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Tag: PDP

  • APC: Roadmap for welfare state

    APC: Roadmap for welfare state

    Since 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been in power. But, the challenges of development have persisted. Can the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), fix Nigeria in 2015? Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the party’s manifesto, which makes it a credible alternative platform.

    For 14 years, the country has been at crossroads. The challenges are overwhelming. The poor economy has led to an illusion of hope. The failed budgets have exposed imprudent management. The atmosphere of insecurity is not investment-driven. The energy crisis has led to a high cost of production and crippled the manufacturing sector. Bad roads are death traps. The rot in the aviation sector, soaring unemployment and corruption are the nation’s albatross. Who will fix the crumbling edifice in 2015?

    The all Progressives Congress (APC) attempted to provide answers to these puzzles last week in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), when it unveiled its manifestos. The 10-point road map, in its leaders’ view, may herald a welfarist state. There is a signal that the ideological culture of the old is about to be re-invented. The highlights of the manifestos include the creation of 20,000 jobs per state, free and qualitative education, better housing plan, improved funding for agriculture, independence for anti-corruption agencies and security. Others are social security for the poor, technological driven industrial estates, allowances for ex-corps members for 12 months and war against corruption.

    To political watchers, the die is cast between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the main opposition platform, the APC. The prelude to the battle is the contest of ideas. Many Nigerians have hailed the party’s plans, but, the PDP frowned at it, dismissing it as unrealistic. Its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, described it as a road map to anarchy, adding that it will lead to doom.

    The APC Interim Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that, ahead of the next general elections, the party would approach voters with the road map. He said that the manifestos would halt the cries of despondency, when it is implemented, unlike the Federal Government’s transformation agenda, which has become a disaster, owing to faulty implementation. Mohammed, who described the road map as the outcome of the national need assessment, stressed: “We commissioned a survey on what is wrong with Nigeria; what exactly Nigerians need. unemployment, corruption and insecurity are the major problems confronting Nigeria today. So, the road map is a result of what Nigerians need. He added: “What we have done today is to show that there is a big difference between the PDP and the APC. We are after a new Nigeria. This is a new Nigeria we are creating in which the people will be the beginning and the end of all developmental programmes”.

    Already, some of these manifestos are being implemented in some APC states. In Ekiti State, Governor Kayode Fayemi is implementing a novel social security scheme for the vulnerable aged people. Beneficiaries have acknowledged the programme, which they described as life-prolonging. In Osun State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola is fighting the infrastructure battle. The state has the highest number of towns in the country. Across these towns, roads are being constructed and rehabilitated. In fact, in his first one hundred days in office, the governor created 20, 000 jobs. the provision of employment may have reduced crime in the state. In Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has delivered on his promise to provide affordable housing within the context of the current economic realities. Many road projects are on-going. The light rail project is on course. The state is a huge construction site.

    In Rivers State, the resources of the state are judiciously deployed to developmental projects. The governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has built new schools, rehabilitated many schools, and commissioned new roads. There is no sector that is not touched by the governor, despite the concerted efforts made by his detractors to divert his attention from state business. In Zamfara State, Governor Yari has revolutionalised agriculture and turned it into an income yielding venture. In Kwara State, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is building on the legacies of former Governor Bukola Saraki. In Oyo State, the urban renewal efforts of Governor Abiola Ajimobi has given Ibadannand other towns a face lift. Even, members of the PDP in Ogun State have applauded the giant strides of the Amosun Administration. In Kano State, Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso has run an accountable government. The dividends of democracy are felt at the grassroots.

    The next stage, said the APC Interim Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, is their replication at the federal level, if the party wins the presidential election. Other leaders, including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, and the 16 APC governors also believe that they are achievable goals. Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko, who spoke at the presentation of the road map, submitted that it is not a rhetoric, but a blue-print for change. He said, through its effective implementation, the party will restore national dignity.

    His Yobe counterpart, Ibrahim Geidam, berated the PDP for its failure to revive the power sector and reduce insecurity. He said, instead, the party has promoted arrogance of power, impunity and corruption. But, the Yobe governor assured that hope is not lost, if the people vote wisely in the next year’s election. “The legacy of any government is to make its country stronger and better. In the power sector, there was a drop of 924 megawatts of power in 2013 and since then, it has continued to drop. In the last six months, the National Economic Council has not met. Today, there is insecurity in the country, especially in the Northeast. The only solution to the problem of insecurity is the swearing in of an APC government in 2015”, he added.

    The manifestos, according to analysts, underscores the party’s vision for a brighter future. It also reveals strategic planning. Although the party has not revealed its implementation strategies fully, the performance of their governors gives an assurance that there will be good governance, if there is power shift in 2015.

    A political scientist, Boniface Ayodele, lauded the priority given to employment in the road map. He observed that the country has been sitting on a keg of gun powder, judging by the number of jobless graduates. He said that there is a link between unemployment and crime, which government has ignored to the country’s peril. “National conference cannot solve unemployment. The solution is a concrete plan aimed at reviving the power sector and revatalising the manufacturing sub-sector”, he said.

    According to the road map, the creation of 20,000 jobs has implications. The scope is the secondary school leavers, who are to savour technological and vocational training. However, Ayodele said that, there is also the need to tackle under-unemployment. “When graduates now sell recharge cards on the road or when they become road sweepers, that is not employment that can serve as reward for tertiary education. If there is stable power supply, many youths will be able to become creative and productive through sheer handwork, deployment of talents to creative endeavours”, Ayodele added.

    Many stakeholders have applauded the determination of the APC to rid Nigeria of corruption. In the manifestos, the party proposed stiff penalty for graft. This include forfeiture and seizure of assets and inexplicable wealth, reinvigoration of the legal system to prevent delays in corruption trials, a guarantee for the independence of the anti-corruption agencies, and transparent government transactions.

    Since the setting up of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the PDP government has claimed that the anti-corruption battle was on course. The evidence on ground has contradicted this claim. Graft has dented the image of the country in the comity of nation. Last month, the House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, chided President Goodluck Jonathan for condoning corruption. It is an understatement. According to critics, the alleged missing N20 billion oil money is a pointed to the monumental fraud being committed daily by power barons.

    To wipe out corruption, a chieftain of the APC, Mr. Isiaka Adekunle-Ibrahim, said that party leaders should develop the commitment, will and capacity to confront the challenge. He said that public office and money are too tempting, adding that the party should build a culture of discipline and self-control. “The APC government at the centre will only be able to fight corruption, if the leaders live by example. The state governors are doing that already. The money they have as governors are not even enough to implement their developmental projects. So, they can’t afford to embezzle them. If the anti-corruption posture of the governors is carried over to Abuja, then, there will be hope. If the APC President is not corrupt, he will not appoint corrupt ministers. If the leader is clean and he has the ability to insist on probity, all will be well”, Adekunle-Ibrahim added.

    APC’s panacea to insecurity has been public knowledge before the release of the road map. In the past, the APC governors had visited Maiduguri, the Bornu State capital, to give solidarity to their colleague, Ibrahim Kashim, and assess the situation on ground. Many Nigerians believe that the Federal Government has failed to halt terrorism, in spite of the huge money committed to the anti-terror war. Not only have commercial activities been put on hold, many have deserted their towns and villages, owing to the onslaught by the dreadful Boko Haram sect.

    Apart from the menace of Boko Haram, kidnapping is also thriving in other parts of the country. Youths also engage in cyber crime. Others engage in ritual killings. In the Southsouth, militancy has not stopped, despite the amnesty programmes, which gulped a huge sum of money from the federal purse.

    In the APC’s reckoning, peace and security are fundamental to Nigeria’s social and economic wellbeing. It believes that every Nigerian should be safe and free to work in any part of the country, regardless of tribe, ethnicity or religious beliefs. One of the measures canvassed by the party is the restoration of true federalism. If this is done, the party believes that states will have their local police forces that can address the special needs of each community. Therefore, community policing will not be ruled out as it will engender trust in the members of the community that would be served by he peculiar arrangement.

    APC also has good plans for education, the resolution of the ethno-religious conflicts, peaceful co-existence, national healing and girl-child education.

    However, to translate these dreams into reality, the party have some hurdles to cross. The choice of its presidential flag bearer and running mate is a challenge. Before the selection process, its leadership structures have to be firmly established as a properly constituted national congress. The congresses at the wards, local governments and states will herald the national convention.

    Adekunle-Ibrahim said that “eyes are on this great party as it forges ahead to the next election”, adding that party leaders will need to give concessions and build consensus on many issues of importance for the party to survive the onslaught of the ruling party and the Federal Government. The watchword is unity.

    “The APC registration was successful in most parts of the country. The party could have done better in some states. Party management is challenging. There is public goodwill and solidarity, but the party must manage its achievements,” he added.

    Another party member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, advised the party leadership to promote the culture of reconciliation and crisis resolution. “This can be done by opening the channels of communication and avenues for ventilation of grievances”, he advised.

     

     

     

  • Presidential Fleet

    Presidential Fleet

    • 10 jets, yet, the president wants more !

    The state of the nation cannot be better underscored than by reports that the N9bn Nigerian Air Force 001 (5N-FGT) presidential jet failed to deliver value for money when President Goodluck Jonathan was about boarding it. Not only that, the fact that three jets from the Presidential Fleet were used for the trip which was strictly a party affair also signposts the wastefulness in the government.

    The president was about leaving the North-Central Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) rally that held at the Trade Fair Centre, Minna, Niger State, when the incident happened. He was reportedly about leaving Minna for another visit to Sokoto State when the plane suddenly developed fault. On board at the time, with the President waiting to be air borne were Adamu Muazu, National Chairman of the PDP, Tony Anenih, chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Ahmadu Ali, former chairman of the party and Attahiru Bafarawa, former Sokoto State governor, among others. The team was later forced to disembark from the plane while the battle to diagnose and fix the problem went on.

    The plane that conveyed Vice President Namadi Sambo to the rally – a 5N-FGW smaller presidential jet was eventually used by the president while Sambo joined Senate President David Mark in another smaller presidential jet -5N-FGV- which conveyed the Senate President to the state. What this means is that a trivial ruling party’s rally witnessed deployment of three presidential jets that are serviced with tax payers’ money. Such acquisitions smack of contempt at a period when about 120 million Nigerians live below poverty level.

    According to reports, the Presidential Fleet boasts 10 jets at the moment; yet, the presidency intends to acquire more. We wonder what is driving leaders in the nation away from the roads that commoners ply every day. May be this is because they have failed in their obligations to repair most highways/roads which terrorists and kidnappers have hijacked due to insecurity in the land. It is pathetic that many Nigerians die daily on these roads being heartlessly avoided by their leaders.

    We are worried by the cost of maintaining the Presidential Fleet which the Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, estimated at N9.08bn annually. The fleet include two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, Gulf stream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), and Gulf stream IVSP. Others are one Gulf stream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet. Despite the huge spending on the fleet – at grossly insensitive public expense – it is sad that one of them carrying the president still developed fault while on duty.

    We are disturbed that the Presidential Fleet is competing with commercial airline operators given the number of aircraft in the fleet. Indeed, we wonder whether there is any compelling necessity for the fleet to be the third largest in the country. Assuming our commercial airlines are efficient, top government functionaries, including even the president can at best charter jets for important trips. After all, Queen Elizabeth of England and Prime Minister David Cameron often go on British Airways’ chartered flights for long trips.

    The unnecessary proclivity of the presidency for expansive Presidential Fleet that is obviously ill-maintained (judging from what happened in Minna), despite the whopping budget set aside for its maintenance, does not project the country as a serious one to the outside world.

     

  • When an engine refuses to return

    Every Nigerian adult must be conversant with the Ogbanje (Abiku) mythology in Nigeria’s traditional religion. Ogbanje is the (evil) spirit child whose intention of coming to the world is to bring pains and sorrow to his parents. How does he do this? Simple: No sooner is he born than he dies. But he would not be such a baleful augury if he remained dead; no, Abiku is a wanderer, a tormentor who goes and comes at will as if death is but a stroll in the park. Ogbanje, the brief sojourner would return again and again until he is stopped.

    Hardball obviously has been triggered into mythology by a strange event that happened last Saturday. President Goodluck Jonathan and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clan had hit Minna, Niger State, for a rally and after the show it was time for the president to fly back to Abuja; the president and his entourage had boarded and were ready for take off. But behold, the engine Air Force One, our presidential jet, would not crack. The ‘return engine would not pick’, someone offered. After a frustratingly long period of fiddling by technicians the big bird would not budge. The president had to fly the vice president’s jet while the VP was given a ride by the senate president.

    You must have seen the Abiku connection now: the engine of the president’s number one jet refused to return to base after an outing; Air Force One refused to return home, it chose to sleep out on the tarmac of a lonely little airport. Hmm, rather ominous but coming on the back of a horrendous air mishap in far away Malaysia, we say rather the jet refused to crack than it stopped running mid air (Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 with 239 people on board disappeared on Saturday and was yet to be found as at yesterday. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims).

    Even as we rejoice and raise praises to heaven that a divine force must have intervened to avert a presidential air mishap, few questions puzzle the mind of Hardball and Nigerians of course. One: is it feasible that a jet would fly from Abuja to Minna, a next-door city that would have been more conveniently accessed by road? Two: it was speculated that “high temperature affected the engine of the aircraft” as the weather in Niger State was very hot. The speculation went on that only Air Force One and not the other planes on the trip were affected by the excessive heat because the premium jet is ‘more digitalised’, if you understand what that means. Is it plausible that an aircraft at rest would have its engine ‘overheated’? What would happen to the engine if the aircraft was on long haul journey and firing away at 8000 kilometers per hour?

    Three: this is a N9 billion jet that is only about five years old. Our Air Force One suffered what Nigerian roadside mechanics call ‘hard-starting’ regardless that about N48 billion has been devoted to the 11 high-end jets in the presidential fleet in the last four years. In the current budget, N4.91 billion has been set aside for the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) out of which N1.52 billion is allocated for solely for aircraft maintenance. There is another N747 million set aside for the PAF aircraft fuelling. Having blessed our president with 11 luxury jets and with the multi- billion naira pampering of the PAF, we beg to be spared any ogbanje story.

     

  • Ondo PDP faults delegates’ list

    Ondo PDP faults delegates’ list

    THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State yesterday faulted the government’s list to the national conference.

    It vowed to win the by-election in Ilaje/Eseodo fixed for April 5.

    At a reconciliation meeting in Akure, PDP said the nomination of political office holders as delegates does not represent majority of the people.

    It said the delegates – Vice-Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Prof. Femi Mimiko; Commissioner for Adult and Vocational Education Remi Olatubora; Commissioner for Environment Sola Ebiseeni and Commissioner for Women Affairs Mrs. Yemi Mamud – were not the state’s best.

    The PDP meeting was attended by Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim; Prof. Olu Agbi; Mr. Ife Adedipe (SAN); Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN); Chief Soji Adesugba; Princess Oladunni Odu; Mr. Ayo Ifayefunmi; Mr. Ebenezer Alabi; Dr. Tayo Dairo and Mrs. Janet Febisola Adeyemi, among others.

    It praised President Goodluck Jonathan for setting up the national conference, but said: “Having given a critical overview to the list from Ondo State, we observed that many of them are political office holders, who do not represent opinion leaders, ethnic groups, political or geographical balances of the people of Ondo State.”

    PDP urged the President to redress the “imbalance”, so the names of “persons with proven integrity” can be put on the list.

    On the reconciliation of aggrieved PDP members, Ibrahim said if all state chapters in the Southwest reconcile aggrieved members, the party would have a better chance of winning back the Southwest.

    He said: “Do not joke with the PDP’s desire. When PDP says it is going to win an election, you should take it serious.”

    On the party’s prospects in next year’s elections, Ibrahim said: “I have never seen an incumbent in a developing country lose an election. I do not know how they do it, but they always win.”

    Fayefunmi said: “This is the final reconciliation meeting of PDP leaders in Ondo State. Hitherto, there were PDP factions, but we have buried our hatchet and now have one PDP in Ondo State. We have considered a the issues affecting our party’s growth. One of them is the national conference. As a party, we have taken a position on the list from Ondo State.

    “We urge the President to to redress this imbalance and include persons of proven integrity and accountability from Ondo State.

    “We have taken a look at the by-election in Ilaje/Ese-Odo. The PDP will work hard to win thet election. That is one of our strongholds. Without rigging, which we will not allow, we will win.”

     

  • 2015: Court strikes out case against Jonathan’s candidacy

    2015: Court strikes out case against Jonathan’s candidacy

    A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna said yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan is eminently qualified to contest the 2015 presidential election if he so desired and struck out a suit seeking to stop him from contesting the election.

    Delivering judgement on a suit brought before the court by two chieftains of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Richard Mneaga and Shuibu Lili, Presiding Judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike also ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to institute the case by virtue of section 308 of the constitution, which prohibited the president from sueing or being sued.

    The plaintiffs, had among other things sought for an order of the court to disqualify President Jonathan from presenting himself as a presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2015 election, and for the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission to restrain the PDP from accepting nomination of Jonathan as its presidential candidate in the election.

    The Plaintiffs had insisted in the suit which was filed on October 7, 2013, that Jonathan would have completed eight years in office as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when calculated from May 29, 2007 and therefore want the court to declare that President Jonathan is not entitled to a tenure of office as President exceeding eight years calculated from 2007, as last holder of the said office”.

    Justice Anyadike affirmed that President Jonathan has the constitutional right to contest for presidency in 2015 if he so desire, pointing out also that the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the matter since the plaintiffs did not follow the due process of filing their case, saying the petition was served out of jurisdiction.

    She however dismissed the case for lack of merit.

    Reacting, counsel to the plaintiffs, Mohammed Ibrahim dismissed the judgement, faulting the technicalities which the judge relied upon to dismiss the case rather than looking at the matter based on its merit.

    Ibrahim however said they will be heading to the judgement at the Appeal Court for further interpretation of the judgement by the lower court, adding that they will also be asking the upper court to determine whether President Jonathan has the constitutional right to seek for another term of office in 2015.

    But Counsels to President Jonathan, Nnamdi Ekwem and second defendants, (PDP), Victor Kwom, hailed the judgment, describing it as another landmark victory for democracy and rule of law.

     

  • Four pregnant women, 15 others die at Immigration recruitment

    Four pregnant women, 15 others die at Immigration recruitment

    •Many injured in stampedes

    A recruitment drive by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) yesterday ended in death, tears and sorrow for many at most of the centres across the country.

    In all 19 people died: three pregnant women in Benin, eight applicants made up of six women and two men in Abuja, three in Minna and five in Port Harcourt including a pregnant woman.

    Dozens of others were injured in stampedes as the applicants struggled to position themselves at the recruitment centres.

    The ruling PDP last night expressed sympathies with the families of the dead.

    Those in Calabar were flogged by security men brought in to control the sea of heads that turned up for the aptitude test.

    The situation at the National Stadium, Abuja which served as the Federal Capital Territory centre was particularly rowdy.

    About 70,000 turned up for the test.

    About 50 of them including pregnant women were injured in the stampede that ensued as the applicants tried to gain entry into the main bowl of the stadium through only one point.

    The injured were rushed to the National Hospital in the city for treatment.

    They accused officials of poor handling of the situation.

    An applicant, Joel Omo, said of his experience: “I arrived this venue by exactly 5am and met a sea of other applicants already waiting for the officials to open the entrance gate. We waited until around 9am when the officials started trickling in.

    “Instead of them to throw the whole gates open, they only managed to open one of them. But, with everybody eager to enter first, there was stampede and many found themselves on the ground. Others who were being pushed by those behind trampled on those on the ground.”

    Doctors at the National Stadium battled for much of the day to save the lives of the injured.

    At the Accident and Emergency section of the National Hospital, there are more than 19 casualties either lying on the bed or lying critically unconscious on the floor waiting for the doctors battling to attend to them.

    Another applicant, Mrs. Aroniya Abigail, said she was resuscitated at the hospital.

    But the mother of two grieved that she was yet to find her brother who was also at the recruitment ground.

    “I will say to God be the glory that I’m alive to tell the story. As I talk to you now, my brother is still missing. We came together to the stadium but I have not seen him after the stampede. I have tried his number repeatedly but it was not going. I still have his credentials with me now but I cannot reach him,” she said.

    Many of the applicants lost their credentials while others had their dresses torn during the stampede.

    The three pregnant women who died at the Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin centre were said to have died while the recruitment was in progress.

    Trouble started at about 10am, when officials in charge of the screening lost control of the crowd prompting the soldiers on guard to start shooting sporadically into the air.

    The over 28,000 applicants who had gathered in the stadium panicked and started scampering for safety.

    The result was a stampede.

    The screening started at about 2pm by which time some of the applicants had had enough and left for home in annoyance.

    In Port Harcourt, authorities of the Rivers government-owned Braithwaite Memorial Hospital confirmed that five candidates including a pregnant woman died during a stampede at the city’s recruitment centre.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that more than 20,000 candidates came for the test.

    A competent source at the hospital, told NAN that 12 candidates were brought to the hospital after the stampede.

    “I can confirm to you that four have died, four others are in critical condition while four were treated and discharged,’’ the source said.

    The source, who pleaded for anonymity, said a pregnant woman was among the dead.

    Three of the 11,000 applicants at the Minna centre also died during a similar stampede triggered by the accreditation of the applicants.

    The large number of the applicants were said to have overwhelmed the officials assigned to conduct the exercise.

    One of the officials reportedly fired a canister of tear gas apparently to control the crowd but ended up triggering a stampede.

    One of the victims that was rushed to Minna General Hospital was in a critical condition while three other injured victims were said to be stable.

    The Niger State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ibrahim Sule, said only two of the applicants died. According to him, “one female was reported dead on arrival at the hospital and the other male applicant died at Minna General Hospital.

    He also said that four other males were equally treated and discharged, while seven other female applicants are currently receiving treatment for their injuries at the hospital.

    The State Controller of Immigration Service, Ezekiel S. Kaura, confirmed that 11,000 candidates sat for the recruitment examination in Minna centre but said that five collapsed as a result of stampede and were rushed to the hospital.

    Seven applicants were injured at the Kano centre. Two of the injured were women.

    The applicants were struggling to enter the Indoor Sports Hall of Sani Abacha Stadium when a stampede ensued.

    In Calabar, soldiers, and personnel of the Immigration Service and the Civil Defence flogged applicants at the Federal Government Girls College venue of the recruitment for allegedly being rowdy.

    One the job seekers who gave his name as Joe told our reporter he was in serious pain after receiving lashes from one of the security men.

    His words: “my brother, look at me: a Master’s degree holder. I was flogged because I’m looking for work. I cannot remember the last time I was flogged and looking for a job is the last place I expected such a thing would be done. It is so painful.”

    The exam did not start until 4pm.

    Many of the applicants even had no desk or chair to write the exam had to sit on the school sport field to do so.

    About 5,000 candidates turned out for the test in Gombe.

    The applicants were joined by those from Borno State because of the insecurity in the state.

    Five women fainted   at the  Mudasiru Lawal Stadium, Abeokuta   recruitment centre.

    The stampede ensured after Immigration officers deployed  to the centre to maintain peace started shooting into the air.

    Many  of the applicants  returned home bruised, humiliated, wearied and disappointed as shootings and confusion took the better part of exercise in the state.

    The NIS Spokesperson, Felix Kuti,  said those  rejected but refused to leave the premises  precipitated  the confusion.

    He said: “they were getting unmanageable and you know this venue with lots of

    cars and property if they were not scared away by that shooting, they were ready to engage in violence as they had begun throwing stones.”

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last night  expressed grief at the death of the applicants.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh,  said that the party  was shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the untimely death of the young citizens who were at the exercise not only to secure jobs but to be allowed the opportunity to contribute towards  the development of the nation.

    The party stated that it was unfortunate and disheartening that the victims paid the supreme price while trying to be more useful to the nation.

    While commiserating with the families of the deceased, the ruling party prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the stampede and charged the Ministry of Interior and all relevant agencies of government to, as a matter of urgency, unravel the remote and immediate causes of the stampede.

     

     

     

     

  • Communities shut oil coy operation over NDDC appointment

    Communities shut oil coy operation over NDDC appointment

    Four communities in Orhionmwon local government area of Edo State have shut down the operation of Seplat Petroleum Development Company over non-appointment of the Edo State representative into the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The NDDC board was inaugurated in December last year but political bickering had since stalled the appointment of Edo State representative.

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole had nominated Barr. Henry Okhuarobo, but the protesting communities sent the name of one Barr. Courage Enofe while leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state sent several names.

    The protesting communities which comprised Ikobi, Iguelaba, Oben and Obozogbe-nugu stormed the company gate with placards bearing several inscriptions.

    Security was beefed up along the road leading to where the flow stations and oil well heads are located.

    The protest march followed a letter written to the Commander, 19 Battalion, Koko in Delta State dated March 6, 2014 in which the communities resolve to shut down flow stations in their locality.

    Secretary of Oben Community, Comrade Johnbull Omokaro, said Oben flow station contributes about 95 percent of oil and gas produced in the state.

    Comrade Omokaro said the appointment of their son would bring succour to what they have suffered in the past.

    He said, “We have not gotten anybody appointed into positions of such nature. We want our son from this locality to be appointed. That will go in line with the act that established the NDDC.”

    Chief Friday Omoragbon, the Onobare of Oben said there was nothing in the communities to show there was oil and gas in the land.

    He said they were at the flow station to alert the operating company of a possible shut down of their activities if their nominee was not appointed.

    However, Prince Thomas Isibor, Secretary of Obozogbe described the youths that sealed up NDDC office in Benin City, as political errand boys hired to demand for the appointment of an individual.

    A staff of the company, who would not be named, however, said they were carrying out routine maintenance on their facilities which was why the company was not operational during the protest.

  • Jonathan’s right to contest in 2015, not negotiable – Iwuanyanwu

    Jonathan’s right to contest in 2015, not negotiable – Iwuanyanwu

    A former presidential aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu ,has said President Goodluck Jonathan’s right to seek re-election in 2015 was not negotiable.

    A statement by Bayelsa State-based socio-political group, Continuity Movement for Jonathan, said Iwuanyawu spoke in his office in Owerri, Imo State capital, when members of the group led by its chairperson, Mr. Unity Ototo, paid him a courtesy visit.

    Iwuanyanwu insisted that Jonathan’s right to contest for a second term had been guaranteed in the constitution.

    “Everybody is equal as stated by the law and can contest any position in the country. Some people in the country think they are superior to others or that leadership is their birthright.

    “We have to prove them wrong by throwing our weight behind Jonathan and give him all the support he truly deserves, come 2015,”he said.

    He said Jonathan should remain in office since nobody from the South-South and South-East had ever occupied the presidency since after independence.

    He noted that “even former President Nnamdi Azikiwe’s position was not as powerful as what obtains today in the polity.”

    Iwuanyawu further said that Jonathan’s re-election next year was critical to the survival of Nigeria as a nation.

    He said: “Jonathan has exhibited an exemplary leadership style of humility, he has never discriminated against religion, race or culture, the rule of law and freedom of speech and association is encouraged by this government.”

     

    “Jonathan assumed leadership when most public institutions have failed, and he is trying to revive them, especially in the fight against corruption and other social vices.”

  • Between Barometer, Yuguda and PDP chairman

    Between Barometer, Yuguda and PDP chairman

    LAST week in this place, Barometer inexcusably described Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State as former governor and new PDP chairman. This is nothing short of a time warp. The columnist may wish the clamorous governor to assume the post of party chairman whenever it becomes vacant, and furthermore that the post could even become hereditary for Bauchi governors, but the fact today is that the PDP chairman is former Governor Adamu Muazu, whom, by the way, Barometer had mentioned in this place a few times. Governor Yuguda of course made the views attributed to him by this columnist, but his identity is nothing like what Barometer described.

    But perhaps Barometer was in a trance, or was being prescient. In case tomorrow Governor Yuguda covets the PDP post, let him recollect that the seed of that ambition was cheerily planted in his heart by Barometer. And in case Alhaji Muazu chafes that Barometer wishes his downfall, let him take heart that the homicidal inclination ascribed to Governor Yuguda was not ascribed to him. This column shudders to think what the two gentlemen would have done in the courts had Barometer mentioned them in terms lawyers describe as malicious and wicked statements calculated to expose them to public ridicule and odium.

  • PDP’s janjaweed comment

    PDP’s janjaweed comment

    •A most reckless and irresponsible call from a ruling party sworn to national unity

    One of the most remarkable ironies about consistent partisan exchanges is that they often sound like crying wolf, where there is none. But the very occasions that there is indeed a threatening wolf, the danger is not given the attention it deserves. Such a scenario just got created. But it is no surprise that it has not got the ringing condemnation that should meet it.

    After the launch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Roadmap, Olisa Metuh, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national publicity secretary, perhaps to underscore his contempt for what he thought was partisan spin, dismissed the roadmap as a product of Janjaweed thinking.

    On the surface, no offence in that. Mr. Metuh’s job, as chief spokesperson for his party, is to discredit the opposing party, lest its programmes gather suction to hurt his own party. In partisan battles, as in real wars, the guiding philosophy is get the opposition before it gets you. So, Mr. Metuh would be damned if he allowed APC to take over the public space without offering stout resistance.

    But that was the only thing right about Mr. Metuh’s ill-fated comment. To start with, Janjaweed is scary symbolism. It is native to the troubled Darfur region of the eternally troubled Sudan; and it is the name of an Arab militia, allegedly armed by the state, to brutally suppress the revolting African Muslims, up against the Sudan powers-that-be.

    Janjaweed, as Lai Mohammed, APC national publicity secretary correctly remarked, has a disturbing religious connotation; not to talk of its settled place in infamy, given its murderous havoc on co-Sudanese, who just disagree with the extant government.

    But perhaps this, as bad symbolism as it is, would not have mattered much, but for the consistent reckless statements from this same Mr. Metuh, from which he gives the impression he does not particularly care if these wild statements may push the country to needless religious conflagration.

    Mr. Metuh, not long ago, declared APC a Muslim party. Though that appeared a panicky statement, as it came at the height of the high-voltage defections from PDP, it would appear a Freudian slip, which fits nicely into Mr. Metuh’s latest Janjaweed philosophy. Might that then reflect the innermost recesses of the PDP powers-that-be, as the build-up to 2015 starts?

    Add this series of symbolism, and everyone probably has a lot to fear: President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Metuh’s principal, has launched sorties to churches nationwide, making political statements, clubbing opponents and generally abusing the sanctity of the churches he visited.

    Now, a not illegitimate question: does Mr. Metuh have the mandate to drape the main political opposition in his phantom Islamist-Janjaweed vision, while the president himself goes on an identity tour, which suggests a “We Vs Them” connotation?

    Perhaps there is nothing to it than just a disturbing trend. But even that itself is bad enough, for a country plagued by needless religious tension.

    It is bad enough that Mr. Metuh’s reflex criticism of the APC Roadmap was crassly emotional, without any critical rigour. A serious ruling party should be made of more rigorous stuff. It is even worse that his emotional reflex picked up religion, with nary any thought of its devastating consequences, should things go awry.

    That is why every right-thinking Nigerian must condemn this unforced resort to volatile passion by a ruling party whose most important job is securing nation-wide peace by being fair and just to all. Instead of this reprehensible appeal to base religious emotion, the PDP must raise its game to reasoned and logical ripostes to whatever APC — and indeed other parties — throw at it.

    Mr. Metuh’s newfound hobby of appealing to base religion must stop. Otherwise, it is a road that would lead everybody to perdition.