The Nation Newspaper

Tag: politician

  • NUJ to politicians: Don’t destroy Nigeria with fake news

    National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Chris Isiguzo, has decried the use of social media influencers by desperate politicians to circulate fake news.

    He said encouraging such distorted reports especially during electioneering period were capable of destroying the corporate existence of the country.

    Isiguzo, who spoke in Awka, Anambra state, enjoined politicians to see election as normal game of winners and losers.

    He said, “In their desperation, they engage in all manner of activities like mudslinging, name calling, character assassination.

    “These are vices you cannot observe in sane climes as witnessed during Nigeria’s recent electioneering campaigns.

    “When politicians begin to see election as normal game of winners and losers, you will see that the spread of fake news will begin to drop.”

    Isiguzo however absolved registered members the union of blame in the fake news spread, attributing the ugly trend to local political actors.

    “It is obvious from experience that local political actors are indeed originators of these fake news; they use those they brand as social media influencers to spread such negative news designed to achieve their desired goals.

    “Journalists do not really engage in ferreting fake news, but these are largely the handiwork of untrained elements, who are just armed with smart mobile phone equipped with data.

    “If you go to the social media and check well, you will not see journalists spreading fake news. The trained ones are aware that fake news is deliberate disinformation,” he added.

    The NUJ boss however, revealed plans by his administration to curb the spread of fake news in Nigeria.

  • Why suspect wants to implicate me, by politician

    Why suspect wants to implicate me, by politician

    A businessman, Chief Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho) yesterday explained why a suspect, Adeola Williams, (aka Ade Lawyer) wanted to implicate him in some killings in Lagos.

    Ade Lawyer was arrested with former Lagos State council of the National Union Road of Transport Workers (NURTW) chairman, Alhaji Rafiu Akanni Olohunwa for allegedly killing Ganiyu Ayinla, aide to NURTW Chairman in Idumota, Azeez Lawal (aka Kunle Poly).

    Ade Lawyer claimed that Adeyemo was among those he worked for.

    Adeyemo said the suspect was after him  because he assisted the police to arrest him (Ade Lawyer) and John Ibafo.

    Adeyemo said when the police were searching for the killers of Ayinla, he “assisted” them in arresting one of the suspects, who he named as John Ibafo.

    He said: “Kunle Poly, their main target, called me to assist the police in their arrest and he gave me their names and addresses in Ibadan.

    “I brought Ibafo out for the police to arrest him. I also led the police to Ade Lawyer’s house at Elekun, but he escaped by scaling the fence. The move angered Ade Lawyer so much that he kept threatening me with text messages.

    “He threatened me that if he was caught, he would implicate me. I ignored his threats and assisted the police in their investigations, which led to his arrest. When I got the information that he ran to Akure, I informed the police, thereby helping in his arrest.”

    Adeyemo said he went with the Police Search Team that carried out the arrest.

    He denied having any relationship with Ade Lawyer until a land dispute saga ensued between some “area boys” and his friend, Prince Kazeem Eletu-Odibo over the latter’s family land in Lagos.

    He said: “It was the land dispute that brought us together. That’s all. I hadn’t met him before until the land dispute saga and he has never run an errand for me. I remember vividly that sometimes ago, I was at Apapa with my clearing agent, when I was called upon that some miscreants are disturbing my friend, Prince Eletu-Odibo on land boundary issues. I rushed to the place hoping that my presence would bring normalcy and Kazeem would leave there unharmed. Fortunately, the police were already at the disputed land before I got there.”

    According to him, “a particular NURTW official came with some area boys to protect Prince Eletu-Odibo from being harmed by the other group, and Ade Lawyer came with them.

  • ‘Anirah is a politician with a good heart’

    The cleric in charge of St. Patrick Catholic Church at Sapele in Delta State, Rev Christopher Ekabo, has said the President and Chief Executive Officer of Felix Anirah Foundation, High Chief Felix Anirah, is one of the few politicians with a good heart.

    Ekabo spoke at a special thanksgiving service at the church to mark Anirah’s 63rd birthday celebration.

    The priest congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain on attaining the new age, saying: “When I was transferred here, he came to meet me quietly, requesting for students who the foundation would give scholarships. Since then, the church has continued to benefit from his foundation’s programmes.

    “He has not only sponsored students from this church, but has continued to treat people with eye problems and other medical services through his foundation.”

    The cleric also led the congregation in prayers for Anirah’s birthday celebration.

    As part of activities for the birthday, the foundation, in conjunction with St. Malachy’s College Old Boys’ Association at Sapele, organised a free medical outreach on the school’s premises, where residents were screened and treated for malaria, typhoid and high blood pressure.

    The head of the medical team, Dr. Paul Egato, noted that malaria remained Africa’s greatest health burden.

    He said any effort to tackle it should be commended.

    Vice President of St. Malachy’s College Old Boys’ Association, Frank Orhiaki, hailed Anirah for supporting the association and his service to humanity.

    He urged other Nigerians to emulate Anirah’s good works.

    Some of the beneficiaries – Mrs. Jane Osagie, Mrs. Patricia Aboyen and Mrs Elizabeth Ekede – hailed Felix Anirah Foundation and pray God to continue to bless the chairman.

    Anirah noted that though few days ago he nurtured the idea of attending the church, his health then made many to believe that it was impossible to be there for the thanksgiving.

     

     

     

     

  • Odyssey of politician Obi

    The Anambra election threw up winners and losers.  Willy Obiano, re-elected governor, is clear winner.  So, is his party, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) which, for now, has escaped the drop.

    Still, except strenuous efforts are made, to broaden it into, at least, a dominant South East regional voice, APGA’s future would still appear shrouded, beyond the sentiments and excitement of the moment.  But even as a vibrant regional party, it would only replicate the South East equivalent of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 1999.

    Ironically, an Igbo elected as president, from a party other than APGA may well fast-track the end of that party, with the central-minded tendency of Nigerian politics and politicians, even with the clamour for “restructuring”.  So, as former President Olusegun Obasanjo destroyed the AD to consolidate his own central power base, so would a non-APGA Igbo president destroy APGA to create fresh power base for himself.  Right now, however, APGA is flush with victory — and deservedly so.

    Many say the federal ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were losers in the Anambra election.  In a way, they are right, for APGA retained its governorship.  But in another way, coming from near zero in 2015, to gross the second position, even if distant, can’t be said to be a total loss in real terms.  So, APC could be said to have notched some vital gains in its loss.

    That cannot be said of the Peoples Democratic Party (former ruling party over there), now dropping third, below APC, the 2015 election-time “Muslim” party in a predominantly Christian Anambra State.  That should give PDP strategists a lot of concern, as the party struggles to stage a comeback in the 2019 general elections, both at the federal level and in states where elections are due.  Towards that end, Anambra presents little hope.

    But the biggest loser, by the Anambra election, is Peter Obi, the former state governor, famed for his frugality and savings while in office.

    Perhaps it was political calculation gone awry.  Perhaps it was hubris, made more reckless by the hurt of a godfather, sworn to unhorsing a brash and ungrateful godson, by taking away the gubernatorial lolly.  Perhaps it’s a medley of the two.

    But whatever it was, Obi just committed near political suicide by the result of the Anambra polls.  Packing Onitsha, the South East’s number one commercial hub, with former President Goodluck Jonathan in tow, and all Obi could deliver to PDP is a distant third?  That’s a catastrophe!

    Worse, there are already whispers about some entente between APGA and — wait for it!—the “Islamic” and “Islamist” APC!  And the way a flush Obiano is singing the praises of President Muhammadu Buhari, thanking him for letting the wish of the people to prevail—is it supposed to be otherwise? — then you can’t just dismiss such talks.

    However it pans out, both Obi and PDP face a torrid immediate future.  In the long run, however, you are either dead, or reinvent yourself.

    Again, as many have always suspected, Obi has yet again betrayed his scandalous faulty political antenna, which appears so blunt it mistakes when to attack for when to retreat and vice-versa.  The result was the Anambra debacle, where the godson, with electoral panache, just buried the godfather!

    But again, maybe Obi and his PDP could reinvent and yet resurrect?  Time will tell.  Meanwhile, joy to the godson, grief to the godfather.

    After all, every political career, as they say, ends in failure!  But don’t count Peter Obi out yet.

     

     

  • Ogbeha the conscientious politician turns 70

    Tomorrow, Sunday, September 3, 2017, the family and friends of Senator Jonathan Tunde Ogbeha will gather at his parish church in Apo, Abuja, for the birthday thanksgiving service of the retired brigadier-general who turned 70th yesterday, Friday, September 1.

    For Ogbeha, nicknamed Flying Jones in his school days because of his goalkeeping prowess, September 1st and 3rd are very significant days of his life.

    He was born on the September 1st, 1947 and admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) on September 3rd 1967 to commence academic and military training as a Regular Course 3 Officer and Gentleman.

    He clocked 70th yesterday and tomorrow, Sunday, September 3rd, will mark his 50th NDA anniversary.

    Both events are deserving of celebration but in the mood of our nation, Ogbeha chose a private prayer at his residence. This is not unexpected given his quiet lifestyle.

    But his family and friends have ‘over-ruled’ his decision, insisting they will  celebrate these milestones “no matter how little”.

    Indeed, Ogbeha is very deserving of celebration at 70th given the commitments, contributions and sacrifices he has made in the lives of many who came his way.

    I met Senator Ogbeha as a civilianized democrat after his retirement from the military through my Uncle (Arc) Yomi Awoniyi, the immediate past deputy governor of Kogi State.

    This was after the 1999 general election when General Ogbeha (rtd) stood as the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for Kogi West Senatorial District and won the election.

    This electoral feat, which Awoniyi had strongly supported, was against the views and position held by some of us who come from Kogi West.

    After Ogbeha’s swearing-in in the National Assembly, he emerged as the upper chamber’s Committee on States and Local Government Chairman.

    This position placed a responsibility of seeking the best operational system for local government administration on his shoulders and he took up the onerous assignment with military dispatch.

    As soon as the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration came up with the review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Ogbeha rose and demanded the autonomy for the local government tier of our federal government.

    His argument was predicated on the conviction that the State/Local Government Joint Account as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution was being mismanaged by the state governors.

    He revealed that rather than adding the constitutionally required contributions to the joint account by the states, the governors were taking advantage of that tier of government and treating it as a ministry, department or agency of the state government.

    He predicted that if the local government tier is not granted her financial autonomy, in no time, the tier of government would be rendered irrelevant in the scheme of governance and could even become comatose. A prediction that has come to pass.

    Expectedly, Ogbeha’s proposed amendment could not be swallowed by many state governors and they mobilized against it as the issue degenerated in the media and public discuss.

    The debate however came up in the then regular ‘review’ of politics at ‘home’ and the nation between Awoniyi and I where we concluded that Senator Ogbeha needed to take his narratives to Nigerians since he had become the apostle of autonomous local governments.

    That way, I met Senator Ogbeha in 2001 and had since discovered him to be a retired but not tired officer and gentleman, a devout and devoted Christian of the Anglican Communion, a peacemaker, a conscientious politician, an apostle of good governance, a stickler to family values, a patriotic nationalist,  reputable and above all, a true friend.

    In his days in the military, despite the despotic nature of the military leadership of our country, he carved a niche for himself as a decent and organized soldier among officers and men as well as civilians.

    He held command positions in the army and had the privilege of serving as the pioneer military governor of Akwa Ibom state laying the infrastructural plans for the future of the state and remaining the darling governor of Ibomites till date.

    The noble role Ogbeha played as the first military governor of Akwa Ibom was well captured in the 70th birthday congratulatory message issued by Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief Udom Emmanuel.

    It reads:

    “Thirty years ago, you embodied the collective dreams of the good people of Akwa Abasi Ibom State. You came to a state that was bereft of even the basic infrastructural amenities, but you were undaunted.

    “You went to work and laid the foundation upon which successive Governors have built on to move the state forward.

    “Today, Akwa Ibom State has become the destination of choice with world class infrastructural amenities.

    “The people have arisen and have claimed the faith of their greatness. As you turn 70, on behalf of the grateful people of Akwa Ibom State, I send you our heartfelt felicitations.

    “May the good Lord continue to bless you with good health and may His grace continue to abide with you.

    Happy Birthday, Your Excellency and thank you for your service to our State,” Udom submitted.

    In the old Bendel State, now Edo and Delta states, the story is not different as Ogbeha sterling performances speak in volumes while his management of men and resources still earn him a commendable number of followership in the two states till date.

    It might be needful to tell a story that demonstrates his humility as a military governor in Bendel State.

    He had returned from work and asked the House-keeper for lunch. In shock, the House-keeper said lunch was not ready. Surprised, this military governor requested the House-keeper to provide him ‘garri’ and ‘epa’ (groundnut).

    Rather than make the requested lunch of ‘garri and epa’ available, the House-keeper, who was further scared by such a demand from his military governor, bolted and headed in the direction of senior officers of the state government pleading with them to come and save her job.

    A bewildered Ogbeha, who saw senior officers of the state government trooping into his official residence, demanded to know the reason for their presence.

    When they told him that the House-keeper invited them to intervene on her behalf, he burst into laughter stressing that the House-keeper job was never on the line and asked rhetorically; “so the military governor no fit chop garri and groundnut again?”

    As a Senator, Ogbeha’s constituency projects were built on provision of water, rural electrification and roads.

    He worked closely with then Deputy Chief of Staff in the Presidency, Chief Olusola Akanmode and then Minister of Police Affairs, Maj-General David Jemibewon to secure the construction of the road from Aiyetoro-Gbedde – Iyah-Gbedde -Aiyegunle-Iluke and Suku.

    This road, which was designed to open up Bunuland and link Kogi State with Niger and the  Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had since stopped at Suku, in Kabba/Bunu local government.

    Until the 2017 Budget, nothing was heard of the road again.  The electrification and water projects also suffered the same fate with the road construction.

    The exit of Ogbeha as Senator in 2007 halted their provision while the dwellers of those areas have been left in darkness and inaccessible roads.

    As a conscientious politician, Senator Ogbeha would handover contracts given to him by Kogi State Government to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) women groups in his local government for execution and distribution of the proceeds.

    He also jettisoned the offer of first refusal granted him in the 2007 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial primary election.

    He reasoned that two terms of eight years as a Senator was just enough to serve rather than creating unnecessary tensions among the people of his senatorial district by seeking a more term in office.

    He rested his decision on the fact that his constituency is multi-lingua and multi-ethnic stressing that other areas will want to also do their turns.

    He also told supporters who had wanted him to run “another term” that his constituents had shown him enough kindness and he would want to give them the opportunity to elect other senators after his own two terms.

    For this son of a Police officer dad and pastry-maker mum, who was attracted to the Army out of love for the neatness of officers’ in uniform, life has never been just a bed of roses.

    If anything, life, in the last seventy years, has been a mix. While his successful military and political careers are testimonies of the good side, the death of his younger brother, Major Sam Ogbeha, who died in the Hercules C-130 that crashed in Ejigbo in 1992 as well as the death of his wife, Jackie, are unforgettable pains of life.

    In spite of these sad experiences and others that life has brought his way, Ogbeha has kept an abiding faith in God through Christ. And not just that.

    He has continued to give back to the society and kept true to the course of brotherhood and friendship. Ogbeha is ever-ready to take the bullet for his friends. His relationship with his ‘twin-brother’ and friend, the immediate past President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, best illustrates the loyalty of this retired infantry officer to friends.

    In their near-60 years of friendship, not a pin, as the Nigerian cliche says, has been able to come between them.

    As we gather in thanksgiving to God for the 70th anniversary of the birth of this quintessential officer and gentleman, this is wishing Flying Jones many happy returns in good health.

     

    • Ologbondiyan lives in Abuja

  • Between Tukur Buratai and the intolerable politician

    Some mischievous mind will read this and conclude that it is paid for. It is. The readers skimming through and those taking their time to read, have paid for this. The subject of this piece, Gen. Tukur Buratai, paid for this. He paid in kind. His towering humility, patience and grace, are creditable imbursement for this piece. By leading the Nigerian military to reclaim 23 local government councils from dreaded terrorist sect, Boko Haram’s stranglehold in Borno, he has earned this compliment. But naysayers may stew in scorn – it could be therapeutic.

    Prior to his appointment as Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), just four of Borno’s 27 local councils were under government control. Thus Borno’s political elite as its citizenry, dwelt in a clime of extreme fear and despair.

    But in a manner reminiscent of the shrewd and excellent Army General and military administrator he once was, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Buratai as the country’s COAS. And that was undoubtedly one of the very few insightful and excellent decisions he took since he assumed office as Nigeria’s number one citizen.

    Buratai is indeed a charming man. In a clime where public officers: governors, council chairmen, legislators and their errand boys or aides if you like, parade their bulk like tin gods, Buratai displays unusual humility and tact.

    For instance, the manner in which he granted this writer an interview few weeks ago – courtesy an introduction by Gen. Lucky Irabor, Nigeria Army Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole – contrasted sharply with the haughtiness and stench of the random politician or public officer’s ignoble character. Several Nigerian governors, legislators and the glorified errand boys and girls that they love to call aides, could learn a thing or two from Buratai, the army general.

    To this end, I present once again, excerpts from the narrative of my encounter with Buratai. In the course of the interview, Buratai recollected the brutal happenstance that nearly cost him his life, while visiting soldiers fighting on the nation’s frontiers against Boko Haram.

    “I was with them and my convoy was ambushed by Boko Haram. Instead of withdrawing back to Maiduguri, I said, ‘No! We are in this together. I can’t go back. We must all go together to clear the ambush,” revealed Buratai.

    “No! We must advance to clear them!’ I said. So I advanced with them and that was how we cleared the ambush. If the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) does not turn back, who would turn and run from such an ambush. I advanced with the troops and it paid off.

    “Unfortunately, we lost two soldiers; one of them was an officer. One other soldier, a Brigadier-General, got wounded in the attack,” he said.

    How many Nigerian public officers would endanger their lives, in a show of moral courage and support to the nation’s troops?  The incident, according to the COAS, was one of the major turning points in the country’s war against Boko Haram; that the Chief of Army Staff was advancing to visit the troops at the war front and Boko Haram attacked him in an ambush made good read. But that he refused to retreat to the safety of his guest house in Maiduguri and instead, advanced with the troops to ‘clear the ambush’ resonates even as you read, as the best of military legend.

    The legend is true. Buratai did direct an assault against Boko Haram, under hostility and intense gunfire. Boko Haram militants struck at his convoy about 45 kilometers or 28 miles east of Borno’s capital, Maiduguri. General Buratai had been visiting troops to encourage them and boost their morale in their fight against the terrorists.

    But between the villages of Mafa and Dikwa, remnants of Boko Haram laid an ambush on the entourage of the chief of army staff. The army killed 10 of the terrorists and captured five. Two soldiers got killed and five were wounded in the ambush.

    Buratai chooses to lead by example. Unlike the average Nigerian governor, legislator, council chairman flaunting hideous airs and entitlement to ‘rule’ like power drunk despots where they should ‘serve’ and ‘lead,’ Buratai descends into the trenches to inspire the nation’s troops.

    From his perch at the Nigeria Army Headquarters, it could be hard to make out the regular people: the infantry soldiers and officers serving as buffer and hauling themselves as human shields against the hail of enemy bullets, that Nigeria might live.

    But Buratai would not be the over-indulgent general with tired girth sitting in his oversized Abuja office, to command the troops. He knows other ways to exert a commanding presence, like actually making contact with the men and woman he is leading.  He’s careful and pragmatic, which makes sense, because he spent most of his career as an infantry soldier and officer.

    He’s almost reticent yet confident which could be confusing. But therein subsists the peculiar riddle of his persona. Buratai doesn’t unravel to middling eye and mind. He doesn’t do the high society party circuit, because he is not a social butterfly. He prefers to eat at home with his wife when he’s not breaking bread and maasa (rice cake) in the trenches with the troops. Then he gets back to work – because Tukur Buratai is Type-A-workaholic.

    I can hardly say the same of several Nigerian governors, legislators among others, in the country. Most of them display unforgivable lack of tact, brilliance and skill. The Ogun State governor for instance is frantically building bridges over cratered roads even as the peasants who braved the sun and rain to elect him die in ghastly road accidents, as you read. And this minute, his counterparts in the nation’s Niger Delta region are busy squandering precious time and resources perpetuating depravity and filth, celebrating the victor in Big Brother Nigeria (BBN)’s perverse reality.

    This writer is definitely not interested in whatever ‘heresies,’ ‘alternative truths,’ ‘rumours’ or ‘outright truths or lies’ are bandied about Buratai; this summation is inferred from established facts and personal experience.

    Buratai’s milestones and manhood are vastly simpler yet more enigmatic than the random politician’s. He believes that “leadership is all about the people you lead.” Thus he takes “…the soldiers, the troops in general, as the most important aspect of soldiering.”

    Buratai descends into the trenches with his men to achieve success. He broke bread with them and transformed the Borno theatre of war into an unusual victors’ space founded on purely patriotic needs. The Nigerian Army chief divorced the military from previous afflictions of public apathy and scorn and thus inspired a military culture characteristic of the quintessential patriot soldier, all in bid to recreate a Nigerian military with a different story; a gripping yarn founded on patriotism and culture indigenous to the people they are meant to protect. It’s the stuff gallant soldiers are made of.

    •To be continued

     

     

  • EFCC trails politician, banker over N4b ‘proceeds of crime’ deposit

    EFCC trails politician, banker over N4b ‘proceeds of crime’ deposit

    BARELY 24 hours after it discovered N250 million at a popular Lagos market, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), last night, announced the discovery of another N4 billion suspected to be proceeds of crime.
    The cash was alleged to belong to a deputy governorship candidate in Niger State.
    The suspect and his Account Officer were said to be on the run as at press time.
    According to a statement by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity Wilson Uwujaren, the N4 billion was discovered in a Fixed Deposit Account with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).
    The EFCC said two companies were used to launder the funds in two tranches of N2 billion apiece.
    The statement reads: “A tip-off by a whistle blower on Tuesday, led to another discovery by the EFCC of a staggering sum of N4billion suspected to be proceeds of crime.
    “Investigations as to the owner of the funds revealed that the money belongs to a former deputy governorship candidate in Niger State.
    “The suspect uses the names of two companies – Katah Property & Investment Limited and Sadiq Air Travel Agency- in laundering the funds.
    “Each of the company has N2 billion fixed in its deposit account domiciled in Guaranty Trust Bank.
    “The suspected owner of the account and the account officer are currently on the run.”

  • Magu’s rejection: Politicians want Buhari nominate someone else

    Some politicians in Lagos have called on the
    Federal Government to look for another
    person to manage the affairs of the
    Economic and Financial Crimes
    Commission (EFCC).
    The politicians said in interviews with
    the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on
    Monday in Lagos that the Acting
    Chairman of the commission, Ibrahim
    Magu, was not the only Nigerian
    competent to manage it.
    NAN reports that the senate has twice
    refused to confirm Magu’s nomination
    as the EFCC Chairman based on
    allegations made against him by the
    Department of State Service (DSS).

    Chief Ola Apena, Deputy Chairman of
    Lagos State Chapter of PDP, advised the
    government not to leave Nigerians with
    the impression that nobody else could
    do the job.
    “Magu is not the only Nigeria that can
    manage EFCC; other Nigerians have
    done it before.
    “If the DSS concludes that Magu does
    not possess the level of integrity and
    transparency needed, so be it.
    “I do not think there should be any fuse
    about it as a section of the society is
    making it to look. National Assembly
    members are not the ones who wrote
    the report,’’ Apena said.
    Mr Dennis Aghanya, Executive
    Secretary of Anti-Corruption and
    Research-based Data Initiative, urged
    President Muhammadu Buhari to
    nominate somebody else in place of
    Magu.
    “Magu has tried; his name will go down
    in history as one of the Acting EFCC
    Chairmen Nigeria had.
    “There are other competent and
    qualified persons for the job.
    “The president should not insist any
    further,’’ Aghanya said.
    He called on the National Assembly to
    amend the EFCC Act to accommodate
    people in other professions as EFCC
    chairman instead of only the police or
    armed forces.
    Chief Martin Onovo, the 2015
    Presidential Candidate of the National
    Conscience Party (NCP), urged Buhari to
    seek security clearance of a certain
    class of nominees to avoid what
    happened to Magu.
    “The senate has a constitutional role to
    screen nominees from the president for
    certain positions; the senate has played
    its constitutional role.
    “The senate can hold an opinion in
    direct contradiction with the
    president’s,’’ Onovo said.

  • Politician makes case for more women in govt

    Politician makes case for more women in govt

    THERE is need for women to get more slots in government, a stalwart of the All Progressives Party (APC) in Lagos, Chief Emmanuel Remi-Williams, has said.
    In an interview, the octogenarian said since independence women, have not be given their dues in the political arena. He said though some were elected into the National Assembly, and others appointed as either ministers or ambassadors, the number is small compared to their population and the significant roles that they have played in the country.
    Remi-Williams said: ‘’Women have played a prominent role in the history of this country, especially in the struggle for its emancipation e.g Calabar Riot of 1922. Specifically, Mrs Funmilayo Kuti, the mother of Fela, played a major role in resolving the Egbaland crisis. There are others too numerous to mention who proved their mettle in leadership.They cannot be pushed to the back role. The time has come for Nigeria to catch the wind of change blowing around the world by bringing in more women into politics.’’
    He traced the problem of neglecting women in politics to some religions that relegated them to the background. Quoting the Bible, the politician said the Holy Book does not put women in the corner. Rather, he said, the Bible says ‘Women are sacred precious gift given to men by God which must be taken care of and properly maintained’, adding that the best way to cater for them is including more of them in politics.
    He noted that academically men are not superior to women as some female students have made first class in their courses just as many of them have excelled in their professions.
    Against this background, he said there was no need to leave women to play the second fiddle as deputy governor, commissioner, special adviser, among others. He said the time was ripe for women governors and other roles that they have not occupied in the public or civil service.
    Remi-Williams also charged the women to rise and fight for their rights. He said if Mrs Hilary Clinton could shake the world with her challenge of Billionaire Donald Trump in the last United States presidential election, which regrettably she lost, it meant our women were still sleeping politically.
    “In that US election, I submit with respect to women that they were not rejected at the poll. It provided a food for thought,” he said.
    The politician said the time had come for women, like Mrs Clinton, to aim for the number job in Nigeria. He advised President Muhammadu Buhari to give women more slots in his administration to make his change mantra meaningful.
    He added that a woman presidency may be good for any nation in peace period.

  • Politician seeks jobs for Ebonyi indigenes at Fed varsity

    Politician seeks jobs for Ebonyi indigenes at Fed varsity

    A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State, Chief Chinedu Ogah, has called for the employment of the indigenes at the Federal University in Ndufu-Alike.
    Ogah, the National Coordinator of the Buhari/Osinbajo Initiative for Demonstrating Change, made the call yesterday at Ikwo in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
    Ogah, who hails from the community, said the indigenes should constitute at least 70 per cent of its junior workers’ cadre to ease unemployment challenges.
    He said: “The institution should offer them employment immediately, not because I am their friend but it is in its social responsibility stipulations.
    “I will officially inform the institution next week. But if they fail to do so, I will seek legal action to that effect.
    “The institution must employ our people who are qualified. But I must commend its vice chancellor for his efforts in engaging our people.”
    Ogah said he offered scholarship to Mr Daniel Atta, a 300-level student of the institution under his foundation’s scholarship scheme.
    He said: “The student sang admirably during the institution’s last convocation ceremony. We have offered scholarships to 36 students in different institutions in the country.
    “We are offering the scholarships to impact on the lives of the people and will also encourage the students who made first-class as announced during the convocation.
    “Most of the people we assisted are those who are naturally endowed but have no one to assist them to achieve their life ambitions.”