by Uchechukwu Olisah
EDO State House of Assembly, on Monday, dissolved the
caretaker committees for the 18 local government areas of the state,
saying that the decision is to ensure the enthronement of true democracy
at the grass roots.
This came on the heels of indication that
Governor Adams Oshiomhole might dissolve the state execu-tive council
this week, ahead his second term inauguration ceremony scheduled for
November 12.
The lawmaker repre-senting Egor constituency in the
state House of Assembly, Paul Ohon-bamu, who raised the issue of the
tenure of the caretaker committees under matters of urgent public
importance, pointed out that it would be unconstitutional for the
members of the commi-ttees to remain in office, since they were not
democratically elected and consequently moved a motion for the
dissolution.
The motion was secon-ded by Emma Okuduwa, the member
representing Esan North East II, who also argued that their continued
stay in office was an aberration.
The majority leader, Philip Shuaibu, agreed with the argument and thanked the members for their services.
Speaker
of the assem-bly, Uyi Igbe, commended members of the commi-ttees for
their efforts so far in ensuring governance at the grass roots and
called on them to hand over property of the respective councils to their
respective heads of administration.
In the meantime, some
commissioners in the state have started moving their personal belongings
out of offices, following speculation that Governor Oshiomhole may
dissolve the cabinet anytime this week.
It was learnt that plans
were on by the governor to send the list of would-be commissioners to
the assembly, with a view to commencing his programmes immediately after
the swearing-in.
The list of potential members of the new cabinet
was said to be known only to the governor and some of his closest
political associates, just as it was gathered that the governor decided
to keep the list secret in order to stave off lobbyists.
Monday, 29 October 2012
IBB, friends have abandoned me, I need help – Omoruyi
by James Azania
Former
Director General, Centre for Democratic Studies, Prof. Omo Omoruyi, was
on Monday flown abroad following his deteriorating health.
But in a parting shot, the political
scientist lamented that former military dictator, General Ibrahim
Babangida, who appointed him as CDS DG, and some of his friends had
abandoned him to his fate.
Omoruyi was first diagnosed with cancer in 2007, but his condition improved after receiving treatment in the United States.
Speaking in Benin City, Edo State,
before travelling to the US, he appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan
and other Nigerians to come to his aid.
Omoruyi said, “I have been used and
dumped, especially by Babangida. Some politicians who don’t like me were
also preventing the President from giving me assistance, after I sent a
message about my health predicament to him.
“My cancer is back and I don’t know how
it will end. Governor Adams Oshiomhole has graciously come to my aid
again. He is the one making it possible for me to commence my second
journey.
“In my book, My journey Back To Life,
that is journey number one. It will appear I am starting a second
journey, and how this second journey will end, I don’t know. I am going
to hospital in the United States to commence a new treatment plan and
that treatment plan, how it will end, I do not know.
“In the book, I said in the life of a
cancer survivor, there are two fears. Fear number one is the fear of a
recurrence, that the cancer could come back. Fear number two is that one
could die.
“IBB abandoned me. I let him know about
the first journey. He did not help me, not even one kobo so I cannot go
to him for this second journey. In the first journey I did not hear from
him. I sent him a text message that I am going back to the hospital. I
have also alerted some of my good people.
“I am going back to the hospital.
President Goodluck Jonathan should help me. I cried to him through
Chief Edwin Clark. There is vindictiveness in the land. I have paid my
dues in this country and the country is unfair to me. What did I not
do?”
Punch
Edo Assembly dissolves LG councils
The Edo State House of Assembly on Monday
dissolved the transition committees of the 18 local government councils
in the state ordering the Chairmen to hand over to the Head of Personnel
Management (HPM).
The dissolution is sequel to a matter of public urgent importance moved by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) member representing Egor constituency, Paul Ohonbamu and seconded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member representing Esan North East Constituency II, Emma Okoduwa.
The Speaker of the House, Uyi Igbe ordered the transitional committee executives to return all properties within their possession to the Head of Services at the various councils before the end of work on Monday saying the dissolution was timely as transition committee chairmen have been in office for over two years now.
The democratically elected council administration in the state was dissolved in 25 October 2010 by Governor Adams Oshiomhole and was replaced by an adhoc “Transition committee”.
ChannelsTV
The dissolution is sequel to a matter of public urgent importance moved by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) member representing Egor constituency, Paul Ohonbamu and seconded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member representing Esan North East Constituency II, Emma Okoduwa.
The Speaker of the House, Uyi Igbe ordered the transitional committee executives to return all properties within their possession to the Head of Services at the various councils before the end of work on Monday saying the dissolution was timely as transition committee chairmen have been in office for over two years now.
The democratically elected council administration in the state was dissolved in 25 October 2010 by Governor Adams Oshiomhole and was replaced by an adhoc “Transition committee”.
ChannelsTV
Passenger Discovers Faulty Valve That Forced Aero To Abort Calabar Flight
By Ata Udo
At about 2:30 pm Monday, the Aero aircraft was set to leave the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja Lagos, when one of the passengers who sat close to the left wing of the craft spotted gas leaking from one of the valves conveying gas to the part called ‘ailerons’ which connects the wings of the aircraft to ensure stability during take-off and landing.
The passenger alerted the members of the airplane’s crew, consequently all passengers were asked to evacuate the plane.
The passengers in the flight – AJ 171 scheduled for Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar by 2.30 p.m. had to return to departure lounge.
“All boarding formalities were completed and the aircraft door shut ready for take-off. The aircraft had actually been taxied through the run-way to the take-off point when, after about ten minutes, the pilot taxied it back to the hanger,” one of the passengers aboard the flight, wishing to remain anonymous told PREMIUM TIMES.
“The flight crew was later to report to the passengers that the flight had to be delayed and aircraft taxied back to the hanger for minor repairs as safety precaution following reports of fuel leakage spotted from its left wing,” the source said.
Disrupted plans
The incident botched the flight by Aero Contractors Airlines from Lagos to Calabar that was scheduled after 2:30 pm on Monday.
Most of the affected passengers – families, workers and business people were returning from Lagos to Calabar after the long holiday declared by the Federal Government last week to commemorate the Moslem Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
After all passengers were evacuated from the aircraft, they returned to the departure hall to wait for alternative arrangements by the airline’s management.
The passengers waited in despair for several hours till about 6 pm before the finally departed Lagos for their destination.
This is the second time in seven days that Aero Contractors has had to disrupt its operations over what it termed ‘minor technical faults’
On Wednesday, October 24, at about 11: 30, flight number AJ125 from to Abuja 12:15 was disrupted after a crew member announced that there was a minor technical issue with the aircraft’s engine.
Subsequently all passengers alighted the flight for “safety precaution”. It took about one hour for a replacement to convey the passengers.
The Airline’s response
The airlines’ consultant, Simon Tumba, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES, tried to allay apprehensions. He attributed the delay to a minor technical fault which he said has to be fixed as a safety precaution.
“As I am talking to you, the flight is already airborne. It was a minor technical fault that had to be taken care of as a safety precaution in line with our company’s standard routine practice to ensure the safety of our passengers,” Mr. Tumba said.
Another Bauchi Wedding?
Those of us resident in Abuja, are witnessing, yet another Bauchi wedding, this time we understand is the Governor's son that is hooking the one time PDP's Chairmanship aspirant's daughter. Inside sources said, already:
Top officials of the Min. for Local Govt, along with the ALGON Bauchi State chapter are asking the 20 LGA's to sign out N2m each as donation for the wedding next Saturday of the Gov's son. They awarded contract for calendars and note pads to an Abuja printing press. Contract for coffee mugs, Wall clocks, bags, badges etc. was given to a Lagos based lady. They will all carry the pictures of the groom and the bride. An SUV Jeep was also suggested as a wedding present to Ango. Finally the 20 LGA chairmen will all send their wives to Abj where the jamboree is taking place because Yuguda is now Abuja based.
The story is all over town too, that in April $80,000 was sent to the ango on his graduation by the SSG, on the orders of the Gov. This is as a result of request by the groom to buy a limited edition M/Benz Series.
In Nov, 2009, when the Gov latest wife, also acquired thru Bauchi funds, was having her first child in Washington DC the sum of £150,000 was sent to the SSG by the then Accountant General for onward transmission to Yuguda. One wonders, why all this, as he has 21 kids from 3 wives earlier and all of them born in Nigeria. The thinking is that he is using Bauchi state money for the purchase of citizenship thru birth, for his latest 2 kids in the USA. Already a house has since been purchased for Yuguda in Maryland through a once upon a time VOA staff, aide of his.
These things are happening in a state where staff salaries are becoming very difficult to pay and inevitable retrenchment is looming day in day out. God save Bauchi State.
Saharareporters
Buhari: A race horse among the cart breed
by Abdulrazaq Magaji
Take
it or leave it, General Muhammadu Buhari is not an ordinary Nigerian
even though this is his own way of describing himself. Respected and
eulogised by many just as he is falsely accused and suspected, the
former Nigerian head of state represents the face of the new leadership
the country is desirous of.
He has been sincere enough to admit that, under his presidency, things won’t change within the first year but four years should be enough to get the country working again. In a country where ill prepared people corner political power and are only happy at the executiveness of office even when they are clearly overwhelmed by its trappings, General Buhari could be likened to a race horse in the midst of cart horses; an oasis in an inhospitable desert. Sadly, we still have many people who think that race tracks are meant for cart horses. They are not!
He has been sincere enough to admit that, under his presidency, things won’t change within the first year but four years should be enough to get the country working again. In a country where ill prepared people corner political power and are only happy at the executiveness of office even when they are clearly overwhelmed by its trappings, General Buhari could be likened to a race horse in the midst of cart horses; an oasis in an inhospitable desert. Sadly, we still have many people who think that race tracks are meant for cart horses. They are not!
On my last meeting with him, I was
pleasantly surprised to discover the General had not changed much, both
in stature status, since my last chanced meeting with him nearly one
decade earlier. Through a meeting facilitated by Malam Buba Galadima,
General Buhari looked fresh, just like a day-old chick, and bedecked in
his trade mark kaftan da wando with a cap to match. Like every other
person and every other thing around him, the General was relaxed and
full of banters. Of course, the permanent scowl, which many grossly
mistake for some meanness, was plastered on his face. Do not even try to
take that away from the General as it would amount to asking Federal
House speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambawal to quit smiling. General Buhari’s
permanent scowl does not depict an unfeeling, insensitive fair faced
despot just as Speaker Waziri’s permanent smile does not mean the man is
happy at the suffering in the land. You need only five minutes in
company of the former head of state to appreciate that the General is
full of humour. And he joins in the general laughter after bringing down
the roof!
Behind his permanent scowl is a man with
an unquenchable love for country: a patriot, a wonderful democrat and
teacher as well as a student with eyes for details. At close quarters,
you come out with the feeling that General Buhari is not cut out for the
shark infested waters of Nigerian politics. Indeed, you begin to wonder
why such a fine breed does not feel genuinely frustrated by the failure
of Nigeria to get it right and barely restrain yourself from requesting
him to opt out of politics. But the man is not frustrated and this
feeling is steeled by his belief that the emergence of transformational
leadership which Nigerians yearn for will remain a dream if good leaders
like him quit the stage for leaders who reek of evil. Were he
frustrated the General would not even make himself available for the
presidency in a democratic setting. Of course, General Buhari is cut out
for democracy, an art he practiced as head of state. And this, aside
his forthrightness and transparency, explains why he remains one of the
few prominent Nigerians, indeed the only Nigerian leader, to be spared
by late Chief Gani Fawehinmi. And which also explains why former
president, Olusegun Obasanjo, despite his caustic tongue distinguished
General Buhari for praise. To his credit, this is one man whose worst
enemy would never call a thief. As a military governor, petroleum
minister as well as chairman of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,
NNPC, a General Officer Commanding, then Head of State and Commander in
Chief and later as chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund, General Buhari
could have been the richest retired general today. He had every
opportunity to loot the treasury and amass enough wealth to take care of
his needs but never did. He never will if he has to live his exemplary
life all over again!
As with all standard bearers, General
Buhari’s main crime is not refusing to steal when he had all the chances
in the world to loot the treasury! No! After all there are many other
Nigerians like him in that regard. His crime, and for which many have
vowed to fight him for life is that he would not allow others to steal!
No unrepentant thief would wish a man who will expose and sanction them
around! When Buhari pledges to stop treasury looters from running the
nation aground, all he is saying is that he will plug all holes
deliberately bored in the system to ensure thieves get away with their
crime. All he asks for and all he believes Nigerians deserve is a
dedicated, committed and exemplary leadership which he is prepared to
provide. As it is, we are still beating about the bush, experimenting
with leadership based on trial and error while waiting for the
opportunity to describe General Buhari as another best president
Nigerians did not get!
It is just as well that General Buhari has not given up on the presidency. By 2015 when he will be seventy three, General Buhari will still be in good shape to take another shot at the crown. He need not feel frustrated or humiliated by the boast of some of his country men who insist they will rule for ever. Michael Sata once trod that frustrating and humiliating albeit weather beaten path in Zambia. Mamadou Yusufu was once told by some God- rivalling men in Niger Republic that he would only rule in his next life! Just as Macky Sall upstaged old man Abdoulaye Wade in Senegal even after he was told to forget the presidency. Until very recently, Zambia, Senegal and Niger Republic were countries where opposition politicians were practically told to go stew in their own juice, just as it is still the case in Cameroon, in Uganda, in Angola, Burkina Faso and elsewhere on the continent of Africa.
Our situation too, sorry and pathetic as
it is, will rise to that level when election riggers, more out of
balance of fear, will have no choice but to allow the vote of the
people to count. That day should not far off.
DailyTrust
“There will be no more potholes by December this year” – FERMA
The
Managing Director of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA),
Engineer Gab-riel Amuchi, has said that the agency has embarked on a
drive to achieve zero potholes on selected federal roads of economic
value by December this year.He stated this while on an inspection tour of ongoing pot-holes patching along the Abuja-Kaduna road. He said that the agency has been directed by the Presidency to achieve zero potholes on the identified roads to ensure that mass vehicular traffic is not hampered during the Yuletide season.
“FERMA`s operations are now well positioned to respond effectively to the challenges of maintaining all federal roads in the country, with the acquisition of relevant machinery tailor-made for round the clock road maintenance. Among the automated equipment acquired and deployed to the selected federal roads are FP5 patchers, wheel loaders and back hoes, as well as sundry hand tools for day to day road maintenance,“ he said
DailyPost
Press Release: ACN May Abandon Tribunal Challenge – Bisi Akande
PRESS
STATEMENT ISSUED AFTER THE ACTION CONGRESS LEADERSHIP MEETING IN LAGOS
ON THE OUTCOME OF THE ONDO STATE ELECTION. OCTOBER 29th, 2012
1. Last week I issued a temporary statement on the reaction of my party, the Action Congress of Nigeria, to the outcome of the Ondo State election. Then I promised that the party will come back with a more detailed position after a careful interim review of the conduct and outcome of the October 20, election in Ondo State by the party leadership.
2. The Governorship election in Ondo State is over and the ballots
received by INEC have been tallied. Some people have urged us to reject
the INEC results outright because they do not favor my party. This we
shall not do. We refuse to cynically treat our democracy as a thing to
be discarded when its processes do not favor us. We believe in the
long-run, the genuine processes of a genuine democracy shall favor all
of us, even the loser of an election. We are prepared to lose elections
if the contest is free and the process is fair and transparent. We know
that in this manner our democracy is strengthened. No one race or
political contest is worth damaging our democracy. We would rather lose
the race and gain democracy than win the race and lose democracy in the
process.
3. On the opposite side of the spectrum, other people are trying to pressure us to concede defeat as if all was perfect with the election. They do so not because they love democracy but because they are the political opponents of our progressive party. Their interests are not in justice but in appearing to be concerned about justice. They have never exercised any degree of political conciliation or bipartisanship in their exercise of public affairs. It stands as exceedingly hypocritical that they seek from us a gift they would never give. Thus, we see no reason to entertain their counterfeit expressions and the motives behind them.
4. This is our position. We believe in the right of the people of Ondo State to determine who leads them. For us in the Action Congress of Nigeria, the Ondo State election is a battle in a larger war; the war of deepening democracy and ensuring accountability in our country. We are therefore resolved to put the elections behind us whilst pursuing the task of providing leadership to our people effectively.
5. However, we have started an accurate but swift assessment of the entire election, from the vote count to the many and several irregularities and instances of thuggery and violence that occurred. Should we find ultimately that the misconduct and lapses were not sufficiently material to alter the outcome, we shall do the honorable thing and respect what has been announced. Should we find ultimately that the irregularities and wrongful actions materially altered the result, we shall contest the transgression as is our right and duty in a democracy. As leaders of a party and of people who trust the democratic process, we have a solemn obligation not to be swayed by emotion on one side or by intimidation on the other. We owe a duty to ourselves, to the people of Ondo State, and to this nation to vigorously protect the integrity of the process both during and immediately after an election.
6. We wish to state categorically that we would protect and defend members of our party from the unconscionable harassment and intimidation currently going on in Ondo State against our party members and communities that voted against the Labour party.
We take this opportunity to thank our candidate, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and the entire party for a valiant, dedicated and inspiring effort. We have nothing but accolades for what they did in Ondo State. They fought a good fight. As a party, we shall remain true to our pledge to resist any attempt to thwart the democratic process in Ondo State or any other part of Nigeria.
Chief Bisi Akande
National Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria.
LibertyReport
1. Last week I issued a temporary statement on the reaction of my party, the Action Congress of Nigeria, to the outcome of the Ondo State election. Then I promised that the party will come back with a more detailed position after a careful interim review of the conduct and outcome of the October 20, election in Ondo State by the party leadership.
ACN logo contains the broom
3. On the opposite side of the spectrum, other people are trying to pressure us to concede defeat as if all was perfect with the election. They do so not because they love democracy but because they are the political opponents of our progressive party. Their interests are not in justice but in appearing to be concerned about justice. They have never exercised any degree of political conciliation or bipartisanship in their exercise of public affairs. It stands as exceedingly hypocritical that they seek from us a gift they would never give. Thus, we see no reason to entertain their counterfeit expressions and the motives behind them.
4. This is our position. We believe in the right of the people of Ondo State to determine who leads them. For us in the Action Congress of Nigeria, the Ondo State election is a battle in a larger war; the war of deepening democracy and ensuring accountability in our country. We are therefore resolved to put the elections behind us whilst pursuing the task of providing leadership to our people effectively.
5. However, we have started an accurate but swift assessment of the entire election, from the vote count to the many and several irregularities and instances of thuggery and violence that occurred. Should we find ultimately that the misconduct and lapses were not sufficiently material to alter the outcome, we shall do the honorable thing and respect what has been announced. Should we find ultimately that the irregularities and wrongful actions materially altered the result, we shall contest the transgression as is our right and duty in a democracy. As leaders of a party and of people who trust the democratic process, we have a solemn obligation not to be swayed by emotion on one side or by intimidation on the other. We owe a duty to ourselves, to the people of Ondo State, and to this nation to vigorously protect the integrity of the process both during and immediately after an election.
6. We wish to state categorically that we would protect and defend members of our party from the unconscionable harassment and intimidation currently going on in Ondo State against our party members and communities that voted against the Labour party.
We take this opportunity to thank our candidate, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and the entire party for a valiant, dedicated and inspiring effort. We have nothing but accolades for what they did in Ondo State. They fought a good fight. As a party, we shall remain true to our pledge to resist any attempt to thwart the democratic process in Ondo State or any other part of Nigeria.
Chief Bisi Akande
National Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria.
LibertyReport
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