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OAU Administration Abhors Checks; Plans To Crush Student’s Unionism
Press Statement
It is unfortunate that activities of the prominent O.A.U students’ union have been illegally suspended for the past 19 months by the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. M.O Faborode. The suspension came so as to put clamp-down on the agitations and constitutional annoyance of students as against the astronomic increment in school charges, especially acceptance fee that was outrageously increased from N2, 000 to N20, 000. Professor Tale Omole (VC, OAU) like his predecessor has made no genuine effort to restore the Students’ Union on inception. Based on the recent clamoring of students to revive the age-long tradition of radical and vibrant Students’ Union in Ife, the University Administration is increasingly being compelled to begin processes for the union restoration. OAU administration instead of starting an open and democratic approach to union restoration has adopted mystifying approaches to the issue. It recently announced its intention to ensure that provisions of the sacrosanct constitution of the union are replaced with its ‘opined suggested ideals’, and that 3.5 CGPA and 3.0 CGPA would form eligibility for contesting the Central Executive Council (CEC) and the Students Representative Council (SRC) positions respectively. We reject this undemocratic approach because of its damaging tendencies to true Students’ Unionism where the vast majority of students are cut off from the process.
Firstly, we in the ERC reject in clear terms the decision of the University Administration to place academic requisites as conditions to contesting union positions. We believe that good leadership quality is not a product of certified academic prowess. If so, the avalanche of problems confronting the Nigerian State would have been surmounted with the Jonathan administration which is majorly composed of Professors and PhD holders. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. Former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji just resigned with little or no achievement to show for his stay. Students’ Unionism is no different to this analogy where academic prowess may be an added advantage if properly channeled by the mentally equipped leader contrary to an academically bright but unintelligible students’ leader. The example of prominent individuals who graduated with lower university grades but are exemplary in the contemporary Nigerian society strengthens our earlier made point on true leadership and certified grades. If CGPA requirement cannot be used as a criterion for appointing principal officers of the University, then there is no point in making such a requirement for Students’ Union elections. Hence OAU administration to imposing union leadership based on this vulgar perspective of leadership would bring no positive effect on preserving the radical and vibrant philosophy of the OAU students’ union. It would only give room for the management to academically victimize brilliant students with radical tendencies in order to prevent them from attaining union leadership. And of course OAU administration has standing antecedents of academic victimization. No doubt, the university administration has taken these steps in a bid to restore a pliant union.
In furtherance to the rejection of academic requisites to union elections, we also reject in totality the proposed idea of the university administration to impose a new constitution on students. This is done with the aim of suiting its set ideals for Students’ Unionism. The dubious attitude of the administration in selecting a handful few and unrecognized students to project and rubber stamp its constitutional drafting processes without democratic involvement of the entire OAU studentry is a harbinger of disaster. The ERC believes that drafting a new constitution for any section of the society must demand the democratic agreement of members of such society and not the agreement of an illegitimate body bought over by a particular body to ‘serve the purpose of all and sundry’. The administration has done contrary to this! Also we believe that the drafting of a new students’ union constitution as against the provisions for amendment of the constitution contained in the existing sacrosanct constitution is against the logic of legality. It should also be asked, if the management is designing constitution and modalities for the union, whose purpose it would serve. Is it the purpose of advancing students interest or of embracing the constant anti-students’ policies of the university administration?
It is agreed-to that most past struggles of Ife union have been directed against the oppressive nature and anti-students’ policies of the OAU administration. It would hence be dangerous
for conscious and progressive layers of the Nigerian society to sit back and watch the OAU management crush one of the few existing radically inclined and anti-oppression students’ union in Nigeria through its egoistical permutation to abhor constructive criticisms. OAU administration’s quest to crush unions is no news; of course the administration recently bought the National Executive Council (NEC) of SSANU to suspend its OAU branch over the latter organising congresses on issues of poor conditions of service. This is a major reason why activists, progressives and NANS must immediately put machinery in place to avoid recent history in re-making.
In conclusion, the ERC believes that students have a right to be organised into a students association and hence demand that the university should come through the open door on the issues of union restoration. We call on students, activists, NANS and other pro-student organisations to condemn the administrations attempt to crush independent unionism in OAU. We demand that a general gathering of students be convened to decide modalities for union elections.
Demands
v Immediate and unconditional restoration of OAU Students’ Union
v Immediate elections to be conducted based on the provisions of the Union’s constitution. For an immediate congress of students to determine the mode of conducting the elections and electing electoral officers
v Democratization of the decision-making organs of the university to include elected representatives of staff, students and other stakeholders in the university
v Immediate and unconditional reinstatement of Wale Owolabi (Ogunruku). He is not a criminal.
v Increase in the budgetary allocation for education to at least 26% as recommended by UNESCO
v Public ownership of the commanding heights of the economy and its placement under the democratic control and management of the working people
Signed
Olubanji Oluwole (Com. Engels)
Secretary
PDP has run out of ideas – ACN
The Action Congress of Nigeria has called on Nigerians to brace up for tougher times ahead as the People’s Democratic Party led Federal Government has completely run out of ideas .
In a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed the party said that rather than address the issues raised in its criticism of the central government’s inept handling of the multiple tragedies and calamities the country is currently reeling under, the PDP has characteristically embarked on a flight of fancy and daylight hallucination.
” To accuse the Action Congress of Nigeria of politicizing national disasters and calamities when it actually only criticized President Jonathan’s lack of capacity, pro activeness, and coordinated response to these natural calamities and disasters depicts the paucity of the thought process of the People’s Democratic Party led Federal Government “the party said.
How can the attempt to draw the attention of Nigerians to the inept handling of the problems confronting the country be disparaged as attention seeking? How long did it take for any minister or high ranking government official to visit the scene of the flooding for an on the spot assessment? Why would a President, just fifteen minutes away from the scene of the worst flooding ever witnessed in the country fail to visit for immediate assessment? How many days after the disaster did it take the federal government to belatedly take any action? Where are the concrete adaptation and mitigation measures to prevent a future occurrence of this disaster if it occurs elsewhere in the country tomorrow?
In other saner climes where a capable President and not a trainee President is in charge , the President would have made a stop over with pronouncements about support,relief materials and expression of sympathy for the victims, the party explained.
While conceding that flooding is a global phenomenon it is quite unfortunate however that despite the huge sums the country has expended on attending international conferences on the impact of climate change, the Federal Government has been unable to come up with concrete adaptation and mitigation measures to avert these disasters or respond in a co-ordinated, timely and robust manner whenever or wherever they may occur, the party said.
The People’s Democratic Party’s response is nothing but a recklessly rabid disposition to repel at all times any criticism no matter how constructive . We are not even sure whether Olisa Metuh and his ilk read or understood the whole point made in our statement which is that only an incompetent and trainee government could have gotten Nigeria into the present mess ,the party concluded.
Flooding: Armed Robbers Attack NEMA Officers, Journalists in Kogi, one dead
Information available to 247ureports.com indcates that the officers of the National Emergency Management Agency [NEMA] and Journalists were attacked by armed robbers along the Okene Auchi road on their way to the flooded town of Fuga in Edo State.
According to the information gathered, the officers of the NEMA and the journalists escaped the robbery attack through quick action of local vigilante men who resuced the team after exchanging a few gun shots.
The media head for NEMA, Yushau Shuaib, confirmed the incident while adding that “at least one person was killed not in our convoy“.
“The Director General of NEMA and his team would still visit flood victims and address rescuers on the ground“, stated Yushau Shuaib
65 Year Old Grandmother Held Over 1.740kg of Cocaine Hidden In Herbal Syrup
Every arrangement appeared to have been made for a 65 year old grandmother to smuggle 1.740kg of cocaine into London in herbal syrup. It was not her fist time of going to London and the drug was cleverly packed to avoid detection. It was packed in balloons and inserted in ten plastic containers of herbal syrup. The suspect, Hassan Fatimat Abike also known as Chika Okoye was to board a British Airways flight when officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested her at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos on Wednesday.
According to the Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, the suspect has two international passports that bear Hassan Fatimat Abike. Her passport numbers are A03348648 and A3771781A. “She was caught during the screening of British Airways passengers to London. The cocaine found in her possession was packed in balloons and prepared into the shape of the plastic bottles. It was also wrapped in black polythene inside 10 plastic bottles of local herbal mixtures. Each bottle was neatly sealed to avoid suspicion”, Hamza explained.
Preliminary investigation revealed that she is also known as Chika Okoye. She speaks Ibo and Yoruba fluently. Her father is a native of Abeokuta while her mother hails from Owerri, Imo State. Hassan Fatimat Abike also known as Chika Okoye has six children and many grandchildren. She currently lives alone in Owerri and sells clothes to earn a living. The drug found in her bag tested positive for cocaine and weighed 1.740kg.
In her statement, she claimed ownership of the drug stating that it was given to her by a friend.“I live at Owerri alone because my children are grown up and now have their families. I sell clothes to take care of myself. I met an old friend two weeks ago and during our discussion, I told him I will soon be traveling to London. He asked me to deliver some herbal medicine to his sick relative in London. I was only trying to assist an old friend. I blame myself for everything because I should have turned down his request. The drug was detected during search at the airport” she stated.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said that the Agency is investigating her claim. “The case is under investigation to ascertain her role. This is very worrisome considering the fact that she is a grandmother” Giade stated. He urged members of the public to be vigilant because drug barons are desperate to smuggle drugs and are prepared to use anybody.
The suspect will soon be charged to court.
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Nigeria At 52: Few Gains, Many Pains – By Godday Odidi
By an act of the British Parliament Nigeria became an Independent country within the Commonwealth on October1, 1960 , Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was installed as governor general of the federation and Balewa continued to serve as head of democratically elected parliamentary, but now completely sovereign, government. The governor general represented the British monarch as head of state and was appointed by the crown on the advice of the Nigerian prime minister in consultation with the regional premiers. The governor general, in turn ,was responsible for choosing a candidate from among contending leaders when there was no parliamentary majority otherwise, the governor general’s office was essentially ceremonial.
In February 1961, a plebiscite was conducted to determine the disposition of the Southern Cameroons and Northern Cameroons, which were administered by Britain as United Nations Trust Territories. By an overwhelming majority, voters in the Southern Cameroons opted to join formerly French-administered Cameroon over integration with Nigeria as a separate federated region. In the Northern Cameroons however, the largely Muslism electorate chose to merge with Nigeria’s Northern region.
Eight Military regimes succeeded, beginning in 1966, interspersed between the fourth and fifth military regime by a return to civilian rule with the second Republic between October 1979 and December 1983. The final military regime left power on May 29, 1999, when the current fourth Republic was installed and the President was democratically elected.
It was under the second Military regime ( July,1966 to July 1975) that some of Nigeria’s major development programmes were established, such as the extensive expansion and exploitation of Nigeria’s mineral resources culminating in the oil Boom’ which in no small measure changed the economy, the taste and living standard of many Nigerians. It was also, unfortunately, a time of war, on August 9, 1967, Nigeria declared full-scale on ‘Biafra” after its forces had invaded and captured the Mid-west state. With Biafra’s collapse in 1970, the region was reunited with the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a period of reconciliation and reconstruction followed.
The government also introduced various forms of bursaries, scholarships and students loan scheme in the 1970s, a government review programme for the improvement in salaries and wages; the Nigerianisation Decree compelling all foreign firms operating in Nigeria to nationalize or leave; the changing of road traffic from left to right hand drive, the changing of the national currency to naira and kobo and the establishment of organized federal councils for the arts, sciences, Universities, sports and Agriculture, corruption was a major cause of strife under the military regimes and it took years for Nigeria to get its house in order.
In the history of Nigeria’s independence, the Northern region have ruled the country for 37 consecutive years while the Southern region is just 15 years which the present leadership of president Goodluck Jonathan is at decimal point of envious. On May 29, 1999 Nigeria returned from the Military interregnum to civilian government which brought the then President Olusegun Obasanjo to power. Through out the rulership of the military regimes, Nigeria experienced several military bloody coups that almost divided the country into two, if not God’s intervention. The Military government came to power in pretence of restoring sanity in the government which was gravely disabused by the powers-that-be. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was in power for eight consecutive years with little achievements which Telecommunication was restored totally from the ramshackle of bad Military leaders. Though OBJ almost transited his government into third term bid which was thrown into the waste can by the National Assembly senators. The Likes of OBJ, IBB and Abacha almost thrown the country’s leadership into verbal war which was narrowly overcame through God’s intervention and some political leaders.
Come to think of Nigeria’s independence from 1960, Nigeria has been embedded with high profile corruption which is traced to public office holders in the country. The independence only gives us monumental freedom from foreign policies while the living standard of Nigerians sill remains where it is because of bad leadership that entangled the entire process. The purpose of this political independence has been totally defeated. No government has able to provide adequately for its citizens. Though the Military regimes did well in uniting Nigerians after the bloody civil war that lasted for three years. Every Nigerian leader that has ruled the country had its own shortcomings which overshadowed the positive achievements. At 50. Nigeria was lavishly celebrated which many achievements were attested to Nigerians that cares to listen. That celebration of Nigeria at 50 also experienced innocent killings of Nigerians through Boko Haram insurgence which one Niger Delta activist claimed responsibility of that infamous act.
Moreover, Celebrating Nigeria at 52, it is worthy to be celebrated because Nigeria has able to sustain civilian government to civilian government without interruption of the Military government. Nigeria presently has 124 universities, Polytechnics and colleges of Education but the standard of the educational system has drastically dropped in all ramifications. Even the high brain-drain in our Nigerian universities is nothing to write home about. President Goodluck Jonathan is gradually restoring the power sector with high bills to the electricity users. The attempt to introduce #5000 note by CBN governor Sanusi is an unjust policy but was thrown out of the system by the National Assembly senators. Thus, Nigeria is greatly battling with insecurity threats where thousands of Nigerians have been abruptly killed in the north while property worth billions of naira destroyed.
It is time for present Nigerian leaders to see the Independence celebration as time to reflect our past leaders that took time to
fight for the political emancipation of the country. President Goodluck Jonathan should use this independence celebration to critically looked at the ailing sectors of the economy that needed urgent attention especially oil and gas sector where the current fuel scarcity is plaguing on Nigerians, Aviation, Education, Health, Sports and just mention but a few.
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BY GODDAY ODIDI. 08058124798,08063458693, Public Affairs Commentator. @20 oro Street Ajegunle
Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Now Focused on Attracting Greater Support for Economy – President Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan declared late Wednesday in New York that attracting greater foreign direct investment to accelerate domestic growth and create more jobs for unemployed Nigerians is now the major focus of Nigeria’s foreign policy.
Speaking at a dinner organised in his honour by the Corporate Council on Africa, President Jonathan said that his Administration was wholly committed to promoting the development of a knowledge-economy that will enhance the security of lives and property, thereby accelerating growth to provide more employment and reduce youth restiveness.
The President told the gathering of leading American businessmen and investors that attracting foreign investment to support the realization of the Federal Government’s Agenda for National Transformation was now the topmost priority of Nigeria’s diplomacy abroad.
“Let me restate here that Nigeria’s foreign policy is now anchored on the realisation of this Transformation Agenda through the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment. Under the new policy thrust, our Diplomatic Missions abroad have been directed to focus more on attracting investment to support the domestic programmes of government with a view to achieving not only our Vision 20: 20202, but to bequeathing an enduring a legacy of economic prosperity,” he said.
President Jonathan assured guests at the dinner that adequate safety nets have been established to protect all foreign investors in Nigeria. Such measures, he said, included the establishment and strengthening of the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission and the Bureau of Public Procurement.
The President further assured the gathering that his Administration was dealing decisively with Nigeria’s security challenges. “We have some security challenges now, but let me assure you that the Nigerian Government is on top of it. We are dealing with the issue decisively; it will soon be a thing of the past,” he said.
“Opportunities abound for would-be investors with capital and technical know-how in key areas of Nigeria’s economy with a high rates of return on investment. I invite our friends in the United States to take advantage of existing incentives and invest more in Nigeria. I am confident that by the year 2015, Nigeria would have witnessed transformation in all sectors to the benefit of not only its citizens, but also those who have an interest in Nigeria,” President Jonathan concluded.
Welcoming President Jonathan to the dinner earlier, the United States Assistant Secretary of State, Ambassador Johnnie Carson pledged that the Obama Administration will continue to support Nigeria’s efforts to attract greater foreign investment.
Noting that Nigeria was already a very important destination for American companies and the second highest recipient of American direct private sector investment in Africa, Mr. Carson said that he was very optimistic that Nigeria could become a great economic success over the next decade.
The Assistant Secretary of State announced that the US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission which has been established as a primary platform for the promotion of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries will meet again in Nigeria next month.
President Jonathan’s other engagements in New York on Wednesday included meetings with President Sauli Ministo of Finland and the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mrs. Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf.
The President had met earlier with President Francois Hollande of France, the Emir of Qatar and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa. He also received representatives of the over 200 Nigerians who currently work for the United Nations and its agencies.
President Jonathan and Prime-Minister Jens Stoltenberg of Norway with whom he serves as Co-Chairperson of the United Nations Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children also participated at an event to promote its work. Guests at the event included former President Bill Clinton.
National Association of Seadogs Protests Plight of Bakassi People
PRESS RELEASE
The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) Abuja Chapter will hold a peaceful demonstration to raise awareness of the current plight of the indigenous people of Bakassi, the Nigerian enclave that was ceded to the government of Cameroon following the October 10th, 2002 judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
As an organization, we have been involved in the fight for the betterment of human society through activities, including but not limited to the struggle for the emancipation of the people of Darfur in Western Sudan from suffering and persecution as a result of the lingering war there, via the “Save Darfur Initiative” in 2007 and 2008. We believe that as a Nigerian organization, we owe the people of Bakassi and indeed the entire Nigerians a duty to bring to the fore, the current plight of Bakassi.
Date: Saturday, 29th September2012
Take Off Point: Ngozi Garden behind Tamara Guest House, Bamenda Street, Wuse, Zone 3, Abuja.
Time: 12noon prompt.
Route: from Ngozi Garden to Radio House to NTA Headquarters, Area 11.
From NTA the procession will move in a motorcade to the National Association of Seadogs Headquarters at Plot 221, Gado Nasco Road, 2-1, Kubwa, Abuja, where NAS Leadership will address a World Press Conference.
You are cordially invited.
Chief Ogbuehi Dike
President,
NAS Abuja Chapter
07030521292
Madonna Says Obama ‘Black Muslim’ Comments Were ‘Ironic’
The singer’s point is that “a good man is a good man” regardless of religion, she says.
Madonna left fans scratching their heads after she recently announced to a crowd attending her MDNA Tour in Washington D.C., “For better or for worse, all right, we have a black Muslim in the White House, OK? Now that is some s—.”
The singer has since clarified the remarks in a statement provided to Rolling Stone.
“I was being ironic on stage. Yes, I know Obama is not a Muslim – though I know that plenty of people in this country think he is. And what if he were?” Madonna says.
VIDEO: Madonna’s Top 4 Video Hits
“The point I was making is that a good man is a good man, no matter who he prays to. I don’t care what religion Obama is – nor should anyone else in America,” she continues.
The “black Muslim” remark came at the end of a longer speech about political freedoms in which the singer singled out the work — and subsequent assassinations — of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr.
“And now it is so amazing and incredible to think that we have an African American in the White House. So those fine human beings did not die for nothing,” she said.
VIDEO: Madonna Endorses Obama, Says ‘We Have a Black Muslim in the White House’
The tour trades heavily on imagery related to gun violence, prompting an explanation of intent from Madonna posted to her website shortly before it landed on U.S. shores, where headlines about the Aurora shootings still dominated the news.
In it, the singer said the guns in her show were meant to be taken as “metaphors.
Trouble in UniJos, One killed, three injured
Jos – One person was killed on Wednesday when two armed men attacked the permanent site of the University of Jos in Plateau. The reports that the armed men invaded the university and opened fire on students, injuring two girls whose names were given as Uju Imo and Esther Ugwu, both 100 level students of the English Department of the university.
Mr Emmanuel Abu, Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Police Command, who confirmed the incident, said that angry students pursued and killed one of the attackers while the other attacker escaped death.
