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April 28, 2006
Northern govs split over 3rd iterm; 4 disown communique
The meeting of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) ran into a storm Thursday following a split in the ranks of the state chief executives over the elongation of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure.
From KENNY ASHAKA, KADUNA
Friday, April 28, 2006
Also, the scenario outside the Hassan Usman Katsina House, venue of the meeting, was charged as anti-third term protesters with posters spelling out their opposition to the plot to elongate the president’s tenure, lined the major routes chanting anti-third term slogans.
The atmosphere became more charged as the anti third term legislators, led by Senator Uche Chukwumerije, stormed the meeting of the NGF with the message that the proposal for tenure elongation is evil and satanic.
The split became manifest when four governors, apparently dissatisfied with the communiqué rolled out by the chairman of the NGF and governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, dissociated themselves from the forum’s position.
In the communiqué, the NGF said that after exhaustively deliberating on the ongoing constitution amendment, it has resolved that members should go ahead to consult with their respective constituencies.
However, the governors of Zamfara, Adamawa, Benue and Niger states disowned the communiqué , stating, at a news conference after the Kwara State governor read the NGF resolution, that they were opposed to tenure elongation.
Flanked by Governors Abdulkadir Kure (Niger), Boni Haruna (Adamawa) and Dr. Ogri Agene (Deputy Governor of Benue State), Ahmed Sani, who said he was speaking on behalf of other governors, stated that the elongation of tenure “was a road map to national instability, confusion and total distortion of our constitutional order.”
In the statement, entitled “Our Stand on the ongoing 1999 Constitutional Amendment," the four governors condemned "in the strongest possible terms, the whole idea of the ongoing constitutional amendment which primary objective is to achieve the third term agenda.”
The governors also kicked against the aspects of the amendment which seek to bring about unitarism as against federalism, saying all the provisions in the constitution amendment bill that seek to erode the country's federal structure in terms of powers and responsibilities of the constituent units should not be considered.
"From the so-called public hearings to the shameless attempt in the Senate recently to smuggle an ammendment to the 'original' bill that would provide for tenure elongation or third term for governors (who were inadvertently omitted from the original bill even after it went through the first reading) it is evident that the whole idea of the entire constitutional amendment was not meant to bring about national stability, unity and sustenance of our democratic rebirth.
"Rather, it was a road map to national instability, confusion and total distortion of our constitutional order," the governors posited.
Although the governors admitted that the 1999 constitution was not a perfect document, they said its fallibility must not be an excuse for tinkering to accommodate a personal agenda.
They asked Nigerians to rise up to the occassion and resist what they described as unpardonable attempt to foist on Nigerians, the third term project "which is not only selfish, but the path to dictatorship, anarchy and a total reversal of our democratic rebirth."
The governors commended members of the National Assembly and the press for remaining resolute against the third term agenda.
Addressing the NGF earlier, Senator Uche Chukwumerije said that the plot to extend the tenure of President Obasanjo would precipitate crisis in the country and urged them to join the historic struggle in order not to be “victims of a calamity and culprit of history if the tension precipitated by the third term agenda deteric orates to an unmanageable scale and our dear country comes to grief.
“Your excellencies, you know better than many of us that Nigeria is once again at the crossroads: Do we turn to the left or to the right? A turn to the left will lead us to political instability and economic retardation. A turn to the right will lead us to the consolidation of our democracy and pace of economic development.
“Executive tenure extension will freeze this process, slow down the pace, bottle up alienations and precipitate sooner or later a major political and social explosion.”
Accompanied by Senators Saidu Dansadau, Ben Obi, Nuhu Aliyu, Tokunbo Afikuyomi and Idris Kuta, Chukwumerije told the governors that if they allowed the rule of law to be changed to anchor an incumbent president’s achievement, “we will have created a dangerous precedent which successive regimes will exploit,” thus causing the country to slide into the abyss of a banana republic.
He told newsmen later that the third term agenda was evil and satanic and urged Nigerians to resist it.
Thousands of youths with PDP caps had blocked the road to the venue of the meeting carrying anti-third term placards which reads: “No third term,” “No to elongation of tenure,” “Tenure elongation will breed tyranny” and “3rd term, Bamuso (we don’t want).”
Posted by Publisher at 01:42 PM | Comments (0)
It’s time to fight for democracy – Atiku
Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on Nigerians to be courageous in the fight for the survival of the nation’s democracy, adding that in the unfolding political drama, sitting on the fence is out of the question.
From GODWIN TSA ABUJA
Friday, April 28, 2006
The Vice President, who spoke on Thursday at a public presentation of the book, “Judicial Integrity, Independence and Reforms: Essays in Honour of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Muhammadu Uwais,” stated that although the current political situation in the country shows that the struggle for democracy and freedom is a long and tortuous one, Nigerians should exhibit courage to safeguard their hard earned democracy.
His words, “this is not a time for neutrality or sitting on the fence. You either believe that democracy and the rule of law are good and must be secured or you do not. I remember the immortal words of Frantz Fanon that every onlooker is either a coward or a traitor. The price for standing up for the truth and justice may be stiff, but we cannot really call ourselves leaders and civilized citizens if we do not have the courage to uphold the truth and struggle for what is right. If we allow fear to paralyze us then we are running away from democracy and freedom. This is not a good option.
“As our current political situation shows, the struggle for democracy and freedom is a long and tortuous one. Those committed to that struggle must prepare for the long haul. And they will continue to require a courageous, independent and impartial judiciary in that struggle. The law remains the last hope of the common person in a civilized community.
Where the law fails or those who wield power disregard the law, people tend to take laws into their hands and anarchy tends to reign. We must collectively struggle to prevent that fate from befalling our country. We are too important a people and too important a country to Africa and the world to let that happen. Posterity will never forgive us if we do.
“As everyone here knows, our country is, to say the least, going through difficult political times. This is largely because of the inability of some of us to appreciate that every modern society, especially complex ones, such as ours, have to be rule- driven if they are to survive and thrive. Our recent history has been one characterized by brutal military dictatorship, one-man rule and attempts to subvert the will of the people in order to perpetuate dictatorship. Our people collectively fought those attempts successfully, althogh many paid very dearly for it.”
Atiku, who commended Justice Uwais for his humility, civility, sincerity and forthrightness, expressed the need for a strong and independent judiciary for the struggle to build an enduring democracy secured by virile institutions and the rule of law.
Earlier in his remaks on the occassion, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Lawal Gummi explained that the book is a product of the Body of Heads of Court in Nigeria in recognition of the contributions made by Justice Uwais in the development of the nation’s judiciary. While pouring encomiums on the CJN, Justice Gummi said he commands even greater respect for his exemplary leadership and immense reforms in the judiciary.
In his speech at the well attended event, Justice Uwais, who described the book as a judgment on his person, commended the authors for the great honour done him.
The 26 chapters publication, written by chief judges of the various states and federal jurisdiction covering a diverse range of current issues, include essay on the anti- corruption campaign, alternative dispute resolution, admiralty jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, the international criminal court and the National Judicial Council, among others.
Prominent personalities, including state governors and legal luminaries graced the event which was held at the Shehu Yar’ Adua Centre, Abuja.
Posted by Publisher at 01:41 PM | Comments (0)
Eto’o admires Rossoneri
Samuel Eto’o, Ludovic Giuly and Giovanni Van Bronckhorst were all impressed with the way Milan put Barcelona under pressure.
By Sun News Publishing
Friday, April 28, 2006
"I think we played quite well in the first half and created a few chances, but we knew Milan were a great side and when they attacked, we were under pressure," said the Cameroon hitman.
The Spaniards held out for a 0–0 draw that qualified them 1–0 on aggregate for the Champions League final, although Andriy Shevchenko had a goal controversially disallowed.
"We had to make sacrifices to get this result and in a band not everyone can play the guitar, someone needs to keep the beat with the drum."
Eto’o had Barca’s best chance of the second leg, bringing a great save out of Dida from point-blank range.
"Dida did very well to rush out and cover the ball. I was trying to lob him, but he saw that coming and corrected his position to block the shot."
Giuly scored the decisive goal in the first leg at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza and also stood by their more defensive approach to defend that slender lead.
"Milan are a great team, so it was always going to be difficult and we made the most of that precious result in the first leg," said the former Monaco star.
Van Bronckhorst was one of the tactical keys to this success, changing position to help limit the Rossoneri’s creative centres.
"I think I had to go towards Gennaro Gattuso early on, which allowed Kaka and Shevchenko to get round me. In the second half, I focused on Clarence Seedorf and it went much better, so we needed to make adjustments during the game."
The Final in Paris will be a special game for Van Bronckhorst, who will face his former Arsenal teammates.
"Both teams reached the Final and therefore, deserve to be there. I think it’ll be an attractive Final to watch, as we play in fairly similar styles," said the Dutchman.
Posted by Publisher at 01:40 PM | Comments (0)
Senators jeer at Mantu
Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu got a dose of humiliation on Thursday as he was ridiculed by his colleagues shortly before the Chinese President, Hu Jinato, arrived into the National Assembly to address the joint session of the legislators.
From JAMES OJO, Abuja
Friday, April 28, 2006
Decked in a blue-black suit, Mantu was exchanging pleasantries when suddenly some members began to sing disparaging songs depicting that he was feeding fat on their collective fortunes and that of the nation.
The song goes thus: “Things are getting better, Mantu is getting fatter, for the Lord will not accept, Mantu is getting fatter, Mantu is getting fatter, Mantu is getting fatter.”
Confused at the sudden turn of things, the embattled Senate deputy president made a detour away from the direction where the songs emanated and went to sit at the reserved seat on the front row.
Apparently trying to avoid further humiliation, Sen. Mantu ran after the Senate President at the end of the joint session, as they filed back into the Senate Chamber to the excitement of the jeering senators and members of the House of Representatives.
Senator Mantu, as the chairman of the National Assembly Joint Constitution Review Committee, had been at the centre of the storm over the plot to elongate the lifespan of the Obasanjo administration beyond May 2007.
At present, he’s under probe by the Senate after being indicted by the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs that probed the poor handling of the Hajj 2005.
Posted by Publisher at 01:39 PM | Comments (0)
NAFDAC shuts Julius Berger clinic
The National Agency for Food And Drug Administration (NAFDAC), yesterday shut down all drugs outlets at the Julius Berger clinic located in life camp Abuja and put the clinic on hold.
From MOLLY KILETE, Abuja
Friday, April 28, 2006
Leader of NAFDAC enforcement team, Alhaji Hashim Ubale Yusuf, who led the delegation for the exercise, told newsmen that the agency ‘s decision to shut down all drugs outlets in the clinic was as a result of the presence of counterfeit and expired drugs, as well as products that are not registered by the agency.
Alhaji Yusus who said NAFDAC got wind of the fake products from a consumer who was administered with one of the expired drugs, said the agency would not fold its arm to see perpetrators carry out their evil acts on innocent Nigerians.
According to him, the agency upon investigation discovered that "the pharmacy department were stocked in various categories, there was a store mainly of Nigerian products which are to serve only our people in Nigeria, there were stock made of only imported German products, which are made only available for Germans who are working in Nigeria and may be for special people and this is against the regulatory control in Nigeria and also we found that all the products are not registered".
He also said 16 of the products found in the clinic, were drugs produced by some Chinese drug manufacturing companies that have been blacklisted by NAFDAC and made public, adding that with the status of the giant construction company, it ought to be in the know but ignored it.
Posted by Publisher at 01:38 PM | Comments (0)
Amendment should be in Nigerians’ interest
The Chairman, New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam, says that members of the party have watched with keen interest and dismay the various propaganda, threats and unwholesome ultterances from some Nigerians on the controversial issue of contitution amendment.
By WALTER UKAEGBU
Friday, April 28, 2006
Aniebonam, who spoke in Lagos, explained that most Nigerians want some aspects of the constitution amended as it was hurriedly packaged by the military for expedient reasons.
Said he: “In the spirit of the on-going re-engineering of the Nigeria state and various sectors of the economy, there is nothing wrong in amending our constitution, which is the basic element and frame work for the on-going reforms of our national objectives, aspirations and corporate existence.”
According to him, the alleged third term agenda of some individuals is human, adding that the problem is the moral question and timing of the constitution amendment, especially as it concerns tenure of the executives and other interested parties.
“What is important for members of the National Assembly, state legislatives and other legislature shakeholders whose function it is to do thing in our country to do what they are supposed to do for the interest of our great nation and the entire people of Nigeria,” he said.
The NNPC chief stated that democracy must be practiced in such away to suit our enivronment and people without necessarily tampering with the essential characteristics of the principles of democracy and good governance.
The party enjoined Nigerians to take advantage of the proposed constitution review to address issues such as the electoral process, regional police, Niger Delta, environmental hazards, fiscal federalism and derivation.
Others includes federal character, regional government, local government matters, among others.
They also advised Nigerians to be conscious of some rich individuals who would want to take undue advantage of the various reform programmes of the government to make people believe they are working for their interest.
“Reforms are all about changes and in doing so, some people,groups and organisations would be negatively affected, “he said, while advising Nigerians to learn how to defend themselves by being politically conscious in their environment. He said that members of the National Assembly have the statutory responsibility to make laws, adding that when they act at variance with the wishes of the people, they should be recalled through due process.
This, he stated, would make them to be concious of their actions and not be a party to making a law or decision capable of portraying them in bad light before the people.
Posted by Publisher at 01:37 PM | Comments (0)
Change of cast in Papa Ajasco and Company; Envy caused our sack - Papa Ajasco
• Our sack, a blessing in disguise – Boy Alinco
• It was all a breach of contract, says Adenuga
By SEGUN AJAYI and CINDI ALISI
Friday April 28, 2006
There is no doubt that lovers of the popular weekly television comedy, Papa Ajasco and Company were shocked that the original cast has been changed Mr Wale Adenuga, Producer and Chief Executive of Wale Adenuga Productions- creators of the comedy, has listed reasons for asking majority of the cast to leave, adding that he meant no harm with the decision.
In February this year, notable artistes like Abiodun Ayoyinka (Papa Ajasco); Bayo Bankole (Boy Alinco); Jumoke Momoh (Mama Ajasco); Miss Pepeiye and the naughty kid, Ajasco, suddenly stopped featuring in the TV series. Mr. Olasehinde Jimoh (Pa James) was retained.
Ironically, virtually all these acts have become household names with their individual roles, in addition to creating large followership for the show, which made its debut on television nine years ago. The artistes have since been replaced by another set of artistes; including Femi Ogunrombi (Papa Ajasco) Victor Oyebode (Boy Alinco), Patricia Mokwunye (Mama Ajasco) and Bola Sowunmi as Miss Pepeiye.
Adenuga told Daily Sun recently that what happened to the artistes was not unusual, and that some of the reasons bothered on gross indiscipline, insubordination and violation of the copyright laws.
As for Miss Pepeiye, the producer disclosed that she has since relocated to the United States to join her husband after her wedding, while little Ajasco was considered to have outgrown his role in age.
According to the producer, Papa Ajasco and Company was not the first screen production of the rested comic magazine, Ikebe Super (which he created in the 1970s).
As such, the introduction of new artistes into the TV show was not only customary, but as a way of injecting fresh ideas into the production.
Adenuga also hinted that, the sacking of the artistes was not unconnected with their serial violation of the Papa Ajasco and Company’s copyright. He explained that the immediate cause of the actors’ withdrawal was when they went on a three-day tour of Benin between December 31 and January 2 to stage a Christmas party for children.
While some people would describe the company’s action as “killing an ant with a sledge hammer,” Adenuga contended that the group had committed a similar offence in 2004. At that time, he said, they all apologised and were pardoned by the board on condition that they would not commit the same mistake in the future. However following the last offence, he said, the artistes have violated the company’s regulations as well as the rules guiding their contract. The main rule is that they should not engage in other commercial productions.
“After thorough investigation, the board recommended the affected artistes for dismissal and it was carried out,” explained Adenuga.
On his part, Ayoyinka, who was reluctant to comment on the new Papa Ajasco and Company, said that he organised a Christmas party in Benin for children. He, however, differed on the producer’s claim that the show was the artistes’ initiative. According to Ayoyinka, another outfit based in Benin approached them; based on the popularity of the characters among children.
Although Ayoyinka admitted that the Benin show earned them money, he argued that their involvement was rather selfless than selfish. He noted that the show enhanced the acceptability of Papa Ajasco and Company and the soaring image of W.A.P. He regretted that rather than for the artistes to earn kudos for their loyalty and commitment for the past nine years, they were reprimanded and later dismissed by the producer.
On the controversy of the Benin show, which culminated in their dismissal, Ayoyinka said the decision was borne out of envy and intrigue from some members of staff of the organisation. Prior to their dismissal, Ayoyinka said that there had been complaints that some artistes were already considering themselves bigger than the organisation, owing to their fame and fortune.
Meanwhile, Ayoyinka described this allegation as false, adding “the artistes wouldn’t have asked for too much if they are being driven around in chauffeur-driven branded cars, in line with their status as superstars… Papa Ajasco and company is best seller and the most lucrative show from WAP’s stable’’.
On the allegations of disloyalty and divided interest, Ayoyinka, who is an employee of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, reiterated that his first loyalty is to the council that pays his salary. He noted that he still abides by the rules that prevents him from acting in other productions, adding: “If I am that rich as they claimed at WAP, would I still be driving an old Mercedes Benz car?’’
Speaking further, the actor reasoned that he has not joined another production after his ouster from Papa Ajasco and Company, neither has he been in a hurry to join another company.
Nevertheless, the former Papa Ajasco, who disclosed that his involvement in the comedy was endorsed by his organisation and Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, however, said that there is no love lost between him and W.A.P. “If I am called back into the show, I won’t hesitate,” he confessed to Daily Sun.
As for Bayo Bankole, (Boy Alinco), his sack from the T.V. drama is a bitter pill to swallow. Although shocked by the development, Alinco still saw it as a blessing in disguise.
While he admitted that he alongside with his colleagues featured in the Benin show without the consent of Wale Adenuga, he said that he featured in the show as Bayo, not as Boy Alinco. He explained further, “We went as individuals and not under the umbrella of Papa Ajasco and Company.”
Bankole, however, did not contend the fact that his role as Alinco has become a brand.
His words “Anywhere I go, people refer to me as Boy Alinco, but I did not wear the Boy Alinco’s costume at the Benin show. The problem really is that before we perform in any show, we must obtain permission from Adenuga, but must he always know the way we live our lives?”
Posted by Publisher at 01:36 PM | Comments (0)
NFA submit Egypt 2006 technical reports
The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) has submitted the technical report of the African Nations Cup, Egypt 2006 two months after the championship ended in Cairo. The report which was put together by the technical crew led by Austin Eguavoen was submitted to the Ministry of Sports.
By RICHARD JIDEAKA, Abuja
Friday, April 28, 2006
A former NFA staff, Mrs Lizzy Onyenwenwa was at the secretariat of the NFA, Wednesday, to pick up the technical reports which the ministry had requested for since last month.
The Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Austin Eguavoen had mid last month submitted to the secretariat of the NFA complete technical details of Nigeria’s participation in the Nations Cup, suggesting the way forward for the Eagles and how he hopes to prepare the team for future engagements
Daily Sunsport gathered that the technical report which the NFA submitted to the Sports Development department of the ministry had the acting Secretary General, Fanny Amun’s imput on the way forward.
Further findings showed that the report exonerated the Eagles coaching crew from the fall in the semi-final of the Nations Cup in Egypt adding that the championship also saw the emergence of young players, who would lead the Eagles in future.
Four years ago, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde was employed to write the reports of Nigeria’s participation at the Nations Cup in Mali. But the report was never used by the NFA. Nothing was said of the Tunisia 2004 campaign under Coach Christian Chukwu.
Nigeria lost in the semi-final of Egypt 2006 to Cote d’Ivoire, but Eagles performance winning five matches out of six has placed the country as No. 1 in Africa according to FIFA ranking.
After he had submitted his reports, Eguavoen has been touring Europe to fraternise with his players and also have useful meeting on how to approach the 2008 Nations Cup qualifiers.
Posted by Publisher at 01:35 PM | Comments (0)
Day retired soldiers, ex-govs converged on Langtang
History was rekindled in the ancient city of Langtang, Plateau State on Saturday April 15, 2006 when sons and daughters of Tarok nation, from home and abroad, gathered at the Langtang mini stadium to celebrate the Tarok Day. It was meant to be a cultural festival, but it turned out to be a political gathering.
By BLESSING IDOKO
Friday, April 28, 2006
According to Engr. Jimmy Cheto, a member of the organizing committee and a director with the Federal Capital Development Authority, Tarok Day, otherwise known as Ilum O’Tarok, is a day set aside every year for the Tarok people to reflect on their activities for the year. He said Tarok people, made up of about 100 communities in the present day Plateau State, used the day to reflect on what they have done in the past one year, look at where they are and try to chart, for themselves, a course in the future.
"It is a time when the Tarok people look at themselves, re-appraise and prepare themselves for the future", Cheto said.
The occasion, which was well attended, was preceded on Friday by a symposium to awaken the consciousness of the Tarok people. The topic of the symposium, which is: "Re-awakening the Tarok core values", was meant to resurrect the core values that the Tarok people are known for which have hitherto been eroded by economic and political changes in the society, Cheto said. Also, the issue of HIV was equally discussed at the symposium, for the youths to realize the dangers inherent in unsafe sexual practices.
This year’s Tarok Day was historical in the sense that the last one was held 10 years ago. According to Engr. Cheto, the break in marking the annual Tarok Day was caused by a number of factors, which include lapses in the leadership of the organization from 1996 to the year 2000. Also, from the year 2000 upwards, Plateau State was engulfed in one form of civil disturbance or another; particularly within the southern senatorial district of the state, where the two major local governments, Langtang North and Langtang South that housed the Tarok people, are located.
The colour of this year’s Tarok Day changed when men who control Plateau politics started arriving. The dignitaries include, Governor Joshua Dariye, who was represented by the deputy governor; former governors of the state, serving and retired military personnel, top civil servants, etc.
They include, Gens. Jerry Useni, Domkat Bali, John Shagaya, Air Vice Marshal Josiah Wuyep, Solomon Lar, among others.
In his speech, the chairman of the occasion, Rev. Canon (Dr.) Selcan Miner, chronicled the role played by Tarok nation in the development of not only Plateau State but also Nigeria in general. He prayed that the peace that have returned to Plateau State would be sustained and urged all Tarok people to be law abiding and to always ensure that they keep to the norms that the Tarok people are known for and which they are all proud of.
In his goodwill message, Chief Solomon Lar, former governor of Plateau State, who represented His Majesty, Edward Cirdap Zhattau, the Ponzhi Tarok, thanked all those who honoured the invitation, especially the state government officials. He appealed to the state government to make good its promise to rehabilitate the road leading to Langtang town and to site a state university or polytechnic in the town.
Gen. Useni urged Tarok people to continue working together and to live peacefully and harmoniously with one another for the betterment and development of Tarok nation.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Jonah Wuyep, in his message, expressed happiness at the turnout of people. He urged Tarok people to uphold the same spirit that binds them together and to ensure that those things that bring conflicts among them are eliminated.
The Chairman, Langtang South Local Government, Dr. Hitler Dadi, in his speech, gave assurance that Tarok people would continue to hold those tenets that bind them together and will collectively fight their common enemy for the interest of peace and development of Tarok nation.
Governor Dariye asked for commitment and hard-work of the Tarok people towards ensuring peace and unity in the state. According to him, Tarok people are synonymous with successes and urged them to keep up the tempo.
In his vote of thanks, Engr. Cheto thanked people that contributed to the success of the event and prayed that God will grant them journey mercies back to their various homes. He expressed happiness that the occasion achieved one of its cardinal objectives which was to reposition the Tarok people on the path of growth, stability and progress and prayed that God will grant them more blessings and wisdom in service to their people, Plateau State and Nigeria at large.
Posted by Publisher at 01:34 PM | Comments (0)
Jimoh Ibrahim calls NAICOM’s bluff
Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of NICON Insurance Corporation plc, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim has called the bluff of National Insurance Commission(NAICOM) over the 21-day ultimatum given to him to vacate his position as the boss of the insurance firm, saying that the letter is a ruse.
By ISAAC ANUMIHE, Abuja
Friday, April 28, 2006
"Start counting from now, if I will leave office then. In fact, I will be in London by the time the ultimatum expires," Ibrahim boasted.
According to him, he is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NICON Group of companies for life. "NAICOM is not the interpreter of the law and I have come to stay here for life. No human being can take me out of here. I don't care about your publications because they make me popular. I remain the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of NICON Group of Companies.
Let the regulator or anybody get well educated."
He listed the companies that make up the group as NICON Trustee, NICON Investment, NICON Properties, NICON Hotel, NICON Energy, NICON Airways, NICON UK,
NICON Insurance and NICON Sao Tome asking if NAICOM has the power to regulate those companies too, as well as NICON UK?
Ibrahim told newsmen that there was nothing like ultimatum by the regulatory body, saying that he will appoint the managing directors for each of the companies at the appropriate time.
"When I am ready I will appoint MD for each of the 10 companies. We have not breached any law of insurance or any oil company. Where does NAICOM get its law from?" he asked.
Ibrahim, who distributed cheques amounting to over N3.5 billion terminal benefits to over 1,200 sacked workers of the corporation said while the least person collected N500, the highest beneficiary got N57million insisting, however, that all staff except contract ones indicted by the audit report will get nothing.
NAICOM had in a fresh letter to the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NICON Insurance plc dated April 19, 2006 and signed by Mrs J.I. Oroge given him 21-day ultimatum to appoint an insurance professional as Managing Director as he (Ibrahim) is not an insurance professional and so not qualified to supervise an insurance company.
The letter reads in part: "Further to our said letter and pursuant to section 13(1)(b) of the insurance Act 2003, you are hereby given 21 days from the date of this letter within which to forward a proposal for a chief executive for your company"
Posted by Publisher at 01:32 PM | Comments (0)
Ali rains curses on third term opponents
The Peoples Democratic Party leadership on Thursday carpeted its members opposed to the third term agenda, describing them as evil and misguided.
Tobi Soniyi and Musikilu Mojeed, Abuja
The PDP National Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, was particularly hard on the party's legislators in the National Assembly opposed to the agenda. He said they were deviants who had derailed from the path laid out by the party.
But Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, at another forum, served notice that opponents of the third term bid were in for a long haul.
He said the struggle for democracy and freedom would be long and tortuous.
Speaking in Abuja when a delegation of the Plateau State PDP visited him, Ali described those opposed to the plot as selfish, egocentric and power seeking.
Citing the ordeal of the Deputy President of the Senate, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, who is being investigated by the Senate for alleged financial mismanagement and embezzlement, Ali said the PDP would do whatever it takes to stave off his removal.
The PDP chairman argued that Mantu, who was chairman of the defunct National Assembly Joint Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, was being persecuted for his role in the ongoing process of constitution amendment.
He said, Mantu's problem has to do with the constitution review process. But Mantu is carrying out his assignment to the best of his ability and with the support of PDP nationwide. It is unfortunate that some of our members are opposed to the party position on the matter.
They have allowed themselves to be led by the nose. We have a majority in the National Assembly, yet our members have constituted themselves into an opposition.
But that is what happens when you have too many children. Some of them will definitely deviate from the path laid out for them by their parents and behave out of tune.
Mantu is doing his job properly. He is carrying out a delicate assignment and he is doing it very well, so we shall support him. Whatever tribulation he is going through, he will come out unscathed.
We are not worried because some of the allegations are spurious. If a former Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Nuhu Aliyu) does not know his onions, then we are in trouble.
This is the first time that an elected government is trying to produce a constitution. The subterfuge that the opposition and the media have driven Nigeria into is to give the amendment a skewed perspective.
The selfish, egocentric and power-seeking individuals opposed to us decided to label the entire exercise third term agenda.・All we can say to the evil people against constitutional amendment is, Allah ya isa (God will judge).・
Saying those against the third term plot were talking through their ass,・Ali explained that PDP wanted an elongation of President Olusegun Obasanjo's tenure because Nigeria needed somebody who will be there long enough to understand the ropes of governance.
The idea of three terms of four years is appealing, so that we can get a policy of irreversibility of policies right.・
Earlier, the Chairman, Plateau State chapter of the PDP and leader of the delegation, Chief Jethro Akun, urged the party to rally round Mantu and save him from attacks.
Some members of the delegation requested Ali to compel the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Frank Nweke Jr., to mandate government-owned electronic media to broadcast more messages justifying the third term plot and desist from broadcasting anti-third term reports.
The Vice-President, Abubakar, in Abuja, called on Nigerians people to confront challenges posed by what he described as the difficult political times.・
Speaking at the presentation of the book, Judicial Integrity, Independence and Reforms in Honour of Justice Muhammadu Uwais, the vice-president said the country found itself in a difficult political circumstance as a result of the inability of some of us to appreciate that every modern society, especially complex ones such as ours, have to be rule-driven if they are to survive and thrive.・
Abubakar refrained from making direct attacks on President Obasanjo. But he said, this is not a time for neutrality or sitting on the fence. You either believe that democracy and the rule of law are good and must be secured or you do not.
The price for standing up for the truth and justice may be stiff. But we cannot really call ourselves leaders and civilised citizens if we do not have the courage to uphold the truth and struggle for what is right.
If we allow fear to paralyse us, then we are running away from democracy and freedom. That is not a good option.
Its our current political situation shows, the struggle for democracy and freedom is a long and tortuous one. Those committed to that struggle must prepare for the long haul. And they will continue to require a courageous, independent and impartial judiciary in that struggle.・
He also challenged the judiciary to rise up to the challenges of the time by dispensing justice without fear or favour.
The vice-president added, we will continue to require a strong and independent judiciary as we struggle to build an enduring democracy secured by virile institutions and the rule of law.
A modern democracy without a strong, bold and independent judiciary is a contradiction in terms.
Such a democracy is an empty shell, subject to the whims and caprices of those who wield executive power and, therefore, on a slippery slope towards dictatorship.・
He pointed out that where the laws failed or those in power disregarded the law, people would take the law into their hands and anarchy would reign.
We must collectively struggle to prevent that fate from befalling our country. We are too important a people and too important a country to Africa and the world to let that happen. Posterity will never forgive us if we do,・he added.
Uwais, in his response, praised the authors of the book.
THE PUNCH, Friday April 28, 2006
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Northern governors split into factions
The 19 Northern Governors Forum on Thursday broke into two factions, following a sharp disagreement over a third term tenure for President Olusegun Obasanjo and state governors.
Segun Olatunji, Kaduna
The governors had converged on the Hassan Usman Katsina State House, Kaduna, for a five-hour meeting on the ongoing amendment to the 1999 Constitution.
But before the meeting started, hundreds of anti-third term protesters held up the convoy of the governors.
Members of the 2007 Movement, an association of anti-third term National Assembly members, led by Senator Uche Chukwumerije, also stormed the forum in protest against tenure extension.
Despite the protest, the governors met behind closed doors.
A source indicated that the forum could not reach a consensus on whether to support the third term agenda or not.
Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the NGF, Dr. Bukola Saraki of Kwara State, however, said the governors opted for further consultation on constitution amendment.
He said, 鄭fter an extensive deliberation on the ongoing constitution amendment in the country, the forum resolved that members should go ahead to consult with their respective constituencies on the matter.・
He also said that the forum had advised each of the Northern states to take immediate steps to review some of their laws that required urgent attention.
The forum, he said, directed the immediate reinstatement of the sacked Editor of the New Nigerian Newspapers, Mallam Mahmud Jega.
About 30 minutes after Saraki痴 briefing, three of the Northern governors and a deputy governor emerged from a room at the State House for a separate conference.
The governors were Ahmed Sani Yerima (Zamfara); Mr. Boni Haruna (Adamawa); Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure (Niger); and Benue State Deputy Governor, Mr. Ogiri Ajene.
Yerima, who was flanked by Haruna, Kure and Ajene, described the ongoing constitution amendment as a dangerous development, which could throw Nigeria into chaos.
He said that the inadequacies of the 1999 Constitution should not be a ploy for anyone or group to foist a personal agenda on Nigerians.
He described the amendment process as a sham and a charade aimed at eroding the federal structure of the nation.
He added, 展e appeal to all Nigerians to rise up to the occasion and resist the unpardonable attempt to foist on the people of this great country the third term project which is not only selfish but the path to dictatorship, anarchy and total reversal of our democratic rebirth.
展e call on our other colleagues to be on the side of history and the people in our resolve to bequeath to the people sustainable democracy by seeing through this deception of third term.
展e note with concern the growing brazen manner the constitution amendment process is so far being conducted.
擢rom the so-called zonal public hearings to the shameless attempt in the Senate recently to smuggle an amendment to the 登riginal・bill that would provide for tenure elongation or third term for the governors, who were 妬nadvertently・omitted in the original bill even after it went through the first reading), it is evident that the whole idea of the entire constitution amendment was not meant to bring about national stability, unity and sustenance of our democratic rebirth.
迭ather, it is a roadmap to national instability, confusion and total distortion of our constitutional order.
徹rdinarily, in a democratic country, which we are aspiring to fully become, constitution amendment is a normal democratic process that is supposed to be scrupulously guided by the constitutive and regulative rules and should reflect the popular wish of the people.
展hile we concede that the country痴 1999 Constitution is not a perfect document, its fallibility must not be used as an excuse for tinkering to accommodate a personal agenda.
展e, therefore, condemn in the strongest possible terms the whole idea of the ongoing constitution amendment whose primary objective is to achieve the third term agenda.
展e equally condemn other dangerous aspects of the amendment which seek to bring unitarism as against true federalism that is anchored on devolution of powers to the constituent units of the federation.
的t is our candid opinion that all provisions in the constitution amendment bill that seek to erode the country痴 federal structure in terms of powers and responsibilities of the constituent units should not be considered.・
Yerima urged the members of the National Assembly to throw out the third term bill.
Fourteen out of the 19 states were represented at the meeting. Those in attendance were nine governors and five deputy governors.
The governors came from Kaduna, Borno, Niger, Bauchi, Adamawa, Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto and Gombe.
The deputy governors were those of Benue, Katsina, jigawa Taraba and Nasarawa.
Earlier at the end of their short audience with the forum, Chukwumerije, who briefed newsmen in company with Senators Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Saidu Dansadu, Idris Kuta and Ben Obi, urged the governors to avert a political disaster in the country.
Reading from a text of the group痴 statement to the forum, Chukwumerije said, 添our excellencies, you know better than many of us that Nigeria is once again at the crossroads. Do we turn left or to the right?
鄭 turn to the left will lead us to political instability and economic retardation. A turn to the right will lead us to the consolidation of our democracy and pace of economic development.
典he 2007 Movement believes that the only option that we have now for the consolidation of our democracy and continued economic growth is retention of the two-term executive tenure in the constitution and rejection of temptation to executive tenure elongation.
展e appeal to you to rise to the full potential of your greatness as leaders of this nation by rejecting the satanic temptation of executive tenure extension.
展e reiterate our conviction that Nigeria stands today on a precipice of disaster and Allah has placed you in key positions to save the nation. Nigeria痴 greatness lies in institution building, not in hero-worship and personalisation of policies.・
THE PUNCH, Friday April 28, 2006
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Mapo Hall: Adedibu, others own construction firm - Investigation
Fresh facts emerged on Wednesday that the N200million contract for the renovation of Mapo Hall was actually awarded to a company where Chief Lamidi Adedibu has substantial interest.
Yusuf Alli and Oluyinka Akintunde
Investigations by our correspondents at the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, showed that Adedibu is a major shareholder in HUA Engineering Nigeria Limited.
In an earlier story, THE PUNCH had erroneously referred to Adedibu痴 company as HUA Nigeria Ltd, instead of HUA Engineering Nigeria Ltd.
Adedibu had in an interview with THE PUNCH admitted that only his children were shareholders in the company.
He had said, 典he company does not belong to me. But my children are shareholders in the company. I don稚 see anything wrong in awarding the contract to the company because it was done through competitive bidding.
鉄ince 1929 when the hall was built, no government has done any repair work before now. I now visit the site three times a day to ensure that the work is not delayed.・
But a latest search report at the CAC, on April 26, 2006, showed that Adedibu is the largest shareholder in the company.
The directors/shareholders of HUA Engineering Nigeria Limited are: Adedibu, N500,000 shares; Mr. Jubril Adedibu, N300,000 shares; Mr. Kamorudeen Adekunle, N100,000; Alhaja Adija Sulaiman Maito, N50,000 shares; and Mr. Morufu Ige Adegboyega, N50,000 shares.
The search revealed the company痴 address as SW8/596, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Molete, Ibadan.
It indicated that HUA Engineering Nigeria Limited increased its share capital from N100,000 to N1million on January 5, 1999.
The company was however registered as a manufacturing firm with the main objects as: 典o act as manufacturers of bare copper wire, flexible cord, steel, P.V.C, P.E. natural rubber, insulated wire and cables; telephone cables and mechanical aids for cable construction and maintenance.・
The findings also confirmed that HUA Engineering Nigeria Limited filed its annual returns last with the CAC in 2002.
The latest search report from the CAC puts to rest the controversy over the owners and the identity of the company that is renovating Mapo Hall.
THE PUNCH, Friday April 28, 2006
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I won't quit NICON 褒imoh Ibrahim
The Chief Executive Officer of NICON Group, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, insisted on Thursday that he would stay on at his post as he brushed aside a 21-day ultimatum from the insurance industry痴 regulatory body, the National Insurance Commission, that he should step down as head of NICON Insurance Plc.
Yomi Odunuga and Oluyinka Akintunde, Abuja
Addressing a news conference in Abuja, Ibrahim described the ultimatum from the NAICOM as a 途use・and vowed to 都tay for life,・daring the regulator to seek legal interpretation of the relevant laws pertaining to the qualifications prescribed for the headship of an insurance company in Nigeria.
In a letter dated April 19, NAICOM asked Ibrahim to step down as CEO of NICON Insurance within 21 days and that the leading underwriting firm should name a new person for the post within the same period.
The regulator hinged its action on the fact that the incumbent was not a qualified insurance professional in violation of the Insurance Act of 2003.
But in his angry reaction on Thursday, Ibrahim, whose Global Fleet Group led a consortium that bought majority equity in the firm from the Federal Government, said he was the Group CEO of NICON Group and that the insurance firm was only one out of 10 subsidiaries.
Ibrahim said the group would go ahead with its plan to lay off 1,200 workers from the insurance company, adding that they would be paid combined terminal benefits of N3.5billion.
Confronted with Ibrahim痴 defiance, the Commissioner for Insurance, Chief Emmanuel Chukwulozie, said on Thursday that the regulatory body was steadfast in its position, insisting that the law was clear on the requirements for the appointment of the CEO of an insurance company.
He said, 的 am a regulator and I don稚 regulate on the pages of newspapers. The position of the Insurance Act is very clear about the appointment of CEOs for insurance companies.・
Ibrahim, however, insisted that a court of competent jurisdiction could interpret the sections of the Insurance Act 2003, regarding the qualifications of the CEO of an insurance company.
NICON Insurance, he noted, was only one of the subsidiaries of the NICON Group of Companies, which was incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act on March 21, 2006. The registration number of the group is RC 648707.
Ibrahim said, 哲AICOM is not the interpreter of the law. The interpreter of the law is the court. Judiciary is the interpreter of the law. And I have come to stay here for life. So, no human being can take me away from here except God.
的 am the Group MD/CEO of NICON Group of Companies. The NICON Group of Companies is incorporated by law. So, let the regulator or anybody get well educated. Is it possible for NAICOM to regulate NAICOM Group of Companies, which include Oil and Gas, NICON Hotel, NICON Sao Tome, and NICON Trustees?・
The NICON boss, who admitted that there were still CEOs of insurance companies that do not hold insurance qualifications, wondered why NICON was being singled out for persecution.
He stated that 10 managing directors and CEOs would be appointed for the 10 subsidiaries, who will report to him.
的n NICON Insurance, please report that we have not breached any law of insurance or any law of oil and gas. We have put all the companies bought from BPE that come under NICON to Group of Companies. Where does NAICOM get their own law from?・
THE PUNCH, Friday April 28, 2006
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The debt relief Nigerians want
The Federal Government must have heaved a sigh of relief as the Paris Club of creditor nations finally granted Nigeria an $18 billion debt respite.
Reports say that overall, the agreement allows Nigeria to obtain a debt cancellation estimated at $18 billion (including moratorium interest), representing a roughly 60 per cent reduction of the $30 billion debt the country owed the Paris Club. The granting of the $18 billion debt relief was, however, premised on the payment of an outstanding $12 billion to the creditor club, which the FG immediately instructed the Central Bank of Nigeria to settle from the excess crude oil account. The accord came less than four months after the Club agreed to the deal in principle. An obviously elated President Olusegun Obasanjo declared Friday, April 21, as Nigeria痴 exit day from the Paris Club debt trap. He insisted that his government痴 reform agenda must continue in order to free the nation from its indebtedness to the London Club and other local creditors.
The International Monetary Fund had earlier endorsed the nation痴 economic development policy and poverty reduction measures. With this development, Nigeria is not only free from the crippling $30 billion debt it owed the Paris Club, it has also been saved from the burden of debt servicing, which had consistently drained the nation痴 resources. With debt relief, the nation痴 financial situation should become more stable, while its credibility in the global economy would appreciate. By the same token, it is expected that the debt relief would fast-track sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction.
Beyond the official euphoria about the debt relief, however, the gesture has generated mixed feelings among ordinary Nigerians who had no hand or say in the accumulation of the debt, but who bear the crushing burden of the repayment. This vividly reflects in the nation痴 decrepit infrastructure, mass poverty and generally depressing living standards. Contrary to the rosy picture of the nation痴 economic performance usually painted by government officials, UNICEF says the health status of the Nigerian child and mother is deteriorating because of the poor state of the nation痴 health system.
With local manufacturers・40 per cent cost disadvantage when compared with their counterparts in other parts of the world, ordinary Nigerians are made to bear the brunt of the rot in the power generation system. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has attributed the harsh business climate to epileptic power supply, poor infrastructure and inefficient port administration, among others. With less than 10 per cent dependence on public power supply, alone, MAN says high cost of doing business has so far led to the closure of hundreds of companies and 45 per cent decline in capacity utilization.
In spite of high crude oil prices in the international market in the last seven years, Nigeria is still grouped among 50 countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia with a very high poverty level. The Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme has also described the government痴 efforts in poverty reduction as 砺ery poor and lacking in accountability and equity・ Last year, the IMF mission reported that corruption, poor state of basic infrastructure and weak institutions remained the major deterrents to investment, sustainable growth and improvement in social welfare. The report said employment growth was scant and the cost of doing business discouraging, despite contrary official claims.
Presently, the debt relief, dear as it is to the FG, appears meaningless to ordinary Nigerians. The apathy can be reversed when savings from the gesture translate to better infrastructure, health care delivery system, affordable education and other basic necessities of life.
THE PUNCH, Friday April 28, 2006
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Third term: SSS plans to implicate me - Rep
Mr. Uche Onyeaguocha, who represents Owerri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, is a member of the Movement 2007, a platform for National Assembly members opposed to third term. In this interview with SEMIU OKANLA-WON, he spoke on attempts to intimidate him over his resolve to fight against tenure extension. Excerpts:
Do you think civil society groups are capable of fighting the third term agenda as they did against the military?
The time has moved on. Activists who had graduated from Nigerian universities peopled the civil society in our period. Remember that at that time, NANS was vibrant. So, most of us who peopled the civil society groups were NANS activists who had a strong background in advocacy and campaigns. A lot of them had been arrested, detained, suspended and expelled in their university days. They carried that vibrancy into the civil society groups. One thing you will notice now is that as that crowd left NANS, it got polluted. As that same group left the human rights groups, everybody started to set up human rights groups. And the campaign disappeared; it was only left with advocacy. The same happened in the pro-democracy groups. Most of the people today don稚 talk in the direction of campaigners.
You were at the CLO today, and your group told the CLO to join the campaign against third term. Do you believe the CLO has what it takes to engage in this battle?
If the culture is there, yes. But I must tell you that it goes back to the first question. In the university, a lot of us were Marxist students, left-wing students, who had consumed a lot of left-wing literature with a lot of organisational capacity. When we left, we carried a lot of the language to the human rights groups. But of those who are there now are looking at the human rights struggles as a career, a profession, a kind of stop-gap place.
Do you believe with the way things are going, the third term thing can be stopped at the level of the National Assembly?
What gives me the confidence is the fact that God is on our side. The Nigerian people are on our side. All those people now mounting third term will not give their vote unless they are paid. Without money, not a chance for third term. When you look at all these factors, you cannot but marvel as to how much God loves this country; how much God wants to save this country.
Does that mean if the protagonists can buy their support, the anti-third term campaigners have lost out?
I have not said so. But I recognise that money plays a lot of roles. Rather than blame anything on money, I would go back to the 2003 elections. If there were proper elections in 2003, where people got elected on the basis of the votes cast for them, we would not even bat an eyelid over third term. I would have told you for sure that a minimum of three-quarters of the people would have voted against third term. But the big worry for me has been that many people in the National Assembly did not win a proper election. These were people who grabbed results sheets; who stole result sheets and filled in figures and wrote their names. Most of them have still not repented from that act.
There have been reports of desperate attempts to buy over those of you opposed to it. What is your personal experience?
A friend from Bayelsa State got across to me. That was on Good Friday and he said he knew that I would not accept to vote for third term, but that an arrangement had been made that I could get as much money as all the supporters of third term would get. He asked if I could reach out to 10 strong anti-third term legislators like myself and arrange how they would accept to travel to any country of their choice to spend a three to four-week holiday. All expenses would be paid, and they would still be paid the same money that the pro-third termers would get. But they would be absent from voting.
But that is not all. The State Security Services is writing bogus security reports against many of our people. I am one of such people. The SSS wrote a report against me last two weeks and that they sent the memo to the President in which they said that I was an APGA member of the House of Representatives; and that I have been busy supporting MASSOB activities. I see that as a prelude to perhaps arresting me, abducting me and if possible, charging me for treason as a way of cowing me or putting me away during the voting on third term. Why is it that all of a sudden, it is now that I am fanatically opposed to third term that they are waking up to the reality of my support for MASSOB?
THE PUNCH, Friday April 28, 2006
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Honing their skills for legislative oversight
It was a period of stocktaking for some members of the National Assembly in Kaduna recently. They were in the town to have an in-depth look at the process of oversight functions and what they entail.
Geoffrey Ekenna
The conference tagged, 鏑egislative oversight functions: The role of the National Assembly,・drew participants from the upper and lower chambers, as well as some state Houses of Assembly across the country. It was put together by the Policy Analysis and Research Project of the National Assembly.
Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, set the stage for discussions with a thought-provoking keynote address. He explored the history of the National Assembly, its power of investigation and role in the separation of powers.
Tracing the history of the Nigerian legislature from the colonial days when a legislative council was set up to administer the conquered territories, he said that the council then was an advisory body and its advice was not binding on the Governor. The first constitutionally-organised legislature in Nigeria, he explained, was established in 1922 by the Clifford痴 Constitution. This provided for 46 members, including four elected ones. He pointed out that the Clifford痴, Macpherson痴 and Richard痴 constitutions of 1922, 1951, and 1954 respectively had neither provided for committees nor granted investigative powers to the various legislatures under them.
He said: 典he absence of these two elements in those constitutions was because they were made to serve a parliamentary system of government.・Ume-Ezeoke said that was essentially the difference between the parliamentary and presidential systems of government.
But the 1979 Constitution, which was modelled after that of the United States, saw the need to 兎stablish three independent branches of national government with none having a monopoly of power・ according to him. He said it was in realisation that power should not concentrate on one arm of government that the framers of the constitution recognised the three arms of government ・the executive, legislature and the judiciary. Drawing from his experience, he advised the lawmakers to insist on their oversight functions, not minding on whose toes they stepped as long as they operate within the law.
He said the most important issue was how to balance the National Assembly痴 oversight functions with those of the executive, adding that 妬gnoring such functions was tantamount to abandoning programme implementation to the whims and caprices of unelected officials.・
Ume-Ezeoke, however, submitted that the legislature was not well equipped to carry out its functions. He said lack of adequate security facilities and immunity from arrest and prosecution had constituted obstacles to the Nigerian legislator. He also cited poor staffing and lack of professionals, lack of a good library, and inability to resist intimidation and inducement from forces outside the legislature as other constraints hindering legislative oversight. The former speaker also said, 典he EFCC is encroaching deeper into the jurisdiction of the National Assembly by extending its dragnet to Federal Government ministries which is the exclusive reserve for the legislature.・
A lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University, Dr. Abubakar Momoh, who spoke on legislative oversight and constitutional functions, said: 徹versight has been performed as a constitutional function, as an informal act, or as best practice in the process of legislation and governance.・He argued that over the decades, there had been renewed interest in oversight across the world.
Momoh listed what he described as the objectives of oversight to include compliance with the will of parliament by the executive; maintenance of ethical behaviour in the civil service and cost-effectiveness of the use of funds by government. Other objectives, according to him, involved sound internal financial operations; reduction of corruption opportunities and imposition of sanctions for wasteful behaviours.
The Auditor General of the Federation, Mr. Joseph Ajiboye, spoke on the concept of accountability, transparency and probity in the management of resources in the public sector, underlining the auditor general痴 relationship with both the executive and legislature.
Speaking on oversight functions in the management of public funds, the Chairman, Appropriation Committee of the House of Representatives, Mr. Farouk Lawan, argued that 鍍he role of parliament in any polity is to make, revise, amend and repeal laws for the advancement and well-being of the society.・
A senior economist with the World Bank, Greg Nzekwu, who presented a paper on international best practices in legislative oversight explained the oversight function, provided a checklist for legislative oversight and discussed the budget process. Nzekwu also listed legislative oversight tools, their application and legislature痴 contributions to good governance.
Other speakers at the conference were Francesca E. Farmer of the National Democratic Institute and Alhaji Fuseini Baba-Seidu from Ghana.
THE PUNCH, Friday April 28, 2006
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GSM networks plot higher call rates
A rift between mobile and fixed telephone operators has stalled the implementation of partial parity in interconnect rates imposed on the industry by the Nigerian Communications Commission in March.
Everest Amaefule, Abuja
Instead of the partial parity, investigations by our correspondent revealed that mobile operators have insisted on raising the termination rates on mobile networks from N11.52 to N16.50 per minute.
It was also learnt that one of the mobile operators, Vee Networks Nigeria Limited, trading as Vmobile, raised the stakes by asking for a termination rate of N18 per minute.
Interconnect rate represents the charge a telecoms operator that generates a call pays to another operator on whose network the call is terminated.
At present, a minute call terminated on a mobile network costs N11.52 while a minute call terminated on a fixed network costs the generating network N5.52.
NCC had in March, asked mobile operators, who hand over their traffic meant for a fixed network at a nearby destination, to pay a new termination rate of N11.52 instead of the current N5.52.
However, mobile operators that hand over a call for a fixed network at a far-end destination were required to continue paying the subsisting rate of N5.52, while fixed operators were required to continue paying N11.52 per minute call terminated on a mobile network.
The regulatory agency defined far-end handoff as a situation where the originating operator hands over a call to the terminating operator in the state in which the called party is located.
The near-end handoff defines a situation where the originating operator hands over the call to the terminating operator in a location that is not the state in which the called party is located.
The partial parity, which NCC imposed on the industry, was to be in operation until a study it commissioned PriceWaterHouseCoopers to do on cost determined interconnect rates was completed.
For fixed operators, the imposition of partial parity by NCC is a victory of some sort for fixed operators who had been grumbling both in the open and in the secret about how skewed the current rates are in favour of mobile operators.
The Nigerian Telecommunications Limited had in 2005, petitioned NCC for an immediate review of the interconnect rates. The company痴 Managing Director, Mr. Albert Mashi, in an interview with our correspondent said except there was parity of interconnect rates, mobile operators would run fixed operators out of business.
He attributed the high interconnect debts that has bedeviled the industry for some time now, to imbalances in interconnect rates.
He faulted the argument that termination cost on mobile networks should be higher because mobile networks consume more resources. On the contrary, he said, fixed networks, especially cable networks, cost more to build.
Although the Minister of Communication, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, was sympathetic with NITEL, he said the matter was under the purview of NCC, which insisted that due process must be followed. First, there was to be no review until 18 months from the last review.
Mobile operators, who feared that NCC could bow to pressure before the expiration of the 18 months, threatened to go to court to press for the status quo.
They used their common forum, the GSM Forum, to press for a common stand among the mobile operators. They initiated studies that were sympathetic to their cause and had made a case whenever they could.
Our correspondent learnt that at a meeting to harmonise the implementation of the partial parity in Abuja, mobile operators used the power of their market dominance to stall the take off, insisting on increased costs on terminating on a mobile network.
A compromise was, however, reached for all the operators to wait for the study being conducted by PriceWaterHouseCoopers. The result of the study is expected soon to enable NCC make a final ruling by the end of May.
Interconnect rate is very important in the telecoms industry because it is the benchmark that operators look at in fixing their tariffs. No operator, for instance, can charge a rate lower than the interconnect rate, especially for cross network calls.
Industry experts believe that GSM operators want to keep the rates high to ensure that fixed operators do not force down tariffs generally.
Contention over interconnectivity issues dates back to the liberalisation of the telecoms industry but became more acute with the licensing of digital mobile operators in 2001.
The review of interconnect rate in December 2003 sparked off some legal battles between NCC and two mobile operators, MTN Nigeria Communications Limited and Vee Networks Nigeria Limited.
Although NCC won the initial rounds of the legal battles, some aspects of the suits are yet to be disposed of.
Before NCC imposed the partial parity in the industry in March, it also gave the operators the opportunity to agree on common rates. Expectedly, the discussions broke down again and NCC was called upon to intervene. Now the interim intervention has also failed.
THE PUNCH, Friday April 28, 2006
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Waste management: FG seeks private sector collaboration
The Federal Government on Thursday opened discussions on joint public and private sectors efforts to tackle solid waste management issues.
Michael Faloseyi, Abuja
President Olusegun Obasanjo, while declaring the forum open in Abuja, said that waste management was a matter of significance because of its impact on health and the environment.
The president, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaette, noted that solid waste was in the past, used as manure because of its composition as 100 per cent biodegradable.
But he said that economic development had changed the nature and composition of solid waste with non-biodegradable elements like plastics, tins and cans making up about 30 to 40 per cent of solid waste.
He said the development posed a negative impact as it blocked drainages, waterways, littered roadsides and parks, affected soil yields on farms and choked cattle and other animals to death when accidentally ingested.
He said that the complexity and impact of solid waste on agriculture informed the Federal Government痴 position in making management of solid waste one of its cardinal activities.
Solid waste, he said, required huge human and material resources that are beyond the scope of local government councils that are charged with the constitutional responsibility of managing it.
He said that the enormity of the problem required collaborative efforts between public and private sector operators and that participants at the forum should develop the framework for such collaborative efforts.
The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Helen Esuene, said that the widespread nature of solid waste mismanagement might be responsible for incidents of typhoid fever in the country.
She, therefore, pledged the Federal Government痴 support for any initiative that would ensure effective solid waste management in Nigeria.
THE PUNCH, Friday April 28, 2006
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Nigeria to sign air link agreements with China, Argentina
Nigeria is to enter into air link agreements with China and Argentina as part of measures to open up more investment opportunities in the three countries, the Minister of Aviation, Dr. Babalola Borishade, said on Thursday.
Oluyinka Akintunde, Abuja
He stated this during a separate meeting in Abuja with a delegation of Chinese investors led by the Deputy Governor of Henan Province, China, Mr. Jia Lianchao and the Argentine Ambassador to Nigeria, Jorge Vehils.
Borishade urged the Chinese delegation to take advantage of the cordial relationship between the two countries to engage in purposeful trading and investment in the aviation sector.
He said President Olus-egun Obasanjo, had expressed his desire to create effective relationship between the countries through maintaining the Sino-Nigeria trade relations and opening up investment opportunities.
On the proposal for the Bilateral Air Service agreement, the minister said it had been sent to China for the fine-tuning of the technical aspects of the agreements.
Lianchao lauded the Nigerian government for its effort towards ensuring an air link between the country and Henan Province of China.
He said President Obasa-njo had granted the use of the Lagos International Trade Fair to the Henan Province to develop into a special Trade Free Zone, adding that the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, would be linked with the TFZ.
He called for a direct flight from Nigeria to Henan Province as part of measures to promote Sino-Nigeria Trade relations.
Borishade also called for collaboration in airspace management between Nigeria and Argentina.
The minister noted that both countries had similar interest in the aviation sector, particularly in radar coverage, which, according to him, was the key to effective management of the airspace.
典he technology of radar equipment has been improving by the day and as such poses some challenges and needs cross fertilisation of ideas by both countries to come to grips with identified common problems,・he added.
He assured that there would soon be a direct flight from Nigeria to Argentina and enjoined the Ambassador to send a delegation of aviation officials to discuss with their counterparts in Nigeria.
THE PUNCH, Friday April 28, 2006
Posted by Publisher at 01:19 PM | Comments (0)
Third term logjam: Northern gov s assign duties
THE Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) has resolved that, members of Constitutional Review Committee should go ahead and consult with their respective constituencies.
From MUSTAPHA SAYE, Kaduna
Reading the communiqué at the end of their meeting yesterday, at Hassan Usman Katsina House, Kaduna, chairman of the forum, Governor Abubakar Bukola Saraki of Kwara state, said that ‘’the NGF has decided to seek immediate action to update the New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN) and immediate action to conclude the transfer process of the newspapers as well as to ensure that the revoked plots of land belonging to the company are recovered.
The forum also directed the immediate reinstatement of the sacked editor of the New Nigerian Newspapers, nothing that the executive governor of Kogi state was not in any way involved in the matter.
On the recapitalisation of the NNDC, the forum decided to give full support to its capitalisation efforts through ensuring that all states sign the ISO without further delay, adding that such payments will be lodged in an escrow account and will only be accessed by submission of investment proposal to the forum by the NNDC.
NGF also expressed delight with progress so far recorded in the consolidation process of the former Bank of the North with Unity Bank Group and condemned the early conclusion of the integration processes concluded before the deadline set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
On the law revision, the forum noted that some of the laws of the Northern states require urgent attention and therefore advised each state to immediately take steps to review their laws.
The NGF also condemned in very strong terms the incidence of the recent unfortunate sectarian/religious crises in some states of the North with a resolve to check future occurrences as contained in the recommendation of a peace conference held in the year 2004, adding that the forum had approved the meeting of assembly of traditional rulers in Northern states to assist in further promotion of peaceful co-existence in the region and the assembly is to be inaugurated on May 28, 2006.
However, on the eve of Northern governors meeting, the officials of 2007 Movement, an association of anti-third term legislators had invaded the venue of the meeting and presented their letter to the governors’ meeting.
The letter which was signed by Senator Uche Chukwumerije who is also the chairman of the movement, stated: ‘’We are members of 2007 Movement, which is a bi-partisan platform of federal legislators committed to the sustenance of the cannons of constitutional democracy, rule of law and true federalism.’’
The letter said: ‘’For now, these cannons face a deadly threat and we all shall be victims of a calamity and culprits of history if the tension predicated by the third term agenda detrimental to an unmanageable scale and our dear country comes to grief.’’
It further stated: ‘’Your Excellencies, you know better than many of us that Nigeria is once again at the crossroads: Do we turn to the left or to the right? A turn to the left will lead us to political instability and economic retardation and a turn to the right will lead us to the consolidation of our democracy and peaceful economic development.’’
Senator Chukwumerije, further appealed to Northern governors to rise to the full potential of their greatness as leaders of the nation and keep Nigeria on the track of untrammelled growth by rejecting the satanic temptation of executive tenure extension.
Subsequently, after the meeting, Governor Ahmad Sani of Zamfara state, Boni Haruna of Adamawa state and Abdulkadir Kure of Niger state also called for an immediate press conference which was chaired by Governor Ahmad Sani.
He said they condemned in strongest terms the whole idea of the on-going constitutional amendment which primary objective is to achieve the third term agenda.
He said they also equally condemned other dangerous aspects of the amendments which seek to bring about unitarism as against true federalism that is anchored on devolution of powers to the constituent units of the federation.
Governor Sani also appealed to all Nigerians to raise up to the occasion and resist the unpardonable attempt to foist on people of this country the third term project which is not only selfish but the path to dictatorship, anarchy and total reversal of democratic re-birth.
Posted by Publisher at 01:18 PM | Comments (0)
Kano’s economy: Summit reels out indices to progress
PARTICIPANTS at the just concluded First Kano Economic Summit have identified the major causes of the economic decline of the state.
By MUHD. HAMISU ABDUILLAHI
Reading the communiqué of the event to journalists shortly after the closing ceremony of the exercise yesterday in Kano, the state commissioner of commerce, industry and cooperatives, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmad Yakasai said human capital is one of the problems.
The commissioner, who is also the chairman, steering committee of the summit said participants also observed that there is inadequate manpower in the state due to low enrolment of Kano youth into tertiary institutions, and lack of technical and vocational education that would foster entrepreneurship development.
This, he said, is in addition to inadequate investments in education, pointing out that another factor responsible for the decline is inadequate infrastructure in terms of erratic electricity supply, bad road networks and inadequate water supply.
He told journalists that the summit has identified lack of well thought-out industrial and cooperative policies for eradicating the development path of the state as another factor.
Others are insecurity due to political crisis and sporadic social unrest, unutilised Information and Communication Technology (ICT) opportunities as the state is yet to take full advantage of the business, investments and knowledge opportunities offered by the ICT and inefficient property documentation and registration system.
In view of the above, the summit recommended the development of versatile human capital fully equipped to competently handle the emerging knowledge-driven economy and that basic education should encompass the values of society such as religion and culture.
It recommended that to ensure offerings in Kano University of Technology and other tertiary institutions must cover disciplines that are related to manpower needs.
It further recommended that the state must exploit existing opportunities in all national and international support programmes relevant to the educational system in addition to the need for it to introduce computer education and produce properly trained teachers in a cheap but efficient way.
Another recommendation of the summit, according to the commissioner is on the need for good democratic governance anchored on strong institutions like legislature, judiciary, the police and civil service, which are imperative in nurturing democracy.
Also efficient service delivery was identified as crucial to economic development and that the state government was advised to strengthen the public media in the state through the provision of the necessary facilities and training.
Traditional institutions in the state, the summit recommended, should be actively involved in public affairs, adding that especially such institutions should be the platform for conflict resolution.
Greater effort in women empowerment especially in the area of education and income was recommended too.
It was also recommended that visionary, effective and focused leadership at all levels of the polity and society should be in place, while participants acknowledged and commended Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of the state and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji (Dr.) Ado Bayero in promoting societal reorientation, providing leadership by example and creating an atmosphere of peace and stability.
Other recommendations are on the need for supportive, open-minded, selfless and industrious society in which individuals and groups are motivated to invest their energy and resource in promoting the common goal, modernising agriculture, creating a business environment which supports growth of manufacturing and industrial activities and recognising digital technology as the emerging dominant factor in global economic growth and property and positioning Kano to fully exploit the new opportunities.
Posted by Publisher at 01:17 PM | Comments (0)
Govt to consider recommendations
KANO state government has pledged to consider recommendations of the First Kano Economic Summit with a view to implementing them for the economic development of the state.
By UMAR DANLADI ADO
The state governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau gave this indication in his message at the closing ceremony of the three-day summit, held at the Murtala Muhammad Library Complex, yesterday.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Engr. Magaji Abdullahi hoped that the seminar would be the beginning of the state’s fruitful journey to prosperity.
He assured that the present administration will ensure that the summit’s noble objectives are attained within a short possible time, and at the same time be a catalyst in providing a good leadership that would partake in achieving this goal.
The governor who observed that the summit has rekindled both awareness and patriotism in the people of Kano and said: ‘’It is from the ashes of a war that springs prosperity.’’
He further observed that in the last two decades, the economy of Kano had declined to its lowest ebb, both economically and socially, noting however, that presently there is a new hope for a new beginning.
Malam Shekarau wished that the summit was held in the past few months of the beginning of the present administration in the state, adding that with the remaining one year in office, the recommendations of the summit will be considered for implementation.
Daily Triumph gathered that the summit recommended among other things the need for attitudinal change, utilisation of earth dams for irrigation farming.
Others include, the establishment of independent power source, need to increase the level of awareness open to all categories of businesses and the need for greater efforts in women empowerment especially in the area of education and income.
Posted by Publisher at 01:15 PM | Comments (0)
Plateau finance commissioner denies EFCC charges
PLATEAU state finance commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Agati who was arrested by the London Metropolitan police in connection with money laundering in September 2003, has denied all charges of financial crimes levelled against him and Governor Dariye by the EFCC.
From CHRISTIANA GOKYO, Jos
Mr. Agati who was arrested along with Governor Joshua Dariye, made the denial yesterday while being cross-examined by the probe committee, set up by the Plateau state House of Assembly to investigate charges of financial crimes, case of conspiracy, abuse of office, official corruption and money laundering.
The embattled commissioner alleged that the EFCC had forged some documents including names of dead persons.
He also denied that some of the names included in the EFCC documents were not employees of the state government, arguing that they have no connection with the state government whatsoever.
Mr. Agati further added that there was no authentication of cheques of the banks alleged to have conducted the transactions to ascertain its genuity.
He also named that at no time the state government siphoned money from the state coffers into his private account.
According to him, the alleged N1.1 billion ecological funds is still lodged in the state government account which is still being used for that purpose.
He further submitted that at no time did he approve the sum of N160 billion state money for the private use of the government.
Posted by Publisher at 01:14 PM | Comments (0)
Chinese president addresses NASS
CHINESE president, Mr. Hu Jintao yesterday addressed a joint session of the National Assembly, saying that the Peoples’ Republic of China is ready to bring development to Africa.
From IDU OKECHUKWU, Abuja
In his extensive speech which was mainly linked to a programme of action designed to bring economic development to Africa, Jintao said that as a communist nation, China still has much to be desired in view of its teeming population.
The communist president said that promoting bi-lateral relationship with Africa remains his uppermost priority, stating categorically, economic development is of great importance to stable and good health, education for all etc.
How to achieve this, he said, global security is another area of great concerned.
He, however, said that his people would throw their weight in support of the nation’s bid for the offer.
The president also pointed out that since Africa is a market potential, his people will do all it could in trying to bring development to their neighbouring countries.
According to him, China is already preparing for a joint summit of African countries with China in the Chinese capital, Beijing come November 2006.
Posted by Publisher at 01:13 PM | Comments (0)
KNHA investigates U/Uku land dispute
KANO state House of Assembly has set up a six-man adhoc-committee to investigate a land dispute among some traders at Unguwa Uku Motor Park in Tarauni local government area.
By ALIYU YUSUF
Announcing the setting-up of the committee during the Assembly’s session, yesterday, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Balarabe Sa’idu Gani said the committee was set up to investigate the issue with a view to finding out the truth about the matter for necessary action.
In view of that according to the Speaker, the committee is directed to discuss with the Amalgamated Traders Association (AMATA), Unguwa Uku branch (the complainants), other bodies that claim the ownership of the land in question, ministry of lands and Tarauni local government council so as to ensure a fair hearing on the matter.
The adhoc committee include Hon. Ahmad Tambaya Dawanau, the Majority Leader of the House as chairman and the chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Gambo Sallau as member.
Other members are chairman, House Committee on Land, Hon. Aminu Sani, chairman House Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations, Hon. Salisu Sa’ad Lili and the chairman House Committee on Environment, Hon. Bala Salisu Kosawa, while Alhaji Bala Yaro will serve as the committee’s secretary.
The committee has been given one month to conclude its findings and submit its report to the House for further action.
In a related development, the House has commenced the third reading of the Kano state Pension and Gratuity Law 2006 with some amendments in Section 1 and 2 of the law.
Posted by Publisher at 01:12 PM | Comments (0)
APCON to prosecute illegal practitioners
THE Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) has once again vowed to prosecute illegal practitioners who practice without registering with the council, just as it called on all those seeking registration as advertising practitioners to possess the prescribed academic qualification or sit for APCON diploma in advertising examination.
By UMORU IBRAHIM
This was made known by the acting registrar of the council, Mr. Bola Agboola at the opening ceremony of continous training workshop, organised by the council in Kano, Wednesday.
Mr. Agboola who advised the practitioners to observe the ethics of the profession in their daily engagements, was optimistic that knowledge acquired in the workshop will be of tremendous help to them and their profession.
In his opening remark, the chairman of the council, Dr. May Nzeribe who called on the members to use every available opportunity to improve on their profession said: ‘’We must always guide the media owners about the right thing to do.’’
He is of the opinion that the interest of consumers must be considered whatever the profession they practice.
Urging the practitioners to always uphold its ethics, the chairman said: ‘’We must always advise the media owners about the right of our client’s just as he warned them against short changing their customers.
In his speech, the permanent secretary CTV 67, Alhaji Farouk Umar Usman who represented the commissioner for information, frowned at activities of the practitioners especially as they concern Hausa jingles and advertisements.
Posted by Publisher at 01:11 PM | Comments (0)
KNSG solicits USAID’s assistance for irrigation programme
KANO state government has solicited for the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) towards the implementation of its irrigation programme.
By UMAR DANLADI ADO
Exchanging views with the managing director, USAID Markets, Dr. Richard Cook in his office yesterday, the state deputy governor, Engr. Magaji Abdullahi maintained that such efforts would improve the economy of the state.
According to him, the state is blessed with many agricultural potentials including earth dams, vast irrigable land and population where farmers are only being supported with farm inputs and implements to boost their productions.
He also expressed appreciation to the agency for installing internet facilities at Dawanau Grains Market which he said has given proper access to world market through computer services.
Responding, the USAID Market representative, Dr. Richard Cook intimated the deputy governor on the new office established by his agency in order to assist the state particularly in boosting commercial activities.
Similarly, the deputy governor received another USAID delegation which was in the state to assess some health programmes for possible assistance.
The leader of the delegation, Prof. Emmanuel Dipo Otolorin said the agency has a package of programmes aimed at offering technical assistance to countries in order to strengthen the link between the prevention and treatment of malaria and ante-natal care services.
Responding, the deputy governor, Engr. Magaji Abdullahi restated the commitment of the state government to work in partnership with any organisation with a view to improving the living standard of the people.
Posted by Publisher at 01:10 PM | Comments (0)
How Kano’s economy can prosper, by Wali
AS the first Kano Economic summit kicked-off Tuesday at Murtala Muhammad library complex in Kano, it has been observed that no educational system can succeed without looking at the community itself.
By Muh’d Hamisu Abdullahi
The observation was made by Dr. Hafiz Wali one of the speakers at the plenary session.
Dr. Wali, who lectured participants on ‘Basic Education’, said in order to restore Kano’s economic prosperity, the values of the people must be looked into.
An educationist who served in different capacities both at home and abroad recommended to Kano Peace and Development Initiative (KAPEDI), organisers of the event to form a team to actually brainstorm and discuss on the outcome of the summit for better performance of Kano.
He also emphasized on the need for technical and vocational education, reiterating that no country can succeed without them.
Another speaker, Dr. Aminu Dorayi who is a former commissioner of commerce in the state, spoke on ‘technical education’, where he advocated for setting up of ICT-based secondary schools with a view to improving human capital of the society.
Dr. Dorayi further suggested that auto-mechanic and auto-trade among other things should be looked into while talking on improving the human capital.
On his part, Prof. Adamu Beki, who talked extensively on ‘Higher education’, expressed the need for knowledge-driven economy, a concept which he stressed entails the idea of Knowledge work.
Prof. Beki also talked on chances and challenges for Kano’s restoration of economic prosperity.
Posted by Publisher at 01:09 PM | Comments (0)
Jigawa sugar coy begins production December -- Adviser
THE N16 billion Jigawa state Sugar Factory in Hadejia will begin production in December, 2006.
From ISMAILA MUHAMMAD, Dutse
The Senior Special Adviser to the state governor on Sugar and Cotton Production, Engr. Baba Aliyu Sintali told President Olusegun Obasanjo while conducting him round the factory, during his official inspection to the site on Tuesday.
He told the president that the construction work of the company has reached advanced stage with work on all administrative offices, the factory and laboratory has began in earnest.
Engr. Sintali said that presently, the state government has sunk about N14 billion in the project which includes payment of land compensation, purchase of equipment, payment for construction work, feasibility studies and other things.
The special adviser said that the company is wholly owned by the Jigawa state government, saying that this is a testimony that Governor Turaki is justifying what the state is receiving as monthly allocation from the federation account.
He emphasised that the farm where the sugar cane will be grown to feed the factory is five and seven kilometres on both sides, adding that establishment of a company is not an easy job, because it needs a lot of studies, consultations, travellings across the globe as well as technical advice from many quarters before it becomes a reality.
The president did not make any speech at the site but described the project as ‘’gigantic and marvellous.’’
Posted by Publisher at 01:04 PM | Comments (0)
House-to-house 3rd term campaign begins - Senate begins debate Wednesday
PROPONENTS of the third term agenda and those opposed to the plot engaged in house-to-house campaigns at the Apo Legislative Quarters from late Wednesday to the early hours of Thursday in an attempt to woo legislators, particularly from the South-West to their side.
Governors of the five states controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had met with President Olusegun Obasanjo alongside legislators from the zone on Tuesday night at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to dissect the third term agenda.
The president had mandated the governors to meet with their legislators and ensure that they were convinced on the agenda. The main charge given the governors was the need to win the hearts of the 31 members of the House of Representatives who are members of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).
The AD has 31 members in the House of Representatives and five in the Senate. The governors at the Apo Quarters specifically targeted the homes of AD lawmakers. Some of the AD lawmakers were invited to dinner and a breakfast meeting on Wednesday and Thursday in the houses of their PDP colleagues.
The governors were joined by the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, in the house-to-house campaign. The lobby was, however, done on a state by state level, with Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala leading the Oyo lobby team. The governor had to stay back in Abuja till late Thursday as a particular influential AD lawmaker was said to have proved difficult.
But Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, caused a stir in Abuja when his emissaries also stormed the legislative quarters to insist that the AD legislators resist the third term campaigners. Tinubu’s men also went from house to house, telling the lawmakers that it would be wrong of them to adopt the plot as it would prove dangerous to the South West region zone.
The meeting of Ogun and Osun legislators with their governors also discussed the need to explore all avenues to win over the AD legislators.
Meanwhile, the Senate will on Wednesday commence debate on the constitution amendment bill which contains the controversial third term bill.
Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, who made the announcement at the National Assembly on Thursday, said that the senators would commence debate on the bill next week. The Senate, which resumed sitting and sat for only five minutes after the joint sitting to receive the visiting Chinese President, Hu Jintao, said all was set for the all-important debate.
The Senate had passed the bill through the first reading last week but further debate on it, which was expected to resume this week, was rescheduled for next Tuesday before the Senate eventually settled for Wednesday.
Attempts by the Senate bureaucracy to correct the omission of the clause that approved a third term in office for governors by publishing another National Assembly journal to accommodate the clause were rebuffed on Tuesday as anti-third term lawmakers alleged that the clause was being smuggled into the bill.
The move, which was discovered when some chamber aides were distributing the new National Assembly journal containing the fresh amendment, threw the Senate into commotion.
Posted by Publisher at 01:04 PM | Comments (0)
It’s fight to finish - Atiku
VICE-PRESIDENT Atiku Abubakar on Thursday said there would be no retreat in the ongoing political battle, even if the price to be paid would be enormous. He also said that there would be no sitting on the fence in order not to attract the wrath of posterity.
The nation’s number two man has never hidden his resentment for the plot by the leadership of his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to secure tenure extension for his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Since he made his opposition known to the third term project, the centre has not held between him and his boss. Atiku spoke at the public presentation of a book, “Judicial integrity, independence and reforms”, written in honour of the retiring Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais.
Calling on Nigerians to demonstrate courage against the agenda, Atiku said; “this is not a time for neutrality or sitting on the fence. You either believe that democracy and the rule of law are good and must be secured or you do not.
“I remember the immortal words of Frantz Fanon that every on-looker is either a coward or a traitor. The price for standing up for the truth and justice may be stiff. “But we cannot really call ourselves leaders and civilised citizens if we do not have the courage to uphold the truth and struggle for what is right. If we allow fear to paralyse us, then we are running away from democracy and freedom. This is not a good option.
“As our current political situation shows, the struggle for democracy and freedom is a long and tortuous one. Those committed to that struggle must prepare for the long haul. And they will continue to require a courageous, independent and impartial judiciary in that struggle.
“The law remains the last hope of the common person in a civilised community. Where the law fails or those who wield power disregard the law, people tend to take the law into their own hands and anarchy tends to reign. We must collectively struggle to prevent that fate from befalling our country. We are too important a people and too important a country to Africa and the world to let that happen. Posterity will never forgive us if we do.
“As everyone here knows, our country is, to say the least, going through very difficult political times. This is largely because of the inability of some of us to appreciate that every modern society, especially complex ones such as ours, has to be rule-driven if they are to survive and thrive.
“Our recent history has been one characterised by brutal military dictatorship, one-man rule and attempts to subvert the will of the people in order to perpetuate dictatorship. Our people collectively fought those attempts successfully, although many paid very dearly for it.”
He commended the retiring Chief Justice for what he called his forthrightness, intellect and clean record, submitting on the need for a justiceable institutions of rule of law.
Reacting, the Chief Justice said the book was a comprehensive commentary on his being, thumbing-up the authors in the process. The 26-chapter book was written by the chief judges of the states and the federation.
Posted by Publisher at 01:03 PM | Comments (0)
Anxiety over Gov Alao-Akala
IBADAN, the Oyo State capital, and other states in the South-West, were on Thursday awash with rumours about the fate of the state governor, Otunba Bayo Alao-Akala, as unconfirmed reports said his government had run into troubled water and that he might have been removed as the governor.
Several calls were made by dignitaries, including government officials from outside the state, asking about the whereabouts of the governor and the developments in the state.
Such enquiries included: “Why are policemen all over the secretariat”? “What is happening in the House?” and many others which indicated that all was not well in Ibadan. Many even called to suggest that the governor might have been detained in Abuja following the discovery that his government had run into problems.
The governor’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, also confirmed receiving many calls, adding that his friends in Lagos and Osogbo called him to make enquiries about the news.
He was quick to add that the rumour was from their de