The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Wada

  • WADA may hammer Bolt, others

    WADA may hammer Bolt, others

    Jamaica’s athletes, including sprint star Usain Bolt, could be banned from major events like the Olympics due to the island’s handling of recent drug scandals, according to Tuesday’s Daily Telegraph.

    World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president John Fahey, in an interview with the paper, accused Jamaica of “farcical” behaviour in its attempts to defer an extraordinary audit of its anti-doping programme until next year.

    This followed an invitation to WADA by Jamaica’s prime minister to investigate revelations from the former executive director of the Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission (Jadco) that it conducted no drug tests in the five months leading up to last year’s London Olympics. But Jadco’s suggestion that they would talk to WADA next year infuriated anti-doping chiefs.

    If Jamaica is deemed to be non-compliant with the WADA code, their athletes could be banned from major competitions until the situation is resolved even though the likes of multiple Olympic champion Bolt have never failed a drugs test.

    “The current position is unacceptable to WADA and we’re not going to take it lying down, their suggestion that they’ll talk to us next year,” said Fahey.

    “To suggest to WADA they’re not ready to meet with us to talk about their problem until sometime next year is unsatisfactory, it’s totally unacceptable to me and we shall act appropriately within an appropriate time frame.”

    Asked if Jamaica would be declared ‘non-compliant’, Fahey replied: “There are a number of options.”

     

     

    “You can read into that exactly what those words are likely to mean but I don’t want to flag it up,” added Fahey, a former premier of the Australian state of New South Wales, whose mandatory maximum six-year term as Wada president ends this year.

    Wada said in August it was standing by to help Jamaica resolve their problems in the wake of the doping scandal involving former 100m world record-holder Asafa Powell.

    The global anti-doping agency had then called for urgent action on the concerns raised by former Jamaica anti-doping chief Renee Anne Shirley over flaws in the country’s drug testing programme.

    Jadco chairman Herb Elliott responded to Shirley’s revelations by labelling her a “Judas” and a “bit demented”.

    He insisted Jamaica’s drug-testing procedures were in line with international standards and said of the proposed Wada inspection:

    “The last time they were here, they claimed everything was OK. So I don’t see how they’re going to say anything is different this time

  • Kogi may open ‘new PDP’ office soon

    Kogi may open ‘new PDP’ office soon

    • We are not in crises – Wada

    As the crises rocking the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) thicken, there are strong moves by some aggrieved members of the party in the state to join the G7 PDP state and open a new office in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

    The ruling party was plunged into crises shortly after the special convention held in Abuja.

    Our correspondent’s attempt to put a call through to the state Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Hassan Salau was futile. The Kogi PDP Chair, however, replied a text message with: “I am not aware”.

    Also the special adviser to the state governor on media and strategy, Jacob Edi, said the party in the state had never been in any crises.

    He said the administration of Captain Idris Wada has ensured that members of the party have carried along.

    “This administration is focused and would never be distracted in it transformation programme for the people of the state”, said Edi.

    Some of the aggrieved members, it was learnt, were strong supporters of former governorship aspirant of the PDP in the state, Alhaji Jibrin Isah Echocho, who  are majorly from the eastern flank of the state.

    Even though the state governor, Captain Idris Wada is not member of the G7 states, the aggrieved members are said to be holding an exclusive meeting in an undisclosed venue to join the newly formed PDP in the state.

    One of the member of the parallel PDP, who craved anonymity, told The Nation that their reason for joining the new party was not only because of the impasse at the national level, but also because of developmental backwardness in the state, led by the Idris Wada PDP administration.

    According to the source, the administration in the state is almost clocking two years but yet not significant to show for it.

    “In as much as we appreciate the fact that the governor will have to learn the rope in the administration of the state, one year should have been enough for the learning process,” said the source.

    Also joining the new PDP in the state,  were some PDP members who were said to have fallen out with the current administration in the state. Their main reason was because they felt jilted by the Wada government, whom according to them risk their time, energy, life and money to entrench the party amidst strong opposition.

    A one time member of the state PDP, who also pleaded anonymity, said: “We made this government what it is today, but instead of we benefiting from the fruit of our labor, this administration prefers bringing those who have never cast vote in the state before and made them one thing or the other in the state.

    “He asked us to go and lick our wounds because his administration can only work with technocrats and professors. Tell me, with all the professors and the so-called technocrats, Kogi State is least develop state in the country. Mind you, instead of licking our wound, we have to join new PDP, so we can find our bearing,” the source added.

    On the other hand, Edi argued further that to link the temporal crises at the party national level, with the development and achievement of governor Wada, is a real display of illiteracy and imagination of political jobbers in the state.

    “We at the government level wish them well in their decision and let them continue to wallop in beeline ignorance,” he added.

    All attempt to speak with Alhaji Jibrin Isah Echocho failed, as his cell phone was not reachable. However his spokesman, Phrank Shaibu declined comment despite much persuasion.

  • NANS passes vote-of-no-confidence in Wada

    NANS passes vote-of-no-confidence in Wada

    •Governor’s spokesman: Allegtions ridiculous

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has criticised Kogi State Governor Idris Wada on the state of the education sector in the state.

    The association said it has passed a vote-of-no-confidence in the governor for his alleged inconsiderate attitude to the sector.

    In a statement yesterday by its National Welfare Director/Kogi State NANS Coordinator, Miss Blessing Alaofin, the association rated the level of attention given to the education sector in Kogi State “very low”.

    It added: “We have confirmed that the reports, which said Kogi State earmarked over N100 million for scholarship, are false; they are mere facade.

    “It has been noted that ever since the present administration started in Kogi State, there has been no development in the state’s education sector.

    “It is believed that education is a right and not a privilege, but the reverse is the case in Kogi State. The people voted the governor in and it is time he showed them they did not make a mistake doing so. A lot of hardship has been put on parents in sending their children to primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state. Parents can no longer afford to send their children to school because of high school fees.

    “We wonder if the governor, during his time as a student, paid one-quarter of what he expects the students to pay now. The common student welfare package by the government (bursary), which students enjoyed in past years, is no longer in place; he has totally neglected the students.”

    But the government said the allegations were false.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy Mr Jacob Edi said the Wada administration placed emphasis on the education sector.

    He saidthe first place the governor visited when he assumed office was a school, adding that there has not been a strike in Kogi State since Wada became governor.

     

     

     

     

    “Another educational problem in Kogi State is that teachers’ salary is poor. There are many pupils and students still learning under the trees.

    “It’s high time this suffering ended. The students will not hesitate to protest.

    It’s not too late for him to resign, anyway. We, the youths and students are tired of his negligence over our welfare. We need change and development…”

     

     

    “NANS cautions anyone or political party without reasonable plans for the masses, especially towards the development of education not to contest or even paste posters for campaign because the Nigerian students and youth will no longer hesitate to campaign against such person.

    “We charge youth leaders to come out boldly in the next general elections to contest for various elective positions to include the office of the President, Governor, and Local Government Chairman.

    In the meantime, the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) urges the government of Kogi under Captain Idris Wada to take holistic approaches in order to resuscitate the moribund educational system of the State.

    Moreover, plans have been concluded by NANS to stage the mother of all protests in the state but we are presently fine-tuning strategies at ensuring a peaceful demonstration to register our displeasure to the state governor over his government’s insensitivity to the welfare of the students and parents in the state.

    Also, we call for the immediate removal of the Commissioner for

    Education in the state, Mrs. Grace Elebiyo who has failed to ensure qualitative overhaul of the state educational system; we see her as not too capable to salvage the situation.

     

  • Aregbesola, Wada seek peaceful co-existence

    Governors Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and Idris Wada of Kogi States have called on Muslims to pray for the country’s peaceful existence during the Ramadan.

    The governors made the call in their separate remarks at the annual Ramadan lecture organised by the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society in Abuja.

    Aregbesola, who chaired the occasion, described Ramadan as a season for sober reflection when the prayers of Muslims were speedily granted by God.

    He enjoined Muslims to use the holy month for spiritual rejuvenation and dedication to the peace, unity and development of the nation.

    He said: “Ramadan is the best season on earth; it is a time when life is easier and our prayers granted faster. We must therefore avail ourselves of this opportunity and pray for the peace, unity and development of this nation.”

    The governor, who decried the spate of insecurity and underdevelopment in the country, called on Muslims to be in the fore front of nation-building.

    He stressed the need for Muslims to acquire both Islamic and western education, for them to make any meaningful change in the society.

    He urged Islamic organisations like Al-Habibiyyah to continue to contribute their quota to national growth through lectures and advocacy.

    Earlier, Governor Wada stressed the need for unity among Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic or religious creed.

    He urged Muslims to use the Ramadan period to be closer to Allah and shun all manner of vices.

    “We have to use this period (Ramadan) to be united and faithful to God; we must do as much good to everyone and think of the unity, peace and progress of our country. We should think of how best we can move our nation forward,” he said.

    The Kogi State Governor urged Muslims to use the period to feed and help the poor and needy in the society.

    The Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Mallam Mohammad Bello, who delivered a lecture, urged Muslims to be upright in their endeavours.

    “Ramadan is the right time for us to reflect on how to get things right; it is the duty of every Muslim to worship Allah according to the dictates of the glorious Qu’ran and the Sunnah,” he said.

    He urged prospective pilgrims to hajj to have the right intention and follow the rules and procedure for pilgrimage.

    Represented by Secretary of the commission, Dr Bello Tambuwal, he said NAHCON had been striving over the years to make hajj hitch-free in the country.

    The Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Mosque, Alhaji Fuad Adeyemi, said the organisation’s goal was to enlighten Muslims on Islam and contribute to national development.

    He said it had introduced various programmes such as the Al-Habibiyyah food bank, zakat foundation, Arabic for beginners, street to school programme, to touch the lives of both Muslims and non-Muslims.

    The lecture was attended by Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, politicians, civil servants and Muslims from all walks of life.

  • Wada promises to complete homes for flood victims soon

    Wada promises to complete homes for flood victims soon

    Kogi State Governor Idris has said the 272 housing units the state is building for last year’s flood victims will be ready in four months.

    The governor spoke in Lokoja during the foundation-laying ceremony of the housing units.

    He said a similar project will be extended to each of the other eight local governments that were affected by the floods.

    Wada said the houses would enable the people to move away from flood-prone areas.

    He urged the contractors to do quality job, adding that any contractor found wanting would be blacklisted.

    Wada restated his administration’s commitment to the development of all sectors through the provision of basic infrastructure and human capital development.

    The governor expressed his resolve to complete abandoned projects he inherited from his predecessor. These, he said, include the stadium complex, the new Confluence Beach Hotel and the secretariat extension project, all in Lokoja, the state capital.

    The Commissioner for Land, Housing and Urban Development Mr Stephen Mayaki said 105 contractors were mobilised for the housing project, which is expected to be completed within four months.

  • Wada’s wife seeks more technical colleges

    Wada’s wife seeks more technical colleges

    Wife of the Kogi State governor and Chief Executive Officer Faridah Wada Foundation, Mrs. Faridah Wada has reiterated the need to establish more technical colleges in the country with a view to tackling unemployment and youth restiveness.

    Mrs. Wada spoke during a Spelling Bee competition organised for junior secondary schools in Abuja.

    The schools that participated in the competition included Community Staff Secondary School, Asokoro; Government Secondary School, Jikwoyi; Government Secondary School, Karu; Government Secondary School, Tudun-wada and Government Secondary School, Maitama.

    The event was jointly organised by corps member, Miss Zainab Haruna in conjunction with the Faridah Wada Foundation at Government Science and Technical College, Garki.

    In her opening remarks, the Mrs. Wada said technical education was a panacea for curtailing the unemployment rate in the country.

    “If students are made to learn and acquire technical skills at this level by the time they are through with tertiary education, they would still have something which they can fall back to in the absence of any job,” she said.

    She commended Miss Haruna, the initiator of the competition and promised that her organisation would sustain the project even after the pass out of the corps members.

    “As a group, we believe in the girl child education and the youth. I wish to state here today that what Miss Zainab has started will be sustained by the Faridah Wada Foundation so that her efforts will not be in vain,” she said.

    At the end of the competition which was supervised by the Head of Department, English and Linguistics Nasarawa State University Dr. Gideon Omachonu, Community Staff School Asokoro emerged winners and were followed by Government Secondary School Karu.

  • Wada seeks Assembly’s approval for loans

    Wada seeks Assembly’s approval for loans

    Kogi State Governor Idris Wada yesterday sent a bill to the House of Assembly to enable him borrow money for the issuance and management of bonds.

    The governor has been invited to deliver a paper at the World Economic Forum in South Africa.

    He left the country yesterday for South Africa through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, to attend the meeting.

    Among the two executive bills Wada sent to the Assembly for consideration and passage is a Bill for a law to make provision for the administration collection of revenue.

    Reading the two bills on the floor of the Assembly, Speaker Momoh Jimoh Lawal urged other members to speedily consider and pass the bills because of their importance to the state.

    One of the bills states that the state does not have an enabling legal and regulatory framework for bond issuance and public private partnership (PPP).

    It says the existence of a bond law would make the state attractive to credible private partnership and investors.

  • Wada arrives in Lokoja

    Governor Idris Wada yesterday arrived in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, after two months of medical treatment in Abuja.

    The governor, who arrived at 4:25 pm, moved to the podium to address a crowd, who came to welcome him at the Government House in Lokoja.

    He was involved in an accident last December 28 on the Ajaokuta Road. His Aide- de-Camp (ADC) Idris Mohammed died in the auto crash.

    The governor walked into the Government House without the aid of crutches or walking stick. He wore an immaculate white dress (Agbada) and addressed the crowd.

    Wada thanked the people for their support during his travail and apologised for arriving a few minutes before the appointed time.

  • One year of Wada in Kogi

    One year of Wada in Kogi

    When former Kogi State Governor, Ibrahim Idris, was at the helm of affairs, he promised to leave a worthy legacy, hence his foresight in providing the people of Lokoja one of the basic amenities of life, which is water.

    The town that has the unique opportunity of having two of the biggest rivers in Nigeria, has now gone back to history of water shortage that has been giving the people of the town great concern.

    The greater water work project which gulped billions of naira when it was constructed has started witnessing lack of water supply to Lokoja town and its environs.

    The appointment of the water resources commissioner, whom everybody hope should live up to expectation of her office, has not been seen directing affairs of the ministry for some time now.This calls for her redeployment if she is found wanting in her sole responsibilities of giving water to the teeming populace.

    In another clime, provision of this basic amenity to the people should not be of priority to the government of the day for now, because other important things should be at front burner and not this that should have been provided.

    We call on the Kogi State government to make haste in ensuring the restoration of water to Lokoja town and its environs for the people to enjoy the basic amenities.

    The current heat been experienced generally in the country needs to be complimented with provision of water to help in reducing dehydration amongst the people of the town.

    The water board authority should as matter of urgency ensure that all the pipes are properly maintained to make it convenient for water to flow without any hindrance. also, protection should be given to all its facilities to stem the activities of vandals in our societies.

     

    Bala Nayashi, Lokoja

  • Council declares three-day fasting, prayers for Wada

    Council declares three-day fasting, prayers for Wada

    The Kogi Youth Council on Monday declared a three-day special fasting and prayers for Governor Idris Wada, who was involved in a car crash on December 28.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Chairman of the council, Mr. Emanuel Godwin, in Abuja.

    The statement, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, stressed the need for all youths in the state to commence the fasting and prayers for the quick recovery of the governor.

    It also called on Nigerian youths to join their Kogi counterparts in prayers for the speedy recuperation of the governor, saying that “Wada was a lover of the youth.”

    Besides, the council appealed to the Federal Government to intensify efforts on road rehabilitation and construction to avoid further loss of lives daily.