The Nation Newspaper

Tag: prudent

  • Be prudent, graduate students’ leaders told

    Be prudent, graduate students’ leaders told

    Members of executive of Post-Graduate Students’ Government (PGSG) of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) have been sworn in. They were elected in April after the former executive led by Oduba Eyong was  disbanded by the management.

    Prince Agbo, a Master’s student of Linguistics and Communication Studies, beat Oliver Ally, a Master’s student of Policy and Administrative Studies to emerge president. Also, Emem Patrick, a Master’s student of Human Physiology  is the Vice President. About five positions were filled unopposed.

    The Senate President, Patrick Ukatu, administered the oath of office on them. Chairman of the electoral committee, Ikechukwu Mbakwe, a doctoral student, handed over the union’s property and documents to the president, praising God for the successful election.

    Agbor, in his acceptance speech, dissolved the standing committees. He said: “My administration will work with every category of people, irrespective of their leaning. We shall work with anyone who is interested in the progress of the union. We will not victimise anyone, because our aim is to promote unity in the union.”

    Oduba tasked the new leaders on transparency, saying: “In everything you do, you should carry every student along.”

    Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Eyong Eyong, advised the students’ leaders to obey the rules and maintain peace among members. He also urged the union leaders to be accountable in their spending, saying the school would not tolerate misappropriation of funds.

    Emem described her election as Vice President as an opportunity to serve. She said: “I will use my individual talent and skills to promote the values of the union. I want to leave a worthy legacy.”

    Agbor appealed to his opponent to join hand with him to move the union forward. Lack of accountability, he said, is one of the problems facing the union. He said: “I assure all members that every single kobo belonging to the union shall be used in the interest of members. No one will embezzle the union’s funds under my watch.”

  • Amaechi’s prudent, Rivers APC tells PDP

    Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State Davies Ibiamu Ikanya and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart Felix Obuah have disagreed on the utilisation of state resources by Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    Obuah, who spoke when he visited the Apiti of Rumueme in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Omunakwe Nsirim, accused Amaechi of wasting Rivers resources.

    The monarch described the APC as an Islamic party, claiming that Rivers remains a PDP state.

    Obuah said: “Rivers State is a PDP state. APC cannot win any election in Rivers State. Instead of using Rivers’ resources to develop the state, Amaechi is channelling the resources for meaningless ventures.

    “Help us tell Amaechi to stop using Rivers’ resources to sponsor the APC and his personal agenda. We need development in Rivers State. He must put an end to waste.”

    The Rivers PDP chairman also urged the people, especially PDP members, to ensure the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

    The monarch said: “Rivers will continue to be a PDP state. We want Jonathan to continue as president. No more, no less.

    “We do not want APC, an Islamic party. No Rumueme person will vote for an Islamic party. 100 per cent of our votes will go to President Jonathan and the PDP.”

    The Rivers APC chairman, who spoke through the Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, urged the people to ignore Obuah’s ranting and described Nsirim’s comments as unfortunate.

    Ikanya said: “APC is not an Islamic party. If it was an Islamic party, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would not have registered it .

    “Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the authentic Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), is very prudent and he is not using state resources to sponsor the APC.

    “APC will sweep 100 per cent of Rivers votes any day, anytime, even if the election will hold in 24 hours. We are ever ready and APC is fully on ground in Rivers State.

    “PDP leaders want to use police and the military to rig elections in 2015, because they are not on the ground. We are waiting for them. Obuah is a businessman. He should not be taken serious.”

     

  • Oputa calls for prudent management of resources by public office holders

    Oputa calls for prudent management of resources by public office holders

    Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, retired Justice of the Supreme Court, on yesterday called for prudent management of Nigeria’s resources by public office holders.

    Oputa made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    According to him, commitment is necessary on the part of the nation’s leaders towards transforming Nigeria so that the well-being of citizens is guaranteed.

    “God made Nigeria great. Very few nations are big in area, populous in population and wealthy in wealth like Nigeria.

    “We have a duty to preserve all these gifts (resources) and use them to good purpose. Every Nigerian should have a dream — a dream of a new Nigeria. Everybody born of a woman should fight the negative forces and pray for the increase of the positive forces. You have to join hands together to help us to build a nation where no man is oppressed.’’

    He said in spite of the current challenges facing the country, every Nigerian owed it a duty to work towards promoting national unity and preserving her positive values.

    Oputa advised the opposition parties to offer useful advice to the government in power that will help to advance national interest rather than partisan sentiments.

    “Sometimes, we think they (government) know everything. But, they need to be reminded. If you criticise, you offer answers to some of the criticisms because we are all involved in governance.

    “We support the government, let the government support us too by doing the things that would make our communities realise their aspirations.’’

    The 89-year-old eminent jurist urged voters to elect only those candidates who believe in the equality of all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion or ethnicity.

    He advised politicians to ensure that their quest for power is driven by issues and targeted at building relationships where peace and education for all are dominant.

    “Peace is you and me accepting each other as brothers and sisters. And unless you do that, we cannot have peace. Once you have a clash, rivalry, clash of interest, peace flies away. With proper education you are given a focus.With improper education you are being led to hell without knowing it. So, we have to know what our national needs are and prepare our educational programme to help satisfying those needs.

    “Every mother is a teacher and you can’t teach what you don’t even know. That is why we have to encourage female education, so that in time, all our mothers would be good teachers.’’

    He urged the present government to empower every section of the country so as to enable them to realise their aspirations.

    He also underscored the importance of Nigerians holding periodic national discussions to assess the country and make changes where necessary.

     

     

  • ‘Be prudent with public funds’

    Niger State government has warned elected officers to be accountable.

    Acting Governor Ahmed Ibeto read the riot act after swearing in Ismail Ahmed and Ibrahim Maisaliu as the acting chairmen for Borgu and Rafi local governments.

    Ibeto advised them to avoid the proverbial “banana peel” that fell their predecessors by ensuring that they run an all-inclusive administration involving the councillors and the party.

    The former chairmen and vice chairmen of the two councils were suspended.

    They are Saidu Muhammed Pissa (chairman) and Umar Muhammad (vice chairman) of Borgu and Peter Pius Pangun and his deputy, Dauda Maibilari of Rafi.

    Governor Babangida Aliyu requested their suspension, following recommendations of administrative committees that investigated allegations levelled against them.

    The Speaker said the suspension was for six months at the first instance, to enable a committee, headed by a judge, to determine the truth of the allegations.