The Nation Newspaper

Tag: secretariat

  • Youths upgrade secretariat

    The youth in the Ado Odo Ado/Odo Ota Local Government, have expressed their willingness to host the headquarters of the proposed Ado-Igbesa Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) if plans by the Ogun State government falls through. To this end, the large compound that once housed the secretariat of the defunct Ado/Igbesa Local Government, is currently being cleared and given a facelift.

    The youths’ action followed the decision by the Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, to conduct establish more LCDAs with the splitting of Ado Odo/Ota local government into three one of which would be Ado Igbesa LCDA.

    “We youths are happy with the decision of the government,” said a statement by the Ado Odo Development Foundation (ADF). “This is why we all come out to clear the council secretariat voluntarily, paint the façade and the fence as a sign of our readiness to host the LCDA headquarters again.”

    A statement signed by ADF pioneer member Comrade Saeed Alagbe and secretary Wale Hassan, stated that youths are merely saying that the status quo should remain since Ado Odo Igbesa Local Government which once existed before it was proscribed by the military in 1984, had its headquarters at Ado-Odo.

    According to the duo, Ado Odo/Igbesa/Ipokia federal constituency also used to have its headquarters at Ado-odo from pre-colonial period till 1988.

    In 2003, the government of Olusegun Osoba created the Ado Odo Local Government which was rejected by federal government and later returned to the present Ado Odo/Ota Local Government when former governor Gbenga Daniel came on board.

  • Lagos civil servants flee secretariat

    Lagos civil servants flee secretariat

    There was confusion at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, as scores of civil servants hurriedly fled from the premises, following rumours that they were asked to go home as the results of Saturday’s elections were about to be announced.

    It could not be ascertained where the rumour emanated from, but there were reports suggesting that the Chief of Staff has asked civil servants to go home based on a directive from Governor Babatunde Fashola.

    By noon, there was heavy human and vehicular traffic at the exit points in the secretariat.

    A worker in the Office of the Head of Service debunked the rumour, saying no one asked civil servants to go home as there was no official circular or announcement.

    A top official in the Ministry of Information said she saw people hurriedly leaving the secretariat but did not know what was responsible.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Hakeem Bello said neither the governor nor any other officials asked them to go home, saying that the government did not know where such rumour emanated from.

    At the Ministry of Transportation, workers were asked to stay back as the management threatened to sanction anyone who left.

  • Thugs bomb APC’s secretariat in Okrika

    Thugs bomb APC’s secretariat in Okrika

    •Three on danger list in Obio/Akpor  •Investigations on, say Rivers police

    The secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State was yesterday bombed by suspected thugs.

    The Okrika explosion, which occurred at 3:14 a.m., destroyed the party’s secretariat, according to APC’s Chairman in the area, Christian Asifamaka, who described the damage as extensive.

    Scores of supporters of an ally of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Tony Okocha, the leader of the APC in Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State, were also attacked by thugs yesterday in Port Harcourt, with three of them on danger list.

    The attack on the supporters of Okocha, who is aspiring to represent Obio/Akpor constituency in the House of Representatives, took place in Ward 10, Rumueme-Port Harcourt in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

    One of the victims of yesterday’s Port Harcourt attack, Ogbonda Amadi, with machete cuts on his back speaking from his hospital bed in Rivers State capital, said the APC members were holding a meeting, when thugs invaded the venue with machetes, bottles and other dangerous weapons.

    Amadi said: “The Rumueme attack was masterminded by a loyalist of Nyesom Wike, who earlier vowed not to allow APC members hold their programmes or campaigns in Rumueme. Some of the APC leaders are still missing after the attack, as search party has been launched to know their whereabouts.”

    While also speaking from the hospital bed, another victim of the attack, Samson Amadi, whose head was battered, said the leaders and members of the APC were being targeted by PDP thugs for attacks.

    The APC chairman in Okrika said: “The APC in Okrika views this latest attack as a deliberate provocation by our opponents, the members of the PDP, to draw the APC members into a battle that will destabilise our beloved Okrika. This is unfortunate and the APC members in Okrika LGA will not allow Okrika to become a hotbed of crises, as the PDP members would wish.

    “We are Okrika people and we know what political crises had cost our people in the past. Our LGA had always been the worse hit in times of politics. Our young children are the ones they use as canon fodder. We know this and as a party, we have resolved to toe only the path of peace, in the interest of our land and our children.

    “We beg our daughter, the First Lady (Dame Patience Jonathan),  to remember that the land of Okrika has never spared any Okrika person who brings trouble to the land or destroys it. We beg her (President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife) to please call her people in the PDP to order, because Okrika is bigger than anyone of us and we should not destroy it.”

    The Rivers Chairman of the APC, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, while also speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt, called for the arrest of Wike and his supporters “now.”

    Ikanya, who spoke through the Rivers Publicity Secretary of the party, Chris Finebone, also called on the security agencies to investigate the introduction of violence into the politics of Rivers by Wike.

    Rivers APC chairman said: “Barely two days after prominent Kalabari chiefs, led by Chief Broadfield Michael-Jack, rejected Wike’s candidature as PDP’s governorship standard bearer for Rivers State and openly endorsed APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, supporters of Wike unleashed terror on his (Peterside’s) party members and innocent people of Abonnema (headquarters of Akuku-Toru LGA of Rivers State), where he visited to campaign yesterday (on Saturday).”

  • Peterside condemns bombing of Okrika APC secretariat

    Peterside condemns bombing of Okrika APC secretariat

    Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has condemned the multiple bomb attacks on the party’s secretariat in Okrika.

    The APC candidate was accompanied to the scene of the explosion by the party’s senatorial candidate Andrew Uchendu, House of Representatives candidate Maureen Tamuno, party leaders in the local government and other APC supporters.

    He expressed shock at the attack, which he said signalled danger, ahead of next month’s elections, if not checked.

    Peterside said: “It is very sad and unfortunate that some persons have chosen this path. If you notice, there has been a pattern of violence. On January 6, when we had our presidential rally at Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium, you would have noted that some of our party members from Abonnema, Degema and Asari-Toru were attacked around Sama Junction. Those coming from Khana and Gokana were also attacked around Sakpenwa Junction. Some other groups coming for the same rally were attacked around Elele.

    “Fingers point to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). We have raised these issues with the police commissioner and the security agencies, but not much action has been seen.

    “Aside from this, you would have also observed a trend even among them. A few days ago, they were in Abonnema to campaign and a faction of the PDP fought with another faction of the PDP. Two persons have been confirmed dead. They have also exhibited several other acts of violence at many other instances. That portends serious danger for our democracy.

    “I don’t want to believe that this signposts what to expect on February 14 and 28 because Rivers people are peace-loving; we reject violence.

    “I am optimistic that the police will do something about this pattern of violence we are witnessing. If they don’t, they will force ordinary people to resort to self-help, and self-help does not do anyone any good.”

  • Attempt to set ablaze PDP secretariat foiled in Kano

    Attempt to set ablaze PDP secretariat foiled in Kano

    Unidentified persons yesterday attempted to set ablaze the Kano State Secretariat of the Caretaker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Court Road in the metropolis.

    A man who said he witnessed the incident told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that “some miscreants” stormed the secretariat at about 6.30 am and set ablaze a car which was parked near the secretariat.

    The witness said the hoodlums were about to enter the secretariat to carry out similar act when some good Samaritans saw them and chased them away.

    He said it was the quick intervention of the people around the secretariat that put off the fire that saved the secretariat from being burnt.

    The Publicity Secretary of the PDP Caretaker Committee, Alhaji Jafar Bello, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation had commenced to ascertain the circumstances behind the incident.

    “Investigation is being carried out to find out whether it was arson or an accident,” he said.

    The Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Musa Daura, however denied any attempt to burn the party secretariat.

    He said” “There was no attempt to burn down the secretariat because as I am talking to you now, there are policemen at the place.”

    He declined comment on the vehicle which was said to have been burnt near the secretariat building.

     

  • Court declines to order re-opening of Baraje-led PDP secretariat

    Court declines to order re-opening of Baraje-led PDP secretariat

    ANOTHER major blow hit the Kawu Baraje-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday.

    It failed in its attempt to get its national secretariat re-opened as a Lagos High Court in Ikeja declined its prayer. The office was sealed off at the weekend on “order from above”.

    Mr. Justice Ganiyu Safari declined to order the re-opening of the secretariat, rejecting the oral application by Mr Robert Emukpaero, the counsel to the faction.

    The judge ordered the claimants to file a different application joining the Inspector General of Police (IGP) as defendant.

    Baraje and four others sued the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led PDP to court, pleading with it to restrain him and his co-defendants from parading themselves as PDP National Working Committee (NWC) members.

    Other claimants in the suit are Dr Sam Jaja and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

    Joined as defendants alongside Tukur are Mr Uche Secondus, Deputy National Chairman; Dr Kema Chikwe, Women Leader and Mr Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary.

    At the resumed hearing of the matter, Emukpaero accused Tukur and others of using the police to seal off the faction’s secretariat.

    Emukpaeruo said the defendants violated the court’s previous order to maintain the status quo, pending the determination of the suit.

    He urged the court to order the police to remove their Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) from the secretariat and allow his clients access to their offices.

    But the defence counsel, Ajibola Oluyede, urged the court to dismiss the claim as a “mere say” and that which cannot be relied upon by the court.

    “The police is a statutory organisation that has discretionary powers that cannot be usurped by any one; even the court,” he argued.

    He said only the police could respond to the application.

    Oluyede accused the claimant of breaching the court’s orders that all parties should maintain the status quo.

    “After the order, they began to establish an office; they are the ones to be dragged for committal for contempt and we intend to do that in due course by making formal application before the court,” he added.

    Oluyede told the court that the claimants had continued to address themselves as national officers of the PDP, in spite of the order of the court that they maintain the status quo.

    Mr. Justice Safari held that there was no evidence linking the defendants to the closure of the secretariat.

    The judge said while the defendants were high ranking members of the PDP, they had no powers to order the police to seal off the secretariat or deploy security agents in the area.

    He, however reiterated his previous order that both parties should maintain the status quo, pending the determination of the matter.

    He adjourned the matter till September 17 for hearing of the preliminary objection filed by the defendants.

    There was a mild drama over legal representation for the defendants among three lawyers.

    After Oluyede who was in court at the last hearing, had announced his appearance as counsel to the defendants, Boniface Igwe from Gadzama Chambers announced his appearance for Tukur and other defendants.

    Another lawyer, Emeka Etiaba, also announced appearance for the Deputy Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; the Woman Leader, Mrs. Kema Chikwe and the Publicity Secretary, Olisah Metuh.

    Oluyede said he had Tukur’s instructions to represent him and others.

    Igwe and Etiaba also displayed letters from the PDP’s national legal adviser, instructing them to represent the defendants.

    Mr. Justice Safari resolved the controversy in favour of Oluyede, who was counsel on record and who had filed processes in court in fulfilment of the requirement of Order 48 of the Lagos High Court rules.

    In a statement, by its National Publicity Secretary, the Baraje group urged Inspector General of Police, M.D. Abubakar, to immediately unseal its National Secretariat in Abuja and allow it to operate unhindered.

    “Today, the High Court in Lagos once again ruled on the legitimacy of the PDP under the leadership of Baraje and maintained that the status quo be maintained until the determination of the motion on notice. “

     

     

     

    “The party views the continued seal up of our offices as barbaric, undemocratic and an abuse and demonstration of naked power, the very elements that characterised Alh. Bamanga Tukur’s leadership.

    “No matter the odds, it is our resolve as a group to rescue PDP from the hands of undemocratic elements and draconian rule which have been the lot of our political party under the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

    “We remain committed to the vision of the founding fathers of our great party and will not be deterred in our determination to entrench democratic principles within our party irrespective of the odds and threat to our lives.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, we reiterate our determination and will to restore peace in the PDP. We wish to commend the judiciary for living up to its reputation as has been clearly shown by the decision of both the high court in Lagos and Abuja.

    “We are indebted to Nigeria and appreciate the goodwill we have enjoyed in our quest to rebuild and sustain the greatest party in Africa. We understand that leadership is a sacred trust and therefore commit to a people focussed and people centred leadership under our chairman Alhaji Kawu- Baraje.

    “We appeal to all our party men to be calm, loyal and desist from making any inflammatory statement that may undermine the efforts of the Peace Committee of the elders of the party under the leadership of His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.”

     

     

     

  • Fire guts Ogun Govt Secretariat car park

    • Seven vehicles burnt

    Seven vehicles belonging to the Ogun State government were burnt yesterday after fire swept the car park of the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs at the State Government Secretariat, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.

    The fire was put out by the State Fire Service before further damage could be done.

    The burnt vehicles included three units of Toyota Camry, two units of Honda Accord and two of Nissan Primera.

    The fire was said to have been caused by bush burning close to the complex.

    The burnt cars were among those returned to government pool by members of the immediate past local government caretaker committees in the state.

    The Deputy Chief of Staff to the State governor, Mr. Shuaib Salisu hailed the fire brigade for its timely intervention.

    Salisu with whom was the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mrs.Funmi Wakama said the fire fighters would remain on alert as the fire was still raging on the other side of the secretariat fence.

    As he spoke a towing vehicle belonging to the State Parking Management Scheme was driven into the complex to remove other vehicles in the park to safety.

     

  • Gunmen attack police station, secretariat in Adamawa

    Gunmen attack police station, secretariat in Adamawa

    Unknown gunmen on Thursday attacked and razed the Song divisional police station and local government secretariat in Adamawa, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    A resident of the town told NAN on condition of anonymity that the attack occurred in the early hours of Thursday.

    “The police station and part of the one-storey secretariat building were burnt by the gunmen, who also attacked a security check-point on the Song-Yola road,’’ he said.

    The source said that an old woman and a boy were hit by stray bullets in their home near the police station.

    “Dada Audu, an 80-year-old woman with her grandson of about 15 years were hit by bullets and are feared dead,’’ he said.

    Contacted, the Adamawa Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, confirmed the attack but gave no details.

    Ibrahim said he was heading to the location.

    NAN reports that the Song attack came less than a week after a similar attack in Maiha, Hong and Fufore local government areas of the state.

     

  • Protest in Anambra over LP’s new secretariat

    Some factional members of the Anambra State Labour Party (LP) yesterday protested against the inauguration of a new secretariat for the party in Awka, the state capital.

    LP National Chairman Dan Nwanyanwu led the party’s chieftains to the inauguration yesterday.

    The protest followed the alleged stand by the former state Secretary of the party, Chief Basil Iwuoba, that the secretariat should remain in his house.

    He described the inauguration of the new office as illegal.

    But Nwanyanwu said the LP needed more of such actions because it showed that the party had started making waves in Anambra State.

    The party chairman described the protesters as disgruntled elements who wanted to trade the LP for money as the 2014 governorship election approaches.

    Iwuoba reportedly placed an advertorial in a national daily last Friday, urging the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, not to recognise the Nwuanyanwu group.

    The former secretary also reportedly urged the chairman not to inaugurate the new secretariat.

    Nwanyanwu said: “This is an indication that the Labour Party is strong in Anambra State. We still need more of this action to make the party stronger in the state.

    “A political party is not a town union affair; it is not a trading company to make money. It is not a 419 affair, but an association seeking political power for the betterment of the people.

    “The former office of the party belongs to someone who donated it to the party. But as the party keeps expanding, it needs a spacious place like this one to function effectively.

    “Visit the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and others. They do not have their offices in somebody’s house. If anybody wants to challenge the authority of the LP, let me see any other signboard of the party elsewhere in this state, apart from this one.

    “The LP is a serious party. Moreover, this office is strategically located and spacious. So, why the noise about location? People should stop crying wolf when there is none. They are acting out of ignorance.

    “I sympathise with those people because they are not well informed. They are clowns; they are disgruntled elements. They want to carry their PDP trouble to the LP. It will not work.”

    The party’s new State Chairman, Comrade Sam Oraegbunam, told reporters that PDP members were carrying out what he called their show of shame to the LP.

    He said LP members would not allow that to happen.

    According to him, anybody who will vie for the governorship ticket on the platform of LP must be a credible person with impeccable record.

    Oraegbunam added that the party would not look at money in selecting a candidate.

    He said: “We have repositioned the party. Wwe do not believe in ‘godfatherism’. It is a party of like minds. If you do not think that the LP is good enough for you, you go and form your own party.”

  • Enugu hands over secretariat to contractor

    Enugu hands over secretariat to contractor

    Enugu State government has handed over the total reconstruction of the state secretariat to a foreign firm, the Arab Contractors.

    The N13 billion project which is expected to be completed within 24 months would consist of 13 complexes with lifts, pipe-borne water and new roads within the secretariat.

    The state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Godwin Madueke, an engineer, who handed over the structures, said the project was aimed at transforming the state secretariat.

    Madueke said some of the buildings at the secretariat were built many years ago and have dilapidated over the years.

    “Anyone who goes into the buildings would agree with the state government on total reconstruction,” hew said.

    The commissioner advised civil servants in the state to exercise patience, explaining that they would be happy when they come back to work in the new secretariat.

    Madueke assured that some of the historic buildings that have not been altered would remain preserved as monuments while most would be demolished to pave way for new ones.

    He said, however, that the structure housing the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, formerly known as Public Works Department and Establishment, which was constructed in 1928 would be preserved as a monument.

    The consultant architect to the project, Nnabuike Ofordile of Nnabuike Ofordile and Associates who designed the new secretariat said at the occasion that Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has been identified with lots of infrastructural development and thanked God that his company was commissioned to participate in the project.

    The contractor handling the project, Mr. Elderos Mohammed of Arab Contractors, thanked the Enugu State government for awarding the contract to his company and promised to abide by the specifications and standard as well as deliver the project as scheduled.

    The ceremony was witnessed by the director architectural department, Job Ugwueke; project architect, Emma Ngene; project quantity surveyor. Innocent Obiakulusi;  Benjamin Aluma and Ngozi Ngene, the spokesperson of the ministry.