The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Unite

  • APC, old PDP unite for Ondo Assembly poll

    APC, old PDP unite for Ondo Assembly poll

    The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state and Dr Olu Ogunye- led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have entered into an accord to ensure total victory for all APC House of Assembly candidates at the election.

    The pact tagged “Igbotako Accord” was signed by the APC Chairman,Isaac Kekemeke, factional chairman of the PDP, Ogunye, and the convener of the meeting, Chief Jimoh Ibrahim.

    APC and PDP by the accord have decided to work together for the success of all APC candidates during April 11 election.

    Sources said the alliance has sent shivers down the spine of the new PDP under the leadership of the former Commissioner for Community Development, Clement Faboyede, who is working for Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    The leaders in a communique signed at the end of the meeting in Igbotako residence of Chief Jimoh Ibrahim called on the electorate to vote massively for APC candidates to stop the drift in governance in the state.

    The meeting deliberated on the political, economic situation and the political realities on ground in the state and concluded that a United front of both APC and PDP is required to restore the hope of the people in governance and stop further economic and social slide.

    This according to the leaders prompted the call for all citizens in the state to vote for all APC candidates as a way of strengthening the legislative arms of government in Ondo state.

    ‘The Nation’learnt that the PDP’s dismal outing in the state has forced Mimiko who is the Southwest Coordinator for President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation to lobby various groups including civil servants,religious groups,traditional institution and students body to bail him out of total disgrace in the next saturday Assembly poll.

    According to a source,the governor believed the state legislative election would determine his fate whether he will complete his second term or not.

    The Jonathan’s Campaign Coordinator could not fulfil his earlier pledge to deliver over one million votes in Ondo state to the incumbent President.

    Consequently,it was learnt that Mimiko has fixed a meeting for tomorrow with the public servants where he is expected to placate the state working force on the need to vote for his candidates at the polls.

    However,feelers from the state public servants hinted that they have resolved to vote according to their conscience without any form of threat or intimidation.

    Reacting to this development,the state APC media Committee secretary,  Charles Titiloye commended the leaders of the two parties for their patriotism and uncommon courage in reaching an accord aimed at salvaging Ondo state from current mismanagement, lack of focus and direction.

    The party noted that the state which is the only oil Producing state in south-west has little to show for billions of Naira accruing to it,stressing that all citizens of the state must use the opportunity of this week house of assembly to inject sanity and good governance to the state by massively voting for all APC house of assembly candidates.

  • Nda-Isaiah: my priority is to unite Nigeria

    Nda-Isaiah: my priority is to unite Nigeria

    Founder of the LEADERSHIP Group and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah has said he is in the race to unite the country.

    Nda-Isaiah spoke in his Abuja home at the weekend while hosting members of a think-tank group, called the Broom Initiative.

    He said he played a leading role in uniting the parties that formed the APC because he believed Nigeria was better together, adding that only a strong united platform could dislodge the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) next year.

    Nda-Isaiah lamented the insecurity in the country and the government’s inability to curb it.

    He said: “The first thing I intend to do as president is to unite Nigeria because Nigeria is so divided that it is not yet a nation. We are still a country of disparity and a quarrelsome people, who quarrel over whether someone is a Christian or a Muslim.

    “Unfortunately, our country has come to this state. I always ask my friends in the PDP: ‘Is this the Nigeria you want to leave behind for your children?’ Most of them just keep quiet. There are certain things that are beyond politics.”

    Nda-Isaiah urged the group to put all aspirants on the spot, adding that this was a time to be clear about the way forward.

    The leader of the delegation, Alhaji Saidu Malami, who stood in for the group’s Chairman, Yusuf Tuggar, said their visit was to interact with the aspirant

    Malami said the group was responsible for reconciliatory initiatives in the APC in order to foster unity among members.

    He said: “We have been consistent in policy contribution within the leadership of the party. This evening, you are third in our programme of visiting presidential aspirants. Our objective is very simple. It is to highlight the fact that for us to appreciate the precarious situation we are in, we have to understand that the bigger objective of rescuing Nigeria is bigger than all of us.”

  • At last, marketers unite

    The 10-year-old dispute between the Chartered Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (CIMN) and the Nigerian Marketing Association (NIMARK) has finally been settled.

    Last week, the two factions signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) . Henceforth,  the amalgamation will now be known as National Institute of Marketing of Nigeri (NIMN).

    The parties, headed by Rotimi Adeyeye and  Ganiyu Koledoye, who were joined by other stakeholders to sign a Unification and Memorandum of Understanding expressed satisfaction at the outcome. They confessed to have long desired to come together as one body that will propagate the essence and core values of the institute while advancing the cause of the profession and the interest of the practitioners.

    President of the institute, Ganiyu Koledoye while appreciating the efforts and support of the stakeholders of councils and fellow members, stated that the unification will serve “as a solidarity institute devoid of mockery”.

    “This MoU will bind us together as one body and never again will there be any faction or factions that will allow the institute to be ridiculed. There is no professional body in the country without any internal crisis; but they always come together to resolve it, and ours will not be an exception. This is why we are here.

    “We have gone the extra mile to ensure that NIMN certificate is recognised in other parts of the world. We will also use the institute to contribute our quota towards the development of Marketing in Nigeria.”

    Koledoye also lauded the support and role of the federal government for making it a reality while acknowledging the former President Olusegun Obasanjo led administration for promulgating the Act that established the Institute in 2003.

    NIMN Factional leader, Rotimi Adeyeye while commending Koledoye for his relentless effort in bringing both parties together stated that the Marketing profession in the country will go all the way to ensure that its impact is felt. “Marketing profession is not in its rightful place in managing the economy of the nation.

  • We must unite against terror

    Quite often, we behold flames diffusing into the skies; the heat from the furnace melts the human alloy we have in this place. Terrified eyewitnesses and displaced victims cry and murmur. Dead bodies and body parts litter the landscape. Souls of men are shattered beyond the horizon. These are products of bomb blast ravaging the nation like a plague.

    Lives of hundreds of people have been sacrificed. The Boko Haram phenomenon has now perforated our once peaceful coexistence.

    Located in a serene environment and beautiful and peaceful part of the world, peace is supposed to live in Nigeria. Beyond its shores of responsibility, Nigeria consoles sobbing hearts of its sister nations and helping them in their troubled times. We never had a premonition of perilous times here. If we had known, we would have taken our time to build bulwark against the wind of terrorism that was about to hit the nation.

    Terrorism was far ahead of us. We watched movies and read news about most of the troubling times of other sovereign nations; we read about suicide bombers in the Middle East, we thought it could not happen here. We were baffled beyond comprehension when it happened. Why would someone decide to embark on a suicide mission to deprive others of their lives? Was it for psychological, religious, political or personal reasons? Was it a metaphysical force or something borne out of a fanatical belief? These and many more questions are in the lips of every citizen.

    From the outset, we thought the terrorists’ attempts had a political appendage but when one could not bear the possible error of that thought, it was claimed to be religious. Here we are, yet to discover the purpose of the series of attacks. Islamic leaders have dismissed people linking Islam with terrorism.

    We are mystified, groping in the dark. Abubakar Shekau, who claims to be Muslim (surely, he is not one), has brought terrorism to our door step, killing, maiming and bombing innocent people.

    Nigerians, what has gone wrong? Are we going to let this continue? Should we allow the Nigerian community, once known for its superb hospitality, into hostility? What has happened to the peaceful and friendly people of the North? What has happened to the ever populous community? Have they been taken over by merciless criminals? Peace has deserted the land known for its simplicity?

    The government has failed us. They have raped us of our academic and financial grandeur and have given us a very wide margin of the impression that we are fools. No power supply, no water and free education. Schools are now for those who can afford them. The cost of living has increased but the standard has declined. Let us not to talk about ever cunning oil subsidy thieves. This crass maladministration may have fuelled the embers of national disunity and terrorism we are witnessing. Must we then fail our conscience because of these? No! Our sanity is hedged on that.

    Martin Amis once said: “Bullets cannot be recalled, they cannot be un-invented but they can be taken out of the gun.” We say no to violence and terrorism. Rise up my fellow compatriots; we must build a nation where peace and justice shall reign.

    Alexander the Great said: “Upon the conduct of each part depends the fate of all.” Our conducts should signal that: “There is no to division between us”. Let us reason together and not to dominate. Let us not seek our way but let us find a common way. The labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain. Long live Nigeria.

    Come 2015, we shall witness a nation with greater wings to fly above terrorism and insecurity. Our girls will be brought back and our political leaders, with constructive patriotism, will paint the Nigerian flag more greenish. Let us pledge to defend our country’s unity and uphold her honor and glory. Together we can end terrorism and sustain unity.

     

    Ezekiel, 300-Level Pharmacy, UNIBEN

     

  • JTF, trade unions unite to fight oil theft

    JTF, trade unions unite to fight oil theft

    Oil theft. The phrase appears to have become permanently fixed in Nigeria’s crime diary. Every day, people break pipelines with venom, setting up illegal refineries in dexterity and ferrying with swiftness stolen oil out of the creeks of the Niger Delta.

    But, the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, is relentless in its war against economic sabotage. Like the proverbial hunter that keeps shooting at a bird that refuses  to perch, the JTF especially in the regime of Maj-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, has continued to explore every possible means to end the endless economic sabotage.

    Maj-Gen. Atewe recently sought a collaboration with trade unions to facilitate the war against oil theft. Swali Market Association, representatives of keke NAPEP Association, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMA) and Spare Part Dealers Association were among the trade unions that met with the commander at the Headquarters of JTF in Yenagoa.

    Maj-Gen. Atewe described trade unions as a key element in the fight against oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta Region.  He said that the fight against illegal oil bunkering and oil theft is a collective responsibility and should not be left in the hand of security Agencies alone.

    “Security is everybody’s business and should not be left in the hands of security agencies alone.  There should be synergy between stakeholders, community leaders and the JTF especially in the areas of giving out credible information that will aid the task force to carry out its mandate” he said.

    He insisted that the JTF would not successfully tackle the menace without partnering with stakeholders. He requested for credible information about the activities of oil thieves in the creeks to enable him confront the saboteurs headlong.

    Apart from the economic damage, he said illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism have left the region in the throes of environmental and health hazards.

    He said: “I am looking for information on the activities of these criminals and I assure you that we will not give out the source of our information.  The fight against criminalities in Niger Delta can only be reliable and effective through providing timely information to us.

    “Apart from the economic lost, the continues rupturing  and breaking of oil pipelines causes a lot of health hazards to the people of the region thereby polluting the environment which could in turn result in the out-break of epidemic.”

    Maj-Gen. Atewe said  the ongoing military exercise in the creeks was aimed at eradicating all forms of illegal oil bunkering in the region. He said the exercise was to create a good atmosphere for oil companies to do their legitimate business to boost the nation’s economy.

    He assured the associations of JTF’s readiness to execute its mandate professionally and called on all stakeholders to join in the fight against criminality and other sundry crimes.

    He informed the union leaders of the composition of JTF and said the outfit had been expanded to include other paramilitary agencies. He named the newly incorporated agencies as the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Prison Service (NPS), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and oil companies.

    Maj-Gen.  Atewe stated that the newly included agencies have helped JTF to dominate the creeks and waterways in the region. He said the development has provided aggressive aerial surveillance of oil installations aimed at checking activities of economic sabotage.

    In his remarks, the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr. Erebuo ThankGod, thanked the commander for the interactive forum.

    He said the opportunity has helped stakeholders to contribute their ideas on the best way to tackle security challenges. He said the suggestions proffered during the meeting would help the commander to actualise the mandate of JTF.

    He assured the commander of his union’s support in fighting criminalities in the region.  Also, the Chairman of Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association Bayelsa State chapter, Henry Igborigi, sought the JTF’s assistance in checking the movement of vehicles to mechanic village.

    He pledged his association’s support in the war against oil theft promising to give JTF credible information to actualise its mandate.

  • Nigerians must unite to fight terror

    SIR: Nigeria is at the most sober moments of her socio-political history. Thousands of lives of our people are continuously wasted to terrorism of different modes, kidnapping, armed robbery, militancy and other criminal activities. Security agents are killed at will. Innocent lives are lost regularly. Our children, the future leaders of our nation are not spared. Orphans, widows, and the disabled are created at a terrifying rate. Family and community are broken at will. The heart and souls of our nation are being destroyed. The socio-economic consequences are innumerable. We are faced with real poverty and infrastructural deficiencies across the land.

    This is a war we must work together to win. All of us: young and old, boys and girls, men and women, partisan and non-partisan, Christians and Muslims, traditional worshippers, religious and irreligious must creatively come up with solutions. We must bring peace back to our nation, ‘’for without victory, there is no survival’’.

    During and after 9/11, all Americans irrespective of political, ideological and religious affiliations became united. Americans rose up as one and stood firmly behind President George Bush and later President Obama to defeat terrorism – Al-Qaeda and allies. No one engaged in any form of blame game. For us to achieve victory, the blame game must stop. When we engage ourselves in the blame game; we help the terrorists and their sponsors to achieve their goals – the destruction of Nigeria. Neither Christianity nor Islam supports the killings of innocent citizens. No matter the claims of some devilish individuals, terrorists neither represent nor speak for any faith. Similarly, no socio-political region in Nigeria or any part of the world will plan the killings of its own people. No region will plan the direct destruction of its economic strengths.

    The current challenges of insecurity, poverty and infrastructural deficiencies must bring out the best in all of us. We must never be divided. We must rise up as one against the challenges. We must never accept defeat. We must win the wars against poverty, terrorism and all forms of insecurity. Our collective creativity towards solving our problems must be brought to the fore. Our commitment must be unquestionable. Our passion for a greater, prosperous and united Nigeria must be unquenchable. Our goals to bring back Nigeria to peace, freedom, unity and prosperity must be absolute. Victory is inevitable.

    • Akinlolu, Abdulazeez Adelaja,

    University of Ilorin.

  • Artistes unite for Mandela

    Artistes unite for Mandela

    The lineup of artistes at “The Legacy Lives” concert, organised by EbonyLife TV for the late South African president, Nelson Mandela, was overwhelming.

    The crowd went wild listening to hits from some of his favourite artistes.

    It was a night of soul-stirring music, engaging comedy and profound words in honour of Madiba, as the late freedom fighter was fondly called.

    Stars at the show included D’banj, Tuface, Tiwa Savage, Ikechukwu, Waje, Darey Art Alade, Burna Boy, Timi Dakolo, Julius Agwu, Nikki Laoye, Victoria Kimani, Nneka, Joseph Benjamin, Olisa Adibua, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, K Switch, Niyola and Chuddy K, among others.

    That night, the power of love and hope over discrimination and despair was also celebrated. It was time to celebrate some alsoof the finest qualities that Mandela lived and died for.

    Nikki Laoye set the stage for what turned out to be an amazing night, with a rendition of the National Anthem.

    The anchors of the show, Olisa Adibua and Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, did a good job to keep the crowd engaged all through the night,. They coordinated the artistes’ appearances and shared what they knew or thought of the late Madiba at intervals.

    Godbless and the Ebony Band dished out popular African tunes like Miriam Makeba’s Pata Pata; Brenda Fassie’s song of celebration, Vulindlela; Flavour’s Ada Ada and Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines.

    The presence of ace comedian, Julius Agwu, was a comic relief to the show. He did not disappoint as he cracked several jokes and expressed a few thoughts on the African hero. The comedian described Mandela as “the Nigerian we never had”, lauding him for turning the world’s perception of Africa from the negative to the positive.

    There were screened interviews by Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola and his Cross River State counterpart, Liyel Imoke. There was also a mini-documentary on Madiba.

    According to the CEO of EbonyLife TV, Mo Abudu, the inspiration for the concert “came from the fact that this man (Mandela) has given so much to Africa. He has given so much to everyone of us.”

    Abudu said, “The Legacy Lives” Madiba tribute concert was put together by some of Nigeria’s biggest music stars and some notable brands in collaboration with EbonyLife TV.

    She noted that in the spirit of ‘Ubuntu’ (meaning humanity and selflessness in South Africa) that Madiba embodied, all contributions towards the event were given gratis, including the venue of the concert, performances by the artistes, technical support, food and drinks.

  • ‘Let’s unite against insecurity’

    Chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN), Allen Onyema, a lawyer, has cautioned all northern leaders to be careful in their utterances in order not to jeopardise the country’s unity.

    He urged Northern elders especially, to stop politicising issues of security and think more of how to stop Nigeria from disintegrating, explaining that the issue of growing insecurity in the country should concern every right-thinking leader today.

    Reacting to a statement credited to former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari that “emergency rule was anti-north”, Onyema said: “I don’t want to believe that he said so, but if the statement credited to him is true, then it’s a big disappointment because he is someone who has ruled this country in the past as Head of State, and is also aspiring to rule this country again. What he said, if actually he said that, was totally unacceptable to any reasonable mind because it is capable of heating up the polity.

    He added: “Every leader should allow their statesmanship prevail in their utterances, knowing fully well that they command a lot of followership and if you incense the passion of your followers, they do the wrong thing. We saw what happened after the elections in 2011. It is not for me to say whether the elections were free and fair or not, but violence has no place in any civilised engagement. Whether the elections were free or rigged, it is not for any leader to call for the kind of response that might not be civil. So I do not want to believe that somebody who is aspiring to lead this country as President would be that sectional to say that the Niger Delta militancy gave rise to the Boko Haram insurgency.”

  • I’ll unite PDP factions, says Rivers chair

    The newly-inaugurated Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Felix Obuah, has declared that the sacked chairman, Godspower Ake and members of his executive, stole his mandate.

    He said he would work with party members, including Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    Obuah, who is a former chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government, said he reclaimed his mandate at an Abuja High Court on Monday, just as Amaechi did on October 25, 2007 at the Supreme Court.

    Obuah went to court to challenge the emergence of Ake, who is a former National Vice Chairman (Southsouth), alleging that Ake’s election and those of the members of his executive were illegal.

    The crisis ahead of the 2015 elections is to ensure that the representative of Rivers East Senatorial District, Senator George Thompson Sekibo, succeeds Amaechi.

    The Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, is supporting Obuah and is backed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Wike was former Chief of Staff to Amaechi.

    Sources said Wike planned to replace Sekibo in the Senate, thereby making it difficult for Amaechi to realise his senatorial ambition.

    It was learnt that the minister preferred his chief of staff position to the ministerial appointment.

    Sources at the Government House said Amaechi may soon dump the PDP.

    But the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, however, said the NGF chairman would remain in the PDP to fight the “injustice” and would not allow “impostors” to take over the party.

    Obuah said: “My mandate was denied me since March 17, last year.

    “I followed due process and went to court and by the grace of God, the court has given me my mandate.

    “If anybody is biased because I have got a clear mandate, to God be the glory.

    “The Rivers people are happy. Everybody is happy. I want to assure you that just a handful of people, who are beneficiaries of the system and never want democracy to prevail, are making all the noise.

    “I want to assure you that by the time I return to Port Harcourt, we are going to reposition the party.”

    On the order of a Rivers High Court, which states that Ake remains the PDP chairman in Rivers State, Obuah said: “I do not know about that. The only way for them is through an appeal. We will also meet there.”

  • ‘Africa’s stock markets should unite to attract investors’

    Africa’s 24 stock markets should work together if they are to attract high investors’ interest, Nicky Newton-King, Chief Executive Officer, Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), has said.

    The leader of Africa’s biggest securities exchange told AFP that global investors have eye in Africa and the continent’s stock market leaders should seize the opportunity.

    “The appetite for Africa is very, very high. I think everybody is trying to find their way, to participate meaningfully in that. All of us who are privileged enough to run exchanges, need to figure out that these waves of investor appetite aren’t yours by right. Once they come, you have to be able to ride them properly. We should not be taking this as business as usual, this is a business opportunity,” she said.

    Newton-King said allowing South Africans to more easily place orders into Nigerian stock markets, or by allowing Kenyans to invest in joint-listed South African stock in KES shillings, would attract more foreign investors.

    She added that there are benefits from cross-listing, as the JSE learned when its leading shares moved to London. “When Anglo-American cross-listed in London, the amount of trades in Anglo-American increased. South Africa’s percentage of trade in Anglo-American decreased, but the decreased percentage was worth more. In those cases you have to think quite bravely,” she said.

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts the aggregate economy of sub-Saharan Africa will grow at 5.7 per cent this year, also presents a giant opportunity for the continent.

    Newton-King said one way to channel the investor interest through African markets would be to make it easier to invest across borders and to improve liquidity in small markets so that assets can be bought and sold quickly.