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Tag: pass mark

  • Oshiomhole has not scored pass mark, says Ize-Iyamu

    Oshiomhole has not scored pass mark, says Ize-Iyamu

    Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is a governorship aspirant in Edo State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The former Secretary to the Government spoke with Osagie Otabor on his ambition, his chances at the primary and other issues.

    How do you see the preparation for the PDP primay?

    The party leadership must be commended for the matured and neutral manner they have handled all the stages so far, thereby giving confidence to all the aspirants that there will be no imposition. I believe that the PDP is determined to deliver a free and fair primary that will be devoid of violence, rancour or bitterness. All the actions have demonstrated that. They went round the 18 local governments. All they emphasised was the need to be united as one family and not to malign ourselves. Whoever gets the ticket should be supported by other aspirants. We are working along that direction.

    What is your relationship with other aspirants?

    It is very cordial, although outsiders might think we are not on good terms. I must tell you that we relate very well. Some days ago, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen celebrated his 50th birthday. We were there to celebrate with him. It is a cordial relationship. Myself and Solomon Edebiri, we relate very well. He visits me and I visit him. We need to continue to manage our supporters who might think that the lose of their principal will be a tragedy. Because of that, they might go the extra mile to see how they can promote the candidates of their principal and thereby create problems. We are also talking to them to be careful in their language and their conduct so that they do not break the accord of unity we are currently enjoying.

    Some PDP members said they want a candidate that has no stain…

    Everybody has a right to say something. The only stain one can talk about is to say that the persons is not qualified. If the person is not qualified, then he would not be allowed to contest.  But, anybody who is able to contest must has been cleared by their parties. To that extent, he becomes clean enough to contest. All of us have what it takes to contest, unless the INEC thinks otherwise. At the end of the day, it will be the party members that will determine the contest. I believe that most of us have  impeccable record. I have been in the public office and active in the political scene. I believe that my records are clean. It is normal for allegations to be made.

    Why do you think the PDP will win?

    The PDP is very organised. They are working as a family and constructive in their role as an opposition political party. They have been at the fore front of crying out when government is not doing the right thing. To that extent, they have endeared themselves to the people. If you go to the PDP secretariat, sometimes, you see people coming there to report the activities and atrocities of the government. A lot of government documents the chairman brings out during his press briefings are brought by people voluntary. They believe that the PDP is a credible opposition. I think the poor performance of the comrade-governor, especially in the second term, made the PDP popular. If the government in power was doing very well, it would have been an uphill task for the opposition. The growing tendency now is that the votes must count. When people are disenchanted, it is difficult for the government to win. The incumbency factor becomes negative. One of the advantages that the PDP has is that there is mass discontent with the government. In the spirit of the change slogan, the forth coming election is an opportunity to vote out the APC.

    Won’t your role in the administration of Lucky Igbinedion be a set back?

    I don’t think so. That is blackmail. People are now enlightened. How can anybody be criticizing the secretary for the alleged non-performance of the government. Who can blame his own secretary for not performing his duty as a musician. Who will hold Professor Ihonvbere, Imuekheme or Pally Iriase responsible for the non performance of Adams Oshiomhole.  The Chief Executive is the Chief Executive. People served with him and the SSG is one among the people he appointed and whatever they tell him, he is not bound to take it. Which ministry does the secretary supervise? What did he steal? What are they accusing him of? All they can say is that the man has been in government before. Even, if the government didn’t do well, but, the man has experience now to provide a better government. Is it not a plus that the man went there and you cannot accuse him of anything? He was in the government and you say the government was corrupt. yet you cannot accuse him of any wrong doing. then, he was a very good person. You will be surprised at the ordinary man’s reasoning about the matter. For them, Ize-Iyamu is a good man. He has not been a governor, let us give him a chance and see if he will do well. If you sample opinion round the state, you will find out that form of attack will not work at all. People are very enlightened. They see me as somebody who is very experienced and courageous enough to bring the kind of changes they want in the state.

    You praised Oshiomhole to high heavens before? what went wrong?

    In his first term, he did very well. Schools were being commissioned almost on a daily basis. Caterpillars were everywhere. Roads were built. The hospital he is planning to commission now was started in his first term. Oshiomhole was in a hurry and a lot of things were being done. In the second term, government has gone to sleep. The second term is when you take a holistic view. He is supposed to develop the whole state. If in the first term, he did only a part and in the second term, you expect he did other areas and complete things he has not done. You cannot compare what happened in the first term to second. You also begin to look at other critical areas like housing, sports, agriculture and others. It is very difficult to give the government a pass mark even with all the money he has. That is why it is not proper to make comparisons between Oshiomhole and Lucky Igbinedion. You cannot expect me to keep quiet because I praised him in his first term. It will be wrong. He has not done well in his second term. Oshiomhole has to be careful about this election because his popularity rating has dropped for non-performance. Our prayer in Benin is this our evening should be better than our morning. Which means a man has to finish well.

    What will you do differently, if you become the governor?

    The need to diversify the economy. I am happy the Federal Government is doing something in that direction. we cannot continue to rely on allocation. Oil revenue has dropped. If we want to be able to meet basic responsibility, we need to be looking at other areas. Agriculture is one area. If our state is industrialised, we will get more money because the companies will pay tax. Tourism is one area that can bring revenue to Edo, but Calabar is now taking the position of being the tourism destination of the country. There are many areas which can earn revenue in Edo and I will explore them.

  • Pass mark for IAEA centre

    Pass mark for IAEA centre

    Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukiya Amano, has expressed satisfaction with the technical centre of the agency in Sheda, Abuja.

    He said the centre, though a pilot project, was well-arranged and of the highest standard.

    Amano spoke yesterday after inspecting the facility.

    Amano said: “This is just a start but I am very much impressed in the efforts, strengths put in for economic development using the technology.

    “I am looking forward to discuss with policy makers and leaders, engineers, scientists to further strength the preparation or the launch of nuclear power.

    “These facilities are very well arranged. The site for irradiation for products is a pilot project but it is very neatly arranged and of very high standard.

    “Science and technology is the basis for development and that includes nuclear technology. Nuclear science can do lot to achieve the sustainable development goals.”

    He also stated that world nuclear plants are safer after the Fukushima incident.

    Despite the safety, he said the agency was not complacent but will remain cautious of safety.

    He said that the agency was prepared to assist other countries to keep their nuclear power safe.

    The IAEA boss explained: “After the Fukushima incident, it has taught us a lot of lessons. The nuclear power plants are safer now but we can never be complacent on nuclear safety.

    “Good preparation is needed for the project and IAEA is prepared to assist the country.”

     

  • CJN gives NOUN pass mark on education

    CJN gives NOUN pass mark on education

    The Chief Judge, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has described the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) as a centre for the provision of quality and comprehensive education for Nigerians.

    Speaking at the fourth annual lecture organised in his honour, Mohammed commended the institution for providing quality education for all categories of Nigerians.

    The CJN added that NOUN, which was resuscitated in 2001 by the Obasanjo’s administration, was designed to provide unrestricted tertiary education.

    He said: “The success story (of NOUN) lies in testimonies of its astuteness, past and present. Indeed for our dear citizens, the university is now an indispensable tool for achieving educational empowerment.”

    Mohammed said NOUN being the biggest institution in the country with its unique mode of education delivery is providing unrestricted access to educate prisoners, artisans, house wives and other underprivileged Nigerians.

    “With over 408,000 students, it is Nigeria’s largest single tertiary institution offering over 50 programmes and 507 courses.

    “It is indeed laudable, from prisoners to full time artisans and even house wives in Nigeria, NOUN unique model allows all to simply combine their daily work and routine with flexible school schedule.”

    The Vice Chancellor National Open University of Nigeria, Prof. Vincent Tenebe said: “The NOUN school of law was one of the units approved by the federal ministry of education through the National universities commission (NUC) in 2003.

    “Thereafter we produced the detailed program proposal online with the NUC BMAS. This is what other universities use all over Nigeria.

    “Our students receive lectures and we have first class course materials prepared by seasoned academics and professionals in law and legal studies.”

  • Anglican Church gives polls pass mark

    The Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion (CONAC) has scored yesterday’s gubernatorial and state assembly election a pass mark.

    According to Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Rev. Professor Adebayo Akinde, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the electorates were better prepared for the exercise this time around.

    “The electorates are more determined to speak,” said the Archbishop who was in high spirits as he went around Ebute-Metta, monitoring.

    He said the atmosphere was calmer than what existed before the March 28 presidential and national assembly election.

    Answering questions on reported cases of malpractices, Akinde who said he didn’t witness any of such, said, “Nigerians must realise the power of the ballot box. I am beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.”

    Bishop James Odedeji of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos West, who voted in Ikeja, however, said that though there were no records of violence, Lagos was tensed.   Sounding a note of caution, especially concerning unguarded utterances, he said: “I want to believe so much that people should not enter into violence because they want to serve.

    “To me, people are not novice. People are intelligent. They are getting more enlightened and they believe so much that they can decide who will lead them in the next four years.”

    Bishop Odedeji also said the restriction of movement disenfranchised voters who registered in far places.

    CONAC sent a delegation of observers to monitor the elections across the country.

    In Lagos, the delegation was at the 20 local government areas in the state.

    In the places monitored, election officials turned up as early as 8:00am while the electronic card readers functioned well.

    By 1:00pm, voting commenced in largely hitch-free atmosphere.

    On many streets around the metropolis, some youths played football, while children were seen riding bicycles and skating.

  • Does Jonathan deserve pass mark?

    Does Jonathan deserve pass mark?

    Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the mid-term report of the Jonathan Administration within the context of growing public disillusionment about the ailing economy, soaring poverty and infrastructure decay across the country.

    Pre-empting the judgment of the people, President Goodluck Jonathan hurriedly scored himself high, when he laid before them the mid-term report of his ‘Transformation Agenda’, in Abuja, the Federal Capaital Territory (FCT), two weeks ago. He emphasised that democracy was on course, urging Nigerians to assess his score card outside the prism of partisan politics. In two years time, things would be better, the President assured.

    The executive summary of the self-adulating report, which is 58 pages, unveiled an administration that has buried itself in idealistic yearnings. Not only has the government sought to score cheap points, even in the critical sectors, it also listed unverifiable achievements and exaggerated the feats recorded in other areas. The report conflicted with the National Assembly’s assessment of the budget performance, which it observed, has been very poor. Neither has the “improved economy”, as claimed by the Presidential Economic Team, impacted positively on the citizens, who still wallow in abject poverty, squalour and misery.

    President Jonathan drew attention to what he called a “model of leadership”. He claimed that he has advanced democratic culture by delivering its dividends to the people. He also submitted that he has expanded the civil space by allowing freedom of expression to thrive. According to the report, the President hosted the civil society to a retreat to express its opinion on the proposed constitution review. Describing the move as unprecedented, the report said that the forum gave the over 300 groups the opportunity to vote on a number of national issues.

    However, that posture conflicted with the President’s earlier remarks that a Sovereign National Conference (SNC), which is being vigorously agitated for by other stakeholders, is a no-go area. Analysts view this as an attempt to draw the wool on the eyes of Nigerians, contending that a piecemeal constitution amendment, may not resolve the national question the way a national conference would attempt to do.

    The administration also projected its respect for checks and balances among the three organs of government. The report noted that President Jonathan has fostered national stability by strengthening the independence of the legislature, executive and judiciary. It claimed that the National Assembly has now become a more vibrant legislature, which has come up with a more assertive legislative practice.

    To observers, this is commendable, although the President would have scored a fuller mark, had he not ignored the resolutions of the National Assembly last year January, when he was advised by the two Houses, to quickly rescind his decision on the embarrassing fuel price hike, which triggered mass demonstrations across the country. The elder statesman, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), observed that the President would have exploited the escape route.

    President Jonathan alluded to what he described as “electoral progress”. He attributed the sanity to the adequate funding and autonomy enjoyed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chaired by Prof. Attahiru Jega. “The country witnessed the most credible elections in 2011”, said the report. The President also said that electoral violence has reduced. These remarks are debatable. Many election observers agree that there was an improvement. But the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) disagreed. Its Coordinator, Mr. Ayo Opadokun, observed that the crusade for the sanctity of the ballot box is an unfinished business. “There are still some unresolved issues. INEC is not totally independent. It is not appointed by a neutral body. We don’t have tribunals for trying electoral fraud. Unless the report of the Uwais Panel is fully implemented, electoral sanity cannot be fully guaranteed”, he said.

    Also, the government rationalised that it has maintained equity, fairness and balance in the distribution of the federal appointments. Many stakeholders have objected to the claim. According to the Afenifere and Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), the distribution is lopsided to the detriment of the Southwest geo-political zone. Also, the government claimed that “confidence is building in each geo-political zone that it does not matter where the President comes from”. This assertion is false. Although merit, standard, and sound pedigree should form the basis for recruiting Nigerians for the highest office, the reverse is the case. Ahead of 2015, ethnic bigots have invaded the media, calling for either the retention power in a certain zone or power shift to a particular zone. This may have been induced by the perception that the Presidency is weak. Observers also attribute the struggle to the neglect of the inexplicable rotational principle in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The Presidency is not a uniting factor in the highly populous and complex heterogeneous nation-state. Rather, it is a divisive force. Although former President Olusegun Obasanjo could not be described as a democrat, or a leader who mustered the strength to resolve the national question, his Presidency rose above ethnic sentiment. His successors have not mirrored this singular quality. Recently, ethnic voices from the Niger Delta have been clashing with their Northern counterparts over the soul of the Presidency. Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari, claiming to be expressing the view of the devastated coastal communities, spat fire on behalf of Dr. Jonathan, warning that there would be no oil to finance the country beyond 2015, if the Southsouth does not retain the Presidency. The Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Comrade Kingsley Kuku, had echoed the same sentiment, threatening fire and brimstone. Perhaps, it was in response to the opinion of the Northern leaders, including Alhaji Tanko Yakassai and Alhaji Lawal Kaita, which instantly elicited a fierce response from the elder statesman of Ijaw origin, Senator Edwin Clark.

    How has the government also tame corruption? The report pointed out that certain strategies have been adopted to nip it in the bud. These strategies, to observers, are laudable. But they are incomplete. Recently, the former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), observed that the war against graft is slow and not yielding adequate results. He pointed that the court processes are still slow. Also, some lawyers have pointed out that the anti-graft bodies and courts are after those culprits who steal tubers of yam and fowls, leaving those who cart away millions from the public treasury.

    On security, the report did not award any imaginary pass mark. “Insurgency is being contained and will soon be a thing of the past”, said the report. It is evident that the government has failed woefully in this area, more than any other. However, it is noteworthy that the Federal Government is really not relenting in its efforts. Security is multi-dimensional. At the state level, the governor, who is the chief security officer, is impotent. He lacks the power of control over the police. If the Boko Haram insurgency is politically motivated, then, only a political solution can end it. Also, many believe that, if insecurity continues to permeate the trembling polity, it will take its toll on all sectors.

    Perhaps, the most controversial aspect of the report is the score card on the economy. It is a sensitive sector requiring expert’s searchlight. Government acknowledged that it inherited a number of challenges, which the transformation agenda was designed to address. They include unemployment and poverty, food insecurity, poor infrastructure, high inflation, and rising domestic debt. Others are high recurrent expenditure, falling reserves, housing deficits and inability to diversify the economy.

    The Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Eweala, painted a glossy picture of a performing economy. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP), she explained, is one of the fastest growing in the world at 6.5 percent. Inflation has come down to 9.1 percent and external reserves have rising to 48.4 billion dollar. The Sovereign Wealth Fund, which has generated quarrel between the President and 36 governors, is in place, cost of governance is reducing, national debt is declining and petroleum subsidy payment regime is also in place. In addition, trade is booming and investors are competing to be in Nigeria. Rail, waterways, aviation, roads, electricity and other sectoral reforms are on course.

    To observers, the minister has reeled out theoretical facts and imaginary indices, which ultimately paled into fable and propaganda. “Where are the roads?”, asked ARG chieftain, Kunle Famoriyo, who added: “Have they dome Lagos-Ibadan Expressway? Have they done Shagamu-Ore Road? Do we now have regular electricity supply? There is no evidence of governance yet”. Before the release of the mid-term report, Afenifere chieftain Pa Rueben Fasoranti lamented that the ship of state may hit the rock. He said the soaring unemployment, infrastructure decay, corruption, especially the pension scam, and misuse of public funds portend danger for the country’s future. “The only thing they are doing is that they are preparing for the 2015 elections. There is no governance”, he added.