The Nation Newspaper

Tag: persecution

  • I faced persecution at FUTA for being honest,says Ex-VC, Daramola

    The immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology,Akure (FUTA)  Prof Adebiyi Daramola has hinged his ordeals towards the end of his tenure in the University on his resolve to run prudent administration.

    Prof.Daramola noted that there were forces that wanted him to compromise his integrity, which he vehemently resisted.

    The don who spoke to reporters yesterday in Akure, the Ondo state capital said this rift even led to non-approval of any single intervention programme for a whole five years of his tenure as VC in the University.

    According to him” I was so determined not to join forces that were hell-bent in destroying the good image of the Institution, I thought of posterity in all my actions”.

    It would be recalled that allegations of fraud were levelled against the former VC by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).He was summoned to Abuja for interrogation on the matter.

    However, the Ondo state High Court sitting in Akure on February 7, discharged him of the fraud allegations.

    The academic ,who is now a Consultant to the World Bank said” I came to FUTA with a vision and becoming its VC after spending 26 years within the system”.

    He recalled that there was a policy that primary school within the University should generate its own revenue as against being solely funded by FUTA’s management.

    His words” The unions were fighting for their check-off dues, and demanding 40 percent of the Internally Generated Revenue(IGR) which I disagreed with and which no VC could accept”.

    Daramola said incidentally he was the Chairman, Committee of Vice Chancellors in Nigeria during the crisis, stressing that as a leader, one must have a direction.

    However, he urged the federal government to look at ways of funding Universities to facilitate high standards.

     

     

  • Ekiti PDP members allege persecution over support for aspirant

    Ekiti PDP members allege persecution over support for aspirant

    Some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Ekiti State  have alleged that they are being victimised because of  their support for a governorship aspirant, Otunba Segun Adewale.

    The embattled party members, who belonged to the Ali Modu Sheriff faction before the Supreme Court judgment settled the party’s leadership crisis, said the party leadership was violating their freedom of association.

    The party faithful, who are from Ijero Local Government Area, where Adewale hails from, claimed that they had been on suspension since March 23, 2016 for taking sides with Sheriff against the  former Caretaker Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

    They complained that they were  being sidelined by the State Working Committee in the affairs of the chapter, despite the directive by the National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus, and the Chairman of the Reconciliation Committee, Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, that Sheriff’s faction should be reabsorbed unconditionally.

    Speaking with reporters in Ado- Ekiti, the state capital, the former PDP secretary  in Ijero Local Government Area, Hon. Olurotimi Akande, alleged that 50 members were suspended for alleged anti-party activities.

    He said the latest alleged victimisation was due to their support for Adewale against Governor Ayo Fayose’s preferred candidate and deputy governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    Following Adewale’s entry into the race, a crisis of confidence developed between him and the governor. Also, other contenders, including the former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Senator Biodun Oujimi from the South District, Ambassador Dare Bejide and former Commissioner for Justice Owoseni Ajayi, have objected to the endorsement of an anointed candidate by the governor.

    Akande said: “After the supreme court judgement on Senators Makarfi and Sheriff, which was an internal crisis and not about anti-party activity, Governor Fayose made a pronouncement that all of us must be reabsorbed but the State Working Committee, led by Chief Gboyega Oguntuase never implemented that.

    “Throughout that time, I was not called to any elders’ meeting in Ijero local government as guaranteed by the party’s constitution. They were treating us as outcasts despite that the NWC and the Board of Trustees had directed that we should treated well.

    He added: “Internal crisis in a political party ends when the party or court resolves such issue. Members always fall in line, it is like when a candidate of a party emerges, others will queue behind him but the contrary was happening here in Ekiti PDP.

    “I see no offence in anyone supporting a candidate of choice. Chief Adewale is our leader and we are backing him for the governorship fully but we will work for whoever wins the primary, even if it is Prof Olusola, we will display that loyalty,” he said.

    A PDP chieftain, Hon. Idowu, said the only way they can support the party in the July 14 poll is for the NWC to conduct a free, fair and credible primary.

  • Dokpesi’s arrest ‘a persecution,’ says PDP

    Dokpesi’s arrest ‘a persecution,’ says PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the arrest of Daar Communications Emeritus Chairman Raymond Dokpesi as persecution.

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh, the opposition party said:

    “While the PDP is not against the war against corruption, we insist that the crusade must be carried out within the limits of the law and not as a guise to persecute and torture opposition elements in the country.

    “Our fear is that with the pronouncement of guilt even without being given the opportunity within his rights as a citizen to state his own side of the story, the President Buhari-led government is sidestepping the laws to ensure that Chief Dokpesi does not get justice in the court, a plot which they want to extend to other PDP leaders.

    “The PDP therefore demands an open and public trial of all those arrested so that all issues and charges against them as well as their defence therein would also be in the public domain.

    “We demand a proper investigation and lawful prosecution instead of the reprehensible resort to outright political persecution, which can only have a place in a military regime.

    “We also note that this development may not be unconnected with the planned onslaught against the media, following its commitment in holding this dictatorial regime accountable since it took office.

    “We call on the international community and rights bodies worldwide to note the growing impunity and gross violation of human rights by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government tailored to decimate the opposition and cow the media in Nigeria.”

     

  • Kwara monarchs allege Saraki’s ‘persecution’

    Kwara monarchs allege Saraki’s ‘persecution’

    The Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council has described the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as persecution. The monarchs advised the Federal Government to discontinue the trial.

    In a statement by Saraki’s media office, the monarchs said they would continue to pray for Saraki to overcome the challenges.

    Dr. Saraki is being tried for alleged false declaration of assets while he was governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.

    The statement quoted the monarchs to have reminded the government that Nigerians voted for change and not for “political harassment of perceived opponents”.

    The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, who led a delegation of the monarchs on a solidarity visit to Saraki, urged Nigerians to be wary of bad elements bent on dividing the country on account of political vendetta.

    Sulu-Gambari said: “We are here for good reasons and to bring the goodwill of the Council of Chiefs. We are ready to support our son. We are here to see him on the various constitutional challenges, we would not call them problems, and may God not make them problems for us.

    “It doesn’t take long for a 10-year-old child to realise that our dear son, our precious son is being persecuted. The politics of persecution is not the right change for Nigeria.

    “We want changes; we want it to be clean. He who seeks equity must come with clean hands. If you want equity, you must do equity.

    “We know there are several stages of challenges before our leader, such that nobody in Nigeria can ever be clean enough. But do we want to upset the whole Nigeria because we want a beautiful change? Time and posterity will tell.

    “But we want to appeal to men of goodwill that politics should not be with bitterness. Politics should be about the unity of this country.

    “We, therefore, came here to declare our support and solidarity to our precious son. If you (Saraki) look back, you will see us in various forms, begging Almighty Allah to protect you. Nigeria should beware of destructive elements. Nobody is perfect. We are in this scheme to make Nigeria very strong in the comity of nations.”

    Thanking the monarchs for their support, Saraki assured them he would overcome his travails.

    His words: “I am honoured and at the same time humbled to receive this visit from our royal fathers. The last time I had this honour was when I was still the governor.

    “There is nothing more to add because you have spoken. You have spoken from your years of experience as a father, and as someone who has headed a very great arm of government – the judiciary.

    “Your words of wisdom and encouragement will continue to give me great confidence. As you rightly said, it is a challenging time, not only for us the politicians, but generally the country.

    “Be assured that with your support and your prayers, we will overcome it because the people know that this is not prosecution, but persecution”.

  • I will overcome persecution, says Sylva

    I will overcome persecution, says Sylva

    Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva on Friday maintained that he will overcome the persecution against him. 

    He is presently facing corruption charges in the court.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, he said that what he is going through is a passing phase that would come to pass.  

    He wondered why his case is being celebrated even though he is not against prosecution if anything tangible was found against him.

    He pointed out that there had been many persons who were invited quietly by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) without being publicized like his own case.  

    According to him, each time he had a case, his photographs would take over the front pages of newspapers the following day.

    On whether he knows where the persecution was coming from, he said he didn’t know. 

    But he said: “If somebody is dancing, someone is beating the drum somewhere.”

    He stressed that he was not the only former governor in the country. 

    “It is really uncalled for the way certain people are trying to celebrate my case above every other case as if mine is the singular case. There have been cases there for a long time.” He added

    He also said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will come out of the present crisis rocking it at the National Assembly in the choice of leadership positions.

    Those who were thinking that the crisis would lead to the disintegration of the party, he said, were wrong as the party remains resilient  and would emerge stronger after the present crisis.

    According to him, the party will also recapture Bayelsa State government house in the forthcoming governorship election.

  • Prosecution or persecution?

    Prosecution or persecution?

    •The president was playing victim, and it took away from the high dignity of his office

    No doubt, Nigerians may have, in the last five years, grown used to President Goodluck Jonathan’s serial gaffes. However, his statement at the thanksgiving and farewell service held at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja, on May 10 would appear to have set a new low in presidential discourse.

    With a hint at the fate which he claims await him post-May 29, the President told his audience of fellow-worshippers: “Some hard decisions have their own cost, no doubt about that. That I have run the government this way that stabilised certain things – the electoral process and other things that brought stability into this country, they were very costly decisions which I myself must be ready to pay for”.

    He was even more point-blank about the future which awaits his ministers when he stated: “If you take certain decisions, it might be good for the generality of the people but it might affect some people differently. So for ministers and aides who served with me, I sympathise with them; they will be persecuted, and they must be ready for that persecution … You will have hard times; we will all have hard times; our ways will be rough”.

    Those statements, we daresay, are as tendentious and opportunistic; aside derogating from the President’s affectation of statesmanship, playing the victim card is a cheap attempt to whip up needless sentiments, an ignoble attempt to divert attention from the criminal mismanagment of the economy under the watch of the departing administration. We must say that the presidential charge also fits into the Peoples Democracy Party’s (PDP) now familiar narrative of presenting the President-elect, General Muhamadu Buhari, and by extension his incoming government, as vindictive. The intention of course is to put both the President-elect and his proposed administration into the defensive mode.

    What is the basis for the fear of possible persecution after leaving office? Only the President is in the best position to answer. However, given the abysmal record posted by the administration in its nearly six years in office, the mind-boggling incompetence coupled with criminal profligacy that attended it, there may well be grounds for the President’s fear for his team. As for fears of possible prosecution, would the outgoing President rather have a blanket amnesty – an immunity of sorts – for the officials even in cases where the incoming administrations have grounds to believe that they have questions  to answer? Would that not assail the core of public policy? And who says that remedies – within the ambits of the law – would also not avail those who have reasons to believe that their rights are likely to be trampled upon?

    The point remains that neither the President-elect nor the hierarchs of the All Progressives Congress has hinted at any extraordinary measures outside of the contemplation of law and constitutionalism in its plan to deal with alleged malfesances. In fact, the President-elect has continued to allay the fears of the outgoing administration’s officials on the possibility of witch-hunt. More fundamentally however is that the administration has said nothing outside of what Nigerians in their millions have said about the need to open up the books of the administration for public scrutiny. Our shock is that the President who continues to maintain that his administration has nothing to hide would seek to reduce the demands to a mission in vendetta. We consider it uncharitable, and if we dare say, futile.

    In the circumstance, we can only advise the incoming administration to ignore the statement. We think that there are simply too many questions begging for answers – issues which it can only ignore to the utter discomfiture of Nigerians. In all, the main considerations should be the law, public morality and due process – not sentiments.

    ‘What is the basis for the fear of possible persecution after leaving office? Only the President is in the best position to answer. However, given the abysmal record posted by the administration in its nearly six years in office, the mind-boggling incompetence coupled with criminal profligacy that attended it, there may well be grounds for the President’s fear for his team’ 

  • ANA condemns persecution of Sudanese writers

    Nigeria’s largest writers body, the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), has condemned dissolution of the Sudanese Writers Union [SWU].

    It decried the action of the Government of the Republic of Sudan, in which acting through the Ministry of Culture, forcibly dissolved the Sudanese Writers Union [SWU], with cultural activities banned in the run up to local elections.

    According to a statement signed by ANA Publicity Secretary (North), Mr Richard Ali, the association described the act as “gross violation of human rights guaranteed by international law”, stating it has followed a pattern of interference in the activities of writers and intellectuals by the Government of Sudan.

    It read: “It would be recalled that the activities of the Sudanese Writers Union were banned for a sixteen year period and were only reorganised as recently as 2006. We condemn the persecution of our brothers and sisters in the Sudan categorically. The Association of Nigerian Authors states that the actions of the Government of Sudan are entirely unacceptable and the Association of Nigerian Authors stands firmly in solidarity with the Sudanese Writers Union in this time of censorship and oppression.”

    Describing the contributions of Sudanese writers as priceless, ANA raised fears over after effect such censorship on the literary and cultural heritage of the polity.

    “As the largest writers body on the continent, founded by Chinua Achebe, and currently with 28 chapters and over 5000 members in and outside Nigeria, ANA is committed to nurturing development through Creativity and the provision of spaces for the intercourse of ideas. We are fully aware of the contributions of Sudanese writers, including voices like Tayeb Salih, Taban lo Liyong and Leila Aboulela, to the literary and cultural heritage of Sudan and African peoples. This priceless credibility is grossly harmed by the Government of Sudan’s unfortunate attempt at censorship and the muzzling of free speech and of the creative imagination,” it stated further.