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Tag: unaware

  • I’m unaware of my suspension from APC, says Usani

    I’m unaware of my suspension from APC, says Usani

    •Factional chairman carpets Abdulahi 

    Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani, yesterday denied knowledge of his suspension from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Usani told reporters at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar where he was welcomed by supporters they were in the process of rebuilding the party for a greater future.

    Speaking on the conflict within the party in the state, he said: “Every party has a fight and how you resolve it is what is important. My worry is within the limits of known partisan tradition and conflict.

    “We are resolving it. When a resolution takes place, whether amicably or by victory, the important thing is that there is a resolution and we are resolving it.”

    Weeks ago, the acting chairman of the party, John Ochalla, after a meeting of the state working committee, announced Usani’s suspension.

    He accused the minister of working against the interest of the party by holding “illegal meetings” to install a new chairman to do his bidding.

    A faction of the party led by the State Organising Secretary, Ekpe Owan Ayang, held a meeting where it declared Usani’s suspension as null.

    The faction went ahead to announce the suspension of Ochalla as well as the National Vice Chairman South-South, Ntufam Hilliard Eta from the party.

    In a meeting at the party’s secretariat last Tuesday, the factional group declared Etim John as new acting chairman of the party in the state.

    But a statement from the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Bolaji Abdulahi, countered the endorsement, saying Ochalla remained the chairman.

    He warned members involved in the appointment of a new acting chairman would be disciplined.

    But reacting John, who arrived Calabar with Usani, said the statement from the National Publicity Secretary was a misnomer.

    “That statement, as far as I am concerned, is a misnomer. The party guidelines stipulate clearly how and acting chairman is appointed.

    “As far is this concerned, Ochalla is yet to be appointed or elected because he only came in to hold brief,” John said.

    Ochalla took over as acting chairman of the party after Usani, who was the chairman, was appointed Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

  • We’re unaware of N100m allegedly received by Falae, says Ogun SDP

    We’re unaware of N100m allegedly received by Falae, says Ogun SDP

    The Ogun State Chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) yesterday said it was neither notified of the N100m allegedly collected by its National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae, nor involved in the SDP’s decision to work for former President Goodluck Jonathan during the last presidential election.

    In a statement by the state chairman, Olu Agemo, and the Publicity Secretary, Clement Adeniyi,  the party denied receiving any financial or campaign logistics from the national secretariat of the party or any of its principal officers.

    The national leader of SDP, Chief Olu Falae, was reported to have admitted collecting N100m from Chief Tony Anenih of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to campaign for the former President Jonathan as his party did not field a candidate for the presidency.

    He also recalled that some key candidates of the SDP for the last general elections in Ogun state were joined Ogun PDP to receive the President Goodluck Jonathan when he visited the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, to solicit support from Ijebu monarchs.

    But, the Ogun SDP, in a statement titled: “Re: 2015 Election Campaign Funding”, they said that SDP in the state was never notified of or involved in any negotiation to partner with the PDP or any other party for the purpose of winning the election or maintaining peace during the period.

    The statement said: “We  were never informed by the national secretariat “of our Party of the decision to adopt former President Goodluck Jonathan or any other candidate as the party’s presidential candidate.

    “We were never informed of any donation of funds to the party by the PDP or any other party.

    “We plead with our members and supporters who have received these untoward revelations with great shock to remain calm and await the convocation of a general meeting where these issues shall be thoroughly discussed and appropriate decisions taken.

    “We assure that the SDP in Ogun will continue to operate within ethical and moral norms as laid out in the principles of progressive welfarism established established by our progenitor-Chief Obafemi Awolowo – in the struggle to establish an egalitarian, peaceful and equitable nation,” the statement reads in part.”

  • Boko Haram took us unaware, says Jonathan

    Boko Haram took us unaware, says Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan Friday admitted that the current insecurity in the country especially the intensity of the Boko Haram crisis in the North East caught the government and the security agencies unaware.

    The President also admitted that issues of ethnicity and religious intolerance poses one of the greatest danger to the survival of the corporate existence of the nation especially if left unchecked.

    The President who spoke through his vice! Mohammed Namadi Sambo at the graduation ceremony of the Senior Course 36 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna state however assured that the government will continue to equip the armed forces to ensure that, the activities of the insurgents are brought to a permanent end.

    President Jonathan said: “Nigeria is faced with contemporary security challenges that were not envisaged some decades ago, as exemplified by the various terrorists attacks currently being experienced in some parts of our country”.

    He told the officers who are of the rank of Major and ifs equivalent in the Airforce and the Navy that as members of the armed forces, they have a crucial role to play in ensuring that the lives and property of the citizenry are protected from all forms international and external threats.

    According to him: “We must remember that, the greatest danger to our collective security as a people and a nation lies in the issue of ethnicity and religious intolerance.

    “These twin evil, if not checked are capable of threatening our corporate existence as one sovereign and indivisible nation. You must therefore discourage such sentiments and encourage our men to view themselves as comrades in the pursuit of a common destiny.

    “Furthermore, you must continue to anticipate and reflect on the noble idea of the membership of the armed forces; you would be judged by your roles and actions of your men. Therefore, the military must remain apolitical and neutral in performing her constitutional roles”.

    Commandant AFCSC, Air Vice Marshal John Chris Ifemeje said, the 147 gut adjusting officers include 12 allied officers from 11 sister African countries went through 48 weeks of intensive training in the college.

    He charged them to take along with them as they return to their various services, everything they have learnt from the college, which he said will go a long wY to assist them in the assigned areas of operations.

  • Military unaware of foreign mediator

    Military unaware of foreign mediator

    The military’s hands are tied in rescuing the abducted Chibok girls because their abductors have placed them “tactically” in the face of attack, sources said yesterday.

    A top military source told The Nation that the girls cannot be rescued without heavy casualties.

    The source, who spoke in confidence, insisted that the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, was correct in saying that the girls have been located.

    The source said: “There is no doubt that the military knows where the girls are being kept. But as the situation is now, troops cannot rescue the girls without heavy casualties.

    “The insurgents have placed the girls in a strategic manner that the casualty figures will be higher if the military moves in.

    “This is why the military had been careful in storming where the girls are located. We are giving benefit of doubt to those trying to talk to the sect to release the girls. If it works, the better for us all.

    “All I can tell you is that the military is battle ready to rescue the girls any moment from now in line with the order of the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces.

    “If the nation has to pay much sacrifice to rescue the girls, there might be no alternative.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “We will leave the political class to explore all options before striking. The good thing is that the insurgents are also receptive to discussion.

    “We hope those assisting will tidy up because once we launch military bombardment, there will be no going back.”

    On the negotiation by an Australian expert, Stephen Davies, the military source said:  “The military is not aware of any such deal. Maybe it was a political initiative but we cannot talk about that.

    “We have not had any deal with any Australian negotiator at any point in time. You have to cross check your facts from political establishment”.

     

  • Alaafin, Olubadan unaware of Obas’ meeting with Jonathan

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, and the Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, are unaware of the planned meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and Yoruba obas.

    Sources close to the two major traditional rulers yesterday said they knew nothing about the meeting.

    It was reported yesterday that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, would lead 22 Obas to Aso Rock for a meeting with Jonathan. According to the report, the meeting was aimed at garnering the Southwest’s support for the President’s re-election in 2015.

    A source close to the Alaafin said: “We are not aware of such a meeting. The promoters of such a meeting would not even invite us to follow the Ooni for a meeting. We are currently concerned with the ongoing regional integration in the Southwest.”

    A source within the Olubadan-in-Council said: “The Olubadan would never queue up behind the Ooni. I doubt if the Soun of Ogbomoso was aware of the meeting. It may be an Osun State Obas affair.”