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Tag: President

  • Secretariat shut as SUG impeaches president, treasurer

    Secretariat shut as SUG impeaches president, treasurer

    The Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State has suspended Students Union activities following last Monday’s impeachment of the president and treasurer. The management said it took the action to prevent a breakdown of law and order. SOLOMON ODENIYI (Mass Communication) reports.

    The Students Union secretariat of the Adekunle Ajasin Univeristy, Akungba- Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State has been shut following the impeachment of the president, Adegbola Oduyemi, and the treasurer, Oluwaseun Olanrewaju, for alleged financial impropriety.

    Adegbola is the first SUG president to be impeached in the union’s history. Folusho Ayeni has been sworn in as the acting president, making history as the first woman to lead the union.

    At an emergency sitting to consider the report of a panel set up to investigate allegations of funds misappropriation against the executive arm, members of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) resolved that Adegbola and Oluwaseun should go.

    The SRC instituted the Kayode Fagoroye-led panel last November to investigate Adegbola, Oluwaseun and the Financial Secretary, Segun Bello, for alleged irregularities in the disbursement of union funds.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the panel indicted the president and the treasurer, but cleared Bello.

    The panel found that Adegbola wrote a letter to the management without the SRC’s consent to demand 150 per cent increment in the union’s due. He was also alleged to have deceived the management that the students  agreed to use Capital Insurance Nigeria Limited to provide life cover for them.

    The panel indicated Oluwaseun for changing the union’s account mandate from three to two signatories. She was also accused of impersonation, embezzlement and truancy.

    Senate President Olakunle Balogun and the Clerk, Christopher Arowolo, advised Adegbola and Oluwaseun to hand over the union’s properties in their custody to the acting president. The SRC said it would send the panel’s report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    In her reaction, Oluwaseun said members of the SRC conspired against her, vowing not to step down.

    She said: “I remain the union’s treasurer. There was no formal sitting of the SRC. Members of the House only had a meeting where some of them informally discussed issues. This is nothing, but a conspiracy against me. Since I assume office, I have never joined issues with anyone and I don’t know why anyone would be keen on dragging my name in the mud.

    “I have served the union with transparency and honesty. All my disbursements are well-documented and they were done for the progress of the union. To show that their report was baseless and built on falsehood, myself and the president were indicted, while the third signatory to the union’s account was exonerated. When the issue of the disbursement of funds for the repair of the union’s vehicles that led to the probe was discussed, the financial secretary was aware.”

    Oluwaseun urged the students to disregard the impeachment and the panel report “so as not to begin to have negative thoughts about people working tirelessly for their welfare”.

    Adegbola said he was not aware of any impeachment, insisting that there was no formal sitting of the SRC.

    He said: “The SRC leadership is deceiving itself. Only members of the house can suspend or impeach me and not the Senate President’s WhatsApp’s verdict. There can be no sitting without members of the Ethics and Privilege Committee meeting first. I am not aware of any impeachment. And nobody set up any committee to try me. The treasurer and the financial secretary were tried by a committee. I was never invited by anybody whatsoever to any committee. Some of the SRC members have called me to dissociate themselves from the kangaroo impeachment.”

    To prevent a breakdown of law and order, management shut the union’s secretariat and suspended its activities.

    The Deputy Registrar, Olaoluwa Akinfemiwa, in a memo signed on behalf of the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr Bolanle Ogungbamila, said management would not watch the crisis degenerate into a break down of law and order.

    The memo reads: “Following the outcome of the investigation panel and arbitration, the Dean hereby directs that the students union secretariat be shut and the use of the two union buses be put on hold. The keys must be handed over to the school’s Acting Security Officer. The officials of the executive, SRC and the judicial council should cease to parade themselves as officials of the union.”

    Kayode said the panel’s report followed “thorough investigation”, adding that he refused to be intimidated the induced by the impeached members.

    He said: “Our report is available for anyone who wants to check. The report is a product of a thorough investigation. It was based on truth and we were fair to the parties involved. A lot of things were done to kill this report. I was offered bribe to conceal the truth in the report, which I rejected. They also sent some assailants after me.”

    Kayode accused Adegbola of conniving with some SRC members to boycott sittings.

    According to Section 26(1) of the union’s Constitution, the SRC shall form a quorum when one-third of members are in attendance. But, Adegbola alleged that SRC did not form a quorum when it sat on the report. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that some members threatened not to attend sittings beacuse of what they called the “predetermined agenda” of the SRC leadership.

    Kayode denied that the investigation’s outcome was predetermined. “Our report was ready one week after the panel was constituted. There were efforts to delay the presentation of the report by the executive. Out of the three persons accused, two were found guilty and one was vindicated. Majority of the transactions carried out since the inception of the administration were done by the president and the treasurer. The sum of N534,470 was illegally withdrawn from the union account.”

     

  • Who wants the President dead?

    SIR: Yesterday, it was not fashionable to see people push-the-boat out as soon as the death of someone is announced. Today it is a ghoulish novelty. I can’t forget in a hurry the wild celebrations somewhere when a politician died due to a fatal helicopter mishap.

    People have been asking on radio, in public transportation, on the streets if the president of that country is dead? Why hasn’t he said anything to his people? They queried. He should be dead, they concluded and many chortled.  But death comes to all mortals rich and poor. So why cavort over someone’s presumed deathly sentence? There is obviously – a breakdown of the societal values in that country.

    This again has confirmed that that country is a big-lemonade where the citizens do not care diddly-squat about the next man. They subscribe to the ethos of secular humanism: value is relative and not universal. It is incumbent therefore to love this and hate that man; to bewail the death of one and rejoice over the death of another.

    The country’s religious foundations have a lot to do to rescue their citizens from the hands of the many Scylla and Charybdis who love tittle-tattling – to cause painful anguish to citizens.

    The love of self and level of partisan parochialism, in that country is so high to remedy with one burst of energy. Tweens and teenagers who haven’t caught the nihilistic bug have to be rescued quickly if there is a future for the people of that country.

    One way is to intensify efforts to redesign the civic curriculum and teach civic in schools to indoctrinate them on the importance of citizens’ rights and responsibilities in a country.

    Countries are built by all, not only by a president. In that country governance is subordinated only to the president. This is a false premise. While president lead, the people all manage.

    One way to build a country is for citizens to be conscious of their own responsibilities. Part of which includes, complimenting where necessary and not perennially criticizing. Evolving people ask why? Don’t they?

    They should be bold enough to write open letters to presidents or representatives in states/federal legislative assemblies expressing apprehension on critical issues.

    Who says they can’t write letters to editors expressing concern on life affecting under development in their locale?

    How many in that country volunteer efforts in electoral campaigns or even run for office? If not, contribute by talking to their children on public affairs, civic duties and the pursuit of the common good?

    If the citizens in that country occupy selves for growth of country in the real sense, then they wouldn’t be idle asking if he is dead like goops and howdydoodies would.

     

    Simon Abah,

    Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

  • Senate president’s wife seeks support for ex-servicemen

    Senate president’s wife seeks support for ex-servicemen

    Senate President’s wife Mrs. Toyin Saraki has appealed to well-spirited Nigerians to support retired military personnel for easy re-integration into the society.

    Mrs. Saraki spoke at the weekend in Lagos when her organisation, Wellbeing Foundation Africa, visited the Medical Centre at the Ninth Brigade, Ikeja.

    She noted that Nigerians owe such responsibility to the retired personnel, giving their immense contributions and sacrifices in upholding Nigeria’s unity.

    According to her, “Nigeria is a country that has known great difficulty and great conflict. But it is a country that always preserves. Our triumphs are not only our own, but those of all the men and women who have served in the armed forces to protect our citizens.

    “Despite the insurgency the country faced in the Northeast, it is quite commendable how the Nigerian Armed Forces with the Federal Government’s support, has remained steadfast in maintaining peace and safety in our country.

    “We owe these retired veterans a great debt. We must do more to support our men and women veterans who return from the battlefield emotionally distraught, injured and scarred to re-enter society and their home communities successfully through training, counseling and education programmes.

    “We must also destigmatise them with mental health support so that they feel encouraged and supported while in the process of this transition.”

    She said: “Wellbeing Foundation Africa is happy to be able to help the wives of uniformed men through their monthly journey from pregnancy to birth and beyond, and we continue to give them a continuum of care and counsel. Through our MamaCare Antenatal Education Classes, we seek to empower these women by providing the highest standard of education to them about their bodies and their babies.

    “These classes, which are delivered in military hospitals in Lagos and Kwara states, deploy skilled midwives at no cost to military families to provide education, support and confidence about health from birth to age.

    “Much like the Armed Forces protect us, it is my hope that works of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa reassures them, in turn that their families are safe and secure. Armed Forces Remembrance Day has been on since last week and reason for my visit is a token of thank you and to identify, support and dedicate our service to the health needs of the military families.”

    The outgone Commander, Ninth Brigade, Gen. Sanni Mohammed, who was represented by Colonel Garuba Abubakar, thanked the donor for the efforts to help the families of military personnel.

    Highpoint of the event was the decoration of Mrs. Fatima Mohammed as “Ambassador for Midwives and Maternal Health.”

  • Recession’ll not last, says CAC president

    President of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC)Pastor Abraham Akinosun at the weekend assured Nigerians that the recession will end soon.

    The cleric said the present hardship would become a blessing in disguise.

    Akinosun, who spoke with reporters shortly after inaugurating the CAC staff guest house at Babalola Memorial Camp, Ikeji-Arakeji, said Nigeria would emerge stronger after its  economic crisis.

    His words: ”Things cannot be smooth forever in any country. There is time for everything under heaven.

    “This is a time we as a nation must pass through for us to receive blessings from God and appreciate Him.”

    “There was a time in the history of Ghana and India when they had this kind of problem,but today the story of these nations have changed. Very soon we will also laugh in Nigeria and the time is near.”

    He urged political leaders to rely solely on God as the solution to all problems and stop looking unto men.

    Akinosun warned  leaders not to promote the worship of idols.

    On the killings in Southern Kaduna, the CAC president warned the government against promoting and placing one religion over the other.

  • PIERRE LESCURE TO CONTINUE AS PRESIDENT OF FESTIVAL DE CANNES

    AS Cannes gears up for its 70th Festival, Pierre Lescure has just been unanimously re-elected President of the organising association.

    In December 2016, the Board of Directors of the Association Française du Festival International du Film, which brings together public authorities and film industry professionals, renewed its trust in Pierre Lescure and re-elected him President of the Festival – a post he has occupied since July 2014. This new three-year term will cover the period from 2018 to 2020, and ensures continuity in the governance of the Festival and its associated projects.

    As a journalist and co-founder of the Canal+ television channel, Pierre Lescure was President and CEO of the Canal+ group from 1994 to 2002. Between 2008 and 2014, he was a producer and COO at the Théâtre Marigny. Since 2015 he has been Vice President at Molotov TV, the new television digital access platform.

    Alongside Pierre Lescure, Thierry Frémaux, Delegate-General, will continue to manage the institution. He will notably be overseeing the official selection, which will be unveiled for the 2017 Festival in mid-April.

  • Why APC should rally round the president

    Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the sage and uncrowned President of Nigeria once said that only the deep can communicate to the deep. This is a truism. Clearly, only those who can think will appreciate the need to see good things in other people, and unless we consciously cultivate the habit of appreciating others, we may not take off.

    Since President Muhammadu Buhari took over the mantle of leadership in May 2015, he has been working to re-position Nigeria. He has, in the process, attracted a sizeable crop of enemy to himself. More than that, he has stepped on many sore toes and he has vowed to rid the country of corruption.

    While President Buhari and his deputy – Prof Yemi Osinbajo have been toiling day and night to ensure that Nigeria takes her rightful place in the comity of nations, detractors are busy fanning the embers of disunity. While the government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that Nigerians enjoy the bountiful dividends of democracy, the never do wells are busy doing what they are very good at – pull him down. While the government is busy trying to fix Nigeria by making sure that we have constant and uninterrupted electricity supply, the enemies of the country are at work vandalizing the electricity equipment. While the government is busy and working day and night to turn around the fortunes of the country by diversifying the economy, the detractors are busy sabotaging it. While the government is busy finding solutions to the myriad of problems plaguing the country, some Nigerians are busy scuttling the efforts of the government.

    Yet, these Nigerians are the very first to talk ill of the government. One thing remains clear, if Nigeria works, it is for the good of all Nigerians and if the country does not work, all Nigerians will suffer the consequence. Let us make no mistake about it; Nigeria is the only country we have. We must remember that North or South, home is the best.

    Without any iota of doubt, there is the hand of God in the affairs of Nigeria. And Nigeria is work in progress. If not that God Almighty is working through Nigeria, how would one fathom the tumbling and falling out of power of those who had boasted that they would rule the country for 60 years? How many Nigerians realized the depth of the rot in the system until President Muhammadu Buhari took over. How would Nigerians have known that the People’s Democratic Party – the party that was in power for sixteen years was a share the money party?

    God has changed the narrative. President Buhari has changed the course of history. He has brought sanity into governance. President Buhari is investing in the future of the youths. He is passionate about Nigeria and Nigerians. He is more interested in putting Nigeria back to work. He is more interested in the welfare and wellbeing of all Nigerians.

    However, the All Progressives Congress, APC, the party in power needs to do a rethink.  The party does not need to be reminded that there is strength in unity. It is in unity that Nigeria can make progress.

    As it is, if truth is to be told, the Senators who are elected on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are not united.  The party chieftains too are divided and the disunity in the party is, no doubt, the harbinger of all the governance crises we witness in Nigeria today.

    To the discerning mind, the problem of the Senate started right from the day of inauguration. The crisis in the Senate has its tap root in the way and manner the principal officers of the hallowed chamber of the Senate emerged. Since that very day, the Senate has known no peace.  Despite the fact that the All Progressives Congress has the majority in the Senate, the party has not enjoyed the kind of support it ought to enjoy in the Senate.  The government has not found it easy getting its bills passed.  It has not also found it easy getting its nominees confirmed by the Senate.  The government has not gotten the type of co-operation and support it ought to get from the National Assembly.  For example, why is it that government’s requests and policies that ought to get concurrence and support from the National Assembly are turned down with glee?  And the party in power controls the majority of the members of the National Assembly.

    Truth be told, the non-confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the dreaded Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is as a result of the disunity in the fold of the All Progressives Congress. The disunity is also responsible for the recent and unfortunate call on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack David Lawal Babachir, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.  It is also the reason for the brouhaha between the Senate and Hamid Ali, the czar and incorruptible man in Customs.  The same disunity is the main reason for the unnecessary brouhaha over Lt. Gen. Buratai. Nothing but the same disunity is behind the cold relationship between the Senators and the Chief of Staff to the President. The disunity in the party is the root cause of the incessant rift and unhealthy exchange of hot words between the executive and legislative arms of government.

    Eighteen months in the saddle, President Buhari should be allowed to face the challenging problems of governance.  He should be assisted to deliver the bountiful dividends of democracy to the people.  He should be encouraged by all and sundry to deliver on his change mantra. More than anything else, all hands must be on deck to ensure the unity, survival and rebirth of Nigeria.

    The only way to do this is for the All Progressives Congress, to resolve to work together as a party to salvage Nigeria. The Senate should hold the bull by the horn by working harmoniously with the executive arm of government to deliver on the electoral promises made to the people during the electioneering campaign.

    Firstly, the APC and its members in the National Assembly should ensure that Malam Ibrahim Magu, the President’s nominee for the chairman of the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) is confirmed.  Secondly, the Senate should allow the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Engineer Babachir David Lawal to continue in office especially now that a presidential committee on North-East has been inaugurated.  He should not be sacrificed for the Executive – Legislative feud that should stop immediately for the growth and overall development of Nigeria.

    Thirdly, the seeming differences between the Directorate of State Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Customs Services must be resolved speedily.  In 2017, the gains of anti-corruption war of the government must be deepened through solid co-operation between the two agencies given the vital role they play in the machinery of government.

    On cabinet reshuffle, we call for caution. This is because social change is a gradual process that takes time to manifest.  No doubt, there are party members who are interested in cabinet appointments, including some members of the National Assembly and this is partly responsible for the calls for a change in the cabinet.  If this must happen, it should be at the discretion of the President.

    On the 2017 budget and foreign loan, APC senators in particular and the Senate in general should be patriotic and mindful of the verdict of history. The party must work with the National Assembly to ensure that the budget is passed speedily.  All corrections must be effected without delay.  Also the loan request by the President   should be granted so that the economy can be revived fully.

    The Senate has the right to scrutinize but not deny or delay as delay itself has a damaging effect on the economy and its recovery

  • PDP House caucus pledges support for President

    PDP House caucus pledges support for President

    THE caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives has promised to support President Muhammadu Buhari to bring the country out of its prevailing economic and political challenges.
    The pledge came as the House prepares to deal with the 2017 budget, Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and review of the 1999 Constitution among others after resumption from the yuletide break.
    While the opposition expressed reservation over anti-corruption crusade of the government, it regretted that the country appears more divided on critical national issues than before.
    The opposition lawmakers, however, advised the President on the need to apply the right body language to Nigerians as a way to bolster the confidence reposed in him to lead the country.
    In a statement after the caucus meeting yesterday, Minority Leader Ogor said: “Nigeria is at a critical juncture and all elected and appointed officials across the federation must renew efforts towards justifying citizens’ confidence, which has been lacking not only because of economic inequality, but also deepening segregation and the vicious cycles of conflict across the nation.
    “We join all other citizens in thanking God for this New Year and the fresh opportunity of a new beginning; as the National Assembly resumes, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives Caucus intend to renew our commitment to the tenets of democracy and broad-based development in Nigeria.
    “We must all brace up to the increasingly challenging factors across the landscape as all citizens, including those in government and active civil society organisations like the BBOG movement have critical roles to play.
    “A biased anti-corruption war solely focused on those considered as political adversaries will further open the treasury to looting rather than implement the required safeguards. Genuine change will reflect in proper management of the economy, an end to economic recession, addressing worsening unemployment and resolving violent clashes in which many innocent people continue to lose their lives in various communities.”

    President Buhari was also advised to swing into action in earnest by sending the right signals to Nigerians as a way to bolster the confidence reposed in him to lead the nation, considering the huge task to bridge the widening division within the polity.

  • Akufo-Addo sworn in as Ghana’s President

    Akufo-Addo sworn in as Ghana’s President

    Nana Akufo-Addo was sworn in on Saturday as Ghana’s new president  at a ceremony applauded for its easy transition of power.

    In a speech as he took office, the President said “I will not let the good people of Ghana down.

    “I pledge to do my best to move this country to higher level of development; I will not let the good people of Ghana down.

    “We should move on to deepen our democracy.”

    The 72-year-old president also promised to work with Ghana’s neighbours “to ensure stability on the African continent.”

    The new president, a lawyer who served as Ghana’s foreign minister in 2008, vowed to build on the West African country’s economic success.

    Akufo-Addo got 53.85 per cent of the votes in Ghana’s September election to defeat incumbent John Mahama who got 44 per cent of the votes.

    Report says the peaceful transfer of power from ex-president Mahama was drawing special attention.

    Fourteen African heads of state including Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta attended the ceremony in Accra. (dpa/NAN)

  • Prioritise Niger Delta development, activist tells President

    Prioritise Niger Delta development, activist tells President

    The National Coordinator of the Centre For Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), Comrade Sheriff Mulade, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to devote more attention to the development of oil-rich Niger Delta region in the New Year.
    The activist noted that this was better than chasing perceived corrupt politicians and former militants from the area.
    Mulade, who is also the Chairman of Kokodiagbene community of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri Southwest Local Government Area of Delta State, stated this in his New Year message.
    He regretted what he called the criminal neglect of the Niger Delta region over the years and implored President Buhari to focus on massive development of the region in 2017.
    Mulade said: “Let President Buhari focus on the overall development of the Niger Delta region in 2017 and minimise chasing ex-militants and perceived corrupt politicians to sustain the relative peace in the area.
    “We have observed with total dismay the endless chasing of perceived corrupt political enemies and ex-militants and it is my appeal to the President to focus on the development of the region to give hope and sense of belonging to the suffering people of the region.
    “The focus of the President should be on the rapid development of the oil-rich Niger Delta region in this New Year. The administration should limit the chasing of ex-militants and perceived corrupt politicians and come out with the master plan for the development of the region.
    “Previous time has been spent chasing ex-militants and perceived corrupt politicians who are not in the good book of the present administration. Let us channel energy, time and resources from now on for the development of the region rather than waste time on those things that will bring more lamentations to the people.”

  • ‘Let’s back President’

    ‘Let’s back President’

    A pressure group, the Buhari Support Organisation (BSO), has urged the Igbo across the country to support the administration of President Muhammad Buhari in the interest of peace and progress.

    The group made the call in its New Year message signed by its Publicity Secretary, Enugu State chapter, Chibueze Eze, on Sunday.

    Eze noted that “as the construction of the dilapidated federal roads in the South East and the abandoned 2nd Niger Bridge begin in top gear by President Buhari’s regime, the organisation appeals to Ndigbo to support the administration.’’

    In the statement entitled “Enugu BSO’s 2017 Goodwill Message to Ndigbo’’, Eze stated that the President had so far lived up to his campaign promises to the people of Southeast zone and was ready to do more if given the support.

    “We are witnesses to the truism that he neither hates Ndigbo nor plans to Islamise Nigeria as advocated by some ethnic merchants,’’ the group said.

    Eze applauded the Buhari administration for the progress made on the construction of Southeast federal roads and the approval of additional N16 billion by the Federal Executive Council to put the construction of the Second Niger Bridge in top gear.

    He explained that in just 24 months, the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration had achieved what its predecessors failed to do.

    “The roads in the Southeast region including Aba-Calabar, Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene, Owerri-Port Harcourt, Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port Harcourt expressways are now receiving attention by the present administration.

    “For the first time in over 16 years, our people in the Southeast are happy with the intensification of work along Enugu-Onitsha and other federal roads, which were dilapidated and in a state of disrepair for almost two decades.’

    “The rehabilitation, for instance on the Enugu-Onitsha road, is being handled by RCC Ltd, a reputable construction company in the country.

    “One lane is now fully functional while work has seriously progressed on the other lane unlike in the past when scores of lives were lost in road accidents on that road every Christmas.

    “So far, there was not even one report of accident or carnage along Enugu-Onitsha expressway this Christmas.

    “It is the same story along Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway. Our people had a smoother ride home for Christmas this year, instead of the bumpy ride they had in the past.

    “President Buhari is now putting it in practical terms. It is no longer promises alone. Therefore, we urge Ndigbo to use the New Year for stocktaking.”