The Nation Newspaper

Tag: protest

  • Oluwo meets Olubadan as mogajis plan protest

    Oluwo meets Olubadan as mogajis plan protest

    Efforts by some Yoruba monarchs to broker peace in the crisis generated by the crowning of 21 obas by Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, have yielded some results.

    The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, yesterday visited the Popoyemoja palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji.

    The meeting was held when members of the Authentic Ibadan Mogaji said they were preparing to protest their displeasure over what they described as “verbal assault” against the Olubadan stool by Governor Ajimobi.

    Besides the crowing of the kings, which the Olubadan and some mogaji are contesting in court, the group issued a seven-day ultimatum against the governor, following his appearance on a radio programme, that he once sent one of the Olubadan’s wives on love errands.

    The ultimatum will expire on Tuesday.

    During the Sunday visit, the Oluwo, after a two-hour meeting with the Olubadan, told reporters that the efforts were aimed at finding a lasting solution to the crisis by making peace with all parties.

    Noting that the efforts will examine how the traditional system will not be trampled upon as well as the power of the government not eroded, the monarch said his interaction with the Olubadan showed that the monarch wanted peace in Ibadan and desired to be in charge of his domain as far as traditional order was concerned.

    Oba Akanbi said: “The closed-door meeting was about how to make peace between all the parties concerned. We are looking at how the traditional system will not be rubbished and at the same time how the power of the government will not be eroded.

    “We want peace in Ibadan. From my discussion with the Olubadan, he wants peace and wishes to be in charge of his domain, as far as traditional order is concerned. No matter how small the size of a town or village, the leader would not want it to be destroyed.”

    The Oluwo assured Ibadan residents that an end was in sight to the crisis.

    The monarch said both sides would need to make sacrifices to resolve the misunderstanding.

    He said: “We cannot leave everything to the monarch. He needs the support of traditional leaders to arrive at a solution. According to the constitution, which must be respected, kings are under the government. This is to elevate the Olubadan and to make him a bigger king in Yoruba land. I will always support the traditional system in Yoruba land. I will always support the kingship and for us to resolve this stalemate.

    “I don’t care what politicians will think when I am a king and visiting another king having an issue right now. A matter like this cannot be politicised. It should be on how the traditional institution and government can be respected. Ajimobi is the head of government and Olubadan is the head of traditional institution in Ibadan.

    “We will have a sweet and juicy end as both parties will have to give. Both parties will laugh at the end of this initiative. We are gradually coming to the end of it. Thank God, the Olubadan is a king who listens. He does not accept bad advice because he has principles and the governor is also a son to the Olubadan.”

    Also, spokesman of the Authentic Ibadan Mogajis, Chief Wale Oladoja, who is also the Mogaji of Akinsola compound of Oopo Labiran in Ibadan, said the group had applied for a police permit for the protest.

    Oladoja, who claimed that the group had nothing against Ajimobi, said it only wanted the governor to separate governance from traditions and customs of the people.

    He said: “Our stand on the seven-days’ ultimatum remains intact. The governor must apologise for insulting the wife of our father and Olubadan of Ibadan over his recent comment on the wife of Olubadan. No intimidation can make us change our mind. We are the bona fide sons of Ibadan and nobody can dispute that.

    “All indigenes of Ibadan know their mogajis. So, nobody can deny that we represent our families. We won’t allow unconstitutional crowning of high chiefs to obas, and baales to kings. It is custom robbery and we won’t accept that. Above all, it is not possible and we won’t accept it.

    “The governor should allow the court to decide the fate of everyone involved in the Olubadan crisis and stop verbal vituperation against the person and stool of the Olubadan.”

  • Killing of PDP chieftain sparks protest in Delta community

    Killing of PDP chieftain sparks protest in Delta community

    •We’ve arrested three suspects -Police

    Protest rocked Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State last Friday, following the killing of a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, Mr Felix Okugbeni, by unidentified gunmen.

    Until his death, Okugbeni was the chairman of the party in Ward 4, Ughwagba community in Okpe Local Government Area.

    It was learnt that Okugbeni was shot dead on his way home shortly after he and other party chieftains held a meeting with a politician in the state.

    Sources said that the politician was riding in his tricycle (keke Marwa) with a lady, identified as Gloria, when the gunmen shot him.

    It was gathered that the tricycle was riddled with bullets while the lady also suffered gunshot wounds and she is now receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

    “The ward chairman was shot severally in the abdomen and chest by the gunmen until they were sure that he was dead before they fled the scene. The lady riding with him was also shot, but she did not die and is now being treated in a private hospital in an unknown location,” an impeccable source told our reporter.

    The incident, The Nation learnt ignited protests  in the community, which according to sources, is battling with a lingering leadership tussle in a local youth association.

    Several houses were razed by a mob as residents fled the community for fear of being attacked or killed.

    Another source said:’’ Okugbeni, after the visit of the politician, left the community on his tricycle and it was on his return home to his house in company of a lady that he was shot by suspected gunmen on his arrival, while the lady sustained bullet wounds.

    “What l cannot confirm now is whether the attack was as a result of the visit of the politician or because of the lingering youth leadership tussle that has been on over time, but it coincided with the visit of the politician to the ward; that is why it has left tongues wagging on possible political undertone.

    “There has been issue of youth leadership tussle in Ughwagba community, where some highly placed persons were trying to impose someone suspected to be a cultist on the community. The move was opposed by the deceased, who insisted that Ughwagba is a peaceful community and they cannot allow a cultist to take the leadership of the youth  but whether that was what led to this killing is what I cannot say.

    “We also believe that there are some highly placed persons in the community that we feel might be behind the incident and we are calling on the police to do a thorough investigation, so that the culprits and those still on the run are brought to book.

    “What sparked the destruction and burning of houses by angry mobs was when the rumour filtered into town that the ward chairman had been killed, and probably the community youths suspected some persons who may have committed the crime.”

    It was however gathered that the Orerokpe Police Division arrested some suspects in connection with the incident.

    Police sources said the suspects were later transferred to the State’s Police Command headquarters, Asaba while manhunt has been launched for other suspects on the run.

    Meanwhile, members of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, led by Chief Dick Gberevbie and Mr. Adolor Gberevbie, have paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family of the slain politician.

    Confirming the incident, the spokesman of Delta State Police Command, Andrew Aniamaka, said some suspects have been arrested, adding that the case is being investigated by the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Asaba.

  • I’m not sponsoring anti-Buhari protest, says Mimiko

    I’m not sponsoring anti-Buhari protest, says Mimiko

    Former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko,  on Sunday denied involvement with any protest against President Muhammadu Buhari.
    Mimiko, in a statement  signed by Eni Akinsola, his media advisor, said he has no hand in any protest as alleged by a group which he said is out to either create mischief or blackmail him.
    “We are aware of an attempt to blackmail Dr Olusegun Mimiko by linking him to an anti-Buhari protest.
    “The blackmailers are out to bandy figures running into hundreds of millions as funds released for the phantom support,” the statement reads.
    The statement said “Mimiko is not interested in causes he cannot stand up to be seen as supporting.”
    While saying he is of the “firm conviction that the President, by transmitting power to the Vice President, has fulfilled the proper and constitutional requirement,” Mimiko, in the statement, reiterated that he has nothing to do with any anti-Buhari protest.
    One group professing to be pro-Buhari had alleged in a press conference that Mimiko and others are funding the anti-Buhari protests.
  • Drama as groups protest for and against Buhari in Abuja

    Drama as groups protest for and against Buhari in Abuja

    The protest led by the popular musician, Mr. Charles Oputa (Charlie Boy), at the Unity Fountain in Abuja to demand President Muhammadu Buhari’s immediate return to the country or his resignation, continued on Thursday with another group of protesters in support of the President.

    The protesters under the aegis of #OurMumuDonDo#, as early as 9am  were holding their protest when another group, Buhari Support Group under the auspices of Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiatives arrived the scene putting up their own tent at the other end of the Unity Fountain.

    The police and other security operatives on ground immediately took over the arena to avoid any clash and  break down of law and order.

    While the protesters against Buhari were monitored till the end of the activities, the other group for the President was allowed to carry placards chanting the goodwill of President Buhari.

     The police authority also allowed them to move around town singing from the Unity Fountain through to the secretariat road.

     The Buhari support group, the Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiatives, led by Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi while condemning the activities of the #OurMumuDonDo#, said there is no cause for alarm over the President’s health.

     The group also said there was no provision in the constitution that stipulates for how long the president can stay out of office while on medical vacation.

     According to the group, what the President needed to do which is stipulated in the constitution was to transmit power to the Vice President through a letter to the National Assembly, which President Buhari already did before leaving for the UK.

     At the other end of the Unity Fountain the #resume or resign protesters called on President Muhammadu Buhari to demonstrate integrity by resigning from office, saying he is incapacitated and cannot rule the country.

    The civil society coalition members reminded Buhari that he asked late President Musa Yar’Adua to resign or be impeached when the latter was sick in 2010, stressing that he should toe the path honour by doing so.

    Speaking to journalists on the fourth day of their protest at the Unity fountain, Maitama, Abuja on Thursday, the convener, Deji Adeyanju said Buhari should leave office if he knew what integrity meant.

    He insisted the President should have done so within one month of leaving the country on medical leave. 

    Charlie Boy urged the youths to fight for their future by joining the campaign to compel Buhari to resign, insisting that Nigerians had the right to demand the health status of the President whose medical bills, he said were being paid by the public.  

  • Taxi drivers protest hike in union’s ticket fee

    Taxi drivers in Akure, Ondo State capital, protested yesterday ‘’arbitrary hike’’ in the price of ticket from N200 to N350.

    The protesters took over  Oyemekun Road to show their grievances.

    They called for a downward review of the fee, which also include local government ticket fee.

    The taxi drivers insisted they did not want to collect council ticket any longer.

    Passengers were stranded as the drivers vowed not to work until the price is reduced.

    Also, some passengers kicked against high cost of ticket, saying they will resist any increase in fare.

    State Chairman,  National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Jacob Adebo urged the drivers to go about their activities without fear.

    The union leader pledged that the issue would be resolved.

    He said there was no plan to increase the N50 per drop that taxi drivers are charging.

    Adebo said when his administration came on board, it reduced the price of ticket from N1,000 to N350, including council ticket fee.

    The union leader insisted that increasing the fare will amount to inflicting pain on the people.

    He said: “This is a new government and we will not allow anything or anybody to tarnish it. We will not inflict unnecessary hardship on the people of Ondo State. So, we will not increase the fare per drop.”

  • Protest rocks Bayelsa APC over chairman’s expulsion

    •Oruminighe remains chairman, say loyalists 

    Protesters, yesterday, barricaded the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, following the alleged expulsion of the party Chairman, Chief Tiwe Oruminighe.

    The angry demonstrators, who blocked major streets in Yenagoa, maintained that Oruminighe remained the chairman of the party in the state.

    They insisted there was misinformation on the alleged sanction against Oruminighe, his deputy, Mr. Eddy Julius, and the party’s Secretary, Mr. Marlin Daniel.

    Among the protesters were the party’s 105 ward chairmen, the eight local government chairmen, women, youths and some elders of the party.

    They dared the National Working Committee (NWC),  saying the state’s chapter of the party “is not for sale”.

    APC’s National Headquarters, at the weekend, said Oruminighe had been expelled from the party and confirmed the suspension of Julius and Daniel for alleged anti-party activities.

    In a letter, dated August 4 titled: “Expulsion from the Party”, APC said the decision on Oruminighe was reached at the 23rd regular meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC).

    The letter signed by the National Secretary of the party, Mr. Mai Buni, said the NWC took the action following recommendations of the APC Southsouth Zonal Executive Committee.

    But the protesters said persons against Oruminighe were playing pranks and manipulating some persons at the national headquarters to issue conflicting letters of sanction to the chairman and his loyalists.

    A party elder and Senatorial Vice-Chairman, Chris Alagoa and other APC stalwarts like Livinus Opuakpa, Phil Erepade and Jephthah Iyekoroghe, insisted on the chairmanship of Oruminighe.

    Opuakpa said it was unfortunate the party was being thrown into confusion at a time it should be preparing  for the next general election.

    He said: “There is need to join this vanguard to forestall this misinformation because it is unfortunate that we find ourselves in this situation at this critical time when we should be preparing to win elections in 2019.

    “Unfortunately, the national committee that took this decision to suspend our constitutionally-elected chairman, secretary and deputy, if they had done so; must have been misinformed deliberately  by those seeking the soul of this party, to see that they trade with it, destroy it so that we will go nowhere as far as APC elections are concerned in this state.

    “We are here in this protest to tell all Bayelsans and indeed all Nigerains that APC is not in any crisis, never in any crisis. Nobody has been suspended because suspension of any executive must emanate from the state party, which will be communicated to the NWC and the NEC to ratify.

    “APC is not for sale, there are some that are out to take the soul of this party and trade with it and we will resist this with all legal and constitutional strength at our disposal.”

    He warned that any attempt to hijack the party from the founding members will be resisted, adding that APC lost the last election because of some questionable characters in the party.

    Also speaking, Iyekoroghe said: “All the 105 ward chairmen in Bayelsa State APC are saying there is nothing like suspending the state chairman, Chief Tiwe Oruminighe. If there will be anything like that, due process must be followed.

    “The executive of the Bayelsa APC, led by Chief Orunmighe, remains. There is no letter from the national body, not even a phone call. We read about it on the social media, so the purported suspension cannot hold.”

     

     

  • Osun retirees protest non-payment of arrears

    Osun retirees protest non-payment of arrears

    •Another group lauds govt’s transparency

    Some retirees in Osun State yesterday took to the streets of Osogbo, the state capital, to protest the non- payment of their pension arrears.

    Their protests came on the heels of an announcement by the government on the receipt of N6.3 billion Paris Club Refund. The protesters operated under the aegis of the 2011/2012 Pensioners Forum.

    The pensioners, who staged a peaceful protest to the state secretariat on Gbongan Road, accused Governor Rauf Aregbesola of deliberate refusal to pay their entitlements.

    The protesters denied many civil servants and other top officials access to government offices yesterday.

    Chanting anti-government songs and displaying placards with various inscriptions, the pensioner said they would monitor the release of the second tranche of the Paris Club refund and ensure payment of their pension arrears.

    The disrupted movement from the Owode end of Gbongan-Ibadan Expressway.

    Speaking through the chairman of the 2011/2012 Forum of Pensioners in Osun State, Omoniyi Ilesanmi said: “We are the people who worked diligently after the creation of Osun State. Aregbesola should use the N6.3 billion Paris loan refund he just got to pay us our pension’s allowance, otherwise he would find this state ungovernable.”

    Also yesterday, members of the the Triangular Group of Pensioners in the Osun said they have been vindicated with the release of the second tranche of the Paris Club loans refunds on Monday to the states.

    The group’s chairman, Prince Rotimi Adelugba, in a statement, commended the Osun State government for promptly informing the public on the receipt of the refund.

    According to him, his group’s earlier stance was that “the protest by some few pensioners in the state on the payment of pension arrears with the Paris Club refund was another political stunt meant to portray the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola as bad in the estimation of the public as the state approached the Osun West Senatorial District Election on July 8 had been justified with the latest development.”

    According to the group, dialogue remained the best way to push pensioners’ demand and not through fabricated lies and protests which it alleged, “are being sponsored by the opposition.”

    Adelugba stressed that group’s defence of the government on the receipt of Paris Club Fund as at then, was based on the information at the its disposal, insisting that the refund, as at then, had not yet been received.

    He said: “We have stated earlier before now that it is inhuman, disheartening and uncivilised to note that despite all efforts put in place and the assurance capable of giving hope to retirees, they embarked on character assassination and lies.

    “Is it not now clear to the whole world that the claims by the Omoniyi Ilesanmi-led pensioners that the second tranche of the Paris Club fund have been diverted as at then was untrue, misleading and uncalled for when the fund has not been released.ý

    “We wondered where Mr. Ilesanmi and his people got their own information from if it was not that they were motivated by the opposition, not minding the consequences. Is it not now so clear that there was nothing like the release of the second tranche two months ago as they claimed?

    “The governor had said it several times that the salary and pension’s arrears would be paid as soon as fund is available. The government just demonstrated its sincerity to the welfare of the people when it announced that it has gotten the second tranche of the refund and we commend Aregbesola for this sincerity.”

  • Teachers protest against planned return of pay to local govts

    Teachers protest against planned return of pay to local govts

    More than 500 teachers protested in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital yesterday against against any plan to grant autonomy to the local government.

    The teachers said their salary should not be ceded to the councils.

    The teachers, who are members of the Oyo State Wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), insisted that payment of primary school teachers and the funding and management of primary schools should not be give to the local government

    The rally took off at the Agodi State Secretariat of the Nigerian Labour Congress  (NLC). It was led by the Chairman, Comrade Niyi Akano. Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Waheed Olojede also joined the protesters.

    The protesting teachers went to the Oyo State Government Secretariat to deliver a protest letter to Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    Some of the inscriptions on the placards carried by the teachers read: “Nigerian Union of Teachers, Oyo State Wing says no to local government autonomy. Basic education is a right of every child”, “Local government councils do not have the capacity to pay primary school teachers salaries”, “Basic education is a right and must be protected by all”, “Foundation of education in Nigeria under threat again”

    Others read: “Pay teachers regularly for a sustainable primary education”, “Our children’s future must be secured”, “Funding of primary education should be the responsibility of the state and federal government”

    Akano said the rally was not a protest against salaries arrears but a fight for the soul of primary education in the state and the country.

    He said experience had shown that the local government tier lacked the capacity to run and fund primary education effectively, particularly because that is the bedrock of education.

    Olojede maintained that allowing the local governments to take charge of primary school education is a good way of sending the sector back to the woods.

    He recounted that the period between 1990-1994 when local governments enjoyed full autonomy was the worst for the sector as many teachers were at the mercy of council bosses before getting their salaries and entitlements.

    The union leader said should the Federal Government insist on granting autonomy to the local government, issues such as managing, funding and equipping primary schools should be transferred to the state governments.

    He further suggested that payment of primary school teachers’ salaries and entitlements should be left with State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

    Oyo State Deputy Governor Moses Adeyemo received the protest letter on behalf of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

  • Protest as IYC faction takes over secretariat in Bayelsa 

    A faction of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide led by Mr. Oweilaemi Pereotubo, yesterday, took over the National Secretariat of the council in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    Some officials of the state government led by a former Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolor, led the Pereotubo council of IYC to the secretariat and handed the building over to them.

    But the faction led by Mr. Eric Omare, protested the development saying it smacked of illegality and urged Ijaw youths to disregard the handover.

    Succession crisis has crippled the IYC as the two factions fight over the leadership of the council.

    A committee set up by Governor Seriake Dickson to resolve the crisis chose the Pereotubo-led faction but Omare and his executive committee rejected the decision describing it as premeditated and unconstitutional.

    In a statement shortly after the secretariat was handed over to the Pereotubo faction, Omare described the “purported handover a display of mockery of the IYC constitution and processes”.

    He said: “For the records, the immediate past President of the IYC, Udengs Eradiri had handed over the leadership of the IYC to Eric Omare since March, 2017.

    “And it is customary in the IYC just like similar organisations for the immediate past President and leader to hand over to his successor.   Therefore, what is happening at Ijaw House is nothing but display of impunity and invitation to anarchy.

    “It is important to note that the Felix Tuodolor who is supervising the purported hand over and some former leaders of the IYC are already in court with the Eric Omare-led National Executive Council of the IYC in a suit challenging the legality of the purported Okrika convention called by former leaders of the IYC which produced the factional IYC leadership.

    “Consequently, we call on the Ijaw nation and the general public to disregard the factional leadership which Dr. Tuodolor purportedly handed over to while reiterating our call on Ijaw youths to be peaceful no matter the level of provocation”.

  • Teachers protest over proposed handing over of primary schools to LGs

    Teachers protest over proposed handing over of primary schools to LGs

    TEACHERS under the auspices of National Union of Teachers (NUT), have in Kaduna staged a protest against what they termed “danger in handing over the affairs of primary education to local government authorities” in the country as enshrined in the drive for local government autonomy. Chairman, Kaduna State Wing of the Union, Comrade Audu Amba, who led the protest in Kaduna, stated that, it is important for the public to know the danger inherent in the ongoing agitation for local government autonomy as it affects the funding and management of primary education. According to him, “the renewed agitation for local government autonomy has made it imperative for the NUT, to sensitise stakeholders and the general public on the danger inherent in handing over the affairs of primary education to respective local government councils should autonomy of local government be granted.

    “The primary concerns concern of the union is not the issue of local government autonomy, but we are of the firm belief that the provisions of the 1999 constitution which vested the onus of funding and management of primary education on states while the local government participates, as interpreted by the Supreme Court should be upheld to save primary education from imminent collapse that may arise from local autonomy and scrapping of the state and local government Joint Allocation Account.

    “We equally consider it quite apposite to make the position of the constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court known on the matter and emphasize the need to uphold same to safeguard the future of our teeming youths,” he said. Amba, added that despite the fact that the union is not allowed to take its protest to state Assembly, they are calling on well meaning Nigerians to support their cause to ensure that the foundational framework of the entire educational structure in the nation is not pulled down.