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Tag: reject

  • Shittu: Adeleke’s family can only reject inquest on court order

    A legal expert, Mr Wahab Shittu, yesterday said the family of late Senator Isiaka Adeleke can only refuse to appear before a state-ordered inquest if the decision is backed by a court order.

    He said refusing to appear before a Coroner could be unlawful.

    Shittu, however, said the circumstances of the Senator’s death means it may not be ideal to compel the family to appear at the inquest.

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) law teacher was reacting to the family’s rejection of a coroner’s Inquest ordered by the Osun State government to determine the cause of the politician’s death.

    Following Adeleke’s death on April 30, Governor Rauf Aregbesola signed an executive order setting up a coroner inquest under the state’s Coroner Law of 2002. He appointed a Magistrate, Mr Olusegun Ayodele, as the Coroner.

    Rejecting the inquest, the family said it was ill advised, self serving and its outcome per-determined.

    Shittu said other factors outside the legal  consequences of the family’s rejection of the inquest must be considered.

    “Without a court order, it’ll be difficult for the family to sustain its position, because that may be tantamount to interfering with lawfully constituted authority.

    “But these are not issues that can be resolved by legal considerations alone. We also have to take into cognizance other permutations, including the psychological feelings of the family.

    “This is why it’s not a matter that is strictly legal. There are extra-legal factors that need to be considered going forward,” he said.

    According to Shittu, the family has genuine reasons to be emotional.

    “Considering the circumstances surrounding Senator Adeleke’s death, the family or any other sane Nigerian is entitled to be suspicious. This was a man who a day previously was not showing any signs of any sickness. This may have informed the decision taken by the family, obviously out of frustration.

    “I must say that inspite of that, the family is advised to cooperate and collaborate with the state government in determining the cause of death of this great Nigerian.

    “I want to also believe that the government of Osun State under Ogbeni Aregbesola means very well in this exercise. The family will be doing the soul of the departed good if they cooperate until we see cogent and compelling evidence of complicity.

    “This inquest is not something that is capable of being manipulated because the entire world is watching,” Shittu added.

  • Reps reject N6b Communications ministry’s budget

    The House of Representatives Committee on Communications has rejected the N6.97billion  budget of  the Ministry of Communications for failing to provide satisfactory details of its 2016 budget spendings.

    For capital projects, the Ministry is proposing to spend N5.964billion, N742.880million  for personnel while N216, 880 million was proposed for overhead cost.

    For emphasis, the Saheed Fijabi-led Committee asked the Minister, Adebayo Shittu to provide a number of documents on projects, project locations, third party contracts, receipt vouchers for conferences,  trainings as well as nominal roll for the Ministry among others.

    The Committee said it will not consider the 2017 budget estimates of the Ministry until it embarked on an on-the-spot accessment of the projects contained in the 2016 budget document.

    The budget session began on a tense note when the Minister refused to explain the details of the budget saying the Permanent Secretary, Sunday Echono, who is the Accounting Officer of the Ministry was in the best position to respond to the specifics of the 2016 document.

    In his presentation, the Minister said contrary to what was on record, the Ministry actually received N3,095,437billion as against N4,912,735, 231billion that was recorded for it on Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) platform for its 2016 capital expenditure.

    The breakdown showed that of the 48 new and one on-going projects, the Ministry recorded 100 per cent performance on capital budget release of N3,095,437billion that was fully accessed.

    For the year under review, N216, 791,496million was appropriated for overhead while N138,905,138million was released leaving a balance of N77.9million; N600,239,582million was also appropriated for personnel cost out of which N695, 877, 059 was released.

    Totally shocked about the finances of the Ministry, the lawmakers requested for explanations why money  released for personnel was greater than money appropriated.

    The Committee asked why N8million was spent on presentation at Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, while seeking  explanation on the procurement of computers for N12million.

    In addition, the Committee expreseed doubt over the  Ccapital expenditure item whereby N4. 9million was spent on  supervision of the an unspecified work.

    Construction of Information Communications Technology (ICT) centers in some parts of the country also came under scrutiny as the Ministry failed to execute any of the projects, claiming lack of funds.

    The Committee wondered why projects that benefit Nigerians directly were not prosecuted by the Ministry.

    Fijabi said: “With the document before us, there is a need for this Committee to oversight these projects because Nigerians have been  blaming the  legislature for not doing its job well.

    “Going forward, we have to look at the procurement process and on-the-spot accessment of these projects has become inevitanle.

    “In addition, the Ministry should furnish the Committee with its nominal roll, indicating old and new workers.

    “The provision of the details requested will determine how soon we will embark on the oversight visit and the consideration of the Ministry’s 2017 budget estimates.”

  • Ijaw leaders reject Jegede’s running mate

    A mass defection of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) followers in Ese-Odo Local Government is imminent as political leaders from the Ijaw speaking area have rejected the choice of John Ola Mafo as deputy governorship candidate.

    A PDP leader from the local government, Sunday Tundigha, in a statement yesterday on behalf of the aggrieved Ese-Odo PDP Leaders’ Forum, faulted Mafo’s emergence.

    ‘’Our local government is the only Ijaw speaking local government and delivered votes for the PDP in the last presidential and National Assembly elections.

    ‘’We were, however, surprised that the party leadership of the party decided to turn logic on its head by giving the deputy governorship slot to a local government without any voting value for the PDP.

    ‘’This is more so that the Alliance for Democracy candidate, Olusola Oke, is from the same local government. This defies logic and every known political justice.

    ‘’We are, therefore, giving Governor Olusegun Mimiko and leadership of the PDP 48 hours from now, to withdraw Mafo and replace him with an indigene of Ese-Odo.

    “Anything short of this will result in mass defection from the party. It is sad that an individual from Ese-Odo could sell out this golden opportunity for our people just because of his future political ambitions. We will resist this selfish and short-sighted political calculation.”

    According to him, aggrieved leaders of the PDP have resolved to work for the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Rotimi Akeredolu.

    ‘’Between now and the expiration of the ultimatum, we have put all our supporters on notice to mobilise for Akeredolu. This is because his running mate, Agboola Ajayi, the ambassadorial nominee, Sola Iji as well as the senior Technical adviser to the minister of state for Agriculture, Donald Ojogo, are distinguished sons of our local government,’’ he said in the statement.

    One of the deputy governorship hopefuls Pere Ganfo also warned that the PDP might face dire electoral consequences for the decision it took against Ese-Odo.

    ‘’Since Mafo’s announcement, I have received several complaints from our people who feel short changed, used and dumped. They are unhappy because the party did not deem it needful to consider our electoral value to the PDP. It means we are not needed in the party.”

  • Wolves reject Leeds bid for Carl Ikeme

    Wolves reject Leeds bid for Carl Ikeme

    LEEDS United had a bid rejected for Super Eagles goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, according to reports in the UK.

    The Wolves shot-stopper is a serial loanee, having been sent out to eight different clubs in the football league since 2003.

    It’s understood Leeds made the loan approach in October, shortly after Steve Evans’ appointment as manager.But according to the Yorkshire Post, they were knocked back despite Ikeme not being a starter for Wolves at the time.

    The 29-year-old has since been reinstated to the No1 spot by Kenny Jackett following an injury to on-loan Arsenal man Emiliano Martinez.

    And Evans’ need for a goalkeeper has also lessened following the improved performances of Marco Silvestri.

    The 24-year-old kept a clean sheet in his last Championship outing against Charlton, but Leeds are still lagging down in 18th place.

  • Rivers elders reject Biafra

    Rivers elders reject Biafra

    The Rivers Elders and Leaders Council (RELEC) Chairman Chief Albert Horsfall and Secretary Lawrence Ibiayenie, yesterday warned that Port Harcourt should not be turned to a battle ground by pro-Biafran agitators.

    The elders described the protests by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as uncalled for. Rivers people are not Biafrans, they insisted.

    According to them, it is wrong to transport Igbo youths in trailers and buses from the five states in the Southeast zone, to protest in Port Harcourt, thereby halting commercial activities, destroy property and cause untold hardship for motorists, commuters and pedestrians.

    RELEC said: “The attempt by these elements (IPOB members) to focus on Port Harcourt for their political rascality is totally unacceptable and is hereby condemned by Rivers Elders and Leaders Council. The action so far taken by the Biafran protesters in Port Harcourt is highly provocative to all genuine sons and daughters of Rivers State, who have so far restrained themselves from confronting the demonstrators in Port Harcourt.

    “The choice of Port Harcourt (for IPOB’s protests) may be a deliberate ploy to make the Rivers State capital the battle ground for any fracas that may follow their rascality. We reject these moves in its entirety and hereby repeat our warning that they (Biafran protesters) must desist forthwith.

    “Rivers State people are not Biafrans and had never been and will never be. The RELEC wishes to call on all elders and leaders of the states from which these youths have been pouring into Port Harcourt, for this unwelcome and unwholesome political rascality, to call their youths to order and forbid them from forever staging further demonstrations and protests in Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers State.

    “RELEC wishes to observe the good neighbourly relationship which has always existed between Rivers people and their neighbours. We wish that the cordial and mutually beneficial relationship should continue to exist. Persons responsible for the pro-Biafra protests must immediately halt the unfriendly activities forthwith.”

    Rivers elders and leaders also stated that they “strongly” supported Wike’s ban of protests in Rivers state, which they said would go a long way to promote peace, thereby moving the state forward.

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike in a broadcast on Wednesday banned further protests by IPOB members and demonstrations by other groups.

    The Rivers Commissioner of Police, Musa Kimo, also noted that his command would not allow lawlessness or breakdown of law and order.

    Senate minority leader Senator Godswill Akpabio also condemned the Biafran agitators.

    Speaking at the venue of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) conference in Abuja, Akpabio, a former Akwa Ibom State governor, called on the Federal Government and the states where the militias are protesting to stop the spread of the agitation.

    “The Biafra agitators must be told that those who witnessed the Nigerian civil war will never wish to experience another war in their entire lifetime.

    “If you don’t like the government of the day, you must wait for another election to vote them out”, Akpabio said.

  • Lagosians must reject pdp and its ethnic card

    President Jonathan remains the most divisive president in our nation’s history. In 2011, President Jonathan openly asked non- Yoruba residents in Lagos to join forces to outvote the Yorubas. In 2015, besides the president’s nocturnal meetings with town associations where huge amount of monies allegedly exchanged hands, he appointed ex governor Obi to mobilise Igbos in Lagos. Now the Igbos in Lagos have hearkened to his call. Two weeks ago, they gave block vote to some of their kinsmen to represent some parts of Lagos whose language they can’t speak in Abuja.

    Jimi Agbaje, who has nothing to offer Lagosians beyond his ‘feeling of self worth’, has tried to capitalise on that promising to create a fiefdom for Igbo in Lagos where they will have their own King, a privilege they don’t even enjoy in their own ancestral homes because of their republican nature.

    Now they have dragged the Oba of Lagos into their game of deceit. The Oba, who is the custodian of the culture of his people, has threatened to rain causes on those who work against the interest of Lagos. PDP national body has joined Bode George, Obanikoro, Ogunlewe and Jimi Agbaje who the king claims is his cousin against the king.  There is also a Femi Fani- Kayode, who only two years ago before joining PDP volunteered to lead a battle against any group including the Igbos who dared to lay claim to an inch of Yoruba land.

    The common affliction of Lagos PDP men is opportunism. Ogunlewe and Obanikoro became senators under the dominant party in Lagos and used their ticket to cut deals with the federal government. They don’t even seem to understand that the federal and the state, by our constitution, are coordinates with neither being superior to the other since they both derived their powers from the constitution.  If you think PDP thugs who with the support of police pulled down bill boards, posters and chased motorists off the roads while brandishing broken bottles and knives were ignorant, wait for Jimi Agbaje and some PDP leading lights defend the shameful act on a national television.

    One of them, more out of mischief, in an answer to a question by a Channels Television crew retorted angrily, did Lagos state governor aspirant pay for his posters? The crooked logic is that if Lagos state enjoys a special relationship with one of its parastatal, such concession must be extended to the federal government. If we extend the argument further, then Lagos state should be able to have access to the use of one the air craft’s in the presidential fleet out of which the president sometimes deploys as many as three for political campaigns.

    Or put differently, since The Ports Authority located in Lagos is known to have always made huge contribution towards reelection of all sitting presidents since 1999, Lagos should ask for its own share or resort to self help using thugs like PDP.

    Driven by opportunism and bereft of vision, PDP has nothing to offer Lagos… Besides one or two kilometers of Lagos -Ibadan expressway constructed by Ogunlewe as Minister of Works under Obasanjo at a period it was alleged about N300 billion budgeted for road construction went in to fighting the 2003 presidential election, all we can remember him for was converting party thugs to traffic controllers, which led to clashes and chaos on Lagos road. He was also on record as supporting and encouraging Obasanjo who illegally sat on federal allocations despite court pronouncements.

    Obanikoro’s short stint as Minister of State for Defence was a disaster for Lagos in particular and other Yoruba states in general. Intoxicated by federal power under a Jonathan presidency whose other name is impunity, Obanikoro according to Governor Fashola, used soldiers to stop ongoing public work in Lagos claiming the land belongs to the federal government. He has also been accused of deploying soldiers including some hooded security personnel to intimidate opposition leaders during the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections last year.

     

    Agbaje, who has never managed anything beyond his drug shop, is ill equipped to manage a state as complex as Lagos. Lagosians should troop out in two days time to vote for a party with vision, a party with record of achievements to end the dreams of opportunists bent on playing the ethnic card to cause disharmony in Lagos.

  • LASU students reject calls to sack VC

    Lagos State University (LASU) students have said they are not in support of the calls by workers that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof John Obafunwa, be sacked.

    The students insisted that they are neither siding the management or the workers.

    They said finding a successor for Obafunwa may not address the crisis in the 31-year-old institution.

    The Students’ Union made this claim, following the allegation by workers that the university management and certain elements in government are inciting students against them.

    The unions –Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) – insisted they are not on strike.

    They, however, noted that any attempt by students to create disharmony within their rank and file may force them to temporarily suspend their services.

    “We have noticed that certain elements within the management are scheming to incite the students against us.

    “We are warning that such attempt may compel us to temporary suspend our services because in such situations, we cannot rule out the possibility of violence,” said ASUU-LASU Chairman Dr Adekunle Idris.

    “We have information that some students have met with some government officials.

    “We have invited the leadership of the Students’ Union and made them know our position.

    “We want to re-emphasise here that we are not on strike.

    “LASU is  peaceful and any attempt to cause disharmony might impair the existing peace in the university.”

    But students’ spokesman Adebayo Fatai Adekoya denied the claim.

    He said: “The position of the union is that we are not in support of either management or workers.

    “We, on our own, have looked into the demands of workers and found them legitimate.

    “We are, therefore, appealing to government to look into their demands.”

    Adebayo added: “But we are against their call that Obafunwa should not return to campus.

    “We are not supporting the ‘Obafunwa must go’ campaign.

    “Let him (Obafunwa) return to complete his term and outstanding projects. That is why the unions are thinking that management or government want to use us against them.

    “There is the 20th convocation which is now postponed indefinitely. The re-accreditation of the Faculty of Law is also there.

    “The refund of outstanding school fees is another.  If Obafunwa leaves the situation will remain the same.”

  • Polls: Yoruba leaders reject Jonathan’s endorsement

    Polls: Yoruba leaders reject Jonathan’s endorsement

    Akinrinade, governors, others denounce interim govt plot

    Yoruba leaders have rejected the purported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for second term by some leaders of Afenifere, the Southwest’s socio-political organisation.

    The leaders, who converged on the Parliament Building, Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan, yesterday to present the common aspirations of the Yoruba nation for the future, also condemned Monday’s violence perpetrated by Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) in Lagos.

    A faction of the Afenifere,  a forthnight ago, met in Akure, the Ondo State capital, to endorse Dr. Jonathan for a second term, saying he plans to restructure the country through his convocation of a national conference. Critics of this point of view insist that all Yoruba demands at the conference were turned down.

    In a tacit rejection of the endorsement, Yoruba Assembly Convener Gen. Alani Akinrinade, a one-time Chief of Defence Staff,  in his welcome address, enumerated the qualities of the leadership the Yoruba desired.

    He said: “We, the Yoruba are too sophisticated to follow one leader or adopt one political belief. What is required of us is to share a common developmental aspiration and values much more than what obtains now in the present Nigeria.

    “We cannot afford a leadership that is absent of developmental foresight, that lacks innovative thinking and is not capable of producing the right responses and answers to the challenges of multi ethnic and multi-cultural politics in the country.

    “The absence of imaginative leadership in Nigeria in developing the right responses to the Boko Haram insurgency and its terrorist plan to decimate the nation is one we must collectively confront.

    “For us Yoruba people, a Nigerian leader must be ready to make the necessary sacrifies and imbibe core value-laden attributes. The national leader that Yoruba people want and would support should subscribe to a body of beliefs based on our perennial and tested values of honour, dignity, integrity, industry, patriotism, which are encoded in the concept of Omoluabi.

    “The leadership the Yoruba want should be the body of men and women who are believers and are ready to live according to the tenets of Omoluabi and work for its continuous propagation and effectiveness. It is this embodiment of values that should guide us in the process of who we vote for in the 2015 general elections, not corrupted endorsements.

    “To achieve our demands, I call on all Yoruba people to ensure that we use our votes wisely during this 2015 general elections by voting for those who make good their promises and vote out those who falter. We must take this once-in-four-years opportunity and use our votes to successfully empower or reject individuals based on their performance, principles, values, developmental aspirations and good character.”

    On the OPC protest in Lagos, Gen. Akinrinade said: “The ugly Lagos example of Monday 16 March 2015 appeared an open threat to our space, a society that is naturally and cultural embracing whose receptive nature is now being abused. It was a further demonstration of a sponsored and organised violence with the intent and potential to attack and pollute our peoples’ values and democratic existence. This trend will continue, unless every federating unit is opportune to achieve its highest potential within the Nigerian nation without hindrance.”

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola said any Yoruba man who carries a gun to kill his fellow Yoruba is a bastard, because the Yoruba people signed an agreement on 23rd September 1896 not to fight each other anymore.

    “We should counsel our youth against violence and we should tell our leaders who are collecting money from desperate politicians to have a re-think because whatever bribe offered them will be exhausted one day.”

    Aregbesola added: “I don’t know why any reasonable Yoruba leader will ask us to vote for an inept and an incompetent government that has failed to rescue over 200 girls that were abducted almost a year ago.”

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi regretted that the Jonathan administration had relegated Yoruba to the background. He said of the first 50 positions in the country, Yoruba occupy only two.

    Ajimobi said now is the time for us to vote in a government that will protect our interest.

    The vice presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, thanked the Yoruba and Nigerians for enduring bad government in the past 16 years.

    Osinbajo said: Those in government also know that all is not well with the country and the people they govern.

    He urged Nigerians, particularly unemployed youths, to be resilient because there will be change on March 28.

    Afenifere deputy leader Senator Ayo Fasanmi advised Nigerians, particularly the Yoruba, to reject money being offered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to entice them to vote for the party. He wondered why a government whose tenure would terminate in two months was still appointing ministers.

    Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi said true federalism and devolution of power were given priority in the APC manifesto. He advised the Yoruba to always stand up to fight for their rights.

    Fayemi said: “We should not turn ourselves into slaves or beggars all in the name of survival. The Yoruba are the leading light of the country; we should not relegate ourselves to renegades.”

    Former Osun State Governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola advised the Yoruba to always be their brothers’ keepers. He said our problem is rooted in political differences. We should not allow politics to divide us, he advised.

    Leader of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) Hon Wale Oshun said the Yoruba had always been in the forefront of the struggle for true federalism and devolution of power.

    The Secretary-General of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), Senator Tony Adefuye, said the Yoruba leaders promoting Jonathan are not protecting the interest of the race.

    According to Adefuye, the YUF, made up of Afenifere and others visited Jonathan twice on the marginalisation of Yoruba in appointments to federal positions. Jonathan never did anything to correct the anomalies, he said, adding: “what is the basis for endorsing him?”.

    Sen. Olabiyi Durojaiye advised the Yoruba to vote for the presidential candidate who would serve their interest.

  • ‘We reject the repression of a party’

    ‘We reject the repression of a party’

     

    Do you still feel safe here in the USA? The Turkish government demands your extradition of Barack Obama.

    The USA is a democratic state of law. Nobody can be convicted without any statutory regulations and there is no space for despotism here. There is no legal basis for the Turkish president’s extradition request. In this way international law is being violated and Turkey’s reputation in the world is being damaged.

    Once you have been a supporter of RecepTayyip Erdogan’s conservative-Islamic AKP. What has changed?

    When the AKP had been founded they promised democracy, human rights, the EU-membership, an end of corruption and stigmatization of dissidents, and economic upturn. In the first years all these promises were kept. That’s why participants of our movement supported them. However, after the AKP had come into power for the third time in 2011, they made a radical U-turn. Today we recognize political pressure on the media, sprawling authorisations for the intelligence agency MIT, profiling of citizens, contempt of judicial decisions, and mistreatment of protesters. Currently the government is trying to characterise me as public enemy in order to hide their corruptions and to form an authoritarian system. However we have got the saying: A liar’s candle only burns until sunset.

    Together with Erdogan you have forced back the influence of the army on the Turkish politics. Is this all forgotten?

    In the past Turkey has experienced four different military coups. Governments have been brought down, ten thousands of people have been interrogated and arrested, and many of them got tortured. In Turkey terrible things have happened which are not imaginable in the EU (which we want to join). In a 2010 referendum 58% of the Turkish population voted for a change in the law. This constitutional change allowed bringing officers who had attempted a military coup to a civil court. If the AKP hadn’t politicized the referendum so much, maybe 70% would have approved it. For the first time in my life I had voiced a recommendation back then. I had said, even the dead should raise and take part in this referendum. After the country had been freed from the repression by the military, the AKP consolidated all powers for the executive branch. They neutralised supervisory authorities and tried to eliminate the independence of judiciary. Earlier we had rejected the repression of the military. Today, in the same way, we reject the repression of a party. That’s why we are slandered as traitors.

    Where is Turkey heading for?

    Currently, the Turkish Republic conveys the impression that it is no longer a social, secular and constitutional democracy. It has rather become a one-party state and even a one-man state. The separation of powers has been suppressed except for the constitutional court which is still putting up resistance. Today, Turkey is experiencing a national polarisation and is losing its international reputation. Turkey is getting lonelier. My country’s situation makes me sad.

    Erdogan claims he wanted to bring up a religious generation. Don’t you want the same?

    It is not the task of a government to raise a religious generation. Such a policy gives rise to pressure on dissidents. Freedom of faith is part of the fundamental human rights. The state has to assure all individuals of the right to learn and to teach their beliefs – no matter which religion it is. In twelve years of government people have expected Erdogan to ensure these rights legally, making no discrimination among religious minorities. It’s open to dispute to which extend these goals have been achieved. Yet, a devout person should observe the law. With this in mind I wish a religious generation that has both deep spirituality and respects the rights and freedoms of all human beings. But if you mean a generation which has depth of understanding of its own religion, which discriminates and easily spreads hatred, then I say: No. And we don’t call such a generation religious in the first place.

    Recently you have taken a stand against the Islamic State in five major US newspapers. How dangerous is IS?

    In the history of Islam radical groups have repeatedly come up. In fact, these groups suppressed other peoples, murdered humans and hereby betrayed their religion. A few years ago there was Al-Qaida. Now there is IS; that’s all we needed! IS defiles the image of Islam. This is nothing but barbarism. Whoever was prejudiced against Islam feels vindicated now. This situation won’t let you sleep. Unfortunately, scholars in the Islamic World did not take an unequivocal stand in this matter, neither in Mecca and Medina, nor in Egypt and Turkey.

    Had you wished more protests on the streets?

    Sadly I haven’t seen any large demonstrations. Furthermore it is alleged that the IS is being supported from other countries with weaponry and logistics. If these claims are true, world peace and the future of Islam are in danger.

    Are IS fighters Muslims?

    They are victims of a mass psychosis. In Europe this phenomenon is well known. People had followed movements which later were responsible for massacres. The IS members are ignorant people who don’t know their own religion in the least. They make up a holy war. It is a system of madness.

    How can young Europeans be protected from this madness?

    Endangered youngsters should be better observed, although this might contradict the ideals of freedom in the Western world. One should enlighten them, provide workshops and conferences. In addition, young foreigners’ home countries should not escape their responsibilities.

    What do you recommend to the politicians of the Turkish government in this subject?

    I cannot recommend them anything. They will not listen to me. They have brilliant minds and know everything.

    How do you like Erdogan’s palace?

    Every state needs buildings that serve its needs. However, instead of erecting a palace with 1000 rooms, one could have renewed the existing buildings. A court had even decided to stop the new construction. The Prime Minister ignored it. Such a behavior shakes the citizens’ respect for the justice. In the Ottoman Empire the most splendid palaces were built during the time of their decadence. Today many heads of powerful states work in modest buildings. That’s why this magnificent building did harm to Turkey’s reputation. 60% of the Turks regard it as wastefulness. From a religious perspective this is waste, and waste is a sin.

    Erdogan accuses your movement of infiltrating justice and police.

    A citizen does not infiltrate the institutions of his own country, but he can take his rightful place in them. Everybody who provides the necessary qualifications can be a civil servant. Is it possible that they feel threatened because many people did not bow to the power? The current political system does not only stigmatise people who sincerely support our movement, but almost everybody who doesn’t stay close to their power and who doesn’t cooperate. They see us as harmful elements in the state. Such a thing is called witch-hunting.

    Thousands of civil servants have been moved and dismissed. How many of them were Hizmet-members?

    I don’t even know a tenth of the people who feel connected to this movement. After a certain time one will recognise that many of the concerned prosecutors, police officers and teachers have nothing to do with us. On the one hand, they try to present us as a big danger by stigmatizing so many people. On the other hand they want to get rid of everybody who doesn’t pledge complete allegiance to them. Most recently a vice-chairman of the AKP even admitted this strategy.

    The officials had collected corruption allegations against sons of ministers and pro-government businessmen. What do you think about these allegations?

    Despite concrete evidence that was publicised, the corruption proceedings have been closed. Because of that to this day, nobody knows what really has happened. In the West, governments would have resigned, if there were such charges. Ankara went so far to portray the investigations as an international conspiracy – again, a typical strategy in authoritarian regimes.

    Is your movement weakened?

    Indeed, it is hard to deny the effect of the propaganda by the state-controlled media. People who send their children to our schools and support us with donations are being threatened. But some day this propaganda,which relies on a web of lies,will eventually turn against their producers.

    The government plans to close down all your schools in Turkey.

    Our schools won high praise and several awards. If Turkey is a state of law, we expect that nothing bad will happen to them. Otherwise Turkey will lose.

    Recently Gülen-Schools have been closed down in Central Asia. Is the Turkish government’s influence responsible for that?

    The Turkish government tries to find different arguments against us in each country. In the republics of the former Soviet Union they say we were American spies. In the USA they call us religious fundamentalists and in Islamic countries they allege we were alluring their children from the religion. In fact, that is a very pragmatic strategy. Yet, in this way Turkey is breaking down bridges of friendship and is harming its international relations. Hereby the Turkish paranoia is being transported abroad.

    A former US ambassador once described you as second most powerful man in Turkey. How do you see yourself?

    I seek refuge in God from any such claim! Everybody who slightly knows me can confirm that I had never wanted to be famous. I have never tried to obtain spiritual or material benefits. My life of 76 years is a witness to this. If the successes of this movement deserve any praise, it is due to the many volunteers.

    Will this movement exist without Fethullah Gülen?

    People supported us who didn’t even share one percent of our worldview. But we shared universal values. In Africa people who I had never met, have co-financed schools and hospitals. They were rich people and you hadn’t expected their support. Every night when I go to bed I think for myself, maybe I won’t wake up again. But I am not worried in the least about the future of this movement.

    Do you think about returning to Turkey?

    I miss my country very much. I am an emotional person. I have got family and friends. And I did not come to this world out of nowhere. I was born to a family. Recently my brother passed away and I wasn’t able to attend his funeral. This was also the case with other relatives. I have spent 60 years of my life in Turkey. I easily attach to places and even to objects. The village I was born in, the graves of my father and my grandparents, the neighborhood in Izmir where I have lived for years, the books in my library there… All these are in my mind’s eye and I can’t hold back my tears. If I returned to Turkey today, some people working in the highest departments of the state would abuse this for their dark purposes.

    Can you imagine reconciliation with Erdogan?

    We didn’t start this fight. That’s why they have to make the first move for reconciliation. If some day Erdogan confesses to all his bald lies and slander he disseminated in rallies and in media, I will be ready to make my peace with him.

    Is there anything which makes you happy nowadays despite all difficulties?

    I have never been happy for a long time. After each military coup I was being persecuted. But what I experience today is even worse. Still, the bright side is that coal and diamonds get separated (Turkish saying). The world is recognizing the meaning of this movement.

    Many in America were amused about Erdogan’s recent statement that Muslims had discovered America before Christopher Columbus. What do you think about that?

    Scientists of different disciplines should decide what was discovered by whom first. Some people might say: “Who is Einstein anyway? And who is this Edison? We Muslims knew all this already in the fifth century, even the nuclear fusion.” It is absurd to say that these discoveries were only made by Muslims.

     

  • Why Lagosians should reject PDP, by Fashola

    Why Lagosians should reject PDP, by Fashola

    • Ambode: I ‘ll build on Tinubu’s, Fashola’s legacies

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola said at the weekend that Lagosians will not vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because the Federal Government has neglected the state in the last 16 years.

    The governor also faulted the candidature of Mr. Olujimi Agbaje, who is the PDP flag bearer, saying that he lacks the understanding of statecraft, budgeting and financial management. He said Lagos State is too strategic and critical to Nigeria, West Africa and the entire continent to be entrusted to “a beginner and an experimenter.”

    Fashola, who addressed party supporters at Ikorodu, said when Lagosians recall how the PDP-led Federal Government opposed the creation of additional five local governments in Ikorodu Division, they will reject Agbaje at the poll.

    The governor said while the former Accountant-General and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr. Akin Ambode, himself as the Chief of Staff and former Attorney-General and Justice Commissioner Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) played prominent roles in the establishment and survival of the councils under Tinubu Administration, Agbaje’s party hailed the seizure of local government allocations.

    Fashola said it was at that critical time that Ambode’s incisive wit and experience in financial re-engineering came to the fore, as he suggested a financial creativity formula that made the administration to tackle the challenge.

    He also chided President Goodluck Jonathan for maladministration, stressing that he has failed in all sectors and inflicted pains on the country through sheer ineptitude. Fashola alerted the nation to plans by the Federal Government to increase import duty, warning that transporters and other Nigerians will be further exposed to economic hardship.

    Exuding confidence, Ambode, who rode in an open Sport  Utility Vehicle (SUV) with the governor, said: “We have a tradition of excellence to continue to build on. Do we need trial and error in Lagos? No. That is why we must vote for the APC.”

    The governor and the flag bearer  got a rousing welcome at the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Primary School Ground, the venue of the mega rally. Brooms, the symbol of the party, filled the air. jubilating supporters were dancing and singing. On the stage to thrill them were ace musicians-Mrs. Abeni Salawa and Buga. There were other artistes – madam Surutu, Lawori, Iyabo Oko and Ojo Arowosafe (Fadeyi Oloro).  Party followers came from Kosofe, Somolu, Bariga, Ijede, Imota, Epe, Agbowa, Ikosi and other towns from Okorodu Division.

    The rally, which was presided over by the party chairman,  Otunba Oladele Ajomale, was hosted by the Ikorodu APC leaders, including former Deputy Governor Abiodun Ogunleye, former Secretary to the Government Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, Mrs. Folake Shokunbi Kalokalo and Pa Olu Alogba.  Party flags were presented to Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East), House of Representatives candidate for Ikorodu Constituency Jimi Benson, House of Assembly flag bearer for Ikorodu Constituency 1 Mr Solaja and his Constituent 11 counterpart, Hon. Sunai Agbubiade, by the party chairman.

    Ashafa, who spoke on behalf of the candidates, promised a robust legislative agenda for Lagos, adding that  federal legislators from the state will press for special status for the former Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The massive rally was witnessed by Fashola’s wife, Abimbola, Ambode’s wife, Bolanle, the deputy governor, Hon. Joke Orelope-Adefulire, Secretary to the Government and Ambode’s running mate Dr. Oluranti Adebule, formers Deputy Governors Sarah Sosan and Olufemi Pedro, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Hon. Adeola Olamilekan, Mrs. Toun Ajomale, the campaign team leader, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Chief Kayode Olowu, former House of Assembly Speaker Hon. Joko Pelumi, Primate Charles Odugbesi, Women Leader Chief Kemi Nelson, Hon. Fuad Oki, Mr. Denge Anifowose, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi and Alhaji Musbau Gafar, who rendered the opening prayer.

    Other party chieftains at the rally were Comrade Kayode Opeifa, Hon. Hakeem Sulaiman Oris, Comrade Joe Igbokwe, Chief Chris Ekwilo, Lateef Ibirogba, Abiodun Salam, Paul Kalejaye, Hon. Samuel Adejare, Mrs. Adenrele Ogunsanya, Iyaloja Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, Ademorin Kuye, and Jide Oshikoya.

    Ogunleye, who was the first leader to speak, enjoined the people to collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC) from the electoral commission. He urged the people to vote and defend their votes. He said: “The shoddy distribution of the cards is suspicious. By now, only those attaining 18 should be collecting them. Adults should have collected before. I have a message for you. Vote and defend your votes. PDP has hatched a plot to buy the voter’s cards.

    “Lagos belongs to our party. We will win because our two governors-Tinubu and Fashola-have performed. In  2007, I said at a reception that Fashola will perform. He performed. Now, I am assuring you that Ambode will perform better than Fashola. Don’t be intimidated by the PDP. Be prepared and be vigilant.”

    Basorun, who spoke after Ogunleye, also advised the people to collect their cards, adding that it is their electoral weapon on the election day. He said: “Change Jonathan and Change Nigeria for better. We have been having rallies since the days of Awolowo. But, we have not seen a huge crowd like this. If you have not collected your voter’s cards, coming to rallies is in vain. There are over four million cards for Lagos. Only about two million has been collected in Lagos. That is 50 percent. Let’s go and collect our cards.”

    Former Agricultural Commissioner Olusanya predicted that the APC will win in Ikorodu. He said: “Lagos has always voted for the progressives. This year will not be different. Ikorodu will vote for progressives. We have seen the trend of development in Ikorodu Division. New roads are coming up. There are ferry terminals in our riverrine areas. There is the renovation of schools. We have mother and child hospitals. We want all these to continue.”

    The Yeyesewa of Lagos, Nelson, said: “Let the whole of Lagos rise on the election day and endorse continuity. We should vote for the continuity of progress. They said that we should not fight. We will not fight, if they don’t rig the elections.”

    Thanking the people for their resilience and dedication, Fashola implored them to collect their cards, which he described as their potent electoral power. He said: “Since 1999, we have been defeating the party with the umbrella. This year will not be different. Go and get your voter’s cards. It is the only power in your hands. The only power in your hand is not the power of violence.  It is the power of the ballot. When it is a ballot, you cannot stop it. When people see the power of the ballot, whether they like it or not, they will surrender.”

    Reflecting on the state of the nation, he declared that President Jonathan has failed, adding that he is unfit to continue in office beyond May.

    Fashola asked: “Do you want the virus in Abuja to spread to Lagos? Do you want a Commander-In Chief who is looking for 1985 gun to fight 2015 war? Do you want your security apparatus and RRS to continue in Lagos? How are you going to secure that? Who are you voting for?” The crowd chorused APC.

    The governor lamented the economic down turn, recalling that the interest rate has jumped from 10 percent from 24 per cent to the detriment of businessmen, transporters, and importers. He said the Federal Government has been promoting poverty, instead of providing jobs.

    He added: “We have a President who has a Ph.D. His deputy is an architect. But, he cannot build roads. What job is the Vice President doing? He was telling the President that people were moving away from Lagos. I ask: are the cars entering Lagos decreasing. They now say they are going to increase tariff by 70 percent on imported vehicle. They are waiting for the election to pass. They knew you were annoyed. So, they postponed it. Is that in the interest of transporter?”

    Fashola said why the Federal Government has not fought the infrastructure battle successfully as reflected in the Lagos/Ibadan and Benin/Ore Expressway, his administration has turned Lagos into a huge construction site. He also alluded to the housing project undertaken by his government, challenging the Federal Government to tender its score cards in these sectors.

    Listing his achievements in Ikorodu Division, he said people are now enjoying Ibese Road, Mile 12/Ikorodu Road, Awlowo Road, Igbogbo and Obese roads, Ipakodo Ferry Terminus, and the Alara’s palace.

    The governor said that Ambode is fit to succeed him because he has learned the ropes under him and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He added: “Ambode  has worked with my predecessor. He has worked with me for six years as an accountant-general. Let me remind you. Which party and government frustrated the creation of new local governments in Lagos? It is the PDP. You had one local government in Ikorodu before. Now, you have six. Do you want to lose them? At the time their party and their government seized our money, this is the young man who was managing the finances and made those local governments to survive.

    “I was the Chief of Staff then. I was the one fighting the legal battle with Yemi Osinbajo. So, are you seeing the team? Ambode in Lagos and Osinbajo in Abuja. Your local government will be safe, if Buhari is elected. Your local government will be protected, if Ambode is elected. Those who wanted to spoil it yesterday cannot come and ask for your votes. Go and tell those who are not here that the election is about another fight for freedom. It is about the survival of the local government, state and the country.”

    Fashola drew attention to the handling of the security challenge by the President, pointing out that, under his charge, some parts of the component units had been taken over by terrorists. The governor said the Federal Government ferried huge cash abroad under the guise of weapon procurement, stressing that it smacked of corruption.

    He emphasised the need to vote out the President to pave the way for the APC candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, to restore security. Describing Buhari as a gallant and honest soldier, he said he will not be another Dr. Jonathan  who will send soldiers to war without ammunition. He said Buhari will also provide electricity, good roads and jobs for the unemployed youths.

    Urging Lagosians to reject Agbaje at the poll, Fashola said the PDP candidate is not conversant with the rudiments of budgeting and financial management.

    He stressed: “Don’t vote for inexperience. They say he sells drugs. But, we will not be sick. If we need drugs in hospitals, we will patronise him, if he has NAFDAC number. He is not fit to be governor. He displays his inexperience and ignorance when he speaks about Lagos. He said we were spending three percent of the budget on education. He doesn’t read budget. He doesn’t know about financing. If he listened to my budget speech, he will realise that we increase education budget from 15 per cent to 16.8 last year.

    “We do school meal programmes, but the budget is in the Ministry of Health. We do refuse collection across the schools. The budget is in the Ministry of Environment. We repair desks and maintain schools. The budget is in the Ministry of Works. We do school de-worming for children. The budget is in the Ministry of Health. We use experience. We have been long on this job. Asiwaju taught us. The leader taught us. If you add all these to 16 percent, it is more than that.

    “He cannot do this job. He should come and learn from us. This state is too strategic and too critical to the development of Nigeria, to the prosperity of the West Africa sub-region, to the prosperity and stability of the African continent to be entrusted to a beginner or an experimenter. We are voting continuity because we want to consolidate in what we have achieved.”