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2019 presidential race: Benue senatorial aspirant writes off David Mark

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Benue

Abuja,Sept.5,2018 (NAN)Mr Daniel Onjeh, Board Chairman Project Development Institute (PRODA) and Benue South Senatorial aspirant on the  platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has dismissed the presidential ambition of  former President of the Senate, Sen David Mark.

Onjeh, who attempted to unseat Mark in the 2015 election, said Mark, as  a Senator  has been a failure and outrightly dismissed his bid to gun for the highest post in the land. Onjeh said Mark simply lacked the capacity to rule Nigeria. The former President of the Senate had obtained the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to contest the presidency in 2019.

Onjeh gave his view on David Mark  on Thursday in Abuja after obtaining the APC Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to contest the Benue South Senatorial district election in 2019.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Onjeh who was a former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) contested against Sen. Mark in 2015. After Mark was declared winner, Onjeh challenged the result in court. However, in the rerun ordered by the court in February 2016,, Mark  emerged the victor polling 84, 192 votes. Onjeh got 71, 621 votes.

Onjeh stressed that President Muhammadu Buhari has  done exceedingly well in the key areas of our national polity.

He added that the former President of the Senate lacks the moral right to contest the presidency with Buhari in 2019.

The  aspirant said he would not be swayed by sentiment, tribe, ethnicity or religion.

He added that Buhari has proven  his capacity to resolve the cause of the country’s underdevelopment, and that the Benue South people would vote for him en masse come 2019.

Speaking about the former President the Senate, Onjeh said he was not sure that a man who couldn’t attend to the immediate security challenges of a zone in his state could handle that of the country.

“Ideally it would be appropriate to support one from your home town, particularly for the position of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is an office every ethnic group or tribe would want to have his or her own occupy but unfortunately in my own view, David Mark does not deserve the support,”he said.

This, the aspirant added, was especially so because, he failed when he was given the responsibility to impact the lives of his people and Nigerians generally.

“David Mark was a monumental failure to the entire Benue South people. Like they  say,  charity begins from home. He practically made the Senate his permanent abode.

“He has been there twice as an ordinary Senator and twice as a sitting Senate President.

“At the time, he was a sitting Senator under former President Goodluck Jonathan, one would be correct to say he was a de facto  President.

“He had everything at his disposal to effect the changes we expected to see in this nation, particularly with  respect to Benue South people,”Onjeh said.

He added that if the former President of the Senate could not influence developmental change and address poverty in the country while he held sway, he would not do any better as president of the country.

According to him, while Mark was President of the Senate, people from his home state lived in abject poverty and deprivation.

He added that the length of his stay in the senate, does not commensurate with the level of development on ground in Benue South and the state generally.

He alleged that Benue South had been completely disconnected from the Federal Government and lacks democracy dividends.

Onjeh maintained that he was in the race again because the issues which warranted  his earlier aspiration in 2015 were still lingering and unresolved.

“A cursory and comparative look at the Benue South, makes it safe for one to conclude that our people are the most deprived, and our district the most underdeveloped in Nigeria, in spite of the humongous constituency funds allocated to the zone in the last 19 years.

“We’ve been existing without a voice since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999,”he said.

According to him, the people of his senatorial district lacked effective representation in the Senate.

“I aspire to effectively represent my people at the red chamber, to carry the silenced voice of the vast majority of the Benue South people to national,”he said.(NAN)

EEM

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Flooding: Bayelsa Govt. enlists support of community-based groups

Flooding

By Christian Ogbonna

Yenagoa, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) The Bayelsa Government has called for the support of community-based groups in sensitising the coastal communities in the state in order to check flooding.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ebipatei Apaingolo, made the call on Thursday in Yenagoa, when a community-based group, Ondewari Health Education and Environmental Project (OHEEP) paid him a courtesy visit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMET) recently predicted that Bayelsa was among the states to experience flooding this year.

Apaingolo said sensitisation of the rural dwellers was necessary due to their ignorance and about the impending flooding.

“In view of the impending flooding, the state government has concluded plans to embark on sensitisation tours of our coastal communities.

“We want OHEEP to be part of the project and assist in the sensitisation of our people; I believe the messages will be more assimilated when you are involved because of your closeness to the grassroots,” he said.

The commissioner commended the group for championing environmental advocacy in the rural communities and urged other communities to establish similar groups.

Earlier, the Director of OHEEP, Mr Alagoa Morris, intimated the commissioner of the rise in exploitation and harvest of forest resources including indiscriminate cutting down of trees in Bayelsa.

Morris called for proactive policies and legislations to prevent indiscriminate felling of trees and flooding in the state. (NAN)

OOC/GOM/EMO
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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Ejike Obeta

Quackery

By Mustapha Sumaila

Abuja, Sep 6, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Thursday cautioned the general public to be wary of quack doctors in the country.

The President of NMA, Dr Francis Faduyile, gave the advice while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He urged people to be mindful of the kind of doctors they patronised while seeking medical treatment, adding that many quacks had infiltrated the profession.

He said that patients must be careful with those coming with plan to take them abroad with the aim to have best medical care.

According to him, those doctors usually come without requisite registration by the appropriate authority in Nigeria.

He noted that many of those doctors were unqualified and were not allowed to practice in the countries they came from but would come around to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians.

The President of the association stated that medical quackery had brought untold hardships to many Nigerians, in terms of complications, sequel to the unhealthy care.

Faduyile said that this was part of observations in the just concluded National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting of the association held in Osogbo, Osun recently.

He said that the NEC had also reaffirmed the use of doctors’ stamps as anti-quackery measures and that the public should insist on doctor’s stamp on their medical reports.

Faduyile noted that Nigeria had made tremendous progress in the implementation of the Local Government Area-focused Primary Health Care infrastructure.

He, however, identified fragmentation with respect to provision of services, management of staff, funds and other resources as the most significant challenge facing primary health care in the country.

The NMA boss said that there was need for government at all levels to ensure that the various funds voted for primary healthcare in the country were judiciously managed.

He said this became, especially from the approved and appropriated consolidated revenue fund in the National Health Act.

Faduyile said that during the recent NEC meeting, the association commended Federal and some State Governments for their efforts and determination in implementing the proposed new minimum wage commencing from September 2018.

According to him, the NEC has directed the National Officers’ Committee of the association to closely monitor the implementation of the minimum wage salary package for all inclusiveness in application. (NAN)

MS/DUA

Edited by Dada Ahmed

Solution
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) The Alumni Association of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Igboora,  on Thursday called for a  permanent solution to the lingering crisis rocking  tertiary institutions owned by the state.

This was contained in a statement jointly issued  by its Chairman, Steering Committee, Mojeed Anifowose,  and General Secretary, Dare Azeez.

The association appealed to Gov. Abiola Ajimobi to evolve immediate and permanent solutions to ensure crisis-free academic activities in the institutions.

“We have critically understudied the lingering problem in the institutions, particularly OYSCATECH,  before coming up with this appeal.

“  We believe that  as much as your innovative tendency at making the institutions self-sustaining is greatly appreciated, its manifestation might remain in limbo unless certain executive decisions were painstakingly and expressly made,” it stated.

It listed some areas that required urgent executive decisions as clearing of accumulated salary arrears, payment of 100 percent salary, provision of financial intervention and granting of timeline  to the institution for self-sustainability.

“Your Excellency, a survey conducted by our association revealed that current developments in state-owned tertiary institutions across the state have  pitched thousands of affected students against the current administration.

“We hope that the earlier the logjam is resolved, the better for us all.

“ We strongly believe that the contents of this appeal will be considered with ‘ a third eye’ and taken with a pinch of salt,” it said.

The association, however, “  appreciated the unprecedented, modern, pragmatic and innovative governance which the governor had conspicuously introduced to Oyo.’’

“We appreciate you on the recent upward review of subventions to tertiary institutions in the state.

“It is our hope that the trend would continue with a trusted successor who hopefully would consolidate on the ground-breaking achievements recorded by your administration.

“ Our association will always support your Excellency’s aspirations in this regard,” it said. (NAN)
TAA/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Bill

By Taiye Agbaje

Abuja, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) A teacher at University of Ibadan, Prof. Jacob Ayantayo, has expressed support to President Muhammadu Buhari for declining assent to Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018.

Ayantayo, who is a Professor of Religion, Ethics, Inter-Religious Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution and Peace-Building in the Department of Religious Studies, made his position known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Buhari had declined assent to the bill due to “some drafting issues that remain unaddressed following the prior revisions to the bill.”

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang, announced this on Monday.

The aide said that the president had communicated his position on the bill to the Senate and the House of Representatives on Aug. 30.

The development had generated heated debate across the country in view of the 2019 general elections.

Ayantayo argued that since the Constitution allowed the president to have a review of a bill before signing. It ‘’pre-suposses that Buhari is doing the right thing.’’

‘’I think that the President is doing the right thing because it is one thing for a bill to be passed by National Assembly and it is another thing for the president to assent to it.

‘’This means that the fact that he has the final assent and the Constitution allows him to have a review and look at it thoroughly.

‘’Perhaps, because we are coming from a background in which we think that when a bill is passed, it must get presidential assent at all cost, that is why it is so surprising to us that he delays in assenting it.

‘’I think it is part of the process it needs to pass through to grow our nascent democracy,” he said.

On the implication the delay may have on the 2019 election, the don said there was an element of exaggeration in such insinuation.

‘’I believe that the president too, is equally conscious of the implication of this.

‘’All we need to do is to be patient with him or perhaps, come up with stronger argument for him to see reason why the bill must be signed,’’ he remarked. (NAN)

TOA/OPI

Aspirants

Bolaji Buhari

Lagos,Sept .6,2018(NAN)The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday said no fewer than 100 aspirants had picked up nomination forms to contest the state House of Assembly primary election in the last two days.
.
The Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mr Abiodun Salami, gave the figure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN)in Lagos.

He said the secretariat had been besieged by aspirants seeking the party’s tickets since the sale of forms commenced on Wednesday.

Salami said the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa and the Deputy Speaker, Mr Sanni Eshinlokun, were some of the lawmakers who had picked nomination forms for re-election.

“Yes, aspirants have been coming to the secretariat to pick their forms since the exercise started yesterday.

“So far, more than 100 aspirants, including the Speaker of the House of Assembly and his Deputy, have picked up their forms.

“We are making the process as transparent as possible. It is an open thing and we are expecting more aspirants to come for their forms before the tentative deadline of Monday,”  he said.

Salami said the party was committed to the ideals of internal democracy and would ensure candidates emerged through popular elections.(NAN)
BHB/IA

Declaration
By Ariwodola Idowu
Ado Ekiti, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) A former Minister of State for Works, Mr Adedayo Adeyeye, on Thursday joined the list of aspirants eying the senatorial seat.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adeyeye is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress(APC) after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party.

Adeyeye, who made his intention known at his Ise-Ekiti country home  during  a meeting he hosted, said he was responding to calls to represent the people of Ekiti South Senatorial District

He promised to give the district the expected quality representation and meaningful democratic dividends if elected in the 2019 general elections.

NAN reports that the former PDP National Publicity Secretary and one-time spokesperson for Afenifere said he had the support of the party’s stakeholders for his aspirations.

He also expressed confidence that the governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi, would not disappoint the people of the state.

“I want to thank the youths, elders and leaders of the party for the way they mobilised during the July 14 election.

“ I was the happiest man in Ekiti over the way the APC chased away Gov. Ayo  Fayose.

“I decided to return to APC  because I was a foundation member of Alliance for Democracy.

“ I was the Publicity Secretary of the party at a time and I remained in the party until Action Congress was  formed. So I only returned home,  not that I defected

“I want to assure you that I will do Ekiti South proud if given the ticket.

“ I will not discriminate and the fact that you asked me to host this meeting confirmed that APC is not discriminatory.

“Let me assure you, the APC will win the next presidential election.

“ President Muhammadu Buhari will return again as president.

“ We will win the three seats in the senate, the six  in House of Representatives and the 26 Assembly seats  because APC is united.

“I will do well for our people, I will bring my varied  and vast experiences to bear  if elected.

“  I will fight for Ekiti people in the Senate. We are sure of victory  because our party is strong, focused and united,’’  he said.

Adeyeye  also commended   those who shelved their ambition for him to contest , saying it was an indication of his acceptability in the party.

“I want to thank those who stepped down to prevent crisis in the party as  this indicates  that our party is united and we are committed to ensuring that we have a landslide victory in the elections,’’ he said.(NAN)
ARIS/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

PVCs

By Benson Ezugwu

Calabar, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Cross River says a total of 175, 246 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have yet to be collected by the owners who registered in 2015 and 2017.

The state Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Dr Frankland Briyai, disclosed this on Thursday in Calabar, during an interactive session with journalists.

Briyai said that 107,524 of them were from 2015 registration while 67,722 were the unclaimed ones from the 2017.

He said that 453,576 voters registered during the 2018 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) which ended recently.

The REC said that the commission had begun the display of the preliminary register of voters, as well as hearing of claims and objections of voters who registered during the 2nd quarter of 2018.

According to him, the exercise which began on Tuesday will end on Saturday.

He said that the exercise was taking place in the 28 registration centers across the state where the second quarter of the CVR was conducted.

“The display for hearing of claims and objections is to enable the public study and scrutinise the preliminary register of voters.

“It is also an avenue to inform the commission of omitted or wrongly spelt names, dates of birth, wrong addresses or unclear photographs among others,” he said.

Briyai advised those who registered within during exercise just ended to visit their registration centers to check their names and to report any anomaly.

He also urged the owners of the unclaimed PVCs to come forward for collection to enable them to vote in the 2019 elections. (NAN)

BEN/ OOA/EMO

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Edited by Olabisi Akinbode/Ejike Obeta

Investors

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Abuja, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) Mr Edobor Iyamu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, says investors from Greece will set up a ship-building outfit in Nigeria, especially in Niger Delta.

Iyamu made this known to State House Correspondents shortly after a meeting with a delegation of Theo-Man Limited, a Greek firm, on Thursday in Abuja, and said that the company would also train ex-agitators in fishing.

He said that the move by the investors was in tandem with Federal Government’s new vision of a forthright partnership of the Federal Government, state governments, private sector and local communities.

“We have a group of investors from Greece.

“They have come in to do a number of things in the Niger Delta region, to train a good number of the ex-agitators, to give them skills in fishing and ship-building and other benefits that will come with them.

“They partnered the Presidential Amnesty Office and the whole idea is to set up a ship-building outfit where they will be training a lot of ex-agitators in ship-building and fishing.

“This company went through the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) focus laboratory and they were rated first-star, which meant that they did very well in their rating.

“When investors begin to come to a country, it means they found the economy of that country attractive.

“It is very positive for the country that we have investors coming in to show that they believe in what this administration is doing.

“They are comfortable with the level of peace and calm in the region which has been on for a very long time,” he said.

Iyamu commended President Muhammadu Buhari for sustaining the amnesty programme and also commended Niger Delta people for believing in the administration and ensuring that peace prevailed in the area.

He said that the Federal Government was committed to ensuring that Niger Delta was transformed.

On his part, The Managing Director of Theo-Man Limited, Mr George Theodorou, said that the firm had been working on the idea for two years before coming up with a solution which they brought to their partners.

“This project consists of three parts – education of 2,500 people, construction of 100 boats and the third, management – teaching the people how to do it and we will also find the clients,” he said.

In his remarks, Mr Patrick Osobase, Chairman, Concept Amadeus, the Lead Consultant on the project, said that Memorandum of Understanding on the project was signed in December, 2017.

He said that the project would train 2,500 delegates from ex-agitators and would employ no fewer than 2, 000 of them in the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that was being created for the project.

Osobase said that the project would last for 25 years.

“The initial phase of the project is to set up the fishing aspect of it, two boats and two trawlers with the input of the ERGP.

“We will do the building of the vessels here instead of bringing the vessels to Nigeria; the vessels will be built in Nigeria using skilled amnesty trained boat builders who have been trained all over the world.

“They will be employed in the boat building aspect of it and every other aspect of the project.

“Wherever we have people trained in that aspect under the amnesty programme, they will be absorbed into the project rather than looking for people from outside.

“We have international investors who in the first phase have invested over N25 million dollars and that is build, operate and transfer arrangement,” he said.

He said that the investors would take their time to earn their money back from the structure and at the end of the tenure, it would be will transferred.

Osobase added that it would be a win-win project for the investors and for Nigeria. (NAN)

CJ/OPI

Academics
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, Sept. 6, 2018 (NAN) The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)  on Thursday appealed to  the Federal Government to seek more  bilateral academic agreements with foreign universities.

The newly elected  President of the association,  Mr Danielson Akpan, made the appeal at  the inauguration of the  elected executives in Abuja.

The theme of the inauguration was ” Students as Major Electioneering, Developmental and Leadership Stakeholders in Nigeria.’’

Akpan, who said there was need for a new vision and paradigm of higher education, called  for major changes in policies and  practices in service delivery and linkages with local and global institutions.

“To realise this vision and directions, it is necessary to re-engineer curriculum  using more focused and appropriate methods so as to go beyond cognitive mastery of discipline and applying  new approaches.

“We need to intensify and strengthen research extension and production services as the main seeds that germinate more growth  in quantum margins,” Akpan said.

He assured Nigerian students of scholarship and bursaries at the state and federal  levels.

Speaking on the theme, a former NANS  president, Mr Yinka Dada,  called on youths across the country to contribute their quota to nation  building.

He also called on youths not to engage in any form of social vices,  adding that that accountability was necessary for any nation to thrive.

The Chairman of the Inauguration Planning Committee, Mr Olayemi Success,  said the programme  was put together to bring unity to the association.

” Gone are those days when  leadership was  determined by tribal,  cultural and religious sentiments.

” NANS is back with a  focus and it stands  for the development of Nigerian students and other stakeholders through  policy making,” he said. (NAN)
OEO/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)