The Nation Newspaper

Tag: shun

  • Assembly workers urged to shun NLC strike

    Cross River State House of Assembly’s Speaker John Gaul Lebo has urged the Assembly’s workers to shun the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strike and resume work today.

    Lebo said: “The House of Assembly, as an institution, is ahead of the issues raised by Labour. The most critical points by the union with respect to the strike are not arguable issues. They relate to the House of Assembly’s workers’ salaries, which have been paid regularly, at least by the 25th of each month; impress and statutory allowances have been regularly paid.

    “Given the context of the immediate picture analysis, the strike is not the best evacuation corridor to resolve any issue now or in the future. As legislative architects, the House of Assembly workers occupy a special place in the state’s governance machinery.”

  • ‘Shun politics of highest bidders’

    Former Oyo State People Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant Mr Olufemi Babalola has urged Nigerians to shun politics of the highest bidder for the country to move forward.

    He urged professionals to get involved in politics to push the bad politicians out and pave the way for the right people.

    Babalola, who was the guest speaker at the 50th anniversary lecture of the Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan spoke on the theme: “Population, Power and politics: Necessary Tools for Development.”

    According to him, Nigeria politics must be capable of throwing up the right leaders if the right people get involved in politics.

    He identified population as one of the tools of development, urging government to control its growth.

    Babalola said: “Nigerians can help themselves to this utopia by shunning politics of the highest bidders. But it takes an enlightened population to achieve such feat.

    “Politics throw up leaders who exercise power. Hence, our politics must be capable to throw up the right leaders. Politics will drive development if we have at the helms of affairs people who can predict future because they have taken time to study the trend in the past and the present, people who will not mind sacrificing their personal comfort for the wellbeing of the nation, people whose focus is building the legacy not festering their own nest,” he said.

    Commending the achievements of the management of the School of Nursing, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Issaac Adewole, who was represented by the Deputy Chancellor Administration, Professor Emilolorun Ayelari, and the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital(UCH), Professor Temitope Alonge said the principle set by the funding fathers of the institution in 1952 is still in place till date.

  • Traders: why we shun insurance

    Traders: why we shun insurance

    •Say operators not sincere

    Traders are averse to insuring their properties despite suffering heavy losses in fires in Lagos in the past one month, it has been learnt.

    Traders, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), lost goods worth billions of naira to fires which gutted five markets.

    According to NAN, many of the traders said they would not insure their businesses because the insurers were not sincere.

    Mr Lekan Oguntunde, the market leader of Oluwagbemi Market on Lagos Island, said most insurance companies did not pay claims in time whenever tragedy occurred.

    He said: “The experience of few of our members that registered with them is unpleasant. These insurance companies are diligent in collecting premiums but when it is time for compensation, they will start demanding for unnecessary things.

    “One of our members was asked to bring receipts for goods bought many years before the fire that gutted his shop.’’

    A fire victim at Ereko Market on Lagos Island, Mrs Remix Bakinson, said Nigerians lacked confidence in insurance companies.

    Bakinson said she stopped insuring her business five years ago because she did not see the need for it.

    “All that insurance people are concerned about is the collection of premiums, after that, nothing else. At least, they should be able to tell us what happens to the money if no losses are recorded after a period of time,” he said.

    She said she regretted not insuring her business, adding that she lost goods worth billions of naira to the fire.

    Mr Silva Okereke, leader of fabric sellers at the market, said he distrusted insurance companies because of their high premiums, especially, for comprehensive insurance.

    According to Okereke, the companies demand up to N500,000 yearly on businesses valued at N5 million.

    He said: “This is just too high; some of us collected loans from the bank to float our businesses and we are still repaying with interest. We pay almost five million naira per annum as rent on our shops; this is apart from other expenses.

    “So, it will be good if insurance companies can bring down the premium they demand.”

    Mr Olanrewaju Onigemo, Secretary-General of Electronics Market Traders Association at Alaba, Lagos, said the traders had not thought of insuring the market.

    Onigemo said insurance operators had not been visiting them regularly.

    “The last insurance company that was here came five years ago and we introduced the company to our members, afterwards we did not see them again.

    “Our members lack enlightenment; they find it hard to inculcate other things into their business apart from buying and selling.

    “Also, Insurance operators ask too many questions and are not sincere; so they can hardly get five out of 100 persons selling here at Alaba, to buy their policies.

    “We learnt our lessons from people who took comprehensive insurance, if an insured car is involved in an accident today, the compensation will be paid after three  years,’’ Onigemo said.

    He advised insurance companies to mobilise and penetrate the markets.

    Mr Mohammed Abdul, Secretary-General of Perishable Food Sellers Association at Mile 12 market, said it was wrong to force people to take an insurance policy.

    Abdul said some traders had not taken up any policy because of their religious beliefs.

    He recalled that some companies had come to the market to sell their products but most traders were not interested.

    Reacting, President of the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) Mr Godwin Wiggle said it had taken measures to encourage people to accept its policies, especially in micro-businesses.

    “We have developed robust micro insurance products that will address the needs of market people.

    “We have strategised and sensitised our members to enter Nigerian markets in full force,’’ Wiggle said.

    The association, he said, would continue to improve on its enlightenment to reach people.

    Mr Ayodapo Shoderu, President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), said the council was working hard to promote high ethical standards among its members.

    Shoderu said anything short of this was unacceptable, adding that the council will not defend any member that violates insurance broking operation standards.

    “Let me reiterate the call for compulsory insurance for all Nigerian markets and public edifices, as enshrined in the legal provision under Insurance Act 2003 (section 64 and 65) of insurance of public buildings”, he said.

  • Concern as Tompolo, Emami shun $16b project peace meeting

    Hope brightened for the $16 billion Gas City Project in Warri, Delta State, yesterday, as the Ijaw and Itsekiri hosts agreed on the groundbreaking ceremony for the strategic project.

    But the truce brokered by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was received with mixed feelings, following the absence of the protagonists, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) and Chief Ayirimi Emami, representing Ijaw and Itsekiri interests.

    Governor Uduaghan, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sunny Ogefere, said: “The two groups resolved to make room for peace as well as ensure that the $16b Gas City Project takes off successfully.”

    Under the terms of the peace deal, it was gathered that the gas city would be named Ogidigben Gas City, while the deep sea port part of the project would be removed from the contentious Kpokpo to Gbaramatu Kingdom.

    Mr Austin Oboroegbeyi, who spoke on behalf of Ugborodo and Chief Godspower Gbenekama of Gbaramatu said they agreed that the Gas Industrial City would be named after Ogidigben and the Deep Sea Port after Gbaramatu.

    NNPC’s Group Executive Director (Gas and Power) Dr David Ige said the title of the project would not affect the original concept of the project, stressing: “They (projects) are inter-dependent projects.”

    However, independent investigation by our reporter showed that there were concerns that the peace deal could be a political move by The Presidency in view of the condemnation that greeted President Goodluck Jonathan’s no-show at the initial ceremony slated for last November.

    The President shied away, citing security reports, after Tompolo, ex-leader of the defunct militant group and his Gbaramatu kinsmen threatened violence if the President went ahead with the ceremony.

    The Itsekiri ethnic group, in reaction to the development, threatened to give block vote to the APC candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari,  prompting the President to make three quick visits to the state within weeks and a private visit to the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, Tompolo and Emami.

  • Nigerians urged to shun violence

    A member of the Eti-Osa Local Government Chieftaincy Committee and the Secretary, Elegushi Royal Family, Chief Muritala Adedoyin Elegushi, has urged Nigerians to shun violence before, during and after the elections.

    Elegushi, the Alaawe of Ikate land, who spoke in Lagos yesterday, said people should not see election as a do-or-die affair.

    According to him, winners should be magnanimous in victory and losers should be gallant because the most important thing was the survival of the country.

    He decried the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for postponing the elections to March 28 and April 11 because of insecurity.

    Said he: “If the Federal Government cannot contain the Boko Haram insurgency between 2011 and now, how are we sure it will tackle the militias before the elections?”

    Chief Elegushi advised youths not to allow politicians to use them to cause violence because of money.

    “Most politicians’ children are in overseas, safe. Politicians are wise. They hide their children in overseas and use the children of the poor to foment trouble, exposing them to danger. Youths should not risk their lives because of pecuniary gains.”

    Elegushi enjoined the electorate not to sell their votes, adding that they should elect candidates who could perform.

    His words: “Nigerians should not just obtain Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), they should exercise their franchise. INEC should, however, be impartial.”

  • Brazil finally shun Eagles

    Brazil finally shun Eagles

    The Selecao have announced two friendly games in March leaving the Super Eagles out in the cold after claims that the South Americans were billed for Uyo.

    Nigeria have been left shopping for an opponent during the March Fifa window as Brazil have announced a friendly with Chile.

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had announced that the Super Eagles would host the Selecao in the new Uyo stadium on March 29.

    However, it emerged on Friday that the Brazilians will now head to London’s Emirates Stadium to face their South American rivals Chile after playing against France on March 26.

    NFF president Amaju Pinnick had reassured everyone that the match against Brazil was cast in stone last year even as it seemed that the former world champions were not keen.

    “It is not true that the match has been cancelled. There is nothing like that. What people are probably not clear about is the fact that Brazil will play France around the same period,” Pinnick had said.

    “Brazil will play France on March 26, while they will fly to Nigeria to play the Super Eagles at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium on March 29.The two games and dates are quite different.”

    With this confirmation that Brazil would not be coming to Uyo, the NFF will be in search of new opponents for the Super Eagles Team A who have been out of action since failing to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

  • Ondo PDP shuns Mimiko’s committee

    Ondo PDP shuns Mimiko’s committee

    Old members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State at the weekend vowed to shun any campaign rally organised by the Tokunbo Modupe-led presidential campaign committee in the state.

    The group also threatened to form a parallel campaign committee for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election, if Modupe is not removed.

    The move by the old members had hindered efforts to integrate party members, following the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko from Labour Party (LP)  last October.

    The old PDP members held a stakeholders meeting in Akure, the state capital, at the weekend which was convened by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta Affairs and Chairman of Presidential Amnesty Programme,  Kingsley Kuku.

    Party members said it would be an insult to old members if the governor is made the South-West coordinator of the  campaign committee and another new member the state coordinator.

    In a communiqué by the governorship candidate in the 2012 election, Chief Olusola Oke, the group said Mimiko should replace Modupe with any old member.

    The group said it welcomes the governor and his supporters as they would add value to the party

    It, however, warned that it would not be in the party’s interest to have all positions controlled by newcomers.

    Oke who was supported by other Tayo Dairo, Kuku, Princess Oladunni Odu, Prince John Ola Mafo, Ebenezer Alabi and others regretted the defection of the members to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • Monarch urges youths to shun thuggery

    The Olu of Itoriland, Ogun State, Oba Fatai Akamo, has called on  youths to distance themselves from any politician who would use them as political thugs.

    Oba Akamo, who observed the rate at which the lifespan of many youths were been shorten as a result of deadly task assigned to them during elections, lamented that it was high time all youths stands on their feet to say no to such act.

    The monarch who spoke with reporters in Ibadan called for a violence-free democratic. He said: ”Let Nigerians have free minds to votes the candidates of their choice without fear”.

    On the contributions of traditional rulers in promoting good governance, the monarch said: ”We do try our best to ensure that our domains are calm and peace ful during elections but Constitutionally we have no role to play in politics only giving advisory role if called for.”

    Oba Akamo also said that the monarchical system of government would maintain a concept of consistency in Nigeria economy if it was to be instituted into the country.

    Akamo stressed that countries that practiced the monarchical system of ruling were economically stable and more attractive  than the democracy system of ruling.

    “Countries such as Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom, have proved to the world that the monarchy system of government was peaceful, far better and richer than most democratic ruling system, “ he said.

    His word: “The democracy that we say we practice in Nigeria is far different from how its been practiced in America where we  copied it from,Ours is a democracy of violence, thuggery and ofcourse a do or die affair.” if we know we want to practice democracy then we should do it the way it was handed over to us.”

  • EAGLES SHUN JOURNALISTS

    EAGLES SHUN JOURNALISTS

    About 200 sports journalists that that came to cover the all-important 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between host Nigeria and visiting Sudan went home disappointed after the match as they couldn’t chat with Super Eagles players and their Chief Coach Stephen Keshi when they failed to attend the post-match press briefing that was slated for the Media Hall of the Abuja National Stadium yesterday.

    The enthusiastic journalists who were relieved that the Eagles beat Sudan comprehensively were eager to talk to the players and their Chief Coach Keshi but they had to wait for an hour before they were told that the Eagles had left for their hotel.

    Some of the journalists who flew in from Lagos, Port Harcourt, Benin, Kaduna, Kano, Maduguri and other parts of the country left the stadium highly disappointed for not getting the chance to do their work since the players and their officials chose to shun them after winning the match.

    The Sports Minister had apologised to the Super Eagles players on behalf of Nigerian fans and media while chatting with the team during their training session on Monday. He then assured them that the media did not hate them but they were passionate about the game, a reason why they wrote their reports to ginger them to action. But it seems the players and their officials chose the victory’s opportunity to pay the sporting media back by shunning the post match interview.

  • Shun aggression, Muslims told

    Shun aggression, Muslims told

    An islamic group, Nasril-Lahi-L-Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), has enjoined Muslims to live peacefully with others irrespective of their religious differences.

    Speaking at the induction of the new executive and Council of Elders for its Ikotun, Lagos Branch, the second Vice President of NASFAT Worldwide, Alhaji Wasiu Bolaji, said such attitude would convince others that Islam “is truly a religion of peace.”

    Bolaji said: “It’s unfortunate that the act of terrorism around the world today is being linked to Muslims. Yet, those who know the truth have decided to conceal the fact about the real causes of terrorism and human cruelty that we are all witnessing today.  Islam is a religion of peace anytime; you don’t need to be confused otherwise. You should go and study your holy book thoroughly in case of any doubt; Islam was never evangelised with the swords. All the wars fought by Prophet Muhammad were defensive wars against the very aggressive infidels. And those were commonsensical wars anyway.”