The Nation Newspaper

Tag: promises

  • Enugu gov promises prompt payment of salaries

    Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has given the assurance that his administration will continue to pay workers’ salaries as at when due in spite of the economic challenges in the country.

    The governor made this known while receiving members of the Governing Council and Management of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), led by its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Ado Tenebe, who were at the Government House to pay him a courtesy call.

    Ugwuanyi noted that government is a continuum, and his administration was poised to fulfill all promises made by the past administration, as soon as it was able to pass through to economic crunch in the country.‎

    He demanded for more study centres for Enugu State from the University in order to boost education in the state, adding that his administration places high premium on education.

    Governor Ugwuanyi thanked NOUN for its support to the state government, and expressed delight over the honour bestowed on the illustrious son of the state, His Royal Highness, Amb. Lawrence Akubuzor by the institution as its first Chancellor, describing it as an honour not only for him, but for Enugu State in general.

    The Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Vincent Ado Tenebe, stated that the team was at the Government House to congratulate the governor for his “well-deserved victory” at the poll and to formally present a letter of appointment to the first Chancellor of the University, His Royal Highness, Amb. Lawrence Akubuzor.

    Prof. Tenebe, who briefed the governor on the institution’s operational status in the country, said that Enugu is very special to NOUN, saying the state has one of the best centres in the South East geo political zone.

  • Lam-Adeshina’s son promises ‘more’

    The lawmaker representing Ibadan South East/ North East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives has thanked his constituency for voting for him.

    In a statement yesterday, Dapo Lam-Adeshina  thanked all the community development associations,youth organisations, vocational, artisan and professional associations for the support given to him during the March 28 National Assembly elections.

    He promised to fulfill all the programmes/promises in his manifesto.

    “I would by the grace of God bring visible transformation, economic relief/empowerment and commendable developmental projects to all the wards, communities and neighborhood in Ibadan North East and Ibadan South East Local Governments”.

    “I still stand by my determination to bring good life and support scheme for the aged and widow, employment support and empowerment for our youth, infrastructural and educational facilities for our public schools, assistance for organisations and associations, regular consultation and interaction with the constituents, market development, loan scheme for traders, sports development provision of water, among other things.

    “I promise to work with all to deliver on all my campaign promises.”

  • Keep campaign promises, public officers advised

    Keep campaign promises, public officers advised

    Public office holders have been urged to keep their promises and recognise their office as public trust.

    A Professor of Law at Bayero University in Kano Tabiu Mohammed, and a cleric, Sheik AbdulMajeed Imran Eleha, enjoined elected officials to keep their campaign promises to avoid the wrath of God.

    They spoke yesterday at the Pre-Ramadan lecture of the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA) at UNILAG main auditorium, Akoka.

    Speaking on Public Trust: An obligation for credible leadership, Prof Muhammad said governance is about trust and accountability, adding that negative political culture caused the nation woes in the last political dispensation.

    He advised that the fight against bad leadership and governance should not be left for office holders, noting that the citizenry should engage in effective monitoring.

    Muhammad asked the governed to adhere to the laws and be effective in ensuring that public officials kept their mandate.

    Anyone who fails to uphold public trust, whether as leaders or the led, should be punished for it, he said, asking Nigerians not to be complacent because President Buhari had a good track record.

    “The leaders should recognise and popularise trustworthiness as a social value. Government should condemn betrayal of public trust and see public office as a trust. They should ensure that they set clear standards and established strong democratic institutions. The leadership must be careful of what is coming into the coffers of the state and where public fund is to be expended. Accountability and personal probity should be guaranteed. There should be no legal immunity,” he said.

    Sheik Imran admonished leaders to ensure that justice and rule of law thrive at all levels of government.

    The cleric, who urged Nigerians to cooperate with the Buhari administration to ensure its success.

    Earlier, UMA President Akeeb Oladokun said the lecture’s theme was carefully chosen to contribute to the national discourse on setting agenda for the federal ans state governments.

    In attendance were UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Prof Rahamon Bello; Emeritus Professor Laide Abbas; Alhaji Adetola Kazeem (SAN); All Progressives Congress (APC) National Legal Adviser, Dr Muiz Banire; a former Lagos State Independent Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Musibau Oyefeso; wife of the late Justice Muri Okunola, Alhaja Ramdat Okunola; former UMA President Alhaji Lere Alimi; representative of Olorogun Sunny Kuku, Alhaji Lai Alabi; Prof Fatimat AbdulKareem; Complete Sports Managing Director Alhaji Mumuni Alao; former Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Alhaja Sekinat Yusuf, and Dr Khalid Adekoya; Dr Ahmad Rufai among others.

  • Wema promises to do better

    Wema promises to do better

    Wema Bank Plc has assured the shareholders the lender will make more profit in 2015, its Chairman, Mr. Adeyinka Asekun said. He said the bank will consolidate last year’s successes this financial year.

    He said the 2014 financial year was an eventful one, as the first half of the year went on well, with buoyant growth and a stable Nigeria economy.

    However, by the second half of the year, the nation was initially faced with a viral epidemic that was eventually contained. He said despite the regulatory tightening and sociopolitical headwinds, the bank was able to make progress during the year.

    Asekun said the bank will continue to evolve even in the coming months as it explores new frontiers in business development, service delivery and settlement platforms. “We will expand our footprint in 2015 in an efficient manner in order to get maximum returns on investment,” he said.

    He said the bank remained focused on its core areas of expertise especially the retail and commercial segment of the market as it navigated the systematic headwinds of the second half of the year.

    Specifically, the Coordinator Ibadan Shareholders Association, Mr. Shola Abodunrin said, “We want dividend for our investments. We cannot be investing our money without anything to show for it. We have exercised patient enough and we want the bank to do all it can to pay us dividend next year,” he said.

  • NFF promises to deliver 2017 AFCON ticket

    NFF promises to deliver 2017 AFCON ticket

    • Says preparation already in motion

    With Nigeria drawn in group G, alongside Egypt, Tanzania and Chad, assistant Director Technical of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Siji Lagunju, has revealed that the Federation will take preparations for the qualifiers very seriously, because the Eagles cannot afford to loose a ticket to Africa’s grand showpiece, back-to-back.

    ”Preparation is key in any competition, it does not start before they come to camp, it starts with scouting and monitoring of players. We’ll make a statement if we prepare well and we’ll qualify.”

    He told www.footballlive.ng that the federation has begun monitoring players that are prospects for the Eagles as levels of fitness, form and injury status is being evaluated, as the federation seeks to make a statement with this qualifiers.

  • ‘Buhari ’ll redeem his promises to Nigerians’

    ‘Buhari ’ll redeem his promises to Nigerians’

    Eminent citizens have described the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as the dawn of a new era in the country.

    They said Buhari’s leadership will engender the process of giving Nigeria a new direction, by halting the drift that has almost plunged it into ruins.

    Afenifere Deputy Leader, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, said after 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership, which is characterised by impunity, insecurity and corruption, Nigeria will now witness the dawn of a new era.

    Fasanmi  said: “I am personally happy at the victory of Gen. Buhari at the polls. As the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo used to say, there is no known history of unbroken darkness. However long the darkness will take there will be a glorious dawn.

    “Those who thought they could spend millions of naira and dollars to purchase victory, particularly in Yorubaland, would now cover their faces in shame. The Yoruba people have spoken, Nigerians have spoken through their ballot.

    “I am happy to say that if I meet Chief Awolowo again, I have good news for him. His dream about a new era in Nigeria has come true. That the progressives across the country have come together to rescue the nation.”

    Former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, noted that efforts to use religion against Buhari failed. Accorbing to him, in spite all the lies fabricated against Buhari, he triumphed.

    Mamora said his view that no amount of money can swing Yoruba votes in favour of the PDP has been vindicated by the election results in the Southwest. “The Southwest is too sophisticated. They have made up their minds, no amount of distributed largesse will change their minds.

    “No individual or group can dictate to them on how to vote. This they have demonstrated during the presidential election. I salute their courage and perseverance. I commend them for their consistency.”

    Afenifere chieftain, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye said the victory of Gen. Buhari is an indication that God loves Nigeria. He said given the commotion, tension and bloodshed in the country the presidential election was prosecuted to its logical conclusion.

    Durojaiye said but for the composure and magnanimity of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega, the unruly behaviour of former Minister of Niger Delta Godsday Orubebe would have disrupted the declaration of the result.

    He  advised the President-elect on assumption of office to tackle corruption, insecurity and the epileptic power supply in the country. He believes if the power supply is stable, small and medium scale industries will spring up which will create jobs for unemployed youths.

    To Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), Gen. Buhari’s victory did not come as a surprise to discerning Nigerians. He said though this victory was long in coming, keen observers  know that it was inevitable.

    Ngige said: “It was a victory postponed, but not denied. It is not in doubt that the last time the PDP won an election freely and fairly was in 1999 under the administration of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

    “From 2003 to 2011, the PDP had not won any free and fair election. It was the judiciary that had always legitimised the shenanigans that characterised the previous elections. It is therefore to the credit of Prof. Jega that he decided to make history by insisting that the 2015 Presidential and National Assembly elections will be free and fair.

    “Nigerians yearned for change: change from a corrupt, clueless, inept, incompetent, hopeless, divisive and hateful government that had been in office for the last 6 years. Nigerians yearned for a change from a government that had divided the country along ethnic, religious and regional lines to a government that will unite, unify and bond all Nigerians. Nigerians yearned for change from a government that had no answer to the collapsing economy, mass unemployment, insecurity and mass poverty to a government that will revive the economy, create employment and empower the masses.

    “Nigerians yearned for a government that will stop the mindless looting of our common patrimony and assets by our fellow country men and women. I am hopeful and optimistic that Gen Buhari would live up to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians that voted massively for him in the entire North, the Southwest, the Southeast and the Southsouth zones of Nigeria. The process for the redemption of our country under the leadership of Gen Buhari and Prof Yemi Osinbajo has just started.

    “All hands must be on deck to support the incoming government to return this country to the path of glory and progress. I congratulate Nigerians for this historic election in which an incumbent government at federal level has been voted out of office through a free and fair election. I must also congratulate the outgoing President  Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his spirit of sportsmanship in conceding defeat and thus saving the nation from needless post election tension and apprehension,” Ngige concluded.

  • Beyond 2015 General Elections: Delivering Election Promises

    Beyond 2015 General Elections: Delivering Election Promises

    INTRODUCTION

    The topic of our discourse is anchored on three related assumptions. Firstly, that the rescheduled elections will not be further shifted for security reasons. Secondly, that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be allowed to conduct the general election without

    interference. Thirdly, that the successful conclusion of the election will lead to a peaceful transition. In addressing the three assumptions I am not unaware that Nigerians have been assured by the federal government that the handover date of May 29, 2015 remains sacrosanct. Notwithstanding such assurance there are genuine fears that the imminent post election violence will lead to a disruption of the fragile democratic process.

    It is against this atmosphere of uncertainty that we shall x-ray the programmes of the political parties vis-à-vis the fundamental objectives and directive principles of State Policy which all elected public officers are obligated to implement in the national interest.

     

     

    The Subversion of the Political Transition

    It is indisputable that the on-going campaign has polluted the democratic space. Tension has gripped the land as armed thugs are killing and maiming innocent people. Last month, the National Human Rights Commission confirmed that 58 people had been killed in political violence within a period of three months. Since then, scores of others have been hacked to death.

    Instead of arresting and prosecuting the perpetrators of such mindless violence the heads of the police and other security agencies are celebrating the signing of peace pacts by political leaders. Last week, a security chief merely expressed concern over the growing wave of politically motivated killings in the Rivers state.

    From the information at my disposal both the SSS and the Police had personnel at the venues of the political rallies where the killings took place. Yet no one has been arrested and prosecuted. By the way, the prosecution of all criminal suspects has been put on hold in Rivers State, like many other states in the federation, where the doors of the courts have been locked up by judicial staff who have been on strike since last year. On account of official impunity the police have refused to arrest and ensure the prosecution of political parties and candidates that have continued to contravene the provisions of the Electoral Act. For instance, some highly place politicians have been allowed to induce voters with dollars, rice, salt etc contrary to section

     

    124 of the Electoral Act.

    The owners of some electronic and print media have joined reactionary politicians in spreading the gospel of hate in contravention of section 90 of the Electoral Act. Religious leaders who should speak out against the country’s inexorable descent to anarchy are alleged to have collected billions of Naira from corrupt politicians. At the end of a meeting recently hosted by a governor in one of the south/south region, a group of ex-militants threatened to resume hostilities and stop the production of oil if President Jonathan is not re-elected by the Nigerian people.

    Contrary to the provisions of the Constitution which have conferred the exclusive powers on the INEC to fix dates for all national elections the National Security Adviser and service chiefs instigated a postponement of the general elections by six weeks on account of the planned onslaught against the terrorists in the north east region. With assistance from the multinational force drawn from Benin, Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republics the armed forces have retaken the several towns and villages which had been illegally seized and occupied in the north

    east region by the forces of insurgency. Since the prosecution of the war on terror has not been concluded there are fears that the rescheduled election may be further shifted. The ruling party

    has taken advantage of the inefficient distribution of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to call for the use of temporary voters cards.

    •To be continued nextweek

  • Peterside promises to redevelop Rivers waterfront

    Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has promised to redevelop waterfronts in the state if elected.

    He spoke when he met with residents of Port Harcourt Waterfronts in continuation of his consultations with critical stakeholders ahead of the general elections.

    The meeting which held at Delta Hotel, Port Harcourt attracted traditional chiefs, religious leaders, men, women and the youth.

    The forum provided opportunity for a good heart-to-heart that lasted far beyond an hour.

    Peterside unveiled his road map to redevelopment and upgrading of waterfronts in Port Harcourt and around the state, promising to involve everybody in any future development plan.

    He assured inhabitants of waterfronts of his government’s readiness to facilitate reclamation and sand filling, improve sanitation with modern toilets, provide security and make available, portable water and other amenities that will improve life in the settlement. He called on residents of waterfront to vote APC for their survival and future.

    “In this election, nobody will protect your interest. Do not be deceived, you alone can protect your interest. So, if you don’t want anybody to oppress you again, then vote for me. But the choice is yours, so make up your mind.”

  • Ben Bruce promises virile representation

    The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the seat of Brass East senatorial district at the coming 2015 general elections, Mr Ben Murray-Bruce, has boasted that he already has ten bills which he intends to sponsor at the next National Assembly.

    While promising to sponsor bills to tackle poverty in the country, he is also promising to deliver on people related issues like poverty, sickness, disease and backwardness afflicting his district.

    According Murray-Bruce, “the degradation of the environment has brought enormous hardship to generations yet to be born if the intractable problems in the area are not tackled headlong now”.

    Speaking on illegal refineries, which he considers to be the bane of the Niger Delta region and responsible for environmental degradation, pollution and crude oil waste, he said, “converting illegal refineries to legal corporate outfits and getting the owners to pay a corporate tax based on revenue will help curb oil theft and the proliferation of such refineries”.

    Murray-Bruce further said, “I will introduce a Marshall Plan bill for the North East to fast track its economy to a modern development oriented region or zone, to keep pace with the other more economically developing states.’’

    It will develop the industrial network, poor educational institutions, rid the North-East of disease through the establishment of world class hospitals; and establish a huge industrial village, and a growing business district and skill development for the teeming youths”.

    As the leaders of tomorrow, students are not left out. Murray-Bruce recognises empowerment through education; the key to the state realising its full potential, and regarding this, he said, “I will ensure that Bayelsans get free and compulsory education,… and international education support for smart/intelligent who get the best grade”, while also emphasizing that “universities will be equipped to take part in every single Olympic sport”

  • Senator Tinubu promises to sustain legacy

    No fewer than 800 people attended yesterday the 14th edition of Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s Town Hall meeting at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Lagos.

    The lawmaker introduced a Town Hall meeting in 2011 when she was inaugurated as a member of the seventh Senate.

    These meetings have served as a feedback tactic and mechanism of accountability and responsibility to the constituents.

    Senator Tinubu expressed satisfaction with the consciousness of the people, who made out time to attend the meeting.

    She described the gesture as “one from true democrats who have the interest of the country at heart. That is the attitude expected of patriotic Nigerians, who deserve a good leader”.

    The lawmaker added that the Town Hall meetings were a celebration of democracy and feats that can be achieved if governance was brought to the grassroots and  transparency and accountability  made watchwords by those who lead.

    Highlighting her previous 13 meetings with the themes “Stewardship of Hope”; “Hands on the Plough”; “Confronting our Challenges, Staying the Course”; “Collective Responsibility Catalyst For Development”; “The Elderly Our Society Treasure” to the last one themed “The Elderly in the eyes of Posterity”, she said these themes have been centered on hope, development and team work.

    “We have had programmes and constituency initiatives that were designed to make a difference in the lives of our people and ultimately these have culminated into the path of prosperity.”

    Senator Tinubu promised to improve upon achievements launched at earlier meetings, which include “grant of scholarships and bursaries; recapitalisation and empowerment schemes; provision of financial assistance for senior citizens, widows and those at the crossroads of life as well as skill acquisition”.

    She also promised in the days ahead, if re-elected, to continue on the path of nation building.

    The lawmaker pledged to increase priority on matters relating to youths, public health, widows, prohibition of violence and the environment.

    She also promised to sustain empowerment schemes, such as the Petty Traders Empowerment Capital Scheme (PETECS); Elderly Citizens Assistance Scheme (ECAS); Youth Empowerment and Skills Acquisition Scheme (YESAS); Good Boys and Girls Empowerment Scheme (GBGES); Widows Economic Empowerment Scheme (WEES) , distribution of GCE forms and sponsorship of the Muniru Muse U-15 football competitions.

    The high point of the event was the unveiling of her book titled: “Treading the Path to Prosperity”, which was reviewed by Senator Babafemi Ojudu.

    The book was launched by a senatorial candidate of Lagos West, Adeola Solomon.

    Treading the path to prosperity is a collection of her past town hall meetings.

    At the event were the National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu; wife of APC’s presidential candidate Hajia Aisha Buhari; wife of APC’s vice-presidential candidate Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo; wife of Nasarawa State Governor Mrs Salamatu Al-Makura, Halima Buhari, Aisha Garba El-Rufai and others.