News

June 12 Annulment, A Tragic Mistake -Jerry Gana

Published

2 years ago

June 12, 2023

Former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Prof. Jerry Gana, says the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election was a tragic mistake that was not supposed to have happened.
Gana stated this when he spoke with The Tide source in Minna on Nigeria’s democracy; the journey so far.
He said that the former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd) meant well by organising the election but some powerful forces made him annul it to suit their selfish interests.
“It was a tragic mistake, it should not have happened but since it happened may God help us to get out of it,” he said.
The former minister said that the election was a period Nigerians united against evil forces but along the line, the people that never meant well for Nigeria had their way.
He averred that democracy was better than any other form of government across the globe.
“Therefore, we must stay with democracy in order to better Nigeria because it delivers freedom, human rights and a good number of other things,” he said.
Gana said that in all, Nigerians needed to thank God for keeping the people and the country together especially, from 1999 till date, noting that the nation’s democracy had had many challenges.
“What happened since all these years destroyed other countries when it happened there but we are still living together as a people,” he said.
He said that many institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others had been put in place to ensure good governance, fairness, justice and equity.
“It is not yet Uhuru, we are not there yet although a lot of progress has been made.
“Right now the right of people to vote and their votes be counted is there, so our democracy is being refined,” he said.
The former minister also noted that the country had recorded huge success in its electoral reform from inception to date.
“The recent Electoral Act (reform) is a huge success recorded for democracy in Nigeria. Now the elections are free, fair and accountable,” he said.
Gana said that the country’s economy improved to the extent that it became one of the best economies in Africa.
“If our crude oil, solid minerals and agricultural potentials are harnessed well, Nigeria will rule the world,” he said.
Gana also said that the communication sector had improved tremendously.
“I remember when we came on board in 1999/2000, we had less than half a million lines of telephone across Nigeria. But right now we have about 84 million lines, that means that there is a great revolution in the sector,” he said.
He, however, blamed INEC for the current electoral challenges where many election results were being challenged in the court for alleged electoral manipulations.
“Recently, INEC has not been fair to Nigerians in conducting national elections. Therefore we have a long way to go in our democracy if we allow this ugly development to continue.
“It is true that we have introduced a lot of modern technology to improve our electoral system but these technologies are not being respected today by INEC.
“To me, it is a major disappointment that INEC was not fair enough to give us the leaders of our choice,” he said.
He, however, expressed optimism that the country would perfect its democracy soon.
“After going through the current democratic process, it is my hope that the next one will be better,” he said.

News

We’ll Make Fire Service Functional After 12 Yrs, Fubara Assures …Inspects Rehabilitation Works On Three Stations

Published

21 hours ago

January 28, 2025

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed regrets that, for over 12 years, the State-owned Fire Service Stations were left in limbo but assured that the ongoing rehabilitation will be concluded and the stations ready for public use in the first week of March, 2025.

Fubara gave the assurance when he embarked on an inspection tour of the three Fire Service Stations to access the extent of work done with the ongoing remodelling, expansion and reconstruction activities on the sites, yesterday.

The governor visited the fire service stations located beside the Isaac Boro Park/Mile One flyover, Borokiri in the old Port Harcourt Township and Rumuodomaya Community, all in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.

He explained that with the ongoing work, the three major Fire Service Stations would be put into effective state to provide rapid and quick response to fire incidents in the State.

Fubara said, “For a very long time, we have had this situation that we have to depend on the multi-nationals; Shell, Agip and Chevron and even (Elf) TotalEnergies at that time, including to respond to fire incidents in the State.

“From what we have seen today, we can confirm that the contractor is working very hard to meet the deadline. We must, I repeat, we must commission this project first week in March.”

The governor said it is the responsibility of the government to have such facilities that provide vital social services available to the people to address fire incidence when they occur.

He assured that his administration would reverse the utter neglect such social services had suffered, and ensure that Rivers people, in no distant future, begin to benefit from the stations.

“As a matter of fact, I can boldly say that Rivers State has not had a functional Fire Service for the past 12 years. We are a government, and amongst our responsibilities, is to protect lives and property. Issues of fire incidents could be as a result of some mistakes in our homes.

“So, it is our duty to make sure that we are prepared to combat it whenever it occurs. We are trying to make sure that we do not depend again on the multi-nationals, but be ready and prepared to save lives and property of Rivers people,” he said.

Governor Fubara was accompanied by the former Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, and was conducted round the facilities by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Samuel Anya.

News

FG Shops For New Accountant General, Plans Exams, Interviews

Published

22 hours ago

January 28, 2025

The Tide

The Federal Government has initiated the process of appointing a new Accountant General of the Federation and filling vacancies for permanent secretaries in the Federal Civil Service.

A memo from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, dated January 24, 2025, and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Career Management Office, Fatima Mahmoud, outlined the timeline for the process.

The memo was addressed to the Offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief of Staff to the President, ministers, and heads of ministries, departments, and agencies.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier, in December 2024, appointed Babatunde Ogunjimi as the acting Accountant General of the Federation.

The appointment, announced in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, followed the commencement of pre-retirement leave by the then-incumbent AGF, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein.

However, Madein returned to her duties after receiving a directive extending her tenure until March 7, 2025.

This development led to the reassignment of the acting AGF, Ogunjimi, who was redeployed to the Public Service Institute of Nigeria as Director of Accounts.

The directive authorising Madein’s continuation was reportedly issued by the Head of Service of the Federation.

According to the spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, the directive reinstated Madein to her role as AGF, enabling her to oversee treasury operations until her retirement.

Mokwa clarified that under civil service regulations, embarking on terminal leave is optional, raising questions among staff about the implications of Madein’s reinstatement on Ogunjimi’s prior appointment as acting AGF.

The new memo by the Head of Service noted that accreditation of eligible candidates for the position of OAGF will commence on January 28 and end on February 1, 2025.

“Stage 1: Written Examination for eligible Candidates from North-West Zone and Oyo State on Monday, February 10, 2025.

“Stage 2: Written Examination for eligible Candidates/Directors (Accounts) in the Pool of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation on February 11, 2025.”

The memo further noted that further stages will hold on February 12 and 13, respectively and will be in the form of computer-based tests, while the final lap, which is the oral interview, will hold on February 14, 2025.

News

FRSC Records 9,570 Road Crashes, Arrests 21,580 Offenders In 2024

Published

22 hours ago

January 28, 2025

The Tide

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it arrested no fewer than 21,580 traffic offenders between January and December 2024 across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, disclosed this while addressing the reporters on the 2024 special patrol operations in Abuja, yesterday.

Mohammed said that the Corps recorded a reduction in the number of offenders recorded in 2024 as against 29,220 within the same period in 2023.

“This signifies a 26 per cent increase in compliance to traffic rules and regulations.

“The total number of offences committed stood at 25,942 representing 23.5 per cent reduction in traffic law violation compared to the data of the same period in 2023,” he said.

Mohammed said that the analysis of the Corps’ annual performance indicated a drastic reduction in Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs).

This, he said, was as well as in the number of people injured compared to the annual record of 2023.

“From Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2024, a total of 9,570 RTCs were recorded nationwide. This figure is against 10,617 RTCs recorded in 2023 which signify a tremendous reduction of 10 per cent.

“Furthermore, 31,154 people were injured in 2024 while 31,874 were injured in 2023 representing a two per cent decrease.

“However, the Corps recorded a seven per cent increase in fatalities as 5,421 people were killed in 2024 while 5,081 people were killed in 2023.

“Meanwhile, a total of 70,530 people got involved in RTCs in 2024 compared to 70,092 of 2023 signifying an increase of one per cent, ” he said.

The FRSC boss emphasised that out of the total fatalities that occurred in 2024, 411 deaths, representing 7.6 per cent of the total deaths, were not primarily caused by the crashes.

Mohammed said that the crashes were caused by a secondary factor which he described as the very monster the Corps was fighting; scooping of fuel from fallen tankers.

“This, therefore implies that without the casualties recorded from scooping fuel from crashed tankers, the Corps would have recorded 5,010 deaths in 2024.

“This will be as against 5,081 in 2023 signifying a 1.4 per cent reduction in the total number of people killed,” he said.

The FRSC Corps Marshal reiterated that the alarming rate of crashes and fatalities occurred as a result of loading of trailers with goods and persons.

This, he said, was in addition to fatigue, speed violations, overloading, dangerous driving as well as poor vehicle maintenance within the period under review.