The Nation Newspaper

Tag: rage

  • Rage over UNIZIK’s admission test

    Rage over UNIZIK’s admission test

    Anger and complaints have continued to trail the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, the Anambra State capital. While some candidates collapsed amid the pushing and shoving that attended the exercise, many complained about the process, reports OKECHUKWU NNODIM.

    They fumed with anger as they stood on long queues for hours. Some sat on the floor, looking forlorn. Others were dejected, bemoaning their fate in silence. Their woes were compounded by a downpour, which dampened their credentials and their clothes.

    Some, who could endure the pushing and shoving, trudged on; others fainted and were taken to the hospital to receive treatment. Nonetheless, the majority fought on to achieve that which brought them to Awka, the Anambra State capital.

    The foregoing aptly captured the conduct of the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organised by the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), last week Monday, during which applicants were subjected to harsh treatment by the university.

    According to a management source, about 34,000 candidates sat for the four-day entrance examination. It was the first time the university would be organising the exam via Computer-Based Test (CBT), but the applicants were not informed of the development.

    In the advertorial placed in newspapers and the university’s website about the post-UTME, the school told the candidates to come with pencils and erasers. But, the candidates were shocked to know the exam would be CBT and would be held at the Prof. Festus Aghagbo Nwako Digital Library.

    The applicants got another shocker when they learnt that they had 10 minutes to answer 20 questions. Some of the first applicants, who wrote the test, complained about network hitches that made them unable to answer any question within the given time.

    As the applicants moved in for the test in batches, there was a downpour. But, this did not reduce the surging crowd at the CBT centre. Applicants stood under the rain for hours, with no shelter.

    Personal effects of the candidates after the stampede
    Personal effects of the candidates after the stampede

    Amid the confusion, five candidates slumped and were rushed to the university Medical Centre. A number of them were injured in a stampede. Many lost their personal effects, including documents, wallets, phones, watches and shoes.

    An applicant, Emeka Okoro, described the situation as chaotic. His words: “I have heard so much about this institution and its humiliating treatment for admission seekers. Who can imagine we have been standing for hours under the rain? The process is too slow and the university management did not give it a thought to extend the exam period.”

    Another candidate, Chekwube Eze, complained about the duration of the test. “I did not finish because of the time allotted to the exam,” she said.

    An applicant, who simply gave his name as Chidiebere, said: “The computer was slow and before I could attempt the sixth question, I was logged out. It was a bad experience for me. I hope I would pass the exam.”

    Some guardians, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, expressed worries over the conduct of the exercise. Mrs. Joy Okafor, a guardian, was angry at the crowd of applicants. She said: “This exercise is poorly organised. Look at the candidates, they are tired. They have stood here since morning and are being tossed around. How do you expect someone to write and pass an examination under these conditions? The university authority should brace up and address this issue.I am disappointed.”

    A parent, Mr. Joe Orji, lamented the poor conduct of the test, saying: “How can a university, which has no adequate CBT facility, conduct a test for more than 20,000 applicants in four days? It is impossible. The school has subjected the applicants to a very inhumane treatment.”

    After the fourth day, thousands of applicants were not able to write the test. They were asked to come the following day.

    After the test, applicants took to the UNIZIK Facebook page to express their feelings.  Some complained that the computer kept logging them out, while the time was not steady.

    Some applicants, who applied for Law, complained about uniformity of questions.

    Speaking to our reporter, Chukwuma Okeke (not real names), who wants to study Law, said he saw Mathematics and Biology questions.

    Some complained they got more than one result, each bearing various scores. An applicant, who gave first name as Chris, said: “The computer sent three different results to my mobile phone. I got 60, 45 and 15. I am still confused as to which is my score.”

    Reacting, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Joseph Ahaneku, said he monitored the exercise, adding that some of the applicants were not qualified. The VC lamented the lack of computer skill among the candidates, wondering how they passed above average in the UTME.

    Prof Ahaneku said all qualified candidates would be given a chance to write the test.

    The Director of Information and Public Relations, Dr Emmanuel Ojukwu, has released a statement to announce the extension of the examination.

    He said the test was “hugely successful”, noting that the university had improved its crowd control ability. He added that some faceless persons wanted to undermine the process because of the strict measures put in place to checkmate impersonation.

    He said: “Those who are opposed to the process put in place by the school were quick to criticise the university, forgetting that due process is an integral part of integrity. Those, who came from far places and did not have places to sleep, were graciously provided hostels on the order of the VC.”

    Ojukwu dismissed the allegation that the tedious process led to the collapse of some candidates. He said: “Yes, some candidates had health challenges, which are unrelated to the screening. There was a case of an asthmatic patient, who did not come with her inhaler. She was successfully revived after she collapsed. There was also a pregnant lady, who showed sign of fatigue. She was assisted. So, there is no iota of truth in the allegation that the school humiliated anyone.”

    The PRO said 135 impersonators were caught and were being questioned by security operatives. They will be charged to court soon, he said.

     

     

  • Day of rage

    Day of rage

    Students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) disrupted activities at the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) over poor power supply in Odenigwe area. OLADELE OGE reports.

    The district office of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) in Nsukka did not know what hit it last Tuesday. Protesting students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), stormed the office over outrageous billing and poor power supply.

    The about 120 protesters are residents of Odenigwe area, which is close to the campus. At 10: 20am, they arrived at the EEDC office, blocked the entrance and prevented members of staff and customers from gaining access.

    They alleged favouritism in  power supply to the area, noting that the company deliberately cut off their neighbourhood from its distribution service. Their spokesman, Mr Hope Vikki, said the students embarked on the protest because of “unfair treatment” by EEDC.

    In 2010, Vikki said students living in Odenigwe contributed N750 each to buy a new transformer to end blackout in the area but power supply has remained poor. Rather, he said a bakery and residents of University Market Road, who did not contribute to buy the transformer, enjoy power supply.

    He said: “EEDC, without our permission, connected Ankis Bread Factory and houses on University Market Road to the transformer we bought. As if that is not enough, EEDC connects our light once in a day and supply University Market Road for four days. Majority of us often dress shabbily to lectures because there is no electricity to iron our shirts.”

    He said the students decided to embark on the protest because they could no longer bear the situation.

    A protester, who simply gave his name as Okechukwu, said: “EDDC has been treating us bad because we are students. We do not have money to induce its officials like Ankis Bread Factory and residents of University Market Road; that is why EEDC prefers supplying them light more, despite that we bought the transformer.

    “EDDC should disconnect Ankis and University Market Road people immediately from our transformer or we will not allow them to gain access to the transformer whenever they are coming to disconnect our light.”

    Vikki added that the students were not also happy over the outrageous electricity bills, despite the  poor electricity supply to the area.

    “They supply electricity twice in a week but at the end of the month, EEDC would give us outrageous bills, not considering that we are students, “ he said.

    Mr Sunday Ajaegbu, the Operational Manager of EEDC, praised the students for their peaceful conduct, promising that the power company would look into their grievances.

    He said: “I commend you for the peaceful protest and I want to assure you that your complaints will be promptly looked into by the management. Changes will be made.”

    The students promised to return to EEDC office if the power supply did not improve. After Ajaegbu’s address, the students allowed staff of the firm into the premises. They also left to their hostels, singing and dancing to solidarity songs.

     

     

  • RAGE OF THE NATIVES

    RAGE OF THE NATIVES

    • Day Delta communities shut down Jones Creek flow station

    PENULTIMATE Thursday, May 21, dozens of placard-wielding Ijaw and Itsekiri communities’ leaders and their members stormed the Jones Creek flow station of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company to protest perceived unfair deals allegedly meted to them by the management of the national oil firm and its contractor, Nestoil Nigeria Limited.

    Their posters expressed their dissatisfaction over the relationship with the oil firms: ‘No More Divide and Rule in Jones Creek’, ‘Comply With Local Content Laws’, NPDC/NESTOIL Flouting Local Content Laws,’ among others, were inscriptions on the placards.

    For four days, the Ijaw and Itsekiri protesters shut down the facility reputed to be one of the largest producing oil facilities in the African continent. By the time they finally left the scene last Sunday, May 24, the nation, oil industry and the companies had suffered massive loss resulting from downtime and lost man-hour.

    The Jones Creek Flow Station, one of several oil wells from which Anglo Dutch Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has divested its stake, is reputed to be one of the largest and most prolific oil installations in the company’s Western Operation. It has a production capacity of about 250,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The facility is jointly hosted by four Ijaw communities of Kokodaigbene, Okerenkoko, Akpatagbegbe and Akpataekpemu located in Warri South West Local Government Area and an Itsekiri community of Omadino in Warri South LGA of Delta State.

    The inheritance of the oil facility by NPDC has been dogged by several controversies; from host communities calling for the firm and its contractors, mostly Nestoil and Lee Engineering Limited, to engage them in dialogue over the sharing of lucrative contracts and patronages, to the debate over ownership of the licence to Oil Mining Lease (OML) 42 on which it is located.

    Environment activist and chairman of Kokodiagbene community, who led penultimate Thursday’s protest, Sheriff Mulade, told The Nation that the communities were not bothered by the debacle over ownership of the licence. He said their major concerns were their stakes in the facilities and how to get the benefits due them, adding that the host communities were determined to extract their due in spite of whoever wins the licence ownership tussle.

    He disclosed that the issues that led to the invasion and disruption of activities at the station bordered on an alleged breach of the terms of the Freedom to Operate (FTO) given to the NPDC before its re-entry to Jones Creek.

    “The agreement was that NPDC will manage 60 percent of the contracts, while the host communities will be given 40percent in the area of pipeline repair, dredging and revamping. The NPDC’s share (60 percent) was given to Nestoil, a contractor to NPDC. What NPDC said is that they don’t have fund, so Nestoil would pay the (host) contractors their 40 percent of any job completed or agreed milestone.

    “NPDC also agreed with communities to build infrastructural projects; some communities like Kokodiagbene have three housing units of two bedrooms. Others were allotted two in line with the re-entry agreement.

    “There are also community development projects, like the electrification project, where host communities will be connected electrically through Jones Creek flow stations. All these community development projects are expected to run simultaneously with the construction jobs,” he added.

    Mulade further claimed that there was a gentlemen agreement with NPDC on the employment of communities’ members. He said although there was no concrete decision on this deal with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) subsidiary, there was an understanding that managerial positions would also be given to them.

    In the case of Nestoil, he said it was agreed that the management of the company would source and employ 60 percent of the skilled workers, while communities get 40percent; while on menial labour jobs, the formula would be 60/40 percent in favour of the host communities.

    “Sadly, we found out that on site, Nestoil has four 100-man houseboats  that is over 400 workers, excluding communities workers. Yet, communities were entitled to just 10 slots each, which gives the five communities a total of 40 out of a possible 400 workers on site. This is a gross violation of the agreement and the FTO signed with them. That is one of our reasons for stopping the operation. The 40 allocated to the communities is not allocated to us in terms of contracting employment.

    “Outside the failure of that agreement, Nestoil, in connivance with top personnel of NPDC who are indirectly directors of Nestoil has not been fair to the communities in the area of 40 percent contract specified in the dredging aspect which is over 90% complete,” Mulade alleged in an interview with our reporter after the siege.

    Spirited attempts by our reporter to get the views of Nestoil on the community leader’s allegations were futile. Series of telephone calls to the switchboard of the company’s headquarters in Lagos were passed to key officials who refused to comment on the protest.

    Ifeoma Oragwu, who was listed under ‘Corporate Communication and Business Development’, refused to answer our reporter’s inquiry, after initially denying knowledge of the protest by the host community. She said: “I do not speak for the company”.

    Pressed for information and link to a competent mouthpiece of the organisation, she asked for our reporter’s telephone number and promised to get in touch, but she was yet to do so at the time of concluding this report on Tuesday evening  that was over 24 hours afterwards.

    At the project site, two officials of the company, simply identified as Odili and Iyke  Project and Site managers respectively, reportedly told the aggrieved locals that they were aware that the company’s management was in discussion to resolve the issues raised.  One of them said he “believed that some payments had been made.”

    Nevertheless, Mulade, who volunteered information on his people’s grouse with NPDC/Nestoil partnership, accused some of the companies’ officials of using tactics to blackmail “host contractors who refused to dance to their tune”.

    He alleged that the NPDC officials were wont to arm-twist locals to part with their contract allocation for stipend or a percentage of the profits. Such contracts, he said, were usually done by the oil workers using proxy firms that are paid in record time, unlike their local counterparts.

    Besides that, another issue concerns lack of employment for youths, men and women from the host communities”, Mulade said.

    “There have been a lot of altercations over this matter and it has led to the stoppage of the company’s operation on several occasions. The last one, we discussed and they asked for two months to clear all contractors’ (debts) and at the end, nothing came.

    “Again, we issued threats and they invited us and they asked and got two weeks; still nothing. Then there was another month and a week before the action.

    “The very painful and sad part is that as we are giving them time, they would be rushing in more workers to quicken the job; they want to complete the job and run away without meeting their obligations to us.

    “Our action (invasion of the platform) opened our eyes to some of the things that are going on behind our back. For instance, they are already doing the upgrade, civil jobs, piling and even working on wells allocated to the communities. These are unacceptable acts which we hope to stop,” he vowed.

    However, at the time of filing this report on Wednesday, sanity had returned to the area after a truce was brokered by the Joint Task Force, through the Commander, 3 Battalion of the Nigeria Army, Col Ekong Bassey, last Saturday. Ekong invited the two sides for a roundtable meeting in his office at the Effurun Barracks.

    Some of the communities’ leaders, who spoke with The Nation after the meeting, expressed satisfaction with Col. Bassey’s handling of the dispute. They said it was a break from the past experience when the oil firms and their servicing companies used the force of the military to stifle genuine and peaceful protest.

    “That had always been the problem because they (companies) would tell you that if you disrupt the Federal Government’s job, you will have to face the wrath of the federal might, which is usually the army and navy. The military would be deployed and without hearing our side of the story, they would descend on us. But the CO listened, investigated what was happening and he understood that our issues were genuine.”

    However, there were conflicting signals from a follow-up meeting held on Monday at the Effurun Barrack. Mulade told our reporter: “We were able to get the company to agree that all outstanding debts would be paid within two weeks, while henceforth, due to the distrust we now have for them, communities would now be mobilising side-by-side with Nestoil; if there is no money to mobilise community contractors, then they too should not be able to work.

    “Also, we have decided that after this job, Nestoil may be declared a persona non grata in Jones Creek because we (communities) would no longer grant them the needed FTO. We will now be carrying out headcount of workers on site to avoid a situation where the company employs arbitrarily without giving us our due 40percent.”

    Col. Bassey, who confirmed that there were discussions between the two sides, declined to divulge details. He said: “They are discussing but they were not able to arrive at any conclusion, but work is ongoing in the Jones Creek.”

    Investigation also revealed that there could be more protests at the Jones Creek facilities as the communities are also girding their loins in preparation for similar face-off with another indigenous firm, Lee Engineering Limited.

    A source in one of the Ijaw communities disclosed: “What Nestoil does is what Lee Construction is also doing. They are both NPDC contractors and we believe they have the backing of NPDC in whatever they are doing. Whenever we have issues with them, they use the military to intimidate us but we are determined to get justice.”

  • Ankara accessories all the rage

    Ankara accessories all the rage

    Ankara accessories have become trendier and smart this season! In the last few years, Ankara fashion has gradually found its way back onto the scene, although it is not as daring as it used to be.

    These days, it is not uncommon to see designers splashing colourful and attractive Ankara accessories in sheer, graceful fabric with, ruffle, lace trimming and slips. Ankara accessories are versatile pieces and, they can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

    These soft, feminine looks are very ‘in’ right now and are a great wardrobe piece, because you can wear just about any top or pants/skirt to complement it.

  • Fani-Kayode: Rottweiler and his promiscuous rage

    Fani-Kayode: Rottweiler and his promiscuous rage

    ‘Nothing so completely baffles one who is full of trick and duplicity himself, than straightforward and simple integrity in another, —— Charles Caleb Colton

    The greatest threat to peace in this country today is the barrage of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) conservative propagandists portraying falsehood as decent, noble, and patriotic. To these elements, the problem is never how best to present the truth to the public regarding the nation’s authentic debilitating state of affairs, but how best to use concocted ‘facts’ to coat their ineptitude and to deceive the public so as to sustain their hold on power which has so far lasted 16 wasteful years. The last six years under President Jonathan particularly, have so far been a colossal failure.

    And barely a month to the rescheduled presidential election, Femi Fani-Kayode, Director-General (DG) of the Jonathan Campaign Organisation has come to epitomise the uncouth verbal assaults on the opposition and people of this country. What readily comes to mind when the name Femi Fani-Kayode comes up in public domain is what again this time. His non-biological names are falsehood, duplicity and contradiction. It is either he is arbitrarily supporting somebody or that he has chosen to come after another person, not necessarily for the sake of principles or national interest but for that of bread and butter. Surrounding him is a façade of lies about honour and integrity – which majority of discerning Nigerians know – have taken flight from him.

    Though a superbrat lawyer with silver-spoon background, Fani-Kayode has not proved to be a worthy ambassador of his generation. He stands for nothing valuable – and sadly for egoistic reasons. Worse still, he defends such ills with rapacious tenacity. He talks without thinking, making negative impact on the polity in most cases. If truly, the only guide to a man’s character is his conscience, and the only shield to his memory is the rectitude and sincerity of his words and actions, according to Winston Churchill, then Fani-Kayode has lost all. He is a man of duplicity that relies more on own illusory personal ethics rather than inner chore character values.

    In the days leading to the coming general elections, Fani-Kayode continues to justify his appellation of a Rottweiler with promiscuous rage against the interest of majority of Nigerians that are calling for CHANGE from the current regime that Fani-Kayode is currently supporting. But for the fact that he allows duplicitous personal ethics to overshadow his more inner character ethics, he would have known that the ‘Project Change’ is a compelling necessity that illicit propaganda accompanied by a bodyguard of lies can not halt.

    Fani-Kayode, in trying to justify his pay and perhaps secure reprieve over past alleged misdeeds while in office, went berserk, attacking anything in sight perceived by him as impediment to his master’s re-election aspiration. Mohammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate was his first target. He accused him of not having school certificate result and of perjury. When all attempts failed in this regard, he called the military general a Boko Haram person; his bid in this regard failed. He sat over political hate campaign against Buhari; that move too boomeranged and when he discovered that the election initially slated for February14 would not favour them, they deployed the military to coerce INEC to shift the polls.

    His campaign of “one week, several lies” is replete with libel and makes one wondering what has happened to his training as a lawyer. He confirms the fears of his paymasters about Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, national leader of the opposition party, when he came up recently with a phantom plot to make Professor Yemi Osibajo, vice-presidential candidate of APC to step down for Tinubu once he assumes power. Such thinking shows the fickleness of Fani-Kayode’s mindset in his bid to retain Jonathan in power through irascible lies.

    This unstable character, until recently, would do anything to promote Tinubu. But to him, the game has changed for stomach’s sake.

    When it comes to backstabbing for self-survival, Fani-Kayode’s insatiable urge craves no noble limit. Close friends and political associates that came across this element had tasted the devil in him at one time or the other. Perhaps, it would not be out of place to perhaps say that if his father were to be alive today, Femi would probably not blink an eye-lid before betraying that illustrious man-just for flitting tokenism.

    What has Fani-Kayode said of the APC, Buhari, Osibajo, Tinubu that he has not said worse things against his known benefactors and close buddy in the past? His other name is betrayal.

    Femi abused Obasanjo in the newspapers during the first term of the Owu man and once he was called upon to serve in that administration between 2003 and 2007, he changed the rhythm of his music, praising the man to high heavens and describing him as the best man to ever rule the country. He once abused Jonathan on all media platforms describing him as the most inept and the worst leadership to have ever ruled this country. He is back to eat his vomit as he now champions clamour for re-election of the president in a very disgusting manner. In the end and routine style, his target might be to seek reprieve regarding questions over the way he allegedly managed the affairs of the Aviation ministry as minister under Obasanjo by this administration.

    The only thing that earned him the DG’s job was his known trademark of doing dirty jobs beyond the limit of decency. His weekly churning out of senseless rants might have left those who do not know him bewildered. Those who know him can merely hope to see more of his odious public antics at play. In the days ahead, Fani-Kayode and his paymasters will be dazed by landslide votes with which the PDP will lose the coming elections. Charles Caleb Colton once said: ‘Nothing so completely baffles one who is full of trick and duplicity himself, than straightforward and simple integrity in another.’ At the moment, the political integrity of Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu, the APC and others championing the cause for CHANGE is too overwhelming for a duplicitous character like Fani-Kayode and his ilk to fathom. No wonder, they would stop at anything to bring down the roof when they should be telling Nigerians how to take them out of this sorry state largely created by Jonathan’s ineptitude.

    Nigerians would like to know from Fani-Kayode how the naira got so devalued that it now sells for over N220 to a dollar under Jonathan administration; why it is after the rescheduled polls that the military under his commander-in-chief paymaster got the boost to seriously combat the Boko Haram insurgents? They want to be educated on what informed the call against the use of card reader by the ruling party. Our people want Fani-Kayode to tell them if the acquisition of the Aviation Village over 90 hectares of land by the president through his company is not greed and corruption. Let him tell us if the moves by the president and FCT minister, Bala Mohammed, who also got 40 hectares in the acquisition saga were proper and in good conscience.

    Fani-Kayode must the nation know why there is persistent fuel scarcity attributed by the PPPRA to this regime’s senseless baits devaluation among others. If he has no answers to these among others, he should just shut his mouth forever.

    Fani-Kayode should stop chasing shadows and face the reality staring them in the face – that Jonathan will lose the coming election. After all, it is almost certain that he will gladly take a 360-degree U-turn back to the APC fold once Jonathan is defeated and turn against his current paymaster. That is the true character profile of this fake democratic crusader in chameleonic garbs!

  • Day of rage in Ifon-Osun

    Day of rage in Ifon-Osun

    The people of Ifon-Osun in Orolu Local Government area of Osun State will not forget in a hurry, October 5th, 2014, as the agrarian community was thrown into confusion when political thugs numbering about 20 descended on the campaign train of an aspirant to the House of Representatives for Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu Federal Constituency, Dr. Oluwole Yekeen Alabi, while embarking on a procession round the two local government areas of the state.

    The Nation gathered that crisis erupted shortly after more than 20 socio-political groups including both Oranmiyan Foundation worldwide and the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS endorsed the political aspiration of the Chairman of Republic of Ireland chapter of Oranmiyan Foundation, Dr. Oluwole Yekeen Alabi, who is seeking to represent Osogbo, Olorunda, Irepodun and Orolu Federal Constituency in the National Assembly under the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

    The event, which was preceded by procession round the three major communities of Ilobu, Ifon, and Erin-Osun, was rounded off at Saint Michael Elementary School, in Ilobu, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area, where Alabi was received by party faithful including leaders of APC across the four local government areas that formed the federal constituency.

    The attack according to an eye witness, took place at Oye compound in Ward 5 area of Orolu Local Government Area and was led by two young men popularly called Laredo and Esu Gongo, who were armed with various dangerous weapons including bottles, machetes, bows and arrows, threatening that the procession should stop; otherwise blood would flow in the community.

    The Nation gathered the crisis which lasted about an hour, left more than six persons injured including Mrs. Silifat Alabi, Engr. Waheed Olateju, Mojeed Alabi and a member of the vigilance group who had joined his colleagues to provide security for the event.

    The intervention of the security agents from the Ifon police station and State Security Service, Osogbo, the State capital was said to have doused the tension as they rushed to the scene to maintain peace and later visited the injured people at designated hospitals, particularly Mercy Private Hospital, Ilobu.

    Meanwhile at the occasion, Alabi a gynaecologist based in Dublin, Ireland was presented to the members of the APC by the head of Alabi family and former Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Area chapter of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP, and a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Ademola Alabi.

    Also giving testimonies in support of Alabi’s candidacy at the event were representatives of Awoleye Alabi Memorial Foundation, AWAMEF; Oluwole Alabi Youth Vanguard; Nigerian Medical Association, Association of Market Men and Women, Elite Club, among several others.

    Speaking on behalf of the Republic of Ireland chapter of the Oranmiyan Foundation, the Treasurer of the group who is currently the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Health, Dr. Rafiu Olasunkanmi Isamotu, said the group was impressed by the sound and qualitative leadership qualities of the governor, but was at the same time irked by the poor performance of certain representatives, hence the need to put forward individuals who could assist the governor in delivering more dividends of democracy to the people of the community in particular and the state in general.

  • Day of rage in Ekiti

    Day of rage in Ekiti

    Hoodlums went on the rampage in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital last week, burning, looting and brutalising people. A judge was beaten up and his suit torn. Courtrooms were turned upside down, provoking outrages across the country. SULAIMAN SALAWUDEEN reports.

    IT was not a good week for Ekiti State.  For three days last week, hoodlums were on the rampage, wreaking havoc on the High Court, some judges and politicians.

    It all started on Monday when thugs believed to be loyalists  of Governor-elect Ayodele Fayose stormed the Ekiti State High Court for the hearing of a case bordering on his eligibility to contest the June 21 election which he won. The things disrupted  court proceedings and what after the judge.

    Justice Isaac Ogunyemi, who was spirited away by the Police.

    They returned on Thursday when the election petitioners tribunal was to hear the petition of the  All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging Fayose’s election. They moved into the court premises when the Fayose was allowed in by securitymen. Without wasting time, they went round, ransacking the court rooms, smashing windows and beating up anybody who came their way. They beat up Justice John Adeyeye and tore his suit. In  the night of that day, the immediate past chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Chief Omolafe Aderiye was killed.

    His death sparked last Friday’s skirmish during which properties including campaign office of Governor Kayode Fayemi and the secretariat of his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) were destroyed.

    A dusk-to-dawn curfew has since been imposed on the state to stem the violence. Two days, before Omolafe’s death, the house of former chairman of the Road Transport Employee Association of Nigeria (RTEA) Rotimi Olanbiwoninu aka Mentilo and six of the cars parked in his compound wee burnt. Most parts of Ado Ekiti are gradually returning to life, but in area like Ijegbo and Ikere Federal Polytechnic roads, passerby are being checked by soldiers and other armed security personnel.

    In  the beginning

    That Monday in court, the hoodlum numbering over 100, brandish tree branches and some letter weapon attacked those they regarded as ‘opposition figures’, dragging them on the floor, slapping them and dealing them blow on the head, face, chest and stomarch. They invaded almost all offices in search of their victims. A target, who attempted to escapte through the windwo was pulled back and brutalised. No fewer than 20 men with canes wept in till body became sore. But he escaped.

    The ‘scene’ of the Justice Ogunyemi, who, also escaped, was his rulling early that day on the application of E-11, a social cultural group in the state, assuming the jurisdiction to hear the case on Fayose’s eligibility to contest the June 21 Governorship Election. The group is claiming that Fayose is yet to discharge the burden place on him by his 2006 impeachment by 2/3 majority member of the then House of Assembly.

    The following day peace seem to have returned and people taught the war was over. But Aderiye’s death on Thursday night altered thing is killing in front of his home in Ajilosun in midst of his friend spark violence on Friday as early 7 am hoodlums poused on supposed said on the enemy of the Governor-elect, who they suspected on masterminded the killing of Aderiye who was Fayose’s ally. The hoodlums tourched the offices of APC, shops/business of those identiify with party including Fayemi’s campaign office and party’s main office adjascent to it on Ikere road in Ajilosun.

    THE MENTILO

    CONNECTION

    Olanbiwoninu  aka Mentilo was a target of the mob, but, he escaped.  According to him, the destruction of his house at Oke Ila and burning of his vehicle came as surprise

    Olanbiwoninu, who said he travelled to Abuja two days before Aderiye’s death, stated: “I was his close friend, although we belonged to different transportation unions”.

    He added:“I didn’t know about the development when I was leaving for Abuja on Tuesday and I was there (Abuja) till Thursday evening when I returned to Ado.  My return was even to attend a burial on Friday. I was in my house that Friday around 9:30 am when this multitude came. I did not even think they were coming for me. I just thought they were protesting Aderiye’s death.

    “I was a bit at rest when I saw a police van coming behind them but I could not identify the vehicle’s registration number. At a point I heard them mentioning my name in a song they were singing.

    “I was in front of my house. I overheard them chanting abusive words and singing songs against me. Then it became apparent they were coming for me. I decided to run. But what I sensed was that although the police were with them, the hoodlums were many and the police could not have overpowered them when they were setting my property on fire.

    “In five minutes, they called to inform me my house was on fire, alongside my vehicles. In all they destroyed 11 vehicles. I was not around to salvage even a pin from the house. All I have worked and laboured for in my life is gone. Now, I have continued to receive threats from factions of the transporters that they are still coming for me and that I should be writing my will. I have no hand in the death of Omolafe. Ekiti State Government, the Nigeria Police and all well meaning Nigerians should come to my rescue. I know nothing about the death of Aderiye”.

    On the streets of Ado Ekiti are tell tales of the mayhem-black patches on roads, razed buildings and burnt vehicle. But the curfew imposed in the state seems to have restored sanity. The curfew is being enforced by a  combined team of soldiers and policemen, who are protecting sensitive institution and roads around Ijegbo and Ajilosun. There are also police pick-up vans parked at strategic corners to deter trouble makers.

    There are rumours of renewed skirmish, but troublemakers are warned daily to desist from such action or face the consequences of that action.

  • Day of rage at UNICAL

    Day of rage at UNICAL

    Violence broke out at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) last week when the Electoral Committee stopped the Students’ Union Government (SUG) election. In the ensuing melee, a student was hit by a stray bullet and the election was cancelled. STANLEY UCHEGBU (Accounting) and FRANK EJEAGBASI (400-Level Medical Physiology) report.

    It all started peacefully. Amid fun and excitement, the University of Calabar (UNICAL) students went about casting their vote. Suddenly, the Electoral Committee stopped the Students’ Union Government (SUG) election and all hell was let loose at the 25,000-capacity Hogan Bassey Pavilion.

    Shots were fired to restore order. But, in the ensuing melee, Ndifreke Ukpong, a 400-Level Education Administration and Planning student, was hit.

    The Electoral Committee’s stoppage of the election, while many students were still on the queue to vote, sparked the unrest. The protesters accused the committee of trying to skew the exercise in a candidate’s favour.

    The university security personnel were ordered to take the ballot boxes to the Old Senate Chambers for counting with the candidates’ agents. But the disenfranchised students protested and started chanting: “We want to vote, we no go gree; we want to vote, we no go gree.”

    The aggrieved students trailed the security personnel, who tried to make a detour, on seeing that the Old Senate Chambers would not be convenient for the counting of votes. They turned towards the New Arts Auditorium (NAT), while the angry students kept following them and chanting.

    As they approached the Faculty of Social Science block, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the security personnel fired into the air to scare the protesters. Some students defied the shooting and stayed behind to know where the ballot boxes were being taken.

    It was gathered a student was hit by stray a bullet, leading to a bedlam as people scampered for safety.

    An eyewitness, who claimed to be standing beside the victim, said: “The security man that fired the shot held the gun, facing down. The bullet rebounded and hit the student standing beside me. Even, the victim did not know he was hit; I drew his attention to his bleeding body. Then, people ran towards him and rushed him to the hospital. I thank God because it could have been me.”

    The incident heightened tension on the campus, with students raring for a showdown. Riot policemen were invited and a former SUG presidential aspirant, John Etim, was arrested. His arrest angered students, who hurled objects, including stones, at the policemen to free their colleague. John was later released.

    A Law student, who did not want his name in print, condemned the deployment of policemen to “deal with defenceless students”.

    The SUG president, Bassey Eka, pacified the annoyed students. Bassey pleaded with them to be peaceful, promising that the union would investigate the incident. He requested the students to follow him to the Hogan Bassey Pavilion to take a stand on how to go about the matter.

    At the pavilion, Bassey said: “We cannot employ violence to seek redress for a perceived injustice. We demand that the election be nullified until we know the condition of our colleague, who was shot.” Students agreed that the election be cancelled.

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof James Epoke, who visited the pavilion to address the students, apologised for what he called “accidental discharge”.

    He assured the students that the victim would be taken care of and announced the cancellation of the election.

    At 6pm, the victim was brought back to the campus after treatment. He was taken round the hostel for students to know that he is not dead.

    The rescheduled election will hold tomorrow. Students are calling for transparency in the process.

    Dr Anozeng Igiri, the Electoral Committee chairman, said the management did not have a candidate in the election, promising the panel would follow constitutional provisions in discharging its functions. “We don’t have any interest in the process or whether any candidate belongs to a department or state of origin. We have the duty to conduct a free and fair election that will ensure a legitimate students’ union executive is presented to the students,” he said.

    The four cleared presidential candidates are Emmanuel Ajang, Faculty of Law; Justin Ilefa, Faculty of Management Science; Emmanuel Akobi, Faculty of Clinical Science and Nelson Akobi, Faculty of Science.

  • Traders’ rage against Bayelsa govt

    Go away. We don’t want to talk to you again. The last time you came we spoke to you but since then till now, nothing has happened. It is either that this government doesn’t read papers or they are insensitive to our plight,” an angry trader at the popular Imgbi Road, Amarata, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State screamed at this reporter.

    The young man identified simply as James had reason to be angry. He was not the only aggrieved person. Other traders along the area were indignant at the negligence and alleged insensitivity of the Bayelsa State government.

    They were annoyed that two months after an articulated vehicle lost control and rammed into their business premises, the government has failed to remove the truck popularly called tipper.

    The truck marked XA 419 KTD was involved in a lone accident on May 21st at the Imgbi Road junction of Amarata Road, Yenagoa. The truck crashed into pavements and decked roofs of buildings located in the area. The accident reportedly occurred in the early hours before the resumption of business.

    Indeed, passers-by had no kind words for the Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration. One of them who simply identified himself as Jonathan accused the government of running an elite government.

    “This government pays lip service to the plight of the masses. If this truck had rammed into premises belonging to a prominent person in this state or relations of the governor and governor’s aides, they would have removed it a long time ago.”

    Another woman who said her name is Preye Thomas flayed the government for abandoning the suspended truck at the city centre. He, however, said persons working in some agencies of the government should be blamed for the negligence.

    Besides, a young man who identified himself as Billy was more concerned about what he called the hypocrisy in government.

    “Is this not the government who said they are promoting tourism? The Peace Park at the city centre directly opposite the government house is decaying. Now a truck with this kind of environmental hazard has been abandoned here for a long time and nobody is doing anything about it.

    “They have been bringing foreigners to the state for many international events. This truck was like this when they hosted the international fashion show and other events.

    “Now they are planning economic summit and most beautiful girl in Nigeria show and we know that this thing will remain this way. These foreigners will only come and see how irresponsible we are”, he said.

    James and other traders and shop owners close to the site of the disaster are in dilemma. Their lives are in danger and their business environment is under threat.

    The articulated vehicle popularly called tipper is blocking their business premises, their only sources of making a living. The truck is dangerously suspended on pavements threatening to collapse on them and their shops.

    James and his colleagues have tried in vain to get the authorities to remove the truck, including writing a letter to the Environmental Sanitation Authority.

    Speaking on the same matter, Blessing Ohoach, a petty trader said a responsible government should have removed the truck immediately after the accident.

    Despite their plights, the traders are constantly harassed by officials of the Environmental Sanitation Authority to pay levies. Recently, some of the officials stormed the area to seize goods of the traders demanding N4000 unknown levy from them.

    When one of the officials was asked why his office had done nothing about the abandoned truck, he said: “It is not our business to remove things like this. It is the job of the Ministry of Environment and FRSC. But if the government gives us the order, we will definitely remove it.”

    What is there to say again other than to amplify what these people are saying: government should remove the truck. Failure to do this will amount to insensitivity.There are no two ways about it. Chikena!

  • Rainstorm rage at UNIMAID

    Rainstorm rage at UNIMAID

    Properties worth millions of naira were destroyed at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) last Monday when  rainstorm hit the Borno State capital. TAIWO ISOLA (300-Level Human Anatomy) reports.

    A RAinstorm hit the beleaguered Maiduguri, Borno State capital, last Monday, sweeping away properties worth millions of naira. The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) was affected.

    The rainstorm raged for two hours. It swept through the campus when many students were in the examination halls. Some were in their hostels; others were buying food stuff at the commercial areas of the campus.

    A student, Tola Bamigboye, who was washing clothes in the hostel, said: “We noticed the cloud became thick and the wind started blowing everything in different directions. The storm blew sand everywhere; it was a terrible scene.”

    Fatima Suleiman, who was in the examination hall, said the hall “vibrated continuously” while the storm lasted. She said: “The ceiling was blown off. Everybody was scared. We wrote the paper, despite that the rainstorm blew sand into the hall. Our answer booklets were covered in dust.”

    Students and lecturers ran helter-skelter in the midst of the storm to avoid being hit by objects. The storm uprooted some trees, blew off roofs and destroyed window louvres.

    A section of the roof of the Faculty of Education building was blown off, exposing documents and furniture in lecturers’ offices to the elements. The Department of Geology was worse hit as its roof was blown off.

    Abdulwahab Abdulahi, a student, who was in Modibbo Lecture Theatre during the storm, said: “I testified to the greatness of God when trees were uprooted right before my eyes. I have never witnessed such.”

    The College of Medical Sciences and Faculty of Pharmacy were not spared by the raging storm. A lecturer, who did not give his name, said: “I was in my office when the storm started. I watched my car being hit by fallen tree branches. When the storm was over, I discovered the car hood was badly damaged.”

    At the university staff quarters, tree branches destroyed buildings and vehicles. Electricity poles were uprooted, leaving the campus in darkness after the incident. Power was restored in some areas days after.

    At the commercial area and the Ecumenical Centre, shops were reduced to rubbles; many traders lost their goods. When the rainstorm subsided, those who fled returned to meet their shops in ruins. They wore gloomy faces, standing in groups to count their losses.

    Some traders wailed on seeing that their investments had gone with the wind. Some were seen salvaging what was left of their goods in the rubbles. A fish trader whose kiosk was destroyed said: “All glory be to God. Though I lost everything but I did not lose my life. I know it will be tough, but I will rise again.”

    Students’ fellowship tents around the Ecumenical Centre were blown away. When CAMPUSLIFE visited the site in the evening, students, who always gathered to worship there, were nohwre to be found.