanted to dispossess him of his valuables.

    With blood gushing out from his thigh, he ran into the LUTH compound where he was taken to the Accident and Emergency Centre (A&E).

    He was later transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

    There, his fellow house officers and senior doctors battled all through the night to save him.

    Their efforts proved futile when he gave up the ghost around 3am yesterday.

    The late Urueye’s remains, The Nation learnt, have been deposited at the mortuary.

    Emotions ran high in LUTH, Idi-Araba, yesterday as soon as news of his death broke; his colleagues momentarily protested his death.

    Read also: Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: exercise patience, FRSC urges motorists

    The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions calling for justice for the victim.

    According to them, Idi-Araba has been overtaken by armed thugs.

    They called on the government and security agencies to beef up security in the area.

    Some of his colleagues and other Nigerians yesterday took to Twitter to lament Urueye’s murder and also seek justice for him with the hashtag #JusticeForStephen.

    The protesters lamented that they have complained severally to the management of the hospital as regards incessant attacks of fellow students in Idi-Araba by armed hoodlums.

    A 500-level Nursing student at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL), Harrison Udeh, said Urueye was stabbed around 9pm on Thursday.

    Udeh said the late Urueye “was outside between 8 and 9pm along the Canal near LUTH gate. Apparently, he was assailed by robbers. I think there was a struggle and he was stabbed by the robbers at the Femoral Artery  (Femoral Artery is a large artery in the thigh and the main arterial supply to the thigh and leg. It enters the thigh from behind the inguinal ligament as the continuation of the external iliac artery.) That led to bleeding and he had to run to the gate and he was taken to the teaching hospital. His (Urueye’s) classmates with other doctors (because his classmates are class officials too) attended to him. They tried PR (Preliminary Restoration) for three hours but at the end of the day, we lost him. It was sad. He gave up between 3am and 4am. . Actually, 3:43am was the time we were given by his classmates as the time of passage.”

    The protest, he said, was to draw the attention of the management to the insecurity in the area.

    “This morning (yesterday), we all decided that something had to be done because people have complained about being robbed along the road. Students have been beaten along this road and it has been happening frequently. The Chief Security Officer for LUTH said reports have been made to the Itire Police Station. There are patrols along the area but the problem with the patrol is that the hoodlums or the robbers can actually watch out for when the patrol passes and do whatever they wanted to do after the patrol has passed. So, it is not an effective way of curbing the robbery incidents. They’re supposed to have a police vehicle stationed along the route because it is a hot spot for robberies,” he said.

    DSP Elkana said the two suspects were arrested immediately after the matter was reported to the police.

    “They are hoodlums. The incident happened yesterday (Thursday) and we got their report yesterday. He (The late Urueye) left the school, he was going with his friends to somewhere. He was attacked by some hoodlums around the lagoon. They snatched his phone and stabbed him. Then, he subsequently died in the hospital while receiving treatment,” he said.

    The late Urueye’s colleagues and students held a Candle Light for him last night with a call on the government to bring the perpetrators to book.

    They equally called on the management of LUTH and UNILAG to ensure adequate security for the students and the doctors.

  • Outrage trails killing of corps members in Bayelsa

    TEMPERS have continued to rise in Bayelsa State following the shooting and killing of serving members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) by suspected cultists.

    The cultists, in what has become a regular occurrence in Yenagoa, the state capital, stormed the corps members’ residence along the School Road in Swali and shot three of them.

    While two of the victims were confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Yenagoa, the third was lying critically injured and receiving treatment at the hospital.

    The attacked corps members were identified as Popoola Oluwatobi Olamide (30-year-old), a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and an indigene of Oyo State; George Onokpoma and Gbenga Dada. Popoola was shot dead on the spot,  Onokpoma died at the FMC while Gbenga was receiving treatment for gunshot wounds at the medical centre.

    Yesterday, the Bayelsa State government through the office of the Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, and the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Central Zone, condemned the gruesome murder of the corps members.

    Eradiri and the IYC Chairman, Tare Porri, led a high-powered delegation of Governor Seriake Dickson’s aides on youths to pay a condolence visit to the state coordinator, NYSC, Bolade Loto in Yenagoa.

    The youth commissioner said the governor was devastated by the report of the killings and mandated them to visit the IYC management in the state. “As a state we heard what happened.

    Our principal the governor was very touched and concerned about this ugly incident and we must express our condolence as a state government to NYSC.

    “Young people who came to serve their nation don’t deserve to die in the process. For us, we are sorry that such will happen in our environment. It should not happen to the NYSC not to youths who are serving their fatherland.

    “But the government is doing everything possible to ensure that the culprits are brought to book. It is unfortunate that the society has gone this bad. We condemn what happened and we are doing our best to engage young people.  “There is no reason why a young person will take another person’s life. Youth corps members are priceless assets to every nation.

    Our condolences go to their families and we will work very hard to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” Eradiri said. Also speaking, IYC Chairman, Porri,  said it was unfortunate that such dastardly acts were happening in Yenagoa despite the presence of many security outfits.

    He accused the security agencies of conspiracy and urged them to step up their game and guarantee security in the state.

    He said: “It was terrible and shocking incident that happened to us as Ijaw people. We are not known for things like this. It is unfortunate that young people who were serving our fatherland could be killed in such manner.

    “But my concern is that this sincerely calls for sober reflection. We have many security outfits in the state.

    We have the Nigerian Army 16th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, Mobility Command of the Airforce, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe (ODS), the police, the DSS and other security outfits and this kind of incident is happening.

    “The Bayelsa State government is doing its best but these other security agencies should do their best. I don’t know what is happening whether it is conspiracy. I call on the security outfits to step up their game. It is life that we are talking about. We are worried and concerned.”

    The NYSC coordinator, Loto, described the incident as very heart-breaking, pathetic and very shameful and charged the police to thoroughly investigate the killing and bring the perpetrators to justice.

    Loto said the motive behind the killing was still unknown since the murderers left the scene of the incident without stealing any valuable.

    Narrating how the incident happened, she said: “When I was notified of this incident at the middle of the night on Wednesday, I immediately sent messages to the DG of NYSC, the Deputy Governor and the SSG.

    “They all replied me to express their shock for this dastardly act. Up till now I am still in shock. I keep asking myself, why? What could have happened because report has it that they took nothing from them.

    Since then, we have been in constant touch with the DG of NYSC and with the state government.  “That very morning, I visited the surviving corps member in the hospital. I ensured the hospital quickly and promptly gave the corps member the needed attention.

    The two families that lost their children had been contacted. They are still in shock wondering what their children could have done. They are still weeping.

    Also the Sagbama branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) condemned the brutal murder.

    A statement by its Chairman, Dise Sheila Ogbise, said the unwarranted murder of two was the latest in the spate of incessant violence, killings and criminal activities in the state.

    She said: “The insecurity in Bayelsa is alarming and a concern to peace and development in the state.”

  • Outrage over polls shift

    •Buhari rushes back to Abuja, says INEC got all it needed to deliver
    •APC hits INEC, demands apology •Hold ruling party responsible – Atiku

    Anger, frustration and disappointment swept across the country yesterday after voters woke up to learn   that the presidential and national assembly elections they had prepared for would no longer take place as scheduled.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),charged with the responsibility of conducting such elections announced at about 3am, just five hours before the commencement of voters accreditation, that the elections would now take place this week.

    It cited logistical problems.

    The two leading candidates in the presidential election – Muhammadu Buhari, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and AtikuAbubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), quickly departed their home states  of Katsina and Adamawa for Abuja to catch up  on latest development about the elections.

    Both had travelled home last week for the purpose of voting there.

    Buhari expressed disappointment at the postponement as were Atiku and Senate President BukolaSaraki.

    The ruling APC wondered why INEC waited until the 11th hour to shift the elections.

    It demanded an apology from the commission.

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) urged Nigerians to continue to be prayerful, remain calm and restrain themselves from any act of lawlessness capable of jeopardizing  the democratic process of free and fair elections.

    Buhari,in a statement in his hometown Daura before leaving for Abuja, said he was dismayed by the shift of polls after many Nigerians had “traveled to various locations to exercise their right to vote, and international observers are gathered,” and INEC had “given assurances, day after day and almost hour after hour that they are in complete readiness for the elections.”

    He urged the commission to “ensure not only that materials already distributed are safe and do not get into wrong hands, but that everything is done to avoid the lapses that resulted in this unfortunate postponement, and ensure a free and fair election on the rescheduled dates.”

    He affirmed his “strong commitment to the independence, neutrality of the electoral umpire and the sanctity of the electoral process and ballot.”

    Buhari said he had “decided to move back to Abuja to ensure that the 14.00 hrs. meeting called by INEC with all stakeholders is successful.”

    Buhari also apologised to Nigerians for the postponement.

    Speaking to reporters on his return to Abuja from Daura, the president said it was bad enough that the polls shift was announced after many Nigerians had spent their resources in moving from one location to the other to vote.

    He said: “Yes, I am disappointed because INEC got all the time and resources needed and was therefore supposed to work according to their programme.

    “They were given all the resources;they had all the time and they kept on telling us up to the last minute that they were ready.

    “The fact that they are not ready means there is some inefficiency along the line.” he said

    He pleaded for patience and understanding from the generality of Nigerians,saying : “They should be patient,  let them come out a week from today and vote.

    “I apologise for this inefficiency because they will use their own resources to go back to their various polling units at their own expense if they are all that committed.”

    It’s unfair, but prepare to vote on Saturday, Atiku tells Nigerians

    Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, speaking to reporters at his  Dougeri GRA home in Yola  on the development yesterday daubed the postponement as unexpected, a surprise and  unfair.

    But he asked Nigerians to “still come out and vote” on Saturday.

    He added: “They should be patient about the postponement and cast their votes on Saturday.

    However, he asked INEC to ensure that all the sensitive electoral materials already moved to the states are kept safe for the rescheduled poll.

    “As long as the sensitive materials are in the right places and are secured, there is no cause for alarm,” he said.

    He later left for Abuja for a meeting of PDP leaders on the issue.

    Obi calls for more

    sacrifice

    Atiku’s running mate in the election,Mr.Peter Obi, appealed to Nigerians to remain calm and peaceful.

    He told reporters at his Onitsha residence in Anambra State that the waste associated with the postponement was staggering  considering  the fact that many Nigerians  travelled to their states from different parts of the country and abroad to fulfill their civic duties only to get the news of the postponement on the Election Day .

    He encouraged them to remain committed by possibly staying behind as further demonstration of patriotism because, according to him, “no sacrifice to get Nigeria working again is a waste.”

    On the argument that the PDP lacked the moral justification to condemn the postponement, having done the same in 2011 and 2015, Obi said what happened in the past should not be used as an excuse now but as a lesson for improvement.

    PDP urges Nigerians to remain firm

    The PDP blamed the ruling APC for the development.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP,Mr.Kola Ologbondiyan, told reporters in Abuja that the reasons given by INEC for the postponement were untenable.

    Ologbondiyan said: “Our members and supporters, in their millions and generality of Nigerians that are eager to participate in the democratic process had already moved close to their polling units in readiness to vote and to defend their votes.

    “In some cases, Nigerians were already at their polling units in orderly queue in the hope to vote out the incompetent administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Countless of patriotic Nigerians and families had spent huge resources and made exhaustive sacrifices in travelling to their various polling areas to vote for their consensus candidate, AtikuAbubakar, only for INEC to announce this devastating postponement.

    “The public space is replete with how the Buhari Presidency mounted pressure on INEC leadership to postpone the election at the dying minute, so as to place more burdens on voters and frustrate their enthusiasm for the election”.

    The PDP regretted that Nigerians were made to lose trillions of naira, risked their lives on the road and in the air as well as faced other huge losses just because some politicians want to perpetuate themselves in office.

    The spokesman continued:”It is instructive to state that the reasons given for the postponement, including the logistic challenges in the distribution of sensitive election materials, as well as security concerns, were all the machinations of the APC and the Buhari Presidency to create confusion and arrive at a predetermined end, which is to rig the election.

    “This is in addition to the compromising of government facilities and agencies to frustrate the distribution of sensitive election materials, including results sheets in various states; the provocative substitution of already trained INEC polling officials with APC members as well as the deployment of security forces to simultaneously arrest PDP leaders and supporters, particularly in Kwara, Akwa-Ibom, Imo, Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, Kogi, Bayelsa among other states in order to create a sense of national insecurity and trigger violent resistance by the people.

    “APC’s new plot is to escalate series of challenges that will eventually paralyze INEC’s operation in some states so as to stagger the election and pave way to isolate certain critical states, after which it will use compromised security agents to muzzle the polls in those states in favour of President Buhari.

    “Our response to INEC and the Buhari Presidency is that they have only succeeded in postponing the evil day for their candidate.”

    Oshiomhole to INEC: ‘Why wait till 2am to announce postponement

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, asked INEC Chairman  why he waited until 2am yesterday to announce the postponement of the polls.

    Speaking at the INEC meeting with stakeholders on the circumstances that warranted its action,Oshiomhole also demanded an apology on behalf of Nigerians from INEC.

    He said:”What you have not explained, with due respect, is why did you have to wait till 2am this morning to realise that you had logistics challenges.

    “Over the weeks, some people raised doubts whether INEC was in a position to proceed with the election, you kept reassuring the country that you were ready.

    “The cost to mobilise party agents to 176,000 polling units across the country; this entails a huge cost and entails huge risk.

    “Just as INEC has huge logistics, every serious presidential candidate also has huge logistics. But unlike INEC that can fall on public treasury, political parties have to look for resources to mobilise their agents to various polling points.

    “Nigerians have been subjected to a rude shock, I think we should be honest, I’m shocked, I’m disappointed, I’m disgusted.

    “If we knew that it would be postponed, we would have saved a lot. For us the real players, it is a huge shock.

    “I ask you, sir:why didn’t you inform us at least 48 hours earlier when you noticed that you had issues with weather, logistics? You didn’t know about all these until 2am this morning?”

    ACF urges prayers, steadfastness by Nigerians

    Also reacting,the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF)   urged Nigerians to continue to be prayerful, remain calm and restrain themselves from any act of lawlessness that would jeopardize the democratic process of free and fair election.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Alhaji Muhammed Ibrahim, said in Kaduna yesterday that :”It is only our collective resolve to respect the tenets of democracy that will strengthen our unity and peaceful coexistence.

    He said: “though ACF is not privy to the nature of the challenges and the time INEC noticed them, the forum thinks the shift should have been done earlier in order to reduce cost and inconveniences for all the parties concerned.”

    It cites the earlier assurances given to Nigerians by INEC that it would deliver on credible, free and fair elections on schedule, saying this heightened the enthusiasm of Nigerians.

    According to the ACF, Nigerians have no option but to accept the reasons advanced by INEC and have faith that it would live up to its promise to hold the rescheduled elections on the 23rd February and 9th March 2019.

    The Forum, however, called on INEC to use this opportunity and ensure that adequate logistic preparations are put in place for a successful election.

    “The Police and other security agencies should also prepare adequately to provide the needed security cover to INEC officials, the electorates, election observers and also to maintain peace and order during and after the elections”, the Forum advised.

    Saraki: It’s a great

    inconvenience

    Senate President Bukola Saraki said the last minute postponement of the elections had caused a great inconvenience to many Nigerians who were  poised to vote for their choice as president and federal legislators.

    Saraki in a statement in Ilorin said:”Waiting till just a few hours to commencement of voting before announcing postponement of elections is extremely sad.

    “Nobody can quantify the difficulty that this will bring to people at every level. I empathize with youth corps members who have been relocated from their places of primary assignment to assist with the conduct of the elections.

    “My thoughts also go to civil servants who left their bases to go and vote in their hometowns. I also sympathize with millions of ordinary Nigerian traders whose businesses were suspended because of the no movement order. Thus, the costs of this postponement are incalculable.

    “However, I want to appeal to Nigerians not to be deterred, discouraged or disappointed. They must continue to be strong and determined to cast their votes for their preferred candidates,” he said.

    “Next Saturday, they should try and forget the current setback and troop out en-masse to vote for their preferred candidates. Not voting because of the postponement is not a good option for Nigerians. My appeal to our people is that we must still go out next Saturday to exercise our franchise.

  • Outrage in Bayelsa as policeman kills 300 level varsity student

    •Police arrest, disarm killer cop

    There was lamentation in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, at the weekend following the gruesome killing of a 20-year-old 300-level student of the Niger Delta University (NDU) by a trigger-happy policeman.

    Tariela Nikade, the last in the family of Nikade Anderson, a popular broadcaster, was reportedly shot dead close to their house at Tinacious Road, Edepie, Yenagoa.

    The latest murder came a few weeks after a 100-level student of the university, Seifa Fred, was shot dead by a gang of cultists, who snatched her smartphone.

    It was gathered that following the strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Tariela, an engineering student, decided to learn haircut at a barber shop close to their house.

    Narrating how his brother was killed, Anderson said: “My brother, the last in our family, who came home following the ASUU strike, was at a barber’s shop where he was learning haircut.

    “Suddenly, at about 7pm, a team of policemen stormed the area. They entered into the shop and asked people there to raise their hands. I and others raised their hands. One of them shot my brother at the back of his neck.

    “Immediately they noticed that they had shot my brother, all of them rushed into their van and zoomed off. They did not wait.”

    Anderson added that his brother was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Yenagoa and was later moved to the Family Care Hospital where he was confirmed dead.

    The killing caused outrage and protest in Yenagoa as residents and landlords in Akeinfa marched the streets and demanded justice for Tariela.

    The protesters besieged the Akenfa police station, insisting that the policeman must be identified and prosecuted for the crime.

    Some of the residents decried the unprofessional attitude of the conventional police, saying it was a far cry to the professional conduct of the withdrawn state security outfit, Operation Doo-Akpor.

    A resident, who spoke in confidence, said: “The Nigeria Police in Bayelsa State has lost focus and direction. Extra-judicial killing of innocent lives is now the order of the day. This is the height of irresponsibility and unprofessionalism.”

    A social commentator, John Idumange, called for thorough investigations into the circumstances that led to the killing.

    “The matter should be thoroughly investigated. We cannot keep quiet. For now, sorry is not enough. Kokorifa was killed and his killers have been served justice. This matter should be pursued to its logical conclusion,” he said.

    But the police command in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Asinim Butswat, identified the trigger-happy policeman as Sergeant Timadj Emmanuel.

    Butswat said the policeman was immediately arrested, disarmed and was undergoing orderly room trial.

    He said: “Bayelsa State Police Command condoles with the family and assures that justice will be done.

    The Bayelsa State Police Command regrets the unfortunate incident involving a police officer and a resident of Tenacious Road, Edepie, Yenagoa.

    “On 23 November, 2018, at about 1930 hours, Sergeant Timadi Emmanuel, attached to a patrol team of Akenfa Division, while on patrol at Tenacious Road, Edepie, under questionable circumstances, shot one Tariela Nikade ‘m’ 20 years. The victim was rushed to the hospital, where he was later confirmed dead.

    “The sergeant has been disarmed, arrested and is undergoing orderly room trial. Investigation is in progress and its outcome will be made public.

    “The command is hereby appealing to residents to be calm and assures the family and the general public that justice will be done.”

  • N30,000 minimum wage: Governors’ sack threat sparks OUTRAGE

    ANGRY reactions have trailed the declaration by governors that they cannot pay the N30,000 minimum wage contained in the report of the Tripartite Committee submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari last week. In different reactions yesterday, groups and individuals, including Ijaw leaders, a former scribe of the Arewa Consultative Forum’s Political Committee, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, former Kaduna State governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and former Cross Rivers State governor, Mr. Donald Duke, spoke against the threat by governors to retrench workers if they must pay the new minimum wage. The governors had stated their position on the issue after a meeting the Nigeria Governors’ Forum held in Abuja on Wednesday.

    In his reaction to the issue yesterday former Kaduna State governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to compel state governors to pay the proposed minimum wage from their monthly statutory allocations and “end the unjustifiable threat of sacking workers.” This, he said, the President must do in order to reflect his genuine populist concerns. In Musa’s opinion, labour leaders ought to be demanding a minimum of N60,000 as minimum wage if they are to be realistic about the welfare of lowly-paid workers. He said: “The President of Nigeria should prove his populist position and compel all these governors who receive monthly federal statutory allocations to pay workers the N30,000 minimum wage they are demanding for.

    “I believe that everyone knows that a family of five needs at least N60,000 for feeding, transport and other needs. “We can never address the prevailing mass poverty and bolster workers’ productivity in a situation where some governors are making dangerous threats over demand for a mere N30,000 minimum wage.” Expressing anger over state governors’ threat, a former Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum’s Political Committee, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, berated governors for joking with their responsibilities, saying that many of them could end up in jail for betraying the people’s cause.

    He said: “These politicians called governors are still playing recklessly with their responsibilities to the people because they have forgotten that they are servants of the people, and ‘We The People’ are their employers.’’ A lawyer, civil rights activist and former National Secretary of Labour Party of Nigeria, Kayode Ajulo, described the governors’ threat to sack workers on account of the minimum wage as an empty boast. He said that existing laws make the governors’ threat unrealistic as the courts may compel them to pay much more as legal damages if the governors breach the laws under which workers were engaged by their various states. “It’s not only an empty boast, it is one that one should not ordinarily dignify with a response.

    The terms under which government workers are hired and the conditions for their firing are embodied in statutes,” he said. “It stands to reason that they would resist any attempt by governors to fire them except in accordance with their conditions of service. “Also it may be more expensive to have to cough out all emoluments that will be direct consequences of such willful disengagements. “Having said that, I wish to encourage the workers to not only be vigilant but to also be proactive by ensuring that governors within the ranks of the anti- 30,000 minimum wage group are not voted back into office. “They must take assurances from everyone who aspires into the office of a Governor that he or she would accede to the demand for the minimum of wage of N30,000 or more,” Ajulo stated.

    Speaking in a similar vein, constitutional lawyer and human rights crusader, Mr. Inibehe Effiong asserted that state governors have no justification issuing threats over workers’ legitimate demand for N30,000 minimum wage. He said: “The governors have no basis to make such inflammatory statement. We expect governors to render account of their bogus security votes, allowances and other outrageous benefits. “The issue is not paucity of funds but the unbridled profligacy of the governors.

    Any governor who cannot pay N30,000 minimum wage should resign.” ‘Pay new wage or quit’ The Chairman of the Aba Unit of Civil Liberties Organisation, Dr. Charles Chinekezi, advised governors who cannot cope with the new minimum wage to quit, saying that he expected the new minimum wage to be more than N30,000. Chinekezi said: “What I expected the federal and state governors to pay their workers is N40,000 because that is the minimum wage that any human being can be paid at this time of economic hardship in the country.

    “Do governors want to run human beings or do they want to run baboons? What is N30, 000? Both the federal, state and local governments should be able to pay the least worker under them the N30, 000 that the workers’ unions are demanding for, and it is not negotiable. “If they say they cannot pay, they are simply being mischievous. If you cannot employ a human being, then you are not able to employ him. But if you must employ him in any capacity, you must be able to pay him at least N30, 000. Anything below that is out of the way. “Saying that they want to downsize to be able to pay is rubbish. Anybody who is in the service is somebody that you need. If they cannot pay someone, they shouldn’t employ them. “They have money to pay and there should be a uniform standard across board.

    It will be baseless asking workers to go and negotiate with their respective state governors on what they can pay. In Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, an activist and founder of Integrity Group, a civil society organisation, Livingstone Wechie, urged the state governments to rob minds with the Federal Government on the best way they could pay the bills, considering the fact that wage bills of states are paid from the federal allocation and not from internally generated revenue. Wechie advised governors to move closer to Edo State and find out how they have been able to sustain the payment of N25,000 minimum wage since the inception of the incumbent administration rather than threatening to downsize their state workforce. He insisted that upward review of Nigerian workers’ salaries is long overdue, especially following the harsh economic realities in the country.

    Wechie urged labour to stand their ground and not push back as their agitation is apt and strategic. He called on them to use the situation as a condition for deciding who governs their states from 2019. He said: “The situation of Nigeria workers is ridiculous and pathetic. It is within what could be called a state of servitude. “To the best of my knowledge, governors of states do not pay workers from internally generated revenue, but with funds from federal allocation. “It is unfortunate that more than 90 per cent of Nigeria states are not trying well enough to function as states.

    Some of them are not even qualified to function as local government. “As it were, you cannot insist on maintaining your status as a state when you cannot also shoulder the responsibilities of the financial obligations that go with it. “Nigerian workers have been subjected to this level of frustration in the face of increasing lock by the political class, in giving salaries that cannot pay the school fees of their children, health, feeding and shelter, whereas a governor in a national daily that luxury vehicles and private jets are compulsory for governors and that it cannot be negotiated.

    “They are concerned about their luxury but will not give workers their pay. “Having said this, my submission is that I am behind labour to insist that now that it is election time, they should step up their demand, bargain and campaign and insist that now that governors have threatened that they will sack workers in their states in order to reduce them to the size that they can pay, that threat will act like a mirror that any governor that cannot stick to the demand of labour should be voted out in next year’s elections, as he is not qualified to be in office. “If they don’t have this opportunity properly explored in this election period, nobody will listen to them after now.

    “So, labour should for once remain resolute in their demand. Any state that feels it cannot pay should negotiate with the Federal Government on how revenues could be made available for the payment of workers. “A worker is deserving of his wages. It is not a privilege; it is a right. As a matter of fact, N30,000 is too small in the sense of the current economic conditions. “I am even proposing N100,000 minimum wage to at least to be able to meet up with not less than $10 per day.” “The time for Labour to get government at all levels to get things done is now, and there should be no compromise on this. “Any governor who insists on not paying or sacking workers should not be given another chance to the government house of such state in 2019.” Ijaw leaders, Duke, others proffer solution to impasse Ijaw leaders yesterday called for the decentralization of minimum wage to end the controversies surrounding periodic increase in salaries of civil and public servants in the country.

    The leaders said it was unfair to place federal and state workers on the same category of minimum wage, insisting that each state should be allowed to determine a minimum wage it is capable of paying its workers. An elder statesman and opinion leader in Bayelsa State, Chief Thompson Okorotie, said decentralization was the way out of the quagmire. He, however, suggested that if the Federal Government insisted on centralizing the wage matter, it should be ready to review revenue allocation formula to give more money to states. He said with the current realities where about 27 states could not pay the subsisting N18,000 minimum wage, it was impossible to demand payment of N30,000 wage from states. He said: “Civil servants are the engine room of development. No political programme can succeed without dedicated civil servants. So they have a right. But it is also important to know that there has to be capability to pay.

    Already, statistics shows that even the last one that former President Goodluck Jonathan did, 27 states have not been able to pay it. Now you are talking about doubling that amount. “I would have suggested that when they arrive at the decision at the federal level, that should be for the federal civil servant. They should also tell the Labour to negotiate at the state level with their respective state governments. “The state civil servant is different from the federal.

    What the state is capable of paying should be handled differently. It is unfair to arrive at the amount at the top and impose it on the states.” Also the immediate past President, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udens Eradiri, said restructuring was the panacea for wage controversies in the country. Eradiri said states have different financial capacities and should be allowed to determine their minimum wage. He said: “A worker in Lagos should be able to earn higher. A worker in Kano and Oyo states cannot be earning the same thing as a worker in Bayelsa, Delta and Benue.

    “The issue of minimum wage is a further call for restructuring of this country to the point where every state can determine according to its income what its workers will earn. This system is obsolete. “Immediately you increase the minimum wage, it will affect fuel, transportation, goods, hotel bills, and at the end of the day, it is a cycle. So, we need to restructure. Now, state governments are borrowing money to pay salaries. So, how do you fund the minimum wage? Very soon, we will get to the point where no institution will lend money to Nigeria. The country is already grinding to a halt. We need to restructure.” Former Cross River State governor and presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr. Donald Duke, called on the Federal Government to find a comprehensive and long term solution to the lingering minimum wage crisis in the country.

    He said the current “fire brigade” response was tantamount to giving a short term solution to a long term problem. Such an approach, he said, is inherently faulty and unsustainable, hence the incessant resurgence of the issue with every federal government administration. He therefore advocated a holistic and systemic approach to addressing the issue, stressing that “the best approach to solving this lingering problem is to identify and address the real needs of civil servants such as food, housing, transportation, health, children’s education, security, rather than focusing on salary increase.”

    Duke urged government to involve all the stakeholders, including the organised private sector and state governments in the negotiation process as they have an equally important stake in that they also employ reasonable number of workers. He called for a periodic review of salaries every 10 years, taking into cognizance variables such as inflation, as anything to the contrary could have negative economic consequences, including but not limited to downsizing the labour force The presidential candidate advised government to invest more of its energy into creating wealth by developing a production economy rather than a consumption one.

    The immediate past chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Plateau State Branch, Ralph Monye, said: “I want to believe that the N30,000 minimum wage they are talking about here is already an agreement. “If it is an agreement, our governors have no option but to honour the agreement for peace to reign. “On the other hand, If it is true that the state government cannot pay the money and that is a genuine excuse, I think labour should honour the option for governors to downsize the labour force for them to pay the new minimum wage. “In any disagreement like this, there should be give and take from both parties for an amicable resolution of the dispute. “Governors must honour this wage agreement between federal government and labour, but if they have genuine reason to say they can’t pay, then labour should take the option of downsizing.”

    Mr. Steve Aluko of Civil Liberty Organisation said: “On moral and constitutional ground, it is wrong for any state governor to say they cannot pay their workers N30,000 per month. “I want to believe that the Nigerian Governor’s Forum is a legally constituted body and the new minimum wage too is legal and legitimate. “It will be an act of wickedness on the part of the governors to say they can’t pay this money to their own workers. “In the first place, the review of this minimum wage is long overdue. Labour has tried to have given the Buhari administration enough time to plan for this. “If labour is to follow agreement on wage review, it should have been done since 2016. But because government pleaded for time, the review was allowed to delay till now. “I even commend labour for not demanding that the new minimum wage be paid in arrears.”

  • Outrage as cultists kill 16-yr old girl in Bayelsa

    Suspected cultists yesterday killed a teenager in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, in a bid to snatch her mobile phone.

    The 16-year-old girl, Siefa Fred, a 100 level student of the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) was shot dead while running an errand for her mother in the state capital.

    Fred, who was at home following the strike action declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), was said to have gone out at about 8pm to buy roasted meat popularly known as suya for her mother.

    She was said to be close to her residence when the hoodlums opened fire on her  in a bid to snatch her phone.

    Her mother was said to have rushed to the scene following the gunshots only to see her daughter in a pool of her blood.

    The Nation gathered that the helpless mother raised the alarm that attracted sympathizers, who rushed the girl to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

    Investigations showed that the incident was one too many as innocent residents in Yenagoa are constantly attacked and killed by cultists, in a bid to rob them of their mobile phones.

    “The incident happened at about 8pm beside Zenith Bank in Amarata area. The suspected street cultists, who were on the prowl, shot her and ran away with her phone leaving her dead on the ground.

    “Resident of the area came out and rushed her to the hospital, but she later died. Her is currently at the mortuary,’’ said a source.

    The killing of the girl sparked outrage as residents condemned security agencies, especially the police for failing to contain cultists in the state.

    One of the residents identified simply as Moses said: “It is as if Bayelsa is a lawless state. These boys are everywhere with arms killing and maiming people just to snatch their valuables especially phones. They operate at night and in daytime without hinderances. We are not safe. Imagine the cruel way the life of young and vibrant Seifa Fred was snuffed out  by them(cultists).

    “The government must rise to the occasion. They should partner with security agencies to stop this killing. The government should not allow cultists to form their own government”, he added.

    The Nation learnt that suspected cultists had been terrorising Obele, Abor Road, Saint Peters area, Amarata, Kpansia, Opolo and Tombia areas, described as red spots in Yenagoa.

    Friends of the deceased told The Nation that Fred was chatting with them on the social media, a few minutes before her death.

    One of her friends, Gideon Owili said: “Bayelsa state is really not safe. Seifa Fred was online a few minutes ago. She was shot dead because of her smart phone. She gave them the phone, but they still shot her. I am in tears and deep sorrow.’’

    The leader of the Egbesu Brotherhood, Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei, described the killing as unfortunate and called on the youth to stop the violence.

    “Cultism and abuse of drugs is on the increase, there is no day that passes in Yenagoa, that gunshots are not heard. People are being killed like chickens, yet no reports of arrests made.

    “We should join hands together to restore peace in our state, cultism affects us all, if you are not a cultist then you are a victim, don’t wait for this government, security is everybody’s business”.

    The state government condemned the killing of Seifa Fred and called for collective efforts to stop agents of death.

    The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson appealed to the security agencies to be alive to their duties.

    He said: “We need to get the security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities. This is no time to apportion blames. We all need to take responsibility for our collective security.

    “We must all collectively condemn this and rise up to confront these criminal gangs terrorizing our neighborhoods. The perpetrators are not spirit. They live among us. Let us not be silent. Let’s not be afraid or shy away from reporting them because it could be anybody next”.

    The police in a statement signed by its spokesman in the state, Mr Asinim Butswat, confirmed the killing and promised to arrest the culprits.

    Butswat said: “On 8 November, 2018, at about 2030 hours, unknown suspected cultists at Amarata, Yenagoa, shot one Seiyefa Fred ‘f’ 16 years, while trying to dispossess her of her mobile phone. The victim was immediately rushed to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

    “The Police have swung into action and are working on a promising lead on the identity of the suspects and efforts have been intensified to arrest them.

    “The command has embarked on community engagement meetings with relevant youth bodies in a bid to stem the tide of cult related activities. Members of the public should continue to assist the Police with useful information to combat crime in Bayelsa State”.

  • Outrage as Saudi Arabia confirms killing of journalist Khashoggi

    •UN, U.S. ‘shocked’ •Victim’s editor at Washington Post daubs Saudi statement ‘Utter bullshit’

    The United Nations and the United States yesterday expressed shock at Saudi Arabia’s confirmation that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in Istanbul after a fight.

    Khashoggi’s editor at Washington Post, Karen Attiah, labelled the Saudi statement on his death as utter bullshit.

    The UN Secretary-General, Anthonio Guterres said in a statement in New York that he was “deeply troubled” by Saudi Arabia’s confirmation.

    After weeks of denials, Saudi Arabia confirmed late Friday that Khashoggi was killed in a “fistfight” inside its consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

    A tweet posted by the Saudi Foreign Ministry said the missing Saudi journalist, a columnist with Washington Post, was killed, claims reportedly echoed on Saudi State Television and news agency.

    The tweet said that “discussions that took place with the citizen Jamal Khashoggi during his presence in the Consulate of the Kingdom in Istanbul…did not go as required and escalated negatively which led to a fight…which aggregated the situation and led to his death.”

    The Secretary-General said he was “deeply troubled by the confirmation of the death of Jamal Khashoggi and extends his condolences to Mr Khashoggi’s family and friends”.

    Guterres stressed the need for a prompt, thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances of Khashoggi’s death and full accountability for those responsible.

    Khashoggi’s editor at the Washington Post, Karen Attiah, said on Twitter that his death resulted from a fight in the consulate as utter bullshit.

    Attiah said that the Saudi explanation was ‘almost insulting’ but pointed out that even if someone was willing to give the country the benefit of the doubt there are several key unanswered questions:

    *What happened to the body?

    *Why did officials lie that he left the consulate?

    *What evidence do they have to support that there was a fistfight?

    “The stupidity of the Saudi explanation is mind boggling,” the editor added.

    Saudi public prosecutor also announced on state television that a primary investigation into high-profile journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance had confirmed he was dead.

    The public prosecutor said: “The discussions between Jamal Khashoggi and those he met at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul … devolved into a fistfight, leading to his death.

    “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses deep regret at the painful developments that have taken place in this case and affirms the commitment of the authorities in the Kingdom to bring the facts to the attention of the public and to hold accountable all those involved.”

    Guterres’s comments were the latest in a chorus of concern and condemnation over Khashoggi’s disappearance from UN officials and independent UN human rights experts.

    Over the last few days, statements regarding the Khashoggi disappearance had been released by the offices of UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, the Chair of the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances, Bernard Duhaime, and the Chair of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Dante Pesce.

    Earlier, White House Spokesperson Sarah Sanders said in a statement that Washington acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s announcement and was “closely” following the developments.

    “We will continue to closely follow the international investigations into this tragic incident and advocate for justice that is timely, transparent, and in accordance with all due process.

    “We are saddened to hear confirmation of Mr Khashoggi’s death, and we offer our deepest condolences to his family, fiancée, and friends,” Sanders said.

    U.S. President Donald Trump at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona said that Saudi Arabia’s explanation for how Khashoggi was killed was incredible adding that what happened at the consulate is “unacceptable”.

    Trump said Khashoggi’s death was a “horrible event” that has not gone “unnoticed” but noted that the announcement on the circumstances of the journalist’s death was a “good first step”.

    “Saudi Arabia has been a great ally, but what happened is unacceptable,” Trump said, adding he prefers that any sanctions against Riyadh do not include cancelling big defence orders.

    The Saudi government said it arrested 18 Saudis as a result of the initial investigation and fired five top officials, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s adviser Saud al-Qahtani and deputy intelligence chief Maj.-Gen. Ahmed al-Assiri.

    Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, went missing on Oct. 2 after entering the consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents needed for his upcoming marriage.

    Saudi officials had previously denied Khashoggi had been killed and dismembered inside the diplomatic facility, insisting the journalist left the consulate before disappearing.

     

  • Outrage over alleged businessman’s harassment

    A businessman, Olusesan Aleilo Olatunji, has allegedly been subjected to victimization following his aversion for fraudulent practices in a property development contract secured by his company in Abuja, a few years ago.

    Olatunji, who is the brains behind Olas Exquisite Properties Limited, got the contract in Abuja in 2016, but he allegedly ran into trouble following his refusal to inflate the cost of the project and pay gratification demanded by a public servant.

    It was learnt that Olatunji at one time or the other was detained by the police and other security agencies, following various phantom allegations levelled against him by his traducers.

    One of the sources said: ‘’ He (Olatunji) is a successful businessman. He is into property development and construction. Trouble started when his company was given a property development contract by the authorities in Abuja in 2016. A public servant who wanted to unlawfully benefit   from the job asked him to inflate the cost of the project but Olatunji refused.’’

    ‘’Following his disagreement with the public servant, his payment for the job was withheld for about eight months. When the payment was eventually made after months of lobbying, his insistence on following due process by his refusal to pay any form of bribe or gratification resulted in attack in December 2017, while he was returning from the project site. He was attacked by unidentified persons in uniform, and he crashed his vehicle on the spot.

    ‘’He was in  hospital for two weeks and by the time he went back to the scene of the attack, he was told by bystanders that his vehicle had been towed by minions of law.’’

    ‘’His wife, Bolanle and children had been detained by the police at one time or another. Olatunji has since gone into hiding for fear of being further harassed by his tormentors. We have reported his travail to concerned security agencies but nothing has been done about it.’’

    He noted that “some unidentified persons a few days ago visited Olatunji’s residence in Ikorodu area of Lagos State. When they were told that he was not at home, they forcibly broke into the building and searched everywhere to see if he was hiding somewhere but they did not see him. It is against this backdrop that we are condemning this mindless victimization of our brother.’’

  • Outrage as man smears teenager’s breast, face with hot iron over N3000

    A man identified as Effiong Sunday has drawn the ire of residents in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State after he used hot electric iron on a 13-year-old girl.

    Sunday, who hails from Akwa Ibom but lives on Brass Street Etegwe, Yenagoa, is the uncle of the teenager.

    It was gathered the girl was accused of stealing N3000 belonging to their next-door neighbour but the girl was said to have repeatedly denied the allegation.

    An eyewitness, Omubo Bipre, said despite the denials of the girl, her uncle subjected to unimaginable physical abuse, using hot pressing iron.

    Narrating the incident, he said: “On Tuesday 5th September 2018, the little girl was accused of stealing N3000 from her next door neighbor.

    “After questioning and interrogation from her uncle, Mr. Sunday Effiong, the little girl said she didn’t steal any money.

    “The uncle insisted that she must tell him the truth and he started beating her up mercilessly.

    “Later he removed her cloths and started burning her with a hot pressing Iron that she must tell him the whereabouts of the money.

    “According to the little girl, he continued to burn her face and breast with the hot pressing iron and she accepted she stole the money under duress.

    “The painful side of the story is that the neighbor eventually found his money where he kept it.

    “Despite the injuries he inflicted on the little girl, her uncle didn’t bother to take her to the hospital for treatment.

    Last Friday, neighbours started frowning and spreading the story after seeing the injuries on the girl.

    “The information got to Mr. Numoipre Benson Ayah, Tony Owei Angagha and my humble self and we decided to see what we could do to help the little girl.

    “We contacted Do Foundation, an NGO that is into child abuse and other related matters chaired by Dise Ogbesi Sheila and her second Excel Bright.

    “The little girl was taken to the Ekeki police station. Mr Sunday Effiong and his wife were invited for interrogation by the Gender Desk Office.

    “The little girl is now receiving treatment in the hospital courtesy of Do Foundation

    “While we await justice, we say a big thank you to Barrister Dise ogbesi Sheila and Excel bright for their swift intervention.

    “We also say a big thank you to the police, doctors and others that are concerned in the little girl’s plight”.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident and identified the victim as Christiana Ita.

    He said Sunday and the teenager hailed from Oruko in Akwa Ibom State identifying the object used in the teenager as electric iron.

    Butswat said: “The object used on the victim is electric iron. The police are investigating the incident”.

  • Outrage as gunmen kill 13 more in Benue village

    There was outrage across the country yesterday following the spate of killings, especially in Benue State where for the second day running, gunmen attacked villages, killing 13 people.

    On Tuesday, 19 people, including two priests, were killed in two attacks in Ukor Mbalon Gwer Local Government Area.

    The first attack was at dawn during a Catholic mass; the second during a burial.

    Yesterday’s attack took place at Tse Umenger in Mbadwem Council Ward and Mbakpaase in Saghev in Guma Local Government Area, where 13 people were killed, according to Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone last night.

    Also yesterday, seven people were killed in Ihuman village in Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. Killings have been rampant in the area in the last two months.

    Owoseni said the attacks “have gone beyond herders/farmers clashes or communal clashes”.

    “It is pure murderous insurgency. These people are enagaged in unconventional warfare and sheer killings,” he said.

    The police chief said some of the villagers disclosed that the attackers came at about 5 a.m.

    A cross section of the villagers confirmed the attack and said people were killed.

    One of them, Shaapera Nyon, said the attackers came at about 5a.m while most people were still asleep.

    He said the residents were woken up by gunshots and the cries of agony from gunshot victims.

    It was learnt that houses were also razed by the invaders.

    A survivor, Mrs Bridget  Ugbuusu, said the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons. They shot at every door while it was raining and killed many people who tried to escape .

    “They shot me in the left leg and I fell down; they thought I was dead and later on I tried to escape and they met me again  and machete me on my right hand, “ said Mrs .Ugbuusu.

    She said one of her four children was killed; three are missing.

    Mrs Ugbuusu, who is at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, slumped on hearing that her children was killed.

    Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Southern and Middle Belt Leaders, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and fomer Semate President David Mark, among others, expressed strong positions against the killings.

    CAN called on Chrisians to protest peacefully in churches on Sunday against the killings.

    CAN President Olasupo Ayokunle, in a statement by his spokesman Adebayo Oladeji, said Sunday had been declared “a National Day of Protest against unending killings in the country”.

    The day is to be dedicated “to pray for the freedom and liberty of Leah Sharibu, the remaining Chibok girls and others still in captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists”. “We are already at a breaking point and a state of anomie is almost here,” he said.

    The Christian body said the protest should be peaceful and done within premises of churches. It urged “the Federal Government and security agencies to stop the unending killings and bloodshed in the country”.

    “Christians are to carry placards with inscriptions meant to address issues about sustained killings, attacks and destruction of their property.

    “The inscriptions on placards could read, “Enough of bloodshed in Nigeria”, “Enough of unlawful killings in the country”, “FG, Release Leah Sharibu from the bondage”, “FG, Stop Herdsmen Killings”, “CAN rejects FG’s poor handling of insecurity”, etc.

    “Government should be called upon to perform their constitutional responsibility of protecting citizens now. No excuse should be given for this wicked act again and perpetrators must be brought to book now. “

    CAN appealed “to the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to mount different effective plans aimed towards disarming herdsmen across the northern states and in communities where they have been wreaking havoc across the country in national interest.”