The Nation Newspaper

Tag: shun

  • Kogi teachers shun work

    Kogi teachers shun work

    Primary and secondary school teachers in Kogi State have vowed not to resume for the 2014/2015 academic session as directed by the government.

    In a statement yesterday in Lokoja, the state capital, the Basic Education Staff Association of Nigeria (BESAN) said teachers would not resume until the unpaid N18,000 national minimum wage is resolved.

    The association called for a stop to the irregular payment of salary to its members and the payment of leave allowance arrears from 2011 till date.

    In the statement, signed by BESAN Chairman Suleiman Adomu, the teachers urged the government to look into promotions without monetary rewards.

    They lamented the devastating effects of infrastructural decay and poor welfare to teachers on the education sector, adding that they won’t resume until the issues are resolved.

    The teachers decried the “incessant, inconclusive and fraudulent screening of workers”, urging the government to release the results of previous exercises.

  • National Conference: Northern delegates shun Kutigi’s meeting

    National Conference: Northern delegates shun Kutigi’s meeting

    •No, flight disruption affected the peace parley

    The division at the ongoing National Conference sank deeper yesterday following the boycott of a peace parley with the Chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi by Northern delegates.

    Kutigi was scheduled to meet with a team of “50 wise men” randomly selected among the delegates.

    The peace session was to seek the way forward following  the split of the 492 delegates over derivation formula and five per cent intervention funds for the North-East, North-West and North-Central.

    While the Southern delegates favour increase in derivation formula from 13 per cent to 18 per cent, Northern delegates are demanding five per cent Intervention Funds for the North-East (3%), North-West (1%) and North-Central (1%) which had been plagued by Boko Haram insurgency.

    But the Southern delegates insisted that the five per cent should be designated as National Intervention Funds to cater for emergency situation nationwide.

    Another area of disagreement is the demand for ballot process to make delegates feel free on any decision.

    Northern delegates alleged that voice vote is being manipulated by the conference leadership to “achieve a predetermined agenda.”

    The differences made Northern and Southern delegates to engage in shouting match on Thursday leading to the constitution of a team of 50 wise men by Kutigi to build consensus.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that only 25 out of the 50 wise men showed up for the meeting.

    Findings showed that most Northern delegates in the wise men’s team boycotted the meeting with Kutigi and his deputy, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi.

    One of the frustrated wise men, who spoke in confidence, said: “We could not form the quorum; we had to discuss informally which is not binding.

    “Most of the Northern delegates did not honour the session as agreed by latching on one excuse or the other.

    “I think some Northern delegates have a hidden agenda which would not augur well for the survival of the National Conference.”

    But a source close to the Secretariat of the National Conference, however, said: “The closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to traffic affected the peace meeting between Kutigi and the 50 wise men.

    “”Most of the 50 wise men and co-chairmen and deputy chairmen said the closure would affect their movement to their respective states to see their families and for that reason, they won’t be able to attend.

    “Only about 25 of them showed up. They just discussed at random and left thereafter.”

    A delegate from the North, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “The meeting was boycotted by the North. First and foremost, Kutigi was aware from the leadership of the Northern Leadership Forum at the conference that the Northern delegates among the 50 wise men were not going to attend.

    He is not the chairman of the northern delgates.”

    “Our leader, ex-IGP Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomasie stood up at the floor of the National Conference and said the northern delegates will no longer attend the meeting of the 50 wise men unless a ballot process is put in place to decide on any recommendation.

    “If they tell you anything, do not believe them. I am aware that some respected delegates like Umar Hadejia, ex-Minister Bashiru Dalhatu, Buba Galadima, Prof. Auwalu Yadudu and Sadiq Mohammed among others did not attend the meeting called by Kutigi. Actually, Sadiq Mohammed came with me this afternoon from Abuja.

    ”If there was an attempted meeting it failed, it must have been a figment of their imagination.

    On the way forward, Dr. Junaid Mohammed said: “Ask Kutigi who does not want democracy; who does not want us to chart the way forward.

    “We came to this conference to defend and protect our interests; we do not come to participate in the reengineering of Nigerian state. The majority has been turned into minority. The North has 62 per cent of the population of this country. Yet out of 492 delegates we are less than 180 at the National Conference.

    “We are insisting on ballot because they have been corrupting the voice vote. The rules of the conference say we must have consensus three times and if it failed, we must have physical counting. Since we started, neither Kutigi nor Akinyemi has allowed ballot.

    “We either respect the rule or break the conference. What the chairman and the deputy want, was to blackmail the Northern delegates. We would not be blackmailed, we would not be intimidated, and we would not be fazed. As true democrats, we would not shy away from the ballot process.

    A key Southern delegate, who spoke in confidence, said: “The only thing we are ready to concede is five per cent intervention funds and it will be named as National Intervention Funds which would be accessible by all the six geopolitical zones.

    “If the conference concedes 5 % intervention funds to the North, it means technically we have voted funds for Boko Haram. We will be saying insurgency is the right way to live as citizens.

    “We have had insurgency; invasion devastation and war in the South-East, Zaki-Biam, Gabramatu Kingdom, and Odi, there were no intervention funds to rebuild these areas. We are saying the intervention funds should be for all the zones.

    “All the leaders and delegates from the South have agreed that it is either National Intervention Funds or nothing else.”

  • Stakeholders shun congress convened by Maigari’s man

    Stakeholders shun congress convened by Maigari’s man

    Football stakeholders in the North Central yesterday boycotted a congress called in Jos by the former coordinator of the zone, Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, a board member of the ousted Aminu Maigari-led NFF executive committee.

    According to a source who was invited for the meeting, the invitees, mostly the States FA Chairmen and Secretaries, called the bluff of the former board member because of what they called the ‘legal implications’ of attending such a congress.

    “On what ground is he calling us? Why is he calling us for a meeting now, when he was behaving like a lord all through their reign? They are now looking for solidarity. Besides most of us are civil servants, we cannot go contrary to the feelings of the government,” the source said.

    “Why are you asking me if I will attend the meeting, when the board has been sacked by the congress? Whatever meeting they are calling now is illegal, because they are no longer in office. Again, what is the security implication of attending such a gathering?.

    “It may be translated to mean a security risk because of  the security situation in the country now. I think that is the major reason why nobody is attending the congress.”

    When reminded that they had earlier passed a vote-of-confidence on the members of the ousted board, the source, who is an FA Scribe, said: “Actually when we were in Brazil, the members came to us and pleaded that they wanted to return to the board again. We agreed to return them, as they promised to do more for the development of the game at the grassroots.

    “This many of us agreed in principle, but some were of the opinion that we should try other persons, since our interests were not catered for by the Maigari board. But now, the trend has changed, and we have to move on,” he concluded.

    Meanwhile, feelers from government circles indicate that the searchlight may be beamed on Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, since convening of a congress maybe interpreted as declaring war on the government.

  • Security agents shun court order to seize Sanusi’s passport

    Security agents shun court order to seize Sanusi’s passport

    Despite being shown a court order, security men at the weekend prevented  suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi from traveling abroad.

    A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had described as illegal and unconstitutional, Sanusi’s arrest at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, after he was suspended from office by President Goodluck Jonathan. It ordered the return of his passport, which the security again seized at the weekend.

    He was stopped at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, in Kano on his way to France enroute Mecca, Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser Hajj.

    Sanusi’s passport was also reportedly seized by the men who said they were acting on instructions.

    Former FCT Minister Nasir El-Rufai criticised the Federal Government for the  seizure.

    El-Rufai said he was angry, helpless and ashamed of the government’s “sheer brainlessness”.

    He said: “My brother Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (SLS) has just been stopped at Kano Airport and prevented from travelling to Saudi Arabia for Lesser Hajj, violating his freedom of movement, religion and conscience.

    “These Jonathanians have no respect for the laws of the country and court judgment, yet they expect citizens to respect them and take them seriously.

    “They have failed to provide basic security. They dance and party when citizens are being bombed to death and our daughters being abducted by Boko Haram. They then insult our sensibilities by questioning whether over 200 girls have ever been kidnapped from Chibok, and then form a committee in search of someone to blame.

    “They are cowards who run into hiding with the hint of the slightest danger to their bodies or bank accounts. They block public roads they did not build to protect themselves and care less about the safety of the Nigerian citizen, but are quick to violate the rights of unarmed and law abiding citizens like SLS because he exposed them.

    “We hope that SLS’ lawyers will go back to the High Court and procure the arrest of those behind this latest violation of the ruling of the court.”

  • Politicians shun Abuja Heritage Day celebration

    Politicians invited for the Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja (OIDA) Heritage Day celebration shunned the event.

    The event, which showcased the rich cultural heritage of the nine indigenous ethnic groups in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and launch of a N200 million educational endowment fund, was held in Gwagwalada.

    Some of the invited dignitaries were the FCT Minister Bala Mohammed, former minister (FCT) Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni, who was the chairman of the occasion, and Senator Philip Aduda representing the FCT.

    Even the chairmen of the six area councils in the FCT did not show up.

    OIDA has been protesting the non-democratisation of governance of the FCT, compensation for indigenous lands and the rejection of the land swap policy introduced by Mohammed.

    The Gomo of Kuje, Haruna Jibrin, said: “The problem we have is disunity, our people are not united, especially when it comes to things that will benefit everyone.

    “I am honestly disappointed in our politicians, whom we elected to protect our interest. They are not interested in our people but in filling their pockets and will only come running to us when the next election comes.

    “Our people will unite and fight them with our votes, when the time comes.”

    Jibrin urged the people to fight back with their votes, insisting that the original inhabitants of Abuja will always fight to be heard.

    A former senator of the FCT, Tanko Abari, said: “None of the six chairmen of the area council thought it fit to attend an event that will benefit their communities.”

    OIDA President Danladi Jeji said the association will sue the Federal Government, if it continues to confiscate lands.

     

  • PDP crisis: Jonathan tells elders to shun Obasanjo

    PDP crisis: Jonathan tells elders to shun Obasanjo

    Even before it got off the drawing board, former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s plan to lead the peace moves in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has collapsed.

    The meeting of elders to resolve the party’s crises was slated for today in Abuja.

    It was “technically” called off last night at the Presidency’s prompting, The Nation learnt.

    President Goodluck Jonathan, it was said, advised the elders to shun the meeting, following intelligence reports that Obasanjo was behind the crises.

    The former President could not be reached last night.

    Among the elders expected at the meeting are former chairmen and notable leaders.

    A pre-meeting session of some governors at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge went on for hours last night.

    It was not clear what was discussed, but the news about the Obasanjo mission may have been broken.

    “All was well, until this evening when we learnt the President was opposed to Obasanjo presiding at the meeting,” a source said, adding: “He believes that Obasanjo is the architect of the crises; he shouldn’t be called to settle it and be seen as a peacemaker.”

    The meeting slated for next Tuesday will hold. President Jonathan will preside.

    Brickbats continued to fly yesterday amid shaky efforts to rescue the PDP.

    A group loyal to President Jonathan also accused Obasanjo of being the architect of the crises. He should call his associates in the Kawu Baraje faction of the party to order, the Media Network for Transformation (MNT) said.

    The group said Obasanjo could not continue to be the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob at the same time.

    In a statement in Abuja, signed by its Coordinator, Mr. Goodluck Ebelo, the MNT urged Obasanjo to either renounce his associates in the New PDP or be treated like those rated as rebels by the party.

    The group said “no arbiter, who is the guiding light of the rebels can make peace”.

    To the President’s camp, Obasanjo is the unseen hand pulling the string of crises in the ruling party. There is suspicion in the Presidency over his peace mission.

    Some governors were meeting last night at the Rivers Governor’s Lodge in Abuja ahead of today’s meeting.

    National Chairman Bamanga Tukur yesterday described members of the Kawu Baraje faction as “prodigal sons” who would be accepted back into the fold, if they retraced their steps.

    But the Baraje faction told Tukur that his “time is up”.

    The statement said: “We call on former President Olusegun Obasanjo to call his associates to order. Apart from being their sponsor, the rebel governors draw their inspiration from him.

    “Apart from numerous clandestine meetings, former President Obasanjo started his public romance with the rebel flank when he became unavoidably absent at this year’s Democracy Day celebration in Abuja, but vigorously participated in the day’s activities in Dutse, Jigawa State. That was followed by the rebel governors’ visit to his Abeokuta home.

    “Then came last Saturday, and Chief Obasanjo’s mischief literarily flew over the Eagle Square venue of the Special Convention. Unavoidably absent, again, he was to turn up the next day in church, at the Presidential Villa, made a few platitudinous remarks on the need for a peaceful resolution of the crisis and thereafter called a meeting . His meeting failed and will continue to fail.

    “Obasanjo cannot continue to be hands of Esau and the voice of Jacob at the same time. No arbiter, who is the guiding light of the rebels, can make peace. Peace, in this matter, will continue to elude President Obasanjo because his activities are the very antithesis of the conditions precedent to peace.”

    The group said it suspected that Obasanjo cannot resolve the crisis in the party with alleged partisan interest.

    The statement added: “Unfortunately, his eight years in office provides no road map to resolving a political dispute. All that can be gleaned from the debris of his time in power are abuse of institutions of State in shutting down dissent, hounding political opponents into prison and forcing a party chairman to resign …. Little wonder that such baleful legacy dogs his attempt at making peace.

    “President Obasanjo has to come out publicly to renounce his ties with the seven governors who are trying to impose their will on the remaining 29 states and the Federal Capital Territory or acknowledge them and be treated like them.”

    President Jonathan is yet to speak on his political future, but MNT said he is free to run again. It said: “The governors are welcome to contest the PDP primaries, individually or present a candidate. That’s democracy. But for persons, who themselves, stood for elections for their second terms to demand that Mr. President cannot avail himself such amenity is not only rude but feudal.”

    Obasanjo’s media aide Vitalis Ortese declined to comment on the statement credited to the group last night.

    “I cannot speak on what a faceless group is saying”, he told our reporter on the telephone.

  • Governors shun Economic Council to visit Amaechi

    Governors shun Economic Council to visit Amaechi

    Some governors yesterday shunned the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting to visit embattled Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.

    The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state boiled over last week in the House of Assembly when five members attempted to impeach Speaker Otelemaba Dan Amachree, who enjoys the support of 26 members.

    Factions in the crisis have engaged in street brawls. Amaechi has accused Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu of taking sides with those opposed to him —an accusation which the police chief denied.

    Following Monday’s visit of four PDP governors – Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Musa Kwankwaso (Kano) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa)- five Action Congress of Nigeria (AC N) governors yesterday visited Amaechi.

    Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) were accompanied by deputy governors Eze Madumere (Imo), Mukhtar Anka(Zamfara) and Damashi Baruwa (Nasarawa), who represented their governors.

    Fayemi said they ought to be in Abuja for the NEC meeting but due to their deep concern for the security of the citizens of Rivers State, they decided to go to Port Harcourt to “meet with our brother and Chairman of our Governors’ Forum, Governor Amaechi”.

    Fayemi said they advised Amaechi to “brief President Goodluck Jonathan, who is actually our leader and Chief Security Officer of the country on the very, very challenging security situation here in Rivers State”.

    “We believe that our chairman and brother will give serious consideration to that particular concern that we have also expressed too to him, that it is important as the chief security officer of Rivers State to take the opportunity to go and brief Mr President on the security situation in the state.”

    He added: “We thought it will be important for the hierarchy of our Police authority, the Inspector General of Police, to help in restoring the confidence of the people of Rivers State that has really been greatly diminished in the Police service and the command here in Rivers State.

    “We believe that the Inspector General of Police is very well placed to help take the necessary step to restore the confidence of the government, the governor and the people in the police in Rivers State.

    “And every step that is critical to making that possible we believe that the Inspector General of Police should take. For us, we believe that these remarks really require the moral authority of Mr President as well.”

    Fayemi also said: “It is about deepening this democracy. It is about ensuring that peace reigns not just in Rivers because we know that Rivers is of concern to Governor Amaechi. But the state of security in the entire country is also of concern to him. We believe that Mr President, being our leader – we are all President’s men – we are all President’s Governors.

    “He is our leader and we feel that he actually occupies a very critical position that necessitates his wielding his moral authority in ensuring that peace reigns here and that nobody uses a subterfuge to create situations that are entirely avoidable.

    “The tension in Rivers State is entirely avoidable and we want all parties to sheathe their swords and to help restore the peace and security of our state here.”

    Zamfara State Deputy Governor Mukhtar Anka advised Amaechi to discuss with the President so that we can find a way out of this crisis, which is avoidable and we believe that by meeting with the President, we will find a way out of this crisis in Rivers State, to sustain democracy in Nigeria”.

    At the NEC meeting were governors of Kano, Niger, Kwara, Benue, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Taraba (Acting), Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Cross River.

    The deputy governors who attended were those from Sokoto, Kaduna, Kebbi, Katsina, Kogi, Borno, Edo, Rivers and Bayelsa.

    To prevent a repeat of Tuesday’s attack on the convoy of the visiting Northern governors at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa, over 10,000 youths supporting Governor Rotimi Amaechi took over the airport yesterday during the visit of eight progressive governors.

    The supporters of the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, under the aegis of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), who protested against the visit of four governors on Tuesday, were not there yesterday.

    The aircraft that conveyed the eight progressive governors landed at the Air Force Base on the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway, instead of the Port Harcourt International Airport.

    The youths, made up mostly of the members of the Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM), who got to the Port Harcourt International Airport at 7 am, asked Wike to address the ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    The Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, and other top government officials, were also at the Port Harcourt International Airport to identify with the youths, who were singing and dancing, until they left the airport for the Air Force base at 12:30 pm.

    The youths, armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, declared that they would always be at the airport, anytime Amaechi would be travelling or receiving visitors to prevent any incident.

    Some of the placards read: “Nyesom Wike, stop fighting Governor Amaechi”; “No Governor Amaechi, no peace in Rivers State”; “Wike is fighting Governor Amaechi to get favour from President Jonathan”; “Governor Amaechi must be free from intimidation” and “Wike, address ASUU strike.”

  • Fans shun Warriors/Eagles tie

    Fans shun Warriors/Eagles tie

    Soccer loving Namibians failed to leave up to expectations of coach Ricardo Mannetti as the Sam Nujoma Stadium was half empty during Wednesday night’s 2014 World Cup qualifiers 1-1 draw between the Brave Warriors and Eagles.

    The interim Namibia coach, who 48hours ago pleaded for fans support, would be amazed that despite the gate fee put at 5 Namibian dollars (about N840) the stands at the popular side and at both goal posts were empty .

    SportingLife who monitored the game via live streaming on Sportslemon.tv gathered from the first half pictures that the stand at the back of Enyeama was empty with not a single fan.

    Meanwhile, the synthetic turf of the Sam Nujoma Stadium, Windhoek could be blamed for Eagles poor showing against the Brave Warriors.

    Despite dominating with better ball possession, Eagles on countless occasions, failed to score with Anthony Ujah wasting the better chance to put the team up in the opening half of the first.

    Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama before Nigeria conceded a goal was virtually on holidays.

    However, there could be Onazi injury scare for the Eagles participation in the FIFA Confederations Cup which kicks off on June 15 in Brazil as he twice had cause to seek medical attention from the sideline.

    The Lazio of Italy midfielder had a slight thigh injury after a Brave Warriors ace stamped on his right thigh as he evaded a challenge from Ahmed Musa in the 37th minute.

    Onazi, despite playing full 90minutes, was forced out again following a tackle in the 71th minute.

     

  • Priest tells students to shun bad conduct

    Taking part in vices, such as drug abuse, indecent dressing and cultism, can tarnish the future of whoever is engaging in them, Monsignor Onoyima Taddeo of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) told freshers last Sunday during the holy communion organised by the church.

    Onoyima said it was a great achievement to be offered admission after a competitive examination, saying the university always employed a rigorous selection method to select candidates every year. He described freshers admitted by the university as ideal students, who must be seen as people with clear objective, to study in higher institution.

    The priest advised the new students on moral conduct, saying there must be difference in the way the students behave having gained admission into the university. He said students’ challenges could be solved through prayers and application of God’s commanded attitude.

    Urging the students to be disciplined and responsible, Taddeo said it was the duty of all students who had given their lives to Christ to demonstrate good example for others to emulate.

  • Gowon, Babangida others shun Northern Peace forum

    PROMINENT NORTHERN leaders who were invited to a Northern peace forum in the ancient city of Kano yesterday shunned the event for an undisclosed reasons.

    Those who were conspicuously absent at the peace initiative were former heads of state, General Yakubu Gowon, who was expected to chair the occasion , ex-president Shehu Shagari, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Gen. Abubakar Abdusalam and former vice president , Atiku Abubakar.

    Vice president Namadi Sambo, who was special guest of honour was also missing on the occasion as well as Senate president David Mark, speaker of House of Representatives , Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambulwa and chairman speaker’s forum of Nigeria, Hon Inuwa Garba.

    Northern governors from the region also boycotted yesterday’s Northern leaders summit held at the African Hall of the Kano state government house as no reasons was given for their absence in such an important Northern gathering which was widely publicized

    The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC ) and presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who was the only invited guest among those publicized in the programme of event was the only person who turn-up and was asked to chair the occasion in the absence Gen Gowon.