The Nation Newspaper

Tag: write

  • APC senators write Senate

    Senators under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have written the Senate on the birth of the party.

    The party’s letter, titled: “Notification of the registration of All Progressives Congress (APC) and status of senators of the merged political parties,” was read on Tuesday on the floor of the chamber by Senate President David Mark.

    Minority Leader George Akume, in the letter, drew the attention of the Senate to the fact that Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides for the right to peaceful assembly and association.

    Akume also said Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), stipulates the conditions for merger of political parties.

    He noted that in a bid to build a strong, virile and enduring democracy, “the three major progressive political parties, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) resolved to merge and become the All Progressive Congress (APC)”.

    Akume added that in furtherance to the provisions of Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), a formal request for the registration of APC was sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on June 7.

    INEC, he said, had granted the request on July 30 to give the birth to the APC.

    He said: “In the light of the said registration, all senators who were formerly members of the aforementioned political parties have become members of the newly registered APC.

    “Accordingly, they (senators) should be treated as such in reference and representation.

    “Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is relevant.”

  • ASUU to students: write post-UTME at your risk

    Striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that successful students in the various 2013 post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in government-owned universities may not be recognised, if offered admission through the exercise.

    The union also described as cheap “political statement” the alleged pronouncement by Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam that the strike would be over today.

    The union said the strike would only be called off when the government implements all the components in the 2009 Federal Government/ASUU agreement and the 2012 memorandum of understanding (MoU).

    Speaking yesterday at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, the chapter’s ASUU Chairman, Dr. Abdulfatai Jimoh, said none of its members would be involved in the conduct the examination for the over 3,000 candidates expected to take it tomorrow and Saturday in the institution.

    Jimoh, who addressed reporters on the level of compliance by his members to the strike, warned that “any student admitted through the ongoing post-UTME is on his or her own, because we will not recognise or teach such students”.

  • Patriots write Shagari on national conference

    Patriots write Shagari on national conference

    The Patriots”, a group of eminent Nigerians fighting for good governance, has identified 12 elder statesmen, who should lend support for the convocation of a national conference to make the it a reality.

    The group described them as the “fathers of the nation”, stressing that, if they collectively create a front for the agitation, the federal government may listen.

    The eminent persons identified by the group are Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief Emeka Anyaiku, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Justice Karibi Whyte and Alhaji Ali Mongono. Others are Alhaji Maitama Sule, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, Prof. Alele Williams, Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe and Alhaji Femi Okunu (SAN).

    The leader of the ‘Patriots’, Prof. Ben Nwabueze (SAN), in his letter to former President Shagari, said he is in a better position to influence the executive and legislative arms and other political leaders to support the push for a national conference.

    The legal luminary stressed that it is the wish of the group that the conference should hold before the next general elections.

    Nwabueze lamented that President Goodluck Jonathan may not have the time to pursue any agenda for national transformation because the political class is now engulfed with partisan campaigns that can compromise and undermine the agenda.

    The letter reads in part: “Before the intrusion of military rule in January 1966, the offices of President/Head of State, governor of a Region, and Head of Government were greatly revered, and the persons holding them or who have held them were equally venerated as individuals. They were so venerated both because of the reverence attaching to those offices and because of the probity, integrity, nobility and principled behaviour that had characterised their life as well as the pre-eminently dedicated and distinguished role they have played in the affairs of the country, by reason of which they command acceptance as “Fathers of the Nation”.

    “The concept of “Fathers of the Nation” carries immense significance and symbolism; in particular, the persons commanding such acceptance are looked up to as representing the collective mind, conscience, ethos and values of the nation.

    “Military rule, by thrusting people into those offices solely by virtue of their positions in the military hierarchy, has eroded the veneration in which former holders of the offices are held. That is part of the tragedy of the intrusion of military rule in this country, which seems not to be fully appreciated by people. The position of “Fathers of the Nations” demands much of you”

    Nwabueze urged Shagari to join other patriots in appealing to the President and members of the National Assembly “to take all necessary steps for convening a national conference for the people of Nigeria to deliberate and agree on the terms and conditions on which they are to live together in peace and unity, to work out a programme for ensuring development, progress, justice, equality and freedom for all Nigerians”

    He said: “ The conference will adopt a constitution whose source of authority, as the supreme law of the land, is the people, acting in a Constituent Assembly and a referendum”.

    The Patriots’ leader also said the ‘fathers of the nation’ should convince the political parties and aspirants to the elective political offices that there should be no elections in 2015, unless a national conference is first convened and held.

    He added: “Judging by the trend of events in the country and by the nature and character of the political campaigns already being mounted for the 2015 elections, any attempt to hold the elections without first convening and holding the national conference will spell disaster and anarchy for the country.

    “Furthermore, the political mobilisation of the electorate at this time, more than two years to the date of the elections, and the preoccupation of the political aspirants with the campaigns, would assuredly compromise and undermine the ability of the President to mobilise the people for national transformation, which is one of the immediate tasks facing him,

    “No national transformation can take place, unless the people are effectively mobilised for it. Political mobilisation of the electorate for elections and the mobilisation of the people for national transformation are antithetical to each other, and cannot be pursued together”

  • UNIPORT students write exams at stadium

    Students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) have continued to write their second semester examinations at the stadium and convocation arena.

    Investigation yesterday revealed that the lecture halls at the university’s three campuses, fondly called parks, in Choba, Delta and Abuja were inadequate.

    Some of the students, who started their examinations on Monday, accused the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ajienka, of poor performance and insensitivity to their plight.

    A senior official of UNIPORT, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “Yes, it is true that UNIPORT students write examinations at the university’s stadium and convocation arena. This is not the first time. I have personally supervised examinations at the stadium.

    “Ajienka promised to invest in human capital development and make UNIPORT an entrepreneurial university. The former VC, Prof. Don Baridam, tried his best by embarking on infrastructural development, especially buildings.

    “Writing examinations at the stadium and convocation arena is due to shortage of lecture halls. Students in certificate and post-graduate programmes began their second semester examinations on Monday and it will run simultaneously with that of undergraduates.

    “UNIPORT Deputy Registrar, Information, Dr. Williams Wodi is also a lecturer in the university’s Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies. He may not tell you the truth, but the students are suffering.”

    When Wodi was contacted, he said: “Where is the story coming from? Sounds like programmed blackmail. Students in Physical Education do practicals at the convocation arena. Shouldn’t they do practicals again?”